Mitral valve infective endocarditis as a manifestation of disseminated Cryptococcus neoformans infection: a case report.

Infective endocarditis is a disease that affects mainly the endocardial surface of the heart and cardiac valves (native or prosthetic). The main risk factors for developing infective endocarditis are male sex, older age, intracardiac shunts, prosthetic valves, rheumatic, and congenital heart disease, intracardiac devices, intravenous drugs use, immunosuppression, and hemodialysis. Streptococci and Staphylococci spp.

Use of artificial intelligence to predict outcomes in mild aortic valve stenosis.

Aims: Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common and progressive disease, which, if left untreated, results in increased morbidity and mortality. Monitoring and follow-up care can be challenging due to significant variability in disease progression. This study aimed to develop machine learning models to predict the risks of disease progression and mortality in patients with mild AS.

Early discharge programme after transcatheter aortic valve implantation based on close follow-up supported by telemonitoring using artificial intelligence: the TeleTAVI study.

Aims: Evidence regarding the safety of early discharge following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of very early (<24) and early discharge (24-48 h) as compared to standard discharge (>48 h), supported by the implementation of a voice-based virtual assistant using artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing.

Methods And Results: Single-arm prospective observational study that included consecutive patients who underwent TAVI in a tertiary hospital in 2023 and were discharged under an AI follow-up programme.

Artificial intelligence-enhanced comprehensive assessment of the aortic valve stenosis continuum in echocardiography.

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the primary modality for diagnosing aortic stenosis (AS), yet it requires skilled operators and can be resource-intensive. We developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system for evaluating AS that is effective in both resource-limited and advanced settings.

Methods: We created a dual-pathway AI system for AS evaluation using a nationwide echocardiographic dataset (developmental dataset, n = 8427): 1) a deep learning (DL)-based AS continuum assessment algorithm using limited 2D TTE videos, and 2) automating conventional AS evaluation.

Vitamin K Antagonist Use and Level of Anticoagulation Control Among Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Tanzania.

Background: Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) continue to be the principal anticoagulants for both the treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism. The use of VKA often requires regular monitoring to avoid over-anticoagulation and prevent thromboembolic complications. The aim was to determine the indication for VKA use and factors associated with suboptimal anticoagulation control among patients in northern Tanzania.

Manipulating Mechanical Forces in the Developing Zebrafish Heart Using Magnetic Beads.

Mechanical forces continuously provide feedback to heart valve morphogenetic programs. In zebrafish, cardiac valve development relies on heart contraction and physical stimuli generated by the beating heart. Intracardiac hemodynamics, driven by blood flow, emerge as fundamental information shaping the development of the embryonic heart.

Combining cardiac and renal biomarkers to establish a clinical early prediction model for cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury: a prospective observational study.

Background: Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a prevalent complication with poor outcomes, and its early prediction remains a challenging task. Currently available biomarkers for acute kidney injury (AKI) include serum cystatin C (sCysC) and urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (uNAG). Widely used biomarkers for assessing cardiac function and injury are N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI).

Incidence and Outcomes of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) often require prosthetic valve implantation, increasing their lifetime risk of developing prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of PVE in adults with CHD.

Method: Retrospective cohort study of adults with CHD and prior prosthetic valve implantation (2003-2023).

Risk factors for long-term severe tricuspid regurgitation following mitral valve replacement: a retrospective study.

Background: The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with the development of long-term severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) following mitral valve replacement (MVR).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted involving 308 patients who underwent single-valve MVR at Xuzhou Central Hospital between April 2017 and December 2022. Preoperative color Doppler ultrasound indicated that all patients had either no or mild to moderate tricuspid regurgitation.

Transcatheter closure of paravalvular leakage through multiple approaches after surgical mechanical valve replacements: A retrospective study.

Background: Transcatheter closure of percutaneous paravalvular leak (PVL) is a technically challenging procedure, especially after surgical mechanical valve replacements (SMVR), as the risk of interference with the prosthetic valve discs and the complex interventional techniques required for mitral PVL closure. Our study was designed to review the results with transcatheter closure of PVL after SMVR.

Methods: From January 2018 through December 2023, a total of 64 patients with PVL after SMVR underwent transcatheter closure with the help of preoperative 3-dimensional printing model and simulator for image evaluation.

Analysis of the haemodynamic changes caused by surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacements by means fluid-structure interaction simulations.

Aortic valve replacements, both surgical and transcatheter, are nowadays widely employed treatments. Although clinically effective, these procedures are correlated with potentially severe clinical complications which can be associated with the non-physiological haemodynamics that they establish. In this work, the fluid dynamics changes produced by surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacements are analysed and compared with an ideal healthy native valve configuration, employing advanced fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations.

Age, creatinine, and ejection fraction score is a risk factor for acute kidney injury after surgical aortic valve replacement.

Background: The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) increases after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). This study aimed to characterize the risk factors of AKI after SAVR.

Methods And Results: We conducted a retrospective registry study based on data from 299 consecutive patients undergoing SAVR.

