Three-Dimensional Combined Atrioventricular Coupling Index-A Novel Prognostic Marker in Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Atrioventricular coupling has recently emerged as an outcome predictor. Our aim was to assess, through three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, the role of the left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI), right atrioventricular coupling index (RACI) and a novel combined atrioventricular coupling index (CACI) in a cohort of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). One hundred twenty-one consecutive patients with DCM underwent comprehensive 3D echocardiographic acquisitions.

The Association between Diagnosis-to-Ablation Time and the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) is superior to antiarrhythmic drugs in maintaining sinus rhythm. Novel evidence suggests that increasing the time between the first diagnosis of AF and ablation, or diagnosis-to-ablation time (DAT), is a predictor for AF recurrence post-ablation.

Purpose: Our primary objective was to investigate the relationship between DAT and AF recurrence after a first ablation.

Wolf-Parkinson-White Syndrome: Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, and Therapy-An Update.

Wolf-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a disorder characterized by the presence of at least one accessory pathway (AP) that can predispose people to atrial/ventricular tachyarrhythmias and even sudden cardiac death. It is the second most common cause of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in most parts of the world, affecting about 0.1-0.

Long QT Syndrome and WPW Syndrome: A Very Rare Association between Two Causes of Sudden Cardiac Death in a Young Patient.

Long QT syndrome (LQT) and WPW syndrome are causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the young, and their association has been rarely reported. A 26-year-old woman presented with recurrent syncope. Her ECG showed a short PR interval, wide QRS (150 ms) due to a delta wave, and QT prolongation (QT 580 ms, QTc 648 ms).

Left Ventricular-Arterial Coupling as an Independent Predictor of Adverse Events in Young Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction-A 3D Echocardiographic Study.

Left ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) is a key determinant of global cardiovascular performance, calculated as the ratio between arterial elastance (EA) and left ventricular end-systolic elastance (EES). Over the years, acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) has remained an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although, until recently, it was considered a disease occurring mostly in older patients, its prevalence in the young population is continuously rising.

Predictors for Super-Responders in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Background: Prediction of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) response, particularly a super-response, is of great importance.

Study Question: The aim of our study was to assess the predictors for super-responders in CRT.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective, observational study, which finally included 622 patients with heart failure treated with CRT between January 2008 and May 2020 who had a minimal follow-up of 6 months after CRT.

New Score for Predicting Results after Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: VAT-DHF.

Introduction: Catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) has been proven to have the highest efficacy in maintaining sinus rhythm. Several studies have proposed different scores for predicting post-procedural success, but most have not been validated in prospective cohorts. Further research is required to determine the optimal formulae.

Yield of Rare Variants Detected by Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing in a Cohort of Romanian Index Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the rare variants in a cohort of Romanian index cases with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Forty-five unrelated probands with HCM were screened by targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) of 47 core and emerging genes connected with HCM.

Results: We identified 95 variants with allele frequency < 0.

NT-proBNP and CA 125 levels are associated with increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in coronary sinus serum of patients with chronic heart failure.

Purpose: Heart failure (HF) is considered to be a complex syndrome associated with neurohormonal and cytokine activation, that contribute to its progression. There are evidences which showed that, carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125), a tumor marker widely used for ovarian cancer therapy monitoring, was significantly elevated in HF patients. We hypothesized that inflammatory stimuli may be responsible for amino-terminal fragment of the prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and CA-125 production and release in chronic HF (CHF).

The role of pro-fibrotic biomarkers in paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: Signaling pathways involved in electrical, structural and contractile remodeling processes behind development and progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) have not been completely elucidated, but it seems to be related to complex interactions among neurohormonal and cellular mediators. We aimed to investigate interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), as biomarkers of atrial remodeling, in patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF, and their correlation with N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and left atrial (LA) diameter.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients (22M/15F) with paroxysmal AF, 32 patients (22M/10F) with persistent AF and 30 healthy control subjects (18M/12F) were enrolled in the study.

Prospective European survey on atrial fibrillation ablation: clinical characteristics of patients and ablation strategies used in different countries.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is widely adopted. Our aim was to conduct a prospective multicenter survey to verify patients' characteristics, approaches, and technologies adopted across Europe.

Methods And Results: A total of 35 centers in 12 countries actively participated in the study and 940 patients (median age 60 years) were enrolled.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with chronic heart failure is associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-remodeling effects.

Objectives: Proinflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) play a role in left ventricular (LV) structural remodeling. We aimed to investigate the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on serum levels of amino-terminal prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), some interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8), MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Design And Methods: We studied 27 patients (15 M/12 F) with CHF, III-IV NYHA class, implanted with a biventricular pacemaker/defibrillator and 40 healthy subjects (23 M/17 F).