Oxygen supplementation and cognitive function in long-COVID.

Background: Patients can experience persistent cognitive complaints and deficits in long-COVID. Inflammation and capillary damage may contribute to symptoms by interfering with tissue oxygenation.

Methods: This was an exploratory pilot crossover study designed to describe the effects of supplemental oxygen (portable oxygen concentrator, POC) on cognitive performance and peripheral and cerebral oxygen saturation at rest and exercise.

Antithrombotic Management and Outcomes of Anterior ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction With New-Onset Wall Motion Abnormalities in Men and Women.

Background: In patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and new-onset antero-apical wall motion abnormalities (WMAs), whether the rate of prophylaxis against left ventricular thrombus and outcomes differ between men and women is unknown.

Methods: A multicentre retrospective cohort study of patients with STEMI and new-onset antero-apical WMAs treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention was conducted. Patients with an established indication of oral anticoagulation (OAC) were excluded.

Rationale and Design of the Randomized Bayesian Multicenter COME-TAVI Trial in Patients With a New Onset Left Bundle Branch Block.

Patients with new-onset left bundle branch block (LBBB) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are at risk of developing delayed high-degree atrioventricular block. Management of new-onset LBBB post-TAVI remains controversial. In the mparison of a Clinical onitoring Strategy Versus lectrophysiology-Guided Algorithmic Approach in Patients With a New LBBB After (COME-TAVI) trial, consenting patients with new-onset LBBB that persists on day 2 after TAVI, meeting exclusion/inclusion criteria, are randomized to an electrophysiological study (EPS)-guided approach or 30-day electrocardiographic monitoring.

Regular assessment of serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels to monitor POEMS syndrome.

Background: To investigate the utility of regular serum VEGF (sVEGF) levels assessment in the monitoring of POEMS syndrome.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of 30 patients with POEMS syndrome whose sVEGF was tested regularly every 6 months. sVEGF levels after treatment were measured and correlated with disability (Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale, ONLS), clinical impairment (measured with the modified Clinical Response Evaluation Scale, mCRES), and relapse-free survival.

Adcy9 Gene Inactivation Improves Cardiac Function After Myocardial Infarction in Mice.

Background: Polymorphisms in the adenylate cyclase 9 (ADCY9) gene influence the benefits of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) modulator dalcetrapib on cardiovascular events after acute coronary syndrome. We hypothesized that Adcy9 inactivation could improve cardiac function and remodelling following myocardial infarction (MI) in absence of CETP activity.

Methods: Wild-type (WT) and Adcy9-inactivated (Adcy9) male mice, transgenic or not for human CETP (tgCETP), were subjected to MI by permanent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation and studied for 4 weeks.

Contemporary incidence and predictors of left ventricular thrombus in patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The incidence of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) after anterior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been well established in the era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) and potent dual antiplatelet therapy. The objective of this study is to establish the contemporary incidence of LVT in this population, to identify their risk factors, and to examine their association with clinical outcomes.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study including AMI patients with new-onset antero-apical wall motion abnormalities treated with pPCI between 2009 and 2017 was conducted.

Oral Anticoagulation for the Prevention of Thromboembolic Events in Patients With Anterior ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Objectives: The objective is to assess the comparative effectiveness and safety of dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) vs triple therapy (TT) with DAPT + oral anticoagulant (OAC) in patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and with new-onset anterior/apical wall-motion abnormalities (WMAs) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: Patients with STEMI and new-onset anterior/apical WMA may benefit from the addition of OAC to prevent left ventricular thrombus and cardioembolic events.

Methods: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted.

A new prediction model for ventricular arrhythmias in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is characterized by ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). We aimed to develop a model for individualized prediction of incident VA/SCD in ARVC patients.

Methods And Results: Five hundred and twenty-eight patients with a definite diagnosis and no history of sustained VAs/SCD at baseline, aged 38.

Colchicine for community-treated patients with COVID-19 (COLCORONA): a phase 3, randomised, double-blinded, adaptive, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial.

Background: Evidence suggests a role for excessive inflammation in COVID-19 complications. Colchicine is an oral anti-inflammatory medication beneficial in gout, pericarditis, and coronary disease. We aimed to investigate the effect of colchicine on the composite of COVID-19-related death or hospital admission.

Genetics of symptom remission in outpatients with COVID-19.

We conducted a genome-wide association study of time to remission of COVID-19 symptoms in 1723 outpatients with at least one risk factor for disease severity from the COLCORONA clinical trial. We found a significant association at 5p13.3 (rs1173773; P = 4.

