Prevalence and clinical outcome of main echocardiographic and hemodynamic heart failure phenotypes in a population of hospitalized patients 70 years old and older.

Background: Heart failure (HF) echocardiographic and hemodynamic categories are poorly characterized in the elderly. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical outcomes of echocardiographic and hemodynamic HF phenotypes in a consecutive series of hospitalized patients aged ≥ 70 years.

Methods: All consecutive patients ≥ 70 years old discharged from the Internal Medicine Unit of our Hospital with a diagnosis of HF, between January and November 2020, entered this retrospective study.

Rhythm- or rate-control strategies according to 4S-AF characterization scheme and long-term outcomes in atrial fibrillation patients: the FAMo (Fibrillazione Atriale in Modena) cohort.

The 4S-AF scheme [Stroke risk, Symptom severity, Severity of atrial fibrillation (AF) burden, Substrate severity] was recently proposed to characterize AF patients. In this post hoc analysis we evaluated the agreement between the therapeutic strategy (rate or rhythm control, respectively), as suggested by the 4S-AF scheme, and the actual strategy followed in a patients cohort. Outcomes of interest were as follows: all-cause death, a composite of all-cause death/any thromboembolism/acute coronary syndrome, and a composite of all-cause death, any thrombotic/ischemic event, and major bleeding (net clinical outcome).

Antithrombotic therapy and clinical outcomes at 1 year in the Spanish cohort of the EORP-AF Long-term General Registry.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of thromboembolism. We investigate the efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy and explored the number needed to treat for net effect (NNTnet) of OAC in the Spanish cohort of the EURObservational Research Programme-AF (EORP-AF) Long-term General Registry.

Methods: The EORP-AF General Registry is a prospective, multicentre registry conducted in ESC countries, including consecutive AF patients.

Atrial High-Rate Episode Duration Thresholds and Thromboembolic Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Available evidence supports an association between atrial high-rate episode (AHRE) burden and thromboembolic risk, but the necessary extent and duration of AHREs to increase the thromboembolic risk remain to be defined. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify the thromboembolic risk associated with various AHRE thresholds. Methods and Results We searched PubMed and Scopus until January 9, 2020, for literature reporting AHRE duration and thromboembolic risk in patients with implantable electronic devices.

Analysis of the impact of sex and age on the variation in the prevalence of antinuclear autoantibodies in Polish population: a nationwide observational, cross-sectional study.

The detection of antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) is dependent on many factors and varies between the populations. The aim of the study was first to assess the prevalence of ANA in the Polish adult population depending on age, sex and the cutoff threshold used for the results obtained. Second, we estimated the occurrence of individual types of ANA-staining patterns.

The "heart brain" and neuromodulation for vasovagal syncope.

It is well known that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a major contributor in etiopathogenesis of vasovagal syncope (VVS). Catheter based neuromodulation (CNA) of the intrinsic cardiac ANS has evolved rapidly from being an experimental unproven procedure to its current status as an increasingly performed ablation procedure in many major hospitals worldwide. The present review aims to bring the anatomical elements of intrinsic cardiac ANS and clinical application of intrinsic cardiac neuromodulation together, by reviewing anatomical terminologies and clinical data, in order to provide a practical assistance to the electrophysiology community.

Oral Anticoagulation Timing in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation.

Background And Purpose: Oral anticoagulants (OACs) prevent stroke recurrence and vascular embolism in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Based on empirical consensus, current guidance recommends a "1-3-6-12 days" rule to resume OACs after AIS. This study investigated the suitability of guideline-recommended timing for OAC initiation.

Effectiveness and Safety of Dabigatran Compared to Vitamin K Antagonists in Non-Asian Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Objective: Real-life data about the use of dabigatran in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation are warranted. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness and safety of dabigatran, globally and stratified by dose (110/150 mg twice daily), vs vitamin K antagonists in non-Asian patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation from "real-world" studies.

Methods: A systematic review was performed according to Cochrane methodological standards.

Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Anticoagulants Among Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients With Active Cancer.

Background: Patients with cancer are more likely to develop nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Currently there are no definitive clinical trials or treatment guidelines for NVAF patients with concurrent cancer.

Objectives: This subgroup analysis of the ARISTOPHANES study compared the risk of stroke/systemic embolism (stroke/SE) and major bleeding (MB) among NVAF patients with active cancer who were prescribed non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) or warfarin.

Risk prediction of clinical adverse outcomes with machine learning in a cohort of critically ill patients with atrial fibrillation.

Critically ill patients affected by atrial fibrillation are at high risk of adverse events: however, the actual risk stratification models for haemorrhagic and thrombotic events are not validated in a critical care setting. With this paper we aimed to identify, adopting topological data analysis, the risk factors for therapeutic failure (in-hospital death or intensive care unit transfer), the in-hospital occurrence of stroke/TIA and major bleeding in a cohort of critically ill patients with pre-existing atrial fibrillation admitted to a stepdown unit; to engineer newer prediction models based on machine learning in the same cohort. We selected all medical patients admitted for critical illness and a history of pre-existing atrial fibrillation in the timeframe 01/01/2002-03/08/2007.

Contemporary outcomes of aortic arch hypoplasia and coarctation repair in a tertiary paediatric cardiac surgery centre.

