Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy and Survival After TEER for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation With Right Ventricular Impairment.

Background: Right ventricular impairment is common among patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR). Adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure is poor in these patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of GDMT on long-term survival in this patient cohort.

Impaired Intracellular Calcium Buffering Contributes to the Arrhythmogenic Substrate in Atrial Myocytes From Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Alterations in the buffering of intracellular Ca, for which myofilament proteins play a key role, have been shown to promote cardiac arrhythmia. It is interesting that although studies report atrial myofibrillar degradation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (persAF), the intracellular Ca buffering profile in persAF remains obscure. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the intracellular buffering of Ca and its potential arrhythmogenic role in persAF.

Usability and accuracy of two different aortic annulus sizing software programs in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Semi-automated software is essential for planning and prosthesis selection prior transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Reliable data on the usability of software programs for planning a TAVR is missing. The aim of this study was to compare software programs 'Valve Assist 2' (GE Healthcare) and 3mensio 'Structural Heart' (Pie Medical Imaging) regarding usability and accuracy of prosthesis size selection in program-inexperienced users.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admission rates for arterial hypertension and coronary heart disease: a German database study.

Background: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic it was speculated that the virus might be associated with a persistent increase of cardiovascular risk. The present study compares pre- and post-pandemic hospital admission rates for hypertension and coronary artery disease.

Methods: Systematic multicentric retrospective cohort analysis of 57.

Associations of meeting 24-hour movement behavior guidelines with social and emotional function in youth with ASD/ADHD.

Background: The 24-hour movement behavior (24-HMB) guidelines recommend that children and adolescents (youth) should limit screen time (ST), get an adequate amount of sleep (SL), and engage in sufficient physical activity (PA) to ensure health and healthy development. Meeting 24-HMB guidelines is associated with positive mental health outcomes (e.g.

Female Surgeons in Cardiac Surgery: Does the Surgeon's Gender Affect the Outcome of Routine Coronary Artery Bypass Graft and Isolated Aortic Valve Surgery?

Background:  The increasing presence of female doctors in the field of cardiac surgery has raised questions about their surgical quality compared to their male colleagues. Despite their success, female surgeons are still underrepresented in leadership positions, and biases and concerns regarding their performance persist. This study aims to examine whether female surgeons perform worse, equally well, or better than their male counterparts in commonly performed procedures that have a significant number of female patients.

Palpitations in puerperium-a self-recorded smart watch ECG gives the hint to hormone-induced ventricular arrhythmia: case report.

Background: Gender-related aspects in cardiac arrhythmias have gained increasing attention, still the understanding of peripartum electrical disorders remains vague.

Case Summary: A 28-year-old woman developed palpitations and presyncopes during the post-partum period after her second pregnancy. Palpitations remained unclear until a self-recorded single-lead smartwatch ECG revealed a complete episode of a fast broad complex tachycardia (260 b.

Partial versus Complete Sternotomy for Aortic Valve Replacement-Multicenter Study.

Background:  The benefits of minimally invasive techniques in cardiac surgery remain poorly defined. We evaluated the short- and mid-term outcomes after surgical aortic valve replacement through partial upper versus complete median sternotomy (MS) in a large, German multicenter cohort.

Methods:  A total of 2,929 patients underwent isolated surgical aortic valve replacement via partial upper sternotomy (PUS,  = 1,764) or MS ( = 1,165) at nine participating heart centers between 2016 and 2020.

Cluster analysis of volatile organic compounds - A pilot study in patients with severe acute decompensated heart failure.

Introduction: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a global health problem and early detection of high-risk patients for effective treatment is important. Exhaled breath analysis and measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may be a fast and cost-effective non-invasive diagnostic and screening tool complementing measurement of cardiac biomarkers. Another technique to detect and characterize VOCs is the ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) not requiring vacuum or sample pretreatment.

Impact of atrial fibrillation on 1-year outcome in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator: results from the German DEVICE Registry.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a cardiac arrhythmia frequently documented in patients requiring implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and/or cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D). Patients with diagnosed AF at the point of ICD or CRT-D implantation may have an impaired follow-up outcome.

Methods: The German DEVICE I-II registry is a nationwide prospective multicentre database of patients implanted with ICD and CRT-D with clinical follow-up data.

The Doppler Perfusion Index of the Liver and the Underlying Duplex Sonography of Visceral Vessels-A Systematic and Comprehensive Evaluation of Reproducibility.

