Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

BMJ Open 2020 Jul 9;10(7):e034135. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Psychiatric Neuroimaging-Genetic and Comorbidity Laboratory (PNGC_Lab), Tianjin Mental Health Centre, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China

Objectives: Anxiety has been suggested to be associated with poor outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, results of previous follow-up studies were inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between anxiety and clinical outcomes in patients with ACS, and to investigate the potential role of depression underlying the above association. Read More

Ultrasound Med Biol 2020 Jul 6. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Echo Lab, Department of Ultrasound Imaging, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.

After the onset of myocardial infarction, extensive coronary thrombus and oxygen supply insufficiency lead to severe myocardial damage and heart failure. Recently, ultrasound-irradiated phase-change nanoparticles have been recognized for their cardiovascular thrombolysis potential. Therefore, we sought to establish a novel treatment method using hydrogen peroxide (HO)/perfluoropentane (PFP) phase-change nanoparticles with low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) for the simulation of acute coronary thrombolysis and myocardial preservation. Read More

PLoS One 2020 9;15(7):e0235673. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.

Background And Objectives: This study sought to compare clinical outcomes between bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) and durable polymer everolimus-eluting metallic stents (DP-EES) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: From March 2016 to October 2017, 952 patients with AMI without cardiogenic shock undergoing successful PCI with BRS (n = 136) or DP-EES (n = 816) were enrolled from a multicenter, observational Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry.

Results: In the crude population, there was no significant difference in the 1-year rate of device-oriented composite endpoint (DOCE) and device thrombosis between the BRS and DP-EES groups (2. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2020 Jul 14;22(1):40-43. Epub 2020 May 14.

Department of Cardiology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan.

A previous autopsy study has revealed that malapposed or protruded struts in the coronary bifurcation were a risk factor for very late stent thrombosis (VLST); however, a live clinical case has not yet been reported due to difficulty in observation at the VLST site. In this case, a 56-year-old male patient underwent a zotarolimus-eluting stent implantation in the proximal left anterior descending artery for acute myocardial infarction 3 years previously and had been treated with dual antiplatelet therapy. The patient experienced chest pain and suddenly collapsed due to acute coronary syndrome caused by a huge thrombus in the left main coronary bifurcation. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2020 Jul 4. Epub 2020 Jul 4.

University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, 22 South Greene Street, Suite S10B001, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Background: Endovascular treatment of mesenteric lesions has become increasingly prevalent. Mesenteric bypass, however, remains the optimal treatment in the cases of chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) in young, medically fit patients given its durability. Endarterectomy, has gone by the wayside, but in certain situations, this technique remains surgically relevant and should still be employed. Read More

Kardiol Pol 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Herz 2020 Jul 6. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

I. Medizinische Klinik, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim (UMM), Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Deutschland.

Routine determination of troponin levels is recommended for all patients with acute ischemic stroke. In 20-55% of these patients the troponin levels are elevated, which may be caused by ischemic as well as non-ischemic myocardial damage and particularly neurocardiogenic myocardial damage. In patients with acute ischemic stroke, the prevalence of previously unknown coronary heart disease is reported to be up to 27% and is prognostically relevant for these patients; however, relevant coronary stenoses are less frequently detected in stroke patients with troponin elevation compared to patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. Read More

Acta Clin Belg 2020 Jul 4:1-6. Epub 2020 Jul 4.

Department of Cardiology, Brugmann University Hospital , Brussels, Belgium.

Background Trichinellosis is a parasitic infection caused by nematodes of the genus , and its principal mode of transmission is the consumption of raw or undercooked contaminated meat. Cardiac involvement in trichinellosis is unusual, yet it represents the most frequent cause of death. Here, we report a case in which -associated myocarditis simulated a myocardial infarction. Read More

Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2020 May;49(1):76-81

Department of Cardiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China.

Objective: To investigate the prognosis of patients with vulnerable plaque indicated by coronary CT angiography (CCTA).

Methods: Totally 1963 patients underwent CCTA from February 2nd 2015 to September 13th 2015, and 2728 coronary borderline lesions (stenosis of 50%-70%) were detected. Among them 804 patients had vulnerable plaques and 1159 patients had stable plaques. Read More

J Invasive Cardiol 2020 Jul;32(7):E194-E195

Department of Cardiology, Advanced Cardiac Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh-160 012, India.

