Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Bicuspid Aortic Valves and Ascending Aorta ≥50 mm Under Surveillance.

Background: Clinical outcomes of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients with ascending aortic diameters ≥50 mm who are under surveillance are poorly defined.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess clinical outcomes in BAV patients with ascending aorta ≥50 mm.

Methods: Multicenter retrospective cohort study of BAV adults with ascending aorta diameters ≥50 mm by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Impact of Body Mass Index in the Cardioverter Efficacy of Amiodarone in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Amiodarone is an anti-arrhythmic drug that has extensive tissue distribution and substantial storage in the fat tissue. Different studies have described some implications of body fat composition in its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. However, no clinical studies have described its implications for clinical efficacy.

Atorvastatin Effect on Aortic Dilatation and Valvular Calcification Progression in Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BICATOR): A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Ascending aorta dilation and aortic valve degeneration are common complications in patients with bicuspid aortic valve. Several retrospective studies have suggested the benefit of statins in reducing these complications. This study aimed to determine whether atorvastatin treatment is effective in reducing the growth of aortic diameters in bicuspid aortic valve and if it slows the progression of valve calcification.

Specific Multiomic Profiling in Aortic Stenosis in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease.

Introduction And Purpose: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease is associated with faster aortic valve degeneration and a high incidence of aortic stenosis (AS). In this study, we aimed to identify differences in the pathophysiology of AS between BAV and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) patients in a multiomics study integrating metabolomics and transcriptomics as well as clinical data.

Methods: Eighteen patients underwent aortic valve replacement due to severe aortic stenosis: 8 of them had a TAV, while 10 of them had a BAV.

miR-130a expression is related to aortic dilation in bicuspid aortic valve children.

Background: Bicuspid aortic valve disease (BAV) is present in 0.5-2% of the population and can promote aortic dilation, eventually leading to fatal consequences. Although some biomarkers have been proposed in adults, no studies have tested these candidates in children.

Glycoprotein and Lipoprotein Profiles Assessed by 1H-NMR and Its Relation to Ascending Aortic Dilatation in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease.

Introduction: The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) confers a high risk of ascending aorta dilatation (AAoD), although its progression seems highly variable. Furthermore, the implication of lipoprotein metabolism and inflammation in the mechanisms that underlie AAoD is not fully established. The aim of this study consisted of evaluating the impact of the lipoprotein and glycoprotein profiles in AAOD as well as its progression in BAV aortopathy.

Hemolytic Anemia After Surgical Mitral Valve Repair Treated With Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Device.

An 80-year-old woman with mitral valve repair failure was admitted with hemolytic anemia secondary to the impact of a regurgitant jet on the annuloplasty ring. Transcatheter repair to treat both mitral regurgitation and hemolysis was favored because of surgical risk. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair represents an alternative for treating hemolysis associated with mitral regurgitation.

A Case of an Elderly Patient With Recurrent Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an underdiagnosed cause of myocardial infarction (MI), and its prevalence among women is increasing. Epidemiological information indicates that SCAD is responsible for one-third of MI cases in women of reproductive age. Little information is described on SCAD in elderly patients.

Improvement in Atrial Fibrillation-Related Symptoms After Cardioversion: Role of NYHA Functional Class and Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm.

Background: The European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) score is a proven and validated tool for assessing the symptoms of atrial fibrillation (AF). Little is known about the variables related to this score and how it changes after cardioversion.

Methods: We analyzed 744 patients undergoing elective cardioversion in whom AF-related symptoms were assessed at baseline and after 6 months of follow-up using the EHRA score.

Pharmacological Cardioversion after Pre-Treatment with Antiarrythmic Drugs Prior to Electrical Cardioversion in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Impact on Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm.

Background: Antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) are frequently initiated in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) prior to electrical cardioversion (ECV), achieving pharmacological cardioversion (PCV) in some cases. Little is known about the mode of cardioversion and the effect of the type of AAD used in the maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR).

Methods: From three national surveys of patients with persistent AF referred for ECV, we selected those who were pre-treated with AADs (amiodarone or group Ic AADs).

Bicuspid Aortic Valve and Endothelial Dysfunction: Current Evidence and Potential Therapeutic Targets.

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), the most frequent congenital heart malformation, is characterized by the presence of a two-leaflet aortic valve instead of a three-leaflet one. BAV disease progression is associated with valvular dysfunction (in the form of stenosis or regurgitation) and aortopathy, which can lead to aneurysm and aortic dissection. This morphological abnormality modifies valve dynamics and promotes eccentric blood flow, which gives rise to alterations of the flow pattern and wall shear stress (WSS) of the ascending aorta.

Cost-effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonist in atrial fibrillation: A study protocol using Real-World Data from Catalonia (FantasTIC Study).

Background: Anticoagulant therapy is used for stroke prevention and proved to be effective and safe in the long term. The study aims to analyse the cost-effectiveness relationship of using of direct-acting oral anticoagulants vs vitamin K antagonists to prevent ischaemic stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, including all the active ingredients marketed in Spain, prescribed for 2 years in the Primary Care service of the Institut Català de la Salut.

Methods: Population-based cohort study, in which the cost of the 2 treatment groups will be evaluated.

Plasma Metabolomic Profiling Associates Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease and Ascending Aortic Dilation with a Decrease in Antioxidant Capacity.

