Right ventricular performance in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction: the forgotten ventricle.

Right ventricular (RV) function is a major determinant of prognosis and adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). It is largely unknown if HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) patients have some special characteristics in RV function (RVF) that may distinguish them from HF with reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFrEF or HFpEF) patients. Standard echocardiography was performed to estimate RVF [tricuspid annular systolic velocity (TDSV), plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), TAPSE to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP) and RV myocardial performance index (MPI-TEI index)] in a cross-sectional study.

Female Sexual Dysfunction: A Problem Hidden in the Shadows.

Background: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) has been largely underdiagnosed and undertreated due to the lack of concrete definitions, validated assessment methods and efficient treatments. However, during the last few decades, there has been great progress in the clinical management and research of FSD.

Objective: The purpose of this review is to describe the pathophysiology of FSD, report the prevalence of the disease in the setting of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and disease, and review current and under investigation treatment options.

Transesophageal Overdrive Pacing in a Patient with Atrial Tachycardia and β -Thalassemia Major. A Challenging Simplicity.

Introduction: Transesophageal overdrive pacing is an accepted method for the diagnosis and treatment of supraventricular tachycardias, although is not used frequently in clinical practice.

Case Report: A 47 years old woman is reported with a medical history of β -Thalassemia Major admitted to our hospital with atrial tachycardia of recent onset and successfully converted using a transesophageal overdrive atrial pacing.

Conclusion: Transesophageal overdrive atrial pacing is a low cost, simple and safe procedure that can be performed at the bedside, especially in patients, as those with β -Thalassemia Major, whose health status makes difficult the usage of medicines that could possibly aggravate their general health status.

Erectile Dysfunction as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor: Time to Step Up?

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a major health problem that affects a significant proportion of the general population, and its prevalence is even higher in patients with CV risk factors and/or disease. ED and cardiovascular (CV) disease share several common pathophysiological mechanisms, and thus, the potential role of ED as a predictor of CV events has emerged as a significant research aspect.

Objective: The purpose of this review is to present and critically discuss data assessing the relation between ED and CV disease and the potential predictive value of ED for CV events.

Glycemic efficacy and safety of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist on top of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor treatment compared to sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor alone: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are now considered as key players in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to provide precise effect estimates regarding the safety and efficacy of the addition of a GLP-1RA on top of SGLT-2i treatment.

Research Design And Methods: PubMed and CENTRAL, along with grey literature sources, were searched from their inception to May 2019 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a duration ≥ 12 weeks, evaluating the safety and efficacy of addition of a GLP-1RA on a SGLT-2i compared to SGLT-2i alone in patients with T2DM.