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.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in patients with borderline stenosis of the left anterior descending artery and vasospastic angina: to stent or not to stent? A case report.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a complex disease that resembles the clinical presentation of acute myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries. The aetiology remains elusive despite the comprehensive nature of current guidelines meticulously detailing the diagnostic process.

Case Summary: We present the case of a 64-year-old female who presented with a clinical profile consistent with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, confirmed by elevated cardiac enzyme levels.

Experience with transvenous lead extraction of His bundle pacing leads.

Background: Nowadays, we observe a growing interest in conduction system pacing (CSP). Therefore, we expect the number of patients with CSP to increase significantly in the coming years. However, there is a lack of large data on transvenous lead extraction (TLE) procedures of CSP leads, particularly His bundle pacing (HBP) leads in the adult population.

Heart Rate Variability and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Systematic Review.

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a well-established surgical procedure used to treat significant coronary artery disease. Nevertheless, unfavorable cardiovascular events and complications, including cardiac arrhythmias may be observed in patients after CABG. Previous studies have revealed a relationship between risk of cardiac arrhythmias and abnormal heart rate variability (HRV), which reflects adverse alterations in cardiac autonomic functioning, that may occur in patients after a CABG procedure.

Endocardial lead insulation wear in a scanning and optical microscope.

Background: The path and interaction of leads within the cardiovascular system are influenced by various factors, including the implantation technique. Furthermore, the multifaceted composition of these leads, often comprising multiple materials, can contribute to their potential degradation and wear over time.

Objectives: Our aim was to investigate the wear of lead insulation following the removal of transvenous leads and pinpoint the regions of the lead most vulnerable to damage.

Reflexive and voluntary saccadic eye movements as biomarker of Huntington's Disease.

Introduction: Subtle abnormalities in the preclinical stage of Huntington's Disease (HD) can be detected using saccadic eye movement assessment reflecting disease progression. This study was aimed to evaluate abnormalities in saccade parameters in asymptomatic carriers and symptomatic HD patients at various stages of HD.

Material And Methods: The study enrolled 104 participants, including 14 asymptomatic carriers of HTT mutations, 44 symptomatic HD patients, and 46 control subjects.

The thrombotic risk in Cushing's syndrome-questions, answers, and the algorithm to consider in its assessment: part I-thrombotic risk not related to surgery.

Introduction: Recently, it has been reported that there is a great diversity in strategies used for thromboprophylaxis in patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS). An aim of this review was to discuss these practices in light of the existing data on the thrombotic risk in patients with CS and guidelines for medically ill patients.

Methods: The four relevant topics and questions on thrombotic risk in CS were identified.

Implementation of Microcirculation Examination in Clinical Practice-Insights from the Nationwide POL-MKW Registry.

The assessment of coronary microcirculation may facilitate risk stratification and treatment adjustment. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients' clinical presentation and treatment following coronary microcirculation assessment, as well as factors associated with an abnormal coronary flow reserve (CFR) and index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) values. This retrospective analysis included 223 patients gathered from the national registry of invasive coronary microvascular testing collected between 2018 and 2023.

The Prognostic Significance of Atrial Fibrillation and Left Atrium Size in Patients with Aortic Stenosis.

Aim    Aortic stenosis increases left atrial (LA) pressure and may lead to its remodeling. This can cause supraventricular arrhythmia. The aim of this study was to determine if the size of the LA and the presence of atrial fibrillation are related to the prognosis of patients with aortic stenosis.

Twelve-Lead ECG, Holter Monitoring Parameters, and Genetic Testing in Brugada Syndrome: Insights from Analysis of Multigenerational Family with a History of Sudden Cardiac Arrest during Physical Activity.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an arrhythmogenic disorder increasing the risk of syncopal episodes and sudden cardiac death. BrS usually runs through families with reduced penetrance and variable expression. We analyzed the multigenerational family of a patient who died after sudden cardiac arrest with post-mortem diagnosis of BrS.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Cardiac Conduction Abnormalities: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Management.

Over the last decades, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or replacement (TAVR) has become a potential, widely accepted, and effective method of treating aortic stenosis in patients at moderate and high surgical risk and those disqualified from surgery. The method evolved what translates into a noticeable decrease in the incidence of complications and more beneficial clinical outcomes. However, the incidence of conduction abnormalities related to TAVI, including left bundle branch block and complete or second-degree atrioventricular block (AVB), remains high.

Cardiac microRNAs: diagnostic and therapeutic potential.

MicroRNAs are small non-coding post-translational biomolecules which, when expressed, modify their target genes. It is estimated that microRNAs regulate production of approximately 60% of all human proteins and enzymes that are responsible for major physiological processes. In cardiovascular disease pathophysiology, there are several cells that produce microRNAs, including endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, platelets, and cardiomyocytes.

Infections of cardiac implantable electronic devices: Epidemiology, mechanisms, and preventive measures.

Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections represent a complication associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite enormous efforts to prevent them, the rates of infections continue to rise out of proportion to the reported increase in CIED implantation rates. Following extensive research of various prevention strategies and new technologies, several organizations have issued recommendations and consensus papers covering this topic.

The usefulness of echo-based hemodynamic parameters in cardiac resynchronization therapy with conduction system pacing for optimal device programing.

Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) has proved to be a valuable alternative enabling the physiological activation of cardiac contraction in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). At present, however, little is known about the optimal method of programming of the His bundle-paced CRT systems in terms of achieving the best cardiac output.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy with conduction system pacing (CRT+CSP) on echo-based hemodynamic parameters in the early post-operative measurements.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Aortic Arch Emergencies: Takayasu Disease, Fibromuscular Dysplasia, and Aortic Arch Pathologies: A Retrospective Study and Review of the Literature.

Unlabelled: Non-atherosclerotic aortic arch pathologies (NA-AAPs) and anatomical variants are characterized as rare cardiovascular diseases with a low incidence rate, below 1 case per 2000 population, but enormous heterogeneity in terms of anatomical variants, i.e., Takayasu disease (TAK) and fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD).

Hemodynamic parameters of aortic valve prostheses - KRAK-AS registry analysis.

Introduction: The treatment of choice for aortic stenosis is a valve replacement. Some patients have post-procedural increased pressure gradient on the implanted prosthesis because of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM), known to adversely influence prognosis. The PPM risk should be initially predicted and effort made to avoid this complication, specifically in large body size patients.

Multiparametric Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Arrhythmias in Myocarditis.

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium with a wide range of potential etiological factors, including a variety of infectious agents (mainly viral), systemic diseases, drugs, and toxins.

Neutrophil-activating Peptide 2 as a Novel Modulator of Fibrin Clot Properties in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2, CXCL7), a platelet-derived neutrophil chemoattractant, is involved in inflammation. We investigated associations between NAP-2 levels, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation, and fibrin clot properties in atrial fibrillation (AF). We recruited 237 consecutive patients with AF (mean age, 68 ± 11 years; median CHADSVASc score of 3 [2-4]) and 30 apparently healthy controls.

Family history of stroke - a useful clue for the primary care physician and stroke neurologist: a narrative review.

Purpose: The heritability of ischemic stroke is a complex mechanism, involving the contribution of genetic traits and environmental factors, which is why in everyday practice clinicians often rely on the broad term "family history of stroke", defined as the case of any first-degree relative who has had a stroke. The aim of this review is to update the available data regarding family history of stroke in primary and secondary stroke prevention by searching the electronic Scopus database for the phrase TITLE-ABS-KEY ("family history" AND "stroke").

Views: A total of 140 articles met the pre-specified criteria and were included in the review.