Sex-related differences in the 20-year incidence of CVD and its risk factors: The ATTICA study (2002-2022).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine sex-related differences in the long-term (20-year) incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its determinants.

Methods: In 2002, 3,042 apparently healthy Greek adults were recruited, and in 2022, the 20-year follow-up was conducted with 2,169 participants, 1,988 of whom had completed CVD assessments. Sex-specific analyses using nested Cox proportional hazards were performed, as well as classification and regression tree (CRT) analysis modeling.

Cardiovascular disease in women: Executive summary of the expert panel statement of women in cardiology of the hellenic cardiological society.

The perception that women represent a low-risk population for cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) needs to be reconsidered. Starting from risk factors, women are more likely to be susceptible to unhealthy behaviors and risk factors that have different impact on CV morbidity and mortality as compared to men. Despite the large body of evidence as regards the effect of lifestyle factors on the CVD onset, the gender-specific effect of traditional and non-traditional risk factors on the prognosis of patients with already established CVD has not been well investigated and understood.

Anaphylactic cardiovascular collapse manifesting as myocardial infarction following salad consumption. A case of Kounis variant type I syndrome.

Anaphylactic cardiovascular events constitute an underrated cause of medical emergencies in hospitalized patients. Coronary arteries and myocardium are targeted by anaphylactic mediators leading to acute coronary syndrome and imminent cardiovascular collapse. Early diagnosis and high clinical suspicion are required to secure prompt life-saving treatment in these cases.

Effect of Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel on Aortic Stiffness in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Background We compared the acute and midterm effect of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel on aortic stiffness. Methods and Results We studied 117 patients in a randomized, assessor-blinded, parallel-group trial. The acute effect of ticagrelor was studied in 58 patients randomized (1:1) to receive a loading dose of clopidogrel (600 mg) or ticagrelor (180 mg).

Successful Stent Delivery Through a Slaloming Coronary Path.

A 66-year-old man with refractory angina was admitted for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) through a tortuous saphenous vein graft sequentially anastomosed with a diagonal and a first marginal branch. Our target was a critical stenosis at the retrograde limb of the first marginal proximal to saphenous vein graft anastomosis. Stent delivery to our target lesion mandated tracking through sequential angulations.

Computational imaging of aortic vasa vasorum and neovascularization in rabbits using contrast-enhanced intravascular ultrasound: Association with histological analysis.

Objective: Neoangiogenesis is pathophysiologically related to atherosclerotic plaque growth and vulnerability. We examined the in vivo performance of a computational method using contrast-enhanced intravascular ultrasound (CE-IVUS) to detect and quantify aortic wall neovascularization in rabbits. We also compared these findings with histological data.

Mechanical Wenckebach Phenomenon in Thrombosed Tricuspid Valve Prosthesis.

• Mechanical valve thrombosis is a serious complication. • Echocardiography and fluoroscopy are cornerstones of diagnosis. • Echocardiography in more than two loops can identify intermittent valve obstruction.

Correlation of CoreValve implantation 'true cover index' with short and mid-term aortic regurgitation: A novel index.

Background: 'Cover index' has been proposed to appraise the congruence between the aortic annulus and the device, with the assumption of not taking into account the actual device implantation depth. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the annulus-prosthesis mismatch, as expressed with the new proposed 'true cover index' according to actual implantation depth, can predict aortic regurgitation (AR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: Patients who had undergone TAVI with the self-expandable CoreValve device, were retrospectively studied.

Mitral-Aortic Intervalvular Fibrosa Pseudoaneurysm.

Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF-P) usually ensues as a complication of endocarditis or aortic valve surgery. When large, symptomatic or related to complications (rupture, compression of adjacent structures, embolic events, mitral regurgitation or heart failure) it warrants surgical excision. The natural course of uncomplicated/asymptomatic MAIVF-Ps is largely unknown since most patients are offered surgery.

First in Greece Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation using the CoreValve Evolut-R Retrievable and Repositionable Bioprosthesis with the InLine Sheath and the EnVeo Loading Guiding Catheter: A Major Advantage for SmallDiameter Access Vessels.

We report the first TAVI procedure in Greece to use the CoreValve Evolut-R (23 mm profile) bioprosthesis with the InLine sheath and the EnVeo loading guiding catheter in a patient with small anatomical characteristics (aortic annulus, access vessel) and severe comorbidities. The procedure was successfully conducted under general anesthesia through a surgically prepared, extensively calcified, left femoral artery.

