The Role of Advanced Cardiac Imaging in Monitoring Cardiovascular Complications in Patients with Extracardiac Tumors: A Descriptive Review.

Cardiac involvement in cancer is increasingly important in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients. A thorough cardiovascular evaluation using multimodal imaging is crucial to assess any direct cardiac involvement from oncological disease progression and to determine the cardiovascular risk of patients undergoing oncological therapies. Early detection of cardiac dysfunction, particularly due to cardiotoxicity from chemotherapy or radiotherapy, is essential to establish the disease's overall prognostic impact.

Cardiac Surgery and Transcatheter Intervention for Valvular Heart Disease in Carcinoid Syndrome: Risk Factors, Outcomes, and Evolving Therapeutic Strategies.

Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) affects right-sided valves and causes significant mortality and morbidity. Even though the pathophysiology of the disease is not entirely understood, it is known that chronic exposure to high levels of circulating serotonin is the main factor responsible for developing valvular heart disease. Cardiac imaging plays a critical role in the management of CHD, so the final diagnosis can be performed through multimodal imaging techniques and the measurement of biomarkers.

3D transoesophageal echocardiographic assessment of acute reverse remodelling of the tricuspid annulus after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

Aims: Our study aims to evaluate the acute remodelling of the tricuspid valve annulus immediately after the tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) by using intraprocedural transoesophageal 3D echocardiography.

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled 62 consecutive symptomatic patients with at least severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), who underwent T-TEER with the TriClip System between March 2021 and June 2024. The following parameters were assessed using a multiplanar reconstruction analysis performed off-line using a 3D data set: septal-lateral (SL) and antero-posterior (AP) annulus diameters; annulus area; annulus perimeter; and eccentricity index.

Controlled mitral valvuloplasty using steerable catheter- waist- formed balloon system: A clinical case series.

As the general population ages, the incidence of degenerative mitral stenosis (MS) among patients has increased. Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) has emerged as a well-established option for mitral rheumatic stenosis with specific characteristics. However, a blank therapeutic space must be filled with the treatment options for degenerative or rheumatic mitral stenosis in patients with many comorbidities and contraindication for valvuloplasty.

Arrhythmias after COVID-19 Vaccination: Have We Left All Stones Unturned?

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination offered the opportunity to emerge from the pandemic and, thereby, worldwide health, social, and economic disasters. However, in addition to efficacy, safety is an important issue for any vaccine. The mRNA-based vaccine platform is considered to be safe, but side effects are being reported more frequently as more and more people around the world become treated.

Percutaneous treatment of a CTO in an anomalous right coronary artery: A rupture paved the way for new insights.

An anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) from the opposite sinus, with an interarterial course, has been associated with an increased risk of myocardial ischemia and sudden death. As the exact pathophysiology of AAOCA is not well understood, the clinical management is also not well defined. With increased use of non-invasive imaging, the diagnosis of AAOCA is increasing and the association of anomalous origin and atherosclerotic disease is becoming a more important topic.

Novel Computed Tomography Variables for Assessing Tricuspid Valve Morphology: Results from the TRIMA (Tricuspid Regurgitation IMAging) Study.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is the recommended imaging technique for defining the anatomical suitability for current transcatheter technologies and planning tricuspid valve (TV) intervention. The aim of the Tricuspid Regurgitation IMAging (TRIMA) study was to assess the geometrical characteristics of the TV complex using novel CT parameters.

Methods: This prospective, single-center study enrolled 22 consecutive patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation, who underwent a cardiac CT study dedicated to the right chambers.

Lymphadenopathy after the Anti-COVID-19 Vaccine: Multiparametric Ultrasound Findings.

: Post-anti-COVID-19 vaccine lymphadenopathy has recently been described in the literature. In this study, we investigated the multiparametric US findings of patients with post-vaccine lymphadenopathy and compared these findings among different anti-COVID-19 vaccines. : We retrospectively evaluated 24 patients who underwent US between January and May 2021 due to post-anti-COVID-19 lymphadenopathy.

Sonography of abdominal wall vascular malformation: a case report and review of the literature.

Vascular anomalies are classified as vascular tumors (VT) and vascular malformations (VM). VTs are divided according to their clinical behavior, while VMs are classified according to their flow characteristics, histopathologic features, and associations with other anomalies. Sonography emerges as the diagnostic imaging method of first choice for assessing abdominal wall disorders and masses, thus representing a valuable tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of abdominal wall VMs.

Co-expression of glycosylated aquaporin-1 and transcription factor NFAT5 contributes to aortic stiffness in diabetic and atherosclerosis-prone mice.

Increased stiffness characterizes the early change in the arterial wall with subclinical atherosclerosis. Proteins inducing arterial stiffness in diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia are largely unknown. This study aimed at determining the pattern of protein expression in stiffening aorta of diabetic and hypercholesterolaemic mice.

An unexpected complication of a percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is characterized by transient ventricular dysfunction, classically in its apical and mid segments, in the absence of coronary lesions, and is often observed after intense stressful events and occasionally associated to an acute medical illness. We describe a case of TCM associated with coronary artery disease and triggered by a percutaneous coronary angioplasty. This case highlights the concept that a medical procedure can lead, in certain conditions, to TCM and provides new interesting insights on the pathophysiology of coronary syndromes.

Circannual rhythm of plasmatic vitamin D levels and the association with markers of psychophysical stress in a cohort of Italian professional soccer players.

Adequate plasmatic Vitamin D levels are crucial to maintain calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism both in the general population and in athletes. Correct dietary supply and a regular sun exposure are fundamental for allowing the desired and effective fitness level. Past studies highlighted a scenario of Vitamin D insufficiency among professional soccer players in several countries, especially in North Europe, whilst a real deficiency in athletes is rare.

"State-of-Art" paper of the Italian Working Group on Atherosclerosis: Preclinical assessment of early coronary atherosclerosis.

Although the early diagnosis and treatment for acute myocardial infarction have improved over the past decades, the morbidity and mortality from coronary artery disease (CAD) remain significant in Europe and worldwide. It is estimated that the majority of people in the developed countries who die suddenly from CAD, have no prior manifestation of disease, and the majority of these individuals are not considered to be at high risk. Accurate identification of individuals at risk of such events before the clinical manifestations is therefore required.

Novel Strategies in the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a pathophysiological condition characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), initially due to abnormal pulmonary vasoconstriction in response to endothelial injury. Recent studies confirmed the key role of endothelin (ET)-1 in the vasoconstriction and remodeling of pulmonary microcirculation during PAH. In responders patients, classical treatments for PAH are prostanoids, phosphodiesterase (PDE)-5 inhibitors and endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs), which target prostaglandin I2, nitric oxide and endothelin pathways, respectively.

Pathways and Drugs in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - Focus on the Role of Endothelin Receptor Antagonists.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a group of diseases characterized by a progressive increase of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), initially due to abnormal pulmonary vasoconstriction in response to endothelial injury. Recent studies have here confirmed the prominent role of endothelin (ET)-1 in vasoconstriction and remodelling of the pulmonary microcirculation. In patients who are acute-vasoreactive, classical treatments for PAH are calcium channels blockers (CCBs), while drugs targeting the prostacyclin, nitric oxide and endothelin pathways, i.

Assessment of Biventricular Function by Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Secondary Mitral Regurgitation after Repair with the MitraClip System.

Background: The goal of this study was to determine changes in left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function with three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) after percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip system in high-risk surgical patients with moderate to severe or severe secondary mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods: Thirty-two patients with MR undergoing MitraClip were prospectively included. Patients underwent two-dimensional (2D) and 3D transthoracic echocardiography before clip implantation and after 6-month follow-up.