Retraction of: "Network meta-analysis: a new analysis tool of the experimental evidence".

The paper entitled "Network meta-analysis: a new analysis tool of the experimental evidence" by Renato De Vecchis et al., which was published in Minerva Medica 2019 Apr;110(2):173-5, has been retracted by the Publisher due to self-plagiarism. The originally published version of this article is available at https://doi.

Thyrotoxic dilated cardiomyopathy: personal experience and case collection from the literature.

Summary: The authors examine several reports of the literature concerning thyrotoxic dilated cardiomyopathy. In particular, it is pointed out that this clinical manifestation of hyperthyroidism is rare in readily diagnosed and properly treated hyperthyroidism. Case reports are analyzed comparatively.

Thrombocytopenia-Related Problems in Patients with Concomitant Atrial Fibrillation Requiring Antithrombotic Prevention: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Low-dose edoxaban and enoxaparin sodium have been the subject of a retrospective comparison implemented with the propensity score technique in order to mitigate the effects of the differences in the basal clinical features of two cohorts and minimize the risk of bias. Subsequently, using a Cox proportional-hazards model, the association of each type of therapy with the risk of the composite of all-cause death, stroke/transient ischemic attack, hospitalizations and major bleeding events was assessed. For this analysis, a p-value < 0.

A case series about the favorable effects of sacubitril/valsartan on anthracycline cardiomyopathy.

Anthracyclines are the cornerstone of treatment for many solid and hematological cancers such as breast cancer or lymphoma for the past 50 years. Nevertheless, in a non-negligible proportion of patients, they elicit dilated cardiomyopathy as a side effect, which causes in turn cardiac decompensation. Conversely, for some years, sacubitril/valsartan has been proposed as a new therapeutic paradigm for all varieties of heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, due to its balanced enhancement of natriuretic peptides' properties coupled with a blocking effect on the AT1 angiotensin receptors.

Upstream Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation Prevention: The Role of Sacubitril/Valsartan.

The therapy or prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) is defined as upstream therapy when conducted with the use of drugs, e.g., angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor antagonists, statins, and omega-3 fatty acids, not included in the classes of antiarrhythmic drugs recognized by the Vaughan Williams classification.

Favorable Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan on the Peak Atrial Longitudinal Strain in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and a History of One or More Episodes of Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) is primarily an index of the reservoir function of atrial chambers. The conceptual basis exists to hypothesize that sacubitril/valsartan improves the expandability of atrial chambers in the reservoir phase of the atrial mechanical cycle, as a consequence of its effect of prolonging the half-life of natriuretic peptides. Therefore in this retrospective study we evaluated the repercussions of the administration of sacubitril/valsartan maintained for at least 12 months on the PALS.

Sacubitril/Valsartan Therapy for 14 Months Induces a Marked Improvement of Global Longitudinal Strain in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Clinical efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan administered for the recommended indication of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes II-III appears to be higher than one would expect based on the drug-induced variations of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). More thorough investigations with the use of indicators of longitudinal systolic function have been therefore recommended to verify whether a part of the clinical improvement achieved with the use of sacubitril/valsartan could be supported by a reverse remodeling ensuing from changes other than a simple LVEF increase.

Methods: In the present retrospective cohort study, which collected the pertinent data from two centers devoted to clinical management of outpatients with CHF and dating back to the years 2017 and 2018, we separated patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan from those treated with conventional medical therapy, including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs).

Sacubitril/valsartan improves left ventricular longitudinal deformation in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Background: Clinical efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan administered for the recommended indication of patients with reduced (<40%) left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) belonging to NYHA classes II-III appears to be higher than that one would expect based on the drug-induced variations of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). More thorough investigations with the use of indicators of longitudinal systolic function have been therefore recommended, to verify whether a part of the clinical improvement achieved with the use of sacubitril/valsartan might be supported by a reverse remodeling ensuing from changes other than a simple LVEF increase.

Methods: In the present retrospective cohort study, which collected the pertinent data from two centers devoted to clinical management of outpatients with CHF and dating back to the years 2017 and 2018, we separated patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan from those treated with conventional medical therapy, including ACE inhibitors (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).

Secondary Prevention of Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Secondary prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) could be carried out by means of antiarrhythmic drugs; however this strategy has not received any endorsement because these drugs are burdened by a high risk of proarrhythmic events (flecainide, sotalol) or extracardiac effects (amiodarone).

Methods: In our retrospective cohort study we have compared amiodarone 200 mg per day with the strategy implying the renunciation of any specific drug as well as with the approach using oral anticoagulant (rivaroxaban) or a combined approach including amiodarone plus rivaroxaban.

Results: A total of 255 patients with a history of AF (paroxysmal, persistent or long-lasting persistent) successfully treated with achievement of sinus rhythm have been gathered.

Advancements in the diagnostic workup, prognostic evaluation, and treatment of takotsubo syndrome.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute and mostly reversible cardiomyopathy that mimics an acute coronary syndrome with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction without relevant obstructive coronary artery disease. Its prevalence is probably underestimated and reaches 1.2-2% in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing coronary catheterization.

Rate Control Yields Better Clinical Outcomes Over a Median Follow-Up of 20 Months Compared to Rhythm Control Strategy in Patients With a History of Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Clinical management of patients with a history of atrial fibrillation (AF) focuses on the goal of preventing AF recurrences, or, if this is impossible due to the fact that the arrhythmia has by now become permanent, it is aimed at the control of the ventricular response. In patients with AF, an important topic is the comparative evaluation in the mid/long-term of clinical outcomes arising from the various therapeutic regimens, including pharmacological approaches as well as radiofrequency catheter ablation (abl).

Methods: In the present cohort retrospective study, 175 cases of paroxysmal, persistent or long-lasting persistent AF have been grouped depending on therapeutic approach: abl-isolated or followed by chronic use of antiarrhythmics (74 cases), drug treatment for rate control strategy (60 cases), drug treatment for rhythm control strategy (41 cases).

High Prevalence of Proarrhythmic Events in Patients With History of Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing a Rhythm Control Strategy: A Retrospective Study.

Background: A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the respective prevalence of proarrhythmic events depending on various therapeutic regimens within a population of patients with history of atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing a rhythm control strategy.

Methods: Inclusion criterion was the presence of AF in the patient's clinical history, whose cardioversion had been followed by the adoption of rhythm control strategy. The primary endpoint was the determination of the respective prevalences of paradoxical arrhythmias in the various therapeutic groups.

Anti-Hypertensive Effect of Sacubitril/Valsartan: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: For elderly patients suffering from arterial hypertension, a complete assessment of the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan used as an anti-hypertensive agent is not available yet. Therefore, we decided to perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to explore some endpoints concerning anti-hypertensive efficacy as well as safety of sacubitril/valsartan in elderly hypertensive patients.

Methods: PubMed and Scopus have been extensively investigated with the help of some key words until June 15, 2018.