Impact of Acute Energy Drink Consumption on Heart Rate Variability in Children and Adolescents. A Randomized Trial.

The EDUCATE study investigated the acute impact of energy drink (ED) consumption on heart rate variability (HRV) in children and adolescents, with a focus on how these stimulant-rich beverages influence cardiac autonomic function. Given the popularity of EDs among young people, this study assessed the immediate cardiovascular response to ED intake. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involved 26 healthy participants aged 10-18 years.

Successful non-invasive imaging of the coronary artery IMT in pediatric patients with Kawasaki disease using high-resolution echocardiography.

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a multisystemic vasculitis of medium- and small-sized arteries. Abnormal intimal thickening may develop in the involved arterial area after regression of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA). Intimal dysfunction may induce local stenosis or arteriosclerosis in the future.

Single center experience with ABO-incompatible and ABO-compatible pediatric heart transplantation.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the results after pediatric heart transplantation (pHTx) at our single center differentiating between ABO-incompatible (ABOi) and -compatible (ABOc) procedures.

Methods And Patients: We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of ABO-incompatible HTx procedures performed at our center and compared the data to ABO-compatible HTx of the same era. Eighteen children (<17 months) underwent pediatric HTx and seven of them underwent ABO-incompatible HTx between 2003 and 2015.

Reduction of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy by PCI: Quantification and Correlation With Outcome After Heart Transplantation.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) might improve outcome at severe stages of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) among patients after heart transplantation (HTx). Yet, risk stratification of HTx patients after PCI remains challenging.

Aims: To assess whether the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) CAV classification remains prognostic after PCI and whether risk-stratification models of non-transplanted patients extend to HTx patients with CAV.

Acute Cardiovascular Effects of Simultaneous Energy Drink and Alcohol Consumption in Young Adults: A Review of Case Reports.

(1) Background: The aim of this review was to identify and summarize adverse cardiovascular health events associated with the simultaneous consumption of energy drinks (ED) and alcohol. Potential prevention strategies and the implementation of research toward the underlying mechanisms for these pathologies were highlighted to emphasize the need for further investigation and to encourage more attention to this field. (2) Methods: The PubMed database was searched for case reports linked with adverse cardiovascular events after simultaneous ED and alcohol consumption.

Fontan Circulation and Aortic Stiffness: Insights into Vascular Dynamics and Haemodynamic Interplay.

Unlabelled: Increased aortic stiffness predisposes cardiac afterload and influences cardiac function. Congenital heart diseases involving aortic arch malformation and extended cardiovascular surgery, i.e.

Case report: Paracorporeal lung assist device for 215 days as a bridge-to-lung transplantation in a patient with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and severe pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a known and life limiting complication of preterm born young adults with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), ultimately leading to progressive right ventricular (RV) failure. Prognosis remains poor, especially in patients unresponsive to modern vasoactive pharmacotherapy. Therefore, lung transplantation presents the treatment of choice to avert cardiac failure.

Pediatric Syncope: Is the Diagnostic Guideline Implemented and Adhered to?

Background: We sought to investigate adherence to the current pediatric syncope guideline in the emergency department and its impact on the frequency of missed or unnecessary diagnostic measures. For the first time, in 2014 updated guideline defines indispensable basic diagnostic measures and a consecutive algorithm for safe clinical decision making.

Patients And Method: We analyzed retrospectively 314 pediatric patients, 166 were presented before and 148 after publication of this guideline update.

Vascular health of fathers with history of intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Objective: Studies suggest that men who undergo assisted reproductive technologies (ART) may have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease; however, limited data on this matter is available. This observational pilot study aimed to investigate the overall vascular health of fathers with history of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) compared to fathers whose partners conceived spontaneously.

Methods: Diet quality, physical activity, sedentary behavior as well as overall vascular function including the assessment of pulse wave analysis, intima-media thickness (cIMT), arterial stiffness of the common carotid artery (CCA) and blood lipids, were evaluated.

Familiar Disposition of May-Thurner Syndrome-A Case Series.

May-Thurner syndrome is a venous compression syndrome of the pelvic vessels that represents a relevant risk factor for thrombus formation. The standard procedure to secure a diagnosis is venography, followed by endovascular therapy as the preferred treatment choice if the patient is symptomatic. In our case series, there are three related patients with May-Thurner syndrome.

Vascular function in a cohort of children, adolescents and young adults conceived through assisted reproductive technologies-results from the Munich heARTerY-study.

Background: Over 8 million individuals worldwide have been conceived through assisted reproductive technologies (ART). There is conflicting evidence on the cardiovascular health of ART offspring. This study aimed to investigate vascular function in a cohort of children, adolescents and young adults conceived through ART compared to spontaneously conceived peers.

Case report: Beneficial long-term effect of the atrial-flow-regulator device in a pediatric patient with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and recurring syncope.

