CardioMEMS System in the Daily Management of Heart Failure: Review of Current Data and Technique of Implantation.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) leads to significant morbidity and mortality and imposes a large economic burden. Although there have been several advances in HF monitoring and management, HF-rehospitalization remains a significant problem. Remote monitoring of HF to detect early signs of decompensation has emerged in past years as an option to prevent or reduce the incidence of HF rehospitalization.

Ivabradine in children with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: a retrospective study.

Background: Ivabradine is a unique medication that reduces the intrinsic heart rate by specifically blocking the inward funny current that controls the pacemaker activity of the sinus node. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess the efficacy of ivabradine in children suffering from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Methods: A chart review was conducted of patients less than 18 years of age who were diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome who had received ivabradine as treatment from January 2015 to February 2019 at our institution.

Safety and Long-Term Patency of Endovascular Therapy for Infrarenal Aortic Disease: Single-Center Experience and Review of the Literature.

Objectives: Endovascular therapy (EVT) has emerged as an alternative to surgery for the treatment of symptomatic infrarenal aortic stenosis (IAS). However, long-term outcomes with EVT are unknown.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with IAS treated with the endovascular approach at the University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, Ohio.

Systematic Review and Proportional Meta-Analysis of Endarterectomy and Endovascular Therapy with Routine or Selective Stenting for Common Femoral Artery Atherosclerotic Disease.

Introduction: Common femoral endarterectomy (CFE) has been the therapy of choice for common femoral artery atherosclerotic disease (CFA-ASD). In the past, there was inhibition to treat CFA-ASD endovascularly with stents due to fear of stent fracture and compromise of future vascular access site. However, recent advances and new evidence suggest that CFA may no longer be a 'stent-forbidden zone'.

The Use of Fractional Flow Reserve for Physiological Assessment of Indeterminate Lesions in Peripheral Artery Disease.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a prevalent disorder in the United States, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) is a physiological test used to assess the hemodynamic significance of intermediate lesions on conventional angiography. It is well studied in coronary artery disease and is as an important tool to guide decisions regarding revascularization in a significant percentage of patients with intermediate lesions.

Multivessel Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Amberen as a Possible Risk Factor.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare phenomenon that causes acute, life-threatening myocardial infarction. Most notably occurring in the female population, certain risk factors have been implicated in SCAD including pregnancy, hormone therapy, stimulant drug use, connective tissue disorders and systemic inflammatory disorders. However, the effects of over-the-counter supplements have not been widely studied in SCAD.

Efficacy and Safety of Catheter-directed Thrombolysis in Preventing Post-thrombotic Syndrome: A Meta-analysis.

Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a complication that can develop after deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of lower extremities. In this meta-analysis, we compare the different modalities for treatment of DVT in reducing the risk of PTS. The primary outcome was the risk of PTS, and the secondary outcome included the risk of bleeding events.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in a Patient with Undiagnosed Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare and deadly cause of acute myocardial infarction (MI). It remains greatly misdiagnosed and carries a high in-hospital mortality rate. Herein, we report a healthy 38-year-old female who presented to our institution for non-ST segment myocardial infarction, in which subsequent coronary angiogram revealed a type 2 spontaneous coronary artery dissection of the obtuse marginal branch with diffuse single-vessel disease of the circumflex artery.

Choosing Wisely Campaign - Innovations in Cardiovascular Science and The United States Healthcare System.

The United States (US) is the third most expensive health care system in the world, but despite that, the US ranked last in the top 50 countries of the world when it comes to the performance measures, such as healthcare efficiency, life expectancy, health care costs, and gross domestic product (GDP) percentage. The spending health care cost keeps increasing and most of the healthcare costs go to waste. Due to this reason, it is therefore extremely important to focus on improving the quality and to bring the costs in appropriate control.

Early Machine-Human Interface around Sepsis Severity Identification: From Diagnosis to Improved Management?

Objective: To investigate the statistical measures of the performance of 2 interventions: a) early sepsis identification by a computerized sepsis "sniffer" algorithm (CSSA) in the emergency department (ED) and b) human decision to activate a multidisciplinary early resuscitation sepsis and shock response team (SSRT).

Methods: This study used a prospective and historical cohort study design to evaluate the performance of two interventions.

Intervention: A computerized sepsis sniffer algorithm (CSSA) to aid in early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary sepsis and shock response team (SSRT) to improve patient care by increasing compliance with Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) bundles.

Use of carbon dioxide as an intravascular contrast agent: A review of current literature.

Use of X-ray contrast allows us to differentiate between two or more adjacent structures on radiographic studies. The X-ray contrast agent can be the one with increase X-ray absorption, like iodine and a barium X-ray contrast agent or the one with decrease X-ray absorption like air and carbon dioxide contrast agent. Each contrast agent possesses different risks and benefits in various ways.

Ultrasound Assisted Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Review of Current Literature.

Pulmonary embolism continues as a very common and also presumably life-threatening disorder. For affected individuals with intermediate- as well as high-risk pulmonary embolism, catheter-based revascularization procedures have developed a possible substitute for systemic thrombolysis or for surgical embolectomy. Ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis is an innovative catheter-based approach; which is the main purpose of the present review article.

Energy Drinks and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Current Literature.

Energy drinks (EDs) are commonly used as a dietary supplement by young adolescents and adults. They are often used as a source of energy in order to enhance physical and mental performance. EDs contain a variety of substances, but caffeine is the main component.

Ambulatory Heart Failure Monitoring: A Systemic Review.

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality and has a large effect on the country's economy. Although there have been major advances in HF monitoring, including more advanced pharmacological management and device-based therapy, HF-related mortality remains high. It is important to monitor HF so that HF-related hospitalization and mortality can be prevented.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Association with Cardiac Arrhythmias.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a public health burden all over the world. A significant percentage of the patients with NAFLD have a co-existing metabolic syndrome that is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Clinical as well as epidemiological research shows that NAFLD is not simply related to liver-related morbidity and mortality but is also associated with an elevated risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), irregularities of cardiac function as well as cardiac structure, valvular heart disease, and arrhythmias.

Link Between Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and various cardiovascular diseases has been demonstrated previously. Recent clinical studies have shown that increased circulating levels of γ glutamyl transpeptidase and liver transaminase, markers which are elevated in NAFLD, increase the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available evidence to establish the possible association of increased chances of atrial fibrillation in patients with NAFLD.

Association of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Conduction Defects on Electrocardiogram.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of liver disease in developed countries. The association of NAFLD with conduction defects is unknown. The aim of our study was to find whether an association exists between conduction defects and NAFLD.

Inhaled corticosteroids and incident pneumonia in patients with asthma: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To systematically review all available studies on inhaled corticosteroid use and incident pneumonia in asthma patients.

Methods: We performed a literature search from January 1, 1993, through August 15, 2015, using PubMed, Medline, CENTRAL, EMBASE, Scopus, ISI, Regulatory Documents, Web of Science and manufacturers' web clinical trial registries with multiple search terms. We included studies that compared the risk of incident pneumonia among patients utilizing and not utilizing inhaled corticosteroids.