Assessment of left atrial function by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease.

Background: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and cardiovascular diseases have mutual risk factors that contribute to pathogenic processes, increasing mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate variations in left ventricular (LV) structure and diastolic function among different subtypes and severity degrees of MAFLD patients, allowing early identification, intervention, and prevention of severe cardiac outcomes in high-risk populations.

Results: The cross-sectional study included 142 MAFLD patients and 142 non-MAFLD participants as a control group.

Routine Pressure Wire Assessment Versus Conventional Angiography in the Management of Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: The RIPCORD 2 Trial.

Background: Measurement of fractional flow reserve (FFR) has an established role in guiding percutaneous coronary intervention. We tested the hypothesis that, at the stage of diagnostic invasive coronary angiography, systematic FFR-guided assessment of coronary artery disease would be superior, in terms of resource use and quality of life, to assessment by angiography alone.

Methods: We performed an open-label, randomized, controlled trial in 17 UK centers, recruiting 1100 patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography for the investigation of stable angina or non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.