Impact of Proton Pump Inhibitor Use on Progression-Free and Overall Survival in Cancer Patients Undergoing Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Recent Studies.

: The introduction of immunotherapy has significantly improved survival outcomes in many solid tumors. However, a subset of patients exhibits limited responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Emerging evidence indicates that the gut microbiota plays a critical role in modulating the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

MVP ECG risk score predicts early occurrence of atrial fibrillation after patent foramen ovale percutaneous closure.

Introduction: Transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure has emerged as the therapeutic gold standard in patients with a PFO-related stroke. New-onset atrial fibrillation appears as an early complication of this procedure. Our study aims to evaluate if the MVP (Morphology-Voltage-P wave duration) ECG risk score calculated before PFO closure might be a valuable predictor of early postprocedural atrial fibrillation occurrence.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue: A Multimodal Imaging Diagnostic Perspective.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), strategically located between the myocardium and the visceral pericardial layer, is increasingly recognized as an active player in cardiovascular health rather than a passive fat depot. EAT secretes a notable array of bioactive molecules known as adipokines, which exert critical exocrine and paracrine effects. Recent research has focused on pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT)-the EAT surrounding coronary arteries-demonstrating its intricate bidirectional relationship with the vascular wall.

Cardiovascular Safety Profile of BRAF and MEK Inhibitors in Melanoma: FAERS Data Through a Retrospective Disproportionality Analysis (2014-2023).

The combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors (BRAF/MEKi) has significantly improved survival in melanoma patients with BRAF V600 mutations. However, these agents can cause cardiovascular (CV) toxicity, compromising efficacy. This study evaluated the CV adverse events (cAEs) associated with BRAF/MEKi using the U.

The Role of Imaging in Cardiovascular Prevention: A Comprehensive Review.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and traditional preventive measures focus on lifestyle modifications, pharmacologic interventions, and risk stratification. Recently, imaging has emerged as an interesting tool in cardiovascular prevention. This review explores the role of various imaging modalities in early detection, risk assessment, and disease monitoring.

How to Do Echo for Noninvasive Hemodynamic Evaluation of the Patient in the Intensive Care Unit: A Consensus Statement of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging.

Critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) require continuous hemodynamic monitoring to guide therapeutic decisions and prevent clinical deterioration. Echocardiography has emerged as a cornerstone for noninvasive hemodynamic assessment, offering real-time, bedside evaluation of key parameters such as venous congestion, pulmonary pressures, left atrial pressure (LAP), systemic vascular resistances, cardiac output, and ventricular-arterial coupling. Systemic venous congestion and right atrial pressure (RAP) can be assessed through inferior vena cava diameter measurement and respiratory variation, with additional accuracy provided by the VeXUS score, which incorporates hepatic, portal, and renal vein Doppler profiles.

How to Do Echo in Left Ventricular Assist Device Candidates: A Consensus Statement of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging.

Accurate selection of patients referred for LVADs is essential to prevent peri- and postoperative complicationsEchocardiography is the first line imaging modality for the evaluation of LVAD candidatesStudy of RV geometry and function is mandatory to detect subclinical RV dysfunction which could cause RV failure after-LVAD implantation, a frequent and potentially life-threatening complicationSevere valvular heart disease, ascendant aorta and possible intracardiac thrombi or shunts should be carefully evaluated, since these may represent some limit to LVAD implantation.

Resolution of left ventricular thrombus assessed by echocardiography: insights from a contemporary multicentre prospective registry.

Aims: How to detect and monitor left ventricular thrombus (LVT) remains complex since clinicians can rely only on retrospective, single-centre data. To characterize the incidence and independent associates of LVT resolution (assessed with echocardiography) and its clinical implications on long-term follow-up in a contemporary cohort of consecutive patients with LVT.

Methods And Results: Ten centres were involved in this observational prospective multicentre study.

The role of left atrio-ventricular coupling index and left atrial ejection fraction in predicting onset of atrial fibrillation and adverse cardiac events in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Several predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) onset in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have been proposed, however, all of them showed limited accuracy. This study aims to assess the role of new echographic parameters in predicting AF onset and major adverse cardiovascular outcomes (cardiovascular death or heart transplantation).

Methods: Clinical and imaging data from 141 patients with HCM and without a history of AF were retrospectively analyzed over a 5-year period.

Genetic Background in Patients with Cancer Therapy-Induced Cardiomyopathy.

