Metabolic Profiling of Individuals with Missing Teeth and Tooth Loss.

Missing teeth have been linked to incident cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and all-cause mortality. Our previous study revealed that signs of oral infections and inflammatory conditions (i.e.

Intratumor heterogeneity of EGFR expression mediates targeted therapy resistance and formation of drug tolerant microenvironment.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors are commonly used to treat non-small cell lung cancers with EGFR mutations, but drug resistance often emerges. Intratumor heterogeneity is a known cause of targeted therapy resistance and is considered a major factor in treatment failure. This study identifies clones of EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung tumors expressing low levels of both wild-type and mutant EGFR protein.

Survival after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection in octogenarians.

Objective: To evaluate the benefits of surgical repair acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) on survival of octogenarians.

Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for acute ATAAD from the multicenter European Registry of Type A Aortic Dissection (ERTAAD) were the subjects of the present analysis.

Results: 326 (8.

One-year hemodynamic and clinical outcomes in self-expanding valves: Comparison of ACURATE neo2 versus ACURATE neo.

Background/purpose: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with ACURATE neo2 showed better hemodynamic outcomes by mitigating paravalvular leakage (PVL) compared with ACURATE neo, and revealed promising one-year outcomes in single-arm studies. However, studies comparing the hemodynamic and clinical outcomes of the two valves are still scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the one-year hemodynamic and clinical outcomes between the neo2 and neo.

Evaluating tumour budding could improve the new grading system for lung adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: To study the prognostic significance of tumour budding (TB) compared with the grading of lung adenocarcinoma (LAC).

Materials And Methods: The postoperative haematoxylin and eosin-stained histological slices of 207 surgically treated LAC patients were retrospectively reviewed by a lung pathologist. Two groups were formed from the cohort: the high-grade TB group (≥10 buds) and low-grade TB group (0-9 buds).

Measurement of breast artery calcification using an artificial intelligence detection model and its association with major adverse cardiovascular events.

Breast artery calcification (BAC) obtained from standard mammographic images is currently under evaluation to stratify risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in women. Measuring BAC using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, we aimed to determine the relationship between BAC and coronary artery calcification (CAC) severity with Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE). This retrospective study included women who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) within one year of mammography.

Temporal Trends of Ischemic Stroke Risk in Patients With Incident Atrial Fibrillation Before Anticoagulation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke (IS), but whether the magnitude of this risk has changed over time is unknown.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate temporal trends in IS rates in patients with incident AF before oral anticoagulant agent (OAC) therapy.

Methods: The nationwide FinACAF (Finnish Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation) study covers patients with AF at all levels of care in Finland from 2007 to 2018.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Assessment of the Risk of Sudden Death in Cardiac Sarcoidosis: What Is Extensive or Significant Late Gadolinium Enhancement?

Background: Cardiac sarcoidosis involves a significant but difficult-to-define risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Current guidelines recommend consideration of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for patients with extensive or significant myocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. However, extensive/significant LGE is not defined.

The Value of Repeat 5-HIAA Measurements as a Predictor of Carcinoid Heart Disease: A Prospective 5-Year Follow-Up Study in Patients with Small Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (SI-NETs) are characterized by carcinoid syndrome and carcinoid heart disease (CHD). The aim of the present study was to identify early risk markers for carcinoid heart disease and survival in a prospective median-term follow-up setting. We measured 5-HIAA and cumulative 5-HIAA exposure (Cum-5-HIAA) based on repeated measurements, proBNP, vascular function, hepatic tumor load, and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at baseline and during the median 5-year follow-up.

HHV-6B, HHV-7, and B19V Are Frequently Found DNA Viruses in the Human Thymus but Show No Definitive Link with Myasthenia Gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterised by muscle weakness resulting from autoantibody-mediated disruption of the neuromuscular junction. Notably, it is also frequently associated with thymic pathology. This study explores the relationship between MG and DNA viruses in the thymus, employing targeted NGS and qPCR to analyse thymic tissue samples from both MG patients and healthy controls.

How cardiac computed tomography angiography and positron emission tomography play complementary roles in a Practice's business model.

Cardiovascular imaging is fundamental and crucial for providing accurate diagnosis and guiding treatment. There are unique clinical benefits and uses of Cardiac CT as well as cardiac PET. There have been advances in cardiac PET as well as Cardiac CT which have led to novel applications.

SPARCL1 and NT-proBNP as biomarkers of right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery uncoupling in pulmonary hypertension.

