| 1. |
- Anselmino, Matteo, et al.
(author)
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Atrial fibrillation ablation long-term ESC-EHRA EORP AFA LT registry : in-hospital and 1-year follow-up findings in Italy
- 2020
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In: Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1558-2027 .- 1558-2035. ; 21:10, s. 740-748
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To report the Italian data deriving from the European Society of Cardiology-EURObservational Research Program atrial fibrillation ablation long-term registry.Methods and results: Ten Italian centers enrolled up to 50 consecutive patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation. Of the 318 patients included, 5 (1.6%) did not undergo catheter ablation, 1 had ablation partially done and 62 were lost at 1-year follow-up. Women were less represented (23.6%) and the median age was 60.0 years. A total of 195 patients (62.3%) suffered paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, whereas only 9 (2.9%) had long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. Most Italian patients (92.3%) were symptomatic but suffering fewer symptomatic events than patients enrolled in other countries (median of two events in the month preceding the ablation vs. three, respectively; P<0.0001). The main finding of the study is that the success rate at 1 year, with and without antiarrhythmic drugs, was 76.4%, consistently with other participating countries (73.4%). This result was obtained however, with a significantly lower prevalence of 1-year adverse events (7.3 vs. 16.6%, P<0.0001). Procedure duration and fluoroscopy total time resulted as being shorter in Italy (145 vs. 160, P=0.0005 and 16.9 vs. 20.0 min, P=0.0018, respectively); however, the radiation dose per BSA was greater (37.5 vs. 26.0mGy/cm(2), P=0.0022).Conclusion: The demographic characteristics of patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation are similar to those reported in other countries. The success rate in Italy is consistent with those in other countries, whereas the complications rate is lower.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Dini, Frank L., et al.
(author)
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Acute pericarditis in patients receiving coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines : a case series from the community
- 2022
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In: Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. - : Wolters Kluwer. - 1558-2027 .- 1558-2035. ; 23:8, s. 551-558
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: International agencies reported that cases of pericarditis occur very rarely following the administration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. Herewith, we described a series of patients from the community diagnosed with acute pericarditis after vaccination.METHODS: We retrospectively included 28 patients (median age 51 years, 79% female) with or without a positive history of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 recovered infection who were diagnosed with acute pericarditis following the administration of COVID-19 vaccine. We excluded specific identifiable causes of pericarditis, including infectious, autoimmune, neoplastic and metabolic disease. Patients were referred for a complete cardiovascular evaluation. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed and diagnosis of acute pericarditis was achieved according to current guidelines.RESULTS: There were 16 patients administered with Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine, 8 with Moderna/Spikevax vaccine and 4 with Astra Zeneca/Vaxzevria vaccine. Nine patients had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19, while the others had no prior history of COVID-19. Eleven patients had no comorbidity while the others had between one and four comorbidities. Ten patients had a history of rheumatic or autoimmune diseases. Chest pain was present in 24 patients. Minor ECG abnormalities were detected in 10 patients, T-wave inversion in 6, and 7 patients had concave ST elevation. The majority of patients showed mild pericardial effusions at TTE. Only two patients exhibited large pericardial effusions.CONCLUSION: This case series shows a higher incidence of acute pericarditis in patients administered with COVID-19 vaccines than previously estimated, probably because of a more comprehensive assessment of clinical as well as echocardiographic parameters.
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| 4. |
- Lisi, Matteo, 1982-, et al.
(author)
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Incidence and mortality of infective endocarditis in the last decade : a single center study
- 2023
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In: Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1558-2027 .- 1558-2035. ; 24:2, s. 105-112
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a significant disease characterized by high mortality and complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence/100 000 inhabitants and the in-hospital mortality/100 000 inhabitants of IE during the last 10 years in the province of Ravenna.METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed the public hospitals discharge database from January 2010 to December 2020 using the international classification of disease codification (ICD-9) for IE. We used the Italian national statistical institute (ISTAT) archive to estimate the number of Ravenna inhabitants/year. In 10 years, we identified a total of 407 patients with diagnosis of IE.The incidence of IE increased significantly from 6.29 cases/100 000 inhabitants in 2010 to 19.58 cases/100 000 inhabitants in 2020 ( P < 0.001). Also, the in-hospital mortality from IE increased over the same number of years, from 1.8 deaths/100 000 inhabitants in 2010 to 4.4 deaths/100 000 inhabitants in 2020 ( P < 0.001). The mortality rate (%) of IE over the years did not increase ( P = 0.565). Also, over the years there was no difference in the site of infection ( P = 0.372), irrespective of the valve localization or type, native valve ( P = 0.347) or prosthetic valve ( P = 0.145). On logistic regression analysis, age was the only predictor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 1.045, 95% confidence interval: 1.015; 1.075, P = 0.003).CONCLUSIONS: Ravenna-based data on IE showed increased disease incidence but unchanged mortality rate over 10 years of follow-up. Age remains the sole predictor of population-based mortality, irrespective of the nature of the valve, native or substitute, and the organism detected on microbiology.
