Induction of supraventricular tachycardias in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is safe and reasonable.

Aims: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) may experience other supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) that can trigger AF and cause similar symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectivity of inducing SVT in patients undergoing catheter ablation (CA) for AF.

Methods: In 61 patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing CA between January 2022 and March 2023, an electrophysiological study was performed after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) to induce SVT.

Diving Deep into Arrhythmias: Unravelling the Impact of Underwater Environments on Premature Ventricular Complexes in Divers.

This review examines the relationship between the physiological demands of diving and premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) in divers. In the general population, some individuals have a greater tendency to experience PVCs, often without awareness or a clear understanding of the triggering factors. With the increasing availability and popularity of both scuba and apnoea diving, more people, including those with a predisposition to PVCs, are engaging in these activities.

Ventricular fibrillation during football training as a consequence of kratom and caffeine use in an adolescent: case report.

Background: There is an increase in the sale of legal drugs in our country. One of these substances is kratom. Kratom () is a partial agonist of the opioid kappa, mu, and delta receptors.

Corrigendum: Secretoneurin levels are higher in dilated cardiomyopathy than in ischaemic cardiomyopathy: preliminary results.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.

A Simple Risk Formula for the Prediction of COVID-19 Hospital Mortality.

SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infection is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. We aimed to assess the risk factors for hospital mortality in non-vaccinated patients during the 2021 spring wave in the Czech Republic. A total of 991 patients hospitalized between January 2021 and March 2021 with a PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 acute respiratory infection in two university hospitals and five rural hospitals were included in this analysis.

Secretoneurin levels are higher in dilated cardiomyopathy than in ischaemic cardiomyopathy: preliminary results.

Background: Secretoneurin (SN) is a neuropeptide with potential utility as a biomarker of cardiovascular episodes. The main effect of SN is mediated through its inhibition of calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), which influences calcium handling. We aimed to associate the levels of SN in plasma with different causes of heart failure.

Mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: Effects of treatment options (vitamin D, anticoagulation, isoprinosine, ivermectin) assessed by propensity score matching, retrospective analysis.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infection is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in hospitalized high-risk patients. We aimed to evaluate the effects of treatment options (vitamin D, anticoagulation, isoprinosine, ivermectin) on hospital mortality in non-vaccinated patients during the 2021 spring wave in the Czech Republic.

Methods: Initially, 991 patients hospitalized in the period January 1, 2021, to March 31, 2021, with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 acute respiratory infection in two university and five rural hospitals were included in the study.

STereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation (STAR): the Standardized Treatment and Outcome Platform for Stereotactic Therapy Of Re-entrant tachycardia by a Multidisciplinary consortium (STOPSTORM.eu) and review of current patterns of STAR practice in Europe.

The EU Horizon 2020 Framework-funded Standardized Treatment and Outcome Platform for Stereotactic Therapy Of Re-entrant tachycardia by a Multidisciplinary (STOPSTORM) consortium has been established as a large research network for investigating STereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation (STAR) for ventricular tachycardia (VT). The aim is to provide a pooled treatment database to evaluate patterns of practice and outcomes of STAR and finally to harmonize STAR within Europe. The consortium comprises 31 clinical and research institutions.

Secretoneurin as a Novel Biomarker of Cardiovascular Episodes: Are We There Yet? A Narrative Review.

Secretoneurin (SN) is a 33 amino-acid evolutionary conserved neuropeptide from the chromogranin peptide family. SN's main effects may be cardioprotective and are believed to be mediated through its inhibition of calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), which influences intracellular calcium handling. SN inhibition of CaMKII suppresses calcium leakage from the sarcoplasmic reticulum through the ryanodine receptor.

The Agreement of a Two- and a Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Global Longitudinal Strain.

Background: Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) enables assessment of myocardial function. Here, we examined the agreement between 2D and 3D STE measurement of a global longitudinal strain (GLS) in patients with normal left ventricle, reduced ejection fraction, and cardiac pacing. Methods: Our analysis included 90 consecutive patients (59% males; average age: 73.

COVID-19 associated coagulopathy: Mechanisms and host-directed treatment.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with specific coagulopathy that frequently occurs during the different phases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and can result in thrombotic complications and/or death. This COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC) exhibits some of the features associated with thrombotic microangiopathy, particularly complement-mediated hemolytic-uremic syndrome. In some cases, due to the anti-phospholipid antibodies, CAC resembles catastrophic anti-phospholipid syndrome.

