Naxos Disease and Related Cardio-Cutaneous Syndromes.

Naxos disease is a rare autosomal recessive condition combining arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, woolly hair, and palmoplantar keratoderma. The first identified causative variant was in the gene encoding the desmosomal protein plakoglobin. Naxos disease exhibits fibro-fatty myocardial replacement with immunohistological abnormalities in cardiac protein and signaling pathways, highlighting the role of inflammation and potential anti-inflammatory treatments.

Differentiating between immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced myocarditis and cardiac metastasis in a cardio-oncology patient presenting with myocardial infarction: A case report.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases and cancer are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Patients with malignancies are at increased risk for cardiovascular complications including acute coronary syndromes, chemotherapy or radiation therapy related complications and cardiac metastasis.

Case Summary: We present a case of a 47-year-old female with metastatic cancer on immunotherapy presented with anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction followed by emergent percutaneous coronary intervention in the left anterior descending artery.

Biomarkers associated with anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy: a systematic review.

Purpose: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most important complications that occurs after upper gastrointestinal surgery, registering rates of 20-30% after esophagectomy. The role of systemic inflammatory biomarkers to predict anastomotic leaks is controversial and needs systematization.

Methods: A systematic review based on the PRISMA guidelines criteria was performed.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and outcomes in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) commonly leads to heart failure but has traditionally been an exclusion criterion in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i); therefore, the effects of these drugs in this population remain undocumented. In light of recent studies, this meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of SGLT2i on the prognosis of patients with ATTR-CM.

Methods: A comprehensive search of Medline, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library was conducted up to November 17, 2024.

Cardiac arrest: Pre-hospital strategies to facilitate successful resuscitation and improve recovery rates.

The estimated annual incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is approximately 120 cases per 100000 inhabitants in western countries. Although the rates of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of automated external defibrillator are increasing, the likelihood of survival to hospital discharge is no more than 8%. To date, various devices and methods have been utilized in the initial CPR approach targeting to improve survival and neurological outcomes in OHCA patients.

Pulsed Field Ablation in the Elderly via a Pentaspline Multielectrode Catheter: Safety, Efficacy, and Comparison with Cryoballoon and Radiofrequency Devices.

Background: Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has emerged as a novel energy modality, which relies on high-voltage electric fields to achieve cardiac tissue ablation. Data on its efficacy in the elderly are scarce.

Translation and Adaptation of the SCOFF Questionnaire to the Greek Language (G-SCOFF) Using a Tertiary-Setting Adolescent Sample.

Background/objectives: Feeding and eating disorders (FEDs) constitute an important mental health problem today, especially among youngsters. The Sick, Control, One, Fat, Food (SCOFF) questionnaire was developed 25 years ago and remains the most frequently applied screening tool for FEDs among adults and youngsters. The aim of the present study was to translate and adapt the SCOFF questionnaire to the Greek language, using a tertiary-setting adolescent sample.

The Combinational Effect of Enhanced Infection Control Measures and Targeted Clinical Metagenomics Surveillance on the Burden of Endemic Carbapenem and Other β-Lactam Resistance Among Severely Ill Pediatric Patients.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as one of the most important global public health threats. There is an urgent need to reduce the spread of these multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR-B), particularly in extremely vulnerable patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether targeted gene amplification performed directly on clinical samples can be used simultaneously with a bundle of enhanced infection control measures in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) endemic to MDR-B.

Computed Tomography Angiography in the Catheterization Laboratory: A Guide Towards Optimizing Coronary Interventions.

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) has become an essential tool in the pre-procedural planning and optimization of coronary interventions. Its non-invasive nature allows for the detailed visualization of coronary anatomy, including plaque burden, vessel morphology, and the presence of stenosis, aiding in precise decision making for revascularization strategies. Clinicians can assess not only the extent of coronary artery disease but also the functional significance of lesions using techniques like fractional flow reserve (FFR-CT).

Intracardiac or transesophageal echocardiography for left atrial appendage occlusion: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) appears to be a potential alternative for percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Thus, a meta-analysis was performed comparing ICE vs. TEE for LAAO guidance.

Early and Late Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Prior Chest Radiation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Patients with prior history of chest or mediastinal radiation are deemed high risk for surgical AVR. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a promising alternative for these patients, however, this patient population was underrepresented in prior TAVR trials.

Aims: To compare the outcomes of TAVR in patients with versus without a history of prior chest or mediastinal radiation.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Changes in Epicardial Adipose Tissue: A Systematic Literature Review And Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have emerged as a groundbreaking class of antidiabetic medications renowned for their glucose-lowering effects and cardiovascular benefits. Recent studies have suggested that SGLT2 inhibitors may extend their influence beyond glycemic control to impact adipose tissue physiology, particularly within the epicardial adipose depot. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), an actively secretory organ surrounding the heart, has been implicated in the modulation of cardiovascular risk.

