HerzPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-06-04DOI: 10.1007/s00059-024-05251-4
Levent Pay, Tuğba Çetin, Kıvanç Keskin, Şeyda Dereli, Ozan Tezen, Ahmet Çağdaş Yumurtaş, Zeynep Kolak, Semih Eren, Faysal Şaylık, Tufan Çınar, Mert İlker Hayıroğlu
{"title":"Prognostic value of pulmonary artery diameter/aorta diameter ratio in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.","authors":"Levent Pay, Tuğba Çetin, Kıvanç Keskin, Şeyda Dereli, Ozan Tezen, Ahmet Çağdaş Yumurtaş, Zeynep Kolak, Semih Eren, Faysal Şaylık, Tufan Çınar, Mert İlker Hayıroğlu","doi":"10.1007/s00059-024-05251-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00059-024-05251-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The ratio of pulmonary artery diameter (PAD) to ascending aortic diameter (AoD) has been reported to be a prognostic marker in several lung diseases; however, the usefulness of this tool in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is unknown. Here, we aimed to determine the long-term prognostic value of the PAD/AoD ratio in patients with APE.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 275 patients diagnosed with APE at our tertiary care center between November 2016 and February 2022 were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of long-term mortality and their PAD/AoD ratios were compared.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Long-term mortality was observed in 48 patients during the median follow-up of 59 (39-73) months. The patients were divided into two groups for analysis: group 1, consisting of 227 patients without recorded mortality, and group 2, consisting of 48 patients with documented mortality. A multivariate Cox regression model indicated that the PAD/AoD ratio has the potential to predict long-term mortality (HR: 2.9116, 95% CI: 1.1544-7.3436, p = 0.023). Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that there was no discernible difference in discriminative ability between the simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI) and PAD/AoD ratio (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.679 vs. 0.684, respectively, p = 0.937). The long-term predictive ability of the PAD/AoD ratio was not inferior to the sPESI score.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The PAD/AoD ratio, which can be easily calculated from pulmonary computed tomography, may be a useful parameter for determining the prognosis of APE patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":12863,"journal":{"name":"Herz","volume":" ","pages":"464-471"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141237402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HerzPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-10-25DOI: 10.1007/s00059-024-05279-6
Kristin Annawald, Katrin Streckfuss-Bömeke, Thomas Meyer
{"title":"Methamphetamine-induced cardiotoxicity: in search of protective transcriptional mechanisms.","authors":"Kristin Annawald, Katrin Streckfuss-Bömeke, Thomas Meyer","doi":"10.1007/s00059-024-05279-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00059-024-05279-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Crystalline methamphetamine hydrochloride is an illegal drug with a high addictive potential, better known by its colloquial name \"ice\" or \"crystal meth\". The abuse of this drug has led to significant health problems worldwide. Like other amphetamine-type stimulants, chronic consumption of methamphetamine leads to direct toxic effects on the central nervous system, causing cognitive impairment, depressive behavior, and other severe neurological or psychiatric symptoms. Besides its neurotoxicity, the drug exhibits numerous deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system, including hypertension, accelerated atherosclerosis, vasospasm-induced acute coronary syndromes, sudden cardiac death, and dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction. The excessive release of catecholamines upon methamphetamine exposure causes vasoconstriction and vasospasm, which ultimately lead to hypertension, tachycardia, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiotoxicity. While numerous studies have focused on transcription factors expressed in the brain that cause the neurotoxic effects of the drug, much less is known about transcription factors involved in the development of methamphetamine-induced heart failure. In this article, we provide an overview of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK-STAT3) pathway involved in ischemia/reperfusion injury in the myocardium, which may be activated by the vasospasm-inducing action of the drug. However, much more work is needed to decipher the precise role of STAT protein family members, including the potentially cardioprotective STAT3, in the pathogenesis of methamphetamine-induced cardiotoxicity.</p>","PeriodicalId":12863,"journal":{"name":"Herz","volume":" ","pages":"434-440"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11602861/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142499099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HerzPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-08-05DOI: 10.1007/s00059-024-05259-w
Qiling Kong, Huolong Chen, Juan Hua, Ziyi Xiong, Shuyun Le, Jinwei Liu, Dandan Wang, Qi Chen
