The prognostic value of global longitudinal strain in patients with myocardial infarction and preserved ejection fraction - a prespecified substudy of the REDUCE-AMI trial.

Aims: The REDUCE-AMI trial showed that beta-blockers in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) had no effect on mortality or cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of this substudy was to evaluate whether global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a better prognostic marker than LVEF, and if beta-blockers have a beneficial effect in patients with decreased GLS.

Methods And Results: REDUCE-AMI was a registry-based randomized clinical trial.

Prognostic and therapeutic implications of low aortic valve calcium score in patients with low gradient aortic stenosis.

Introduction: Low gradient (LG) aortic stenosis (AS) poses a diagnostic challenge. Aortic valve calcium score (AVCS) assessment has emerged as a complementary diagnostic method when echocardiography provides discordant results. However, the diagnostic and prognostic value of AVCS in LGAS has not been thoroughly studied.

The Relationship of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with Disease Activity and Quality of Life in Crohn's Disease Patients.

: Emerging evidence is placing the Mediterranean diet (MD) in the spotlight as a potential dietary model that could benefit inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in terms of prevention and progress of the disease. The main aim of the present study is to shed some light on the relationship between the adherence to the MD and the degree of disease activity, as well as the quality of life in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). : An administered questionnaire was used to assess and record a number of parameters, including recent medical and weight history, anthropometric characteristics, disease activity (in remission or active disease), and quality of life of both male and female CD patients.

The Effect of Shift Working on Dietary Patterns of Healthcare Practitioners during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Health professionals' working schedules often do not allow them to follow a balanced way of life, and the nature of their work can affect their weight and eating habits. The aim of the present study is to shed some light on the impact of night shift working on the dietary practices of healthcare practitioners in Greece. This was a cross-sectional study.

The Effect of Fat Supplementation on the Appearance of Symptoms Associated With Dumping Syndrome in Patients Having Undergone Gastric Surgery: Preliminary Results.

Background/objectives: Data on the effect of dietary fat on dumping syndrome (DS) symptoms are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the addition of fat to a carbohydrate meal on the appearance of DS symptoms and glycemic response, in patients who had undergone gastric surgery.

Subjects/methods: This was an interventional crossover study.

Echocardiographic estimation of pulmonary artery wedge pressure: invasive derivation, validation, and prognostic association beyond diastolic dysfunction grading.

Aims: Grading of diastolic function can be useful, but indeterminate classifications are common. We aimed to invasively derive and validate a quantitative echocardiographic estimation of pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) and to compare its prognostic performance to diastolic dysfunction grading.

Methods And Results: Echocardiographic measures were used to derive an estimated PAWP (ePAWP) using multivariable linear regression in patients undergoing right heart catheterization (RHC).

Longitudinal strain analysis for assessment of early cardiotoxicity during anthracycline treatment in childhood sarcoma: A single center experience.

Background: The growing population of long-term childhood cancer survivors encounter a substantial burden of cardiovascular complications. The highest risk of cardiovascular complications is associated with exposure to anthracyclines and chest radiation. Longitudinal cardiovascular surveillance is recommended for childhood cancer patients; however, the optimal methods and timing are yet to be elucidated.

BASILICA Procedure Prior to Valve-in-Valve TAVR in a Supra-Annular TAV Prosthesis.

An 80-year-old man with a supra-annular transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) prosthesis presented with severe transvalvular aortic regurgitation 18 months after the TAV replacement procedure. The authors report the first ever valve-in-valve procedure using BASILICA (bioprosthetic or native aortic scallop intentional laceration to prevent iatrogenic coronary artery obstruction) in such a supra-annular TAV prosthesis. Minimal paravalvular leakage, normal coronary artery flow, and easy coronary access were seen postimplantation.

Subclinical leaflet thrombosis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation is associated with silent brain injury on brain magnetic resonance imaging.

Aims: Whether hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) carries a risk of subclinical brain injury (SBI) is unknown. We investigated whether HALT is associated with SBI detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and whether post-TAVI SBI impacts the patients' cognition and outcome.

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled 153 patients (age: 78.

Preliminary Results on the Comparative Evaluation of Alkaline Phosphatase Commercial Tests Efficiency in Non-Cow Milk Pasteurization.

The demand for non-cow milk and the products derived from it, is constantly increasing; thus, correct and effective pasteurization becomes necessary. Typical practices for evaluating milk pasteurization are mainly based on the thermal inactivation of an endogenous enzyme, alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The ALP tests, originally designed and applied to pasteurized cow milk, are often used to control pasteurization in non-cow milk, without sufficient data on their suitability; EFSA calls on the scientific world for collecting more information on the subject.

