Improving Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter Detection and Management by Smartphone-Based Photoplethysmography Rhythm Monitoring Following Cardiac Surgery: A Pragmatic Randomized Trial.

Background And Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) after cardiac surgery are common and associated with adverse outcomes. The increased risk related to AF or AFL may extend beyond discharge. This study aims to determine whether photoplethysmography (PPG)-based smartphone monitoring to detect AF or AFL after hospital discharge following cardiac surgery improves AF management.

Fever and Chimpanzees: An Unexpected Life-Threatening Diagnosis.

Tropic fever can have several causes. It is important to investigate thoroughly and consider less obvious explanations. This paper presents the case of a biologist in close contact with chimpanzees, who developed fever in the tropics.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha serum level is an independent predictor of medium-term all-cause mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a suitable treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis and severely increased operative risk. There is need for a better preoperative risk assessment for TAVI candidates.

Aim: To determine whether Tumour necrosis factor-alfa (TNFα) is an independent predictor of survival 500 days after TAVI.

Variable clinical expression of a Belgian founder variant suggests the presence of a genetic modifier.

variants cause Loeys-Dietz syndrome type 5, a syndromic form of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. The exact disease phenotype is hard to delineate because of few identified cases and highly variable clinical representation. We provide the results of a haplotype analysis and a medical record review of clinical features of 27 individuals from 5 different families, originating from the Campine region in Flanders, carrying the NM_003239.

Prosthesis-prosthesis anastomosis using barbed sutures compared to conventional sutures under high, long-term pressure; in vitro extracorporeal circulation setup.

Background: While barbed sutures have been extensively utilized in other disciplines, they have not been widely adopted in cardiac surgery. The lack of safety and feasibility data has limited its use within the field. To aide in the further understanding of how cardiac surgeons can use barbed sutures, we sought to develop a high-pressure in vitro simulation model.

Adiponectin serum level is an independent and incremental predictor of all-cause mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Quantifiable biomarkers may be useful for a better risk and frailty assessment of patients referred for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Hypothesis: To determine if adiponectin serum concentration predicts all-cause mortality in patients undergoing TAVI.

Methods: 77 consecutive patients, undergoing TAVI, were analyzed.

Computed tomography measured psoas muscle attenuation predicts mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine if computed tomography (CT) psoas muscular attenuation measurements may predict all-cause mortality in patients undergoing TAVI.

Methods: Ninety-four consecutive patients undergoing TAVI were analysed. The CT axial slice at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra was selected.

The deleterious effects of smoking resumption after heart transplantation.

Aims: Smoking is linked to disease and survival in the general and transplant population. We studied the smoking history, disease and survival of patients after heart transplantation.

Methods: A total of 130 patients who underwent heart transplantation between 1995 and 2019 received a questionnaire to document their smoking history.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with adult congenital heart disease listed for heart and heart‒lung transplantation in the Eurotransplant region.

Background: The therapeutic success in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) leads to a growing number of adults with CHD (adult CHD [ACHD]) who develop end-stage heart failure. We aimed to determine patient characteristics and outcomes of ACHD listed for heart transplantation.

Methods: Using data from all the patients with ACHD in 20 transplant centers in the Eurotransplant region from 1999 to 2015, we analyzed patient characteristics, waiting list, and post-transplantation outcomes.

Cardiogeneticsbank@UZA: A Collection of DNA, Tissues, and Cell Lines as a Translational Tool.

Cardiogeneticsbank@UZA is an academic hospital integrated biobank that collects aortic tissue, blood, cell lines (fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells), and DNA from patients with cardiogenetic disorders, for both diagnostic and research purposes. We adhere to a quality management system and have established standard protocols for the sampling and processing of all cardiogenetic patient related materials. Cardiogeneticsbank@UZA is embedded in the Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure Belgium (BBMRI.

De-Differentiated Myxofibrosarcoma Metastasis in the Right Atrium: An Invasive But Diagnostic Approach.

Solitary cardiac metastasis remains an uncommon diagnosis. Herein, the authors report describes a rare case of a 53-year-old woman with cardiac metastasis of a peripheral de-differentiated myxofibrosarcoma. This case demonstrates the complexity of pairing multimodality imaging and invasive techniques to achieve tissue characterization and diagnosis.

Thymoma mimicking an aortic aneurysm: always expect the unexpected.

Thymic epithelial tumours (TETs) are rare lesions that represent less than 1% of all malignancies in adults. Presentation occurs in three ways: asymptomatic, with local thoracic symptoms or with paraneoplastic symptoms. Heterotopic ossifications are rare histological features in neoplasms and non-neoplastic lesions.

Biomarkers and Donor Selection in Heart Transplantation.

Background: Previously, we showed that B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measured in the donor was related to cardiac performance after cardiac transplantation. The present study assesses the value of 3 biomarkers in the selection of donor hearts in a larger cohort.

Methods: Blood samples were prospectively obtained in 105 brain-dead patients scheduled for heart donation.

Multicenter Phase II Clinical Trial of Isolated Lung Perfusion in Patients With Lung Metastases.

Background: Up to 66% of patients show local pulmonary disease progression after pulmonary metastasectomy. Regional treatment with isolated lung perfusion (ILuP) may improve local control with minimal systemic adverse effects. The aims of this study were to evaluate local and distant control after ILuP, determine the effect on overall survival compared with historical controls, and confirm the safety and feasibility of ILuP.

Aortic aneurysm/dissection and osteogenesis imperfecta: Four new families and review of the literature.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is the commonest form of heritable bone fragility. It is mainly characterized by fractures, hearing loss and dentinogenesis imperfecta. OI patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease of variable severity.