Multiplication rate variation of malaria parasites from hospital cases and community infections.

The significance of multiplication rate variation in malaria parasites needs to be determined, particularly for Plasmodium falciparum, the species that causes most virulent infections. To investigate this, parasites from cases presenting to hospital in The Gambia and from local community infections were culture-established and then tested under exponential growth conditions in a standardised six-day multiplication rate assay. The multiplication rate distribution was lower than seen previously in clinical isolates from another area in West Africa where infection is more highly endemic.

Left bundle branch area pacing in heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis with meta-regression.

Introduction: Left bundle branch area pacing is an alternative to biventricular pacing. In this study, we aim to summarize the available evidence on the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of left bundle branch block area pacing (LBBAP).

Objectives: The study summarizes the available evidence on the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of left bundle branch block area pacing (LBBAP).

Assessment of left ventricular global longitudinal strain in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease.

Impaired left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) each confer adverse prognosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Despite their prevalence, data on GLS in co-existent HCM and CAD is lacking. Ninety-six patients with HCM and CAD were retrospectively identified between 2005 and 2021, and analyzed using 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Left ventricular strain and myocardial work in apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) is recognized for its associated cardiovascular morbidity. Herein we describe left ventricular (LV) function and mechanics over long-term follow-up in ApHCM.

Methods: A retrospective study of 98 consecutive ApHCM patients was performed (mean age: 64±15 years, 46% female) using 2D and speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Right ventricular hypertrophy in apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH+) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs in one third of patients, however, outcomes in apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) have not been described. We hypothesized that RVH+ in ApHCM is associated with more ventricular remodeling and dysfunction, and increased adverse events when compared with those without RVH (RVH-).

Methods: Ninety-one ApHCM patients were retrospectively analyzed using 2D and speckle-tracking echocardiography (64 ± 16 years old, 43% female).

Echocardiographic Features of Longevity: A Cross-Sectional Study of Centenarians.

Background: Centenarians represent an under-studied population within cardiovascular medicine. This study aimed to describe the echocardiographic characteristics of a cohort of centenarians at a tertiary referral center.

Materials And Methods: The institutional Echocardiography database was retrospectively reviewed and identified 100 consecutive centenarians referred for transthoracic echocardiography between January 2009 and December 2020.

Resolution of the curse of dimensionality in single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) can determine gene expression in numerous individual cells simultaneously, promoting progress in the biomedical sciences. However, scRNA-seq data are high-dimensional with substantial technical noise, including dropouts. During analysis of scRNA-seq data, such noise engenders a statistical problem known as the curse of dimensionality (COD).

Systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a narrative review.

Background And Objective: The prevalence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is estimated to be 1 in 200 to 500 individuals, with systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve (MV) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction present in 60% to 70%. In this narrative review, we aim to elucidate the pathophysiology of SAM-septal contact and LVOT obstruction in HCM by presenting a detailed review on the anatomy of the MV apparatus in HCM, examining the various existing theories pertaining to the SAM phenomenon as supported by cardiac imaging, and providing a critical assessment of management strategies for SAM in HCM.

Methods: A literature review was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library, of all scientific articles published through December 2021.

The trial to assess chelation therapy 2 (TACT2): Rationale and design.

Background: Intravenous edetate disodium-based infusions reduced cardiovascular events in a prior clinical trial. The Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy 2 (TACT2) will replicate the initial study design.

Methods: TACT2 is an NIH-sponsored, randomized, 2x2 factorial, double masked, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial testing 40 weekly infusions of a multi-component edetate disodium (disodium ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid, or NaEDTA)-based chelation solution and twice daily oral, high-dose multivitamin and mineral supplements in patients with diabetes and a prior myocardial infarction (MI).

Impact of baseline renal dysfunction on cardiac outcomes and end-stage renal disease in heart failure patients with mitral regurgitation: the COAPT trial.

Aims: Baseline renal dysfunction (RD) adversely impacts outcomes among patients with heart failure (HF) and severe secondary mitral regurgitation (MR). Heart failure and MR, in turn, accelerate progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), worsening prognosis. We sought to determine the impact of RD in HF patients with severe MR and the impact of transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) on new-onset ESRD and the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT).