Aims: SPARCL1 was recently identified as a biomarker of right ventricular (RV) maladaptation in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic protein (NT-proBNP) is an established biomarker of RV failure in PH. The present study investigated whether NT-proBNP and SPARCL1 concentrations are associated with load-independent parameters of RV function and RV-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling as measured using invasive pressure-volume (PV) loops in the RV.

Methods: SPARCL1 and NT-proBNP were measured in the plasma of patients with idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension (IPAH, n = 73).

Endomyocardial biopsy in the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis.

Aims: We set out to assess the utility of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). Historically, EMB sensitivity in CS is only ≤25%, but comprehensive analyses of its current diagnostic performance are not available.

Methods And Results: The data of 260 consecutive patients with CS (mean age 49 years, 60% female) meeting the Heart Rhythm Society diagnostic criteria were analysed retrospectively.

Management of Aorto-Right Ventricular Fistulas After TAVR.

This clinical case series reviews the diagnosis and management of aorto-right ventricular fistulas post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement, highlighting 3 cases. We emphasize early detection, individualized treatment strategies, and the role of multidisciplinary heart teams in achieving favorable outcomes. Comprehensive imaging and procedural planning are crucial for successful intervention and management of this rare complication.

Divergent trends in the incidence and mortality of acute myocardial ischaemic syndrome, especially in women. Evidence from Finland in 1996-2021.

Objective: Although the incidence and case fatality (CF) of acute myocardial ischaemic syndrome (AMIS) have declined in recent decades, some studies have suggested a potential stagnation in this decline. We examined if a similar development in AMIS trends can be observed in Finland from 1996 to 2021 among persons aged 35-74 years.

Methods: We linked Finnish country-wide Hospital Discharge- and Causes of Death- Registers covering the first non-fatal and fatal myocardial ischaemic events (total 69 906 442 person-years at risk).

The David Versus the Bentall Procedure for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

: Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) is a life-threatening condition which requires prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment. When TAAD involves the aortic root, aortic valve-sparing or Bentall procedures are the main surgical treatment options. The subjects of this analysis were 3735 patients included in the European Registry of Type A Aortic Dissection (ERTAAD).

Physician Preferences in Using Novel Digital Devices for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation-A DAS-CAM III Survey.

Aim: A recent European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) practical guide provides guidance on the use of novel digital devices for heart rhythm analysis using either electrocardiogram (ECG) or photoplethysmography (PPG) technology for the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). This survey assesses physicians' preferences to use digital devices in patients with possible AF and their impact on clinical decision-making.

Methods And Results: Participants of the DAS-CAM III initiated and distributed an online survey assessing physician preferences in using digital devices for the management of AF in different clinical scenarios.

Bone mineral density over ten years after primary parathyroidectomy in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) impairs bone mineral density and causes osteoporosis already in young patients. We aimed to investigate bone mineral density (BMD) in a contemporary cohort of patients with MEN1-related PHPT after long-term follow-up and compare these results with that of healthy controls. Thirty-five patients with genetically confirmed MEN1 were diagnosed with MEN1 at mean age 28.

Lead Integrity and Failure Evaluation in Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing (LIFE-LBBAP) Study.

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has gained increased adoption globally with the use of both lumenless leads (LLLs) and stylet-driven leads (SDLs). As these leads have been developed for conventional endocardial pacing sites, concerns remain regarding the lead integrity with LBBAP.

Objectives: This study evaluates lead integrity of pacing leads used for LBBAP in a large, real-world cohort of patients with LBBAP.

Malperfusion syndrome in patients undergoing repair for acute type A aortic dissection: Presentation, mortality, and utility of the Penn classification.

Background: The current study aims to report the presentation of the malperfusion syndrome in patients with acute type A aortic dissection admitted to surgery and its impact on mortality.

Methods: Data were retrieved from the multicenter European Registry of Type A Aortic Dissection. The Penn classification was used to categorize malperfusion syndromes.

Economic burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in Finland.

Objectives: Given that pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic hypertension (CTEPH) are rare yet severe subtypes of pulmonary hypertension significantly impacting patients' lives, this study analyzed the total societal costs of these conditions in Finland.

Methods: PAH (n = 247) and CTEPH (n = 177) patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2019 were analyzed for primary and specialty outpatient visits, emergency visits, hospitalizations, home and institutional care, sick leaves, disability pensions, and drug costs for 5 years before and after diagnosis.

Results: In PAH and CTEPH, annual specialty care number of outpatient visits increased from 3.