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Eur J Pharmacol 2022 Jun 29:175126. Epub 2022 Jun 29.

Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, PR China. Electronic address:

Purpose: Several studies have reported that colchicine attenuates cardiac inflammation and improves cardiac function in myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation. However, no study has investigated its effect on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Hence, this study aimed to assess its efficacy in a high salt diet (HSD)-induced HFpEF rat model. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2022 Jun 29. Epub 2022 Jun 29.

Division of Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Electronic address:

Background: Volume-outcome relationships have been described for mitral valve repair at the institution and surgeon level. We aimed to assess whether this relationship is mitigated at high-volume (HV) mitral repair centers between HV and low-volume (LV) surgeons.

Methods: All mitral repair cases at a HV mitral center (mean 192 annual repairs) from 1992 to 2018 were considered. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2022 Jun 29. Epub 2022 Jun 29.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Background: Guideline-directed medication adherence is considered an important quality measure following cardiac surgery. We evaluated compliance with ACC/AHA guidelines regarding warfarin use after surgical aortic valve replacement (sAVR) using bioprostheses and examined potential variations in anticoagulation practice over time.

Methods: Using the OptumLabs Data Warehouse®, we investigated adult patients having bioprosthetic sAVR with or without coronary artery bypass (2007-2019). Read More

J Psychosom Res 2022 Jun 25;160:110980. Epub 2022 Jun 25.

Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, the Netherlands.

Objective: Occurrence of psychological distress in hypertensive patients could have a negative synergistic effect on future cardiovascular events (CVEs). The aim of this study was to determine the association between anxiety or depressive symptoms in elderly hypertensive primary care patients and the development of new CVEs and all-cause mortality.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in five Dutch general practices between June 2010 and January 2012. Read More

Eur J Heart Fail 2022 Jul 2. Epub 2022 Jul 2.

Heart and Vascular Theme, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Aims: To investigate the association between catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) and mortality as well as hospitalization for heart failure (HF) in patients with HF across the ejection fraction (EF) spectrum.

Methods: Patients with first-time catheter ablation for AF (ablation group) compared to only medical treated AF patients (no ablation group) were identified from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry between 2005 and 2019. The primary outcome (all-cause mortality/first HF hospitalization) was assessed by Cox regression models in a 1:2 propensity score (PS) matched cohort and pre-specified EF subgroups (preserved EF [HFpEF] [EF≥50%], mildly reduced EF [HFmrEF] [EF 40% to 49%], reduced EF [HFrEF] [EF<40%]) of this cohort. Read More

Eur J Clin Invest 2022 Jul 1:e13830. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Unit of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), FG, Italy.

Background: The CHA DS -VASc score, widely used to estimate cardioembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), appears to be useful also in predicting vascular adverse events and death in different sets of patients without AF. The R CHA DS -VASc score, which includes renal impairment, allows a better prediction of death and thromboembolism in patients without AF. The aims of our study were to assess, in a large sample of patients at high cardiovascular (CV) risk, i) the correlation between CHA DS -VASc and R CHA DS -VASc with all-cause mortality, and ii) to compare the performances of CHA DS -VASc and R CHA DS -VASc in predicting all-cause mortality. Read More

BMC Med Imaging 2022 Jul 1;22(1):115. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Department of Radiology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xinsong Road, Shanghai, 201199, People's Republic of China.

Background: This study aims is to explore whether it is feasible to use magnetic resonance texture analysis (MRTA) in order to distinguish favorable from unfavorable function outcomes and determine the prognostic factors associated with favorable outcomes of stroke.

Methods: The retrospective study included 103 consecutive patients who confirmed unilateral anterior circulation subacute ischemic stroke by computed tomography angiography between January 2018 and September 2019. Patients were divided into favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale, mRS ≤ 2) and unfavorable outcome (mRS > 2) groups according to mRS scores at day 90. Read More

Heart Vessels 2022 Jul 1. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Department of Cardiology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.

Catheter ablation is an effective method of rhythm therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF). AF recurrence is a common problem after catheter ablation. The aim of this study was to investigate influence factors of early recurrence after catheter ablation for AF. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2022 Jun 28. Epub 2022 Jun 28.

