Prevalence and Prognostic Importance of Massive Tricuspid Regurgitation in Patients Undergoing Tricuspid Annuloplasty With Concomitant Left-Sided Valve Surgery: A Study on Rheumatic Valvular Heart Disease.

Background: The presence of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is very common in patients with concomitant left-sided valve disease. Recent studies have advocated an additional grading of massive TR that is beyond severe. The present study sought to characterize the spectrum of TR in patients undergoing tricuspid annuloplasty (TA) and to evaluate the prognostic value of TR severity for post-operative outcome following TA.

Prognostic value and reversibility of liver stiffness in patients undergoing tricuspid annuloplasty.

Background: Liver stiffness (LS) assessed by transient elastography is associated with adverse events in patients with heart failure. However, the predictive value of LS for adverse outcome is uncertain in patients undergoing tricuspid annuloplasty (TA). This study sought to evaluate the prognostic value and reversibility of LS in patients undergoing TA during left-sided valve surgery.

Association between adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein with left ventricular remodelling and diastolic function in type 2 diabetes: a prospective echocardiography study.

Background: The relationship between adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (AFABP) and cardiac remodelling has been reported in cross-sectional studies, although with conflicting results. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, as well as elevated circulating AFABP levels. Here we investigated prospectively the association between AFABP with the longitudinal changes of cardiac remodelling and diastolic dysfunction in T2DM.

The prevalence, predictors, and prognosis of tricuspid regurgitation in stage B and C heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Previous studies have demonstrated that moderate/severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with adverse outcome in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. Little is known about the prevalence and prognostic value of TR in patients of stage B HF and those with stage C HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We aimed to investigate the prevalence and prognosis of TR in patients with HFpEF.

Nonapical Right Ventricular Pacing Is Associated with Less Tricuspid Valve Interference and Long-Term Progress of Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Background: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a well-known complication after permanent pacemaker implantation. The aim of this study was to compare the degree of TR and the relationship of lead position across the tricuspid valve (TV) between patients with right ventricular apical (RVA) and non-RVA pacing determined by three-dimensional echocardiography.

Methods: Conventional and three-dimensional echocardiography was performed in 284 patients to determine the change in TR severity following permanent pacemaker implantation.

Sex-specific pattern of left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Few prospective studies have evaluated sex-specific pattern, natural progression of left ventricular (LV) remodelling, and diastolic dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The aim of this study was to study the sex-specific prevalence, longitudinal changes of LV remodelling, and diastolic dysfunction in patients with T2DM. Further, the prognostic value of diastolic function in women and men was also evaluated.

Prognostic Value of Tricuspid Valve Geometry and Leaflet Coaptation Status in Patients Undergoing Tricuspid Annuloplasty: A Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Study.

Background: The advent of three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) enables detailed evaluation of the tricuspid valve (TV) apparatus; nonetheless, the clinical value of preoperative 3DE is unknown in patients undergoing tricuspid annuloplasty (TA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of TV geometric parameters and leaflet coaptation status evaluated by 3DE in patients undergoing TA.

Methods: A total of 122 patients who underwent TA during left-sided heart valve surgery were prospectively evaluated.

Cumulative Rheumatic Inflammation Modulates the Bone-Vascular Axis and Risk of Coronary Calcification.

Background Rheumatic diseases are related to both abnormal bone turnover and atherogenesis, but a mechanistic link was missing. Methods and Results We investigated the effect of cumulative rheumatic inflammation ( CRI ) on risk of coronary calcification in a retrospective cohort of 145 rheumatoid arthritis patients. A time-adjusted aggregate CRI score was derived by conglomerating all quarterly biomarker encounters of serum C-reactive protein over 60 months immediately preceding computed tomography coronary angiography.

Osteogenic circulating endothelial progenitor cells are linked to electrocardiographic conduction abnormalities in rheumatic patients.

Background: Osteogenic circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) play a pathogenic role in cardiovascular system degeneration through promulgating vasculature calcification, but its role in conduction disorders as part of the cardiovascular degenerative continuum remained unknown.

Aim: To investigate the role of osteocalcin (OCN)-expressing circulating EPCs in cardiac conduction disorders in the unique clinical sample of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptible to both abnormal bone metabolism and cardiac conduction disorders.

Methods: We performed flow cytometry studies in 134 consecutive asymptomatic patients with rheumatoid arthritis to derive osteogenic circulating OCN-positive (OCN+) CD34+KDR+ vs.

Impact of obesity on longitudinal changes to cardiac structure and function in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Few prospective studies have evaluated the natural progression of left ventricular (LV) remodelling in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of obesity on longitudinal cardiac structural and functional changes in patients with T2DM.

Methods And Results: This study comprised of 274 patients with T2DM (mean age, 62.

Prognostic Value of Hepatorenal Function By Modified Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) Score in Patients Undergoing Tricuspid Annuloplasty.

Background: The Model for End-stage Liver Disease excluding international normalized ratio (MELD-XI) score and the modified MELD score with albumin replacing international normalized ratio (MELD-Albumin) score, which reflect both liver and renal function, have been reported as predictors of adverse events in liver and heart disease. Nonetheless, their prognostic value in patients undergoing tricuspid annuloplasty has not been addressed.

Methods And Results: A total of 394 patients who underwent tricuspid annuloplasty were evaluated.