Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts functionally significant coronary artery stenosis in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the functional severity of coronary stenosis assessed according to the fractional flow reserve (FFR) in stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: The clinical and laboratory data of 420 patients who underwent index coronary angiography for stable angina pectoris were analyzed retrospectively. The functional severity of an intermediate lesion was determined by FFR.

Changes in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios in postcardiac arrest patients treated with targeted temperature management.

Objective: The prognostic value of changes in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) in cardiac arrest survivors receiving targeted temperature management (TTM) is unknown. The current study investigated NLR in postcardiac arrest (PCA) patients undergoing TTM.

Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 95 patients (59 males, age: 55.

Right ventricular outflow tract function in chronic heart failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a common, progressive, complex clinical syndrome and a subset of HF patients has symptoms out of proportion to the resting hemodynamics and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Right ventricular (RV) function is a powerful prognostic factor in HF, but assessing it is a challenge because of the right ventricle's complex geometry.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical application value of RV outflow tract (RVOT) function measured by transthoracic echocardiography in HF patients.

Arrhythmogenic Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy: Is There an Echocardiographic Phenotypic Overlap of Two Distinct Cardiomyopathies?

The clinical diagnosis of right ventricular (RV) cardiomyopathies is often challenging. It is difficult to differentiate the isolated left ventricular (LV) noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NC) from biventricular NC or from coexisting arrhythmogenic ventricular cardiomyopathy (AC). There are currently few established morphologic criteria for the diagnosis other than RV dilation and presence of excessive regional trabeculation.

Single- and dual-site pace mapping of idiopathic septal intramural ventricular arrhythmias.

Background: Pace mapping (PM) is used to identify the origin of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). For intramural VAs, the site of origin often cannot be reached and therefore PM is less accurate.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the value of single- and dual-site pace maps to differentiate intramural from nonintramural VAs.

The classical "R-on-T" phenomenon.

The polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PVT) is uncommon arrhythmia with multiple causes and has been classified according to whether they are associated with long QT interval or normal QT. Whereas "Torsade de pointes (TdP)" is an uncommon and distinctive form of PVT occurring in a setting of prolonged QT interval, which may be congenital or acquired (congenital or acquired), "PVT with normal QT" is associated with myocardial ischemia, electrolyte abnormalities (hypokalemia), mutations of the cardiac sodium channel (Brugada syndrome), and the ryanodine receptor (catecholaminergic PVT). This distinction is crucial because of the differing etiologies and management of these arrhythmias.

Effect of circadian variability in frequency of premature ventricular complexes on left ventricular function.

Background: Frequent idiopathic premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) can result in a reversible form of cardiomyopathy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of variability in PVC frequency throughout the day on PVC-induced cardiomyopathy.

Methods: The subjects of this study were 107 consecutive patients (58 men [54%]; mean age 49.

Occult obstructive sleep apnea and clinical outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after successful cardioversion can be predicted by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosed by polysomnography. However, it is not known whether the validated STOP-BANG questionnaire can predict AF recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Our objective is to determine the prevalence of unrecognized OSA in patients with AF and its relation to freedom from AF after RFA.

Predictive value of programmed ventricular stimulation after catheter ablation of post-infarction ventricular tachycardia.

Background: A recent meta-analysis demonstrated a survival benefit in post-infarction patients whose ventricular tachycardia (VT) was rendered noninducible by catheter ablation. Furthermore, patients with noninducible VT had a lower VT recurrence rate than did patients whose VT remained inducible after ablation.

Objectives: The purpose of this multicenter cohort study was to assess whether noninducibility after VT ablation is independently associated with improved survival.

Recurrence of PVCs in patients with PVC-induced cardiomyopathy.

Background: The natural history of premature ventricular complex (PVC)-induced cardiomyopathy is incompletely understood.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess long term follow-up data in patients who underwent successful PVC ablation for PVC-induced cardiomyopathy.

Methods: The subjects of this study were 60 patients (17 women; mean age 52.

Noninducibility in postinfarction ventricular tachycardia as an end point for ventricular tachycardia ablation and its effects on outcomes: a meta-analysis.

Background: Although ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation is a widely used therapy for patients with VT, the ideal end points for this procedure are not well defined. We performed a meta-analysis of the published literature to assess the predictive value of noninducibility of postinfarction VT for long-term outcomes after VT ablation.

Methods And Results: We performed a systematic review of MEDLINE (1950-2013), EMBASE (1988-2013), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Fourth Quarter, 2012), and reports presented at scientific meetings (1994-2013).

Infrequent intraprocedural premature ventricular complexes: implications for ablation outcome.

Background: Frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) can be eliminated with an ablation procedure. Ablation success rates have been reported to be in the 80% range. Reasons for failure of ablation have not been described in detail.

Mortality and cerebrovascular events after radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a significant increase in the risk of stroke and mortality. It is unclear whether maintaining sinus rhythm (SR) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is associated with an improvement in stroke risk and survival.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether SR after RFA of AF is associated with an improvement in the risk of cerebrovascular events (CVEs) and mortality during an extended 10-year follow-up.

Predictors of outcome after catheter ablation of premature ventricular complexes.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess how well acute procedural outcomes predict the clinical outcome of catheter ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs).

Methods: A consecutive series of 50 patients (28 women, age: 51 ± 13 years) with frequent PVCs was referred for PVC ablation. Acute failure was defined as inability to eliminate the predominant PVC or recurrence of the predominant PVC within 12 hours.

A shift in the balance of regulatory T and T helper 17 cells in rheumatic heart disease.

Background: Autoimmunity plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD); however, cellular mechanisms of autoimmune response are unclear. Whereas T helper 17 (TH17) and regulatory T cells (Treg) cells share a common differentiation pathway, they play opposite roles in the immune tolerance and autoimmune diseases. Although high TH17/Treg ratio has been shown in several autoimmune diseases, no data are available in RHD.

The relationship of plasma neuropeptide Y levels with coronary collateral development.

Objective: Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a sympathetic cotransmitter, has been shown to promote angiogenesis in in-vitro models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of plasma NPY levels with coronary collateral vessel development in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods: The study included 81 patients with at least one coronary stenosis with at least 80% narrowing in coronary angiography.

Comparison of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase levels between patients with cardiac syndrome X and healthy asymptomatic individuals.

Background: Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) enzyme has an increasing importance in the pathophysiology and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. It is an indirect marker of microvascular endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and elevated oxidative stress. There are no adequate data on the relationship between GGT and cardiac syndrome X.

High ventricular lead impedance of a DDD pacemaker after cranial magnetic resonance imaging.

Management of electromagnetic interference in the form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with pacemakers (PMs) may be challenging. Serious consequences, especially in PM-dependent patients, may be encountered. Changes in device programming, asynchronous pacing, heating of the lead tip(s), and increased thresholds or even device dislocation may be experienced.