Association between central haemodynamics and renal function in advanced heart failure: a nationwide study from Sweden.

Aims: Renal dysfunction in patients with heart failure (HF) has traditionally been attributed to declining cardiac output and renal hypoperfusion. However, other central haemodynamic aberrations may contribute to impaired kidney function. This study assessed the relationship between invasive central haemodynamic measurements from right-heart catheterizations and measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) in advanced HF.

The Predictive Value of Left Atrial Strain Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation on Anatomical and Functional Reverse Remodeling in a Multi-Modality Study.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) can improve left ventricular (LV) mechanics and survival. Data on the predictive value of left atrial (LA) strain following TAVI are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the association of LA strain measured shortly post-TAVI with functional and anatomical reverse remodeling of the LA and LV, and its association with mortality.

Echocardiographic Biventricular Coupling Index to Predict Precapillary Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a frequent and detrimental condition. Right heart catheterization (RHC) is the gold standard to identify PH subtype (precapillary from postcapillary PH) and is key for treatment allocation. In this study, the novel echocardiographic biventricular coupling index (BCI), based on the ratio between right ventricular stroke work index and left ventricular E/E' ratio, was tested for the discrimination of PH subtype using RHC as the comparator.

Exposure assessment on aflatoxin M from milk and dairy products-relation to public health.

Background-aim: Aflatoxin M (AFM) contaminates milk and dairy products that are widely consumed foods. Therefore, there is increased concern for human exposure to the toxic action and the negative health effects that AFM presents. The aim of this study was to assess the contamination levels with AFM, of dairy products available in the Greek market (Thessaly), and also to estimate the relevant nutritional exposure.

Critical appraisal of the instantaneous end-diastolic pulmonary arterial wedge pressures.

Aims: A substantial shift in the field of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is ongoing, as the previous practice of mean pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP ) is no longer supported. Instead, aiming for a better estimate of end-diastolic pressures (EDP), instantaneous PAWP at mid-A-wave (PAWP ) or, in the absence of an A-wave, at 130-160 ms following QRS onset has recently been recommended. Electrocardiogram-gated PAWP (PAWP ) has also been proposed.

ATSC transplantation contributes to liver regeneration following paracetamol-induced acute liver injury through differentiation into hepatic-like cells.

Introduction: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a leading cause of acute liver injury (ALI). Acetaminophen (also termed paracetamol), can often be found in drugs that may be abused (i.e.

Optimizing diastolic pressure gradient assessment.

Aims: The diastolic pressure gradient (DPG) has been proposed as a marker pulmonary vascular disease in the setting of left heart failure (HF). However, its diagnostic utility is compromised by the high prevalence of physiologically incompatible negative values (DPG) and the contradictory evidence on its prognostic value. Pressure pulsatility impacts on DPG measurements, thus conceivably, pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) measurements insusceptible to the oscillatory effect of the V-wave might yield a more reliable DPG assessment.

Feasibility and accuracy of tricuspid annular displacement assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography and Doppler tissue imaging.

Background: Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is a recommended quantitative measure of right ventricular (RV) longitudinal function assessed by M-mode echocardiography. Offline alternatives are desirable when TAPSE is unavailable. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, reliability, and agreement between retrospectively obtained measures of tricuspid annular displacement using Doppler tissue imaging (TAD ) and speckle tracking echocardiography (TAD ) compared with reference TAPSE.

The additive value of echocardiographic pulmonary to left atrial global strain ratio in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.

Background: The distinction between pre-capillary and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) is central to accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapy. We aimed to investigate the ability of the novel echocardiographic pulmonary to left atrial global strain ratio (ePLAGS) to distinguish pre-capillary from post-capillary PH and compare its discriminatory strength with the echocardiographic pulmonary to left atrial ratio (ePLAR).

Methods: Consecutive subjects with unexplained dyspnea or heart failure underwent echocardiography immediately followed by right heart catheterization.

Doppler estimates of pulmonary vascular resistance to phenotype pulmonary hypertension in heart failure.

An accurate distinction between isolated post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (Ipc-PH) and combined post- and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (Cpc-PH) is integral to therapy and prognosis in heart failure (HF). This study aimed to compare the ability of four previously validated Doppler estimates of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) to distinguish Ipc-PH from Cpc-PH in a well-defined HF population. Consecutive subjects referred for HF assessment underwent standard echocardiography immediately followed by right heart catheterization (RHC).