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Am J Case Rep 2018 Nov 28;19:1416-1421. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University 'G. d'Annunzio' of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.

BACKGROUND We present a report of a rare cardiac malformation case as well as a review of the literature. In addition, the diagnostic features are discussed. CASE REPORT The case of a female newborn who died on her third day of life was studied at the Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Chieti-Pescara (Italy). Read More

Arch Iran Med 2018 Sep 1;21(9):393-398. Epub 2018 Sep 1.

Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is identified as dilation of one or more segments of coronary arteries that reaches 1.5 times or more, compared with near segments that are normal. Several etiologies like atherosclerosis, autoimmune diseases and congenital anomalies have been proposed for this condition. Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2018 Jun 28;13(1):81. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, No.324 Jingwu Road, Shandong, 250021, People's Republic of China.

Background: Aorto-left ventricular tunnel (ALVT) is a rare congenital extracardiac channel that connects the ascending aorta to the left ventricle. To our knowledge, no case has been thus far reported as ALVT with both anomalous origin of right coronary artery (AORCA) and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV).

Case Presentation: We reported a case of a 5-year-old female diagnosed as ALVT with accompanying AORCA and BAV which had been previously misdiagnosed as aortic regurgitation (AR) triggered by BAV. Read More

High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 2018 Sep 26;25(3):245-252. Epub 2018 Jun 26.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.

An adequate cardiovascular (CV) prevention strategy in women should consider the acknowledgement of sex-specific risk factors, such as hypertension in pregnancy, the concomitant presence of autoimmune diseases and the benefit of evaluating subclinical organ damage and treating hypertension. In accordance to current guidelines, the diagnostic approach does not differ between men and women, although the cardiac response to pressure overload may suggest greater sensitivity in women, and may vary according to age, ethnic background and obesity, that potentiates the effect of hypertension on left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Several studies have observed peculiar abnormalities in LV systolic and diastolic function according to gender. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2018 Jul 3;26(6):476-478. Epub 2018 Jun 3.

Miller Children's and Women's Hospital, Memorial Heart and Vascular Institute, Long Beach, CA, USA.

The presence of an isolated left subclavian artery arising from the pulmonary artery in a patient with d-transposition of the great arteries is exceedingly rare. Prior to undertaking repair of this congenital cardiac anomaly, identification of an isolated left subclavian artery originating from the pulmonary artery is imperative in order to plan the appropriate intervention to prevent the development of subclavian artery steal or vertebrobasilar insufficiency. We describe the case of a 5 day-old girl in whom an isolated left subclavian artery arising from the pulmonary artery was detected after surgical entry for repair of transposition of the great arteries. Read More

Echocardiography 2018 07 11;35(7):1056-1059. Epub 2018 May 11.

Cardiology Department, Heraklion University Hospital, Crete, Greece.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA or Bland-White-Garland syndrome) is a rare but serious congenital coronary artery anomaly, with a poor prognosis without surgical repair. There are two types of ALCAPA syndrome: infant type and adult type. We present a rare case of a 63-year-old female patient, with isolated left anterior descending artery origin from the pulmonary artery. Read More

Cardiol Ther 2018 Jun 6;7(1):119-123. Epub 2018 Feb 6.

Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.

Introduction: Single coronary artery is a rare anomaly, which is usually associated with other cardiac congenital abnormalities.

Case Report: A 56-year-old female presented with unstable angina. The patient reported complaints of typical chest pain on exertion few months prior to presentation, which progressed to become at rest. Read More

Arch Argent Pediatr 2018 Feb;116(1):e102-e105

Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Isolated anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the main pulmonary artery is a rare congenital anomaly, and few cases have been reported in the pediatric age group. Here in, we report an asymptomatic case of a 2-month-old male infant who has been diagnosed as anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the main pulmonary artery during the evaluation for cardiac abnormalities. For a suspicion on echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography performed to verify the diagnosis of anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the main pulmonary artery. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2018 Feb 14;252:150-155. Epub 2017 Nov 14.

Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China; Provincial Key Lab of Cardiovascular Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China. Electronic address:

Background: Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart disease, affecting >1% of the general population. Up to date, three genes, NOTCH1, GATA5 and SMAD6, have been linked to the isolated form of BAV. However, potential genetic determinants remain largely unknown in most BAV patients. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018 01 7;495(1):292-299. Epub 2017 Nov 7.

