Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis: a clinical and pathophysiological reappraisal.

Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE), formerly recognized as marantic endocarditis, represents a rare cardiovascular pathology intricately linked with hypercoagulable states, notably malignancy and autoimmune disorders. Characterized by the development of sterile vegetations comprised of fibrin and platelets on cardiac valves, NBTE poses a diagnostic challenge due to its resemblance to infective endocarditis. Therapeutic endeavours primarily revolve around addressing the underlying aetiology and instituting anticoagulant regimens to forestall embolic events, with surgical intervention seldom warranted.

Normal Ranges of Right Atrial Strain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Standard measures for the clinical assessment of right atrial (RA) function are lacking.

Objectives: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the authors sought to report a reference range for RA deformation parameters in healthy subjects and to identify factors that contribute to reported variations.

Methods: The authors conducted a comprehensive search of MEDLINE; MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations; Embase; Scopus; and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from database inception through October 2021.

Multivessel Traumatic Coronary Artery Dissection After a Motor Vehicle Accident With Successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Coronary artery dissection is a rare complication of blunt chest wall trauma. We report a case of acute left anterior descending and right coronary artery dissections after a motor vehicle accident. The musculoskeletal injuries obscured the cardiac symptoms.

Safety and Efficacy of Colchicine in Patients with Stable CAD and ACS: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Evidence from recent trials has shown conflicting results in terms of the utility of colchicine in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Multiple databases were queried to identify all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the merits of colchicine in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or stable CAD. The pooled relative risk ratio (RR) of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), its components, and gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events were computed using a random-effect model.

Trends and Predictors of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Related In-Hospital Mortality (From the National Inpatient Sample Database).

Existing surgical aortic valve replacement risk models accurately predict the post- surgical aortic valve replacement morbidity and mortality, but factors associated with post transcatheter aortic valve Implantation (TAVI) mortality are not well known. The National Inpatient Sample was queried to identify all cases of TAVI. The association of baseline comorbidities with in-hospital mortality was determined using a binary logistic regression model to obtain adjusted odds ratios (aOR).

Direct Oral Anticoagulants in the Treatment of Left Ventricular Thrombus: A Retrospective, Multicenter Study and Meta-Analysis of Existing Data.

Aim: To compare the safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) relative to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) for the treatment of left ventricular thrombus (LVT).

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients diagnosed with LVT from 2014-2017. Patient characteristics and outcomes within 12 months of LVT diagnosis were recorded and analyzed.

Assessing the Validity of Echocardiographic Criteria for Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: In patients with pulmonary hypertension (PHT), the assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function by echocardiography may not be reliable. PHT can affect Doppler parameters of LV diastolic function such as mitral inflow velocities and mitral annular velocities. The current guidelines for the assessment of LV diastolic function do not recommend specific adjustments for patients with PHT.

Coronavirus disease-19 and cardiovascular disease: A risk factor or a risk marker?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 causes the clinical syndrome of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) which has become a global pandemic resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. While the virus primarily affects the respiratory system, it also causes a wide variety of complex cardiac manifestations such as acute myopericarditis, acute coronary syndrome, congested heart failure, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrhythmias. There are numerous proposed mechanisms of cardiac injury, including direct cellular injury, pro-inflammatory cytokine storm, myocardial oxygen-demand mismatch, and systemic inflammation causing multi-organ failure.

Comparison of surgical versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement for patients with aortic stenosis at low-intermediate risk.

Background: To compare safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients at low-intermediate risk, given the paucity of robust data.

Methods: We performed an aggregate data meta-analysis of 7 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 6,778 patients comparing TAVR with SAVR for aortic stenosis (AS) in low-intermediate risk patients (Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk-score ≤8%) using the random-effects model. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 30-day, 1-year and 2-year of follow-up.

Prescription Patterns of Clopidogrel, Prasugrel, and Ticagrelor After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Stent Implantation (from the NCDR PINNACLE Registry).

