Pitfalls in arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy (ALVC). A review of the literature with considerations on a single case of sudden death in a juvenile athlete.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes represents a challenging issue in forensic practice. The pathologist is frequently asked to establish the cause of death basing upon anatomical findings and to evaluate the role of the physician in preparticipation evaluation (PPE) and eligibility decision. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a leading cause of SCD during sport activity.

Predictors of mortality in hospital survivors with type 2 diabetes mellitus and acute coronary syndromes.

Aim: To define the predictors of long-term mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and recent acute coronary syndrome.

Methods And Results: A total of 7226 patients from a randomized trial, testing the effect on cardiovascular outcomes of the dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist aleglitazar in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and recent acute coronary syndrome (AleCardio trial), were analysed. Median follow-up was 2 years.

Right Ventricular Strain and Dyssynchrony Assessment in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Feature-Tracking Study.

Background: Analysis of right ventricular (RV) regional dysfunction by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in arrhythmogenic RV cardiomyopathy (ARVC) may be inadequate because of the complex contraction pattern of the RV. Aim of this study was to determine the use of RV strain and dyssynchrony assessment in ARVC using feature-tracking CMR analysis.

Methods And Results: Thirty-two consecutive patients with ARVC referred to CMR imaging were included.

Systolic and diastolic myocardial mechanics in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and their link to the extent of hypertrophy, replacement fibrosis and interstitial fibrosis.

Aim of the present study was to investigate the relations between myocardial mechanics and the extent of hypertrophy and fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Forty-five consecutive patients with HCM and 15 subjects without structural heart disease were included. Cardiac magnetic resonance with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging was performed to evaluate biventricular function, LV mass index and presence/extent of LGE, expression of replacement fibrosis.

Disease-specific differences of left ventricular rotational mechanics between cardiac amyloidosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Left ventricular (LV) twist (LVT) and untwisting (LVUT) rate are global and thorough parameters of LV function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences in LV rotational mechanics between patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Twenty consecutive patients with CA, 20 consecutive patients with HCM, and 20 consecutive subjects without evidence of structural heart disease were included.

Predictive value of electrocardiogram in diagnosing acute coronary artery lesions among patients with out-of-hospital-cardiac-arrest.

Aims: Acute coronary lesions are known to be the most common trigger of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Aim of the present study was to assess the predictive value of ST-segment changes in diagnosing the presence of acute coronary lesions among OHCA patients

Methods: Findings of coronary angiography (CA) performed in patients resuscitated from OCHA were retrospectively reviewed and related to ST-segment changes on post-ROSC electrocardiogram (ECG) RESULTS: Ninety-one patients underwent CA after OHCA; 44% of patients had ST-segment elevation and 56% of patients had other ECG patterns on post-ROSC ECG. Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was found in 86% of patients; CAD was observed in 98% of patients with ST-segment elevation and in 77% of patients with other ECG patterns on post-ROSC ECG (p=0.

Long-term outcome after drug-eluting stent implantation in unselected population: ROME and UDINE experience (the RUDI registry).

Objectives: The aim of our study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of DES implantation in an unselected, "real world," high-risk population.

Background: Several clinical trials showed that drug-eluting stents (DESs) implantation is safe and effective in selected population. In spite of these encouraging results, there are some concerns about "real world" utilization of these stents.

Evaluation of in-stent restenosis in the APPROACH trial (Assessment on the Prevention of Progression by Rosiglitazone On Atherosclerosis in diabetes patients with Cardiovascular History).

To determine (1) the medium-term effect of rosiglitazone and glipizide on intra-stent neointima hyperplasia, (2) restenosis pattern as assessed by intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) in patients with T2DM and coronary artery disease. A total of 462 patients with T2DM were randomized to rosiglitazone or glipizide for up to 18 months in the APPROACH trial, and had evaluable baseline and follow-up IVUS examinations. There was no significant difference in the size of plaque behind stent between the rosiglitazone and glipizide groups at 18 months among those treated with a bare metal stent (-5.

Transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome: a 4-year experience.

Background: Transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome, primarily described in Japanese patients, has been recently recognized outside Japan also. Aim of this study is to elucidate incidence and clinical features of left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome in a tertiary-care hospital in northeastern Italy.

Methods And Results: From January 2002 to August 2006, 29 patients admitted for suspected acute coronary syndrome (25 women, mean age 64+/-12 years) fulfilled the Mayo Clinic Criteria of left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome.