Prior to the curative resection of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the exclusion of hepatic metastasis using cross-sectional imaging is mandatory. The Doppler perfusion index (DPI) of the liver is a promising method for detecting occult liver metastases, but the underlying visceral duplex sonography is critically viewed in terms of its reproducibility. The aim of this study was to investigate systematically the reproducibility of the measured variables, the calculated blood flow, and the DPI.

Paradox of disproportionate atrial functional mitral regurgitation and survival after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

Aims: This study aims to assess the applicability of the mitral regurgitation (MR) proportionality concept in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (aFMR) treated with transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER). We hypothesized that patients with disproportionate MR (higher MR relative to left ventricular size) would exhibit different outcomes compared to those with proportionate MR, despite undergoing M-TEER.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively analysed 98 patients with aFMR from the EuroSMR registry who underwent M-TEER between 2008 and 2019.

Mitral Valve Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: 1-Year Outcomes From the MiCLASP Study.

Background: Mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) is a guideline-recommended treatment option for patients with severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR). Outcomes with the PASCAL system in a post-market setting have not been established.

Objectives: The authors report 30-day and 1-year outcomes from the MiCLASP (Transcatheter Repair of Mitral Regurgitation with Edwards PASCAL Transcatheter Valve Repair System) European post-market clinical follow-up study.

Longer and better lives for patients with atrial fibrillation: the 9th AFNET/EHRA consensus conference.

Aims: Recent trial data demonstrate beneficial effects of active rhythm management in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and support the concept that a low arrhythmia burden is associated with a low risk of AF-related complications. The aim of this document is to summarize the key outcomes of the 9th AFNET/EHRA Consensus Conference of the Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA).

Methods And Results: Eighty-three international experts met in Münster for 2 days in September 2023.

Left atrial low-voltage areas, but not volume, predict the recurrence of atrial fibrillation in repeat ablation procedures.

Introduction: Left atrial (LA) low voltage areas (LVA) are a controversial target in atrial fibrillation ablation procedures. However, LVA and LA volume are good predictors of arrhythmia recurrence in ablation-naïve patients. Their predictive value in progressively diseased pre-ablated atria is uncertain.

3D Super-Resolution Nuclear Q-FISH Imaging Reveals Cell-Cycle-Related Telomere Changes.

We present novel workflows for Q-FISH nanoscopy with the potential for prognostic applications and resolving novel chromatin compaction changes. DNA-fluorescence in situ hybridization (DNA-FISH) is a routine application to visualize telomeres, repetitive terminal DNA sequences, in cells and tissues. Telomere attrition is associated with inherited and acquired diseases, including cancer and cardiomyopathies, and is frequently analyzed by quantitative (Q)-FISH microscopy.

Associations of meeting 24-hour movement behavior guidelines with prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses among children and adolescents.

Background: Vision health is crucial for many aspects of life especially in developing populations such as children and adolescents. However, there is a high proportion of children and adolescents who suffer from visual impairments. Notably, accumulating evidence indicates that meeting the 24-hour movement behaviors (24-HMB) guidelines is associated with positive physical and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents.

Outcome and microbiological findings of patients with cardiac implantable electronic device infection.

Introduction: Infections associated with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are a multifactorial disease that leads to increased morbidity and mortality.

Objective: The aim was to analyze patient-, disease- and treatment-related characteristics including microbiological and bacterial spectrum according to survival status and to identify risk factors for 1- and 3-year mortality in patients with local and systemic CIED infection.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from patients with CIED-related local or systemic infection undergoing successful transvenous lead extraction (TLE).

ECFS standards of care on CFTR-related disorders: Identification and care of the disorders.

This is the third paper in the series providing updated information and recommendations for people with cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-related disorder (CFTR-RD). This paper covers the individual disorders, including the established conditions - congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD), diffuse bronchiectasis and chronic or acute recurrent pancreatitis - and also other conditions which might be considered a CFTR-RD, including allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, chronic rhinosinusitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and aquagenic wrinkling. The CFTR functional and genetic evidence in support of the condition being a CFTR-RD are discussed and guidance for reaching the diagnosis, including alternative conditions to consider and management recommendations, is provided.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: one year in review 2023.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are a group of rare, autoimmune, diseases typically involving striate muscle and also variously affecting several other systems or organs, such as joints, skin, lungs, heart and gastrointestinal tract. IIM are mainly characterised by subacute onset and chronic course and are burdened by significant morbidity and mortality. Despite the rarity of these conditions, several efforts have been undertaken in the last years to better understand their pathogenesis, as well as to achieve a more precise classification and to define the optimal therapeutic approach.