Shifting paradigms in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the role of exercise in disease management.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is traditionally associated with exercise restriction due to potential risks, yet recent evidence and guidelines suggest a more permissive stance for low-risk individuals. The aim of this comprehensive review was to examine existing research on the impact of exercise on cardiovascular outcomes, safety, and quality of life in this population and to consider implications for clinical practice. Recent studies suggest that regular exercise and physical activity in low-risk individuals with HCM are associated with positive outcomes in functional capacity, haemodynamic response, and quality of life, with consistent safety.

BEAT-IT: A de-novo cardiac screening programme in Maltese adolescents.

Aims: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young individuals is often unexpected, provoking substantial emotional stress for family and friends of the deceased. Cardiac screening may identify individuals who harbour disorders linked to SCD. The feasibility and diagnostic yield of a nationwide cardiac screening programme in adolescents has never been explored.

Native T1 and T2 reference values for maltese healthy cohort.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is increasingly being used for diagnosing various cardiac conditions. Parametric mapping enables quantitative myocardial characterization by directly measuring myocardial T1 and T2 values. However, reference values of parametric mapping are not standardized across different vendors and scanners, causing drawbacks for clinical implementation of this technique across different sites.

The juvenile ECG pattern in adolescent athletes and non-athletes in a national cardiac screening program (BEAT-IT).

Background: Anterior T wave inversion (TWI) is frequent in healthy adolescent individuals (juvenile ECG pattern), normalising after puberty. Its clinical implications are uncertain.

Aim: This study assessed a) national prevalence of anterior TWI, b) ST segment morphology, c) proportion of individuals with a juvenile ECG pattern whose ECG normalises and d) factors predicting TWI persistence >16 years.

A review article of the cardiovascular sequalae in esport athletes: A cause for concern?

The esports industry has grown exponentially and is expected to flourish rapidly in the coming years. Awareness about the cardiovascular sequalae in elite esports athletes has gained considerable momentum. Evidence supporting systematic screening in esports athletes is however lacking.

Case report of -associated myopericarditis: rare case of cardiac involvement by a common gastroenteritis pathogen.

Background: Myocarditis is caused by inflammation affecting the heart muscle. The usual aetiological factor is viral, especially in immunocompetent hosts and developed countries. is a common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis but has rarely been associated with myocarditis.

Predictors of yearly influenza vaccination in hospitalized and community based patients.

Background: Understanding positive and negative influences on adult immunization status can help healthcare providers to better identify and target patients who are likely to need immunization. Our aim was to assess and compare influenza and pneumococcal (IV/PV) immunisation rates to identify vaccination predictors in Malta.

Method: One group consisted of all medical patients discharged from Mater Dei Hospital (MDH) over a one week period in February 2013.

Structure of russellite (BiWO): origin of ferroelectricity and the effect of the stereoactive lone electron pair on the structure.

The structure of the low-temperature polar (orthorhombic) phase of russellite (BiWO) was examined on artificial specimens with precise single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. The final atomic arrangement thus obtained was identical to that reported by Knight [Miner. Mag.

Squamous cell carcinoma of unknown origin metastasising to the right atrium causing acute heart failure.

We describe a case of metastasis to the heart, which was initially suspected to be a myxoma, causing acute right heart failure. Emergency surgery was carried out by opening the right atrium and superior vena cava, and debulking the tumour in a piecemeal fashion, providing temporary relief of symptoms. The histology showed this to be metastatic squamous cell carcinoma possibly of head and neck origin.