Long-term results of edge-to-edge and neochordal mitral repair for isolated anterior leaflet lesion: a propensity match analysis.

Objectives: Mitral regurgitation due to anterior mitral leaflet lesions is associated with an increased risk of mitral regurgitation recurrence after mitral valve repair compared with posterior leaflet-related lesions. Both edge-to-edge (E-to-E) and neochordal repair, associated with ring annuloplasty, have been used in our institution to address isolated anterior mitral leaflet lesions. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and echocardiographic long-term results of those two approaches for isolated anterior mitral leaflet lesions by means of a propensity match analysis.

Bicuspid Aortic Valve, from the Unknown till the Perfection of the Species.

The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital cardiac abnormality. Though most often isolated, BAV may be associated with other cardiovascular malformations. BAV-related aortopathy is the most common, sharing genetic alterations and phenotypic heterogeneity characteristics.

The prevalence, aetiologies, and clinical consequences of tricuspid regurgitation associated with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Aims: The prevalence, the aetiologies, and the clinical features of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in the context of concomitant degenerative mitral valve (MV) disease are poorly defined. This paper aims to assess the prevalence, determinants, and clinical consequences of TR in severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR).

Methods And Results: Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were collected among patients with severe DMR.

Understanding learners' experiences across three major transitions in undergraduate medical education.

Background: Medical students in the United States undergo three significant transitions as they progress from pre-clinical to clinical rotations, to acting interns, and ultimately to first-year resident. However, there is limited understanding of whether the factors and strategies that impact these transitions remain consistent or are unique to each individual transition.

Methods: Qualitative data was collected from three Nominal Group Technique (NGT) sessions held separately for third-year students (M3), fourth-year students (M4), and first-year residents (PGY-1).

Impact on Outcome of Different Mechanisms, Baseline Degree and Changes of Mitral Regurgitation in Patients With Aortic Stenosis Who Underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is frequent in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Although primary MR is an established negative prognostic factor, whether different mechanisms of MR have different effects on outcome is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the MR mechanism in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

E-vita OPEN NEO in the treatment of acute or chronic aortic pathologies: first interim results of the NEOS study.

Objectives: The aim of this multicentre study was to demonstrate the safety and clinical performance of E-vita OPEN NEO Stent Graft System (Artivion, Inc.) in the treatment of aneurysm or dissection, both acute and chronic, in the ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta.

Methods: In this observational study of 12 centres performed in Europe and in Asia patients were enrolled between December 2020 and March 2022.

Promoting Longitudinal and Developmental Computer-Based Assessments of Clinical Reasoning: Validity Evidence for a Clinical Reasoning Mapping Exercise.

Purpose: Clinical reasoning is vitally important for practitioners across the health professions. However, the assessment of clinical reasoning remains a significant challenge. Combined with other assessment methods, non-workplace-based assessment can increase opportunities to address multiple components of clinical reasoning, evaluate growth, and foster learning, but tools with validity evidence to assess clinical reasoning outside the workplace are scare.

Neochordae implantation versus leaflet resection in mitral valve posterior leaflet prolapse and dilated left ventricle: a propensity score matching comparison with long-term follow-up.

Objectives: Uncorrected severe mitral regurgitation (MR) due to posterior prolapse leads to left ventricular dilatation. At this stage, mitral valve repair becomes mandatory to avoid permanent myocardial injury. However, which technique among neochoardae implantation and leaflet resection provides the best results in this scenario remains unknown.

TRI-SCORE: a single-centre validation study.

Objectives: The TRI-SCORE is a recently published risk score for predicting in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing isolated tricuspid valve surgery (ITVS). The aim of this study is to externally validate the ability of the TRI-SCORE in predicting in-hospital and long-term mortality following ITVS.

Methods: A retrospective review of our institutional database was carried out to identify all patients undergoing isolated tricuspid valve repair or replacement from March 1997 to March 2021.

The impact of mitral valve surgery on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with Barlow's disease: preliminary results of a prospective study.

Objectives: Aim of this study was to evaluate arrhythmic burden of patients with Barlow's disease and significant mitral regurgitation (MR) and assess the impact of mitral repair on ventricular arrhythmias (VA) in this group of subjects.

Methods: We prospectively included 88 consecutive patients with Barlow's disease referred to our Institution from February 2021 to May 2022. All enrolled patients underwent 24-h Holter monitoring before surgery.

Ratio between right ventricular longitudinal strain and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure: A novel prognostic parameter in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation.