Sex differences regarding the impact of physical activity on left ventricular systolic function in elderly patients with an acute coronary event.

Introduction: Regular physical activity has been associated with less severity of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), lower in-hospital mortality rates, and an improved short term prognosis. This study evaluated the relationship between physical activity status and the development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) according to inflammation and sex in elderly patients who had had an ACS.

Methods: We analyzed prospectively collected data from 355 male (age 74 ± 6 years) and 137 female (76 ± 6 years) patients who were hospitalized with an ACS.

Left atrial function predicts heart failure events in patients with newly diagnosed left ventricular systolic heart failure during short-term follow-up.

We assessed the effect of left atrial (LA) function index, LA ejection fraction, LA kinetic energy, and maximal LA volume on 6 months clinical outcome in patients with newly diagnosed systolic heart failure (HF). During a 36-month period, 179 consecutive patients (17% female, mean age 63 ± 14 years) were enrolled. During the follow-up, 46 patients had an event (32% event rate; 15 were fatal).

Inferior epigastric artery as a landmark for transfemoral TAVI. Optimizing vascular access?

Objectives: This study sought to investigate whether the site of common femoral artery (CFA) cannulation in regard to the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) is associated with the incidence of vascular complications in patients undergoing transfemoral aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Background: Vascular access complications are a main issue during TAVI and have been associated with significant increase of morbidity and mortality. The need for establishment of reliable predictors for these serious events remains important.

Effect of gender differences on early and mid-term clinical outcome after percutaneous or surgical coronary revascularisation in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease: insights from ARTS I and ARTS II.

Aims: The aim of the current study was to compare the short and mid-term outcome between males and females treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bare metal stent implantation or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and drug-eluting stent implantation in the Arterial Revascularisation Therapies Study I and II (ARTS I and II).

Methods And Results: The patients included in ARTS I were randomised to PCI with bare metal stents or to CABG. The patients enrolled in ARTS II were treated with Cypher stent implantation.

Incidence and correlates of drug-eluting stent thrombosis in routine clinical practice. 4-year results from a large 2-institutional cohort study.

Objectives: We sought to determine the risk of late stent thrombosis (ST) during long-term follow-up beyond 3 years, searched for predictors, and assessed the impact of ST on overall mortality.

Background: Late ST was reported to occur at an annual rate of 0.6% up to 3 years after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

Inflammation in lone atrial fibrillation: new insights by coronary sinus thermography.

Background: In the clinical setting there are conflicting results regarding the role of inflammatory activation in atrial fibrillation (AF). Coronary sinus (CS) thermography assesses myocardial heat production and is correlated with inflammatory states. We investigated in patients with AF whether 1) there is increased CS blood temperature and 2) the correlation of heat production with systemic inflammation.

Percutaneous treatment of an iatrogenic cardiac fistula.

Coronary fistulae, defined as communications between coronary arteries and cardiac chambers or veins, are uncommon. We present a case where a fistula was inadvertently caused by the surgical anastomosis of an arterial coronary artery bypass graft to a coronary vein. This produced two coronary problems, the unrevascularized Cx territory and a coronary arteriovenous fistula, and left the patient with symptoms.

A preliminary experience report: Drug-eluting stents versus coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with a single lesion in the proximal left anterior descending artery suffering from diabetes mellitus and chronic stable angina.

Introduction: Treatment of lesions located in the proximal segment of the left anterior descending artery (pLAD), either with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention, in patients with diabetes mellitus has been associated with an unfavourable outcome. The aim of the present study was to compare the long-term clinical outcome of drug-eluting stents (DES) vs. CABG with a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft in patients with a pLAD lesion who suffered from chronic stable angina and diabetes mellitus.

Two-year outcome of the use of paclitaxel-eluting stents in aorto-ostial lesions.

Background: Percutaneous treatment of stenoses involving aorto-ostial lesions is technically demanding and has been associated with lower procedural success and poorer clinical and angiographic outcomes when compared with non-ostial lesions. This study evaluated the immediate and long-term (2-year) outcome of aorto-ostial stenoses treated with paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES).

Methods: From February 2003 to December 2004, a total of 76 consecutive patients with 76 lesions underwent percutaneous intervention with PES for aorto-ostial lesions (right coronary artery, 37; left main, 26; saphenous vein graft, 13).