Epicardial Ablation for Arrhythmogenic Disorders in Patients with Brugada Syndrome.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited arrhythmogenic disorder characterized by distinct electrocardiographic patterns and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmias. Effective management of BrS is essential, particularly for high-risk patients with recurrent arrhythmias. While implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is effective in terminating life-threatening arrhythmias, it does not prevent arrhythmia onset and can lead to complications such as inappropriate shocks.

Advancements and applications of artificial intelligence in cardiovascular imaging: a comprehensive review.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming cardiovascular imaging by offering advancements across multiple modalities, including echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography (CCT), cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), interventional cardiology, nuclear medicine, and electrophysiology. This review explores the clinical applications of AI within each of these areas, highlighting its ability to improve patient selection, reduce image acquisition time, enhance image optimization, facilitate the integration of data from different imaging modality and clinical sources, improve diagnosis and risk stratification. Moreover, we illustrate both the advantages and the limitations of AI across these modalities, acknowledging that while AI can significantly aid in diagnosis, risk stratification, and workflow efficiency, it cannot replace the expertise of cardiologists.

[Potassium role in the human body and clinical implications of hyperkalemia].

Potassium is the most represented intracellular electrolyte in the human body. Its extracellular levels are maintained within strict limits through different mechanisms, which constitute the homeostasis of potassium. Hyperkalemia is the most common electrolyte disorder in patients with cardiovascular disease.

[Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in heart failure with preserved/mildly reduced ejection fraction: from TOPCAT to FINEARTS-HF].

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) represent one of the cornerstones of treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Post-hoc data from the TOPCAT trial, conducted in patients with heart failure mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFmrEF/HFpEF), suggest the possible clinical benefit of MRAs, particularly for slightly reduced ejection fraction values. The advent of non-steroidal MRAs, including finerenone, seems to represent a turning point in the treatment for HFmrEF/HFpEF.

Two still unanswered questions about uric acid and cardiovascular prevention: Is a specific uric acid cut-off needed? Is hypouricemic treatment able to reduce cardiovascular risk?

Aims: The most frequent consequence of elevated uric acid (UA) levels is the development of gout and urate kidney disease. Besides these effects, several studies have investigated the association between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular (CV) disease. High serum UA has been identified as an important determinant of all-cause and CV mortality and CV events (acute and chronic coronary syndrome, stroke and peripheral artery disease).

[ANMCO Statement: semaglutide in cardio-nephro-metabolic disorders].

Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, has emerged as a pivotal therapeutic agent in the management of the cardio-renal-metabolic continuum. Initially developed for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus, its benefits extend far beyond glucose regulation. Clinical trials have demonstrated semaglutide's potential to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events, particularly in overweight/obese patients with high cardiovascular risk, as well as improving functional capacity in patients suffering from heart failure with preserved left ventricular function.

[Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in acute heart failure: the EMPULSE trial and literature review].

In heart failure management, hospitalization is the main cause of medical costs and is associated with an increased risk of adverse events. This review reports evidence on hospitalization as the ideal setting for disease-modifying therapy implementation, with a particular focus on gliflozins in patients with stabilized acute heart failure. The authors analyze data from the EMPULSE trial, the largest clinical study that evaluated a gliflozin in acute heart failure in patients with both reduced and preserved systolic function.

Relevance of Anatomical Significance of AV Nodal Structures within Koch's Triangle and Pyramid.

The exploration of the cardiac conduction system evolved over a century, marked by groundbreaking discoveries in atrioventricular (AV) nodal physiology. Atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT), the most prevalent regular tachycardia in humans, remains enigmatic despite extensive research. Detailed examinations of AV nodal anatomy and histology reveal variations in location and shape, influencing electrophysiological properties.

[Dual pathway inhibition in peripheral arterial disease].

Despite its high worldwide prevalence and the intuitable negative prognostic connotation, for a long time peripheral artery disease (PAD) has not been the subject of particular interest by the cardiac scientific community. The availability of a new therapeutic strategy (low-dose rivaroxaban associated with acetylsalicylic acid) has reignited interest in PAD. The clear evidence derived from the COMPASS and VOYAGER PAD trials, with the possibility of using dual pathway inhibition, has given new energy to the therapeutic front against symptomatic PAD also associated with coronary artery disease.

[Polygenic risk score: a new approach to cardiovascular prevention?].

Long-lasting epidemiological studies showed that prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) is highly feasible with the management of several conditions called "risk factors", such as hypertension, cholesterol, smoking, etc. Nevertheless, risk stratification for primary prevention using a statistical combination of risk factors is suboptimal, as conventional risk factors are age-dependent, so that their treatment would be too late to be effective. Genetic risk stratification, built on the genetic variants linked to CAD, has the advantage of being embedded in DNA and then it is independent of age.

Italian Cardiological Guidelines (COCIS) for Competitive Sport Eligibility in athletes with heart disease: update 2024.

Nearly 35 years after its initial publication in 1989, the Italian Society of Sports Cardiology and the Italian Federation of Sports Medicine (FMSI), in collaboration with other leading Italian Cardiological Scientific Associations (ANCE - National Association of Outpatient Cardiology, ANMCO - National Association of Inpatient Cardiology, SIC - Italian Society of Cardiology), proudly present the 2023 version of the Cardiological Guidelines for Competitive Sports Eligibility. This publication is an update of the previous guidelines, offering a comprehensive and detailed guide for the participation of athletes with heart disease in sports. This edition incorporates the latest advances in cardiology and sports medicine, providing current information and recommendations.

Clinical profile and management of patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to cardiac care units: The EYESHOT-2 registry.

Background: The clinical governance of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has markedly changed in the last few years. We sought to assess the contemporary in-hospital management patterns of patients with AMI at a country level.

Methods: EYESHOT (EmploYEd antithrombotic therapies in patients with acute coronary Syndromes HOspitalized in iTalian cardiac care units)-2 was a nationwide, prospective registry aimed to evaluate the current management of patients admitted to intensive cardiac care units (CCUs) for an AMI in Italy.

[Ten questions about infective endocarditis].

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infective process involving the endocardium and, more frequently, the native heart valves, valvular prostheses and cardiac implantable electronic devices. IE can manifest with various non-specific symptoms making the diagnosis challenging. This condition is associated with high in-hospital and long-term mortality.

The Economic Burden of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Italy.

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases remain the primary cause of mortality in Italy. Individuals with a history of acute coronary syndrome, peripheral arterial disease, and ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack face an elevated risk of recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events, including mortality. The population aging, coupled with increasing risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and obesity, exacerbates the disease's economic impact.

[Air pollution and cardiovascular disease].

Although there is substantial evidence on the harmful effects of air pollution on human health, these are scarcely considered in the general clinical practice and also in the context of cardiovascular disease prevention. In light of the numerous epidemiological and basic research studies that have demonstrated the unfavorable impact of air pollution on the cardiovascular system, this review aims to bring this aspect to the attention of clinicians. This work describes the main air polluting components that can contribute to the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases.