Lower basophil count after anti-thymocyte globulin induction is associated with lower incidence of acute cellular rejection in heart transplant recipients.

Introduction: While lymphodepletion is considered a therapeutic effect of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG), a concomitant decrease in basophil count (BC) has unknown clinical effect.

Objective: To investigate the association between BC following rATG induction and acute cellular rejection (ACR) during the first post-HTx year.

Methods: Retrospective single-center study included 183 HTx recipients receiving rATG induction between 2010 and 2021 (mean age 52 ± 13 years, 23 % female).

Myocardial deposition of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, and lead accelerates heart failure and alters UPRmt in humans.

In the myocardium of control subjects and patients undergoing heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device implantation (LVAD), we analyzed concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Pb, and Ni using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Myocardial generation of oxidative-stress-induced lipid peroxidation was analyzed by quantifying concentration of 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) with ELISA and pro-apoptotic DAPK2 gene expression was determined with quantitative RT-PCR. Compared to six control hearts, myocardial samples of 128 individuals undergoing heart transplantation or LVAD implantation exhibited a moderate increase in deposition of five tested non-essential elements, which was significantly increased only for Cd and cumulative deposition of Al, As, Cd, and Pb.

Impact of diabetes on epicardial reperfusion and mortality in a contemporary STEMI population undergoing mechanical reperfusion: Insights from the ISACS STEMI COVID 19 registry.

Background And Aim: Diabetes has been shown in last decades to be associated with a significantly higher mortality among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary PCI (PPCI). Therefore, the aim of current study was to evaluate the impact of diabetes on times delays, reperfusion and mortality in a contemporary STEMI population undergoing PPCI, including treatment during the COVID pandemic.

Methods And Results: The ISACS-STEMI COVID-19 is a large-scale retrospective multicenter registry involving PPCI centers from Europe, Latin America, South-East Asia and North-Africa, including patients treated from 1st of March until June 30, 2019 and 2020.

Impact of hypertension on mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty: insights from the international multicenter ISACS-STEMI registry.

Background: Hypertension is the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor, with several detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system. Contrasting results have been reported so far on its prognostic role in patients admitted for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Therefore, we investigated the impact of hypertension on short-term mortality in a large multicenter contemporary registry of STEMI patients, including patients treated during COVID-19 pandemic.

No Difference between the Efficacy of High-Nitrate and Low-Nitrate Vegetable Supplementation on Blood Pressure after 16 Weeks in Individuals with Early-Stage Hypertension: An Exploratory, Double-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Dietary inorganic nitrate lowers blood pressure (BP) in healthy individuals through improved nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. However, there is limited evidence examining the long-term effects of dietary nitrate for managing hypertension. We aimed to determine whether the sustained intake of dietary nitrate improved BP and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in individuals with early-stage hypertension.

Cardiotoxicity of Iron and Zinc and Their Association with the Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response in Humans.

This study was designed to examine the association between myocardial concentrations of the trace elements Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn and the expression of mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) elements and the age of patients who received heart transplantation or a left-ventricular assist device (ageHTx/LVAD). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn in the myocardium of control subjects and patients undergoing heart transplantation or left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We used ELISA to quantify the expression of UPRmt proteins and 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), which served as a marker of oxidative-stress-induced lipid peroxidation.

Early coronary revascularization among 'stable' patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: the role of diabetes and age.

Aims: To investigate the impact of an early coronary revascularization (<24 h) compared with initial conservative strategy on clinical outcomes in diabetic patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) who are in stable condition at hospital admission.

Methods And Results: The International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes database was queried for a sample of diabetic and nondiabetic patients with diagnosis of NSTE-ACS. Patients with cardiac arrest, haemodynamic instability, and serious ventricular arrhythmias were excluded.

Compliance with Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy and Early Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Activation in Heart Failure: A Retrospective Study.

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate compliance with guideline-directed optimal medical therapy (OMT) and its association with early implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) activation in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods: Retrospective data from 307 patients who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention from 2011 to 2017 were collected and analyzed.

Results: Among the study participants, only 23.

Improving blood pressure and dyslipidemia control by increasing health literacy in Croatia-missions 70/26 & Do you know what is your number.

Purpose: In 2022 hypertensive disease was the second cause of death in Croatia. The crude prevalence of hypertension is increasing and still majority of hypertensive patients did not reach blood pressure and cholesterol goals Low awareness, and small number of treated and controlled patients point on poor adherence and even worse clinical inertia.

Materials And Methods: Croatian Hypertension League (CHL) has started the permanent public health action aiming to increase health literacy.

Right heart failure with left ventricular assist devices: Preoperative, perioperative and postoperative management strategies. A clinical consensus statement of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC.

Right heart failure (RHF) following implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a common and potentially serious condition with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations with an unfavourable effect on patient outcomes. Clinical scores that predict the occurrence of right ventricular (RV) failure have included multiple clinical, biochemical, imaging and haemodynamic parameters. However, unless the right ventricle is overtly dysfunctional with end-organ involvement, prediction of RHF post-LVAD implantation is, in most cases, difficult and inaccurate.

Hybrid Dorsal Preservation Rhinoplasty: Reediting an Aesthetic Dorsum.

Background: The prerequisite of a well-shaped dorsum with proper dorsal aesthetic lines that needs no modifications in its width and symmetry is key to letdown and push-down techniques as classically described. The common current concept is that total preservation of the middle vault is obligatory. This, however, obviously limits the indications, since nasal dorsum with natural aesthetic dorsal lines per se is relatively few.