Injection of Bupivacaine into the Pleural and Mediastinal Drains: A Novel Approach for Decreasing Incident Pain After Cardiac Surgery - Montreal Heart Institute Experience.

Background: We conducted a chart review of prospectively collected data in order to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of an innovative technique of pleural and mediastinal drain injections.

Methods: Patients who had undergone cardiac surgery and who continued to have pain despite the use of a multimodal pain protocol received injections of 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine in pleural and/or mediastinal chest drainage tubes.

Association between intraoperative rotational thromboelastometry or conventional coagulation tests and bleeding in liver transplantation: an observational exploratory study.

Introduction: Liver transplantation is associated with major blood loss and transfusions. Our objective was to evaluate the association between coagulation results (rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and conventional coagulation tests) and intraoperative bleeding or perioperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in liver transplantation.

Methods: We measured ROTEM values and conventional coagulation tests at the beginning of surgery, after graft reperfusion and at the end of surgery.

Bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, dexamethasone versus lenalidomide, cyclophosphamide, dexamethasone in multiple myeloma patients at first relapse.

Bortezomib- and lenalidomide-containing regimens are well-established therapies in multiple myeloma (MM). However, despite their extensive use, head-to-head comparisons have never been performed. Therefore, we compared bortezomib and lenalidomide in fixed-duration therapies.

Peripheral Blood Hemopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization Regimens in POEMS Syndrome: A Retrospective Study at 2 Hematologic Italian Centers.

Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation should be considered first-line therapy in young patients with POEMS. The best protocol to collect peripheral blood stem cells remains to be defined, because of the disease rarity and the heterogeneity of published case series. We collected clinical and laboratory data from 25 patients undergoing mobilization, of whom 11 were mobilized using cyclophosphamide (CY) followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and 14 patients using G-CSF.

Impact of MELD Score-Based Organ Allocation on Mortality, Bleeding, and Transfusion in Liver Transplantation: A Before-and-After Observational Cohort Study.

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD)-based allocation system on mortality, bleeding, and transfusion requirement in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Design: OLTs were studied for this observational study (before-and-after observational cohort study).

Setting: One community hospital.

A new prediction model for ventricular arrhythmias in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is characterized by ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). We aimed to develop a model for individualized prediction of incident VA/SCD in ARVC patients.

Methods And Results: Five hundred and twenty-eight patients with a definite diagnosis and no history of sustained VAs/SCD at baseline, aged 38.

A disease-specific comorbidity index for predicting mortality in patients admitted to hospital with a cardiac condition.

Background: Comorbidity indexes derived from administrative databases are essential tools of research in global health. We sought to develop and validate a novel cardiac-specific comorbidity index, and to compare its accuracy with the generic Charlson-Deyo and Elixhauser comorbidity indexes.

Methods: We derived the cardiac-specific comorbidity index from consecutive patients who were admitted to hospital at a tertiary-care cardiology hospital in Quebec.

Siltuximab in relapsed/refractory multicentric Castleman disease: Experience of the Italian NPP program.

Because of the rarity of the disease, randomized clinical trials for multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) remain a challenge and, as a consequence, there is no established standard of care. Siltuximab is a chimeric immunoglobulin G1κ monoclonal antibody against human IL-6 which was recently approved by FDA. Eligible patients in Italy were granted early access through a Named Patient Program (NPP).

Adiponectin, Free Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Objective: In observational cohorts, adiponectin is inversely associated and free fatty acids (FFAs) are directly associated with incident coronary heart disease (CHD). Adiponectin tends to be reduced and FFAs elevated in type 2 diabetes. We investigated relationships of adiponectin and FFA and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and death in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and type 2 diabetes using data from the AleCardio (Effect of Aleglitazar on Cardiovascular Outcomes After Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus) trial, which compared the PPAR-α/γ agonist aleglitazar with placebo.

Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance and Survival in Patients With Diabetes and Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Objective: Insulin resistance has been linked to development and progression of atherosclerosis and is present in most patients with type 2 diabetes. Whether the degree of insulin resistance predicts adverse outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is uncertain.

Design: The Effect of Aleglitazar on Cardiovascular Outcomes after Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus trial compared the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α/γ agonist aleglitazar with placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes and recent ACS.

Development of a Predictive Model for Blood Transfusions and Bleeding During Liver Transplantation: An Observational Cohort Study.

Objective: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) frequently is associated with major blood loss and considerable transfusion requirements. The goal of this study was to define the risk factors for multiple transfusions and major bleeding during OLT and to help identify higher risk patients that could benefit from targeted interventions.

Design: OLTs were studied for this observational cohort study.

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.