ReAl-life Multicenter Survey Evaluating Stroke prevention strategies in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (RAMSES study).

Objective: Data regarding stroke prevention strategies in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) are limited to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). This study aimed to evaluate real-life stroke prevention strategies for NVAF patients in the era of non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs).

Methods: We established a cross-sectional, multicenter, nationwide registry of NVAF patients.

PRescriptiOn PattERns of Oral Anticoagulants in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation (PROPER study).

Introduction: Inappropriate use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) have not been well investigatedand, however, may be frequent in real-world practice in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This study was designed to evaluate the prescription patterns and appropriateness of OACs in patients with NVAF in real-world clinical settings.

Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study (NCT02366338).

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and electrocardiographic variables associated with increased risk of complete atrioventricular block and mortality in patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction.

Background: Although brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are shown to be an important prognostic factor in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), the relationship between arrhythmias and BNP levels is not known. This study assessed whether baseline clinical factors, N-terminal-proBNP (NT-proBNP) levels and electrocardiographic patterns of acute inferior MI are associated with greater risk of developing complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) and mortality.

Methods And Results: Seventy-nine consecutive patients (52 male, 27 female with an avarage age of 64.

Simple electrocardiographic markers for the prediction of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in hyperthyroidism.

Background: Hyperthyroidism is a major cause of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictors of AF in the patients with clinical and subclinical hyperthyroidism.

Methods And Results: The study population consisted of four groups: group I (57 euthyroid healthy persons), group II (33 patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism), group III (69 patients with overt hyperthyroidism) and group IV (31 patients with overt hyperthyroidism and documented paroxysmal AF).

Comparison of changes in diastolic functions after aortic valve replacement with freestyle stentless porcine xenografts in patients with restrictive and nonrestrictive physiology.

In this study, the effect of valve replacement on diastolic parameters was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 6, and 12 months by comparing diastolic parameters in patients after aortic valve replacement with freestyle stentless porcine xenografts for aortic stenosis. Depending on deceleration time (DT) and isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) with preoperative echocardiographic assessment, patients were divided into two groups: restrictive physiology (DT < or = 150 msec and IVRT < 100 msec, 20 patients), and nonrestrictive physiology (DT > 150 msec and IVRT > or = 100 msec, 27 patients). Although left ventricular mass index significantly decreased in both groups, improvement in DT, IVRT, and ejection fraction occurred only in patients with restrictive physiology.