Sex differences in presenting symptoms of acute coronary syndrome: the EPIHeart cohort study.

Objectives: Prompt diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a challenge, with presenting symptoms affecting the diagnosis algorithm and, consequently, management and outcomes. This study aimed to identify sex differences in presenting symptoms of ACS.

Design: Data were collected within a prospective cohort study (EPIHeart).

Antidiabetic therapy at admission and survival in diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Highlights: Anti-diabetic drugs used at admission in myocardial infarction patients were studied.195 admissions corresponding to different patients were under analysis.No difference in survival was seen in patients using or not using DPP-4 inhibitors.

Plasma alkaline phosphatase and survival in diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) removes phosphate groups from many types of molecules. The aim of the present research was to study the relation between plasma ALP and survival in diabetic patients with myocardial infarction.

Methods: Retrospective study: from 954 admissions (15 months period) in a coronary care unit, we selected 200 admissions corresponding to 195 patients with myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus.

Massive hemoptysis as an unusual complication of right heart catheterization: Successful treatment with percutaneous stent.

The authors present a case report of successful treatment of pulmonary artery perforation by endovascular stent graft implantation.

Permanent pacemaker implantation after aortic valve replacement: Long-term dependency or rhythm recovery?

Introduction: Conduction disturbances requiring permanent pacemaker (PM) implantation occur in 3-12% of patients after aortic valve replacement (AVR). Our aim was to assess long-term PM dependency and its predictors in these patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all consecutive patients undergoing permanent PM implantation after AVR between January 2004 and December 2010.

Perception of illness symptoms in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a need to improve.

Background: Interpretation of the symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can influence the time of hospital admission and negatively affect patients' prognosis. We decided to explore illness perception and its predictors among patients with ACS.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients with ACS admitted to the cardiology department of a tertiary hospital between January and September 2011.

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy associated with ipratropium bromide therapy in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, also known as 'broken heart syndrome' or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is characterized by transient systolic dysfunction of the apical and/or mid segments of the left ventricle, in the absence of significant coronary artery disease. We report the case of a 56-year-old male patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with stress-induced cardiomyopathy associated with the use of ipratropium bromide, administered in the context of an acute exacerbation of COPD.

Paradoxical embolism associated with Ebstein's anomaly in an adult: case report.

Ebstein's anomaly (EA) is a rare congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve, often associated with other cardiac malformations, especially atrial septal defect, which is present in 80-90% of patients and predisposes to paradoxical embolization. We describe the case of a 47-year-old male, a drug abuser, with a known but not investigated cardiac murmur. He presented to the emergency department with worsening exertional dyspnea and fatigue associated with recent recurrent transient ischemic attacks.

Short and long-term outcome of stress-induced cardiomyopathy: what can we expect?

Background: Stress-induced/Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is an increasingly recognized diagnostic entity.

Objective: This study was aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical predictors of short and long-term outcome of patients (pts) diagnosed with TC.

Methods: We included all consecutive pts admitted in our department, from November 2006 to August 2011, who met the Mayo Clinic criteria for TC diagnosis.

[Prevalence of late complications and survival of patients undergoing cardiac transplantation: a single-center experience].

Introduction: Heart transplantation is the treatment of choice in severe heart failure despite maximal medical therapy, which has no other surgical alternatives and exhibiting no contraindications. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of late complications and survival of patients undergoing cardiac transplantation at our Hospital Center.

Methods: We evaluated 78 patients (mean age 43 ± 15 years) transplanted at our center between February 1987 and December 2011, with a mean follow-up of 6 years.