Background: In terms of pathophysiology, tricuspid regurgitation (TR), right ventricular function and pulmonary artery pressure are linked to each other. Our aim was to analyze whether the echocardiography-derived right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain/pulmonary artery systolic pressures (RVFWLS/PASP) ratio can improve risk stratification in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR).

Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, 250 consecutive patients with severe TR were enrolled from December 2015 to December 2018.

Feasibility and reliability of comprehensive three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography screening process for transcatheter mitral valve replacement.

Aims: The procedural planning of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) requires a specific imaging assessment to establish patient eligibility. Computed tomography (CT) is considered the reference method. In this setting, data regarding the role of transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) are lacking.

A novel versatile concept of cardioplegia delivery in cardiac surgery: The ReverseTWO cardioplegia circuit system.

Nowadays, the necessity of having a cardioplegia circuit capable of being adapted in order to administer different types of cardioplegia is strategically fundamental, both for the perfusionist and for the cardiac surgeon. This allows to avoid cutting tubes, guarantees sterility and, most of all, limits the number of cardioplegia circuits for the different strategies of cardiac arrest. The novel "ReverseTWO cardioplegia circuit system" is the development of the precedent "Reverse system" where mainly the 4:1 and crystalloid cardioplegia were used, It has the advantage of allowing immediate change of cardioplegia set-up versus four types of cardioplegia technique, when the strategy is unexpectedly changed before the beginning of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), is safe and enables the perfusionist to use one single custom pack of cardioplegia.

The Florida Clinical Skills Collaborative: A New Regional Consortium for the Assessment of Clinical Skills.

Discontinuation of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) exam and Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Level 2 Performance Evaluation (2-PE) raised questions about the ability of medical schools to ensure the clinical skills competence of graduating students. In February 2021, representatives from all Florida, United States, allopathic and osteopathic schools initiated a collaboration to address this critically important issue in the evolving landscape of medical education. A 5-point Likert scale survey of all members (n=18/20 individuals representing 10/10 institutions) reveals that initial interest in joining the collaboration was high among both individuals (mean 4.

Long Term Results of Reduction Ascending Aortoplasty.

The aim of this retrospective study is to show medium-long-term results in terms of cardiac death and aortic events in patients undergoing reduction ascending aortoplasty between 1997 and 2009 in our hospital. The Fine and Grey model for competing risk analysis was performed for time to cardiac death, with non-cardiac death as the competing risk, and time to recurrence of both re-dilation (aortic diameter > 45 mm) and re-operation with overall death as the competing risk. Paired t-test was used to evaluate the change in aortic diameter from the post-operative values to follow-up.

Isolation, Characterization, and Autophagy Function of BECN1-Splicing Isoforms in Cancer Cells.

Alternative splicing allows the synthesis of different protein variants starting from a single gene. Human Beclin 1 () is a key autophagy regulator that acts as haploinsufficient tumor suppressor since its decreased expression correlates with tumorigenesis and poor prognosis in cancer patients. Recent studies show that BECN1 mRNA undergoes alternative splicing.

Edge-to-Edge Technique Used as a Bailout for Suboptimal Mitral Repair: Long-term Results.

Background: For cases of initial suboptimal mitral valve repair, the edge-to-edge (EE) technique has been used as a bailout procedure. However the long-term durability of those rescued mitral valves is currently unknown. With this study we aim to evaluate the long-term clinical and echocardiographic results of the EE technique used to rescue patients with initial suboptimal conventional mitral valve repair.

Myocardial fibrosis in asymptomatic patients undergoing surgery for mitral and aortic valve regurgitation.

Background: Chronic heart valve regurgitation induces left ventricular (LV) volume overload, leading to the development of hypertrophy and progressive dilatation of the ventricle to maintain physiological cardiac output. In order to prevent potential irreversible LV structural changes, the identification of the best timing for treatment is pivotal.

Objective: To assess the presence and extent of fibrosis in myocardial tissue in asymptomatic patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) and preserved LV dimensions and function undergoing cardiac surgery.

Mitral Repair With Complete Rings or Posterior Bands in Barlow Disease: Long-term Results.

Background: Complete rings or posterior bands are both commonly used during mitral valve repair, but which one ensures the best long-term outcome in patients with Barlow disease is a topic of debate. This study evaluated whether the type of annuloplasty device affects the long-term durability of the repair.

Methods: We selected 296 consecutive patients with severe mitral regurgitation due to Barlow disease who underwent edge-to-edge mitral repair at our institution between 2004 and 2013.