Sex-based outcomes of surgical myectomy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: An analysis from the National Readmission Database.

Background: There is a paucity of data on sex differences in outcomes after surgical myectomy (SM) for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Patients who received SM for HCM during October 1, 2015, through December 31, 2018, were identified from the US National Readmission Database. The primary end point of this study was in-hospital mortality.

Gender-based outcomes of coronary bifurcation stenting: A report from the National Readmission Database.

Background: There is a paucity of data focusing on women's outcomes after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for coronary bifurcation lesions (CBLs).

Methods: Patients who received PCI for CBLs in the context of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during the period of 01 October 2015- 31 December 2017, were identified from the United States National Readmission Database. The primary endpoint of this study was in-hospital major adverse events (MAEs).

Association Between Breast Arterial Calcification on Mammography and Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Breast arterial calcification (BAC), which may be detected during screening mammography, is hypothesized to be a noninvasive imaging marker that may enhance cardiovascular risk assessment. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we sought to assess the association between BAC and coronary artery disease (CAD) by conducting a meta-analysis. We conducted a literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library, ClinicalTrials.

Induced Hypothermia in Patients with Cardiac Arrest and a Non-shockable Rhythm: Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.

Background: Controversy surrounds utilization of induced hypothermia (IHT) in comatose cardiac arrest (CA) survivors with a non-shockable rhythm.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) comparing IHT with no IHT approaches in patients with CA and a non-shockable rhythm. The primary outcome of interest was favorable neurological outcomes (FNO) defined using the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) score of 1 or 2.

Short-Term Antiplatelet Versus Anticoagulant Therapy After Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare bleeding, thromboembolic, device-related thrombus (DRT), and all-cause mortality events between patients treated with short-term oral anticoagulation (OAC) and those treated with short-term antiplatelet therapy (APT) following left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO).

Background: Short-term OAC is recommended for patients following LAAO. However, in practice many patients receive APT rather than OAC because of excessive bleeding risk.

Radial versus femoral access for percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Trial sequential analysis.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have yielded conflicting results about the impact of transradial access (TRA) versus transfemoral access (TFA) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: We performed a trial sequential analysis (TSA) of RCTs comparing TRA and TFA in patients with STEMI. The outcomes of interest were 30-day mortality, major bleeding, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and access site complications.

The dawn of aspirin free strategy after short term dual antiplatelet for percutaneous coronary intervention: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

There is still a debate about the safety and efficacy of an aspirin free strategy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Hence, we performed a meta-analysis comparing aspirin free strategy to dual antiplatlets therapy (DAPT). Randomized trials (RCTs) comparing aspirin free strategy to DAPT in patients who received PCI were included.

Ticagrelor after pharmacological thrombolysis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions: insight from a trial sequential analysis.

Few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared ticagrelor to clopidogrel after thrombolytic therapy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). To assess the quality of the current evidence, a trial sequential analysis (TSA) of all the available RCTs was performed. A literature search through electronic databases for relevant RCTs was completed.

Meta-Analysis Comparing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With Balloon Versus Self-Expandable Valves.

Two transcatheter aortic valve systems are currently in use in the United States; balloon-expandable valves (BEV) and the self-expanding valve (SEV). However, comparative data outcomes between the 2 systems are limited, as only one randomized trial (RCT) performed a head-to-head comparison between BEVs and SEVs. However, there are several RCTs comparing BEV or SEV to surgical valve replacement.

Trial Sequential Analysis Comparing Bleeding and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Acute Coronary Syndrome on Dual versus Triple Therapy.

Objective To assess efficacy and safety of dual therapy (DT) and triple therapy (TT) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with or without percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and evaluate the quality of evidence with respect to said outcomes based on contemporary randomized trials (RCTs). The efficacy outcome taken was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) while safety outcome was major bleeding events. Introduction Appropriate anti-thrombotic therapy is still controversial in patients with AF and concomitant ACS or PCI.

Meta-Analysis of Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Among Patients With Low Gradient Severe Aortic Stenosis.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as an effective therapy for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). However, data on TAVI outcomes in patients with low gradient (LG) AS are limited. We performed a meta-analysis of studies comparing TAVI outcomes between patients with classic high gradient (HG) and LG AS through November 2018.

Alcohol septal ablation vs myectomy for symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Surgical myectomy (SM) and Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) are effective therapies for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who remain symptomatic despite medical therapy. A plethora of data has recently emerged on the long-term outcomes of these procedures. We hence sought to perform an updated meta-analysis comparing both procedures.

De-Escalation of Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Aims: Patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are recommended to be placed on potent P2Y12 blockade. However, the long-term bleeding risk is high. Therefore, despite no definitive evidence, switching to clopidogrel beyond the acute phase is common.

Association between changes in the intrathoracic impedance and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with heart failure.

Background: Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are independently related to mortality risk in patients with heart failure (HF). The wide availability of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices now offers an opportunity to clinically correlate the two disease processes. We hypothesized that there is an association between changes in the intrathoracic impedance and episodes of VA.

Meta-Analysis of Carvedilol for the Prevention of Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity.

Anthracycline is a commonly prescribed antineoplastic agent. As a consequence of the growing number of cancer survivors, the incidence of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is increasing. However, the optimal primary preventive strategy is lacking.

Intra-thoracic Impedance and the Onset of Atrial and Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias: A Meta-analysis.

Background And Purpose: Advances of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) devices allow correlating changes in the intra-thoracic impedance (TI), an indicator of fluid overload, with the onset of arrhythmic events. In an attempt to attain a better understanding of this relationship, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies that investigated the association between TI changes and the onset of AT/AF and/or VT/VF in patients with ICD devices.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of studies published through January 2017 that reported an association between a decrease in the TI measured by the OptiVol fluid index (OI) and occurrence of AT/AF and VT/VF.

Oral Cancer Awareness Among Dental Patients in Omdurman, Sudan: a cross-sectional Study.

Background: Oral cancer is a preventable disease. Its occurrence is mostly due to lifestyle. In Sudan, the use of smokeless tobacco (Toombak) has long been linked to oral cancer.