Real-World Data from the Use of Ranolazine in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris: The RANGER Study.

: Although ranolazine has been available for years as a second-line treatment to reduce angina attacks in patients with stable angina pectoris, real-world data on the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of ranolazine are limited. : A non-interventional, prospective study was conducted to assess the effectiveness and safety of ranolazine. Patients eligible for enrolment had a baseline assessment between one and fourteen days after initiating ranolazine for the first time and a follow-up visit three months later.

Visualization of the recurrent laryngeal nerve alone versus intraoperative nerve monitoring in primary thyroidectomy: a framework approach to a missing typology.

Introduction: Surgical studies evaluating a device or technology in comparison to an established surgical technique should accurately report all the important components of the surgical technique in order to reduce the risk of intervention bias. In the debate of visualization of the recurrent laryngeal nerve alone (VONA) versus intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) during thyroidectomy, surgical technique plays a key role in both strategies. Our aim was to investigate whether the surgical technique was considered as a risk of intervention bias by relevant meta-analyses and reviews and if steps of surgical intervention were described in their included studies.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors as a novel therapeutic approach for pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.

Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications (e.g., acetylation and deacetylation), are strongly implicated in the carcinogenesis of various malignancies.

Pathophysiological alterations of left ventricular myocardial systolic function during normal pregnancy assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography: a prospective cohort echocardiography study.

Purpose: By using conventional echocardiographic indices, cardiac pumping function remains unaltered during pregnancy. However, two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) can detect subclinical changes of myocardial function even in patients with normal and stable left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).The aim of this study was to evaluate LV systolic performance during normal low risk pregnancy by using both conventional 2D and 3D echo indices and 2D-STE.

Incidence and causal association of functional atrial mitral regurgitation in HFpEF.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is as common as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Atrial fibrillation (AF), as well as the presence of mitral regurgitation (MR), is highly prevalent in these patients. Atrial functional MR (AFMR) is a type of functional MR characterized by severe left atrial dilatation and remodeling with normal left ventricular (LV) dimensions and function.

Headache onset after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Background: Vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are used to reduce the risk of developing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite the significant benefits in terms of reduced risk of hospitalization and death, different adverse events may present after vaccination: among them, headache is one of the most common, but nowadays there is no summary presentation of its incidence and no description of its main features.

Methods: We searched PubMed and EMBASE covering the period between January 1 2020 and August 6, 2021, looking for record in English and with an abstract and using three main search terms (with specific variations): COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2; Vaccination; headache/adverse events.

Biventricular myocardial function in Covid-19 recovered patients assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography: a prospective cohort echocardiography study.

Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes respiratory disease, it may also lead to cardiovascular involvement with unknown long-term consequences. The aim of our study was to evaluate prospectively cardiac involvement in patients after the recovery from Covid-19, using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. 100 Covid-19 recovered patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, were included, divided based upon clinical manifestation into two groups, those who were treated ambulant and those who were hospitalized.

In vivo correlation between morphological characteristics of coronary plaques and functional characteristics of carotid arteries in acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Carotid artery temperature heterogeneity (ΔΤ) measured by microwave radiometry (MWR) has been associated with future cardiovascular events including acute coronary syndromes. The vulnerable plaques of the coronary arterial tree, that can be ideally depicted by intracoronary imaging such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) have anatomical characteristics such as the thin fibrous cap (TCFA), that make them vulnerable to rupture. The scope of the study was to assess the implication of the carotid artery temperature heterogeneity on the culprit coronary plaque morphology in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.

Comorbidities of primary headache disorders: a literature review with meta-analysis.

Background: Primary headache disorders are common and burdensome conditions. They are associated to several comorbidities, such as cardiovascular or psychiatric ones, which, in turn, contribute to the global burden of headache. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive description of the pooled prevalence of comorbidities of primary headache disorders using a meta-analytical approach based on studies published between 2000 and 2020.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum and COVID-19 pneumonia: Report of three cases with emphasis on CT imaging.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of coronavirus disease 2019. The published literature consists mainly of case reports and small case series. There are still many questions regarding the pathogenesis, the prognostic significance and the implications on patient management.

Segmentally impaired left ventricular longitudinal strain: a new predictive diagnostic parameter for asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis and preserved ejection fraction.

Introduction: This study aims to investigate the correlation between severe aortic stenosis (sAS) and impairment of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) in particular segments, using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with sAS and normal ejection fraction of left ventricle (LVEF).

Methods: The study included 53 consecutive patients with asymptomatic sAS and preserved LVEF. The regional longitudinal systolic LV wall strain was evaluated at the area opposite of the aorta as the median strain value of the basal, middle, and apical segments of the lateral and posterior walls and was compared to the average strain value of the interventricular septum (IVS) at the same views.

