Reinforcement of the Standard Therapy with Two Infusions of Convalescent Plasma for Patients with COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: The aim was to evaluate the reinforcement of the standard therapy with hyperimmune plasma (HP) in Coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) patients.

Methods: Open-label, multicenter, randomized clinical trial performed in three hospitals in the Balearic Islands. Non-severe COVID-19 hospitalized patients with clinical time evolution equal to/less than 7 days were included, and randomized in: plasma group (PG) ( = 37), receiving 600 mL divided into two doses from convalescent plasma donor, administered on days 1 and 2 after the enrollment; and control group (CG) ( = 17).

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Corrected Valvular Heart Disease: Hemodynamic Insights and Long-Term Survival.

Background The determinants and consequences of pulmonary hypertension after successfully corrected valvular heart disease remain poorly understood. We aim to clarify the hemodynamic bases and risk factors for mortality in patients with this condition. Methods and Results We analyzed long-term follow-up data of 222 patients with pulmonary hypertension and valvular heart disease successfully corrected at least 1 year before enrollment who had undergone comprehensive hemodynamic and imaging characterization as per the SIOVAC (Sildenafil for Improving Outcomes After Valvular Correction) clinical trial.

Sildenafil for improving outcomes in patients with corrected valvular heart disease and persistent pulmonary hypertension: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized clinical trial.

Aims: We aimed to determine whether treatment with sildenafil improves outcomes of patients with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PH) after correction of valvular heart disease (VHD).

Methods And Results: The sildenafil for improving outcomes after valvular correction (SIOVAC) study was a multricentric, randomized, parallel, and placebo-controlled trial that enrolled stable adults with mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥ 30 mmHg who had undergone a successful valve replacement or repair procedure at least 1 year before inclusion. We assigned 200 patients to receive sildenafil (40 mg three times daily, n = 104) or placebo (n = 96) for 6 months.

Acute responses of gastrointestinal hormones to both oral and parenteral intradialytic nutrition.

Introduction: Intradialytic nutrition (IDN) has been used to improve the nutritional status of malnourished hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Objective: To evaluate the different effects of parenteral IDN (IDPN) and oral IDN (IDON) on nutrition-related gastrointestinal hormones.

Patients And Methods: Seven clinically stable HD patients with malnutrition were included.

[Diagnosis of acute myocarditis by contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging].

Myocarditis is defined as an inflammatory process of the heart muscle. The symptoms are often nonspecific, and it can mimic acute coronary syndrome. Although the majority of patients recover fully, in some cases myocarditis can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy and even death.

Predictive value of troponin T levels for ischemic heart disease and mortality in patients on hemodialysis.

Background: Serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels are elevated in a high percentage of hemodialysis (HD) patients and as a result, they have been considered low specificity for ischemic heart disease (IHD). Recently, several authors have indicated the value of cTnT as a marker of IHD and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), as well as a mortality predictor. We try to establish the value of cTnT as an IHD marker and a mortality predictor in our patients on HD.