Cardiac function and coronary plaque development following masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Myocardial dysfunction and the presence of calcified and non-calcified coronary plaques are predictors of cardiovascular disease. Masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy may increase cardiovascular risk, highlighting the need for prospective studies to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes during gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Objectives: To evaluate changes in cardiac morphology, systolic and diastolic function, and development of coronary plaques after masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Bacteraemia after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Bacteraemia and infective endocarditis (IE) are rare but severe complications of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Limited data exist on the incidence and microbiological profile of early bacteraemia in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the 6-month incidence of bacteraemia, IE and associated mortality following TAVI.

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Aortic root aneurysm is a frequent condition, which is associated with increased mortality and morbidity compared to other aortic aneurysms. The treatment relies on surgery, most often with the Bentall procedure or aortic valve-sparing root replacement (AVSRR). AVSRR is a highly specialised treatment associated with increased survival and low incidences of valve-related complications compared to the Bentall procedure.

Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography in Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis.

Importance: Guidelines recommend the use of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in patients with low-gradient aortic stenosis (AS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50%. However, a paucity of DSE data exists when LVEF >35%.

Objective: To examine the diagnostic accuracy of DSE in patients with low-gradient AS with a wide range of LVEF and to examine the interaction between the diagnostic accuracy of DSE and LVEF.

Low body mass index and risk of mortality after mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair procedure: The "obesity paradox".

Background: Most patients undergoing the mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) technique are elderly comorbid patients. Low body mass index (BMI) < 23 kg/m has been identified in other elderly populations as a risk factor, but has not been studied sufficiently in mitral TEER.

Aims: We aimed to study the impact of low BMI (23 kg/m2) on the outcome after mitral TEER.

Randomized comparison of TAVI valves: The Compare-TAVI trial.

Introduction: Based on technical advancements and clinical evidence, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been widely adopted. New generation TAVI valve platforms are continually being developed. Ideally, new valves should be superior or at least non-inferior regarding efficacy and safety, when compared to best-in-practice contemporary TAVI valves.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome: a rare cause of ST-elevation myocardial infarction and thrombus formation on the aortic valve.

We present a case of a man in his 30s presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and eosinophilia. The patient underwent thrombus aspiration and initially echocardiographic evaluation was normal. The patient was discharged after 2 days, but was hospitalised again after 6 days.

Right ventricular myocardial edema leading to severe heart failure after open heart surgery - possible effect of high-dose corticosteroid therapy.

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass induces a systemic inflammatory response and alterations in fluid homeostasis, resulting in generalized tissue edema. Additionally, ischemia-reperfusion injury following cardioplegic arrest presumably prompts organ-specific myocardial edema.

Case Presentation: The case report presents a 75-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with aortic dissection, Stanford type A, who underwent complicated open-heart surgery.

ACC/AHA and ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the Management of Valvular Heart Diseases: JACC Guideline Comparison.

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is common and poses important challenges from the standpoints of diagnosis and therapeutic management. Clinical practice guidelines have been developed to help health care professionals to overcome these challenges and provide optimal management to patients with VHD. The American College of Cardiology, in collaboration with the American Heart Association, and the European Society of Cardiology, in collaboration with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, recently updated their guidelines on the management of VHD.

Atorvastatin and the influence on postoperative atrial fibrillation after surgical aortic valve replacement (STARC) in adults at Odense University Hospital, Denmark: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common postoperative complication after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and occurs in up to 50% of the patients. Development of postoperative AF (POAF) is associated with a 2-3 fold increased risk of adverse events, including stroke, myocardial infarction and death.Several studies have implied that prophylactic Atorvastatin therapy could prevent POAF in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft.

Occurrence and predictors of pericardial effusion requiring invasive treatment following heart valve surgery.

Objectives: To describe the occurrence of significant pericardial effusion, and to investigate characteristics associated with pericardial effusion within three months following heart valve surgery.

Methods: A retrospective, observational cohort study including adult patients undergoing heart valve surgery at Odense University Hospital from August 2013 to November 2017. Data were gathered from The Western Denmark Heart Registry and electronic patient records.