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| 5. |
- Magnusson, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Causes of death and mortality in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with implantable defibrillators in Sweden
- 2016
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In: Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. - 1558-2027 .- 1558-2035. ; 17:7, s. 478-484
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AimsImplantable defibrillators (ICDs) successfully terminate ventricular arrhythmias in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), protect against bradycardia, and monitor atrial arrhythmias. This may alter the natural history and causes of death.MethodsThis nationwide observational longitudinal retrospective study of all HCM patients implanted during 1995-2012 obtained data from the Swedish ICD Registry, the National Patient Register, the Cause of Death Register, and were validated by review of medical records.ResultsOf 342 patients (mean age 51.8 years, 70.8% males), 45 died during a total follow-up of 1847 years (mean 5.4 years). Mean age at death was 68.2 years (range 21-83 years; 12 were 75 years). Mean follow-up time among the deceased was 4.9 years (quartiles 1.4-7.4 years). All-cause mortality was higher in HCM patients compared with the age and sex-matched Swedish general population (standardized mortality ratio 3.4; 95% confidence interval 2.4-4.5; P<0.001). Main cause of death was heart failure (n=27), stroke (n=5), cancer (n=3), myocardial infarction (n=2), sepsis (n=2), and others (n=4). Two patients died suddenly, one after the ICD was turned off because of inappropriate shocks, and one patient whose device system was removed after infection. HCM was the main cause of death in 76% of the cases, mainly because of progressive heart failure.ConclusionFor HCM patients, ICDs almost eliminate premature arrhythmic death and result in a shift to heart failure as the cause of death in the majority of cases. Still, mortality in HCM patients remains elevated and management of heart failure and comorbidities must be improved to increase survival.
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| 6. |
- Vergaro, Giuseppe, et al.
(author)
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Cardiac biomarkers retain prognostic significance in patients with heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- 2021
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In: Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. - : Wolters Kluwer. - 1558-2027 .- 1558-2035. ; 23:1, s. 28-36
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a frequent comorbidity in patients with heart failure (HF). We assessed the influence of COPD on circulating levels and prognostic value of three HF biomarkers: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT), and soluble suppression of tumorigenesis-2 (sST2).Methods: Individual data from patients with chronic HF, known COPD status, NT-proBNP and hs-TnT values (n = 8088) were analysed. A subgroup (n = 3414) had also sST2 values.Results: Patients had a median age of 66 years (interquartile interval 57–74), 77% were men and 82% had HF with reduced ejection fraction. NT-proBNP, hs-TnT and sST2 were 1207 ng/l (487–2725), 17 ng/l (9–31) and 30 ng/ml (22–44), respectively. Patients with COPD (n = 1249, 15%) had higher NT-proBNP (P = 0.042) and hs-TnT (P < 0.001), but not sST2 (P = 0.165). Over a median 2.0-year follow-up (1.5–2.5), 1717 patients (21%) died, and 1298 (16%) died from cardiovascular causes; 2255 patients (28%) were hospitalized for HF over 1.8 years (0.9–2.1). NT-proBNP, hs-TnT and sST2 predicted the three end points regardless of COPD status. The best cut-offs from receiver-operating characteristics analysis were higher in patients with COPD than in those without. Patients with all three biomarkers higher than or equal to end-point- and COPD-status-specific cut-offs were also those with the worst prognosis.Conclusions: Among patients with HF, those with COPD have higher NT-proBNP and hs-TnT, but not sST2. All these biomarkers yield prognostic significance regardless of the COPD status.
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| 7. |
- Gargani, Luna, et al.