Evolution of epidemiological characteristics of infective endocarditis in Greece.

Objective: The clinical profile, management and outcome of infective endocarditis (IE) may be influenced by socioeconomic issues.

Methods: A nationwide prospective study evaluated IE during the era of deep economic crisis in Greece. Epidemiological data and factors associated with 60-day mortality were analyzed through descriptive statistics, logistic and Cox-regression models.

Left ventricular ejection fraction and Global Longitudinal Strain variability between methodology and experience.

Introduction: Although ejection fraction (EF) is the cornerstone of the assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function, its measurement faces a number of challenges related to image quality, assumptions of LV geometry, and expertise. The aim of this study was to test the inter-observer variability of EF and GLS measurement in patients with a broad spectrum of LV function, between physicians and investigators (Inv) with different levels of expertise.

Methods: In 122 patients, EF and GLS were measured by 4 Inv blinded to each other with different level of experience in echocardiography; EF was measured using 3 methods: visual assessment, biplane Simpson's method, and auto-EF method.

Modern radiopharmaceuticals for lung cancer imaging with positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan: A systematic review.

Introduction: In this study, we evaluated the use and the contribution of radiopharmaceuticals to the field of lung neoplasms imaging using positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

Methods: We conducted review of the current literature at PubMed/MEDLINE until February 2020. The search language was English.

De-escalation of antimicrobial therapy in ICU settings with high prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria: a multicentre prospective observational cohort study in patients with sepsis or septic shock.

Background: De-escalation of empirical antimicrobial therapy, a key component of antibiotic stewardship, is considered difficult in ICUs with high rates of antimicrobial resistance.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility and the impact of antimicrobial de-escalation in ICUs with high rates of antimicrobial resistance.

Methods: Multicentre, prospective, observational study in septic patients with documented infections.

Demographic and clinical features of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in Greece: The burden of diabetes and obesity.

Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between type-2 diabetes mellitus, other underlying diseases and obesity with the outcomes of critically ill Covid-19 patients in Greece.

Methods: In this retrospective observational multi-centre study, data and outcomes of 90 RNA 2109-nCoV confirmed critically ill patients from 8 hospitals throughout Greece, were analysed. All reported information stand through April 13th 2020.

Detection in two hospitals of transferable ceftazidime-avibactam resistance in due to a novel VEB β-lactamase variant with a Lys234Arg substitution, Greece, 2019.

Two ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI)-resistant carbapenemase (KPC)-positive strains, including one pandrug resistant, were isolated in 2019 from two Greek hospitals. The strains were sequence types (ST)s 258 and 147 and both harboured similar self-transmissible IncA/C2 plasmids encoding a novel Lys234Arg variant of the Vietnamese extended-spectrum β-lactamase (VEB)-1, not inhibited by AVI (VEB-25). Conjugal transfer of VEB-25-encoding plasmids to yielded CAZ-AVI-resistant clones, supporting that VEB-25 is directly linked to the derived phenotype.

Longitudinal changes of right ventricular deformation mechanics during trastuzumab therapy in breast cancer patients.

Background: Trastuzumab improves dramatically the prognosis of HER2-positive breast cancer patients, but it may lead to cardiotoxicity with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Its effects on right ventricular (RV) function have not however been elucidated. We sought to assess LV and RV deformation mechanics during treatment with trastuzumab in breast cancer patients.

Beneficial Effects of Vaccination on Cardiovascular Events: Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, Heart Failure.

Influenza and pneumococcal infections have been suggested to be potential risk factors for causing adverse cardiovascular events, especially in high-risk patients. Vaccination against respiratory infections in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) could serve as a potential cost-effective intervention to improve their clinical outcomes and cardiac societies have encouraged it. Previous studies have shown that influenza vaccination reduce mortality, acute coronary syndromes and hospitalization in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and/or heart failure (HF).

Cardio-oncology: a new and developing sector of research and therapy in the field of cardiology.

Cardio-oncology is a new field of interest in cardiology that focuses on the detection, monitoring, and treatment of cardiovascular disease occurring as a side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Both cancer treatment modalities can cause cardiac dysfunction, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the oncologic population. It is necessary to periodically monitor cancer patients under treatment, especially those receiving anthracyclines and trastuzumab (monoclonal antibody), using mainly 3D echocardiography to calculate left ventricular ejection fraction and to estimate myocardial deformation.

Subclinical left ventricular dysfunction and correlation with regional strain analysis in myocarditis with normal ejection fraction. A new diagnostic criterion.

Background: The diagnosis of myocarditis is challenging, especially in case of normal left ventricular systolic function. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) can detect subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with myocarditis and preserved LV function without regional wall motion abnormalities and that regional strain analysis can correlate with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings.

Methods: Study population consisted of 25 consecutive patients with myocarditis and 19 controls.