Background: The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common cardiac congenital disease and is associated with an increased risk of developing ascending aorta dilation; which can have fatal consequences. Currently; no established risk biomarkers exist to facilitate the diagnosis and prognosis of BAV.

Methods: Using an untargeted metabolomic approach; we identified the levels of metabolites in plasma samples and compared them depending on the bicuspid or tricuspid morphology of the aortic valve.

Results, barriers and enablers in atrial fibrillation case finding: barriers in opportunistic atrial fibrillation case finding-a cross-sectional study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is often asymptomatic, and screening is not routinely undertaken.

Objective: Evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a population-based case finding program and to identify the enablers of and/or barriers to its implementation.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of a health care case finding program for AF from 1 January 2016, to 31 December 2017, that included 48 336 people ≥60 years of age in the region of Terresde l'Ebre (Catalonia, Spain).

Utility of Amiodarone Pre-Treatment as a Facilitator of the Acute Success of Electrical Cardioversion in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Purpose: The usefulness and mechanisms of antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) pre-treatment as a facilitator of the acute success of electrical cardioversion (ECV) in atrial fibrillation (AF) remain controversial. We sought to analyze the role of AAD treatment with this purpose, differentiating its possible utility either facilitating the restoration of sinus rhythm (SR) or reducing immediate AF recurrences (IAFR).

Methods: We analyzed 2962 consecutive patients with persistent AF undergoing ECV prospectively included in 3 national registries.

MicroRNAs Clustered within the 14q32 Locus Are Associated with Endothelial Damage and Microparticle Secretion in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease.

We previously described that PECAM circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) are elevated in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease as a manifestation of endothelial damage. In this study, we hypothesized that this endothelial damage, is functionally related to the secretion of a specific pattern of EMP-associated miRNAs. We used a bioinformatics approach to correlate the PECAM EMP levels with the miRNA expression profile in plasma in healthy individuals and BAV patients ( = 36).

Role of the fatty acid-binding protein 4 in heart failure and cardiovascular disease.

Obesity and ectopic fat accumulation in non-adipose tissues are major contributors to heart failure (HF) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Adipocytes act as endocrine organs by releasing a large number of bioactive molecules into the bloodstream, which participate in a communication network between white adipose tissue and other organs, including the heart. Among these molecules, fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) has recently been shown to increase cardiometabolic risk.

Specific circulating microRNA signature of bicuspid aortic valve disease.

Background: We aimed to determine the circulating miRNA expression profile associated with BAV and aortic dilation to provide diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for BAV and/or aortic dilation.

Methods And Results: We applied a miRNome-wide microarray approach using plasma samples (n = 24) from healthy tricuspid aortic valve individuals, BAV patients and BAV patients with aortic dilation to compare and identify the specific miRNAs associated with BAV and aortic dilation. In a second stage, the expression patterns of the miRNA candidates were validated by RT-qPCR in an independent cohort (n = 43).

Acute effect of static exercise in patients with aortic regurgitation assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance: role of left ventricular remodelling.

Objective: In patients with aortic regurgitation (AR), the effect of static exercise (SE) on global ventricular function and AR severity has not been previously studied.

Methods: Resting and SE cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) were prospectively performed in 23 asymptomatic patients with AR.

Results: During SE, we observed a decrease in regurgitant volume in both end-diastolic (EDV) and end-systolic (ESV) volume in both ventricles, as well as a slight decrease in LV ejection fraction (EF).

Data on the circulating levels of endothelial microparticles are elevated in patients with bicuspid aortic valve and are related to aortic dilation.

The data included here support the research article "Circulating endothelial microparticles are elevated in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease and related to aortic dilation" (Alegret et al., 2016 [1]) where circulating levels of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM(+)) endothelial microparticles (EMPs) were identified as a biological variable related to aortic dilation in patients with BAV disease. The data presented in this article are composed by four tables and one figure containing the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of the patients (Alegret et al.

Circulating endothelial microparticles are elevated in bicuspid aortic valve disease and related to aortic dilation.

Background/objectives: The mechanisms underlying aortic dilation in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease are unknown. Circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) have emerged as biomarkers of endothelial damage. We sought to evaluate the relationships among EMPs, BAV disease, and aortic dilation.

Liver fat deposition and mitochondrial dysfunction in morbid obesity: An approach combining metabolomics with liver imaging and histology.

Aim: To explore the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) for assessment of non-alcoholic fat liver disease (NAFLD) as compared with liver histological and metabolomics findings.

Methods: Patients undergoing bariatric surgery following procedures involved in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were recruited as a model of obesity-induced NAFLD in an observational, prospective, single-site, cross-sectional study with a pre-set duration of 1 year. Relevant data were obtained prospectively and surrogates for inflammation, oxidative stress and lipid and glucose metabolism were obtained through standard laboratory measurements.

Gender Differences in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Electrical Cardioversion.

Background: Current recommendations on the rhythm control strategy for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) are more restrictive than a decade ago. Gender may play a role in decisions on the management of AF, including application of electrical cardioversion.

Methods: We analyzed clinical characteristics by gender in patients participating in the observational survey about stable patients underlying cardioversion in Spain (CARDIOVERSE) study (n=915), a survey of the practice of electrical cardioversion in 67 Spanish hospitals.