The role of central autonomic nervous system dysfunction in Takotsubo syndrome: a systematic review.

Introduction: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), also known as stress cardiomyopathy or "broken heart" syndrome, is a mysterious condition that often mimics an acute myocardial infarction. Both are characterized by left ventricular systolic dysfunction. However, this dysfunction is reversible in the majority of TTS patients.

Validity and Reliability of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale in the Czech Republic (CRBS-CZE): Determination of Key Barriers in East-Central Europe.

Cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) is an effective secondary preventive model of care. However, the use of CR is insufficient, and the reasons for this are not well-characterized in East-Central Europe. This prospective observational study psychometrically validated the recently translated Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale for the Czech language (CRBS-CZE) and identified the main CR barriers.

[Myocardial infarction or broken heart syndrome?].

Takotsubo or broken heart syndrome represents a rare type of cardiomyopathy, often imitating acute myocardial infarction. It is a sudden transient cardiac syndrome that typically involves left ventricular apical akinesis with preserved motility of basal heart segments. In contrast to acute myocardial infarction, the pathology is fully reversible in the majority of patients.

Radial artery neointimal hyperplasia after transradial PCI-Serial optical coherence tomography volumetric study.

Aims: Transradial catheterization (TRC) is a dominant access site for coronary catheterization and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in many centers. Previous studies reported higher intimal thickness of the radial artery (RA) wall in patients with a previous history of TRC. In this investigation the aim was to assess the intimal changes of RA using the optical coherence tomography (OCT) intravascular imaging in a serial manner.

Short sheath benefit in radial artery injury after PCI - optical coherence tomography serial study.

Background And Aims: Transradial catheterization is the predominant access site for coronary catheterization and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Previous studies have reported a high incidence of radial artery (RA) injury. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the incidence of RA injury using last generation optical coherence tomography (OCT) intravascular imaging in a serial manner.

The value of novel invasive hemodynamic parameters added to the TIMI risk score for short-term prognosis assessment in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: We compared the prognostic capacity of conventional and novel invasive parameters derived from the slope of the preload recruitable stroke work relationship (PRSW) in STEMI patients and assessed their contribution to the TIMI risk score.

Methods: Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (EDP), ejection fraction (EF), pressure adjusted maximum rate of pressure change in the left ventricle (dP/dt/P), aortic systolic pressure to EDP ratio (SBP/EDP) and end-diastolic volume adjusted stroke work (EW), derived from the slope of the PRSW relationship, were obtained during the emergency cardiac catheterization in 523 STEMI patients. The predictive power of the analyzed parameters for 30-day and 1-year mortality was evaluated using C-statistics and reclassification analysis was adopted to assess the improvement in TIMI score.

[Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), new intracoronary imaging technique of unstable coronary plaque].

Acute coronary syndrome may develop in the background of hemodynamically non-significant coronary artery disease. It may be caused by the presence of "vulnerable plaque", which is characterized by the lipid rich core and thin fibrous cap content. NIRS - near infrared spectroscopy - is a morphological imaging method allowing determining atherosclerotic plaque cholesterol burden.

VERIFY (VERification of Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio and Fractional Flow Reserve for the Assessment of Coronary Artery Stenosis Severity in EverydaY Practice): a multicenter study in consecutive patients.

Objectives: This study sought to compare fractional flow reserve (FFR) with the instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) in patients with coronary artery disease and also to determine whether the iFR is independent of hyperemia.

Background: FFR is a validated index of coronary stenosis severity. FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improves clinical outcomes compared to angiographic guidance alone.