His bundle pacing is continually relevant for patients with atrial fibrillation and bradycardia without prior atrioventricular nodal ablation, data from mid-term follow-up.

Background: In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and symptomatic bradycardia, His Bundle pacing (HBP) is used to achieve an appropriate heart rate and physiological depolarization of the left ventricle (LV).

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the impact of HBP on LV function in two different populations: normal LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and low LVEF (<50%).

Methods: Patients who received HBP as de novo therapy or as an upgrade were divided into two groups based on initial LVEF, followed by echocardiographic and device monitoring.

Nosocomial outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a haematological unit - High mortality rate in infected patients with haematologic malignancies.

Background: Here we report nosocomial outbreak of COVID-19 among patients in a haematological unit. To our knowledge this is the first report from Central Europe comparing morbidity and mortality in infected and non-infected patients after exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: The outbreak involved 39 individuals: 19 patients and 20 health care workers.

Implication of right ventricular dysfunction on long-term outcome in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with or without surgical ventricular reconstruction.

Objective: Whether right ventricular dysfunction affects clinical outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting with or without surgical ventricular reconstruction is still unknown. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of right ventricular dysfunction on clinical outcome in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with or without surgical ventricular reconstruction.

Methods: Of 1000 patients in the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure with coronary artery disease, left ventricular ejection fraction 35% or less, and anterior dysfunction, who were randomized to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting or coronary artery bypass grafting + surgical ventricular reconstruction, baseline right ventricular function could be assessed by echocardiography in 866 patients.

Correlation between quantitative HER-2 protein expression and risk for brain metastases in HER-2+ advanced breast cancer patients receiving trastuzumab-containing therapy.

Background: Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2+ breast cancer are at particularly high risk for brain metastases; however, the biological basis is not fully understood. Using a novel HER-2 assay, we investigated the correlation between quantitative HER-2 expression in primary breast cancers and the time to brain metastasis (TTBM) in HER-2+ advanced breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab.

Methods: The study group included 142 consecutive patients who were administered trastuzumab-based therapy for HER-2+ metastatic breast cancer.