The association between aortic valve calcification, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiac size and function in a general population.

To determine the presence and extent of aortic valve calcification (AVC) quantified by non-contrast cardiac computed tomography (NCCT), to determine the association between traditional cardiovascular risk factors and AVC score, and to evaluate the association between AVC and cardiac size and function assessed by echocardiography, in a general population aged 65-75 years. A random sample of 2060 individuals were invited to undergo NCCT through which their AVC score was assessed. Individuals with an AVC score ≥ 300 arbitrary units (AU) were invited for a transthoracic echocardiography together with age-matched controls.

Sex differences in aortic valve calcification in severe aortic valve stenosis: association between computer tomography assessed calcification and valvular calcium concentrations.

Aims: The aims of this study were to investigate the correlation and sex differences between total valve calcium, valve calcium concentration, and aortic valve calcification (AVC) in explanted valves from patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods And Results: Sixty-nine patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) scheduled for elective AVR underwent echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography (CT) prior to surgery (AVCin vivo) and CT of the explanted aortic valve (AVCex vivo). Explanted valves were prepared in acid solution, sonicated, and analysed with Arsenazo III dye to estimate total valve calcium and valve calcium concentration.

The relation of structural valve deterioration to adverse remodelling and outcome in patients with biological heart valve prostheses.

Aims: Native valve aortic stenosis is associated with adverse remodelling of the left ventricle and remodelling is stopped or even reversed with aortic valve replacement (AVR). However, the degeneration of bioprostheses and development of structural valve deterioration (SVD) may affect this.

Methods And Results: To assess the association with SVD, remodelling and outcome 451 patients from a single surgical centre who had undergone AVR with a Mitroflow pericardial bioprosthesis were studied.

Early follow-up after open heart valve surgery reduces healthcare costs: a propensity matched study.

Objectives: The objective was to assess differences in healthcare costs within 180 days after discharge from open heart valve surgery in an intervention group receiving early, individualised and intensified follow-up compared with a historical control group.

Methods: A cost-minimisation analysis comparing costs from a consecutive prospective cohort compared with a propensity matched cohort. Costs related to the intervention, hospital (outpatient visits and readmissions) and general practitioners (all contacts) were included.

Association between left ventricular diastolic function and right ventricular function and morphology in asymptomatic aortic stenosis.

Background: Aortic stenosis (AS) is a progressive disease in which left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is common. However, the association between diastolic dysfunction and right ventricular (RV) loading conditions and function has not been investigated in asymptomatic AS patients.

Methods And Findings: A total of 41 patients underwent right heart catheterization and simultaneous echocardiography at rest and during maximal supine exercise, stratified according to resting diastolic function.

Data on an intervention to reduce readmissions after open heart valve surgery.

Data describe supplementary tables and figures related to the research article; Effect of early, individualised and intensified follow-up after open heart valve surgery on unplanned cardiac hospital readmissions and all-cause mortality [1]. Data on patients undergoing open heart valve surgery were presented in 308 patients in a prospective cohort and compared with 980 patients in a historical cohort. Included figures show inclusion and exclusion of patients (flowchart) and the specific elements of the intervention.

Musculoskeletal application and validation of speckle-tracking ultrasonography.

Background: Diseased, injured, or dysfunctional skeletal muscles may demonstrate abnormal function and contractility. Currently, only few in vivo imaging techniques are able to characterize the contractile properties of muscle tissue. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that muscle strain can be tracked in two upper extremity skeletal muscles by speckle-tracking ultrasonography (STU) and correlates with isometric muscle contractions.

Effect of early, individualised and intensified follow-up after open heart valve surgery on unplanned cardiac hospital readmissions and all-cause mortality.

Background: Unplanned readmissions after heart valve surgery are common, and constitute a significant burden for the patient and the health care system. The objective was to investigate the effect of individualised follow-up after open heart valve surgery on a composite endpoint of first unplanned cardiac hospital readmission or all-cause mortality within 180 days of discharge.

Methods: The study is a prospective cohort study comparing the composite endpoint in patients undergoing early, individualised and intensified follow-up after heart valve surgery with a propensity matched historical control group.