Gender differences in major vascular complications of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) has a considerable risk of procedural complications. Major vascular complications (MVCs) appear to be the most frequent. This study investigated gender differences in MVCs in patients undergoing CA for AF in a high-volume tertiary center.

Cardiac Strains As a Tool for Optimization of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Non-responders: a Pilot Study.

Background: Approximately 30% of patients do not respond to implantation of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy - Defibrillators (CRT-D). The aim of this study was to investigate the potential for cardiac strain speckle tracking to optimize the performance of CRT-D in non-responding patients.

Methods: 30 patients not responding to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy-Defibrillators after 3 months were randomly divided into control and intervention groups.

Subclinical atrial fibrillation - what is the risk of stroke?

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and as such, it has become a significant public health issue due to its impact on patient morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) almost doubled in the last decade, being currently 2% in unselected patient populations. Its occurrence varies with age (present in almost 20% of octogenarians) and concomitant diseases.

Comparison of different methods of ABI acquisition for detection of peripheral artery disease in diabetic patients.

Background: Ankle brachial index (ABI) is the principal screening method for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). In this study, we compare various types of Doppler-derived and oscillometric ABIs with results obtained through duplex ultrasonography.

Methods: 62 patients were enrolled in the study.

Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Risk Factors for Non-recording of Alcohol Use in Hospitals across Europe: The ALCHIMIE Study.

Aim: To determine the detection rates, clinical features, and risk factors for lack of registration of alcohol use in medical patients admitted in European hospitals.

Methods: A point-prevalence, cross-sectional, multicenter survey involving 2100 medical inpatients from 43 hospitals from 8 European countries. Patients were screened for current alcohol use, using standardized questionnaires.

Vancomycin pharmacokinetics during high-volume continuous venovenous hemofiltration in critically ill septic patients.

Aims: To assess the influence of continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) at a filtration rate of 45 mL/kg/h on vancomycin pharmacokinetics in critically ill septic patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: Seventeen adult septic patients with acute kidney injury treated with CVVH and vancomycin were included. All patients received first dose of 1.

The role of adrenomedullin and galanin in recurrent vasovagal syncope: a case control study.

Aims: Orthostatic stimuli are known to elicit changes in vasoactive peptide levels. The hypothesis of no difference in adrenomedullin and/or galanin levels in patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope and healthy controls was tested in a passive 35-min head-up tilt test (HUTT).

Methods: Twenty eight persons (14 patients and 14 healthy controls) were tested in a 35-min/60° head-up tilt test with telemetry monitoring.

Acute interstitial pneumonia (Hamman-Rich syndrome) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and bronchoalveolar carcinoma: a case report.

Aim: Acute interstitial pneumonia is characterized by rapid progressive dyspnoea degenerating into respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are separate clinic/pathological entities although overlap may be present. It is well-known that patients with IPF have increased risk of lung carcinoma; Adenocarcinoma in connection with IPF is less common.

Addition of spironolactone in patients with resistant arterial hypertension (ASPIRANT)--study protocol.

Background: There is currently limited data on which drug should be used to improve blood pressure control in patients with resistant hypertension. Recent observational trials reported spironolactone as having good effects. This study is designed to assess the effect of the addition of 25 mg of spironolactone on blood pressure (BP) in patients with resistant arterial hypertension.

Addition of spironolactone in patients with resistant arterial hypertension (ASPIRANT): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

There is currently limited data on which drug should be used to improve blood pressure (BP) control in patients with resistant hypertension. This study was designed to assess the effect of the addition of 25 mg of spironolactone on BP in patients with resistant arterial hypertension. Patients with office systolic BP >140 mm Hg or diastolic BP >90 mm Hg despite treatment with at least 3 antihypertensive drugs, including a diuretic, were enrolled in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.

The EGSYS and OESIL risk scores for classification of cardiac etiology of syncope: comparison, revaluation, and clinical implications.

Aims: EGSYS-U, EGSYS-M, and OESIL risk scores for syncope evaluation are introduced, evaluated retrospectively, and their ability to classify cardiac syncopes is compared. The specificity and sensitivity of the scores were analyzed. Guidelines for the practical application of the scoring systems are provided to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.