Mutation in and a Variant Linked to a Severe Sporadic Infant Dilated Cardiomyopathy Case.

Structural or electrophysiologic cardiac anomalies may compromise cardiac function, leading to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Genetic screening of families with severe cardiomyopathies underlines the role of genetic variations in cardiac-specific genes. The present study details the clinical and genetic characterization of a malignant dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) case in a 1-year-old Mexican child who presented a severe left ventricular dilation and dysfunction that led to SCD.

Comparison of invasive and non-invasive gradients before and after TAVI and their implications on clinical outcomes.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is recommended for treatment of high-risk aortic stenosis patients. While measuring mean transaortic valve gradient (MG) is crucial in evaluating procedural success, echocardiographic measurements often overestimate direct invasive measurements. This study aimed to examine the discordance between echocardiographic and invasive MGs in TAVI patients and assess their prognostic value on long-term outcomes.

[Clinical and electrocardiographic characteristics of carriers with SCN5A mutations and non-SCN5A mutations in fever-induced Brugada syndrome].

To investigate the differences in clinical and electrocardiographic characteristics between carriers of SCN5A mutations and non-SCN5A mutations in fever-induced Brugada syndrome. This study is a retrospective cohort study. A total of 263 patients with fever-induced Brugada syndrome who were admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2000 to December 2023 were selected.

Heart failure after left atrial appendage occlusion: Insights from the LAAOS III randomized trial.

Aims: The left atrial appendage (LAA) produces natriuretic peptides and its removal or occlusion might increase the risk of heart failure (HF). We aimed to investigate the incidence of HF after LAA occlusion or removal (LAAO) in the Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study (LAAOS III).

Methods And Results: Patients (n = 4811) with atrial fibrillation (AF) and a CHADS-VASc score ≥2, who were having cardiac surgery for another indication, were randomized to undergo surgical LAAO or not.

Loss of quality of life and increased societal costs in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the AFFECT-HCM study.

Introduction: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most prevalent inherited cardiac disease. The impact of HCM on quality of life (QoL) and societal costs remains poorly understood. This prospective multi-centre burden of disease study estimated QoL and societal costs of genotyped HCM patients and genotype-positive phenotype-negative (G+/P-) subjects.

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Change Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Correlates and Association With Prognosis.

Background: The association between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) change (ΔLVEF) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and the long-term mortality rate in patients with coronary artery disease is incompletely investigated. We aimed to assess the impact of PCI on LVEF and the association of ΔLVEF after PCI with the long-term mortality rate.

Methods And Results: This observational study included 8181 patients with paired angiographic LVEF measurements performed at baseline and 6 to 8 months following the index PCI.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose digoxin in patients with heart failure. Rationale and design of the DECISION trial.

Aims: Digoxin is the oldest drug in cardiovascular (CV) medicine, and one trial conducted >25 years ago showed a reduction in heart failure (HF) hospitalizations but no effect on mortality. However, later studies suggested that the dose of digoxin used in that trial (and other studies) may have been too high. The DECISION (Digoxin Evaluation in Chronic heart failure: Investigational Study In Outpatients in the Netherlands) trial will examine the efficacy and safety of low-dose digoxin in HF patients with reduced or mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) with a background of contemporary HF treatment.

Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: An overview from cellular structural perspective.

Anthracyclines are broad-spectrum anticancer drugs, but their clinical use is limited due to their severe cardiotoxicity. Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) remains a significant cause of heart disease-related mortality in many cancer survivors. The underlying mechanisms of AIC have been explored over the past few decades.

Radiofrequency ablation in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a case report.

Background: We report endocardial radiofrequency (RF) ablation as an alternative treatment approach for a symptomatic patient with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM), who is not suitable for surgical septal myectomy or alcohol septal ablation. Endocardial RF ablation, with detailed 3D mapping of the intrinsic conducting system, offers the possibility of reducing the risk of complete heart block rates and of effectively relieving symptoms.

Case Summary: We present a symptomatic 51-year-old female patient with oHCM and a maximum left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient of 148 mmHg.

Atrial fibrillation rhythm management: a matter of timing.

Rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has evolved dramatically in the last decades. Several studies have informed us of the benefits of an early rhythm control strategy and primary rhythm control by catheter ablation (CA). Similarly, several studies have investigated the effects of CA in patients with longer AF duration and more comorbidities, especially heart failure.

Prognostic Impact of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Improvement after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become an efficient and safe alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). While severe aortic stenosis as well as severe aortic regurgitation (AR) are known to negatively impact left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), prior studies have shown that TAVR can lead to an improvement in LVEF. Thus far, little is known about the prognostic implication of LVEF improvement as a sole predictor of outcomes.

Role of angiotensin converting enzyme in pathogenesis associated with immunity in cardiovascular diseases.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is not only a critical component in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), but also suggested as an important mediator for immune response and activity, such as immune cell mobilization, metabolism, biogenesis of immunoregulatory molecules, etc. The chronic duration of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has been increasingly considered to be triggered by uncontrolled pathologic immune reactions from myeloid cells and lymphocytes. Considering the potential anti-inflammatory effect of the traditional antihypertensive ACE inhibitor (ACEi), we attempt to elucidate whether ACE and its catalytically relevant substances as well as signaling pathways play a role in the immunity-related pathogenesis of common CVD, such as arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis and arrythmias.

Sex-Based Differences in Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Acute Myocarditis: A Cohort Study.

Background: This study investigated sex differences in acute myocarditis patients during index hospitalization.

Methods: We included 365 patients with acute myocarditis, hospitalized with continuous monitoring at the intensive care unit from 2000-2023 into the Basel Myocarditis Cohort study. We compared sex differences in clinical presentation, the presenting electrocardiogram, prior medical history, inflammatory and cardiac biomarkers, cardiac imaging, arrhythmia occurrence, and short- to midterm outcomes.

Syncope or seizure: that is the question-case report of a young patient with convulsive cardioinhibitory syncope treated with cardioneuroablation.

Background: Differentiation of syncope from seizure is challenging and has therapeutic implications. Cardioinhibitory reflex syncope typically affects young patients where permanent pacing should be avoided whenever possible. Cardioneuroablation may obviate the need for a pacemaker in well-selected patients.

Neutrophil extracellular traps formation may be involved in the association of propranolol with the development of portal vein thrombosis.

Background & Aims: Nonselective β blockers (NSBBs) facilitate the development of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in liver cirrhosis. Considering the potential effect of NSBBs on neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), we speculated that NSBBs might promote the development of PVT by stimulating neutrophils to release NETs.

Materials And Methods: Serum NETs biomarkers were measured, use of NSBBs was recorded, and PVT was evaluated in cirrhotic patients.

Pentamethylquercetin attenuates angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm formation by blocking nuclear translocation of C/EBPβ at Lys253.

Background: Pentamethylquercetin (PMQ) is a natural polymethyl flavonoid that possesses anti-apoptotic and other biological properties. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a fatal vascular disease with a high risk of rupture, is associated with phenotypic switching and apoptosis of medial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of PMQ on the development of AAA and the underlying mechanism.

Impact of implantation depth and calcium burden on infranodal conduction delay after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Infranodal conduction disorders are common after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Risk factors are incompletely understood.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of valve implantation depth and calcium burden of the device landing zone on infranodal conduction intraprocedure pre- and post-TAVR.