{"title":"Safety assessment of coronary arteries during left bundle branch area pacing.","authors":"Qiling Kong, Huolong Chen, Juan Hua, Ziyi Xiong, Shuyun Le, Jinwei Liu, Dandan Wang, Qi Chen","doi":"10.1007/s00059-024-05259-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00059-024-05259-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to assess the safety of left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) by measuring the distance from the tip of the electrode to the nearby coronary artery with a nine-partition grid method.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From January 2019 to October 2020, patients who underwent LBBAP and postoperative coronary angiography in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were included in the study. The patients' fluoroscopic images of LBBAP and coronary angiography were collected and analyzed. Changes in the ST‑T segment in the electrocardiogram (ECG), serum troponin, and myocardial enzyme profiles were observed before and after the LBBAP procedure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 50 patients were included in this study, of whom 46 patients underwent implantation with a pacemaker and 4 patients received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The pacing electrodes were confined to the posterior-middle (PM), median (M), Posterior inferior (PI), and middle inferior (MI) positions of the two-dimensional nine-square grid or in the junction area of the above positions, and were concentrated in the rectangle formed by the line of the center points of the four positions. The average vertical distances from the electrode tip to the left anterior descending branch artery (LAD), posterior descending branches (PD) and the left posterior ventricular branches (PL) were 19.69 ± 8.72 mm, 26.09 ± 8.02 mm, and 21.11 ± 7.86 mm, respectively; the minimum was 5.28 mm, 9.51 mm, and 8.69 mm, respectively. Coronary angiography in all patients showed no significant injury to the ventricular septal branch; however, we observed elevated serum troponin and changes in ST‑T segment in ECG.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study demonstrates that pacing electrodes in LBBAP can be safely implanted over a wide range. Coronary arteries are likely to be safe when the pacing electrodes are located within the rectangle formed by the line connecting the PM, M, PI, and MI zone centroids. The left bundle branch can be quickly captured and the safety of the coronary artery can be improved by locating the electrode in the posterior-mid zone. The potential risk of injury to the LAD from the electrode is greater compared with the PD.</p>","PeriodicalId":12863,"journal":{"name":"Herz","volume":" ","pages":"472-478"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11602848/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141893261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HerzPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-11-04DOI: 10.1007/s00059-024-05280-z
Bernhard Maisch
{"title":"Alcohol consumption-none is better than a little.","authors":"Bernhard Maisch","doi":"10.1007/s00059-024-05280-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00059-024-05280-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alcohol is socially accepted and widely consumed as a recreational beverage. Furthermore, it is used as a disinfectant for medicinal purposes and as a cultural asset it is also part of religious rituals. However, it is also an intoxicant and an addictive substance. The deleterious side of alcohol is reflected in the fact that around 3 million people worldwide die every year as a direct or indirect result of alcohol consumption. For several decades, epidemiological studies suggested that drinking alcohol in moderate quantities was beneficial. This was referred to as the \"French paradox,\" which described differences in mortality between France and Finland mainly, but also other countries, that were found in epidemiological studies. The difference in the levels of alcohol consumption was found to explain the differences in mortality in view of the otherwise similar risk factors. When alcoholic drinks per day were plotted against all-cause mortality this led to a J-shaped curve. This finding represented a window of benefit for moderate alcohol consumption. However, the recent publication by Zhao et al. in 2023 revisited the relationship between the quantity of alcohol consumed and mortality risk and led to a paradigm change, which has influenced not only the recommendations of Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health but also the recommendations and guidelines of major health organizations: \"No alcohol is better than a little.\" The J‑shaped curve as an explanation of the French paradox became a linear relationship between the amount of alcohol consumption and the increasing mortality from tumors and cardiovascular diseases. The renewed review of several control groups in previous epidemiological studies revealed a recruitment error due to the inclusion of abstinent ex-drinkers. Taking this bias into account, the alcohol-friendly view of small amounts of alcohol being cardioprotective had to be revised. The combined misuse of alcohol and other risk factors for carcinogenesis and heart diseases still needs further attention. The misuse of both alcohol and cocaine led to the conclusion that when the two risky substances are consumed together, it is even more detrimental than the mere sum of the two.</p>","PeriodicalId":12863,"journal":{"name":"Herz","volume":" ","pages":"409-419"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11602851/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142567754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HerzPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-11-04DOI: 10.1007/s00059-024-05282-x
