Reduction in acute coronary syndromes during coronavirus disease 2019 global pandemic: data from the Marche region of Italy.

Aims: During the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, a worldwide reduction in total acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has been reported. In early 2020, Italy became the most affected country and national lockdown was declared early on in March. We described trends in ACS from all the Marche coronary catheterization laboratories (CCL) during the global pandemic.

Prospective Study of Tricuspid Regurgitation Associated With Permanent Leads After Cardiac Rhythm Device Implantation.

Background: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) has been associated with cardiac rhythm device (CRD) implantation with intracardiac lead insertion. However, data on the incidence of postdevice TR are limited and largely from retrospective studies. We hypothesized that permanent lead implantation would be associated with an increase in TR.

Global Longitudinal Strain as a Predictor of First and Subsequent Arrhythmic Events in Remotely Monitored ICD Patients With Structural Heart Disease.

Objectives: This study sought to assess speckle-tracking-derived parameters as predictors of first and subsequent ventricular events in patients with structural heart disease and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD).

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the current primary parameter of risk stratification for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in structural heart diseases is burdened by many limitations.

Methods: In this retrospective, observational study, all consecutive patients with structural heart disease were admitted for ICD implantation.

Comparisons of microvascular and macrovascular changes in aldosteronism-related hypertension and essential hypertension.

Case-control observational study to evaluate the microvascular and macrovascular changes in patients with hypertension secondary to primary aldosteronism (PA), essential hypertension (EH) and healthy subjects. Measurements of arterial stiffness including augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were assessed using a TensioClinic arteriograph system. Retinal microcirculation was imaged by a Retinal Vessel Analyzer (RVA) and a non-midriatic camera (Topcon-TRC-NV2000).

Prospective study of tricuspid valve regurgitation associated with permanent leads in patients undergoing cardiac rhythm device implantation: Background, rationale, and design.

Given the increasing numbers of cardiac device implantations worldwide, it is important to determine whether permanent endocardial leads across the tricuspid valve can promote tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Virtually all current data is retrospective, and indicates a signal of TR being increased after permanent lead implantation. However, the precise incidence of moderate or greater TR post-procedure, the exact mechanisms (mechanical, traumatic, functional), and the hemodynamic burden and clinical effects of this putative increase in TR, remain uncertain.

Electrical and Myocardial Remodeling in Primary Aldosteronism.

Objective And Design: Primary aldosteronism (PA) represents the most common cause of secondary hypertension. A higher risk of cardiovascular events has been reported in patients with PA than in otherwise similar patients with essential hypertension (EH). So far, only a few studies investigated the electrocardiographic changes in PA patients compared to EH patients.

Lack of the QTc physiologic decrease during cardiac stress test in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with secretagogues.

Patients with type 2 diabetes are at increased susceptibility to a prolonged QT interval. Furthermore, insulin secretagogues, drugs used to treat diabetes, may prolong QT interval and provoke arrhythmias. We evaluated whether secretagogues can affect QTc interval during cardiac stress test in 20 patients with type 2 diabetes treated with secretagogues.