Severe aortic stenosis and transcatheter aortic valve replacement in elderly patients: utility vs. futility.

Recently, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as established standard treatment for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, providing an effective, less-invasive alternative to open cardiac surgery for inoperable or high-risk older patients. In order to assess the anticipated benefit of aortic replacement, considerable interest now lies in better identifying factors likely to predict outcome. In the elderly population frailty and medical comorbidities have been shown to significantly predict mortality, functional recovery and quality of life after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Outcomes of single‑lead VDD pacemakers in atrioventricular blocks: The OSCAR study.

Background: VDD pacemakers are regarded as a second choice in patients with atrio-ventricular blocks mainly due to the potential failure of atrial sensing, leading to a loss of atrio-ventricular synchrony. This single-centre study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of loss of atrial sensing and its potential determinants in patients with VDD pacemakers.

Method: 142 patients with an implanted VDD device underwent long-term follow-up with clinical evaluation, electrocardiogram, device interrogation and echocardiogram.

Computerized tomographic assessment and clinical evaluation in shoulder instability treated with the Latarjet-Patte procedure using one screw and washer.

Background: The Latarjet-Patte (L-P) procedure is indicated in anterior instability of the shoulder with a glenoid or humeral bone loss. Our purpose is to evaluate clinical outcome and computerized tomographic (CT) findings as position and resorption of the graft and articular degeneration.

Methods: From 2006 to 2009 50 patients underwent to L-P, 48 was contacted by telephone and 26 were available for follow-up (3 to 6 years).

Appearance of hepatocellular carcinoma on gadoxetic acid-enhanced hepato-biliary phase MR imaging: a systematic review.

Objective: To perform a systematic review of the contrast behaviour of HCC on Gd-EOB-DTPA hepato-biliary phase MRI.

Materials And Methods: This review was completed in accordance with the recommendations outlined in the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews statement. In all reports, qualitative analysis of signal intensity (SI) of HCC on hepato-biliary phase was performed: the relative SI of HCC.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous injection to treat de Quervain's disease using three different techniques: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To compare the six-month outcome of three different ultrasound-guided treatments for de Quervain's disease (DQD).

Methods: We prospectively treated 75 consecutive patients (51 females, 24 males, mean age ± standard deviation = 45.3 ± 9.

Coronary collateral for left anterior descending coronary artery from a developed right ventricular branch arising from the right sinus of Valsalva.

A 65-year-old man with stable angina refractory to medical therapy and with a low-threshold myocardial ischemia at ECG stress testing was referred for coronary angiography. The coronary angiogram showed an ostial subocclusive stenosis of a developed first diagonal branch located just upstream of a subocclusive stenosis of the mid left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, occluded distally, and a coronary collateral for LAD from a developed right ventricular branch arising with separate ostia from the right sinus of Valsalva. We discuss the diagnostic interpretation of this coronary anomaly and some aspects regarding the percutaneous treatment of bifurcations.

The management of Takayasu's arteritis: personal experience.

Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic vasculitis mainly involving the aorta and its main branches. Almost all patients have ischemic disorders of the involved vessels. Treatment is nowadays controversial.

Helicobacter pylori active infection in patients with acute coronary heart disease.

Objectives: To evaluate the possible role of the active Helicobacter pylori infection as a trigger factor in acute coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: Forty patients with acute coronary syndromes, 40 patients with infections other than H. pylori (control group A) and 40 healthy subjects (control group B), pair matched for age, sex and CHD risk factors were studied.