A Deep Learning Ensemble Approach for Automated COVID-19 Detection from Chest CT Images.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of an automated COVID-19 detection method based on a transfer learning technique that makes use of chest computed tomography (CT) images.

Method: In this study, we used a publicly available multiclass CT scan dataset containing 4171 CT scans of 210 different patients. In particular, we extracted features from the CT images using a set of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) that had been pretrained on the ImageNet dataset as feature extractors, and we then selected a subset of these features using the Information Gain filter.

Low-dose anticoagulation after isolated mechanical aortic valve replacement with Liva Nova Bicarbon prosthesis: A post hoc analysis of LOWERING-IT Trial.

Thromboembolic complications after cardiac valve replacement are due to a complex interplay between patients' characteristics, device features and anticoagulation intensity. Subtle design and material differences in available prostheses may thrombosis. We conducted a post-hoc sub-analysis of the LOWERING-IT database to test the safety and feasibility of a low-level oral anticoagulant regime in low-risk patients with aortic LivaNova prosthetic valve replacement.

Age and blood transfusion: relationship and prognostic implications in cardiac surgery.

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a well-known predictor of acute kidney injury (AKI) and death after cardiac surgery. This study aimed to define the relationship between age and the need for RBC.

Methods: Study population included 1,765 consecutive patients undergoing on-pump procedures from 2013 to 2015.

Perioperative myocardial injury after adult heart transplant: determinants and prognostic value.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Implications of Cardiac troponin (cTnI) release after cardiac transplantation are still unclear. This study disclosed risk factors and prognostic implication of cTnI early levels in a single centre cohort operated on between January 1999 and December 2010.

Methods: Data on 362 consecutive recipients (mean age: 47.

Pattern of resolution of pulmonary hypertension, long-term allograft right ventricular function, and exercise capacity in high-risk heart transplant recipients listed under oral sildenafil.

Unresponsive pulmonary hypertension (PH) implies poor posttransplant outcomes. Data on late adaptation of the right ventricle (RV) are still few. This study evaluated three-yr RV function and remodeling, exercise capacity, and hemodynamic data in a selected group of patients initially disqualified because of PH.

Heart transplant with donor-specific antibody after immunoadsorption plus rituximab: a case report.

Different desensitization strategies are available for treating patients with preformed human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies. A highly presensitized heart recipient received immunoadsorption and rituximab therapy. The patient, with end-stage heart failure, was positive only for antibodies of HLA class I (anti-A2, A10, B17), and Luminex platform (One Lambda kit) showed a panel-reactive antibody score of 64%.

Blood transfusion after on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: focus on modifiable risk factors.

Objectives: Perioperative transfusions are known to increase morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The aims of the study were (1) to identify the clinical profile of the patient subset at highest risk from transfusion and (2) to disclose causative relationship and dose-dependency of transfusion on hospital mortality.

Methods: A prospective observational design was employed on a cohort of 1047 consecutive patients (median age 63.

Early graft failure after heart transplant: risk factors and implications for improved donor-recipient matching.

Early graft failure (EGF) is a dreaded complication after heart transplantation (HT). Despite several improvements, no effective therapy has been developed and the prognosis is poor. We evaluated the risk factors and clinical impact of EGF.

Mechanical aortic valve replacement in young women planning on pregnancy: maternal and fetal outcomes under low oral anticoagulation, a pilot observational study on a comprehensive pre-operative counseling protocol.

Objectives: This pilot prospective observational study aimed to evaluate the maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancies under low-dose oral anticoagulation therapy after aortic mechanical replacement.

Background: Need for valve replacement is still an issue for young women with native valve disease who are planning on future pregnancy. Choice of replacement device is a challenging clinical task.

Pulmonary artery hypertension in heart transplant recipients: how much is too much?

Objectives: Unresponsive pulmonary hypertension (PH) may contraindicate heart transplant since it implies poor early outcomes. The present study reports the effectiveness of oral perioperative sildenafil in allowing heart transplant candidacy and surgery in a selected group of patients initially deemed ineligible because of PH.

Methods: Between May 2005 and December 2009, 31 consecutive patients (5 females, 9 with a history of idiopatic cardiomyopathy and 16 with a history of coronary artery disease, 10 with previous sternotomies, 71.

Nutritional issues in heart transplant candidates and recipients.

Heart transplant is the golden standard in the management of end-stage heart failure. Recent studies have pointed out the role of nutritional issues in patients evaluated for heart transplant listing. In particular, extremes in body habitus, cachexia and obesity, have been characterized and identified as independent prognostic factors and clinically relevant target for therapeutic interventions.

Implications of acute kidney injury after heart transplantation: what a surgeon should know.

Objective: Data regarding risks and consequences of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac transplantation are dismissingly few and unclear. This study defined the incidence, risk factors and prognostic implication of AKI in a single-center cohort operated on between January 1999 and December 2008.

Methods: Data from 307 consecutive recipients (mean age: 47.

Minimally-invasive coronary surgery in dextrocardia and situs inversus totalis.

