Diagnosis of Acute Myocarditis Following mRNA Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2: A Methodological Review.

The occurrence of acute myocarditis following the administration of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 remains relatively rare, and it is associated with a very low mortality rate. The incidence varied by vaccine type, sex, and age and after the first, second, or third vaccination dose. However, the diagnosis of this condition often remains challenging.

The usefulness of QRS Index for prediction of echocardiographic response in cardiac resynchronization therapy: a multicenter study.

Background: The association between QRS narrowing and response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been investigated by several studies, but their findings remain inconclusive. Aim of our study was to explore the relationship between QRS Index and echocardiographic response to CRT.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective analysis included 326 consecutive patients (mean age was 70.

Prevalence and Prognostic Implications of Moderate or Severe Mitral Regurgitation in Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve.

Background: Significant (moderate or greater) mitral regurgitation (MR) could augment the hemodynamic effects of aortic valvular disease in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), imposing a greater hemodynamic burden on the left ventricle and atrium, possibly culminating in a faster onset of left ventricular dilation and/or symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and prognostic implications of significant MR in patients with BAV.

Methods: In this large, multicenter, international registry, a total of 2,932 patients (mean age, 48 ± 18 years; 71% men) with BAV were identified.

Electrocardiographic predictors of echocardiographic response in cardiac resynchronization therapy: Update of an old story.

Background: A better selection of patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) might increase the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the Strauss criteria, absence of S wave in V-V the Selvester score and response to CRT.

Methods And Results: The retrospective analysis included all consecutive patients having undergone implantation of biventricular defibrillators in primary prevention between 2018 and 2020.

Takotsubo Syndrome during COVID-19 Pandemic in the Veneto Region, Italy.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the public health measures of social distancing, the freedom limitations, quarantine, and the enforced homeworking under the lockdown period, as well as medical causes including COVID-19 infection per se, may have caused major emotional distress, especially in the most vulnerable patients. We aimed to evaluate the variations in the number of admissions due to Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Veneto region. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the number of admissions because of TTS in 13 Divisions of Cardiology located in the Veneto region, the northeastern area of Italy, covering a population of more than 2.

Mexiletine for recurrent ventricular tachycardia in adult patients with structural heart disease and implantable cardioverter defibrillator: an EHRA systematic review.

The aim of the study was to systematically review evidence on the effectiveness and safety of oral mexiletine administered in monotherapy or in combination with other antiarrhythmic drugs for recurrent ventricular arrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, VT/VF) in adult patients with structural heart disease (SHD) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases from inception to 27 August 2021 for prospective and retrospective studies investigating mexiletine in the target population. The main outcome was the reduction of ICD therapy.

Prevalence of pre-existing peripheral artery disease in COVID-19 patients and relative mortality risk: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: This study aims to assess prevalence and prognostic implications of pre-existing peripheral artery disease (PAD) in patients infected by the SARS-CoV-2 by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Material And Methods: We searched MEDLINE and Scopus to locate all the articles published up to 10 December 2021, reporting data on pre-existing PAD among COVID-19 survivors (S) and non survivors (NS). The pooled prevalence of pre-existing PAD in COVID-19 patients was calculated using a random effects model and presenting the related 95% confidence interval (CI), while the mortality risk was estimated using the Mantel-Haenszel random effects models with odds ratio (OR) and related 95% CI.

Bempedoic Acid: A New Tool for LDL-Cholesterol Control in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Nowdays a small proportion of patients with high/very high/extreme atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk achieves the optimal target of LDL-cholesterol, because of drug intolerance, poor adherence to the therapy, or inapplicability of the stepwise strategy in lipid lowering therapy, recommended by the current guidelines. The new oral agent bempedoic acid lowers plasma LDL-cholesterol by inhibiting adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of cholesterol, and, ultimately, by up-regulating the LDL receptors. Several clinical trials in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia demonstrated that bempedoic acid alone or combined with statins and/or ezetimibe significantly reduced LDL-cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.

Prognostic Role of Metabolic Syndrome in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review Meta-Analysis.

Background: The prevalence and prognostic implications of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients infected by the SARS-CoV-2 remain unclear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and mortality risk in COVID-19 patients with MetS.

Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed in abstracting data and assessing validity.

Left Atrial Pressure as a Predictor of Success in Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in a Real-Life Cohort.

Aims: The clinical role of the left atrial (LA) hypertension in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and its role as predictor in those undergoing pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to analyze the role of LA pressure in patients with nonvalvular AF who underwent PV isolation and its implication for AF catheter ablation.

Methods: Consecutive patients with drug resistant AF who underwent PV isolation at San Maurizio Regional Hospital of Bolzano (Italy) as index procedure were included in this analysis.

Team working in the modern medicine: The paradigm of electrophysiology.

