Real-World Data from the Use of Ranolazine in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris: The RANGER Study.

: Although ranolazine has been available for years as a second-line treatment to reduce angina attacks in patients with stable angina pectoris, real-world data on the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of ranolazine are limited. : A non-interventional, prospective study was conducted to assess the effectiveness and safety of ranolazine. Patients eligible for enrolment had a baseline assessment between one and fourteen days after initiating ranolazine for the first time and a follow-up visit three months later.

Pathophysiological alterations of left ventricular myocardial systolic function during normal pregnancy assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography: a prospective cohort echocardiography study.

Purpose: By using conventional echocardiographic indices, cardiac pumping function remains unaltered during pregnancy. However, two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) can detect subclinical changes of myocardial function even in patients with normal and stable left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).The aim of this study was to evaluate LV systolic performance during normal low risk pregnancy by using both conventional 2D and 3D echo indices and 2D-STE.

One-Year Outcomes in Anticoagulated Atrial Fibrillation Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From the Greek Antiplatelet Atrial Fibrillation Registry.

GReek-AntiPlatElet Atrial Fibrillation registry is a multicenter, observational, noninterventional study of atrial fibrillation patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Primary endpoint included clinically significant bleeding rate at 12 months between different antithrombotic regimens prescribed at discharge; secondary endpoints included major adverse cardiovascular events and net adverse clinical events. A total of 647 patients were analyzed.

Incidence and causal association of functional atrial mitral regurgitation in HFpEF.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is as common as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Atrial fibrillation (AF), as well as the presence of mitral regurgitation (MR), is highly prevalent in these patients. Atrial functional MR (AFMR) is a type of functional MR characterized by severe left atrial dilatation and remodeling with normal left ventricular (LV) dimensions and function.

Biventricular myocardial function in Covid-19 recovered patients assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography: a prospective cohort echocardiography study.

Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes respiratory disease, it may also lead to cardiovascular involvement with unknown long-term consequences. The aim of our study was to evaluate prospectively cardiac involvement in patients after the recovery from Covid-19, using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. 100 Covid-19 recovered patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, were included, divided based upon clinical manifestation into two groups, those who were treated ambulant and those who were hospitalized.

In vivo correlation between morphological characteristics of coronary plaques and functional characteristics of carotid arteries in acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Carotid artery temperature heterogeneity (ΔΤ) measured by microwave radiometry (MWR) has been associated with future cardiovascular events including acute coronary syndromes. The vulnerable plaques of the coronary arterial tree, that can be ideally depicted by intracoronary imaging such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) have anatomical characteristics such as the thin fibrous cap (TCFA), that make them vulnerable to rupture. The scope of the study was to assess the implication of the carotid artery temperature heterogeneity on the culprit coronary plaque morphology in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.

Segmentally impaired left ventricular longitudinal strain: a new predictive diagnostic parameter for asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis and preserved ejection fraction.

Introduction: This study aims to investigate the correlation between severe aortic stenosis (sAS) and impairment of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) in particular segments, using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with sAS and normal ejection fraction of left ventricle (LVEF).

Methods: The study included 53 consecutive patients with asymptomatic sAS and preserved LVEF. The regional longitudinal systolic LV wall strain was evaluated at the area opposite of the aorta as the median strain value of the basal, middle, and apical segments of the lateral and posterior walls and was compared to the average strain value of the interventricular septum (IVS) at the same views.

Left ventricular ejection fraction and Global Longitudinal Strain variability between methodology and experience.

Introduction: Although ejection fraction (EF) is the cornerstone of the assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function, its measurement faces a number of challenges related to image quality, assumptions of LV geometry, and expertise. The aim of this study was to test the inter-observer variability of EF and GLS measurement in patients with a broad spectrum of LV function, between physicians and investigators (Inv) with different levels of expertise.

Methods: In 122 patients, EF and GLS were measured by 4 Inv blinded to each other with different level of experience in echocardiography; EF was measured using 3 methods: visual assessment, biplane Simpson's method, and auto-EF method.

Effect of Colchicine vs Standard Care on Cardiac and Inflammatory Biomarkers and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019: The GRECCO-19 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection has evolved into a global pandemic. Low-dose colchicine combines anti-inflammatory action with a favorable safety profile.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of treatment with colchicine on cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers and clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Greek study in the effects of colchicine in COvid-19 complications prevention (GRECCO-19 study): Rationale and study design.

Objective: Colchicine has been utilized safely in a variety of cardiovascular clinical conditions. Among its potential mechanisms of action is the non-selective inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome which is thought to be a major pathophysiologic component in the clinical course of patients with COVID-19. GRECCO-19 will be a prospective, randomized, open-labeled, controlled study to assess the effects of colchicine in COVID-19 complications prevention.

Beneficial Effects of Vaccination on Cardiovascular Events: Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, Heart Failure.

Influenza and pneumococcal infections have been suggested to be potential risk factors for causing adverse cardiovascular events, especially in high-risk patients. Vaccination against respiratory infections in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) could serve as a potential cost-effective intervention to improve their clinical outcomes and cardiac societies have encouraged it. Previous studies have shown that influenza vaccination reduce mortality, acute coronary syndromes and hospitalization in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and/or heart failure (HF).

Cardio-oncology: a new and developing sector of research and therapy in the field of cardiology.

