Assessment of Plaque Characteristics by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Stent Restenosis following Carotid Artery Stenting: A Retrospective Study.

carotid artery stenosis contributes significantly to ischemic strokes, with management options including carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) ischemic stroke risk can be reduced. Controversies persist regarding their efficacy and factors influencing complications, and understanding the relationship between atherosclerotic plaque characteristics and stent restenosis after CAS is crucial. we conducted a retrospective study involving 221 patients who underwent CAS for symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.

One-year initial efficacy and safety outcomes of the premounted dry-pericardium Vienna self-expandable transcatheter aortic valve system: A first-in-human VIVA feasibility study.

Background: The dry-pericardium Vienna transcatheter aortic valve system is repositionable and retrievable, already premounted on the delivery system, eliminating the need for assembly and crimping of the device before valve implantation.

Methods: The VIVA first-in-human feasibility study, a prospective, nonrandomized, single-center trial, evaluated the Vienna aortic valve in 10 patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, who were at intermediate or high surgical risk. This study, registered at ClinicalTrials.

Assessment of atherosclerotic plaque morphology using contrast-enhanced ultrasound and its impact on primary cardiovascular events following simultaneous carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: The incidence of stroke after on-pump cardiac surgery during the perioperative period can affect up to 2% of patients, and is frequently linked to carotid artery disease. Notably, in patients with significant unilateral carotid artery stenosis of 80%-99%, the risk of stroke reaches 4%. Among individuals undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 3% to 10% exhibit significant carotid artery stenosis.

Acquired Cardiovascular Diseases in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Congenital Heart Disease: A Case Report.

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) have resulted in improved survival rates for CHD patients. Up to 90% of individuals with mild CHD and 40% with complex CHD now reach the age of 60. Previous studies have indicated an elevated risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and associated risk factors, morbidity, and mortality in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD).

The Effect of Platelet Activity, Genetic Polymorphism, and Renal Function on the Development of Ticagrelor-Related Dyspnea in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of genetic polymorphism and renal function on the occurrence of ticagrelor-related dyspnea.

Patients And Methods: A total of 299 patients with acute with type 1, 2, or 3 myocardial infarction (with and without ST-segment elevation), who underwent coronary angiography and PTCA with stent implantation and were treated with antiplatelet drugs (ticagrelor and aspirin), were enrolled in this prospective study. For all enrolled patient's platelet aggregation (induction with high-sensitivity adenosine diphosphate, ADP HS) testing was performed using a MULTIPLATE analyzer.

Potential Prognostic Relevance of Left-Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain and of the Summation of the Mitral and Tricuspid Regurgitation Volume in Patients with Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The aim of this pilot study was to determine the potential prognostic relevance of novel multidirectional myocardial and volumetric echocardiographic parameters in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM).

Methods: Multidirectional myocardial parameters (longitudinal, radial, and circumferential left-ventricular (LV) strain using speckle tracking echocardiography) and a new volumetric parameter (the sum of the mitral and tricuspid regurgitation volume (mitral-tricuspid regurgitation volume) were assessed. The cardiovascular (CV) outcome was a composite of cardiac death and hospitalization for heart failure (HF) at 1 year.

The Impact of Polymorphisms in ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter Genes on Anthracycline-Induced Early Cardiotoxicity in Patients with Breast Cancer.

Background: Cardiac side effects associated with anthracycline-based treatment may seriously compromise the prognosis of patients with breast cancer (BC). Evidence shows that genes that operate in drug metabolism can influence the risk of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC). ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters could serve as one of the potential biomarkers for AIC risk stratification.

Relationships of Whole-Heart Myocardial Mechanics and Cardiac Morphometrics by Transthoracic Echocardiography with Main Prognostic Factors of Heart Failure in Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background: there are many prognostic factors of heart failure (HF) based on their evaluation from imaging, to laboratory tests. In clinical practice, it is crucial to use widely available, cheap, and easy-to-use prognostic factors, such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, 6 min walk test (6MWT), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), etc. We sought to evaluate the relationships between whole-heart myocardial mechanics and cardiac morphometrics with the main commonly used prognostic factors of HF in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM).

Evaluation of Satisfaction with Healthcare Services in Multimorbid Patients Using PACIC+ Questionnaire: A Cross-Sectional Study.

: Although multimorbidity poses many challenges for both individuals and healthcare systems, information on how these patients assess the quality of their healthcare is lacking. This study assessed the multimorbid patients' satisfaction with their healthcare. : This cross-sectional study was a part of a project Joint Action-Chronic Diseases and Promoting Healthy Ageing across the Life Cycle and its implementation.

Association of Whole-Heart Myocardial Mechanics by Transthoracic Echocardiography with Presence of Late Gadolinium Enhancement by CMR in Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background: In patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM), myocardial fibrosis (MF) is related to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential relationship between the myocardial mechanics of different chambers of the heart and the presence of MF and to determine the accuracy of the whole-heart myocardial strain parameters to predict MF in patients with NIDCM. Methods: We studied 101 patients (64% male; 50 ± 11 years) with a first-time diagnosis of NIDCM who were referred for a clinical cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and speckle tracking 2D echocardiography examination.

Artificial intelligence for automated evaluation of aortic measurements in 2D echocardiography: Feasibility, accuracy, and reproducibility.

Aims: This study sought to examine the feasibility, accuracy and reproducibility of a novel, fully automated 2D transthoracic echocardiography (2D TTE) parasternal long axis (PLAX) view aortic measurements quantification software compared to board-certified cardiologists in controlled clinical setting.