Cardiology Department, des Hôpitaux G-G de l'Institut Catholique de Lille (Lille Catholic Hospital) Heart Valve Center, Lille Catholic University, Lille, France. Electronic address:

The optimal timing for mitral valve (MV) surgery in asymptomatic patients with primary mitral regurgitation (MR) remains controversial. We aimed at evaluating the relation between left ventricular ejection time (LVET) and outcome in patients with moderate or severe chronic primary MR because of prolapse. Clinical, Doppler echocardiographic, and outcome data prospectively collected from 302 patients (median age 61 [54 to 74] years, 34% women) with moderate or severe primary MR were analyzed. Read More

Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2022 Jun 28. Epub 2022 Jun 28.

Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biomedical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Following open-heart surgery, atrial fibrillation and stroke occur frequently. Left atrial appendage closure added to elective open-heart surgery could reduce the risk of ischemic stroke. We aim to examine if routine closure of the left atrial appendage in patients undergoing open-heart surgery provides long-term protection against cerebrovascular events independently of atrial fibrillation history, stroke risk, and oral anticoagulation use. Read More

Can J Cardiol 2022 Jun 28. Epub 2022 Jun 28.

Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada. Electronic address:

Ann Thorac Surg 2022 Jun 28. Epub 2022 Jun 28.

Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh; Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Background: Aortic root enlargement (ARE) can be an important adjunct for aortic valve replacement (AVR). This study compared outcomes of AVR with or without ARE.

Methods: This was an observational study utilizing an institutional database of aortic valve replacements from 2010 to 2020 comparing patients who underwent isolated AVR versus AVR with ARE. Read More

Aten Primaria 2022 Jun 28;54(8):102362. Epub 2022 Jun 28.

Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, España; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, España; Institut Català de la Salut, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, España.

Despite better diagnoses and treatments, heart failure (HF) is an important cause of death in Spain. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics and treatment of a population with chronic HF classified according to the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Population-based observational cohort study in Primary Health Care. Read More

Comput Med Imaging Graph 2022 Jun 16;99:102092. Epub 2022 Jun 16.

Department of Medical Imaging, Western University, London, Canada.

Accurate segmentation for the left atrium (LA) is a key process of clinical diagnosis and therapy for atrial fibrillation. In clinical, the semantic-level segmentation of LA consumes much time and labor. Although supervised deep learning methods can somewhat solve this problem, a high-efficient deep learning model requires abundant labeled data that is hard to acquire. Read More

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2022 Jun 27;31(8):106610. Epub 2022 Jun 27.

Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Faculty of Health, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Unit for Clinical Biostatistics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.

Background: Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) has been considered a stroke equivalent. This study compares risk factor profiles for thromboembolism among patients with RAO and stroke, respectively.

Methods: This case-control study is based on 5683 RAO patients entered in the Danish National Patient Register between 1 of January 2000 and 31 of December 2018. Read More

Nephrol Dial Transplant 2022 Jul 1. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Associazione Nefrologica Gabriella Sebastio, Martina Franca, Italy.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined by a rapid increase in serum creatinine levels, reduced urine output, or both. Death may occur in 16%-49% of patients admitted to an intensive care unit with severe AKI. Complex arrhythmias are a potentially serious complication in AKI patients with pre-existing or AKI-induced heart damage and myocardial dysfunction, fluid overload, and especially electrolyte and acid-base disorders representing the pathogenetic mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2022 Jul 1;101(26):e29322. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Neurological Intensive Care Department, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying City, Shandong Province, China.

There is conflicting information regarding the impact of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) on the outcomes of thrombolyzed patients with stroke. This study was designed to identify high-risk patients with chronic AF who had undergone thrombolysis treatment and to explore whether the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) could be used to distinguish poor clinical outcomes in thrombolyzed patients. A total of 164 acute ischemic stroke patients with chronic AF were enrolled in this study. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2022 Jul 1;101(26):e29816. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Department of Cardiology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an effective treatment option for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of data regarding the differences in the clinical outcomes of TAVR procedures between elderly and super-elderly patients. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients aged 65 to 79 years and ≥80 years who underwent TAVR for aortic stenosis. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2022 Jul 1;101(26):e29810. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Rationale: It is generally believed that cerebral infarction shows hypoattenuation on computed tomography (CT) scans 12 to 24 hours after onset. Cerebral edema affects the occurrence of hypoattenuation, originating from the inner edge of the infarct and extending to the core. When reperfusion occurs in the infarct, the process of cerebral edema changes significantly, affecting the imaging of cerebral infarction on CT scans. Read More

Eur J Prev Cardiol 2022 Jul 1. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Age Ageing 2022 Jul;51(7)

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.