Meta-analysis of longitudinal comparison of transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement in patients at low to intermediate surgical risk.

Background: Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the commonly used approach for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with aortic stenosis at low or intermediate surgical risk. However, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as an alternative to SAVR for AVR. This meta-analysis aims to assess the comparative efficacy and safety of TAVR versus SAVR in low-to-intermediate surgical risk patients by analyzing temporal trends in the outcomes of TAVR and SAVR at various follow-up intervals, providing a more detailed understanding.

Splenic Infarctions and Sepsis Secondary to Ceftriaxone-Associated Acute Pancreatitis: A Case of Interdisciplinary Collaboration.

The spleen plays a crucial role in filtering aging blood cells and defending against encapsulated microorganisms. While not essential for survival, splenic dysfunction can lead to severe complications, including organ failure, infection, and death. This case study examines a rare presentation of drug-induced splenic septic thrombophlebitis secondary to pancreatitis caused by an adverse reaction to ceftriaxone.

Can aortic valve calcium score predict a need for permanent pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation?

Introduction: Conductive disturbances requiring permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation remain a major concern after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Aims: To assess the impact of aortic valve calcium score (AVCS) on conductive disturbances requiring PPM after TAVI.

Methods: All patients who underwent TAVI with accessible AVCS from the preprocedural CT scan report were included in this retrospective single-centre study.

Aortic valve leaflet assessment to inform novel bioinspired materials: Understanding the impact of collagen fibres on the tissue's mechanical behaviour.

Aortic stenosis is a prevalent disease that is treated with either mechanical or bioprosthetic valve replacement devices. However, these implants can experience problems with either functionality in the case of mechanical valves or long-term durability in the case of bioprosthetic valves. To enhance next generation prosthetic valves, such as biomimetic polymeric valves, an improved understanding of the native aortic valve leaflet structure and mechanical response is required to provide much needed benchmarks for future device development.

Predicting mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement using AI-based fully automated left atrioventricular coupling index.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether artificial intelligence (AI)-based automated assessment of left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) can provide incremental value above other traditional risk factors for predicting mortality among patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing coronary CT angiography (CCTA) before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated patients with severe AS who underwent CCTA examination before TAVR between September 2014 and December 2020. An AI-prototype software fully automatically calculated left atrial and left ventricular end-diastolic volumes and LACI was defined by the ratio between them.

Recommencing anticoagulation treatment in surgically managed patients with intracerebral haemorrhage and mechanical heart valves: An Aotearoa-New Zealand analysis.

Purpose: Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is an absolute contraindication for therapeutic oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT). Re-bleeding carries significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Patients with prosthetic heart valves are at higher risk of thromboembolic complications when OAT is withheld.

Platelet Volume Parameters as Predictors of Valvular Thrombosis Risk in Patients with Aortic and Mitral Valve Replacement.

Percutaneous valve implantation or surgical replacement with mechanical or biological valves are standard therapies for severe valvular heart diseases. Prosthetic valve thrombosis, though rare, is a serious complication, particularly with mechanical prostheses. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of platelet volume parameters, including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR), for valvular thrombosis risk in patients undergoing valve replacement therapy.

Leaflet Perforation Using Cor-Knot in Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement.

A 38-year-old woman underwent minimally invasive aortic valve replacement with a 21-mm Inspiris aortic valve and Cor-Knot for type 0 bicuspid valve and severe aortic stenosis. Postoperative transthoracic echocardiography was uneventful. Four months later, she experienced shortness of breath.

Enhancing heart disease classification based on greylag goose optimization algorithm and long short-term memory.

Heart disease is a category of various conditions that affect the heart, which includes multiple diseases that influence its structure and operation. Such conditions may consist of coronary artery disease, which is characterized by the narrowing or clotting of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, with the resulting threat of heart attacks. Heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias), heart valve problems, congenital heart defects present at birth, and heart muscle disorders (cardiomyopathies) are other types of heart disease.

Clinically relevant haemolysis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with new-generation balloon-expandable valve.

Background: Valve-related haemolysis is a known complication following prosthetic valve surgery. Haemolysis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been reported in some studies, all of which were non-critical. Data related to haemolysis associated with new-generation balloon-expandable valve (BEV) are scarce.

Advancements and Challenges in the Management of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: A Review.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is the medical term used to describe a focus of infection involving a valvular substitute within the heart. It is a significant concern in the field of cardiology, and the epidemiology of PVE has seen notable developments over the last five decades. The disease currently affects an older demographic and is becoming increasingly prevalent in patients with transcatheter-implanted valves.

Histological Findings in Infective Endocarditis-A Retrospective Cohort Study Conducted at "Dr. Carol Davila" Central Military Emergency University Hospital in Bucharest.

Background: Histological findings of infective endocarditis (IEs) in mechanical valves present a complex diagnostic challenge owing to the lack of a precise definition. This ambiguity is further complicated by the natural degenerative processes that occur in the mechanical valves over time. Consequently, pathologists and clinicians face significant difficulties in distinguishing between genuine infective processes and the normal wear and tear of mechanical valves.