Impact of Wood Smoke Exposure on Aortic Valve Mineralization: Microvesicles as Mineral Conveyors in Patients with Coronary Stenosis.

Aortic valve calcification results from degenerative processes associated with several pathologies. These processes are influenced by age, chronic inflammation, and high concentrations of phosphate ions in the plasma, which contribute to induce mineralization in the aortic valve and deterioration of cardiovascular health. Environmental factors, such as wood smoke that emits harmful and carcinogenic pollutants, carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxide (NO), as well as other reactive compounds may also be implicated.

Coffee: Fuel for Your Day or Foe for Your Arteries.

Atherosclerosis, a major cause of cardiovascular diseases, is influenced by modifiable factors such as adiposity and blood cholesterol. Diet is crucial in these areas, particularly regarding antioxidant, inflammatory, and obesity effects. Coffee, a globally popular stimulant beverage, has garnered significant attention for its potential impact on cardiovascular diseases.

Visceral adipose tissue mediates the relationship between left ventricular global longitudinal strain and insulin resistance among adults living with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Adipose tissue distribution plays a crucial role in the development of cardiovascular complications. In particular, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) has been linked to insulin resistance (IR) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship between VAT, cardiac dysfunction and the meditation capacity of VAT related to IR has not been fully characterized.

Cardiac Spindle Cell Sarcoma: A Challenging Presentation and Diagnosis of a Rare Malignant Primary Cardiac Tumor.

We present a case of a 72-year-old female patient with dyspnea and lipothymia. Echocardiography demonstrates an intracavitary cystic mass that fills almost all left atria causing supravalvular obstruction. The magnetic resonance image revealed a 53 × 47 × 48 mm heterogeneous mass with regular edges, tissue characterization suggested myxoma.

Recurrent Cardiac Tamponade by Pulmonary Artery Intimal Sarcoma.

A 43-year-old woman presented with dyspnea and cough, initially misdiagnosed as respiratory syncytial virus. Persistent symptoms led to pulmonary thromboembolism treatment, but worsening issues revealed recurrent pericardial effusion. Imaging and biopsy confirmed pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma, mimicking thromboembolism, and autoimmune disease, underscoring diagnostic challenges.

Prospective registry of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in México: EDIFICE-Mx.

Background And Aims: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is an increasingly common clinical syndrome, estimated to constitute approximately 50 % of all heart failure (HF) cases. Nonetheless, registries from specific geographic areas, as Latin America, are lacking. The present study aims to report the underlying causes, comorbidities, treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with HFpEF in a large cardiovascular center in Mexico City.

A prospective study of factors associated with successful maturation of arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis.

Aim: Our objective was to determine the factors associated with the successful maturation of arteriovenous fistulas during hemodialysis.

Material And Methods: This prospective study included patients treated with hemodialysis and predialysis patients. Clinical, biochemical, sociodemographic, vascular ultrasound mapping, flow-mediated dilatation, and surgical factors were analyzed.

Covered Stent Correction for Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defects, an Emerging Alternative to Surgical Repair: Results of an International Registry.

Background: Covered stent correction for a sinus venosus atrial septal defect (SVASD) was first performed in 2009. This innovative approach was initially viewed as experimental and was reserved for highly selected patients with unusual anatomic variants. In 2016, increasing numbers of procedures began to be performed, and in several centers, it is now offered as a standard of care option alongside surgical repair.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Alpha Stimulation Preserves Renal Tight Junction Components in a Rat Model of Early-Stage Diabetic Nephropathy.

Chronic hyperglycemia results in morphological and functional alterations of the kidney and microvascular damage, leading to diabetic nephropathy (DN). Since DN progresses to irreversible renal damage, it is important to elucidate a pharmacological strategy aimed for treating DN in the early stage. Here, we used the type 2 diabetic rat model to induce DN and show a nephroprotective effect following the stimulation of PPAR-α, which stabilized renal tight junction components claudin-2, claudin-5, and claudin-16.

Discussing male sexual and reproductive health in the rheumatology outpatient clinic: a Q-methodology study.

Objectives: Inflammatory arthritis (IA) has been associated with various problems related to male sexual and reproductive health (SRH). However, addressing these issues in the clinic remains a challenge. In this study, we aimed to describe the viewpoints of rheumatologists and male patients with IA regarding the aspects that influence their communication about SRH.

Instituto y no hospital. La distintiva organización que Ignacio Chávez concibió para combatir integralmente a las enfermedades del corazón en México. En el octogésimo aniversario del Instituto Nacional de Cardiología.

In 1936, Ignacio Chávez submitted a proposal to the Mexican government for the creation of a cardiology institute. He had studied in Paris, Berlin, and other European cities in 1926. Upon his return to Mexico, he founded the Cardiology Service at the General Hospital in Mexico City, the first of its kind in the country.

A randomized trial of antithrombotic therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome and coronary ectasia.

Background: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) of the culprit infarct artery is a rare finding in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). While anticoagulants have been suggested to reduce recurrent events, the optimal antithrombotic therapy remains unclear.

Methods: OVER-TIME was an open label, exploratory, randomized controlled trial comparing dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT; acetyl-salicylic-acid 100mg plus clopidogrel 75mg daily) versus single antiplatelet (SAPT, clopidogrel 75mg) plus DOAC (rivaroxaban 15mg) in patients with ACS and CAE.

Left atrial function during exercise stress echocardiography as a sign of paroxysmal/persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objective: Atrial cardiomyopathy is closely associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), and some patients exhibit no dysfunction at rest but demonstrate evident changes in left atrial (LA) function and LA volume during exercise. This study aimed to identify distinguishing signs during exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) among patients in sinus rhythm (SR), with and without history of paroxysmal/persistent AF (PAF).

Methods: A prospective cohort of 1055 patients in SR was enrolled across 12 centers.

Danon Disease in a 14-Year-Old: An Exclusively Cardiac Phenotype.

This paper presents the case of a 14-year-old boy with Danon disease exhibiting exclusive cardiac involvement, initially suspected as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Significant deterioration raised suspicion of an alternative etiology. A clinical exome revealed a previously unreported likely pathogenic variant, :c.

Efficacy of a pain neuroscience educational program in improving executive function and pain intensity in fibromyalgia patients (Fibrobrain project): Study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic musculoskeletal condition typically characterized by chronic pain, sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, and cognitive problems. The present study aims to examine the efficacy of a pain neuroscience education program (PNE) in improving executive functions and pain intensity in patients with FM and compare them with those of standard treatment protocols.

Methods: This blinded, controlled clinical trial will compare changes in executive function and pain intensity between two groups.

N-acetylcysteine in Kidney Disease: Molecular Mechanisms, Pharmacokinetics, and Clinical Effectiveness.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has shown beneficial effects in both acute kidney disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in preclinical and clinical studies. Different dosage and administration forms of NAC have specific pharmacokinetic properties that determine the temporal pattern of plasma concentrations of NAC and its active metabolites. Especially in acute situations with short-term NAC administration, appropriate NAC and glutathione (GSH) plasma concentrations should be timely ensured.

Predictors of hypercontractile heart phenotype in patients with chronic coronary syndromes or heart failure.

Hypercontractile phenotype (HP) of the left ventricle (LV) is an actionable therapeutic target in patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) or heart failure (HF), but its clinical recognition remains difficult. To assess the clinical variables associated with the HP. In a prospective, observational, multicenter study, we recruited 5122 patients (age 65 ± 11 years, 2974 males, 58%) with CCS and/or HF with preserved ejection fraction (EF).