Department of Cardiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. Electronic address:

Background: Cardiomyocyte autophagy and apoptosis are crucial events underlying the development of cardiac abnormalities and dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI). A better understanding of the cell signaling pathways involved in cardiac remodeling may support the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of heart failure (HF) after MI.

Methods: A cardiac MI injury model was constructed by ligating the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Read More

PLoS Genet 2017 Oct 30;13(10):e1007068. Epub 2017 Oct 30.

Division of Evolution and Genome Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.

The coronary vasculature is an essential vessel network providing the blood supply to the heart. Disruptions in coronary blood flow contribute to cardiac disease, a major cause of premature death worldwide. The generation of treatments for cardiovascular disease will be aided by a deeper understanding of the developmental processes that underpin coronary vessel formation. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 04;19(4):459-460n

Department of Cardiology, Heart Valve Clinic, CHU Sart Tilman, University of Liège Hospital, GIGA Cardiovascular Sciences, Liège, Belgium.

Aims: To develop a document by Brazilian Cardiovascular Imaging Department (DIC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) to review and summarize the most recent evidences about the non-invasive assessment of patients with Chagas disease, with the intent to set up a framework for standardized cardiovascular imaging to assess cardiovascular morphologic and functional disturbances, as well as to guide the subsequent process of clinical decision-making.

Methods And Results: Chagas disease remains one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in Latin America, and has become a health problem in non-endemic countries. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most severe manifestation of Chagas disease, which causes substantial disability and early mortality in the socially most productive population leading to a significant economical burden. Read More

Circ Res 2017 Sep;121(7):855-873

From the Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (T.M.L., W.K.C., L.J.A.); Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY (D.T.H., J.M.L.); Department of Pediatrics, Stollery Children's Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (P.K.); Department of Pediatrics, The Heart Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN (J.A.T.); Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (S.M.W.); Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, MA (S.D.C.); Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH (J.L.J., E.M.M.); Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA (J.W.R.); Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO (C.D.C.); Department of Pediatrics, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT (A.K.L.); Department of Pediatrics, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, IL (P.T.T.); and Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit (J.D.C., H.R., A.H., S.E.L.).

Pediatric cardiomyopathies are rare diseases with an annual incidence of 1.1 to 1.5 per 100 000. Read More

Case Rep Cardiol 2017 16;2017:3972830. Epub 2017 Jul 16.

Hospital N.S. Conceição, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Acute coronary syndrome with precordial ST segment elevation is usually related to left anterior descending artery occlusion, although isolated right ventricular infarction has been described as a cause of ST elevation in V1-V3 leads. We present a case of a patient with previous inferior wall infarction and new acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to proximal right coronary thrombotic occlusion resulting in right ventricular infarction with precordial ST elevation and sinus node dysfunction. The patient was treated with successful rescue angioplasty achieving resolution of acute symptoms and electrocardiographic abnormalities. Read More

Clin Interv Aging 2017 14;12:1123-1129. Epub 2017 Jul 14.

Department of Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Preoperative spirometry provides measurable information about the occurrence of respiratory disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the association between preoperative spirometry abnormalities and the intensification of early inflammatory responses in patients following coronary artery bypass graft in extracorporeal circulation.

Material And Methods: The study involved 810 patients (625 men and 185 women) aged 65. Read More

Heart 2018 03 27;104(5):385-393. Epub 2017 Jul 27.

Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Objective: In patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), coronary anatomy is variable. High take-off coronary arteries have been described, but data are scarce, especially when associated with complex congenital heart disease (CHD). The purpose of this study was to describe coronary patterns in these patients. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2017 Oct 15;38(7):1370-1376. Epub 2017 Jul 15.

Paediatric Cardiology, A.O.R.N. "Ospedali dei Colli", 2nd University of Naples, Naples, Italy.

Significant and balanced PA growth following arterial duct (AD) stenting has already been consistently reported in literature. However, to date, no data are available about the role of this approach as palliation of congenital heart disease with a duct-dependent discontinuous pulmonary artery (dPA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the fate of a dPA of ductal origin following trans-catheter AD stabilization. Read More

J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2017 Sep 23;30(9):896-903. Epub 2017 Jun 23.

Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.

Background: Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare condition that can be difficult to diagnose by echocardiography alone. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and echocardiographic presentation of ALCAPA, create a set of critical echocardiographic diagnostic criteria, and report outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients diagnosed with isolated ALCAPA at two major cardiac centers between 1990 and 2015. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2017 Nov 23;104(5):1620-1628. Epub 2017 Jun 23.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, Łódź, Poland.

