Heart Failure Due to High-Degree Atrioventricular Block: How Frequent Is It and What Is the Cause?

Background: The causes of heart failure (HF) during high-grade atrioventricular block (AVB) are poorly understood. This study assessed the mechanisms of HF in patients with AVB.

Methods: We studied patients presenting (between 2012 and 2016) with high-grade AVB not related to acute myocardial infarction.

Re-Appraisal of Echocardiographic Assessment in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism: Prospective Blinded Long-Term Follow-Up.

Background: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is considered to be one of the most common cardiovascular diseases with considerable mortality. Conflicting data imply possible role for echocardiography in assessing this disease.

Objectives: To determine which of the echo parameters best predicts short-term and long-term mortality in patients with PE.

Longitudinal diastolic strain slope as an early sign for systolic dysfunction among patients with active cancer.

Background: Diastolic dysfunction is a common finding in patients receiving cancer therapy. This study evaluated the correlation of diastolic strain slope (Dss) with routine echocardiography diastolic parameters and its role in early detection of systolic dysfunction and cardiovascular (CV) mortality within this population.

Methods: Data were collected from the Israel Cardio-Oncology Registry (ICOR), a prospective registry enrolling adult patient receiving cancer therapy.

Diastolic strain time as predictor for systolic dysfunction among patients with active breast cancer.

Background: Although diastolic dysfunction is common among patients treated with cancer therapy, no clear evidence has been shown that it predicts systolic dysfunction. This study evaluated the correlation of diastolic strain time (Dst) with the routine echocardiography diastolic parameters and estimated its role in the early detection of cardiotoxicity among patients with active breast cancer.

Methods: Data were collected as part of the Israel Cardio-Oncology Registry (ICOR), a prospective registry enrolling all adult patients referred to the cardio-oncology clinic.

Usefulness of Global Longitudinal Strain for Early Identification of Subclinical Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients With Active Cancer.

Cardiotoxicity from cancer therapy has become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors. The most commonly used definition is cancer therapeutic related cardiac dysfunction defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reduction of >10%, to a value below 50%. However, according to the recent American and European Society of Echocardiography, global longitudinal strain (GLS) is the optimal parameter for early detection of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction.

Mechanisms of Effort Intolerance in Patients With Heart Failure and Borderline Ejection Fraction.

Combining echocardiography and cardiopulmonary stress testing allows noninvasive assessment of hemodynamics, and oxygen extraction (A-VO difference). We evaluated mechanisms of effort intolerance in patients with heart failure with borderline (40% to 49%) left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (HF and Borderline Ejection fraction). We included 89 consecutive patients with HF and Borderline Ejection fraction (n = 25; 63.

Mechanisms of Effort Intolerance in Patients With Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis: Combined Echocardiography and Cardiopulmonary Stress Protocol.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate mechanisms of effort intolerance in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS).

Background: Combined stress echocardiography and cardiopulmonary testing allows assessment of cardiac function, hemodynamics, and oxygen extraction (A-Vo difference).

Methods: Using semirecumbent bicycle exercise, 20 patients with rheumatic MS (valve area 1.

Discriminating Circulatory Problems From Deconditioning: Echocardiographic and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Analysis.

Background: Discriminating circulatory problems with reduced stroke volume (SV) from deconditioning, in which the muscles cannot consume oxygen normally, by gas exchange parameters is difficult.

Methods: We performed combined stress echocardiography (SE) and cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) in 110 patients (20 with normal effort capacity, 54 with attenuated SV response, and 36 with deconditioning) to evaluate multiple hemodynamic parameters and oxygen content difference (A-V.o Diff) in four predefined activity levels to assess which of the gas measures may help in the discrimination.

Determinants of Effort Intolerance in Patients With Heart Failure: Combined Echocardiography and Cardiopulmonary Stress Protocol.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess individual mechanisms of effort intolerance in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), or normal cardiac function using combined echocardiography and cardiopulmonary stress testing.

Background: Combined stress echocardiography and cardiopulmonary tests visualize cardiac chambers in 4 well-defined activity levels (rest, unloaded, anaerobic threshold, and peak), allowing noninvasive assessment of cardiac function, hemodynamics, and arterial venous oxygen content difference (AVo(2)Diff) during all stages.

Methods: Left ventricular volumes, stroke volume (SV), S', E/e', oxygen consumption (Vo(2)), and AVo(2)Diff were measured in all effort stages using ramp semirecumbent cycle prolonged (≥8 min) exercise in 45 consecutive subjects evaluated for effort intolerance (14 normal cardiac function, 16 HFpEF, and 15 HFrEF patients; age 56.

Isolated ventricular non-compaction: an underdiagnosed cause of congestive heart failure.

Isolated ventricular non-compaction is a frequently underdiagnosed rare congenital cardiomyopathy. The importance of diagnosing this cardiomyopathy lies especially in asymptomatic patients, screening relatives of index cases in order to focus on their follow-up, and searching for criteria warranting prophylactic anticoagulation, implantable cardioverter defibrillator and anti-remodeling drugs such as angiotensin-converting inhibitors. We present the clinical and imaging characteristics of this entity and discuss some of the therapeutic dilemmas involving these patients.

Long-term effects of dual-chamber pacing with periodic echocardiographic evaluation of optimal atrioventricular delay in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy >50 years of age.

Various treatment modalities have been introduced to reduce the subaortic pressure gradient in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, including pacemaker insertion. Complete ventricular capture during pacing is essential and requires optimization of the atrioventricular interval (AVI). In this study, a protocol using echocardiographic examination assessing the changes in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient in different AVIs, pacing rates, and pacing modes was used for optimal pacemaker programming.

Tyrphostin AG-556 reduces myocardial infarct size and improves cardiac performance in the rat.

TNF-alpha is a proinflammatory cytokine, abundantly expressed after myocardial infarction. It has been suggested that it exhibits myocardial suppressive and cytotoxic effects. AG-556 is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor synthesized based on its ability to reduce TNF-alpha production and cell toxicity, and to improve experimental models mediated by TNF-alpha (i.