Objectives: There are several studies reporting the outcomes of hypoplastic aortic arch and aortic coarctation repair with combination of techniques. However, only few studies reported of aortic arch and coarctation repair using a homograft patch through sternotomy and circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion. We report our experience and outcomes of this cohort of neonates and infants.

Comparing Warfarin and 4 Direct Oral Anticoagulants for the Risk of Dementia in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background And Purpose: Atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for dementia, and oral anticoagulant use is associated with a decreased risk of dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation. We aimed to investigate whether the risk of dementia would be different between patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) compared with those with warfarin.

Methods: Using the Korean nationwide claims database from January 2014 to December 2017, we identified oral anticoagulant–naive nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients aged ≥40 years.

Mortality associated with the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in cancer patients: Dabigatran versus rivaroxaban.

Objective: This study assesses the mortality outcomes of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in cancer patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Medical records of cancer patients receiving NOACs for VTE or AF between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2016, were retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Institute Research Database. NOACs were compared using the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method.

Real-world applicability and impact of early rhythm control for European patients with atrial fibrillation: a report from the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF Long-Term General Registry.

Background: Use of rate/rhythm control is essential to control symptoms in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, the EAST-AFNET 4 trial described how early rhythm control strategy was associated with a lower risk of adverse clinical outcomes.

Objectives: The aim was to evaluate the real-world applicability and impact of an early rhythm control strategy in patients with AF.

Changes in anticoagulant prescription patterns over time for patients with atrial fibrillation around the world.

Background: Prescribing patterns for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients evolved with approval of non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) over time.

Objectives: To assess changes in anticoagulant prescription patterns in various geographical regions upon first approval of a NOAC and to analyze the evolution of oral anticoagulants (OACs) use over time in relation to CHADS-VASc and HAS-BLED risk profiles.

Methods: Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation GLORIA-AF) Phases II and III reported data on antithrombotic therapy for patients with newly diagnosed AF and ≥1 stroke risk factor.

Characterization of atrial fibrillation in real-world patients: testing the 4S-AF scheme in the Spanish and French cohorts of the EORP-AF Long-Term General Registry.

Aims: The 4S-AF scheme [Stroke risk, Symptom severity, Severity of atrial fibrillation (AF) burden, Substrate severity] has recently been described as a novel approach to in-depth characterization of AF. We aim to determine if the 4S-AF scheme would be useful for AF characterization and provides prognostic information in real-world AF patients.

Methods And Results: The Spanish and French cohorts of the EORP-AF Long-Term General Registry were included.

Poor adherence to guideline-directed anticoagulation in elderly Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation: a report from the Optimal Thromboprophylaxis in Elderly Chinese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (ChiOTEAF) registry.

Aims: Adherence to guideline-directed oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) improves outcomes, but limited data are available from China. We evaluated the adherence to guideline-directed anticoagulation and its impact on clinical outcomes in a high-risk cohort of elderly Chinese patients.

Methods And Results: The Optimal Thromboprophylaxis in Elderly Chinese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (ChiOTEAF) registry is a prospective, multicentre study conducted from October 2014 to December 2018.

Serum antinuclear autoantibodies are associated with measures of oxidative stress and lifestyle factors: analysis of LIPIDOGRAM2015 and LIPIDOGEN2015 studies.

Introduction: Oxidative stress is one of many factors suspected to promote antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) formation. Reactive oxygen species can induce changes in the antigenic structure of macromolecules, causing the immune system to treat them as "neo-antigens" and start production of autoantibodies. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress markers, lifestyle factors and the detection of ANA.

Gender Disparities in Concerns of Cancer Research Participation During COVID-19 Climate.

The unprecedented threat of COVID-19 has taken its toll on the field of cancer research, with trial accrual rates seeing a sharp decline since the beginning of the pandemic. Recent evidence has suggested that decreased participation appears to be more pronounced in women than men, which raises concerns about an exacerbation of gender bias in research. The following manuscript is a commentary article to the recent study by Fox et al, who aimed at investigating the concerns of patients with regard to participating to cancer research, as well as examining potential gender disparities within their sample population.

Association between exercise habits and stroke, heart failure, and mortality in Korean patients with incident atrial fibrillation: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: There is a paucity of information about cardiovascular outcomes related to exercise habit change after a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated the association between exercise habits after a new AF diagnosis and ischemic stroke, heart failure (HF), and all-cause death.

Methods And Findings: This is a nationwide population-based cohort study using data from the Korea National Health Insurance Service.

Socioeconomic inequality in oral anticoagulation therapy initiation in patients with atrial fibrillation with high risk of stroke: a register-based observational study.

Objective: The study aimed to examine the association between socioeconomic factors (SEFs) and oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy and whether it was influenced by changing guidelines. We hypothesised that inequities in initiation of OAC reduced over time as more detailed and explicit clinical guidelines were issued.

Design: Register-based observational study.

In patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting is semi-skeletonization superior to pedicled harvesting of the left internal mammary artery?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was, 'in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting is semi-skeletonized harvesting superior to pedicled harvesting of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) in terms of conduit length, flow, rate of sternal wound infections and post-operative bleeding?'. Altogether, 235 papers were found using the reported search, of which 5 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question.