Predictive Value of NT-proBNP, FGF21, Galectin-3 and Copeptin in Advanced Heart Failure in Patients with Preserved and Mildly Reduced Ejection Fraction and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

: Heart failure (HF) is one of the most common initial presentations of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There are different cardiac biomarkers related to the pathophysiological mechanisms of HF in T2DM. The current research aims to identify additional biomarkers that could improve the diagnosis and prognosis of HFpEF, which is currently assessed using NT pro-BNP levels.

The Impact of Obesity on Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Diastolic Function in Caucasian Children.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and diastolic dysfunction are correlated with obesity and hypertension in adult patients, but few studies have investigated the association between obesity itself and left ventricular function in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of obesity and LVH on left ventricular diastolic function in pediatric subjects compared with children without obesity. A number of 454 patients from an outpatient cardiology service were enrolled in a prospective study, 33 children with obesity, 20 overweight children, and 401 children without obesity.

Prospective Study of Pulmonary Embolism Presenting as Syncope.

Background: Syncope represents a common condition among the general population. It is also a frequent complaint of patients in the emergency department (ED). Pulmonary embolism (PE) considers a differential diagnosis, particularly in a case of syncope without chest pain.

The role of echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of a giant unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.

Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm (SVA) is an aortic root anomaly, consisting of a lack of continuity between the aortic media and the aortic annulus, caused by a structural deficiency of muscular and elastic tissue. We present the case of a 49-year-oldman with atypical chest pain. Echocardiographic imaging described a giant unruptured aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva which was confirmed by cardiac computed tomography and coronary angiography.

Safety and feasibility of biventricular devices reuse in general and elderly population--a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is known to have very important beneficial effects on heart failure patients. Unfortunately, biventricular implantable cardiac devices (CRT devices), through which this therapy is implemented, are very expensive and sometimes hard to achieve, especially in underdeveloped/developing economies, making this an important problem of public health. As a possible solution, CRT reuse is of great interest nowadays, but unlike simple devices, data in the literature are scarce about biventricular device reuse.