Comparison of telemonitoring combined with intensive patient support with standard care in patients with chronic cardiovascular disease - a randomized clinical trial.

Importance: Healthcare concepts for chronic diseases based on tele-monitoring have become increasingly important during COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To study the effectiveness of a novel integrated care concept (NICC) that combines tele-monitoring with the support of a call centre in addition to guideline therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation, heart failure, or treatment-resistant hypertension.

Design: A prospective, parallel-group, open-label, randomized, controlled trial.

New strategies for energy supply of cardiac implantable devices.

Background: Heart disease and atrial fibrillation are the leading causes of death worldwide. Patient morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease can be reduced by more accurate and continuous diagnostic and therapeutic tools provided by cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).

Objectives: Long-term operation of CIEDs continues to be a challenge due to limited battery life and the associated risk of device failure.

[Atrial fibrillation and the limits of oral anticoagulation: for whom are left atrial appendage occluders suitable?].

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation are at a significantly increased risk of thromboembolic events, especially ischemic strokes. Oral anticoagulation reduces this risk, but cannot be used in some patients for various reasons and is associated with a relevantly increased risk of bleeding. As an alternative for prophylaxis of thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation, there are different options of left atrial appendage closure.

Left atrial appendage closure with the watchman device reduces atrial fibrillation management costs.

Aims: To report hospitalization costs of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) submitted to percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) with the Watchman device.

Methods: Pre- and post-procedural hospitalization AF-related costs were calculated using the DRG system (diagnosis-related groups) and compared.

Results: Between 2012 and 2016, 677 non-valvular AF patients underwent LAAC.

Implantation of an Innovative Intracardiac Microcomputer System for Web-Based Real-Time Monitoring of Heart Failure: Usability and Patients' Attitudes.

Background: Heart failure (HF) management guided by the measurement of intracardiac and pulmonary pressure values obtained through innovative permanent intracardiac microsensors has been recently proposed as a valid strategy to individualize treatment and anticipate hemodynamic destabilization. These sensors have potential to reduce patient hospitalization rates and optimize quality of life.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usability and patients' attitudes toward a new permanent intracardiac device implanted to remotely monitor left intra-atrial pressures (V-LAP, Vectorious Medical Technologies, Tel Aviv, Israel) in patients with chronic HF.

Morphometric Characterization of Human Coronary Veins and Subvenous Epicardial Adipose Tissue-Implications for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Leads.

Subvenous epicardial fat tissue (SEAT), which acts as an electrical insulation, and the venous diameter (VD) both constitute histomorphological challenges for optimal application and lead design in cardiac synchronization therapy (CRT). In this study, we characterized the morphology of human coronary veins to improve the technical design of future CRT systems and to optimize the application of CRT leads. We retrospectively analyzed data from cardiac computed tomography (CT) of 53 patients and did studies of 14 human hearts using the postmortem freeze section technique and micro CT.

Detection of arrhythmia using an implantable cardiac monitor following a cryptogenic stroke: a single-center observational study.

Background: Detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) after cryptogenic stroke (CS) has therapeutic implications, but the most effective type and optimal duration of monitoring have still to be defined. This study that involved patients with CS or transient ischemic attack (TIA), all of whom carried an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM), sought to assess the incidence of AF and other arrhythmia detected using tele-monitoring or interval-based follow-up by an internal cardiologist at the university medical center of Rostock (UMR) or an external cardiologist.

Methods: The ICM implantation was performed during the inpatient stay in the neurology department, with inclusion and exclusion criteria jointly determined by the neurology and cardiology departments.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure for cerebrovascular accident prevention: rationale, indications, technical aspects, clinical results and future perspective.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. The most feared complication of AF is thromboembolism. Oral anticoagulation (OAC) is the standard treatment to reduce thromboembolism occurrence in patients with AF.

Prevalence and Progression of Cognitive Impairment in Atrial Fibrillation Patients after Treatment with Catheter Ablation or Drug Therapy.

Purpose: In atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, the effect of catheter ablation or drug therapy on cognition is currently not well investigated. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated AF patients who were either treated 'with drug therapy or underwent catheter ablation for the prevalence and progression of cognitive impairment (CI).

Methods: Randomized participants of the CABANA trial (catheter ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for atrial fibrillation) and the CASTLE-AF (catheter ablation versus standard conventional treatment in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation) study were assessed twice within 6 months by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in our institution.

Radiological assessment of the lateral osteotomy line-lacrimal system distance on three-dimensional models.

Aims: One of the most commonly performed operations in aesthetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery is rhinoplasty, the aim of which is to construct an altered nasal shape, either for aesthetic or functional reasons. The lateral osteotomy is the most traumatic step of rhinoplasty, and is generally difficult to perform. The lacrimal system can be damaged during the lateral osteotomy procedure.

Pacing-induced cardiomyopathy in chronic right ventricular apical pacing: a midterm follow-up study.

Background: Data concerning the effect of chronic right ventricular pacing in patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF%) are contradictory. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) at midterm follow-up after permanent pacemaker implantation (PPM).

Methods: A series of 170 patients were submitted to PPM within our facility.

Chromatographic Determination of Thermodynamic Acid Dissociation Constants of Tetracycline Antibiotics and Their Epimers.

