[Takotsubo syndrome complicated by ventricular thrombosis and pericarditis].

Takotsubo syndrome is a heart disease characterized by transient ventricular dysfunction; although it is considered a benign pathology, it is not free from serious complications. Intraventricular thrombosis is a rare occurrence as well as pericarditis, and the simultaneous presence of both complications is very exceptional. Here we describe a case.

Comparison of bioresorbable vs durable polymer drug-eluting stents in unprotected left main (from the RAIN-CARDIOGROUP VII Study).

Background: There are limited data regarding the impact of bioresorbable polymer drug eluting stent (BP-DES) compared to durable polymer drug eluting stent (DP-DES) in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention using ultrathin stents in left main or bifurcations.

Methods: In the RAIN registry (ClinicalTrials NCT03544294, june 2018 retrospectively registered) patients with a ULM or bifurcation stenosis treated with PCI using ultrathin stents (struts thinner than 81 μm) were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the rate of target lesion revascularization (TLR); major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, TLR and stent thrombosis) and its components, along with target vessel revascularization (TVR) were the secondary ones.

[A case of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in the elderly].

The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) syndrome is a rare congenital coronary artery anomaly. The development of acquired collateral circulation between the right coronary artery and the left coronary artery allows, sometimes, survival until adulthood. In our clinical practice, we came across an exceptional case for the advanced age, 75 years.

Impact of strut thickness and number of crown and connectors on clinical outcomes on patients treated with second-generation drug eluting stent.

Introduction: In new generation drug eluting stents (DESs) era, the impact of stent geometry on freedom from recurrent events has been poorly explored. Impact of struts thickness and the number of crowns and connectors on clinical outcomes were evaluated in the present study.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials comparing last generation DESs were selected.

Persistent Atrial Fibrillation And Atrial Flutter Complicated By Tachycardiomyopathy Because Of Intermittent Conduction Through Accessory Pathway.

The term tachycardiomyopathy refers to a specific form of tachycardia-related cardiomyopathy caused by supraventricular or ventricular tachyarrhytmias that are both associated with ventricular rates higher than 120 bpm. The arrhythmias which are most frequently associated with these forms of heart disease are atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, particularly found in the elderly population. The most frequent clinical manifestation is heart failure.

[Preliminary results and future perspectives of the Piedmont Adult Congenital Heart Disease Registry].

Background: Adults with congenital heart disease are a relatively new population that progressively increases in size and complexity. In Italy, there are no accurate data concerning the distribution of congenital defects and the long-term outcome relating to both congenital heart disease per se and comorbidities, due to the aging process.

Methods: The Piedmont Adult Congenital Heart Disease Registry has been designed to investigate these aspects and to support a high quality healthcare development for grown-up congenital heart patients.

Absence of left atrial stunning after cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation in patients at low-stroke risk.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence and degree of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in the left atrium and of left atrial appendage (LAA) contractility before and after cardioversion (CV) in patients with recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Our study included 56 patients divided into two groups: group 1, comprising 32 clinically stable patients who were admitted to the Emergency Department with less than or equal to 48 h duration AF, and who underwent transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided CV; and the control group (group 2), comprising 24 patients admitted to the Cardiological Department for elective TEE-guided CV of greater than 48 h AF. All patients underwent repeat TEE within 1 h after successful CV.

Antiproliferative effects of COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib on human breast cancer cell lines.

The inducible COX-2 enzyme is over-expressed in human breast cancer and its over-expression generally correlates with angiogenesis, deregulation of apoptosis and worse prognosis. This observation may explain the beneficial effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and COX-2 inhibitors on breast cancer treatment. Here, we evaluated the antiproliferative activity of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, and its nitro-oxy derivative on human breast cancer cells characterized by low and high COX-2 expression, respectively.

Antiproliferative effect of a novel nitro-oxy derivative of celecoxib in human colon cancer cells: role of COX-2 and nitric oxide.

It has been shown previously that a novel nitrooxy derivative of celecoxib exerts antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in human colon cancer cells. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether these biological properties depend on COX-2 inhibition and/or NO release. Therefore, the derivative was decomposed into the parent compound celecoxib and the NO donor benzyl nitrate and the biological role of each was tested in COX-2-positive (HT-29) and -negative (SW-480) colon cancer cells.

Novel nitro-oxy derivatives of celecoxib for the regulation of colon cancer cell growth.

Celecoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) developed as a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Despite the associated cardiovascular toxicity risk, celecoxib has been found to be effective in reducing cancer risk in animal and human studies. In the present study the antiproliferative activity of novel nitro-oxy-methyl substituted analogues of celecoxib (NO-cel), potentially less cardiotoxic, has been investigated in vitro on human colon cancer cells and compared with action of the parent drug.

Clinical value of left atrial appendage flow for prediction of long-term sinus rhythm maintenance in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: This study evaluated the role of various clinical and echocardiographic parameters, including the left atrial appendage (LAA) anterograde flow velocity, for prediction of the long-term preservation of sinus rhythm (SR) in patients with successful cardioversion (CV) of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

Background: Echocardiographic parameters for assessing long-term SR maintenance after successful CV of nonvalvular AF are not accurately defined.

Methods: Clinical, transthoracic echocardiographic and transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) data--measured in AF lasting >48 h--of 186 consecutive patients (116 men, mean age: 65 +/- 9 years) with successful CV (electrical or pharmacologic) were analyzed for assessment of one-year maintenance of SR.

[Cardiovascular risk factors in a community in Piedmont: changes after 11 years and a comparison with other regional and national data].

Background: In 1986 the Cardiology Department, including an outpatient clinic, was established in the community hospital of Savigliano (Italy). In 1987, as a part of a cardiovascular community prevention program, an epidemiological survey on cardiovascular risk factors was carried out. Similar indicators have been object of the study held in 1998 by ANMCO-Istituto Superiore di Sanità: the Italian Cardiovascular Epidemiological Observatory.

Transesophageal echocardiographic evidence of more pronounced left atrial stunning after chemical (propafenone) rather than electrical attempts at cardioversion from atrial fibrillation.

We studied left atrial function in 55 patients undergoing electrical (n = 23) or chemical (intravenous administration of propafenone, n = 32) attempts at cardioversion from atrial fibrillation. Chemical attempts at cardioversion revealed a significant increase in spontaneous echo contrast and a significant decrease in left atrial appendage Doppler flow, even in patients who did not have successful conversion to sinus rhythm.

[Natriuretic peptides and the heart. Critical review and application].

This paper deals with a literature survey on natriuretic peptides (NP) and their clinical use in prognostic stratification and therapy of arterial hypertension and cardiac failure. After a brief historical introduction, the phylogenesis of NP is analyzed and the reasons of their preservation in the evolution are emphasized. The biochemistry of the NP is then treated, and the structure, synthesis, mechanism of cellular action and systems of regulation are analyzed.

[Anticoagulation and electrical cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation: proposal for an abbreviated protocol].

Background: Several weeks of prophylactic anticoagulation are routinely prescribed before and after electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Recent studies have supported the use of transesophageal echocardiography to guide early cardioversion: patients in whom no thrombus is observed are treated with heparin followed by one month of warfarin therapy after the procedure. This kind of treatment requires hospital admission during heparin infusion, because of the need for monitoring partial thromboplastin time.

[Evaluation of a registration card for logging electrocardiographic records into standard personal computers].

Background: The MS200 Cardioscope, from MRT Micro as., Norway, is a 12 channel ECG card to be directly inserted into a standard personal computer (PC). The standard ISA Bus compatible half length card comes with a set of 10 cables with electrodes and the software for recording, displaying and saving ECG signals.