Peri-Procedural Management of Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) in Transcatheter Miniaturized Leadless Pacemaker Implantation.

Introduction: Data on peri-operative management of direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) during transcatheter pacing leadless system (TPS) implantations remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate a standardized DOAC management regime consisting of interruption of a single dose prior to implantation and reinitiation within 6-24 h; also, patient clinical characteristics associated with this approach were identified.

Method: Consecutive patients undergoing standard TPS implantation procedures from two Swiss tertiary centers were included.

The Central Nervous System and Psychosocial Factors in Primary Microvascular Angina.

Patients diagnosed with ischemia without obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) comprise the group of patients with primary microvascular angina (MVA). The pathophysiology underlying ischemia and angina is multifaceted. Differences in vascular tone, collateralization, environmental and psychosocial factors, pain thresholds, and cardiac innervation seem to contribute to clinical manifestations.

Prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health in a community-based population - results from the Swiss Longitudinal Cohort Study (SWICOS).

Aims Of The Study: The American Heart Association (AHA) developed a concept to measure cardiovascular health in populations. We aimed to analyse participants in the Swiss Longitudinal Cohort Study (SWICOS) according to the AHA concept.

Methods: We analysed cardiovascular health according to the AHA concept in all 474 participants of the prospective, population-based SWICOS study who were 18 years or older.

Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes After Revascularization in Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia: Results From a Prospective National Cohort Study (RIVALUTANDO).

We evaluated the outcomes of revascularization in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) treated in real-world settings. This is a prospective multicenter cohort study with 12-month follow-up enrolling patients (n = 287) with CLTI undergoing open, endovascular, or hybrid lower extremity revascularization. The primary end point was amputation-free survival (AFS) at 12 months.

Role of the central autonomic nervous system intrinsic functional organisation and psychosocial factors in primary microvascular angina and Takotsubo syndrome.

Introduction And Objective: Dysfunctional central autonomic nervous system network (CAN) at rest may result in aberrant autonomic responses to psychosocial stressors. We hypothesised that patients with primary microvascular angina (MVA) or Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) would exhibit a peculiar functional organisation of the CAN, potentially associated with psychological patterns.

Methods: Patients underwent a psychosocial evaluation: a clinical diagnostic interview, Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory form Y and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36).

Intractable coronary fibromuscular dysplasia leading to end-stage heart failure and fatal heart transplantation.

Coronary fibromuscular dysplasia is uncommon, and even rarer its unstable and recurrent course. We present the unique case of a 52-year-old woman who underwent in total 12 coronary angiographies and three percutaneous coronary intervention within 24 months because of repetitive acute coronary syndromes due to refractory spasm, dissection, restenosis all leading to end-stage heart failure, and heart transplantation. The patient died 12 days after the heart transplantation complicated by intraoperative acute thrombotic occlusion of left anterior descending artery of the graft despite normal pretransplant coronary angiography.

Imaging of Carotid Plaque Neovascularization by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: Carotid plaque neovascularization (vasa vasorum [VV]) may be useful for detecting high-risk atherosclerotic plaques. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) are 2 commonly used techniques for imaging VV of the carotid plaque, yet the relationship between their measurements remains unknown.

Objectives: We aimed to blindly evaluate the correlation between CEUS and DCE-MRI in measuring carotid plaque VV.

Data on consistency among different methods to assess atherosclerotic plaque echogenicity on standard ultrasound and intraplaque neovascularization on contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging in human carotid artery.

Here we provide the correlation among different carotid ultrasound (US) variables to assess echogenicity n standard carotid US and to assess intraplaque neovascularization on contrast enhanced US. We recruited 45 consecutive subjects with an asymptomatic≥50% carotid artery stenosis. Carotid plaque echogenicity at standard US was visually graded according to Gray-Weale classification (GW) and measured by the greyscale median (GSM), a semi-automated computerized measurement performed by Adobe Photoshop.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of intraplaque neovascularization and its correlation to plaque echogenicity in human carotid arteries atherosclerosis.

Background: Currently the most widely accepted predictor of stroke risk in patients with carotid atherosclerosis is the degree of stenoses. Plaque echogenicity on ultrasound imaging (US) and intraplaque neovascularization (IPNV) are becoming recognized as factors of plaque vulnerability. Aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the echogenicity of the carotid atherosclerosis by standard US and the degree of IPNV by contrast enhanced US (CEUS).

Contrast arthrography in symptomatic varus knees.

The authors carried out a study of contrast arthrography in 48 cases of primary genu varum, i.e. not secondary to trauma or to pathological conditions of the hip or foot.