One-year outcomes after direct transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a self-expanding bioprosthesis. A two-center international experience.

Background: Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is considered to be an essential part of the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure and is being performed routinely. At present there is insufficient long-term data as to the benefits of routine BAV prior to TAVI.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of direct TAVI and the mortality rate at 1-year in patients undergoing TAVI with or without BAV with a self-expanding bioprosthesis.

Therapeutic Applications of Calcium Metabolism Modulation in Heart Disease.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and there is extensive research on the pathophysiology of all its clinical entities. Despite the big array of possible therapeutic modalities for cardiovascular disease, there is still a big necessity to develop novel treatments that will augment our strategies for tackling the burden of cardiovascular disease and decrease morbidity and mortality. A major player in both the physiology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system is calcium.

Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty refined: use of a novel modified antegrade approach.

Mitral stenosis usually occurs many years after an episode of rheumatic fever and it has an indolent course until its later stages, when it acutely worsens. The rates of mitral stenosis keep declining; nonetheless, the need for advanced and sophisticated treatment modalities still remains. Our group has been applying a novel modified antegrade approach for treating mitral valve stenosis and, although we have limited experience, the results thus far are favorable.