A systematic review and pooled analysis of septal myectomy and edge-to-edge mitral valve repair in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction and systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve (MV) occurs in 70% of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. In individuals undergoing septal myectomy, concomitant MV surgery is considered for SAM with residual LVOT obstruction or mitral regurgitation (MR); however, the optimal approach remains debated. A literature search was performed in Pubmed, EMBASE, Ovid, and the Cochrane library of published articles through June 2021 reporting on combined septal myectomy and edge-to-edge MV repair for obstructive HCM.

The Role of False Tendons in Left Ventricular Remodeling and Secondary Mitral Regurgitation After Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Left ventricular false tendons (LVFT) are common structures visualized on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The present study tested the hypothesis that LVFT, via a possible 'constraint' mechanism, attenuate left ventricular (LV) remodeling and secondary mitral regurgitation after acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: Seventy-one patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit following an ST-elevation (n = 63) or non-ST-elevation (n = 8) myocardial infarction were analyzed; 29 (41%) had LVFT, and 42 (59%) did not (no-LVFT).

Preliminary comparison between an in-house real-time PCR vs microscopy for the diagnosis of Loa loa and Mansonella perstans.

Infections with the filarial nematodes Loa loa and Mansonella perstans are among the most neglected filarial infections. L. loa is endemic in 11 countries of Central and West Africa and loiasis is estimated to affect about 20 million people.

Relationship between compliance and pulmonary vascular resistance in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary arterial compliance (PAC) was previously shown to be an important prognostic factor in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), in addition to the conventional pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). The product of PAC and PVR, the arterial time (RC) constant, expresses the logarithmic relationship between the hemodynamic parameters. The objective of the study was to test RC constant stability in PAH patients followed beyond 12 months after diagnosis, and to report possible RC variations in different etiologies.

Tricuspid regurgitation and in-hospital outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in high-risk patients.

Background: The prognostic impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is uncertain, and the management of patients with severe aortic stenosis and significant TR undergoing TAVR is unclear.

Methods: Retrospective study investigating the role of TR severity on hospital outcomes in high risk patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR.

Results: A total of 174 participants were included in the present study.

Transthoracic versus intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography in right heart assessment.

Methods: Fifty-four patients who had combined mitral and tricuspid valve surgery were included. Right heart measurements were performed in the TTE apical 4-chamber (A4C) and RV inflow views, and TEE mid-esophageal 4-chamber (ME4C) and transgastric RV inflow views at end-diastole. Spearman correlation coefficients (r) were applied to test for associations between the imaging modalities.

Thromboembolic Outcomes of Different Anticoagulation Strategies for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in the Setting of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Limited data is available assessing the efficacy and safety of different anticoagulation (AC) strategies for prevention of thromboembolic events, major bleeding, and all-cause mortality in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and atrial fibrillation (AF). In this systematic review, we conducted a literature search to examine the possible association between different AC strategies and prevention of these adverse outcomes.

Methods: Scientific databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus) were searched using relevant medical subject headings and keywords to retrieve studies published through September of 2019.

The effect of EDTA-based chelation on patients with diabetes and peripheral artery disease in the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT).

Objective: Approximately 1 in 7 US adults have diabetes; and over 60% of deaths in patients with diabetes have cardiac disease as a principal or contributing cause. Both coronary and peripheral artery disease (PAD) identify high-risk cohorts among patients with diabetes. We have previously demonstrated improved cardiovascular outcomes with edetate disodium-based chelation in post-MI patients with diabetes, enrolled in the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT).

Stress Cardiomyopathy in a Patient with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Case Presentation and Review of the Literature.

Stress cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are two distinct entities with different pathophysiologic causes. In the recent medical literature their concurrency has been described. During the acute phase of a stress cardiomyopathy making the diagnosis of a concomitant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may be challenging, and has important implications in both the acute and longterm clinical management.

Potential Role of Metal Chelation to Prevent the Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes.

Context: For decades, there has been epidemiologic evidence linking chronic toxic metal exposure with cardiovascular disease, suggesting a therapeutic role for metal chelation. Given the lack of compelling scientific evidence, however, the indications for metal chelation were never clearly defined. To determine the safety and efficacy of chelation therapy, the National Institutes of Health funded the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT).

Percutaneous Closure of Two Acquired Aorto-Right Ventricular Fistulae Following Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Surgery.

The present case illustrates the successful transcatheter closure of an unusual double aortic root-to-right ventricular outflow tract fistula utilizing two Amplatzer duct occluders II.