Global Left Ventricular Myocardial Work Efficiency in Heart Failure Patients with Cardiac Amyloidosis: Pathophysiological Implications and Role in Differential Diagnosis.

Introduction: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an infiltrative cardiomyopathy and a common cause of heart failure with preserved and mid-range ejection fraction (HFpEF and HFmrEF). Left ventricular (LV) systolic assessment is pivotal in differential diagnostic and prognostic stratification in CA. However, nondeformation and deformation-based parameters classically implied had many limitations.

NOAC in "real world" patients with atrial fibrillation in Italy: results from the ISPAF-2 (Indagine Sicoa Paziente Con Fibrillazione Atriale) survey study.

In the past few years, new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) targeting directly a single activated clotting factor, have been developed for the treatment of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), which are currently recommended as first-line therapy in AF. The aim of this study is to provide an overall picture on the extent to which oral anticoagulation (OAC) with NOACs correspond to actually prescribed OAC therapy in an unselected, real world, population of consecutive patients with AF in Italy. Compliance with the therapy and quality of life were also assessed.

Hemodynamic assessment of Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis by dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic performance of a sutureless bioprosthesis under high workload at mid-term follow-up.

Methods: Thirty-two patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement with a Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis with a minimum follow-up of 1 year were enrolled in this study. S size prosthesis was deployed in 10 patients (31.

The Role of Ivabradine in Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients With Recent Coronary Artery Bypass Graft.

Background: Little is known about ivabradine in cardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

Methods: In this prospective, randomized study, suitable patients admitted for cardiac rehabilitation after recent CABG were randomized to ivabradine 5 mg twice a day + standard medical therapy including bisoprolol 1.25 mg once daily (group I-BB, n = 38) or standard medical therapy including bisoprolol 2.

Personalizing oral anticoagulant treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation.

For decades, warfarin has remained the standard oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). Three novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been recently approved for stroke prevention in non-valvular AF: dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban. Better pharmacological and clinical profiles make these newcomers a preferable alternative over warfarin.

Platelet function profiles in the elderly: results of a pharmacodynamic study in patients on clopidogrel therapy and effects of switching to prasugrel 5 mg in patients with high platelet reactivity.

Studies specifically designed to assess clopidogrel response in the elderly as well as treatment alternatives to improve platelet inhibition in this high-risk population are lacking. This study aimed to define pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles, including high platelet reactivity (HPR) rates, among elderly patients on maintenance clopidogrel therapy and to assess the PD effects of prasugrel 5 mg/day in elderly with HPR. This was a prospective observational PD study enrolling consecutive ≥ 75-year-old patients on maintenance clopidogrel therapy (75 mg/day) who were tested for clopidogrel response by the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay and light transmittance aggregometry (LTA).