An unusual complication after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a case report.

Background: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is an unusual complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The risk factors are not well understood but may include oversizing, calcification amount and location, left-ventricular chamber morphology, and valve-in-valve (ViV) procedures. Percutaneous treatment is challenging but is usually the preferred option.

Cardioprotective Effect of Ranolazine in the Process of Ischemia-reperfusion in Adult Rat Cardiomyocytes.

Introduction And Objectives: Ranolazine is used as a complementary treatment for angina in symptomatic patients who are inadequately controlled with first-line antianginal therapies. Ranolazine inhibits sodium voltage-dependent channels, suggesting their possible involvement in the reperfusion process by preventing the sodium and calcium overload that occurs during ischemia. In this study, we characterized the effect of ranolazine on calcium homeostasis in isolated adult cardiac myocytes from rats subjected to a simulated ischemia and reperfusion protocol.

[Screening of pulmonary hypertension in a Spanish cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis].

Background And Objective: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an important cause of morbimortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Evolution is worse than that of subjects with idiopathic PAH, but prognosis improves when PAH is diagnosed early. The aim of this research is to describe results of a screening program for diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) carried out in a cohort of Spanish patients with SSc.

Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography in the Anatomical Assessment of Isolated Parachute Mitral Valve in an Adult Patient.

Parachute mitral valve (PMV) is a rare congenital anomaly of the mitral valve apparatus usually evidenced in infants and young children. Adult presentation is extremely rare and is generally mild in terms of mitral stenosis. A 73-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department due to progressive dyspnea, with NYHA functional class IV symptoms on presentation.

Prognostic value of different serum biomarkers for left ventricular remodelling after ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Mortality derived from ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has decreased due to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Paradoxically, the incidence of heart failure secondary to left ventricular remodelling (LVR) is on the rise due to the survival derived from reperfusion strategies. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value for LVR of biomarkers involved in several pathophysiological mechanisms activated during STEMI treated with primary PCI.

Right atrium mass in a 28-year-old patient with pulmonary embolism taking contraceptives.

We report the case of a 28-year-old woman taking contraceptives diagnosed with pulmonary embolism with a mass in the right atrium demonstrated by trans-thoracic echocardiogram that was not recognized on a previous angio-CT. Initially, it was thought to be a thrombus, but trans-oesophageal echocardiography and cardiac MRI showed data suggestive of cardiac neoplasm. Pericardial effusion and adjacent myocardial wall thickening noted on trans-oesophageal echocardiography were reported as signs that supported the possibility of malignancy, although cardiac MRI did not show wall infiltration signs.

Value of NT-ProBNP level and echocardiographic parameters in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary angioplasty: relationships between these variables and their usefulness as predictors of ventricular remodeling.

Introduction And Objectives: To assess the value of N-terminal fragment of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) measurement and echocardiography for predicting ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction and to investigate relationships between the NT-proBNP level and echocardiographic parameters at discharge and in the medium term.

Methods: The study involved 159 patients with myocardial infarction treated by primary coronary angioplasty. The NT-proBNP level was measured on admission, at discharge and after 6 months.

Patent foramen ovale not so patent.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with agitated saline contrast is the most sensitive tool for diagnosing patent foramen ovale (PFO), but false positives can result. We report a patient who underwent a TEE during the study of a cryptogenic stroke. Contrast appeared in the left atrium with the Valsalva maneuver.

A heart inside the heart: blood cyst of mitral valve.

We report a case of giant blood cyst originating from the anterior mitral valve leaflet, which was discovered during a two-dimensional echocardiography examination performed for investigation of a systolic murmur in a 34-year-old healthy man. Three-dimensional microbubble-enhanced images showed a heart-shape appearance that may be pathognomonic for blood cyst of the mitral valve.