We report the long-term effect after successfully implanting an 8 mm Atrial-flow-regulator (AFR) device in a 7-year-old girl with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension with persistent syncope under triple therapy with significant improvement after implantation and absence of any further syncope. Early Implantation of the AFR device (Occlutech, Germany) can be efficient and safe interventional therapy option for pulmonary arterial hypertension with a history of syncope.

MRI pulmonary artery flow detects lung vascular pathology in preterms with lung disease.

Background: Pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) affects the majority of preterm neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and significantly determines long-term mortality through undetected progression into pulmonary hypertension. Our objectives were to associate characteristics of pulmonary artery (PA) flow and cardiac function with BPD-associated PVD near term using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for improved risk stratification.

Methods: Preterms <32 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) with/without BPD were clinically monitored including standard echocardiography and prospectively enrolled for 3 T MRI in spontaneous sleep near term (AIRR (Attention to Infants at Respiratory Risks) study).

Evaluation of the diagnostic and prognostic potential of optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the pulmonary arteries during standardised right heart catheterisation in patients with pulmonary hypertension: a cross-sectional single-centre experience.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is diagnosed based on an invasive evaluation of the mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressure. The morphological assessment of the pulmonary arteries was only recently not feasible. With the advent of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-imaging, an accessible tool allows to study PA morphology longitudinally.

Case report: Central venous catheter thrombosis complicated by chronic thromboembolic disease/pulmonary hypertension in two children requiring parenteral nutrition.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is a rare but life-threatening complication of long-term central venous catheters (CVC) in children. However, evidence in terms of potential treatment strategies and outcome data remains scarce. We describe two cases of CVC-related thrombosis (Hickman-catheter) complicated by recurrent pulmonary emboli.

Energy Drinks and Adverse Health Events in Children and Adolescents: A Literature Review.

This review aims to investigate and summarize adverse health events in children and adolescents associated with energy drink (ED) consumption, while also exploring the impact of simultaneous trigger factors and/or preexisting health conditions. We searched the database of PubMed, Cochrane library, and Web of Science for cases associated with ED consumption in minors up to 9 May 2023. The literature written in English met inclusion criteria if patients were <18 years of age and the ED consumption was confirmed.

Energy drinks: effects on pediatric 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. A randomized trial.

Background: Energy drinks (EDs) are popular beverages among minors. To date, clinical studies investigating ED-induced effects on the pediatric cardiovascular system are sparse. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a single, bodyweight-adjusted ED dosage on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in healthy children and adolescents.

Left ventricular systolic function in subjects conceived through assisted reproductive technologies.

Background: Over the past decades, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have gained remarkable influence in the treatment of infertility and account for more than 2 % of births in European countries nowadays. Accumulating evidence suggests ART to cause cardiovascular alterations, including left ventricular (LV) dysfunctions, within its offspring. The aim of this study was to assess LV systolic function in subjects conceived through ART in comparison to spontaneously conceived peers.

Case report: Heart Mate III for systemic right ventricular support in a patient with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Ventricular assist device implantation presents a possible bridge to heart transplantation for patients with failing Fontan physiology. However, evidence regarding outcome and possible pitfalls associated with the Fontan circulation is still insufficient. We describe the course of a 13-year-old male, who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and underwent HeartMate III implantation due to refractory failure of the systemic right ventricle.

Oscillometric pulse wave velocity estimated via the Mobil-O-Graph shows excellent accuracy in children, adolescents and young adults: an invasive validation study.

Aims: Increased arterial stiffness, measured as arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) is associated with an elevated cardiovascular risk. Although noninvasive PWV measurement methods have been validated by invasive measurement, there is little such data on pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to 'fill the gap' by validating PWV obtained by Mobil-O-Graph in children, adolescents in comparison to young adults.

Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Subjects Conceived through Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

Subjects conceived through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) potentially suffer from impaired left ventricular (LV) function due to premature vascular aging. This study aimed to evaluate whether subtle differences in LV diastolic function can be observed echocardiographically between young ART subjects and their spontaneously conceived peers. The echocardiographic assessment included the measurement of LV dimensions, mitral inflow velocities, and myocardial velocity at early diastole (E', cm/s) at the LV wall and the interventricular septum (IVS).

Subjects Conceived through Assisted Reproductive Technologies Display Normal Arterial Stiffness.

Multiple studies reported signs of vascular dysfunction in subjects conceived through assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The assessment of arterial stiffness in this cohort seems beneficial for risk stratification. Regional arterial stiffness of the abdominal aorta (AAO) and the common carotid arteries (CCA) was evaluated sonographically using two-dimensional speckle tracking in subjects conceived through ART and spontaneously conceived peers.

Vascular Health in Adults Born After Using Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

An increasing number of children are conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Several studies indicated vascular alterations in ART children. However, limited data is available within the adult ART population.