Overcoming Double Jeopardy: Successful Orthotopic Heart Transplant in a Recipient With Bacterial and Fungal Infections.

Although active infection is generally a contraindication before an orthotopic heart transplant, a 16-year-old man diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy successfully underwent an orthotopic heart transplant despite having active probable invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and bacterial pneumonia in the presence of septic and cardiogenic shock.

Reassessing heart failure therapy in Thailand: Patient insights and treatment outcomes from the Thai heart failure registry.

Background: This research analyzed the demographics, management, and outcomes of patients with heart failure (HF) in Thailand.

Methods: The Thai Heart Failure Registry prospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with HF from 36 hospitals in Thailand. Follow-up data were recorded at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.

SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibodies, B Cell and T Cell Immune Responses after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccination in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.

Background: Immunization against SARS-CoV-2 is essential for vulnerable solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients who are at risk of infection. However, there are concerns about suboptimal immunogenicity, especially in humoral immunity (HMI), and limited exploration of cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses. The primary objective of this study was to assess the immunogenicity of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination in SOT recipients.

Expert recommendations for the management of iron deficiency in patients with heart failure in Asia.

Background: Iron deficiency is a common comorbidity in heart failure (HF) and is independently associated with a worse quality-of-life and exercise capacity, as well as increased risk of hospitalization, regardless of anemia status. Although international guidelines have provided recommendations for the management of iron deficiency in patients with HF, guidelines in Asia are less established, and practical use of guidelines for management of iron deficiency is limited in the region.

Methods: A panel comprising cardiologists from China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand convened to share insights and provide guidance for the optimal management of iron deficiency in patients with HF, tailored for the Asian community.

Comparative cardiovascular outcomes of novel drugs as an addition to conventional triple therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF): a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background: Currently, there is no head-to-head comparison of novel pharmacological treatments for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). A network meta-analysis aimed to compare effects of both conventional and alternative drug combinations on time to develop primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalisation (PCO).

Methods: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from Medline, Scopus up to June 2021.

Correction: Mahasing et al. Myocarditis and Pericarditis following COVID-19 Vaccination in Thailand. 2023, , 749.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this published paper [...

Associations between residential greenness and air pollution and the incident metabolic syndrome in a Thai worker cohort.

Increasing air pollution and decreasing exposure to greenness may contribute to the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We examined associations between long-term exposure to residential greenness and air pollution and MetS incidence in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand. Data from 1369 employees (aged 52-71 years) from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand cohort from 2002 to 2017 were analyzed.

Successful treatment of Rhodococcus lung abscess and empyema thoracis in a heart transplant recipient.

Rhodococcosis is an uncommon cause of pulmonary infection in thoracic organ transplant recipients. We describe a heart transplant recipient diagnosed with Rhodococcus equi left upper lung abscess with empyema thoracis complicated by bacteremia. The patient was successfully treated with appropriate antibiotics, adequate surgical resection, and optimization of immunosuppressants.

Myocarditis and Pericarditis following COVID-19 Vaccination in Thailand.

Background: Myocarditis and pericarditis cases following Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination were reported worldwide. In Thailand, COVID-19 vaccines were approved for emergency use. Adverse event following immunization (AEFI) surveillance has been strengthened to ensure the safety of the vaccines.

Lung abscess and empyema in a heart transplant recipient from Thailand.

The case discussed involves a 69-year-old Thai woman who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation 9 months before this event. She presented with fever without localizing signs or symptoms. However, her chest images revealed mass-like consolidation in the left upper lobe.

Genomic findings of hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy characterized in a Thai clinical genetics service.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are the most common referrals in the Inherited Cardiovascular Condition (ICC) Genetics Service. Several issues must be discussed with patients and their families during the genetic consultation session, including the options for genetic testing and cardiovascular surveillance in family members. We developed an ICC registry and performed next-generation-based DNA sequencing for all patients affected by non-syndromic HCM and idiopathic DCM in our joint specialist genetics service.

Efficacy and safety of inhaled nitrite in addition to sildenafil in thalassemia patients with pulmonary hypertension: A 12-week randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Pulmonary hypertension is a significant complication in thalassemia patients. Recent studies showed that inhaled nebulized nitrite could rapidly decrease pulmonary artery pressure. We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in thalassemia patients with symptomatic pulmonary hypertension diagnosed by right heart catheterization.