Reduction in recurrent cardiovascular events with prasugrel compared with clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndromes from the TRITON-TIMI 38 trial.

Aims: In the TRITON-TIMI 38 trial, greater platelet inhibition with prasugrel reduced the first occurrence of the primary endpoint (cardiovascular death, MI, or stroke) compared with clopidogrel in patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing planned percutaneous coronary intervention. We hypothesized that prasugrel would reduce not only first events but also recurrent primary endpoint events and therefore total events compared with clopidogrel.

Methods And Results: Poisson regression analysis was performed to compare the number of occurrences of the primary endpoint between prasugrel and clopidogrel in TRITON-TIMI 38.

The effect of fellows' training in invasive cardiology on radiological exposure of patients.

The aim of this work was to evaluate and quantify the impact of an invasive training of cardiology fellows on some exposure parameters. From 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2002, three staff members performed 2.582 diagnostic procedures (Group 1) that were compared with 819 performed by, or with the participation of five cardiology fellows (Group 2).

A study to validate the method based on DIMOND quality criteria for cardiac angiographic images.

A method based on image quality criteria (QC) for cine-angiography was developed to measure the quality of cine-angiograms (CA). A series of 30 CA for left ventriculography (LV) and left and right coronary angiography (LCA, RCA) have been scored and 172 readings were obtained. Standard deviation of quality scores indicated the reproducibility of the method.

Retrospective evaluation of occurrence of skin injuries in interventional cardiac procedures.

Interventional cardiology procedures can involve high doses to patients and, in particular, to patients' skin, the tissue at greatest risk of deterministic injuries. The evaluation of skin dose from interventional procedures is recommended, but difficult because of the amount of different X-ray fields and projections used in a procedure. For this reason, a retrospective follow-up study has been developed to identify skin injuries in patients submitted to one or more cardiac interventions in the Udine hospital between 1998 and 2002.

Patient-prosthesis mismatch after small-size stentless aortic valve replacement.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of patient-prosthesis mismatch (P-PM) after aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a small-size Cryolife O'Brien (CLOB) bioprosthesis and to evaluate its clinical and hemodynamic implications.

Methods: Sixty-two patients (mean age 70.9 +/- 5.

Sixteen-year results of composite aortic root replacement for non-dissecting chronic aortic aneurysms.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the early and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing a Bentall procedure or its button modification for chronic aortic aneurysms with aortic valve incompetence.

Methods: Between January 1986 and January 2002, 65 patients (84% males, mean age 58.9 +/- 11 years) underwent aortic root replacement with a Bentall or a button-Bentall operation.

Long-term results of Bentall composite aortic root replacement for ascending aortic aneurysms and dissections.

Study Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the early and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing aortic root replacement (ARR) with the Bentall procedure.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Cardiothoracic surgery unit.

Early in vivo hemodynamic results after aortic valve replacement with the St Jude Medical Regent mechanical heart valve in patients with pure aortic stenosis.

Background: The St Jude Medical Regent is a new-generation mechanical heart valve that represents a design evolution of the St Jude Hemodynamic Plus Series (HP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate early "in vivo" hemodynamic performance of the Regent valve in patients with aortic stenosis.

Methods: Between March 2000 and December 2001, 32 patients (mean age 59.

Transesophageal echocardiography follow-up of patients undergoing replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve with a Cabrol procedure for chronic aneurysm and dissection.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography to detect complications after a Cabrol procedure.

Methods: A total of 28 unselected patients (mean age 52.2 +/- 13.

A short-term experience with the Tirone David I valve sparing operation for the treatment of aneurysms of the ascending aorta and aortic root.

Aim: The aim of this report is to summarize our experience with the Tirone David I technique over a 4-year period.

Methods: Since 1997 15 patients were operated on using this surgical procedure. Of the patients, nine were male (60%) and six (40%) female.

A long-term experience with the Cabrol root replacement technique for the management of ascending aortic aneurysms and dissections.

Background: Little information exists regarding the long-term results of the Cabrol technique. This study aimed at exploring, over a 16-year period, the results of aortic root replacements employing this procedure.

Methods: Between 1986 and 2002 forty-five patients (mean age 58.

[Use of bar codes of biomedical products in a catheterization laboratory. A required step to improve quality and reduce costs].

The technology of bar coding has been recommended because of the ability to increase efficiency. The relative widths of both the bars and spaces code the data stored in the bar code. The Health Industry Business Communications Council (HIBCC) is a non-profit organization aimed at developing appropriate standards to improve exchange among all health care trading partners.