Advances in the Management of Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction; The Role of SGLT2is, ARNI, Myotropes, Vericiguat, and Anti-inflammatory Agents: A Mini-review.

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has been associated with poor prognosis, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare expenditure. Despite tremendous advances in HFrEF management, reduced survival and a high rate of hospitalization remain unsolved issues. Furthermore, HFrEF morbidity and economic burden are estimated to increase in the following years; hence, new therapies are constantly emerging.

The Greek study in the effects of colchicine in COvid-19 complications prevention (GRECCO-19 study): Rationale and study design.

Objective: Colchicine has been utilized safely in a variety of cardiovascular clinical conditions. Among its potential mechanisms of action is the non-selective inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome which is thought to be a major pathophysiologic component in the clinical course of patients with COVID-19. GRECCO-19 will be a prospective, randomized, open-labeled, controlled study to assess the effects of colchicine in COVID-19 complications prevention.

MicroRNAs and the heart: small things do matter.

MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules and constitute a relatively novel class of gene expression regulators, found in the great majority of eukaryotic cells. Their role in human physiology and pathology is actively being researched with new exciting discoveries continuously coming to the forefront. MicroRNAs play a crucial role in the biogenesis and function of the cardiovascular system and act as important regulators of various metabolic and signaling pathways in cardiovascular disease.

Colchicine for prevention of early atrial fibrillation recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation: a randomized controlled study.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to test the potential of colchicine, an agent with potent anti-inflammatory action, to reduce atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Background: Proinflammatory processes induced by AF ablation therapy have been implicated in postablation arrhythmia recurrence.

Methods: Patients with paroxysmal AF who received radiofrequency ablation treatment were randomized to a 3-month course of colchicine 0.

Feasibility of peripheral venous access for temporary right ventricular pacing.

Introduction: In this brief report, we present our experience from placing temporary pacing electrodes through peripheral venous access sites, at bedside, in a series of patients needing temporary pacing.

Methods: Consecutive patients requiring temporary pacing were selected. The median cubital or the basilic vein of the left upper extremity were used for catheterization at the bedside in all cases.

Association of soluble tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand levels with coronary plaque burden and composition.

Background: Evidence shows that the soluble tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (sTRAIL) may play a protective role against atherosclerosis. This study sought to investigate the potential association of sTRAIL levels with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and virtual histology characteristics of coronary plaques.

Methods: Patients with stable angina or positive for ischaemia non-invasive test were submitted to left cardiac catheterisation.

Transradial access as first choice for primary percutaneous coronary interventions: experience from a tertiary hospital in Athens.

Introduction: The transfemoral approach (TFA) has been the mainstay for arterial access during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the setting of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the transradial approach (TRA) has been shown to be an equally effective and possibly safer way of performing primary PCI (pPCI).

Methods: The study population included 98 serially recruited patients who underwent pPCI in our institution.

Estimation of atrial fibrillation recency of onset and safety of cardioversion using NTproBNP levels in patients with unknown time of onset.

Objective: As shown previously in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) without symptoms or signs of heart failure, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) increases rapidly, reaching a maximum within 24-36 h, and then decreases even if AF persists. A study was undertaken to use NTproBNP measurements in patients with AF of unknown time of onset to identify patients with presumed recent onset of the arrhythmia.

Design: Two-group open cross-sectional study.

Differential effect of biventricular and right ventricular DDD pacing on coronary flow reserve in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Unlabelled: CRT and Coronary Flow Reserve.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become a mainstay in heart failure management. There are also indications that upgrading of existing pacemakers to CRT systems may be of benefit.

Radial artery flow-mediated dilation predicts arterial spasm during transradial coronary interventions.

Background: Transradial coronary catheterization has emerged over the last years as a favorable catheterization practice, based on evidence that it is associated with less vascular complications and shorter hospital stays. However, access site crossover appears to be more frequent when the initial route is the transradial one, one of the main reasons being arterial spasm. We hypothesized that radial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) measurements could be used as a preprocedural method to assess the likelihood of arterial spasm.

Short-term fluctuations of plasma NT-proBNP levels in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation: a way to assess time of onset?

Objective: The objective of this study was to characterise short-term kinetics of plasma amino-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) without heart failure.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Emergency departments and inpatient services of three large community hospitals.

Congestive heart failure and VVI pacing mode: dynamic behavior of the dispersion of ventricular repolarization.

Dynamic Behavior of the Dispersion of Ventricular Repolarization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the circadian variation in the spatial dispersion of ventricular repolarization in continuously paced patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Fourteen patients (10 males, 4 females, aged 65 +/- 8 years) with CHF due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and an echocardiographic ejection fraction of 28% +/- 3% were studied.