Effectiveness and Tolerability of Supratherapeutic Dosing of Vortioxetine in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression.

To evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of vortioxetine at supratherapeutic dosages in patients with treatment-resistant depression. A retrospective observational naturalistic study was conducted in 56 depressed patients resistant to standard care treatment from September 2020 to April 2021. Effectiveness of the vortioxetine treatments was evaluated through Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) score, comparing CGI values at the beginning (T) of the vortioxetine treatment with CGI values at the earliest of these 2 time points (T): (1) 8 weeks of treatment with supratherapeutic dosages and (2) day of vortioxetine discontinuation or daily dosage reduction to ≤ 20 mg due to side effects.

[Prevalence of cardiac and extracardiac incidental findings in the evaluation of coronary artery disease by multidetector computed tomography].

Background: With the widespread use of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography, cardiac and extracardiac incidental findings in cardiac imaging might be detected. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cardiac and extracardiac incidental findings in a population of consecutive patients undergoing coronary MDCT.

Methods: A total of 840 consecutive patients with known or suspected heart disease underwent cardiac MDCT.

Left ventricular rotation and twist assessed by four-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in healthy subjects and pathological remodeling: a single center experience.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) twist represents a main aspect of ejection. It is defined as the difference between the apical and basal rotation and can be assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Twist may be underestimated when assessed by two-dimensional-echocardiography due to the difficulty of identifying the real apex.

Evaluation of Brugada syndrome by cardiac magnetic resonance.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) has been originally considered to occur in structural normal hearts. However recent pathological and imaging data suggest that structural and functional changes may be present in this syndrome. This study was designed to elucidate whether any macroscopic heart abnormality is detectable in patients with BrS.

Three-dimensional simultaneous strain-volume analysis describes left ventricular remodelling and its progression: a pilot study.

Aims: Three-dimensional (3D)-echocardiography speckle imaging allows the evaluation of frame-by-frame strain and volume changes simultaneously. The aim of the present investigation was to describe the strain-volume combined assessment in different patterns of cardiac remodelling.

Methods And Results: Fifty patients received a 3D acquisition.

Does preoperative tethering symmetry affect left ventricular reverse remodeling after restrictive annuloplasty?

Background: We hypothesized that a preoperative symmetric pattern with anterior mitral leaflet (AML) tethering predominance is related to lack of LVRR after restrictive annuloplasty.

Methods: In 300 patients with surgical annuloplasty for chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation the AML and posterior mitral leaflet (PML) tethering angles were quantified and patients were divided on the basis of the preoperative anterior/posterior tethering angle ratio: there were 144 patients with symmetric (Group 1) and 156 with asymmetric (Group 2) preoperative tethering pattern patients underwent echocardiography preoperatively, at discharge and at follow-up appointments (6 months [IQR 5-8 months]; late, 48 months [15-63 months]). Reverse remodeling was defined as a reduction in left ventricular end systolic volume index >15%.

Insights on left ventricular and valvular mechanisms of recurrent ischemic mitral regurgitation after restrictive annuloplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: We investigated leaflet and subvalvular configurations to identify mechanisms leading to recurrent mitral regurgitation after combined undersized mitral annuloplasty and coronary artery bypass and to preoperatively recognize patients who are unlikely to benefit from this approach.

Methods: Among 261 subjects with chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation undergoing undersized annuloplasty and coronary bypass surgery at one institution between September 2001 and September 2007, 31 were excluded: 4 had intraoperative annuloplasty failure, 12 showed residual regurgitation, and 15 had incomplete echocardiograms available. The study population consisted of 230 patients who were divided into 2 groups: patients without (group 1, n = 176) or with (group 2, n = 54) late recurrent mitral regurgitation.