Julia Sharkova, Tanja Nickolaus, Jürgen R Schaefer
{"title":"Effects of cannabis use on the heart.","authors":"Julia Sharkova, Tanja Nickolaus, Jürgen R Schaefer","doi":"10.1007/s00059-024-05282-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00059-024-05282-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cannabis and the marijuana derived from it, which mainly contains the psychoactive ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is increasingly being used both for medicinal purposes and as a narcotic. While many emphasize the positive aspects and uses of cannabis, it is equally important to examine the potential negative effects on health. Here, we pay special attention to undesired cardiovascular effects, as the cardiovascular system is known to react strongly to psychoactive substances. This article highlights the current scientific findings on the effects of cannabis and marijuana on the heart and cardiovascular system. Since many patients conceal their marijuana consumption, we expect a high number of unreported cases. Therefore, the need to disclose any drug consumption is crucial for further therapeutic decisions when taking the medical history.</p>","PeriodicalId":12863,"journal":{"name":"Herz","volume":" ","pages":"420-427"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142575910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HerzPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-09-27DOI: 10.1007/s00059-024-05273-y
Johannes Kramer, Gabi Koller, Oliver Pogarell
{"title":"Cannabinoids and the heart-a psychiatrist's perspective.","authors":"Johannes Kramer, Gabi Koller, Oliver Pogarell","doi":"10.1007/s00059-024-05273-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00059-024-05273-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The partial legalization of cannabis in Germany in 2024 will affect both medical and recreational use of cannabis. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, influences heart rate and blood pressure through the endocannabinoid system. Acute and chronic use can pose cardiovascular risks. There is evidence of a link between cannabis use and cardiovascular events such as stroke and myocardial infarction, although studies show conflicting results. The non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) could have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Smoking cannabis poses additional cardiovascular risks similar to tobacco. Given these risks, cardiologists should routinely ask their patients about possible cannabis use and inform them about the potential cardiovascular dangers. The article also highlights the psychiatric risks of cannabis use, including dependence and psychosis, and emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between cardiologists and psychiatrists to effectively manage cannabis-related health problems.</p>","PeriodicalId":12863,"journal":{"name":"Herz","volume":" ","pages":"428-433"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142345171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HerzPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-05-07DOI: 10.1007/s00059-024-05249-y
Muhammad Umair Javaid, Muhammad Ikrama, Shafqat Abbas, Muhammad Saad Javaid, Muhammad Danial Khalid, Nabeel Riaz, Malik Ahsan Safdar
{"title":"Exploring Roemheld syndrome: a comprehensive review with proposed diagnostic criteria.","authors":"Muhammad Umair Javaid, Muhammad Ikrama, Shafqat Abbas, Muhammad Saad Javaid, Muhammad Danial Khalid, Nabeel Riaz, Malik Ahsan Safdar","doi":"10.1007/s00059-024-05249-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00059-024-05249-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Roemheld syndrome (RS) is a condition that triggers cardiac symptoms due to gastrointestinal compression of the heart. It is often misdiagnosed as other types of cardiac or digestive disorders, leading to unnecessary treatments and reduced quality of life. Here, we provide a thorough review of RS, covering its pathogenesis, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. We found that a number of conditions, including gallstones, hiatal hernia, excessive gas, and gastroesophageal reflux syndrome, can cause RS. The symptoms of RS can include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and abdominal pain. Clinical history, physical examination, electrocardiograms, and improvement in symptoms following gastrointestinal therapy can all be used to identify RS. We also propose a set of criteria, the IKMAIR criteria, to improve the diagnostic approach for this condition. Dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, pharmaceutical therapies, and surgical procedures can all be used to control RS. Depending on the underlying etiology and the outcome of treatment, RS has a varying prognosis. We conclude that RS is a complicated and understudied disorder that needs more attention from researchers and patients as well as from medical professionals. We recommend the inclusion of RS in the differential diagnosis for individuals with gastrointestinal problems and unexplained cardiac symptoms. Additionally, we advise treating RS holistically by attending to its cardiac and gastrointestinal components.