A calcified nodule is an infrequent pathological substrate in acute coronary syndrome patients. This case demonstrates the technical challenges of intervening an eccentric, severely calcified, balloon-uncrossable coronary lesion. Read More

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2020 Jun 29;20(1):309. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Clinical Physiology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.

Background: Atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) reflects longitudinal left ventricular (LV) systolic function, and wall thickening (WT) regional radial LV function. The temporal evolution of these measures after STEMI with CMR has not been evaluated. We aimed to investigate how AVPD and WT are affected globally and regionally from the sub-acute to the chronic phase after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Read More

Acta Cardiol 2020 Jun 29:1-9. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.

The objective of the current study is to determine the characteristics of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) patients with and without cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) abnormalities. We evaluated patients admitted with a presentation of acute myocardial infarction (MI) with no coronary obstruction on invasive angiography in our institution between 2012 and 2017. Patients with prior cardiac disease, myocarditis, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and type 2 myocardial infarction were excluded. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Jun;99(26):e20152

Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Chest Hospital.

No-reflow is an important complication among patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).A retrospective study of 1658 STEMI patients undergoing direct PCI was performed. Patients were randomly assigned at a 7:3 ratio into development cohort and validation cohort and into no-reflow and normal blood flow groups. Read More

Eur Respir Rev 2020 Jun 23;29(156). Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Dept of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.

COPD is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, in particular acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Besides shared risk factors, COPD-related factors, such as systemic inflammation and hypoxia, underlie the pathophysiological interaction between COPD and AMI. The prevalence of COPD amongst AMI populations ranges from 7% to 30%, which is possibly even an underestimation due to underdiagnoses of COPD in general. Read More

Interv Cardiol 2020 Apr 4;15:e05. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Oxford Heart Centre, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals Oxford, UK.

Current data support the use of coronary physiology in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In patients with ST-elevation MI, the extent of myocardial damage and microvascular dysfunction create a complex conundrum to assimilate when considering clinical management and risk stratification. In this setting, the index of microcirculatory resistance emerged as an accurate tool to identify patients at risk of suboptimal myocardial reperfusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention who may benefit from novel adjunctive therapies. Read More

Med Hypotheses 2020 Jun 1;144:109938. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Xian Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xian, China; Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address:

Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains to be a common complication bearing adverse prognostic implication. Majority of LVT occurs within the first week after AMI. Over decades, the regional stasis of blood flow is regarded as the main reason for LVT formation. Read More

J Nucl Cardiol 2020 Jun 17. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Background: With high-sensitivity troponin testing, approximately a third of patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with suspected acute coronary syndromes will have mildly abnormal values. However, data regarding rest-stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in these patients are limited. We hypothesize that stress testing is safe and that the yield for detecting myocardial ischemia is associated with risk stratification by the HEART score. Read More

Small 2020 Jun 17:e1907171. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Departamento de Fisiología - Facultad de Medicina, Fluorescence Imaging Group, Avda. Arzobispo Morcillo 2, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28029, Spain.

Fast and precise localization of ischemic tissues in the myocardium after an acute infarct is required by clinicians as the first step toward accurate and efficient treatment. Nowadays, diagnosis of a heart attack at early times is based on biochemical blood analysis (detection of cardiac enzymes) or by ultrasound-assisted imaging. Alternative approaches are investigated to overcome the limitations of these classical techniques (time-consuming procedures or low spatial resolution). Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2020 Jun 17. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Würzburg, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

Aims: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is the major cause of chronic heart failure. The activity of blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIIIa) plays an important role in rodents as a healing factor after MI, whereas its role in healing and remodelling processes in humans remains unclear. We prospectively evaluated the relevance of FXIIIa after acute MI as a potential early prognostic marker for adequate healing. Read More

Adv Healthc Mater 2020 Jun 15:e2000294. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, 210 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.