Background: Coronary anomalies are frequently present in children with transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Such anomalies significantly increase the complexity of arterial switch operations and may have an effect on postoperative outcomes. In this study, we aimed to assess the frequency of coronary anomalies in children with TGA and describe their effect on postoperative outcomes. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 15;263:127-136. Epub 2017 Jun 15.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: The pathogenic events responsible for the reduction of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) number and function seen in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) are poorly understood. Here we investigate the hypothesis that increased concentrations of urea associated with CRF increase ROS production directly in EPCs, causing abnormalities associated with coronary artery disease risk.

Methods: Human EPCs were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors and cultured in the presence or absence of 20 mmol/L urea. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2017 May 31;6(6). Epub 2017 May 31.

Policlinico di Bari, Bari, Italy.

Background: The assessment of myocardial perfusion (MP) and wall motion (WM) using contrast dipyridamole echocardiography (cSE-WMP) improves the sensitivity to detect coronary artery disease and the stratification of cardiac events, but its long-term value for fatal and nonfatal ischemic cardiac events, also with respect to patients undergoing revascularization or not, remains to be determined.

Methods And Results: One-thousand three-hundred and twenty-nine patients with suspect or known CAD who underwent cSE-WMP were followed for a median 5.5 years. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2017 May 16;15(1):39. Epub 2017 May 16.

Department of Pediatrics, Kawakita General Hospital, 1-7-3 Asagaya-kita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: The etiology of Kawasaki disease (KD) remains unknown. However, many studies have suggested that specific genetic factors and/or some infectious agents underlie the onset of KD. Previous studies have suggested that human adenovirus (HAdV) is one of the triggering pathogens of KD. Read More

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg 2017 Jan-Feb;32(1):15-21

Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the demographic, clinical and anatomic characteristics of coronary arteriovenous fistulas in adult patients who underwent open cardiac surgery and to review surgical management and outcomes.

Methods: Twenty-one adult patients (12 female, 9 male; mean age: 56.1±7. Read More

Cardiovasc Revasc Med 2017 Jul - Aug;18(5):384-389. Epub 2017 Mar 9.

Anesthesiology, Hospital Universitario Madrid Montepríncipe, Madrid, Spain.

Coronary artery fistulae (CAF) are uncommon heart defects defined as a communication between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or vascular structure. They are frequently asymptomatic; nevertheless, they can produce angina, dyspnea or cardiac failure. CAF are believed to be congenital; however, isolated cases of CAF have been described as rare complications of cardiac surgery. Read More

J Echocardiogr 2017 12 1;15(4):186-187. Epub 2017 Mar 1.

Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kanto Central Hospital of the Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers, 6-25-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo, 58-8531, Japan.

Indian Heart J 2017 Jan - Feb;69(1):81-86. Epub 2016 Jun 10.

Department of Radiodiagnosis & Imaging, Command Hospital (CC), Lucknow, India.

Background: Isolated coronary artery anomalies are usually clinically silent and mostly detected incidentally during angiography or autopsy. However, few of them may be implicated in cases of sudden cardiac death even in the absence of additional heart abnormalities. Prior knowledge of such variants and anomalies is necessary for planning various interventional procedures. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2017 Mar 18;38(3):624-630. Epub 2017 Feb 18.

Coronary Anomalies Program, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.

The evaluation of the vast majority of children with anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) and/or myocardial bridges is performed with non-invasive testing. However, a subset of these patients may benefit from invasive testing for risk stratification. All patients included in the Coronary Anomalies Program (CAP) at Texas Children's Hospital who underwent cardiac catheterization were included. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2016 26;7(Suppl 42):S1099-S1101. Epub 2016 Dec 26.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Mayfield Clinic, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Background: In patients with diabetes mellitus, epidural steroid injections (ESI) have been noted to cause significant elevation of blood glucose levels, typically lasting 1-3 days. Here, we describe a previously unreported complication of a diabetic third nerve palsy associated with an ESI.

Case Description: A 66-year-old man with a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus presented with low back pain and left lower extremity radiculopathy. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2017 May;51(5):1012-1014

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms are rare cardiac abnormalities that may be congenital or acquired. Patch closure or direct closure of the aneurysm orifice is a frequently performed surgical repair strategy. In this report, we present a rare case of an isolated giant right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with aortic insufficiency and right coronary artery obstruction. Read More

Korean J Pediatr 2016 Nov 30;59(Suppl 1):S80-S83. Epub 2016 Nov 30.

