[Not Available].

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is a syndrome consisting of symptoms (dyspnoea, fatigue, swelling) and/or signs of congestion (pulmonary crackles, oedema). It is caused by structural and/or functional pathologies, most commonly ischaemic heart disease, entailing elevated cardiac filling pressures and can result in low cardiac output. Medical treatment has evolved during the recent decades as outlined in this review, and a 4-pillar treatment strategy is recommended including a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blocker or sacubitril/valsartan, a betablocker, a mineralocorticoid antagonist, and an SGLT2 inhibitor.

[Not Available].

This review outlines the workflow for patients and relatives with suspected inherited cardiovascular disease, diagnostic criteria, inheritance patterns, and »red flags« for selected conditions. Evaluation for inherited cardiovascular disease typically includes the index patient (proband) and relatives, emphasizing the importance of assessment at specialized clinics. Most inherited cardiovascular conditions have an autosomal dominant inheritance, but other patterns are seen.

Streptococcal species as a prognostic factor for mortality in patients with streptococcal bloodstream infections.

Purpose: Streptococcal bloodstream infections (BSIs) are common, yet prognostic factors are poorly investigated. We aimed to investigate the mortality according to streptococcal species and seasonal variation.

Methods: Patients with streptococcal BSIs from 2008 to 2017 in the Capital Region of Denmark were investigated, and data were crosslinked with nationwide registers for the identification of comorbidities.

Streptococcal infective endocarditis: clinical features and outcomes according to species.

Purpose: Infective endocarditis (IE) is frequently caused by streptococcal species, yet clinical features and mortality are poorly investigated. Our aim was to examine patients with streptococcal IE to describe clinical features and outcomes according to streptococcal species.

Methods: From 2002 to 2012, we investigated patients with IE admitted to two tertiary Danish heart centres.

Proposal for the use of echocardiography in bloodstream infections due to different streptococcal species.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is diagnosed in 7-8% of streptococcal bloodstream infections (BSIs), yet it is unclear when to perform transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) according to different streptococcal species. The aim of this sub-study was to propose a flowchart for the use of echocardiography in streptococcal BSIs.

Methods: In a population-based setup, we investigated all patients admitted with streptococcal BSIs and crosslinked data with nationwide registries to identify comorbidities and concomitant hospitalization with IE.

Prevalence of Infective Endocarditis in Streptococcal Bloodstream Infections Is Dependent on Streptococcal Species.

Background: Streptococci frequently cause infective endocarditis (IE), yet the prevalence of IE in patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by different streptococcal species is unknown. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of IE at species level in patients with streptococcal BSIs.

Methods: We investigated all patients with streptococcal BSIs, from 2008 to 2017, in the Capital Region of Denmark.

Residual vegetation after treatment for left-sided infective endocarditis and subsequent risk of stroke and recurrence of endocarditis.

Background: Little is known about the subsequent risk of stroke and recurrence of IE for patients surviving infective endocarditis (IE) with a residual vegetation at discharge.

Methods: Patients were consecutively included in the East Danish Endocarditis Registry from 2002 to 2012. We included patients undergoing medical treatment only during IE admission who were discharged alive.

Prevalence of Infective Endocarditis in Enterococcus faecalis Bacteremia.

Background: Enterococcus faecalis is the third most frequent cause of infective endocarditis (IE). Despite this, no systematic prospective echocardiography studies have examined the prevalence of IE in patients with E. faecalis bacteremia.

Prevalence of infective endocarditis in patients with positive blood cultures: a Danish nationwide study.

Aims: Increasing attention has been given to the risk of infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with certain blood stream infections (BSIs). Previous studies have been conducted on selected patient cohorts, yet unselected data are sparse. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of IE in BSIs with bacteria typically associated with IE.

Left axis deviation in patients with left bundle branch block is a marker of myocardial disease associated with poor response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aims: Patients with left axis deviation (LAD) and left bundle branch block (LBBB) show less benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) compared to other LBBB-patients. This study investigates the reasons for this.

Methods: Sixty-eight patients eligible for CRT were included.

Interlead electrical delays and scar tissue: Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: The importance of interlead electrical delays (IEDs) in the presence of scar tissue for response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy is poorly described.

Methods: Sixty-eight CRT patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and left bundle branch block were included. IEDs, the time between sensing of native impulse at the RV lead and LV lead, were measured at implantation and after 8 months.

Human genetic variation in GLS2 is associated with development of complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

The role of host genetic variation in the development of complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is poorly understood. We used whole exome sequencing (WES) to examine the cumulative effect of coding variants in each gene on risk of complicated SAB in a discovery sample of 168 SAB cases (84 complicated and 84 uncomplicated, frequency matched by age, sex, and bacterial clonal complex [CC]), and then evaluated the most significantly associated genes in a replication sample of 240 SAB cases (122 complicated and 118 uncomplicated, frequency matched for age, sex, and CC) using targeted sequence capture. In the discovery sample, gene-based analysis using the SKAT-O program identified 334 genes associated with complicated SAB at p<3.

Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia in Children Aged 5-18 Years-Risk Factors in the New Millennium.

Objectives: To assess the association between comorbidities and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in children aged 5-18 years, thus, in children with a matured immune system. Further, we aimed to identify presumably healthy children acquiring bacteremia.

Study Design: By cross-linking nationwide registries, we consecutively included all children born from 1995 onward at their 5-year birthday or date of immigration during 2000-2015.

The impact of hemodialysis on mortality risk and cause of death in Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis.

Background: The risk of infective endocarditis (IE) is markedly increased in patients receiving chronic hemodialysis compared with the general population, but outcome data are sparse. The present study investigated causes and risk factors of mortality in a hemodialysis-treated end-stage kidney disease- (ESKD) and a non-ESKD population with staphylococcus (S.) aureus endocarditis.

Long-term causes of death in patients with infective endocarditis who undergo medical therapy only or surgical treatment: a nationwide population-based study.

Objectives: It is known that patients surviving infective endocarditis have a poor long-term prognosis; however, few studies have addressed the long-term causes of death in patients surviving the initial hospitalization.

Methods: Using Danish administrative registries, we identified patients admitted to a hospital with 1st time infective endocarditis in the period from January 1996 to December 2014, who were alive at the time of discharge. The study population was categorized into (i) patients undergoing medical therapy only and (ii) patients undergoing surgical and medical treatment.

Two-dimensional global longitudinal strain is superior to left ventricular ejection fraction in prediction of outcome in patients with left-sided infective endocarditis.

Background: Impaired cardiac function is the main predictor of poor outcome in infective endocarditis (IE). Global longitudinal strain (GLS) derived from two-dimensional strain echocardiography has proven superior in prediction of long-term outcome as compared to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in valvular disease and heart failure in general. Whether measurements of cardiac deformation can predict survival in patients with IE has not previously been investigated.

Clinical utility of F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan vs. Tc-HMPAO white blood cell single-photon emission computed tomography in extra-cardiac work-up of infective endocarditis.

The extra-cardiac work-up in infective endocarditis (IE) comprises a search for primary and secondary infective foci. Whether FDG-PET/CT or WBC-SPECT/CT is superior in detection of clinically relevant extra-cardiac manifestations in IE is unexplored. The objectives of this study were to identify the numbers of positive findings detected by each imaging modality, to evaluate the clinical relevance of these findings and to define the reproducibility for extra-cardiac foci in patients with definite IE.

Risk Factors of Endocarditis in Patients With Enterococcus faecalis Bacteremia: External Validation of the NOVA Score.

Background: The NOVA score is a recently developed diagnostic tool used to identify patients with increased risk of infective endocarditis (IE) among patients with Enterococcus faecalis bacteremia. We aimed to validate the NOVA score and to identify risk factors for IE.

Methods: From 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2013, we included 647 consecutive patients with E.

Echocardiographic agreement in the diagnostic evaluation for infective endocarditis.

Echocardiography is essential for the diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis (IE). However, the reproducibility for the echocardiographic assessment of variables relevant to IE is unknown. Objectives of this study were: (1) To define the reproducibility for IE echocardiographic variables and (2) to describe a methodology for assessing quality in an observational cohort containing site-interpreted data.

[The use of pre-hospital tourniquets in life-threatening extremity traumas].

Tourniquets have been used for centuries. They have been called lifesavers and "an invention of the evil one". 90.

Identification of Typical Left Bundle Branch Block Contraction by Strain Echocardiography Is Additive to Electrocardiography in Prediction of Long-Term Outcome After Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Background: Current guidelines suggest that patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) be treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT); however, one-third do not have a significant activation delay, which can result in nonresponse. By identifying characteristic opposing wall contraction, 2-dimensional strain echocardiography (2DSE) may detect true LBBB activation.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate whether the absence of a typical LBBB mechanical activation pattern by 2DSE was associated with unfavorable long-term outcome and if this is additive to electrocardiographic (ECG) morphology and duration.

Echocardiographic Findings Predict In-Hospital and 1-Year Mortality in Left-Sided Native Valve Staphylococcus aureus Endocarditis: Analysis From the International Collaboration on Endocarditis-Prospective Echo Cohort Study.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus left-sided native valve infective endocarditis (LNVIE) has higher complication and mortality rates compared with endocarditis from other pathogens. Whether echocardiographic variables can predict prognosis in S aureus LNVIE is unknown.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients with LNVIE, enrolled between January 2000 and September 2006, in the International Collaboration on Endocarditis were identified.