Publications by authors named "Safi L"

Article Synopsis
  • Secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) increases the risk of mortality and heart failure hospitalizations, necessitating a collaborative approach for patient management.
  • While guideline-directed medical therapies are essential, some patients experience persistent SMR, leading to the adoption of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) to enhance survival.
  • Advancements in technology and operator skills have improved the safety and efficacy of TEER, with ongoing research into new devices offering additional treatment options for patients who aren't candidates for TEER.
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We report the case of an 80-year-old woman with known quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV), severe aortic stenosis, and moderate-to-severe regurgitation who recently underwent a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

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Background: Redo-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) can pin the index transcatheter heart valve leaflets open leading to sinus sequestration and restricting coronary access. The impact of initial implant depth and commissural alignment on redo-TAVR feasibility is unclear. We sought to determine the feasibility of redo-TAVR and coronary access after SAPIEN 3 (S3) TAVR stratified by implant depth and commissural alignment.

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Mitral regurgitation is a prevalent valvular disease, and its management has gained increasing importance because of the aging population. Although traditional surgery remains the gold standard, the field of transcatheter therapies, including transcatheter edge-to-edge repair and, more recently transcatheter mitral valve replacement are advancing and are being explored as viable alternatives, particularly for patients at high surgical risk. It is essential to emphasize the necessity of a multidisciplinary team approach, involving specialized valve teams, imaging experts, cardiac anaesthesiologists, and other relevant specialists, is crucial in achieving optimal outcomes.

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Salivary biomarkers are increasingly being used as an alternative to diagnose and monitor the progression of various diseases due to their ease of use, on site application, non-invasiveness, and most likely improved patient compliance. Here, we highlight the role of salivary biosensors in the general population, followed by the application of saliva as a diagnostic tool in the pediatric population. We searched the literature for pediatric applications of salivary biomarkers, more specifically, in children from 0 to 18 years old.

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• TTE is often ordered to assess for a cardiac source of emboli after an acute stroke. • MVSAs may lead to blood stasis and thrombus formation. • Color Doppler and UEAs may be used to confirm or exclude the presence of thrombus.

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Zoothamnium intermedium is an obligate epibiont ciliate and has been found in a diverse array of hosts and environments. Different studies have reported conflicting distribution patterns and host preferences, even though studies in Chesapeake Bay have suggested that the ciliate has a strong host specificity for two calanoid copepod species. We examined the life cycle, host preferences, and ecological conditions conducive to Z.

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We present a case of percutaneous closure of a prior incomplete surgical left atrial appendage (LAA) ligation after a failed closure attempt using the first-generation Watchman device. The new generation Watchman FLX device (Boston Scientific) was implanted in this technically and anatomically challenging LAA patient using multimodality fusion imaging. ().

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Salivary gland neoplasms (SGN) remain a diagnostic dilemma due to their heterogenic complex behavior. Their diverse histomorphological appearance is attributed to the underlying cellular mechanisms and differentiation into various histopathological subtypes with overlapping fea-tures. Diagnostic tools such as fine needle aspiration biopsy, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography help evaluate the structure and assess the staging of SGN.

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Patients with serious COVID infections develop shock frequently. To characterize the hemodynamic profile of this cohort, 156 patients with COVID pneumonia and shock requiring vasopressors had interpretable echocardiography with measurement of ejection fraction (EF) by Simpson's rule and stroke volume (SV) by Doppler. RV systolic pressure (RVSP) was estimated from the tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity.

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The protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus, which causes dermo disease in Crassostrea virginica, is one of the most ecologically important and economically destructive marine pathogens. The rapid and persistent intensification of dermo in the USA in the 1980s has long been enigmatic. Attributed originally to the effects of multi-year drought, climatic factors fail to fully explain the geographic extent of dermo's intensification or the persistence of its intensified activity.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Echo fusion combines echocardiography and fluoroscopy to visualize heart structures during procedures.
  • - It offers immediate feedback during complex heart-related interventions, enhancing precision.
  • - Both echo fusion and 3D transesophageal echocardiography are effective for identifying paravalvular leaks (PVLs) and assisting in treatment.
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• Quadricuspid aortic valve is a rare finding in patients with aortic valvulopathy. • Patients over age 40 with this finding are more likely to have valve dysfunction. • Transesophageal echocardiogram is preferred to evaluate quadricuspid aortic valves.

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A female patient presented with severe, symptomatic multivessel spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) with no known medical history or risk factors. The affected vessels were left anterior descending artery (LAD), right coronary artery (RCA), and the ramus. She was treated with conservative medical management.

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Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) in TAVR is relatively common Valve oversizing can potentially prevent both paravalvular leak and PPM PPM may be avoidable if the expected Effective Orifice Area/Body Surface Area ratio is considered in decision making pre-TAVR.

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Objective: The prevalence of heart failure (HF) among adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD) is rising. Right ventricle (RV) exercise reserve and its relationship to outcomes have not been characterised. We aim to evaluate the prognostic impact of impaired RV reserve in an ACHD population referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

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