Comparison of apixaban versus aspirin for the prevention of latent bioprosthetic aortic valve thrombosis: study protocol for a prospective randomized trial.

Background: The optimal antithrombotic strategy early after aortic valve replacement surgery with a biological valve remains controversial due to lack of high-quality evidence. Either oral anticoagulants or acetylsalicylic acid should be considered for the first 3 months. Hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening on cardiac computed tomography has been associated with latent bioprosthetic valve thrombosis and may be prevented with anticoagulation.

Coronary revascularization and sex differences in cardiovascular mortality after myocardial infarction in 12 high and middle-income European countries.

Background: Existing data on female sex and excess cardiovascular mortality after myocardial infarction (MI) mostly come from high-income countries (HICs). This study aimed to investigate how sex disparities in treatments and outcomes vary across countries with different income levels.

Methods: Data from the ISACS-Archives registry included 22 087 MI patients from 6 HICs and 6 middle-income countries (MICs).

Heart failure care in the Central and Eastern Europe and Baltic region: status, barriers, and routes to improvement.

Despite improvements over recent years, morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure (HF) are higher in countries in the Central and Eastern Europe and Baltic region than in Western Europe. With the goal of improving the standard of HF care and patient outcomes in the Central and Eastern Europe and Baltic region, this review aimed to identify the main barriers to optimal HF care and potential areas for improvement. This information was used to suggest methods to improve HF management and decrease the burden of HF in the region that can be implemented at the national and regional levels.

Traditional risk factors and premature acute coronary syndromes in South Eastern Europe: a multinational cohort study.

Background: The age-standardized death rates under 65 years from ischemic heart disease in South Eastern Europe are approximately twice as high than the Western Europe average, but the reasons are not completely recognized. The aim of the present study was to address this issue by collecting and analyzing data from a large, multinational cohort.

Methods: We enrolled 70,953 Caucasian patients with first acute coronary syndrome, from 36 urban hospital in 7 South Eastern European countries and assessed their life expectancy free of acute coronary syndrome and mortality within 30 days after hospital admission from acute coronary syndrome as estimated in relation to dichotomous categories of traditional risk factors (current smoking, hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia) stratified according to sex.

Treatment of atrial fibrillation with second-generation cryoballoon followed by contact-sensing radiofrequency catheter ablation for arrhythmia recurrences-results of a 5-year follow-up.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to report the long-term follow-up results of cryoballoon (CB) ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent second-generation CB ablation from February 2015 to December 2017 were included in our study. In all procedures, we used a 28-mm CB placed via a single transseptal puncture guided by intracardiac ultrasound.

Successful clinical approach to the metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma to the epicardium-a case report.

Background: Uterine leiomyosarcoma is a rare and aggressive tumour with a poor prognosis. Its metastases to the heart are even rarer, especially to the epicardium. The majority of reported cardiac metastases of uterine leiomyosarcoma were in the cardiac chambers or intramyocardial.

The 'peptide for life' initiative in the emergency department study.

Aims: Natriuretic peptide (NP) uptake varies in Emergency Departments (EDs) across Europe. The 'Peptide for Life' (P4L) initiative, led by Heart Failure Association, aims to enhance NP utilization for early diagnosis of heart failure (HF). We tested the hypothesis that implementing an educational campaign in Western Balkan countries would significantly increase NP adoption rates in the ED.

Clinical determinants of ischemic heart disease in Eastern Europe.

Cardiovascular inequalities remain pervasive in the European countries. Disparities in disease burden is apparent among population groups based on sex, ethnicity, economic status or geography. To address this challenge, The Lancet Regional Health - Europe convened experts from a broad range of countries to assess the current state of knowledge of cardiovascular disease inequalities across Europe.

Disparities in donor heart acceptance between the USA and Europe: clinical implications.

Background And Aims: Given limited evidence and lack of consensus on donor acceptance for heart transplant (HT), selection practices vary widely across HT centres in the USA. Similar variation likely exists on a broader scale-across countries and HT systems-but remains largely unexplored. This study characterized differences in heart donor populations and selection practices between the USA and Eurotransplant-a consortium of eight European countries-and their implications for system-wide outcomes.

Feasibility and safety of reprocessing of intracardiac echocardiography catheters for electrophysiology procedures - a large single center experience.

Purpose: Intra-cardiac echocardiography (ICE) has become an important tool for catheter ablation. Adoption of ICE imaging is still limited because of its prohibitively high cost. Our aim was to study the safety and feasibility of ICE catheters reprocessing and its environmental and financial impact.

The addition of Cytosorb in patients on VA-ECMO improves urinary output and ICU survival.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the efficiency of CytoSorb adsorber in patients presenting with cardiogenic shock and treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

Methods: Sixteen patients put on VA ECMO due to cardiogenic shock were included, stratified according to the use of Cytosorb adsorber in the first 24 h and compared across different clinical outcomes.

Results: Significantly lower vasopressor doses were required among patients treated with Cytosorb at the initiation and before weaning from ECMO.

Relationship Between Azithromycin and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Unvaccinated Patients With COVID-19 and Preexisting Cardiovascular Disease.

Background Empiric antimicrobial therapy with azithromycin is highly used in patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, despite prior research suggesting that azithromycin may be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. Methods and Results This study was conducted using data from the ISACS-COVID-19 (International Survey of Acute Coronavirus Syndromes-COVID-19) registry. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection were eligible for inclusion.