U-Shaped Association of the Heart Rate Variability Triangular Index and Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in hemodialysis patients and contributes to increased mortality. We aimed to examine heart rate variability triangular index (HRVI) in hemodialysis patients with AF as it has recently been reported to predict mortality in AF patients without kidney disease. A total of 88 patients on hemodialysis with a medical history of AF or newly diagnosed AF underwent 24-h electrocardiography recordings.

Title: Cytokine release syndrome is not usually caused by secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a cohort of 19 critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Severe COVID-19 associated respiratory failure, poses the one challenge of our days. Assessment and treatment of COVID-19 associated hyperinflammation may be key to improve outcomes. It was speculated that in subgroups of patients secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) or cytokine release syndrome (CRS) with features of macrophage activation syndrome might drive severe disease trajectories.

Bifocal versus unifocal right atrial pacing under plasma level controlled sotalol to prevent atrial fibrillation in patients with symptomatic sinus bradycardia and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Bifocal right atrial pacing (BP) has been reported to increase arrhythmia-free intervals in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) under antiarrhythmic drugs. This study compares AF burden with unifocal pacing (UP) vs BP under sotalol.

Methods: In 19 patients with PAF a DDDR pacemaker with right atrial lateral and CS ostial leads was implanted.

Functional capacity and changes in the neurohormonal and cytokine status after long-term CRT in heart failure patients.

Background: This study investigated the effects of long-term cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on the neurohormonal and cytokines levels in CHF patients and its correlation with changes in functional capacity (peak VO(2) and VO(2) AT) and left ventricular function (LVEF).

Methods: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), norepinephrine (NE), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor 1 (TNF alpha R1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were collected from 22 patients of the PATH-CHF II study (LVEF< or =30%, NYHA II-IV and QRS> or =120 ms) at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up. Peak VO(2), VO(2) AT and LVEF were recorded.