</p>","PeriodicalId":12863,"journal":{"name":"Herz","volume":" ","pages":"448-455"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140876300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HerzPub Date : 2024-10-16DOI: 10.1007/s00059-024-05277-8
Akbulut Muge, Tan Kürklü Seda, Gulyigit Halil, Ozerdem Emre, Kozluca Volkan, Esenboga Kerim, Baskovski Emir, Demirtola Ayse Irem, Tekin Cemre, Dincer Irem
{"title":"Left atrial appendage orifice morphology in sickness and in health.","authors":"Akbulut Muge, Tan Kürklü Seda, Gulyigit Halil, Ozerdem Emre, Kozluca Volkan, Esenboga Kerim, Baskovski Emir, Demirtola Ayse Irem, Tekin Cemre, Dincer Irem","doi":"10.1007/s00059-024-05277-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00059-024-05277-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The left atrial appendage (LAA) is the primary site of embolism in individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to evaluate the morphological features of the LAA orifice in patients with sinus rhythm, paroxysmal AF, and persistent AF using three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TOE). We also intended to identify morphometric parameters of the LAA orifice that may be potentially associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We prospectively enrolled 106 patients undergoing TOE. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (sinus rhythm), group 2 (persistent AF), and group 3 (paroxysmal AF). All patients underwent a comprehensive evaluation through transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and TOE. Off-line analyses were performed of the recorded images.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The LAA minor orifice area and minimal orifice diameter were greater in patients with persistent AF compared with individuals in sinus rhythm. Patients with persistent AF also had deeper LAAs compared with those in sinus rhythm. None of the LAA orifice morphometric measures were related to ischemic stroke risk. The only independent predictors of ischemic stroke were heart rhythm and the CHA<sub>2</sub>DS<sub>2</sub>VASc score.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Persistent AF is associated with LAA dilation, increased depth, and larger orifice size. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate LAA orifice structural remodeling in patients with AF using 3D TOE.</p>","PeriodicalId":12863,"journal":{"name":"Herz","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142463340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HerzPub Date : 2024-10-01Epub Date: 2024-09-25DOI: 10.1007/s00059-024-05270-1
Peter W Radke
{"title":"[eCardiology].","authors":"Peter W Radke","doi":"10.1007/s00059-024-05270-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00059-024-05270-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12863,"journal":{"name":"Herz","volume":"49 5","pages":"319-320"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142345180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HerzPub Date : 2024-10-01Epub Date: 2024-08-27DOI: 10.1007/s00059-024-05260-3
Nora Kähler, Gerhard Hindricks, Nikolaos Dagres, Verena Tscholl
{"title":"[Diagnostics and treatment of syncope].","authors":"Nora Kähler, Gerhard Hindricks, Nikolaos Dagres, Verena Tscholl","doi":"10.1007/s00059-024-05260-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00059-024-05260-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The 2018 guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) provide improved algorithms for the diagnostics and treatment of syncope. New guidelines on ventricular tachycardia, on the prevention of sudden cardiac death and on cardiomyopathies and pacemakers have refined the recommendations. The detailed medical history and examination are crucial for differentiating between cardiac and noncardiac causes and determining the appropriate treatment. High-risk patients need urgent and comprehensive diagnostics. The basic diagnostics include medical history, physical examination and a 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG). Further tests, such as long-term ECG monitoring, implantable loop recorders and electrophysiological investigations are helpful in unclear cases. The treatment depends on the cause, with pacemaker implantation and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) being important for cardiac causes, while behavioral measures and medication management have priority for noncardiac syncope.</p>","PeriodicalId":12863,"journal":{"name":"Herz","volume":" ","pages":"394-403"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142072610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}