Department of Pediatrics, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.

Isolated anomalous right coronary artery originating from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is a rare congenital coronary anomaly that is asymptomatic and discovered incidentally in most cases. ARCAPA is generally not considered a fatal defect in infancy or childhood, although cases of sudden death have been reported. Here, we report a 2-month-old female infant who presented with a prolonged fever that was determined to be caused by rhinovirus infection. Read More

Pharmacol Rep 2017 Feb 21;69(1):150-155. Epub 2016 Sep 21.

Department of Internal Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Łódź, ul. Kniaziewicza 1/5, 91-347 Łódź, Poland.

Background: Many disease entities, including coronary artery disease (CAD), demonstrate abnormalities in the activity of cholinesterases. As CAD is characterized by an increase in cholesterol level, patients with this disease are treated with lipid-lowering drugs. The present study attempts to determine how statin or combined statin and ezetimibe therapy influences cholinesterase activity. Read More

World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2016 11;7(6):721-726

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Background: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) presents in varying age-groups. Assuming management algorithms differ between pediatric and adult institutions, we compared the perioperative management of patients with AAOCA at two such centers.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted at a pediatric and an adult institution of patients 14 years or older who underwent surgical repair of AAOCA between January 2000 and May 2014. Read More

Ann Anat 2017 Mar 21;210:25-31. Epub 2016 Oct 21.

Division of Cardiology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address:

Purpose: Myocardial bridge is a congenital anomaly with a markedly variable reported incidence on autopsy (4.7%-86%), likely related to geographical regions. Our previous retrospective study showed a prevalence of 0. Read More

Cardiol J 2017 17;24(2):159-166. Epub 2016 Oct 17.

Medical University of Warsaw.

Background: A retrospective study was designed to investigate P-wave duration changes in exercise stress test (EST) for the prediction of angiographically documented substantial coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We analyzed 265 cases of patients, who underwent EST and subsequently coronary angiography. Analysis of P-wave duration was performed in leads II, V5 at rest, and in the recovery period. Read More

Cardiovasc Revasc Med 2017 Apr - May;18(3):212. Epub 2016 Sep 29.

Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, 41 Mall Rd., Burlington, MA. Electronic address:

Isolated congenital single coronary artery (SCA) is rare (incidence 0.024-0.066%). Read More

Clin Res Cardiol 2017 Mar 11;106(3):211-218. Epub 2016 Oct 11.

Paediatric Cardiology, University Children's Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.

Introduction: Coronary artery fistula (CAF) is a rare congenital anomalous connection between the coronary arteries (CA) and a cardiac chamber or great vessel. Treatment options of symptomatic CAF consist of transcatheter or surgical closure.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients with CAF diagnosed between 1993 and 2014 concerning treatment approaches and follow-up after closure. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2017 Feb 20;103(2):504-510. Epub 2016 Sep 20.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany. Electronic address:

Background: Isolated repair of the regurgitant bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) has yielded suboptimal durability, with annular dilatation being important risk factor for recurrent aortic regurgitation. We hypothesized that adding a suture annuloplasty (SA) should lead to improved repair stability.

Methods: Between July 1999 and September 2014, 268 patients (mean age, 41 ± 13 years, 249 male) underwent isolated BAV repair. Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2016 Jul 4;11(1):93. Epub 2016 Jul 4.

Echocardiography and Vascular Ultrasound Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China.

Background: Right ventricular hypoplasia (RVH) is often caused by tricuspid valve atresia and pulmonary valve atresia. this condition leads to low right ventricular blood volume and right ventricular maldevelopment. But, in adults, the main cause of RVH may also be associated with alloplasia of the right coronary artery, which results in an insufficient blood supply to the right ventricular myocardium. Read More

Heart Surg Forum 2016 May 18;19(3):E099-103. Epub 2016 May 18.

Department Anesthesiology, Kocaeli Derince Education and Research Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a cluster of systemic abnormalities: hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, and hypertension. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the devastating complications after cardiac surgery. Age, DM, preexisting renal dysfunction, hypertension, impaired left ventricular function, and severe arteriosclerosis of the aorta are the major risk factors for the development of AKI. Read More

Cardiovasc Diagn Ther 2016 Jun;6(3):262-6

1 Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, USA ; 2 Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ, USA ; 3 Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, 4 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, USA.