(author)
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Detecting the vulnerable carotid plaque : The Carotid Artery Multimodality imaging Prognostic study design
- 2022
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In: Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. - 1558-2027. ; 23:7, s. 466-473
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundCarotid artery disease is highly prevalent and a main cause of ischemic stroke and vascular dementia. There is a paucity of information on predictors of serious vascular events. Besides percentage diameter stenosis, international guidelines also recommend the evaluation of qualitative characteristics of carotid artery disease as a guide to treatment, but with no agreement on which qualitative features to assess. This inadequate knowledge leads to a poor ability to identify patients at risk, dispersion of medical resources, and unproven use of expensive and resource-consuming techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and computed tomography.ObjectivesThe Carotid Artery Multimodality imaging Prognostic (CAMP) study will: prospectively determine the best predictors of silent and overt ischemic stroke and vascular dementia in patients with asymptomatic subcritical carotid artery disease by identifying the noninvasive diagnostic features of the 'vulnerable carotid plaque'; assess whether 'smart' use of low-cost diagnostic methods such as ultrasound-based evaluations may yield at least the same level of prospective information as more expensive techniques.Study designWe will compare the prognostic/predictive value of all proposed techniques with regard to silent or clinically manifest ischemic stroke and vascular dementia. The study will include ≥300 patients with asymptomatic, unilateral, intermediate degree (40-60% diameter) common or internal carotid artery stenosis detected at carotid ultrasound, with a 2-year follow-up. The study design has been registered on Clinicaltrial.gov on December 17, 2020 (ID number NCT04679727).
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Järemo, Petter, et al.
(author)
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Elevated platelet reactivity in stable angina pectoris without significant coronary flow obstruction
- 2008
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In: Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1558-2027. ; 9:2, s. 129-130
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND:There are many different causes of angina pectoris without significant coronary flow obstruction in major coronary arteries. Examples include Prinzmetal angina and small vessel atherosclerotic disease.METHODS:We investigated individuals with stable angina pectoris subject to elective coronary angiography. To keep the study group as homogeneous as possible, patients with diabetes mellitus were excluded. Subjects with normal coronary angiograms (n = 13) or insignificant (< 50%) coronary flow obstruction(s) (n = 4) were grouped together. The remaining cohort (n = 96) with at least one significant (> or = 50%) flow obstruction in at least one major coronary artery served as controls.RESULTS:Before angiography, platelet activity in vitro on stimulation with a thrombin-receptor activating peptide (TRAP-6) (57 micromol/l and 74 micromol/l) and ADP (1.7 micromol/l and 8.5 micromol/l) was determined. Angina pectoris individuals without significant flow obstruction in major coronary arteries had enhanced platelet reactivity both when stimulated with TRAP-6 and ADP (P < 0.01 for both TRAP-6 concentrations and P < 0.05 for both ADP concentrations, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:It is concluded that angina pectoris without significant flow impediment in major epicardial arteries is associated with augmented platelet reactivity.
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| 10. |
- Lindstedt Ingemansson, Sandra, et al.
(author)
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Evaluation of continuous and intermittent myocardial topical negative pressure.
- 2008
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In: Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. - 1558-2027. ; 9:8, s. 813-819
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Topical negative pressure, commonly used in wound therapy, has been shown to increase blood flow and stimulate angiogenesis in subcutaneous tissue and skeletal muscle. In wound therapy, intermittent negative pressure is often preferred to continuous negative pressure as tissue exposed to intermittent therapy shows twice as much granulation tissue formation than that exposed to continuous pressure after 2 weeks of therapy. The present study was designed to elucidate the differences in microvascular blood flow in the left anterior descending artery area between continuous and intermittent myocardial topical negative pressure of -50 mmHg. METHODS: Six pigs underwent median sternotomy. Laser Doppler probes were inserted horizontally into the heart muscle in the left anterior descending artery area at depths of approximately 5-6 mm. Measurements of microvascular blood flow were performed in normal myocardium and ischemic myocardium during 20 min of countinuous and intermittent topical negative pressure at -50 mmHg. RESULTS: Both continuous and intermittent topical negative pressure of -50 mmHg significantly increased microvascular blood flow in the underlying myocardium: from 56.2 +/- 13.1 perfusion units (PU) before to 132.8 +/- 7.4 PU during countinuous topical negative pressure application (P < 0.05) and from 75.8 +/- 12.1 PU before to 153.6 +/- 4.7 PU during intermittent topical negative pressure application (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: No statistically significant difference was found between microvascular blood flow during 20 min of continuous and intermittent topical negative pressure at -50 mmHg in this porcine model.
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