Cardio-oncology is a new field of interest in cardiology that focuses on the detection, monitoring, and treatment of cardiovascular disease occurring as a side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Both cancer treatment modalities can cause cardiac dysfunction, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the oncologic population. It is necessary to periodically monitor cancer patients under treatment, especially those receiving anthracyclines and trastuzumab (monoclonal antibody), using mainly 3D echocardiography to calculate left ventricular ejection fraction and to estimate myocardial deformation.

Subclinical left ventricular dysfunction and correlation with regional strain analysis in myocarditis with normal ejection fraction. A new diagnostic criterion.

Background: The diagnosis of myocarditis is challenging, especially in case of normal left ventricular systolic function. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) can detect subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with myocarditis and preserved LV function without regional wall motion abnormalities and that regional strain analysis can correlate with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings.

Methods: Study population consisted of 25 consecutive patients with myocarditis and 19 controls.

Health-Related Quality of Life after Coronary Revascularization: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize evidence and determine the impact of coronary revascularization (CR) on cardiac patients' Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), highlighting factors that may affect this outcome in patients.

Methods: A systematic search of Medline (Pubmed), EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Sciverse (Science Direct and Scopus) and PsycInfo was conducted to identify studies published from January 2000 to December 2012. Data were analyzed using MIX 2.

A safety radiation marker in the cardiac catheterization lab.

Objective: Nowadays, in order to deal with cardiovascular disease, coronary angiography (CRA) is the best tool and gold standard for diagnosis and assessment. CRA inevitably exposes both patient and operator to radiation. The purpose of this study was to calculate the radiation exposure in association with the radiation absorbed by interventional cardiologists, in order to estimate a safety radiation marker in the catheterization laboratory.

Impact of income status on prognosis of acute coronary syndrome patients during Greek financial crisis.

Background: The effect of income status on patient outcome merits investigation during periods of financial crisis. We evaluated the impact of income status on out-of-hospital prognosis in a cohort of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, included in a countrywide study during a period of financial crisis.

Methods: The study is a secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, observational study-the PHAETHON study-enrolling consecutive ACS patients in 37 hospitals in Greece.

Translation, adaptation and validation of the Coronary Revascularization Outcome Questionnaire into Greek.

Background And Aims: Evaluating the impact of coronary revascularization on patients' health related quality of life with a patient-based and disease-specific tool is important for drawing conclusions about treatment and outcomes. This study reports on the translation, adaptation and psychometric evaluation of a Greek version of the Coronary Revascularization Outcome Questionnaire (CROQ-Gr).

Methods: A total of 609 (81.

Short-term outcome and attainment of secondary prevention goals in patients with acute coronary syndrome--results from the countrywide TARGET study.

Background/objectives: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) continue to pose a significant medical and socioeconomic burden worldwide. Optimal management strategy aims to improve short and long-term outcome. The present study aims to assess short-term outcome of real-world ACS patients and evaluate the achievement rate of secondary prevention goals.

Coronary artery disease: not always the case for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

We report a case of an acute ST-T elevation myocardial infarction in a middle-aged female with a mechanical mitral valve prosthesis and subtherapeutic INR levels. We performed a primary coronary intervention, using a thromboaspiration catheter. After blood clot aspiration, a TIMI III flow was restored and no residual lesions remained at the site of the occlusion.

Inadequate heart rate control is associated with worse quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The RYTHMOS study.

Introduction: Significant evidence shows that elevated heart rate (HR) is an independent risk factor in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and influences their prognosis. In addition, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have more frequent episodes of angina and their compliance with heart rate agents, such as beta blockers, is poor. The purpose of the multicenter observational RYTHMOS study was to evaluate the role of heart rate management in the prognosis and quality of life in patients with CAD and COPD.

Epidemiological characteristics and in-hospital management of acute coronary syndrome patients in Greece: results from the TARGET study.

Introduction: Conduction of national surveys is needed to depict temporal trends in the risk profile, type of implemented treatment strategy and outcome of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The TARGET study is a multicenter, observational study that aimed to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics, management pattern and outcome of ACS patients in Greece.

Methods: A total of 418 consecutive patients with ACS (44.

Tomato pollen respiration in relation to in vitro germination and pollen tube growth under favourable and stress-inducing temperatures.

Tomato pollen germination, pollen tube growth and respiratory activity were recorded during incubation in a liquid medium for 7 h over a temperature range of 15-35 degrees C. Although the initial rate of respiration was highest at 30 degrees C, both at 30 degrees C and 35 degrees C respiration decreased after the first hour of incubation due to high temperature impairment of germination and pollen tube growth. The total per cent germination of pollen over the 7-h period was maximal at 15 degrees C whereas pollen tube length was maximal at 25 degrees C.

The effect of substrate, ADP and uncoupler on the respiration of tomato pollen during incubation in vitro at moderately high temperature.

Pollen of tomato cv. Supermarmande was collected from greenhouse-grown plants at various intervals throughout the year and arbitrarily classified as of high, medium or low respiratory activity on the basis of CO(2) production during 8 h incubation in vitro at 30 degrees C, a temperature that is considered to be moderately high for tomato fruit set. After an initial burst of respiration during the first stage of hydration at 30 degrees C (>1 h), the respiration rate of pollen of all three categories declined, the decrease being greater in the lots with a low or medium respiratory activity than in the high category.