The presented study describes the development of reversed-phase liquid chromatography method using a core-shell particle column with a pentafluorophenyl stationary phase for the dissociation constant (pKa) determination of the tetracycline group antibiotics (tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline) and their epimers (4-epitetracycline, 4-epioxytetracycline, 4-epichlortetracycline). The pH values were measured in the acetonitrile (ACN)-water binary mixtures, used as mobile phases, instead of in water and take into account the effect of the activity coefficients. Thermodynamic acid dissociation constant (pKa1) values of studied antibiotics and their epimers were calculated using retention factor (k) at different mobile phase pH values in studied binary mixtures with ACN percentages of 20, 25, 30 and 35% (v/v).

Deactivation of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices in patients nearing end of life : Reality or only recommendation?

Background: Current guidelines recommend considering deactivation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) in patients nearing death. We evaluated the implementation of this recommendation in unselected deceased individuals with CIEDs.

Methods: Over a 7-month period in 2016, all deceased persons taken to the Rostock crematorium were prospectively screened for CIEDs and these were interrogated in situ.

Individual programming of current multiprogrammable pacemakers : Still unsatisfactory?

Background: Pacemaker (PM) technology has developed tremendously in recent decades. We evaluated the extent of individual programming in current PMs.

Methods: Over a 7-month period in 2016, all deceased persons taken to the Rostock crematorium were prospectively screened for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and these were interrogated in situ.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a mechanically expandable prosthesis: a learning experience for permanent pacemaker implantation rate reduction.

Background: Permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains an issue open for criticism. Aim of this study is to investigate a strategy to reduce PPMI rate after TAVI in general and more specifically after implantation of the LOTUS prosthesis.

Methods: Through our learning curve, we have developed a structured protocol to reduce PPMI rate.

New generation cardioverter-defibrillator lead with a floating atrial sensing dipole: Long-term performance.

Objectives: The study aim is to present the long-term performance of a new generation implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) electrode with floating atrial dipole (Linox S DX, Biotronik, Berlin, Germany).

Background: The single ICD electrode with a floating dipole in the atrial chamber was introduced about 15 years ago to overcome risk of inappropriate shock.

Methods: After implantation, internal electrocardiogram data were prospectively collected via telemonitoring (Home Monitoring, Biotronik).

Changes in functional properties and in vitro bioaccessibilities of β-carotene and lutein after extrusion processing.

In this research, carrot pulp was added to traditional snack made from corn-grit. As the biological activity of carotenoids in the body depends on their bioaccessibility, change in carotenoid bioaccessibility during extrusion processing was investigated. In addition, phenolic content, antioxidant activity, β-carotene and lutein contents were investigated before and after the extrusion process.

Shocks after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in idiopathic cardiomyopathy patients: a myocardial biopsy study.

Prediction of follow-up shock is crucial to stratify patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) requiring implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The objective of the article is to assess the predictive value of endo-myocardial biopsy (EMB) towards ICD shock and follow-up mortality. A series of patients with DCM scheduled for ICD implantation underwent EMB to further determine the genesis of DCM.

Activation of remote monitoring for cardiac implantable electronic devices: small dog for tall weeds.

Background: Remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) has been popularized as a precious patients' management tool. We have investigated RM within the premises of a multicenter, prospective, real-world registry, i.e.

Combined mitro-aortic pathology: impact of previous aortic valve replacement upon outcomes of MitraClip therapy (from the German transcatheter mitral valve interventions registry).

Aims: The aim of this study was to identify the impact of previous aortic valve replacement (AVR) in MitraClip (MC) patients.

Methods And Results: Data from the German transcatheter mitral valve interventions (TRAMI) registry were analysed in the light of previous AVR by means of either standard AVR (SAVR) or transcatheter AVR (TAVR). Out of 791 MC patients, 68 (8.

Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness in adult-onset familial Mediterranean fever.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) in adult-onset familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

Methods: Forty two adult-onset FMF patients and forty two healthy controls were included in the present study. Detailed ocular examination was performed, and then the thickness of the peripapillary RNFL and GCIPL was measured by Spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Previous malignancy is an independent predictor of follow-up mortality after percutaneous treatment of mitral valve regurgitation by means of MitraClip.

Aims: To investigate the prognostic burden of previously diagnosed and treated malignancies in candidates for percutaneous mitral valve repair (MVR) with MitraClip.

Methods And Results: A total of 165 patients underwent MVR and 19 (11.5%) had been previously treated for malignancy and considered healed with life expectancy over 1 year at time of percutaneous MVR.

MitraClip step by step; how to simplify the procedure.

The MitraClip system is a device for percutaneous edge-to-edge reconstruction of the mitral valve in patients with severe mitral regurgitation who are deemed at high risk for surgery. Studies have underlined the therapeutic benefit of the MitraClip system for patients at extreme and high risk for mitral valve surgery, suffering from either degenerative or functional mitral regurgitation. The MitraClip procedure shows low peri-procedural complication rates, and a significant reduction in mitral regurgitation, as well as an improvement in functional capacity and most importantly quality of life.

Introducing transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a new generation prosthesis: Institutional learning curve and effects on acute outcomes.

Objectives: We present our single-centre experience with the direct flow medical (DFM) trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) prosthesis addressing the impact of learning curve upon outcomes.

Background: The DFM has been recently introduced for TAVI. The prosthesis presents original design and implantation features.

Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation with the direct flow medical prosthesis: Single center short-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes.

Objectives: To analyze our single center experience with the Direct Flow Medical (DFM).

Background: The DFM has been recently introduced to the market and large real world experiences are lacking.

Methods: A total of 126 patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AVS) were treated by the same team from March 2013 to May 2015.