Clinical Features and Patient Outcomes in Infective Endocarditis with Surgical Indication: A Single-Centre Experience.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is marked by a heightened risk of embolic events (EEs), uncontrolled infection, or heart failure (HF).

Methods: Patients with IE and surgical indication were enrolled from October 2015 to December 2018. The primary endpoint consisted of a composite of major adverse events (MAEs) including all-cause death, hospitalizations, and IE relapses.

Vitamin D and Ceramide Metabolomic Profile in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Sphingolipids (SLs) influence several cellular pathways, while vitamin D exerts many extraskeletal effects in addition to its traditional biological functions, including the modulation of calcium homeostasis and bone health. Moreover, Vitamin D and SLs affect the regulation of each others' metabolism; hence, this study aims to evaluate the relationship between the levels of 25(OH)D and ceramides in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In particular, the blood abundance of eight ceramides and 25(OH)D was evaluated in 134 AMI patients (aged 68.

Environmental Temperature, Other Climatic Variables, and Cardiometabolic Profile in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

To evaluate CV profiles, periprocedural complications, and in-hospital mortality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) according to climate. Data from 2478 AMI patients (1779 men; mean age 67 ∓ 13 years; Pasquinucci Hospital ICU, Massa, Italy; 2007-2018) were retrospectively analyzed according to climate (LAMMA Consortium; Firenze, Italy) by using three approaches as follows: (1) annual warm (May-October) and cold (November-April) periods; (2) warm and cold extremes of the two periods; and (3) warm and cold extremes for each month of the two periods. All approaches highlighted a higher percentage of AMI hospitalization for patients with adverse CV profiles in relation to low temperatures, or higher periprocedural complications and in-hospital deaths.

Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and Systemic Inflammatory Response Index as Predictors of Mortality in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

(1) The systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI; neutrophil count × monocyte/lymphocyte count), and the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII; platelet count × neutrophil count/lymphocyte count) are recently proposed biomarkers to assess the immune and inflammatory status. However, data on SIRI and SII are still relatively lacking and do not definitively and exhaustively define their role as predictors of an adverse prognosis in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of the present study was to evaluate SII and SIRI determinants as well as to assess SIRI and SII prognostic power in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Right anterior mini-thoracotomy and sutureless valves: the perfect marriage.

Background: A minimally invasive approach (MIA) reduces mortality and morbidity in patients referred for aortic valve replacement (AVR). Sutureless technology facilitates a MIA. We describe our experience with the sutureless Perceval (LivaNova, Italy) aortic bioprosthesis through a right anterior mini-thoracotomy (RAMT) approach.

Hepatitis C virus eradication with direct-acting antiviral improves insulin resistance.

Sustained virological response (SVR) after interferon-based therapy is associated with improvement of insulin resistance (IR) in HCV-infected patients. Few data are available in the direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) era, especially in cirrhotic patients. We prospectively evaluated the long-term effect of DAAs on IR.

Minimally Invasive Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement is Associated With Improved Outcomes in Patients With Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

Objective: Patients with severe aortic stenosis and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have a poor prognosis compared with patients with preserved LVEF. To evaluate the impact of sutureless Perceval (LivaNova, Italy) aortic bioprosthesis on LVEF and clinical outcomes in patients with baseline left ventricular (LV) dysfunction who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods: Between March 2011 and August 2017, 803 patients underwent AVR with Perceval bioprosthesis implantation.

Large Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in a High-Risk Surgical Patient: Combined Percutaneous Transfemoral TAVI and EVAR Procedure.

A 78-year-old man was referred for surgical treatment of a 55 x 59 mm abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, clinical and instrumental data revealed a more complex case than was initially thought, the patient having a large AAA in the setting of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis with multiple comorbidities. Following multidisciplinary discussion, a combined transcatheter aortic valve implantation and endovascular aneurysm repair was performed.

Correlation of skin barrier impairment in atopic dermatitis with aeroallergen sensitization.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) often predates the development of allergic sensitization in the so-called atopic march. Several studies have pointed out epidermal barrier impairment as a major cause of this evolution.

Objective: The present study aimed to assess atopic skin integrity by means of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and Corneometer, and to investigate possible correlations between barrier integrity measurements and the degree of sensitization to aeroallergens (allergy score).

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement with a sutureless valve through a right anterior mini-thoracotomy versus transcatheter aortic valve implantation in high-risk patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare early outcomes and mid-term survival of high-risk patients undergoing minimally invasive aortic valve replacement through right anterior mini-thoracotomy (RT) with sutureless valves versus patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis.

Methods: From October 2008 to March 2013, 269 patients with severe aortic stenosis underwent either RT with perceval S sutureless valves (n = 178 patients, 66.2%) or TAVI (n = 91, 33.

Regression of left ventricular mass after implantation of the sutureless 3f Enable aortic bioprosthesis.

Left ventricular hypertrophy in aortic stenosis is considered a compensatory response for the maintenance of systolic function but a risk factor for cardiac morbidity and death. We investigated the degree of left ventricular mass regression after implantation of the sutureless Medtronic 3f Enable Aortic Bioprosthesis. We studied 19 patients who, from May 2010 through July 2011, underwent isolated aortic valve replacement with the 3f Enable bioprosthetic valve, with clinical and echocardiographic follow-up at 6 months.

Left ventricular mass regression after two alternative sutureless aortic bioprostheses.

Objective: Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy in aortic stenosis (AS) constitutes a risk factor for cardiac morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of LV mass regression after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with two alternative sutureless self-expanding strategies: Perceval S (Sorin Group, Saluggia, Italy) (P) and 3f Enable (Medtronic, ATS Medical, Minneapolis, MN USA) (E) aortic bioprostheses.

Methods: Between March 2010 and December 2011, 129 patients with symptomatic AS underwent AVR with the Perceval S or 3f Enable bioprostheses in two cardiac surgery departments (Massa, Italy; Nuremberg, Germany).

Short-term follow up with the 3f Enable aortic bioprosthesis: clinical and echocardiographic results.

Background And Aim Of The Study: High-risk patients referred for aortic valve replacement (AVR) may benefit from sutureless technology in order to reduce mortality and morbidity. Herein is described the authors' initial experience and short-term results of the sutureless 3f Enable aortic bioprosthesis.

Methods: A total of 28 patients (19 females, nine males; mean age 76.

Von Willebrand factor antigen predicts response to double dose of aspirin and clopidogrel by PFA-100 in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is an emerging risk factor in acute coronary syndromes. Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA-100) with Collagen/Epinephrine (CEPI) is sensitive to functional alterations of VWF and also identifies patients with high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR). The objective of this study was to verify the effect of double dose (DD) of aspirin and clopidogrel on HPR detected by PFA-100 and its relation to VWF and to its regulatory metalloprotease ADAMTS-13.

Impact of pulmonary hypertension on mortality after operation for isolated aortic valve stenosis.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a well-known independent risk factor for mortality and morbidity after cardiac surgery. However, no weight is given to PH in the current guidelines for the management of patients with aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative PH on early and five-year survival in patients with severe AS undergoing isolated AVR.

Elevated soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome and positive cardiac troponin I.

Objectives: High levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) have been shown to have an atheroprotective role; however, no data are available on this molecule in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We evaluated sRAGE levels in patients with non-ST segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS) or with chronic stable angina.

Methods: We studied 265 patients, 190 of whom had NSTE-ACS and 75 had chronic stable angina.