Takotsubo Syndrome and Gender Differences: Exploring Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Clinical Differences for a Personalized Approach in Patient Management.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), also known as the broken-heart syndrome, is a reversible condition typically observed in female patients presenting for acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Despite its increasing incidence, TTS often remains undiagnosed due to its overlap with ACS. The pathophysiology of TTS is complex and involves factors such as coronary vasospasm, microcirculatory dysfunction, increased catecholamine levels, and overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system.

The Heart Team during the Pandemic: A Case Report of Bio-Prosthesis Degeneration Treated with Valve in Valve Implantation.

The pandemic changed the type of patients. The concept of "patient at the center" became concrete. The execution of simple consultancy was overcome to create effective collaboration and fruitful exchanges between specialists.

Sex differences in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome: a state-of-the-art review.

Cardiovascular conditions in the spectrum of acute coronary syndromes are characterized by sex differences with regard to pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, invasive and pharmacologic treatment, and outcomes. This review delves into these differences, including specific subsets like myocardial infarction with non-obstructed coronary arteries or Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, and alternative diagnoses like Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or myocarditis. Moreover, practical considerations are enclosed, on how a sex-specific approach should be integrated in clinical practice: in fact, personal history should focus on female-specific risk factors, and hormonal status and hormonal therapy should be assessed.

[Gender cardiology: focus on clinical and pathophysiological peculiarities in women with long COVID syndrome].

Long COVID is a clinical syndrome characterized by the persistence or development of symptoms due to COVID-19 at least 12 weeks after initial infection. More than 200 different symptoms have been ascribed to long COVID, the most common being fatigue, shortness of breath, and muscle weakness. Women have a three-fold higher risk of being diagnosed with long COVID, and the symptoms more often described are persistent weakness, chest pain, altered smell and taste, palpitations or muscle pain, as well as neurological, gastrointestinal and rheumatologic symptoms.

Organization and Activity of Italian Echocardiographic Laboratories: A Survey of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging.

Background: The Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SIECVI) conducted a national survey to understand better how different echocardiographic modalities are used and accessed in Italy.

Methods: We analyzed echocardiography laboratory activities over a month (November 2022). Data were retrieved via an electronic survey based on a structured questionnaire, uploaded on the SIECVI website.

The impact of UEFA Euro 2020 football championship on Takotsubo Syndrome: Results of a multicenter national registry.

Objectives: The UEFA 2020 European Football Championship held in multiple cities across Europe from June 11 to July 11, 2021, was won by Italy, providing an opportunity to examine the relationship between emotional stress and the incidence of acute cardiovascular events (ACE).

Methods And Results: Cardiovascular hospitalizations in the Cardiac Care Units of 49 hospital networks in Italy were assessed by emergency physicians during the UEFA Euro 2020 Football Championship. We compared the events that occurred during matches involving Italy with events that occurred during the remaining days of the championship as the control period.

[Proposal for a standardized discharge letter after hospital stay for acute pulmonary embolism].

Pulmonary embolism represents the third leading cause of cardiovascular mortality in developed countries. It requires, in most cases, hospital treatment and always a structured follow-up program. Therefore, at the time of discharge, the communication and the transfer of information from the specialist to the general practitioner, through the discharge letter, represents a crucial opportunity.

[ANMCO Position paper: Pulmonary circulation diseases and COVID-19].

The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is causing hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide, is complex and can present with a multi-organ localization. One of its worst complications is an interstitial pneumonia with acute respiratory failure also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which requires non-invasive or invasive ventilation. A severe coagulopathy with poor prognosis is found in 5-10% of cases.

Effects of phenobarbital and levetiracetam on PR and QTc intervals in patients with post-stroke seizure.

Background And Objectives: Sudden unexplained/unexpected death (SUDEP) is related to high mortality in patients with epilepsy. The prolongation of QT interval, involved in cardiac arrhythmia-related SUDEP, may be precipitated by antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). In this study, we evaluated the effects of phenobarbital and levetiracetam on PR-QTc intervals in patients with post-stroke seizures.

[Isolated congenital coronary fistula in adult population: discussion a clinical case and review of current literature].

We describe a case of a 56 year-old man with a history of chest pain. No evidence of myocardial ischemia or arrhytmias was observed. Echocardiographic examination in Emergency Department evidenced aortic root dilatation.

[Left ventricular geometric patterns and cardiac function in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to estimate the impact and prevalence of left ventricular geometric alterations and systolic and diastolic dysfunction in hemodialysis patients, as well as the relationship with cardiac troponin as a marker of myocardial damage.

Methods: 31 patients (pts), 19 males and 12 females, age 58.1+/-16.

[Prevalence of structural abnormalities of the atrial septum and their association with recent ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack: echocardiographic evaluation in 18631 patients].

Background: Ischemic stroke is one of the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. In more than 40% of cases the cause of the ischemic event is not recognized, especially in young patients in whom, moreover, the presence of a structural abnormality of atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) is more frequently reported. The prevalence of this two minor atrial septal defects is strongly related to the study population (unselected patients and patients with recent ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack-TIA) and to the diagnostic tool employed (transthoracic echocardiography--TTE or transesophageal echocardiography--TEE).

Detection of enteroviral infection in myocardial tissues by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

OBJECTIVE: To determine if enteroviral infection is linked to myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. Enteroviruses, especially coxsackieviruses, appear to be the most common agents of viral myocarditis. METHODS: We collected 53 endomyocardial biopsies and two autopsy specimens from 41 patients affected by myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy.