Macular Microvascular Perfusion Status in Hypertensive Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

To compare retinal microvascular perfusion between the eyes of hypertensive patients with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD), the vessel density (VD) and fractal dimension (FD) of the superficial (SVP) and deep retinal vascular plexus (DVP) were analyzed on 6 × 6 mm fovea-centered optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images of patients with hypertension. The retina was divided into an inner ring (IR) and outer ring (OR) according to the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study grid. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined and CKD was diagnosed (GFR < 60 mL/min/1.

Surgical Transmitral Thrombectomy to Prevent Recurrent Stroke in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Left ventricular (LV)-thrombi occur in up to 14 % of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention. For these patients, anticoagulant therapy (AC) is recommended by AMI-guidelines. When, despite AC, LV-thrombi lead to embolism, surgical thrombectomy is an option, which is not mentioned or not recommended in AMI-guidelines.

Empagliflozin in acute myocardial infarction: the EMMY trial.

Aims: Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibition reduces the risk of hospitalization for heart failure and for death in patients with symptomatic heart failure. However, trials investigating the effects of this drug class in patients following acute myocardial infarction are lacking.

Methods And Results: In this academic, multicentre, double-blind trial, patients (n = 476) with acute myocardial infarction accompanied by a large creatine kinase elevation (>800 IU/L) were randomly assigned to empagliflozin 10 mg or matching placebo once daily within 72 h of percutaneous coronary intervention.

Reversal of systolic dysfunction in noncompaction and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome after accessory pathway ablation.

In a previously healthy asymptomatic 18-year old male, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) with left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction (LVHT) and systolic dysfunction was detected. Holter monitoring disclosed multiple long episodes of supraventricular tachycardia with a heart rate of about 110/min. After radiofrequency ablation of an epicardial posteroseptal accessory pathway with ante- and retrograde conduction, systolic function gradually normalized without any pharmacotherapy.

Improved in-hospital outcome for radial access in a large contemporary cohort of primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Randomised controlled trials have shown diverse results for radial access in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Moreover, it is questionable whether radial access improves outcome in patients with cardiogenic shock undergoing PPCI. We aimed to investigate the outcome according to access site in patients with or without cardiogenic shock, in daily clinical practice.

Subcutaneous implanted cardioverter-defibrillator in ventricular noncompaction, coronary artery disease and stroke.

Left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction (LVHT) is associated with arrhythmias. Guidelines for prevention of sudden cardiac death by implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) also apply to LVHT-patients. Right ventricular perforation by the ICD-lead is a matter of concern.

Usefulness of Neuromuscular Co-morbidity, Left Bundle Branch Block, and Atrial Fibrillation to Predict the Long-Term Prognosis of Left Ventricular Hypertrabeculation/Noncompaction.

The prognosis of patients with left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction (LVHT) is assessed controversially. LVHT is associated with other cardiac abnormalities and with neuromuscular disorders (NMD). Aim of the study was to assess cardiac and neurological findings as predictors of mortality rate in adult LVHT-patients.

Reversible myocardial oedema due to acute myocardial infarction as differential diagnosis of cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis.

Using bone-avid radiotracers, cardiac transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis can be diagnosed by scintigraphy, thus obviating endomyocardial biopsy. Radiotracer accumulation, however, may also be due to other causes. A 68-year-old male with acute myocardial infarction underwent recanalization of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD).

Multisystem Myotilinopathy, including Myopathy and Left Ventricular Noncompaction, due to the Variant c.179C>T.

Left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction is a myocardial abnormality of unknown etiology/pathogenesis, which is frequently associated with neuromuscular disorders or chromosomal defects. LVHT in association with a mutation has not been reported. The patient is a 72-year-old male with a history of strabismus in childhood, asymptomatic creatine-kinase elevation since age 42 years, slowly progressive lower limb weakness since age 60 years, slowly progressive dysarthria and dysphagia since age 62 years, and recurrent episodes of arthralgias and myalgias since age 71 years.

Culprit Vessel Only Versus Complete Revascularisation in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction - Should we Stay or Stage?

Multivessel coronary artery disease (MVCAD) is common in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), thereby negatively affecting mortality and outcome. Currently there is increasing evidence that complete revascularisation should be considered in haemodynamically stable patients. There are few larger randomised controlled trials available showing a lower risk of major adverse cardiac events after complete revascularisation, mainly driven by a reduction of repeat revascularisation.

In-Hospital Outcome Comparing Bivalirudin to Heparin in Real-World Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Randomized controlled trials have shown conflicting results regarding the outcome of bivalirudin in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the in-hospital outcomes of patients receiving heparin or bivalirudin in a real-world setting of PPCI: 7,023 consecutive patients enrolled in the Austrian Acute PCI Registry were included between January 2010 and December 2014. Patients were classified according to the peri-interventional anticoagulation regimen receiving heparin (n = 6430) or bivalirudin (n = 593) with or without GpIIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs).

Takotsubo-like syndrome triggered by fludrocortisone overdose for Addison's disease: a case report.

Background: Reversible left ventricular dysfunction, also termed Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is rarely reported in Addison's disease after initiation of hormone replacement therapy. The pathogenesis of this cardiomyopathy is unknown.

Case Presentation: A 41-year-old white woman with a history of autoimmune Hashimoto thyroiditis diagnosed 3 years earlier and acute adrenal insufficiency diagnosed 3 weeks earlier presented with new onset of heart failure New York Heart Association class IV, which had started shortly after initiation of hormone replacement therapy with hydrocortisone 20 mg/day and fludrocortisone 0.

Atrial fibrillation: state of the art.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is by far the most frequent heart rhythm disorder and is associated with a significantly increased risk of stroke, heart failure and death. Despite improvements in prevention and treatment, the prognosis has not changed significantly. To use new and promising pharmacological and interventional concepts for thromboembolic prophylaxis and treatment of AF, as well as prevention of recurrence, patient compliance has to be improved, physicians have to be trained and experience hast to be gained.

The wealth of nations and the dissemination of cardiovascular research.

Background: This study aimed at understanding whether investigators from less wealthy countries were at a disadvantage in disseminating their research, after accounting for potential differences in research quality and infrastructure.

Methods And Results: In this bibliometric analysis a representative random selection of 10% (n=1002 studies) of all abstracts submitted to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress 2006 was followed for publication and citation from September 2006 to December 2011. The main variable of interest was the per-capita gross domestic product (GDP) of the country of the principal investigator.

Peripheral blood monocyte Sirt1 expression is reduced in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis. Sirt1 regulates transcription factors involved in inflammatory processes and blunts atherosclerosis in mice. However, its role in humans remains to be defined.

Anti-thymocyte globulin induces neoangiogenesis and preserves cardiac function after experimental myocardial infarction.

Rationale: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) followed by ventricular remodeling is the major cause of congestive heart failure and death in western world countries.

Objective: Of relevance are reports showing that infusion of apoptotic leucocytes or anti-lymphocyte serum after AMI reduces myocardial necrosis and preserves cardiac function. In order to corroborate this therapeutic mechanism, the utilization of an immunosuppressive agent with a comparable mechanism, such as anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) was evaluated in this study.

From abstract to impact in cardiovascular research: factors predicting publication and citation.

Aims: Through a 4-year follow-up of the abstracts submitted to the European Society of Cardiology Congress in 2006, we aimed at identifying factors predicting high-quality research, appraising the quality of the peer review and editorial processes, and thereby revealing potential ways to improve future research, peer review, and editorial work. METHODS AND RESULTS All abstracts submitted in 2006 were assessed for acceptance, presentation format, and average reviewer rating. Accepted and rejected studies were followed for 4 years.

Expression of the aging gene p66Shc is increased in peripheral blood monocytes of patients with acute coronary syndrome but not with stable coronary artery disease.

Objective: The interplay between oxidative stress and inflammation is crucial in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The adaptor protein p66Shc is implicated in atherogenesis and oxidative stress related responses in animal models of diseases. However, its role in humans remains to be defined.

Intravenous and intramyocardial injection of apoptotic white blood cell suspensions prevents ventricular remodelling by increasing elastin expression in cardiac scar tissue after myocardial infarction.

Congestive heart failure developing after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Clinical trials of cell-based therapy after AMI evidenced only a moderate benefit. We could show previously that suspensions of apoptotic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are able to reduce myocardial damage in a rat model of AMI.

Comparison of two new generation pulse oximeters during emergency ambulance transportation.

Objectives: We wanted to test whether there is a difference between the total number and duration of malfunctions and a correlation between the oxygen saturation and pulse rate values of two new generation pulse oximeters (Masimo 'Radical 7' and Nellcor 'N 600') during emergency ambulance transportation.

Methods: Patients were monitored with two pulse oximeters ('Radical 7' and 'N 600') on different randomly selected fingers of the same hand during transportation. Data of both devices were recorded continuously by a laptop computer.