In modern Medicine, team working has become crucial to guarantee favorable outcomes in most therapeutical procedures. Electrophysiology (EP) represents an exemplary paradigm of it. Herein, the role of the EP staff members and the importance of cooperation before, during and after the procedure is highlighted.

Effects and clinical implications of sacubitril/valsartan on left ventricular reverse remodeling in patients affected by chronic heart failure: A 24-month follow-up.

Background: Compared to angiotensin inhibition, angiotensin-neprilysin "blockade" improves mortality and reduces hospitalizations in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF). Sacubitril/valsartan is known to influence left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling with systolic function improvement, although underlying mechanisms remain partially unclear. Our objectives were to evaluate whether sacubitril/valsartan promotes LV remodeling and improves LV ejection fraction (LVEF) (above the 35% threshold by echocardiographic evaluation) and to identify predictors of reverse remodeling in a real-world setting.

Heart failure as a complication of COVID-19 infection: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background/objectives: The prevalence and prognostic implications of heart failure (HF), as a complication of COVID-19 infection remains unclear. We performed a systematic review and metanalysis aimed to evaluate the pooled incidence of acute HF as a cardiac complication of COVID-19 disease and to estimate the related mortality risk in these patients.

Methods: Data were obtained searching MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science for all investigations published any time to 26 December 2020.

Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices in hemodialysis patients: an updated review.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading life-threatening complications in hemodialysis patients. In this scenario, both tachy-arrhythmias and brady-arrhythmias are involved with related hemodialysis and nonhemodialysis-dependent mechanisms; moreover, those arrhythmias usually occur in different time intervals before sudden cardiac death (SCD). Furthermore, current evidence shows that the presence of advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) reduces the benefits of implantable cardioverter--defibrillators (ICDs), which increases the risk of both arrhythmic and nonarrhythmic death, especially in patients with advanced stages of heart failure.

Mexiletine for ventricular arrhythmias in patients with chronic coronary syndrome: a cohort study.

Background: The pharmacological therapy of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with unsuccessful or not feasible catheter ablation and contraindication or inefficacy to amiodarone and beta-blockers, is controversial. The present study investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of mexiletine in patients with recurrent ventricular arrhythmias and ischaemic heart disease, when the conventional antiarrhythmic therapy failed.

Methods: We enrolled all consecutive patients with unsuccessful/not feasible catheter ablation and ineffective/contraindicated amiodarone or beta-blockers, which started the mexiletine treatment for refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) between January 2010 and January 2020.

Giant Negative T-Waves as Cardiac Memory Phenomenon Following Ablation of Right-Sided Posteroseptal Accessory Pathway.

We present a paradigmatic example of "cardiac memory," characterized by deep, giant, and negative T-waves in the inferior leads, after a successful ablation of a right-sided posteroseptal accessory pathway.

Pooled prevalence of three major cardiovascular risk factors in patients undergoing left main bifurcation stenting: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Prevalence of the major risk factors in patients with Left Main (LM) bifurcation disease has not been yet clearly assessed, although it would be important for building up bifurcation computational models. We perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the three major cardiovascular risk factors in patients treated for LM bifurcation disease using either single or two-stent strategy.

Eveidence Acquisition: In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed and Google Scholar were queried to locate articles published between January 2015 to October 2020, comparing single- versus two-stent strategy and reporting the prevalence of arterial hypertension (HT), hyperlipidemia (HyperL) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Pre-existing atrial fibrillation is associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 Patients.

Purpose: The impacts of pre-existing atrial fibrillation (AF) on COVID-19-associated outcomes are unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the pooled prevalence of pre-existing AF and its short-term mortality risk in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed in abstracting data and assessing validity.

Prognostic implications of left atrial dilation in aortic regurgitation due to bicuspid aortic valve.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of left atrial volume index (LAVI) in patients with moderate to severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV).

Methods: 554 individuals (45 (IQR 33-57) years, 80% male) with BAV and moderate or severe AR were selected from an international, multicentre registry. The association between LAVI and the combined endpoint of all-cause mortality or aortic valve surgery was investigated with Cox proportional hazard regression analyses.

Dyslipidaemia and mortality in COVID-19 patients: a meta-analysis.

Background: The prevalence and prognostic implications of pre-existing dyslipidaemia in patients infected by the SARS-CoV-2 remain unclear.

Aim: To assess the prevalence and mortality risk in COVID-19 patients with pre-existing dyslipidaemia.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices and native arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients: novel perspectives.

The benefits from cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIED) implantation in hemodialysis (HD) patients are still far to be thoroughly defined, especially on primary prevention. In addition, CIED placement is not a risk-free procedure, because it could be followed by a not negligible burden of complications that could compromise the health and the vascular access of HD patients. In fact, the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) dysfunction following CIED implantation is usually due to a hemodynamically significant alteration of blood flow.