Injectable hydrogels are being widely explored for treatment after myocardial infarction (MI) through mechanical bulking or the delivery of therapeutics. Despite this interest, there have been few approaches to image hydrogels upon injection to identify their location, volume, and pattern of delivery, features that are important to understand toward clinical translation. Using a hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel as an example, the aim of this study is to introduce radiopacity to hydrogels by encapsulating a clinically used contrast agent (Omnipaque Iohexol, GE Healthcare) for imaging upon placement in the myocardium. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2020 Jun 1;3(6):e207030. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Cardiology and Angiology, University Clinic of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

Importance: Myocardial tissue injury due to acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) initiates an inflammatory response that leads to a release of systemic inflammatory biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells, consequently reducing the usefulness of these routine biomarkers for identifying concomitant infections. The clinical role of procalcitonin (PCT), a promising marker of bacterial infection, to detect concomitant infection in acute STEMI is unknown, mainly because it is unclear whether myocardial injury per se induces systemic PCT release.

Objective: To investigate the release of serum PCT in the acute setting of STEMI (24 and 48 hours after primary percutaneous coronary intervention) and to elucidate any associations with myocardial injury markers through a comprehensive assessment by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2020 Jun 15;13(6):e010269. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Cardiology Post-Graduation Program, Brazil (G.N.A., A.D.S., F.L.S., J.L.C., F.P.M., R.B., W.M., G.P.M., F.C.F., S.C.G., R.V.W., M.V.W.).

Background: Early risk stratification is essential for in-hospital management of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Acute heart failure confers a worse prognosis, and although lung ultrasound (LUS) is recommended as a first-line test to assess pulmonary congestion, it has never been tested in this setting. Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic ability of admission LUS in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2020 Jun 13. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Department of Radiology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 E 69th Street, Suite 108, New York, NY 10021, USA.

Aims: High-risk plaque (HRP) and non-obstructive coronary artery disease independently predict adverse events, but their importance to future culprit lesions has not been resolved. We sought to determine in patients prior to confirmed acute coronary syndrome (ACS) the association between lesion percent diameter stenosis (%DS), and the absolute number and prevalence of HRP. The secondary objective was to examine the relative importance of non-obstructive HRP in future culprit lesions. Read More

Korean J Radiol 2020 Jun 11. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiological Science, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Objective: To compare native and post-contrast T1 mapping with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging for detecting and measuring the microvascular obstruction (MVO) area in reperfused acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Materials And Methods: This study included 20 patients with acute MI who had undergone 1.5T cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) after reperfusion therapy. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2020 Jun 12;13(6):e010091. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE (F.X., A.G., T.R.P.).

Background: Although small trials have detected microvascular obstruction (MVO) with variable frequency following restoration of epicardial blood flow, the independent impact of abnormal microvascular perfusion (MVP) in predicting patient outcome following emergent percutaneous coronary intervention in acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction is unknown. The study aims to determine the impact of abnormal MVP following successful epicardial recanalization in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

Methods: MVP was analyzed by low mechanical index ultrasound imaging within 48 hours of emergent percutaneous coronary intervention in 297 patients with acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who had restoration of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction grade 3 flow in the infarct vessel. Read More

Eur Heart J Suppl 2020 Jun 23;22(Suppl E):E121-E124. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

Ospedale San Giovanni-Addolorata, Rome.

Inflammation plays an important role in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. A variety of stimuli promote atherosclerosis, including increased LDL cholesterol in blood, exposure to tobacco, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or rheological stress. Inflammatory cells have an established role in the growth of atherosclerotic lesions. Read More

Eur Heart J Suppl 2020 Jun 24;22(Suppl E):E87-E90. Epub 2020 Mar 24.

Centro per la Lotta Contro l'Infarto, Fondazione ONLUS, Roma, Italy.

Atherosclerosis is a condition characterized by a long, initial, asymptomatic phase. Progression of disease could lead to acute coronary events, such as acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or sudden cardiac death. However, there are imaging techniques, namely vascular echography and assessment of coronary calcium, capable to make the diagnosis of atherosclerosis at an early stage. Read More

Eur Heart J Suppl 2020 Jun 30;22(Suppl E):E40-E45. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Universita' Vita-Salute e Ospedale San Raffaele, IRCCS Milano, Italy.

Myocardial infarction in the absence of obstructive coronary stenosis (MINOCA) is a syndrome with several causes, characterized by clinical evidence of myocardial infarction and coronary angiographically normal or almost normal (stenosis ≤50%). MINOCAs represent about 10% of acute coronary syndromes. The causes of MINOCA are manifold and can be classified on the basis of the mechanism in epicardial (unstable plaque not manifested by angiography, epicardial spasm and coronary dissection) or microvascular. Read More

Br J Ophthalmol 2020 Jun 10. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Aims: To identify the association between ranibizumab and risk of stroke and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: We identified patients aged ≥45 years who received ranibizumab for exudative AMD from the Korean National Health Insurance database. Of these, we selected patients suffering stroke or AMI for the self-controlled case series. Read More

Circulation 2020 Jun 11. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA; Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA.