Landscape of B lymphocytes and plasma cells in digestive tract carcinomas.

Digestive tract carcinomas are the most commonly occurring cancers worldwide, but their prognosis with traditional treatments remains poor. T lymphocytes are well-recognized as crucial components of effective anti-tumor immunity, and current immunotherapeutic strategies concentrate mainly on T-cell-mediated immunity reinforcement, whereas the role of B lymphocytes and plasma cells (PCs) has been neglected in the past, and it is only recently that these cells have been considered as key players in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we describe the complex dual role of B lymphocytes and PCs in promoting and inhibiting tumor progression in the TME of digestive tract carcinomas, and we demonstrate their prognostic value.

In-depth computational analysis reveals the significant dysregulation of key gap junction proteins (GJPs) driving thoracic aortic aneurysm development.

Objective: Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) represents an aortic pathology that is caused by the deranged integrity of the three layers of the aortic wall and is related to severe morbidity and mortality. Consequently, it is crucial to identify the biomarkers implicated in the pathogenesis and biology of TAA. The aim of the current computational study was to assess the differential gene expression profile of the gap junction proteins (GJPs) in patients with TAA to identify novel potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Current and emerging bone resorption inhibitors for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a metabolic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and strength, and increased risk for fragility fractures. It is a major health issue in aging populations, due to fracture-associated increased disability and mortality. Antiresorptive treatments are first line choices in most of the cases.

Atrial Fibrosis in Atrial Fibrillation: Mechanistic Insights, Diagnostic Challenges, and Emerging Therapeutic Targets.

Atrial fibrosis is a hallmark of atrial cardiomyopathy and plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF), contributing to its onset and progression. The mechanisms underlying atrial fibrosis are multifaceted, involving stretch-induced fibroblast activation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and coagulation pathways. Variations in fibrosis types-reactive and replacement fibrosis-are influenced by patient-specific factors such as age, sex, and comorbidities, complicating therapeutic approaches.

Nighttime systolic blood pressure a major factor of retinal vascular caliber changes in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Changes in retinal vessel caliber are crucial for detecting early retinopathy, a significant cause of blindness in individuals with Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (T2DM). This study aims to evaluate the changes in retinal vessel caliber and identify factors associated with these changes in recently diagnosed T2DM patients.

Methods: The study included newly diagnosed T2DM patients (within 6 months of diagnosis) who were free of antidiabetic treatment (except metformin) and matched individuals based on age and blood pressure (BP).

Training and validating a treatment recommender with partial verification evidence.

Background: Current clinical decision support systems (DSS) are trained and validated on observational data from the clinic in which the DSS is going to be applied. This is problematic for treatments that have already been validated in a randomized clinical trial (RCT), but have not yet been introduced in any clinic. In this work, we report on a method for training and validating the DSS core before introduction to a clinic, using the RCT data themselves.

Coronary Artery Disease and Severe Aortic Stenosis: Contemporary Treatment Options for Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Approximately 50% of individuals eligible for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have coronary artery disease (CAD). The influence of CAD, both its prevalence and severity, on post-TAVI clinical results has yielded conflicting findings. Recent research has shown positive results for the use of computed tomography angiography and functional percutaneous evaluation of coronary lesions in the pre-TAVI assessment, besides the classic coronary angiography.

Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction: A Review of Current Trends in Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) has emerged as a significant concern with the rise of effective cancer treatments like anthracyclines and targeted therapies such as trastuzumab. While these therapies have improved cancer survival rates, their unintended cardiovascular side effects can lead to heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias. The pathophysiology of CTRCD involves oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and calcium dysregulation, resulting in irreversible damage to cardiomyocytes.

The Implication of NT-proBNP in the Assessment of the Clinical Phenotype of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Without Established Cardiovascular Disease.

: Natriuretic peptide (NP) levels have been proposed for characterization and risk stratification of heart failure (HF) among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, their role in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) has not been well studied and understood. The aim of this study was to assess phenotypical, functional characteristics and imaging parameters in relation to N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) values in T2DM patients without known CVD that may predispose to overt HF.

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Hypertension.

Arterial hypertension is a silent and progressive disease with deleterious vascular implications on all target organs, including the heart, the brain, the kidneys, and the eyes. Oxidative stress, defined as the overproduction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) over antioxidants, is capable of deteriorating not only the normal endothelial but also the cellular function with further cardiovascular implications. Xanthine oxidase activity, NADPH oxidase overexpression, and ROS production lead to hypertension and high arterial tone, culminating in end-organ damage.