Cardio-ankle vascular index as a predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events in metabolic syndrome patients.

Background: Arterial stiffness, as reflected in the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), is a risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).

Hypothesis: Combining CAVI and metabolic syndrome (MetS) may enhance prediction of MACEs in a general adult population.

Methods: A total of 3807 employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand were enrolled in a longitudinal health study during 2007-2008.

Impact of self-monitoring of salt intake by salt meter in hypertensive patients: A randomized controlled trial (SMAL-SALT).

Salt intake over reference level would result in elevated blood pressure (BP) and long-term morbidity. Salt meter is a device used to detect sodium content in daily food. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of salt-meter addition to dietary education.

Economic Burden of Heart Failure in Asian Countries with Different Healthcare Systems.

Background And Objectives: Heart failure (HF) poses substantial economic burden, primarily driven by high hospitalization and mortality rates. This study aimed to understand the economic burden of HF in 4 Asian countries under varying healthcare systems.

Methods: This was a non-interventional, retrospective study conducted in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia through medical chart review.

Real-world experience of angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) usage in Thailand: a single-center, retrospective analysis.

Background: Treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has been revolutionized by angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI). ARNI has been shown to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in a large, randomized controlled trial. However, real-world evaluation of ARNI with a diverse population is still limited.

Leptin Levels are Associated with Subclinical Cardiac Dysfunction in Obese Adolescents.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to use speckle tracking echocardiography to confirm the influence of obesity on cardiac functions and to assess their relationships with leptin and uric acid levels in obese adolescents.

Methods: Eighty-one participants aged 16-19 years were recruited and classified as either non-obese (n = 30) or obese (n = 51). Global longitudinal strain (GLS), leptin and uric acid levels for each group were assessed and compared.

Inhaled nebulized sodium nitrite decreases pulmonary artery pressure in β-thalassemia patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension is a life-threatening complication in β-thalassemia. Inhaled sodium nitrite has vasodilatory effect on pulmonary vasculature. However, its effect on pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in β-thalassemia subjects with pulmonary hypertension has never been reported.

Correlation between right ventricular T mapping and right ventricular dysfunction in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Right ventricular (RV) fibrosis is increasingly recognized as the underlying pathological substrate in a variety of clinical conditions. We sought to employ cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) techniques of strain imaging and longitudinal relaxation time (T) mapping to better examine the relationship between RV function and structure. Our aim was to initially evaluate the feasibility of these techniques to evaluate the right ventricle.

Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in a Thai Population.

Arterial stiffness as measured by the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a widely available method in Thailand. Data from a large cross-sectional study revealed a significant correlation of CAVI and the presence of coronary artery disease as detected from 64-slice coronary computed tomography arteriography. Futhermore, CAVI was shown to predict long-term cardiovascular events in the patients with intermediate cardiovascular risk.

Focal fibrosis and diffuse fibrosis are predictors of reversed left ventricular remodeling in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Prognostic value of myocardial fibrosis in patients with non-ischemic idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is not well-defined. We sought to assess the association of focal and diffuse myocardial fibrosis with left ventricular reversed remodeling (LVRR).

Methods: Patients with DCM who underwent cardiac MRI with baseline and subsequent follow-up echocardiography were included in the study.

Impact of Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch on Left Ventricular Myocardial Mechanics After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare left ventricular (LV) remodeling using myocardial strain between patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with and without prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM).

Methods And Results: In a retrospective study, speckle-tracking echocardiography was used to measure global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rate (GLSR), circumferential strain, and rotation before and at mid-term follow-up post-TAVR. Moderate and severe PPM were defined as an effective orifice area ≤0.

Right ventricular echocardiographic parameters are associated with mortality after acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: There is limited information on the utility of certain echocardiographic measurements, such as right ventricular (RV) strain analysis, in predicting mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: A total of 211 patients with acute PE admitted to a medical intensive care unit (ICU) were retrospectively identified. Echocardiographic variables were prospectively measured in this cohort.