Dextrocardia associated to situs inversus totalis is a rare congenital conditions (prevalence of 1:10,000) in which the organs are located in a symmetric or mirror position in the opposite side of the body. These individuals usually have a normal life expectancy and the same propensity to develop ischaemic coronary disease as the general population. We report a case of a 59-year-old female patient with a single-vessel obstructive coronary disease successfully resolved via a right anterior small thoracotomy on a beating-heart using the right internal thoracic artery as a conduit for 'left' anterior descending coronary artery.

Leukoreduction program for red blood cell transfusions in coronary surgery: association with reduced acute kidney injury and in-hospital mortality.

Objective: Leukocytes in allogeneic blood transfusions cause several immunomodulatory events. This before-and-after cohort study evaluated clinical outcomes after adoption of prestorage leukoreduction program for blood transfusions, with particular focus on acute kidney injury.

Methods: One thousand thirty-four consecutive patients who underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting between January 2004 and December 2007 were included.

RIFLE criteria for acute kidney injury in valvular surgery.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The RIFLE classification, which defines three grades of increasing severity of acute kidney injury--risk (RIFLE R), injury (RIFLE I) and failure (RIFLE F), and two outcome classes (L, loss) and E (end-stage kidney disease)--represents a valuable method for evaluating acute renal failure. Risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) according to the RIFLE criteria and for operative mortality were identified in patients undergoing valvular procedures.

Methods: A single-center prospective cohort study of 1424 patients who were not receiving renal replacement therapy preoperatively was conducted between January 2004 and December 2007.

Preoperative anemia in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting predicts acute kidney injury.

Objectives: Recent authoritative studies suggested that low preoperative hemoglobin concentration may affect cardiac surgery outcomes. This study aimed, primarily, to investigate whether preoperative anemia is an independent determinant of adverse events after coronary artery bypass grafting and, secondarily, to evaluate the potential dose responsiveness between anemia severity and primary end points.

Methods: This single-center prospective study investigated 1214 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting between January 2004 and June 2007, collecting 100 variables per patient.

Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation for extubation failure after cardiac surgery: Pilot safety evaluation.

Objective: Extubation failure is a serious complication after cardiac surgery. The role of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation for acute respiratory failure in patients undergoing cardiac surgery is unknown. This study aimed to assess the safety of implementing noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in this setting and its impact on lung function and operative outcomes.

Acute hemodynamic and functional effects of surgical ventricular restoration and heart transplantation in patients with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: Peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)) and ventilatory efficiency have prognostic implications in the population with congestive heart failure. This study evaluated quality-of-life functional capacity after the 2 treatment strategies of surgical ventricular restoration and transplantation for severe left ventricular dysfunction of ischemic cause.

Methods: The 75-patient study population (between 2004 and 2006) with severe heart failure included 35 patients undergoing surgical ventricular restoration (mean age, 62.

CD117-positive cells in adult human heart are localized in the subepicardium, and their activation is associated with laminin-1 and alpha6 integrin expression.

CD117-positive cells contributing to cardiac cell turnover in normal and pathological conditions have recently been described in adult human heart. Since the precise spatial and temporal expression of extracellular matrix proteins and their receptors is critical for organ formation, we compared the distribution of cardiac primitive CD117-positive cells in the human adult normal and pathological hearts with ischemic cardiomyopathy, with respect to localization and expression of laminin and integrin isoforms. In the pathological hearts, CD117-positive cells were significantly more numerous than in the normal hearts.

Microbiologically documented nosocomial infections after cardiac surgery: an 18-month prospective tertiary care centre report.

Objective: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate frequency, characteristics, and predictors of nosocomial infections (NI) in a tertiary care centre.

Methods: Study population included 925 patients (mean age 62.3+/-12.

Different effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy on left atrial function in patients with either idiopathic or ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy: a two-dimensional speckle strain study.

Aims: In dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), attenuation of left atrial (LA) booster pump function has been observed, and attributed both to altered LA loading conditions owing to left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and to LA involvement in the myopathic process. The aim of the present study was to detect LA systolic dysfunction in DCM using speckle-tracking two-dimensional strain echocardiography (2DSE), and to assess the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on LA myocardial strain during 6 month follow-up.

Methods And Results: A total of 90 patients (aged, 52.

Quality of life after implantation of bileaflet prostheses in elderly patients: an anticoagulation work group experience.

Background: The aim of the study was to examine our experience with the implant of bileaflet mechanical prostheses and with a centralized management of anticoagulation and the related risks in patients aged older than 70 years, focusing on the resulting expectancy and quality of life.

Methods: Between January 1988 and January 2005, 681 consecutive patients older than 70 years (mean age, 73 +/- 3.3 years) underwent bileaflet prostheses implantation in an isolated procedure (77%) or concomitant with other procedures (23%).

Effect of dynamic myocardial dyssynchrony on mitral regurgitation during supine bicycle exercise stress echocardiography in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and 'narrow' QRS.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become an attractive therapeutic option for patients with end-stage heart failure (HF). Currently, patients are selected for CRT on ECG and on echocardiographic criteria analysed at rest. Whether the physical effort may further increase myocardial dyssynchrony is not fully established.