Updates on Baroreflex Activation Therapy and Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

In the last decade, neuromodulation via baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has emerged as an innovative approach for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). A review of the literature was conducted to examine the latest efficacy and safety data on neuromodulation for the treatment of HFrEF. Two independent researchers searched the PubMed, clinicaltrials.

Expression of Interleukin-17, Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, and Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 in Patients with Chronic Peri-Implant Mucositis.

BACKGROUND The present study aimed to evaluate whether non-surgical treatment interferes with clinical parameters and local patterns of osteo-immunoinflammatory mediators (IL-17 and TNF-alpha) and matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) that are found in peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) and biofilms during the progression of peri-implant mucositis. MATERIAL AND METHODS We selected 30 patients with peri-implant caused mucositis before (MP) and after treatment (TP) and 30 healthy people (HP) for the analysis of IL-17, TNF-alpha cytokine, and MMP-8 production in PICF and for analysis of colonization dynamics of periodontopathogenic bacteria in supra- and subgingival plaque samples. The levels of IL-17 and MMP-8 concentrations in samples were assayed by enzymatic immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and TNF-alpha levels were determined by enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay (EASIA) method in PICF.

Clinical predictors of antitachycardia pacing response in implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients.

Background: Antitachycardia pacing (ATP) provides safe and painless termination of reentrant ventricular arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICDs), improving their quality of life. Established predictors of ATP responsiveness are not well known; only longer ventricular tachycardia (VT) cycle length and higher ejection fraction have been found to predict ATP success.

Objective: To investigate clinical and ECG predictors of ATP response in ICD patients with monomorphic VT.

Peripheral Blood Leukocytes Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β) Cytokine Hyper-Reactivity in Chronic Periodontitis.

BACKGROUND Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β) released by peripheral blood leukocyte medium (PBLM), isolated from chronic periodontitis patients (P) before therapy and matched to controls, were determined in the presence or absence of non-opsonized Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this investigation, 26 patients with untreated, severe, generalized, chronic periodontitis and 26 healthy subjects (H) were enrolled. Periodontal status was assessed by measuring bleeding on probing (BOP), clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), and Ramfjord index (PDI).

The healthcare utilization and cost of treating patients experiencing inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks: a propensity score study.

Background: Inappropriate shocks (IASs) from implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are associated with decreased quality of life, but whether they increase healthcare utilization and treatment costs is unknown. We sought to determine the impact of IASs on subsequent healthcare utilization and treatment costs.

Methods: We conducted a case-control analysis of ICD patients at a single institution from 1997 to 2010 and who had ≥12 months of post-ICD implant follow-up.

A comparison of outcomes for patients receiving implantable cardioverter defibrillators for primary vs secondary-prevention.

Objective: Compare characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) for primary vs secondary cardiac arrest prevention.

Methods: Patients in this cohort study were identified from a prospectively collected ICD database from June 1999 to August 2003 and divided into groups based on whether they received their ICD for primary or secondary-prevention of cardiac arrest. Patient follow-up continued until August of 2006 and the occurrence of appropriate ICD shocks, inappropriate ICD shocks, and mortality were compared between groups.

Effects of ischemia on repolarization in patients with single and multivessel coronary disease.

To evaluate if QT dispersion (QTd) may be affected by the number of obstructed coronary arteries (CAs) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and undergoing angioplasty, and to evaluate if QTd may be affected by ejection function of the heart. The infarct related CA was identified by coronary angiography in 141 patients (97 men, mean age 61.6 +/- 12.

The immediate and short-term effect of successful percutaneous coronary intervention on repolarization in acute myocardial infarction patients.

Objectives: The primary objective was to assess the immediate and short-term impact of successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on QT dispersion (QT disp) and corrected QT dispersion (QTc disp). Secondarily, the impact of PCI on QT and QTc disp within different infarct-related arteries and the impact of successful PCI in these different arteries were evaluated.

Methods: Patients (n = 140, age 61.