Heparin/PF4 antibodies formation after heparin treatment: temporal aspects and long-term follow-up.

Background: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is characterized by the presence of heparin-induced antibodies against heparin/platelet factor-4 (PF4) complex and paradoxical thrombosis. Little is known on the persistence of antiheparin antibodies in blood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the time course of heparin/PF4 antibodies in patients exposed to heparin.

Effect of coffee consumption, lifestyle and acute life stress in the development of acute lone atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The study evaluated the relationships between acute stress, lifestyle and coffee consumption, and acute lone atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: The study group included 400 patients with mean age of 54 +/- 11 years, 205 of whom were men. They all presented with a first episode of AF.

Atrial stunning, inflammation and nutritional status after cardioversion from atrial fibrillation.

Background: Conversion of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) to sinus rhythm is associated with transient mechanical dysfunction of left atrium and appendage, termed atrial stunning.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between nutritional status and atrial stunning after conversion of A-fib.

Methods: Fifty-eight hemodynamically stable patients referred for cardioversion for lone AF were included in this study.

Left atrial anatomy and function after conversion from atrial fibrillation in hypertrophic hearts.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy on left atrial (LA) electrical and mechanical function after cardioversion atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) of brief duration. Study group A included 100 patients with a first diagnosis of hypertension who had a moderate LV hypertrophy. The patient population included 64 men and 36 women with a mean age of 55 +/-7 years who were hospitalized because of A-Fib and were cardioverted with external DC shock.

Influence of regression of left ventricular hypertrophy on left atrial size and function in patients with moderate hypertension.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of regression of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy on left atrial (LA) size and function in patients treated with telmisartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker.

Methods: Patients population included 80 patients with mild-moderate LV hypertrophy treated with telmisartan. Patients were followed over a period of 12 months from the start of telmisartan treatment.

Acute myocardial infarction in young patients: nutritional status and biochemical factors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish whether nutritional status and biochemical factors, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) protein, serum iron (Fe) and fibrinogen at admission were different in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at a young age (<40 years) vs. those with AMI at an older age (>60 years). We also investigated whether during the stay in the hospital, the increase in acute-phase reactants was different in young vs.

The relationship between personality, socio-economic factors, acute life stress and the development, spontaneous conversion and recurrences of acute lone atrial fibrillation.

Aims: The present study was designed to establish the relationship between personality factors, socio-economic factors and acute life stress with development, spontaneous cardioversion and recurrences of acute lone atrial fibrillation.

Methods: The study group consisted of 116 patients with lone atrial fibrillation cardioverted within 48h of the onset of arrhythmia; they underwent a series of cognitive tests to evaluate acute psychological stress and personality type. The socio-economic status and other covariates (alcohol consumption, smoking, and body mass index) were investigated.

The association between atrial septal aneurysm and mitral valve prolapse in patients with recent stroke and normal carotid arteries.

Background: The association between mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and cryptogenic stroke is controversial. The Atrial Septal Aneurysm Multicenter Italian (ASA-MI) Study is a prospective multicenter study evaluating the prevalence of atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) in patients with a recent stroke and normal carotid arteries. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the frequency of ASA and its association with MVP in the stroke population and in the subgroup of young patients (< 55 years) included in the ASA-MI Study.

Left atrial size after cardioversion for atrial fibrillation: effect of external direct current shock.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of external direct current (DC) shock on left atrial (LA) dimension and volumes after cardioversion for atrial fibrillation, and the relation between LA size and atrial function.

Methods: We evaluated 180 patients who were randomly cardioverted with DC shock (90 patients) or drugs (90 patients). Echocardiographic evaluations included LA size and volumes.

Association between atrial septal aneurysm and patent foramen ovale in young patients with recent stroke and normal carotid arteries.

Background: Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) has been considered a potential source of cardiogenic embolism for many years. The ASA Multicenter Italian (ASA-MI) Study evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of ASA in patients with stroke and normal carotid arteries compared with control patients without stroke. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of ASA and the association with patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the subgroup of younger patients (aged less than 55 years) included in the ASA-MI Study.

Prognostic value of iron, nutritional status indexes and acute phase protein in acute coronary syndromes.

Background: The relation between the inflammatory status during unstable angina and nutritional parameters has not been well described. We sought to investigate the relation between the acute inflammatory status, as evaluated on the basis of high C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A levels and laboratory indexes of iron and nutritional status in patients with unstable angina, and whether the variations in iron levels have a prognostic significance.

Methods: The study population consisted of 98 patients admitted to our facility with unstable (group 1: 64 consecutive patients, 52 males, 12 females, mean age 66 +/- 10 years) or stable angina (group 2: 34 patients, 30 males, 4 females, mean age 65 +/- 9 years).