Methods And Results: Aortic Annulus (AoA), Aortic Sinus (AoS), Sinotubular Junction (STJ) and Proximal Ascending Aorta (AAo) diameter measurements were performed retrospectively on each of 58 subjects in two different ways: twice using a fully automated software (Ligence Heart version 2) and twice manually by three cardiologists (ORG) and one expert cardiologist (EC). Out of 58 studies AoA was measured in 54 (93%), AoS in 55 (95%), STJ in 55 (95%) and AAo in 54 (93%) studies.

Instantaneous wave free ratio value impact on left internal mammary artery graft patency.

Objectives: To assess whether instantaneous wave - free ratio (iFR) value is associated with left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft failure at 12 months follow-up post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

Background: Data suggests bypass to a non-significant left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesion due to visual over-estimation may lead to LIMA graft failure. Implementing iFR may result in better arterial graft patency.

Genotype-Phenotype Correlation in Familial Mutation Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

We report the case of a 22-year-old male who visited a cardiologist after the first episode of atrial fibrillation (AF). Echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed decreased left ventricular (LV) systolic function with dilated LV. An intermittent second-degree AV (atrioventricular) block was detected during 24 h Holter monitoring.

Neuroanatomy of the Pig Cardiac Ventricles. A Stereomicroscopic, Confocal and Electron Microscope Study.

Although the pig is a model for heart disease, the neuroanatomy of cardiac ventricles (CV) in this species remains undetailed. We aimed to define the innervation pattern of pig CV, combining histochemistry for acetylcholinesterase, immunofluorescent labeling and electron microscopy. Forty nine examined pig hearts show that the major nerves supplying the ventral side of CV descend from the venous part of the heart hilum.

Innervation of the rabbit cardiac ventricles.

The rabbit is widely used in experimental cardiac physiology, but the neuroanatomy of the rabbit heart remains insufficiently examined. This study aimed to ascertain the architecture of the intrinsic nerve plexus in the walls and septum of rabbit cardiac ventricles. In 51 rabbit hearts, a combined approach involving: (i) histochemical acetylcholinesterase staining of intrinsic neural structures in total cardiac ventricles; (ii) immunofluorescent labelling of intrinsic nerves, nerve fibres (NFs) and neuronal somata (NS); and (iii) transmission electron microscopy of intrinsic ventricular nerves and NFs was used.

Subthreshold High-Frequency Electrical Field Stimulation Induces VEGF Expression in Cardiomyocytes.

Subthreshold electrical stimulation (SES) has been shown to induce an improvement of angiogenesis in ischemic and nonischemic skeletal muscles, mediated by increased VEGF expression. VEGF plays a key role in physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Cardiomyocytes possess the ability to synthesize and secrete VEGF.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of pulmonary vein roots results in axonal degeneration of distal epicardial nerves.

Background: In treatment of atrial fibrillations (AF), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) at the pulmonary vein (PV) roots isolates AF triggers in the myocardial sleeves, but also can destroy PV ganglia and branches of the intrinsic cardiac nerve plexus.

Aim: To determine the long-term impact of RFA at the PV roots on the structure of epicardial nerves located distally from the RFA site.

Methods: Five black-faced sheep underwent epicardial RFA of the left and middle PV roots.

Association of echocardiographic atrial size and atrial fibrosis in a sequential model of congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

Background: Cardioversion (CV) success of atrial fibrillation (AF) inversely correlates to the size of the left atrium (LA). Atrial fibrillation and its most important risk factor, congestive heart failure (CHF), both induce atrial structural enlargement and fibrosis. To investigate the effect of AF and CHF on atrial dilatation and fibrosis, and to estimate whether echocardiographically determined atrial size may be used as a marker for atrial fibrosis.

Decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor and tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor expression may promote increased metalloproteinase activity with increasing duration of human atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Atrial fibrosis has been shown to concur with the persistence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and is only incompletely reversible, thus counteracting attempts to restore and maintain sinus rhythm (SR). Besides the angiotensin system, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play a major role in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Thus, the present study investigated changes of the MMP system during the development of human AF.

Simultaneous transesophageal cardioversion and echocardiography: feasibility and safety.

Background: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is routinely used to exclude atrial thrombus prior to cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF). Because the TEE probe lies adjacent to the atria, cardioversion using an electrode attached to the TEE probe should allow for immediate low-energy transesophageal cardioversion.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a cardioversion electrode sheath that can be affixed to conventional TEE probes for simultaneous thrombus exclusion and cardioversion of AF.

Semi-automated 3-dimensional intracardiac echocardiography: development and initial clinical experience of a new system to guide ablation procedures.

Background: Pre-interventional three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the heart by CT or MRI provides important information on cardiac anatomy for electrophysiological interventions. However, updates of 3D-imaging modalities with high soft-tissue contrast are not available during ablation procedures.

Objective: We describe the development and first clinical testing of a close to real-time visualization of cardiac anatomy by intracardiac echocardiography (ICE).

Potential benefit of transesophageal defibrillation: an experimental evaluation.

Introduction: Because of the proximity of the esophagus to the heart, transesophageal defibrillation might increase defibrillation success. We assessed the defibrillation threshold (DFT) of transesophageal defibrillation compared with standard transthoracic defibrillation.

Methods: Defibrillation success and DFTs were determined in 22 female pigs with high (68+/-4 kg, n=12) or low body weight (39+/-1 kg, n=10).

[Morphology and function of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system].

Access to the intrinsic cardiac autonomic nervous system can now be achieved via percutaneous catheter stimulation techniques. Thereby, cardiac functions like atrioventricular nodal conduction, sinus cycle length and ventricular inotropy can be dynamically regulated. The present article provides examples of this new technique in acute and chronic models but also first human applications.