Emerging evidence indicates that specific genetic variants are associated with an increased risk of toxicity from anticancer treatments and cancer-related cardiovascular complications. These genetic factors influence drug metabolism, efficacy, and susceptibility to adverse effects. For cancer patients, the genetic background can have two major cardiovascular implications, namely therapy-related cardiotoxicity and cancer-related cardiovascular complications.

Clinical Applications of Myocardial Work in Echocardiography: A Comprehensive Review.

Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) has recently garnered attention as a reliable and objective method for evaluating LV systolic function. One of the key advantages of GLS is its ability to detect subtle abnormalities even when the ejection fraction (EF) appears to be preserved. However, it is important to note that GLS, much like LVEF, is significantly influenced by load conditions.

Exploring the Complexities of Non-Bacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis: Highlights from Literature and Case Studies.

Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a form of non-infective endocarditis characterized by the deposition of sterile fibrin and platelets on cardiac valves. Even though some studies have identified important pathophysiological features, many aspects remain poorly understood. Given its wide availability, transthoracic echocardiography is typically the initial diagnostic approach to the patient.

Addressing Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome in Cancer Patients, from Visceral Obesity and Myosteatosis to Systemic Inflammation: Implications in Cardio-Onco-Metabolism.

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the two leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. The emerging field of cardio-oncology described several shared risk factors that predispose patients to both cardiovascular disease and cancer. Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome is a chronic condition that occurs in many patients who have experienced a SARS-CoV-2 infection, mainly based on chronic fatigue, sedentary lifestyle, cramps, breathing difficulties, and reduced lung performance.

Impact of Leaflet-to-Annulus Index on Residual Regurgitation Following Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair of the Tricuspid Valve.

: The mismatch between tricuspid valve (TV) leaflet length and annulus dilation, assessed with the septal-lateral leaflet-to-annulus index (SL-LAI), predicts residual tricuspid regurgitation (TR) following tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge-repair (T-TEER). When posterior leaflet grasping is required, the anterior-posterior leaflet-to-annulus index (AP-LAI) may offer additional information. : This single-center retrospective cohort study included all patients referred for T-TEER with severe and symptomatic TR with high surgical risk from April 2021 to March 2024.

Pericardial agenesis: a case report of a rare congenital heart disease.

Background: Pericardial agenesis is a rare congenital heart disease characterized by a variable clinical presentation.

Case Summary: A 32-year-old man was sent by an occupational health physician to our health care centre because of pathological electrocardiogram (ECG). On transthoracic echocardiogram, we had some difficulty to obtain a good quality of four-chamber apical view that was shifted upper and laterally towards the left anterior axillary line.

Systemic Vascular Resistance and Myocardial Work Analysis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis with Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

: The pathophysiological impact of systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and pressure-strain loop-derived global myocardial work index (GWI) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR) has been randomly investigated. : Both SVR and GWI were assessed in outpatients consecutively referred at two Italian cardiology departments for heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), affected by either nonobstructive HCM or wild-type ATTR. Based on relevant cross-tabulations, the patients were gathered into 4 functional classes according to cut-off values of 1440 dyne/s/cm for SVR, and 1576 mm Hg% for GWI, as suggested by previous studies.

Constrictive Pericarditis: An Update on Noninvasive Multimodal Diagnosis.

Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a rare condition that can affect the pericardium after every pericardial disease process and has been described even after SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccine. In CP, the affected pericardium, usually the inner layer, is noncompliant, constraining the heart to a fixed maximum volume and impairing the diastolic function. This leads to several clinical features, that, however, can be pleomorphic.

Management of cancer patients at high and very-high risk of cardiotoxicity: Main questions and answers.

In recent years, important advances have been made in the field of Cardio-Oncology. The 2022 ESC Guidelines on Cardio-Oncology proposed a baseline cardiovascular risk stratification for cancer patients and preventive strategies in patients at high and very-high risk of cardiotoxicity. Cardiovascular toxic effects of anti-cancer drugs are being extensively studied; surveillance programs have been proposed, based on the baseline cardiovascular risk.

Atrial Strain Assessment for the Early Detection of Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction in Breast Cancer Women (The STRANO STUDY: Atrial Strain in Cardio-Oncology).

Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) has an important role in the diagnosis of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). Little is known about the role of atrial function in diagnosing CTRCD. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of anti-cancer drugs on atrial function measured by speckle-tracking echocardiography in breast cancer women.