The use of prasugrel and ticagrelor as part of dual antiplatelet therapy is increasing in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate their prescription patterns in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence (PINNACLE) registry. We analyzed patients enrolled in NCDR PINNACLE registry from January 2013 to March 2015 who underwent PCI with drug-eluting stent and were prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy.

Meta-Analysis of Catheter Directed Ultrasound-Assisted Thrombolysis in Pulmonary Embolism.

Ultrasound-assisted catheter directed thrombolysis (USAT) has been shown to improve hemodynamic function and reduce bleeding complications in patients with acute massive or submassive pulmonary embolism. We performed a meta-analysis to better evaluate the efficacy and safety of USAT. We conducted an extensive literature search in PUBMED, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2018.

Effect of increasing age on percutaneous coronary intervention vs coronary artery bypass grafting in older adults with unprotected left main coronary artery disease: A meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Background: Older adults (≥70-year-old) are under-represented in the published data pertaining to unprotected left main coronary artery disease (ULMCAD).

Hypothesis: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) might be comparable to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for revascularization of ULMCAD.

Methods: We compared PCI versus CABG in older adults with ULMCAD with an aggregate data meta-analyses (4880 patients) of clinical outcomes [all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), repeat revascularization, stroke and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events(MACCE)] at 30 days, 12-24 months & ≥36 months in patients with mean age ≥70 years and ULMCAD.

Understanding by General Providers of the Echocardiogram Report.

Echocardiograms are the second most frequently utilized cardiac test after electrocardiograms and are most commonly ordered by noncardiology providers. Echocardiogram reports are designed to communicate a comprehensive interpretation of cardiac function; however, it is not known how well these reports are understood by ordering providers. In order to identify gaps in understanding and target potential areas for improvement, we developed a questionnaire testing various topics reported on a standard transthoracic echocardiogram report.

Sleep apnea and galectin-3: possible sex-specific relationship.

Purpose: Sleep apnea is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Elevated plasma galectin-3 levels, a biomarker associated with myocardial fibrosis, are also associated with adverse cardiovascular events, including heart failure. Our objective was to determine the relationship between severity of sleep apnea and plasma levels of galectin-3 and to determine whether this relationship was modified by sex.

An Audaciously Aneurysmal Atrium.

• Echocardiographic examples of spontaneous echocardiographic contrast are shown. • Echocardiographic images of an extreme-size GLA are exhibited. • Videos that illustrate mitral stenosis are included.

A Double Whammy: Severe Aortic Stenosis and Cocaine Overwhelm the Mitral Valve.

A 50-year-old man presented with acute onset dyspnea following cocaine use. He had severe aortic stenosis (AS), mild mitral regurgitation (MR) due to mitral valve prolapse, and no coronary artery disease on recent coronary angiography. He was in acute heart failure with signs of impending cardiogenic shock.

Meta-Analysis of Comparison of 5-Year Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients With Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery in the Era of Drug-eluting Stents.

Patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease are increasingly being treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using drug-eluting stents (DES), but long-term outcomes comparing PCI with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remain limited. We performed aggregate data meta-analyses of clinical outcomes (all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, repeat revascularization, cardiac death, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events) in studies comparing 5-year outcomes of PCI with DES versus CABG in patients with ULMCA disease. A comprehensive literature search (January 1, 2003 to December 10, 2016) identified 9 studies (6,637 patients).

Correlation of right atrial enlargement on ECG to right atrial volume by echocardiography in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Previous attempts to validate ECG criteria for right atrial (RA) enlargement (RAE) have been limited by sample sizes and lack of accepted standards for measuring RA size. New guidelines have recommended that RA volume (RAV) be used to determine RA size. Since these guidelines were released, no studies have been published that correlate RAE by ECG to RAV using the new standards.

The Role of Intracoronary Plaque Imaging with Intravascular Ultrasound, Optical Coherence Tomography, and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

The development of multiple diagnostic intracoronary imaging modalities has increased our understanding of coronary atherosclerotic disease. These imaging modalities, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), have provided a method to study plaques and introduced the concept of plaque vulnerability. They are being increasingly used for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) optimization and are invaluable tools in research studying the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), in-stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis.