Impact of Hyperkalemia in Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Retrospective Study.

(1) Background: Hyperkalemia is a common finding in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), though its prognostic significance is controversial. There is no consensus on optimal potassium levels in these patients. The primary endpoint of this study was to determine the 5-year incidence of hyperkalemia in a cohort of patients with HFrEF.

Comparative Analysis of the Efficiency of Two Treatment Protocols for Posterior Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Background And Objective: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common vertigo of labyrinthine origin, its social and healthcare impact is remarkable. It has recently been shown that single session treatment is as safe and effective as weekly treatment, which could have impact on direct and indirect costs related to the disease. The objective of this study is to determine whether single session treatment of unilateral posterior canal BPPV canalolithiasis is more efficient than conventional treatment.

Alpha-protein kinase 3 (ALPK3) truncating variants are a cause of autosomal dominant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of heterozygous truncating ALPK3 variants (ALPK3tv) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and confirm their pathogenicity using burden testing in independent cohorts and family co-segregation studies.

Methods And Results: In a discovery cohort of 770 index patients with HCM, 12 (1.56%) were heterozygous for ALPK3tv [odds ratio(OR) 16.

Genotype-phenotype correlations in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a multicenter study in Portugal and Spain of the TPM1 p.Arg21Leu variant.

Introduction And Objectives: TPM1 is one of the main hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) genes. Clinical information on carriers is relatively scarce, limiting the interpretation of genetic findings in individual patients. Our aim was to establish genotype-phenotype correlations of the TPM1 p.

Comparative analysis of the efficiency of two treatment protocols for posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Background And Objective: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common vertigo of labyrinthine origin, its social and healthcare impact is remarkable. It has recently been shown that single session treatment is as safe and effective as weekly treatment, which could have impact on direct and indirect costs related to the disease. The objective of this study is to determine whether single session treatment of unilateral posterior canal BPPV canalolithiasis is more efficient than conventional treatment.

Economic evaluation of complete revascularization versus stress echocardiography-guided revascularization in the STEACS with multivessel disease.

Introduction And Objectives: Economic studies may help decision making in the management of multivessel disease in the setting of myocardial infarction. We sought to perform an economic evaluation of CROSS-AMI (Complete Revascularization or Stress Echocardiography in Patients With Multivessel Disease and ST-Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction) randomized clinical trial.

Methods: We performed a cost minimization analysis for the strategies (complete angiographic revascularization [ComR] and selective stress echocardiography-guided revascularization [SelR]) compared in the CROSS-AMI clinical trial (N=306), attributable the initial hospitalization and readmissions during the first year of follow-up, using current rates for health services provided by our health system.

Angiographically Guided Complete Revascularization Versus Selective Stress Echocardiography-Guided Revascularization in Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease: The CROSS-AMI Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Recent trials suggest that complete revascularization in patients with acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease is associated with better outcomes than infarct-related artery (IRA)-only revascularization. There are different methods to select non-IRA lesions for revascularization procedures. We assessed the clinical outcomes of complete angiographically guided revascularization versus stress echocardiography-guided revascularization in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

Carotid plaque is a predictor of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Background: Carotid disease, measured as carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaque (CP), is associated with major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in people without the previous atherosclerotic disease; however, there are few published data in patients undergoing coronary angiography. The aim of the study is to determinate if the carotid disease is associated with MACCE after coronary angiography.

Methods: A total of 390 consecutive patients underwent coronary angiography after exercise echocardiography and carotid ultrasonography between 2002 and 2013.

Does patient environment have any influence on balance?

Background: Although patient environment is a factor to consider when planning a vestibular rehabilitation program, there are no studies correlating this factor to outcomes of balance assessment.

Aim: To evaluate whether there are differences in objective evaluation of balance in elderly patients at risk of falls according to the environment in which they live (urban or rural) and their lifestyle (considering cardiovascular risk factors).

Methods: Cross-sectional study of a sample of 139 elderly patients with high risk of falls assessed with objective outcome measures: Computer Dynamic Posturography (CDP), and the modified Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test; and subjective outcome measures: Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (short FES-I).

Carotid plaque is a predictor of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Introduction: Carotid disease, measured as carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaque (CP), is associated with major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in people without the previous atherosclerotic disease; however, there are few published data in patients undergoing coronary angiography. The aim of the study is to determinate if the carotid disease is associated with MACCE after coronary angiography.

Methods: A total of 390 consecutive patients underwent coronary angiography after exercise echocardiography and carotid ultrasonography between 2002 and 2013.

Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis predicts all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in obese patients with negative exercise echocardiography.

Background: Obesity is a major health problem due to its high prevalence. The relationship between obesity and cardiovascular disease is unclear. Some studies agree that certain conditions associated with obesity, such as physical inactivity or cardiovascular risk factors, are responsible for cardiovascular risk excess among obese people.

Usefulness of carotid ultrasonography in the assessment of coronary artery disease extension in patients undergoing exercise echocardiography.

Objectives: To evaluate whether carotid disease is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) extension in patients undergoing treadmill exercise stress echocardiography (EE).

Methods: We retrospectively studied 156 patients without previous vascular disease who underwent EE, carotid ultrasonography, and coronary angiography between 2002 and 2013. Low-, intermediate-, and high-risk EE were defined as negative, localized ischemia, and multivessel/extensive ischemia EE respectively; carotid disease according to Mannheim and American Society of Echocardiography Consensus and CAD extension from zero to three vessel disease as stenosis ≥50% by visual assessment.

Usefulness of carotid ultrasonography in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing exercise echocardiography.

Background: Relationship between carotid and coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients undergoing invasive and non-invasive test is unclear. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether carotid disease is associated with CAD in patients submitted to exercise echocardiography (EE) and if it improves the EE ability to predict CAD.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 156 subjects without previous vascular disease who underwent EE, carotid ultrasonography and coronary angiography between 2002 and 2013.

"Giant R wave" electrocardiogram pattern during exercise treadmill test: A case report.

Introduction: The exercise treadmill test is widely used in the evaluation of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease. The typical ischemic response used to be ST-segment depression.

Case Presentation: We describe a case of a 51-year-old Caucasian man with an unusual ischemic response during the exercise treadmill test: a "giant R wave" electrocardiogram pattern as a manifestation of hyperacute ischemia that resolved with sublingual nitroglycerin.

Late-presenting left internal mammary to great cardiac vein fistula treated with a vascular plug.

A 73-year-old patient, who underwent triple bypass surgery in another hospital in 1991 after suffering an acute myocardial infarction, was admitted to our institution after an episode of unstable angina. Evidence of a left internal mammary artery grafted to the great cardiac anterior interventricular vein (GCV), with Qp:Qs > 1.5:1, was demonstrated by angiography.

Sudden cardiac death of two heart transplant patients with correctly functioning implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

It is unclear whether the usual criteria for implantation of implantable cardioverter defibrillators in patients at risk of sudden death can be generalized to heart transplant recipients. We describe sudden death in 2 heart transplant recipients despite correctly functioning implantable cardioverter defibrillators. The scant relevant literature is reviewed.