Psychological stress is a risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD). Certain brain regions that control both emotional states and cardiac physiology may be involved in this relationship. The rostromedial prefrontal cortex (rmPFC) is an important brain region that processes stress and regulates immune and autonomic functions. Read More

Clin Res Cardiol 2020 Jun 9. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.

Obejctive: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) increases left ventricular transmural pressure more than central sleep apnoea (CSA) owing to negative intrathoracic pressure swings. We tested the hypothesis that the severity of OSA, and not CSA, is therefore associated with spheric cardiac remodelling after acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: This sub-analysis of a prospective observational study included 24 patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2020 Jun 9. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Steingasse 31/18, Wien, A-1030, Austria.

Using bone-avid radiotracers, cardiac transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis can be diagnosed by scintigraphy, thus obviating endomyocardial biopsy. Radiotracer accumulation, however, may also be due to other causes. A 68-year-old male with acute myocardial infarction underwent recanalization of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2020 Jun 9;9(12):e015628. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

K.G. Jebsen Thrombosis Research and Expertise Center University of Tromsø Tromsø Norway.

Background Interleukin 6 concentration is associated with myocardial injury, heart failure, and mortality after myocardial infarction. In the Norwegian tocilizumab non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction trial, the first randomized trial of interleukin 6 blockade in myocardial infarction, concentration of both C-reactive protein and troponin T were reduced in the active treatment arm. In this follow-up study, an aptamer-based proteomic approach was employed to discover additional plasma proteins modulated by tocilizumab treatment to gain novel insights into the effects of this therapeutic approach. Read More

Herz 2020 Jun 8. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Klinik für Kardiologie, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Breslauer Straße 201, 90471, Nürnberg, Deutschland.

This disease with its multiple ischemic and non-ischemic manifestations is classified based on the fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction (MI). An acute myocardial injury is defined as a significant increase of cardiac troponins (cTn). In patients with an additional myocardial ischemia, which is defined by certain clinical, electrocardiographic, imaging and angiographic criteria, the diagnosis of acute MI can be made. Read More

Cardiovasc Revasc Med 2020 May 28. Epub 2020 May 28.

The Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America; Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.

Introduction: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with a P2Y12 inhibitor added to aspirin is considered the standard of care for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous intervention (PCI). Prasugrel and ticagrelor are commonly used P2Y12 inhibitors, and a few head-to-head randomized control trials (RCTs) have been performed. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of these RCTs to compare the efficacy and adverse effects between these two agents when used in patients with ACS undergoing PCI. Read More

Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care 2020 Jun 8:2048872620926680. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Division of Cardiology, State University of New York, USA.

Background: Myocardial infarction can be a trigger of Takotsubo syndrome. We recently characterized imaging features of acute myocardial infarction-induced Takotsubo syndrome ("Takotsubo effect"). In this study, we investigate diagnostic and prognostic implications of Takotsubo effect in patients with anterior wall ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Read More

Echocardiography 2020 Jun 4;37(6):858-866. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

MI Lab and Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

Objectives: Reduced left ventricular (LV) diastolic function indicates poor prognosis after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Our aim was to study whether a twelve-week high-intensity interval training program could improve diastolic function in patients with a relatively recent AMI.

Design: Twenty-eight patients (mean age 56 (SD 8) years) with a recent AMI performed high-intensity interval training twice a week for 12 weeks. Read More

Rev Med Suisse 2020 Jun;16(696):1153-1158

Service de cardiologie, HUG, 1211 Genève 14.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death, among young patient with little/no traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Historically SCAD was considered as a rare pathology, associated primarily with pregnancy and the peripartum period. In recent years, SCAD diagnosis improved thanks to data derived from large registries, thanks to the increased use of diagnostic coronary angiography and the availability of intracoronary imaging. Read More

J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 2020 Jun 4;34(3). Epub 2020 Jun 4.

