Impact of aortic valve calcification volume on left ventricular systolic function in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Aortic valve calcification (AVC) has been linked to negative cardiac outcomes in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Given the limited understanding of its specific contributions, we aimed to investigate the interaction between AVC and the left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with severe AS and LV systolic dysfunction who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Materials And Methods: An observational study of 75 patients with severe AS and LV ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 50 % who underwent TAVI.

Validation of the Zwolle Risk Score in STEMI Patients Undergoing Primary PCI: Insights from the ISCAS-STEMI COVID-19 Registry.

Background: Several scores have been developed to facilitate risk stratification and early discharge following primary angioplasty, particularly the Zwolle Risk Score (ZRS). However, validation in large-sized studies is still lacking. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to validate the use of the ZRS in a contemporary global population, including patients who were treated during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and enrolled in a large intercontinental observational study.

Epicardial fat tissue, a hidden enemy against the early recovery of left ventricular systolic function after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is an active organ that can affect cardiac function and structure through endocrine, paracrine, and proinflammatory mechanisms. We hypothesized that greater thickness of EFT may harm the recovery of left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and reduced LV ejection fraction (EF ≤ 50 %) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: A sixty six patients with severe AS and 20 % ≥ LVEF ≤ 50 % who underwent TAVI were included.

Impact of diabetes on epicardial reperfusion and mortality in a contemporary STEMI population undergoing mechanical reperfusion: Insights from the ISACS STEMI COVID 19 registry.

Background And Aim: Diabetes has been shown in last decades to be associated with a significantly higher mortality among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary PCI (PPCI). Therefore, the aim of current study was to evaluate the impact of diabetes on times delays, reperfusion and mortality in a contemporary STEMI population undergoing PPCI, including treatment during the COVID pandemic.

Methods And Results: The ISACS-STEMI COVID-19 is a large-scale retrospective multicenter registry involving PPCI centers from Europe, Latin America, South-East Asia and North-Africa, including patients treated from 1st of March until June 30, 2019 and 2020.

Impact of hypertension on mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty: insights from the international multicenter ISACS-STEMI registry.

Background: Hypertension is the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor, with several detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system. Contrasting results have been reported so far on its prognostic role in patients admitted for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Therefore, we investigated the impact of hypertension on short-term mortality in a large multicenter contemporary registry of STEMI patients, including patients treated during COVID-19 pandemic.

Relationship between vitamin D and coronary artery disease in Egyptian patients.

Background: Previous studies have reported conflicting results about the association of vitamin D (VD) level with coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to study the association of VD with atherosclerotic CAD in Egyptian individuals.

Results: We prospectively enrolled 188 consecutive CAD patients with a median age of 55(50-62) years; 151(80.

Impact of balloon predilatation in patients with reduced versus preserved ejection fraction during transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Although there is a trend toward direct transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), still balloon predilatation is necessary in some cases, especially in patients with severe calcification. However, predilatation including rapid ventricular pacing may have adverse outcomes, especially in patients with reduced ejection factor (EF).

Objective: To evaluate the impact of predilatation on in-hospital outcomes in patients with reduced versus preserved EF underwent TAVI.

Impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on short-term outcome in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction during COVID-19 pandemic: insights from the international multicenter ISACS-STEMI registry.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is projected to become the third cause of mortality worldwide. COPD shares several pathophysiological mechanisms with cardiovascular disease, especially atherosclerosis. However, no definite answers are available on the prognostic role of COPD in the setting of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), especially during COVID-19 pandemic, among patients undergoing primary angioplasty, that is therefore the aim of the current study.

Prevention of radial artery occlusion by simultaneous ulnar and radial compression (PRO-SURC). A randomized duplex ultrasound follow-up study.

Background: There might be a beneficial effect of transient ulnar artery compression in prevention of radial artery occlusion (RAO) after trans-radial catheterization.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess, by Duplex ultrasound, the efficacy of simultaneous ulnar and radial artery compression (SURC), in prevention of RAO, compared to conventional and patent hemostasis techniques.

Patients And Methods: Four hundred and fifty consecutive patients undergoing elective trans-radial catheterization were enrolled.

Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and mortality among diabetic patients with STEMI undergoing mechanical reperfusion during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, concerns have been arisen on the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASI) due to the potentially increased expression of Angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE)2 and patient's susceptibility to SARS-CoV2 infection. Diabetes mellitus have been recognized favoring the coronavirus infection with consequent increase mortality in COVID-19. No data have been so far reported in diabetic patients suffering from ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a very high-risk population deserving of RASI treatment.

Relationship between noninvasive central blood pressure and brain natriuretic peptide levels in patients with hypertensive pulmonary edema.

Objective: Hypertensive pulmonary edema is a fatal condition unless early and properly diagnosed and managed. Central blood pressure (cBP) has been proven to be more associated with adverse cardiovascular events. We aimed to study the correlation between cBP and heart damage in patients with Hypertensive pulmonary edema.

Association between vascular endothelial dysfunction and the inflammatory marker neopterin in patients with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Background And Aims: Patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are at increased risk of cardiometabolic abnormalities. We aimed to evaluate vascular endothelial dysfunction and its association with serum neopterin (NP) levels in CAH patients.

Methods: The study included 40 patients, with a mean age of 14.

Longitudinal stent elongation or shortening after deployment in the coronary arteries: which is dominant?

Background: Stent manufacturers always record stent shortening data while they do not record stent elongation data. The aim of this study is to identify both stent shortening and elongation occurring after deployment in the coronary arteries and know their percentage.

Results: The length of coronary stents was measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) by (1) edge-to-edge (E-E) length, measured from the appearance of the first distal strut to the last proximal strut, and (2) area-to-area (A-A) length, measured from the first distal struts seen at more than one IVUS quadrant to the last proximal struts seen at more than one IVUS quadrant.

Association between age and infection in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in young patients has a unique risk profile. We aimed to detect bacteria in aspirate of infarct artery in young versus old patients.

Results: Aspirates of consecutive 140 patients who underwent a primary coronary intervention were taken for bacteriological, microscopical, and immunohistochemical (for bacterial pneumolysin) examinations.

Plasma amino acid metabolomic pattern in heart failure patients with either preserved or reduced ejection fraction: The relation to established risk variables and prognosis.

Communication between amino acids (AAs) and heart failure (HF) is unclear. We evaluate the plasma metabolomic profile of AAs in HF and its subgroups and association with clinical features. This is a case-control study in which 90 patients with HF, 63 with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and 27 with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), were compared with 60 controls.

Functional variants in the promoter region of macrophage migration inhibitory factor rs755622 gene (MIF G173C) among patients with heart failure: Association with echocardiographic indices and disease severity.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a serious public health concern resulting in death. An individual predisposition to HF is determined by relationship between genetic and environmental variables. The macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a significant mediator that involved in a variety of inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiac magnetic resonance assessment of mitral regurgitation severity appears better than echocardiographic imaging.

The mitral valve surgery decision is made mainly according to echocardiographic (ECHO) criteria. As the asymptomatic patients are still candidates for surgery in some situations, this makes the accurate assessment of mitral regurgitation (MR) severity and cardiac dimensions even more important. We aimed to compare ECHO and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in the assessment of MR severity and cardiac dimensions.

In vivo measurement of stent length by using intravascular ultrasound.

Background: What happens to stent length when deployed in a coronary artery? It is the aim of this study.

Results: Consecutive 95 balloon-expandable stents (BES) were studied by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging. The stent length was measured from the longitudinal view in two ways: (1) edge-to-edge length (E-E) measured between distal and proximal stent frames located at one IVUS quadrant and (2) area-to-area length (A-A) measured between distal and proximal stent frames located at two or more IVUS quadrants.

Epicardial Fat Thickness in Children with Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Its Relationship to Subclinical Atherosclerosis: A Pilot Study.

Background/aims: Thyroid hormones (TSH) play a key role in the working of the cardiovascular system, with direct effects on cardiac function, vascular system, and atherosclerotic factors. Epicardial adipose tissue, the visceral fat of the heart, has emerged as a new cardiometabolic risk marker because of its close anatomical proximity to the myocardium and coronary artery. This study aimed to evaluate epicardial fat thickness (EFT) in children with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) and its relation to early atherosclerotic changes.

Bacterial footprints in aspirate of infarct-related artery in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Bacterial infections can trigger acute coronary syndromes. This study aimed to examine bacterial footprints in the aspirate of infarct-related artery.

Patients And Methods: We studied 140 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent a primary coronary intervention using thrombus aspiration catheters.