[Telemonitoring patients with chronic heart failure. Results from a pilot study in the Veneto Region, Italy].

Background: Remote monitoring of patients with chronic heart failure (HF) can prevent acute episodes of HF, optimize treatment, reduce emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalizations, and improve quality of life of patients and caregivers. In current clinical practice, however, the most appropriate model is still under debate. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a new remote telemonitoring (TM) system in the clinical management of HF patients on the reduction of hospitalizations and ER admissions and on possible related-economic benefits.

Impact of Atrial Fibrillation on Outcome in Takotsubo Syndrome: Data From the International Takotsubo Registry.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for mortality. The prevalence, clinical correlates, and prognostic impact of AF in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) have not yet been investigated in a large patient cohort. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, clinical correlates, and prognostic impact of AF in patients with TTS.

Effects and clinical implications of sacubitril/valsartan on left ventricular reverse remodeling in patients affected by chronic heart failure: A 24-month follow-up.

Background: Compared to angiotensin inhibition, angiotensin-neprilysin "blockade" improves mortality and reduces hospitalizations in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF). Sacubitril/valsartan is known to influence left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling with systolic function improvement, although underlying mechanisms remain partially unclear. Our objectives were to evaluate whether sacubitril/valsartan promotes LV remodeling and improves LV ejection fraction (LVEF) (above the 35% threshold by echocardiographic evaluation) and to identify predictors of reverse remodeling in a real-world setting.

Ethnic comparison in takotsubo syndrome: novel insights from the International Takotsubo Registry.

Background: Ethnic disparities have been reported in cardiovascular disease. However, ethnic disparities in takotsubo syndrome (TTS) remain elusive. This study assessed differences in clinical characteristics between Japanese and European TTS patients and determined the impact of ethnicity on in-hospital outcomes.

Mexiletine for ventricular arrhythmias in patients with chronic coronary syndrome: a cohort study.

Background: The pharmacological therapy of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with unsuccessful or not feasible catheter ablation and contraindication or inefficacy to amiodarone and beta-blockers, is controversial. The present study investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of mexiletine in patients with recurrent ventricular arrhythmias and ischaemic heart disease, when the conventional antiarrhythmic therapy failed.

Methods: We enrolled all consecutive patients with unsuccessful/not feasible catheter ablation and ineffective/contraindicated amiodarone or beta-blockers, which started the mexiletine treatment for refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) between January 2010 and January 2020.

Prognostic impact of acute pulmonary triggers in patients with takotsubo syndrome: new insights from the International Takotsubo Registry.

Aims: Acute pulmonary disorders are known physical triggers of takotsubo syndrome (TTS). This study aimed to investigate prevalence of acute pulmonary triggers in patients with TTS and their impact on outcomes.

Methods And Results: Patients with TTS were enrolled from the International Takotsubo Registry and screened for triggering factors and comorbidities.

Coexistence and outcome of coronary artery disease in Takotsubo syndrome.

Aims: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute heart failure syndrome, which shares many features with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although TTS was initially described with angiographically normal coronary arteries, smaller studies recently indicated a potential coexistence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in TTS patients. This study aimed to determine the coexistence, features, and prognostic role of CAD in a large cohort of patients with TTS.

Age-Related Variations in Takotsubo Syndrome.

Background: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) occurs predominantly in post-menopausal women but is also found in younger patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate age-related differences in TTS.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with TTS and enrolled in the International Takotsubo Registry between January 2011 and February 2017 were included in this analysis and were stratified by age (younger: ≤50 years, middle-age: 51 to 74 years, elderly: ≥75 years).

An unusual case of AV block.

Nerium oleander is an evergreen small tree, very used in some countries such as India and in Sri Lanka as a self-medication method. We report a case of a 55 year-old man with intermittent, advanced AV block secondary to oleander intoxication.

Intraventricular Thrombus Formation and Embolism in Takotsubo Syndrome: Insights From the International Takotsubo Registry.

Objective: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by acute left ventricular dysfunction, which can contribute to intraventricular thrombus and embolism. Still, prevalence and clinical impact of thrombus formation and embolic events on outcome of TTS patients remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate clinical features and outcomes of patients with and without intraventricular thrombus or embolism.

Clinical Predictors and Prognostic Impact of Recovery of Wall Motion Abnormalities in Takotsubo Syndrome: Results From the International Takotsubo Registry.

Background Left ventricular (LV) recovery in takotsubo syndrome (TTS) occurs over a wide-ranging interval, varying from hours to weeks. We sought to investigate the clinical predictors and prognostic impact of recovery time for TTS patients. Methods and Results TTS patients from the International Takotsubo Registry were included in this study.

Management of a patient with heart failure by sacubitril/valsartan: improvement of functional capacity.

The main objectives of the treatment of heart failure (HF) are to improve patient clinical status, functional capacity and quality of life, as well as reducing re-hospitalization rate and mortality. A new compound, consisting of an angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) (valsartan) and a neprilysin (NEP) inhibitor (sacubitril), belonging to the newly established class of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) showed marked efficacy, without any relevant safety issue, in the treatment of patients with HF. We report a case of a 48 year old male with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) due to hypertensive cardiomyopathy (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III).

Single vs double antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndrome: Predictors of bleeding after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Aim: To investigate the contribution of anti-platelet therapy and derangements of pre-operative classical coagulation and thromboelastometry parameters to major bleeding post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: Two groups of CABG patients were studied: Group A, treated with aspirin alone (n = 50), and Group B treated with aspirin and clopidogrel (n = 50). Both had similar preoperative, clinical, biologic characteristics and operative management.

The danger of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut: ROTEM-guided administration of recombinant activated factor VII in a patient with refractory bleeding post-ventricular assist device implantation.

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is currently approved for treating or preventing hemorrhage in patients with hemophilia, Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, or congenital FVII deficiency. Its "off-label" use for massive bleeding in the setting of trauma or surgery has been increasing because of demonstrated efficacy. However, the use of rFVIIa also carries a high thrombo-embolic risk.

Alternative splicing of platelet cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Recently, we cloned from platelet mRNA a novel cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 splice variant, designated COX-2a, which is characterized by a partial deletion of exon 5. Preliminary studies of mRNA distribution of COX-2 isoforms in platelets from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients showed a variable increase in COX-2a mRNA expression after cardiac surgery. Thus, we assessed whether this variant may play a functional role in these patients.