Background: the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) compared with that of warfarin in very old patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) have been reported in terms of thromboembolisms and bleeding. However, the association of DOAC use and mortality in such patients remains unclear.

Objectives: this study aimed to investigate the incidence of mortality, as well as thromboembolisms and major bleeding, in very old patients with NVAF using DOACs as compared with warfarin. Read More

Int J Clin Pharm 2022 Jul 1. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, 4849 Calhoun Rd Suite 4050, Houston, TX, USA.

Background: Poor adherence to oral anticoagulants is a significant problem in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with comorbidities as it increases the risk for cardiac and thromboembolic events.

Aim: The primary objective was to evaluate adherence to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or warfarin using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM). The secondary objective was to identify the predictors of adherence to oral anticoagulants. Read More

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2022 Jul 1. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahimachi Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan.

Objective: We aimed to assess the results of posterior leaflet augmentation with an autologous pericardial patch in atrial functional mitral regurgitation.

Methods: Data of 16 patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation who underwent posterior leaflet patch augmentation for mitral valve repair were retrospectively analyzed. This procedure was applied to a short posterior leaflet with a height of < 10 mm in P2. Read More

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022 Jul 1. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

The Cardiovascular Department, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Purpose: Whether sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are associated with lower risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in patients with type 2 diabetes was unknown.

Methods: We used medical data from a multicentre health care provider in Taiwan and enrolled 16,566 and 2,746 patients treated with an SGLT2i and a GLP-1RA, respectively, from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018. Propensity score weighting was used to balance the baseline covariates. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2022 Jul 1. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Cardiac Surgery Unit, Lancisi Cardiovascular Center, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.

Objective: To compare procedural and in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing sutureless (Perceval, Livanova PLC, London, UK) and rapid deployment (Intuity Elite, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, USA) aortic valve replacement (group 1) versus sutured aortic valve replacement (group 2).

Methods: Patients receiving isolated aortic valve replacement between 2014 and 2020 were analysed using data from the Sutureless and Rapid Deployment International Registry. Patients in group 1 and group 2 were propensity-score matched in a 1:1 ratio. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2022 Jul 1. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

The Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS trust, London, United Kingdom.

Aims: Markers predicting AF termination and freedom from AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) has been proposed. This study aimed to evaluate the role of novel CS electrogram characteristics in predicting the acute ablation response and freedom from AF/AT during follow-up.

Methods: Patients undergoing ablation for persistent AF as part of the Stochastic Trajectory Analysis of Ranked signals mapping study were included. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2022 Jul 1. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Department of Cardiology, Ageo Central General Hospital, 1-10-10 Kashiwa-za, Ageo city, Saitama, Japan.

A 47-year-old man with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) underwent AF ablation. Activation maps during right atrial pacing and sinus rhythm before the ablation revealed distinctive left atrial (LA) propagations with multiple LA breakthrough sites via epicardial connections. A wide area circumferential ablation was not able to achieve a right pulmonary vein (RPV) isolation and required an inner PV ablation to isolate the RPV. Read More

J Clin Invest 2022 Jul;132(13)

Cardiovascular Department, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Tao Yuan, Taiwan.

Atrial fibrosis is an essential contributor to atrial fibrillation (AF). It remains unclear whether atrial endocardial endothelial cells (AEECs) that undergo endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) are among the sources of atrial fibroblasts. We studied human atria, TGF-β-treated human AEECs, cardiac-specific TGF-β-transgenic mice, and heart failure rabbits to identify the underlying mechanism of EndMT in atrial fibrosis. Read More

J Clin Invest 2022 Jul;132(13)

Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide, with an unmet therapeutic need. Fibrotic remodeling, in which collagen-producing atrial fibroblasts play a crucial role, substantially contributes to arrhythmia promotion and progression. In this issue of the JCI, Lai, Tsai, and co-authors reveal that TGF-β1 promoted endothelial-mesenchymal transition during AF and put forward the notion that, in the adult heart, atrial fibroblasts can originate from different cellular sources. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2022 Jun 30. Epub 2022 Jun 30.

Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.

Aims: Increased blood pressure (BP) and decreased heart rate (HR) are signs of stabilization in patients admitted for acute HF. Changes in BP and HR during admission and their correlation with outcomes were assessed in hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods: A novel modified reverse shock index (mRSI), defined as the ratio between changes in systolic BP and HR during admission, was devised, and its prognostic value in the early outcomes of acute HF was assessed using the Korean Acute HF registry. Read More