Destination Therapy Strategies of Advanced Heart Failure in Elderly Non-Heart Transplant Candidates: A Propensity Matching Analysis from the LEVO-D and REGALAD Registries.

Heart transplantation (HT) is the gold standard therapy for advanced heart failure (ADHF), and LVADs as destination therapy are an option in non-HT candidates. Most patients with ADHF never receive HT or an LVAD, so alternative strategies are needed. Intermittent levosimendan can reduce HF hospitalizations in ADHF patients in the short term.

Green laser pointers for visual astronomy: how much power is enough?

Purpose: Green laser pointers with output powers in the tens to hundreds of milliwatt (mW) range, clearly exceeding the limiting 5 mW of American National Standards Institute class 3a (International Electrotechnical Commission class 3R), are now easily available in the global market. They are increasingly being used in public sky observations and other nighttime outreach activities by educators and science communicators in countries where their use is not well regulated, despite the fact that such high power levels may represent a potential threat to visual health. The purpose of this study was to determine the output power reasonably required to perform satisfactorily this kind of activities.

The efficacy and safety of ezetimibe for treatment of dyslipidemia after heart transplantation.

Introduction: Statins, although the treatment of choice for dyslipidemia after heart transplantation (HT), are not always well tolerated or effective. In such cases, administration of ezetimibe may be useful.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of ezetimibe, with or without statins, after HT.

Adverse effects of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors during the postoperative period after cardiac transplantation.

Introduction: Safety of treatment with mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi) in the postoperative period after heart transplantation (HT) is controversial.

Methods: We evaluated the incidence of postoperative complications (pericardial, pleural, and surgical wound complications) among nine de novo heart transplant recipients treated with mTORi compared with 19 patients who did not receive them during the same period (control group).

Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding sex, age, body mass index, pretransplant diagnosis, history of diabetes mellitus, prior cardiac surgery, or baseline renal function.

Reversal of cardiac cirrhosis following orthotopic heart transplantation.

Irreversible hepatic cirrhosis greatly increases the risks attending heart transplantation (HT), and is accordingly considered to be an absolute contraindication for HT unless combined heart and liver transplantation can be performed. It is now recognized that hepatic cirrhosis can undergo regression if the source of insult is removed, but no cases of post-HT regression of cirrhosis of cardiac origin have hitherto been reported. Here we report a case of cardiac cirrhosis that underwent complete regression following orthotopic HT, and we discuss the implications of this case.

[Chronic anemia in heart transplant patients: prevalence, predisposing factors and prognostic significance].

Introduction And Objectives: Data on chronic anemia following heart transplantation (HT) are scarce and contradictory. Our aims were to determine the prevalence of chronic anemia after HT, to identify predisposing factors for the condition at 12 months, and to evaluate its influence on medium-term and long-term survival.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent HT between 1991 and 2005 (n=457).

Late noncardiac surgery in heart transplant patients.

Objective: Because of improved long-term survival of heart transplants (HT), patients often need noncardiac surgery (NCS). Immunosuppression may increase the infection rate. Inadequate management may increase the risk of dysfunction or acute rejection episodes (ARE).

Late steroid withdrawal after heart transplantation and incidence of acute rejection.

Background: Steroid withdrawal (SW) after heart transplantation (HT) reduces steroid-associated side effects, although it can increase acute rejection episodes (ARE). Patient selection criteria for SW and the time elapsed after HT for this maneuver are controversial issues. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of late SW after HT with regard to the occurrence of ARE and to analyze risk factors resulting in a poor evolution.

Long-term results of heart transplant in recipients older and younger than 65 years: a comparative study of mortality, rejections, and neoplasia in a cohort of 445 patients.

Background: Whether being older than 65 years should be considered an absolute counterindication to heart transplant (HT), as it is in some centers, is controversial. In our centre, patients older than 65 years are accepted for HT if they satisfy stringent conditions. The aim of this study was to examine whether heart recipients older than 65 years have a greater risk of rejection, neoplasia, or mortality than younger ones.