Acute ST elevation in the anterior precordial leads typically suggests an anteroseptal infarction due to left anterior descending coronary artery obstruction, but the differential can be broad. Conus branch artery occlusion is a potentially overlooked cause of anteroseptal ST elevation myocardial infraction. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is an emerging technology which can differentiate the etiology of anterior ST elevation in patients with no apparent coronary abnormalities on coronary angiography and normal echocardiography. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2016 10 10;152(4):1123-1130.e1. Epub 2016 May 10.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Objective: Isolated congenital coronary artery fistula is a rare condition, and the surgical experience for treating this condition is limited.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of 47 patients who underwent surgical repair of isolated congenital coronary artery fistula from January 2001 to March 2015.

Results: All but 1 patient presented with no symptoms. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2016 Aug 15;37(6):1085-90. Epub 2016 Apr 15.

Fetal Heart Program, The Cardiac Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th St. and Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4399, USA.

Ventricular size discrepancy may be due to a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) in utero. We sought to investigate for differences in cardiac structure measures and hemodynamics between fetuses with isolated PLSVC connected to the coronary sinus (CS) and normal. Fetuses diagnosed with isolated PLSVC in the second and third trimester were enrolled. Read More

PLoS One 2016 11;11(4):e0153096. Epub 2016 Apr 11.

Lipid and Atherosclerosis Unit. IMIBIC/Reina Sofia University Hospital/University of Cordoba, and CIBER Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutricion (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.

Background: Recent data suggest that the presence of associated metabolic abnormalities may be important modifiers of the association of obesity with a poorer prognosis in coronary heart disease. We determined the influence of isolated overweight and obesity on carotid intima media thickness (IMT-CC), and also assessed whether this influence was determined by the presence of metabolic abnormalities.

Methods: 1002 participants from the CordioPrev study were studied at entry. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2016 Jun 24;212:259-61. Epub 2016 Mar 24.

Soins Intensifs Cardiologiques - Plateau de Cardiologie Interventionnelle, CHU de Bordeaux, Hôpital du Haut Lévêque, Pessac, France. Electronic address:

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2016 Apr;29(2):168-70

Baylor Scott & White Health and Texas A&M Health Science Center, Temple, Texas.

Congenital cardiac abnormalities diagnosed at the time of acute coronary syndrome are rare. A 43-year-old man presented to the emergency department complaining of recurring, severe chest pain. Subsequent emergent coronary angiography demonstrated unusual coronary anatomy: 1) one small caliber bifurcating vessel originating from the right sinus of Valsalva; 2) one very large vessel arising from the posterior sinus; and 3) no coronary artery from the normal left sinus of Valsalva. Read More

S Afr Med J 2016 Feb 4;106(3):284-9. Epub 2016 Feb 4.

Department of Biomedical and Clinical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, South Africa.

Background: Previous studies show a high prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in South African (SA) Asian Indians, with the emergence of premature coronary artery disease in young Indian subjects.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of CV risk factors in this population.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of randomly selected adults aged 15 - 64 years from the suburb of Phoenix in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, SA. Read More

Case Rep Cardiol 2016 6;2016:5482578. Epub 2016 Jan 6.

Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a myocardial disorder probably due to the arrest of normal embryogenesis of the left ventricle. It could be isolated or associated with other extracardiac and cardiac abnormalities, including coronary artery anomalies. Despite the continuous improvement of imaging resolution quality, this cardiomyopathy still remains frequently misdiagnosed, especially if associated with other heart diseases. Read More

Heart 2016 06 10;102(12):943-9. Epub 2016 Feb 10.

Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Objective: Variable coronary anatomy has been described in patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs). This was never specified to BAV morphology, and prognostic relevance of coronary vessel dominance in this patient group is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate valve morphology in relation to coronary artery anatomy and outcome in patients with isolated BAV and with associated aortic coarctation (CoA). Read More

Pol Arch Med Wewn 2016 ;126(1-2):12-8

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is still a challenge in clinical practice. The prognosis of patients with HFPEF is similar to or only slightly better than that of patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF). Impaired relaxation is the mildest form of diastolic dysfunction, which should not be accompanied by symptoms of HFPEF. Read More

World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2016 Mar 23;7(2):238-40. Epub 2015 Dec 23.

Guven Hospital Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.

A cleft sternum is a very rare developmental anomaly. It is caused by failure of fusion of the two lateral mesodermal sternal bars which later form the sternum. Diagnosis of cleft sternum is generally made in the neonatal period, and it is usually associated with other congenital defects. Read More