ECG Room, Jining NO.1 People's Hospital, Affiliated Jining NO.1 People's Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong Province, China.

Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc 2020 Jun 29;28:100531. Epub 2020 May 29.

University Hospital Center Dijon Bourgogne, Cardiology Department, Dijon, France.

Introduction: Cerebral microbleeds (CMB) are associated with intracerebral haemorrhage. Therefore they may represent a concern if anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet therapy is needed. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CMB in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to follow their progression at 3 months under dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Read More

Cells 2020 May 30;9(6). Epub 2020 May 30.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany.

Angiogenesis plays a central role in the healing process following acute myocardial infarction. The PET tracer [Ga]-NODAGA-RGD, which is a ligand for the αβ integrin, has been investigated for imaging angiogenesis in the process of healing myocardium in both animal and clinical studies. It´s value as a prognostic marker of functional outcome remains unclear. Read More

Eur Heart J 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

University Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.

Aims: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute heart failure syndrome, which shares many features with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although TTS was initially described with angiographically normal coronary arteries, smaller studies recently indicated a potential coexistence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in TTS patients. This study aimed to determine the coexistence, features, and prognostic role of CAD in a large cohort of patients with TTS. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2020 May 28. Epub 2020 May 28.

Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Western Vascular Institute, University Hospital Galway, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Galway Clinic, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland/National University of Ireland Affiliated Teaching Hospital, Galway, Ireland.

Background: The aim of this study is to establish the initial safety of triple neuroprotection (TNP) in an acute stroke setting in patients presenting outside the window for systemic tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).

Methods: Over 12,000 patients were referred to our vascular services with carotid artery disease, of whom 832 had carotid intervention with a stroke rate of 0.72%. Read More

PLoS One 2020 29;15(5):e0233898. Epub 2020 May 29.

William Harvey Research Institute, NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.

Objective: To define the sex, age, and disease-specific associations of resting heart rate (RHR) with cardiovascular and mortality outcomes in 502,534 individuals from the UK Biobank over 7-12 years of prospective follow-up.

Methods: The main outcomes were all-cause, cardiovascular, and ischaemic heart disease mortality. Additional outcomes included incident acute myocardial infarction (AMI), fatal AMI, and cancer mortality. Read More

J Echocardiogr 2020 May 27. Epub 2020 May 27.

Department of Cardiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.

Background: A speckle tracking echocardiographic (STE) strain imaging can predict myocardial viability. The study compared the STE strain imaging using low-dose dobutamine stress with fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomographic (FDG-PET) imaging for the detection of myocardium viability.

Methods: We studied 57 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) having angiographic evidence of total arterial cut off and akinetic myocardium. Read More

Basic Res Cardiol 2020 May 25;115(4):40. Epub 2020 May 25.

Department of Cardiology, Drum Tower Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School of Nanjing University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China.

Microvascular obstruction (MVO) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is identified as an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The inflammatory response induced by ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is considered one of the main mechanisms of MVO. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a unique stromal cell type that confers an immunomodulatory effect in cardiac disease. Read More

Eur J Intern Med 2020 May 22. Epub 2020 May 22.

"Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Cardiology Department, Rehabilitation Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Heart 2020 Jul 23;106(13):992-1000. Epub 2020 May 23.

Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.

Objective: We assessed the diagnostic and prognostic implications of early cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), CMR-based deformation imaging and conventional risk factors in patients with troponin-positive acute chest pain and non-obstructed coronary arteries.

Methods: In total, 255 patients presenting between 2009 and 2019 with troponin-positive acute chest pain and non-obstructed coronary arteries who underwent CMR in ≤7 days were followed for a clinical endpoint of all-cause mortality. Cine movies, T2-weighted and late gadolinium-enhanced images were evaluated to establish a diagnosis of the underlying heart disease. Read More

Echocardiography 2020 Jun 21;37(6):832-840. Epub 2020 May 21.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.

Aims: Despite three decades of study, it is still challenging to discriminate acute apical variant stress cardiomyopathy (AVSCM) from acute left anterior descending-myocardial infarction (LAD-MI) at the time of presentation. A biomarker or practical imaging modality that can differentiate these two entities is highly desirable. Our objective was to characterize left ventricular (LV) mechanical deformation using 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic strain imaging in an attempt to discriminate AVSCM from LAD-MI at presentation. Read More