Lung Cancer in the Course of COPD-Emerging Problems Today.

Tobacco smoking remains the main cause of tobacco-dependent diseases like lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in addition to cardiovascular diseases and other cancers. Whilst the majority of smokers will not develop either COPD or lung cancer, they are closely related diseases, occurring as co-morbidities at a higher rate than if they were independently triggered by smoking. A patient with COPD has a four- to six-fold greater risk of developing lung cancer independent of smoking exposure, when compared to matched smokers with normal lung function.

Atrial fibrillation type and renal dysfunction as important predictors of left atrial thrombus.

Objective: We aimed to identify predictors of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and to enhance the prognostic value of the CHADS-VASc score.

Methods: Derivation cohort included 1033 consecutive AF patients referred for catheter ablation or direct current cardioversion, in whom transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) was performed prior to the procedure. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of LAA thrombus on TOE.

Comparison of different oral anticoagulant regimens in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing ablation or cardioversion.

INTRODUCTION    Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are an alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). OBJECTIVES    The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus and dense spontaneous echo contrast (SEC), as well as to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with AF treated with different anticoagulant regimens. PATIENTS AND METHODS    We studied 1033 consecutive patients with AF, who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before AF ablation or cardioversion.