I. Pour-Ghaz, Sharif M Kayali, Iman Abutineh, Jay R. Patel, Sherif Roman, Mannu Nayyar, N. Yedlapati
{"title":"Cardiac Sarcoidosis: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management","authors":"I. Pour-Ghaz, Sharif M Kayali, Iman Abutineh, Jay R. Patel, Sherif Roman, Mannu Nayyar, N. Yedlapati","doi":"10.3390/HEARTS2020019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/HEARTS2020019","url":null,"abstract":"Sarcoidosis is a chronic multi-system disorder with an unknown etiology that can affect the cardiac tissue, resulting in Cardiac Sarcoidosis (CS). The majority of these CS cases are clinically silent, and when there are symptoms, the symptoms are vague and can have a lot in common with other common cardiac diseases. These symptoms can range from arrhythmias to heart failure. If CS goes undetected, it can lead to detrimental outcomes for patients. Diagnosis depends on timely utilization of imaging modalities and non-invasive testing, while in some cases, it does necessitate biopsy. Early diagnosis and treatment with immunosuppressive agents are crucial, and it is essential that follow-up testing be performed to ensure resolution and remission. This manuscript provides an in-depth review of CS and the current literature regarding CS diagnosis and treatment.","PeriodicalId":93563,"journal":{"name":"Hearts (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3390/HEARTS2020019","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43480394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Palliative Balloon Pulmonary Valvotomy in Tetralogy of Fallot: Is There a Role in 2021?","authors":"Supratim Sen, B. Dalvi","doi":"10.3390/HEARTS2020018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/HEARTS2020018","url":null,"abstract":"The current treatment practice for Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is to undertake complete surgical repair between 6–9 months of age with excellent immediate and long-term results. In patients with increased cyanosis or frequent cyanotic spells, younger age of complete repair as early as 3 months is usually acceptable. Although neonatal TOF repair is reported with good immediate survival from a few centres, post-operative morbidity is significant, and the hospital stay is prolonged. Hence, in neonates and small term and preterm infants with severe cyanosis, palliative procedures such as modified Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt, ductal stenting, right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stenting and balloon pulmonary valvotomy (BPV) have been reported. With the development of low-profile stents, an increasing clinician experience and more predictable outcome with both duct and RVOT stenting, these procedures have gained popularity as the preferred palliations for TOF at most centres. We reviewed the literature to analyse whether BPV for TOF palliation, a technique first reported three decades ago, still has a role in the present era of paediatric cardiac care. In this review, we have concluded that BPV has very specific indications in patients with TOF, with predominantly valvar pulmonary stenosis, and may be a preferred option over other palliative strategies in hypoxemic preterm or low-birth weight infants.","PeriodicalId":93563,"journal":{"name":"Hearts (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3390/HEARTS2020018","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48193680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tara A. Lenk, Carlos E. Guerra-Londono, Thomas Graul, Marc A. Murinson, Prabhdeep Hehar, G. Divine, R. Modak
{"title":"Is Greater Than 0.5 MAC Inhalational Agent Use Post-Bypass Related to Need for Inotropic and/or Vasoconstrictor Support?","authors":"Tara A. Lenk, Carlos E. Guerra-Londono, Thomas Graul, Marc A. Murinson, Prabhdeep Hehar, G. Divine, R. Modak","doi":"10.3390/HEARTS2020017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/HEARTS2020017","url":null,"abstract":"Background and Aims: We hypothesized that maintaining a patient on moderate–high doses of potent inhalational agent for greater than 30 min during the post-bypass period would be an independent predictor of initiation and usage of either inotropic and/or vasopressor infusions. Setting and Design: This study is a retrospective design and approved by the institutional review board. The setting was a single-center, academic tertiary care hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Materials and Methods: Three-hundred, ninety-seven elective cardiac surgery patients were identified for chart review. Electronic medical records were reviewed to collect demographics and perioperative data. Statistics used include a propensity score regression adjusted analysis utilizing logistic regression models and a multivariable model. Results: A propensity score regression adjusted analysis was performed and then applied in both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models with a p value of <0.05 reaching statistical significance. Fifty-six percent of the participants had an exposure of greater than 30 min of a minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane greater than 0.5 (ETISO ≥ 0.5MAC, 30 min) in the post-bypass period. After adjusting for propensity score, this was found to be a significant predictor of inotrope and/or vasoconstrictor use post-bypass (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.15–5.38, p = 0.021). In the multivariate model, pulmonary hypertension (OR 5.9; 95% CI 1.33–26.28; p = 0.02), Euroscore II (2.73; 95% CI 1.35–5.5; p = 0.005), and cardiopulmonary bypass hours (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.02–3.4; p = 0.042) emerged as significant. Conclusions: This study showed that an ETISO ≥ 0.5MAC, 30 min exposure during the immediate post-bypass period during elective cardiac surgery was an independent predictor of a patient being started on inotrope or vasoconstrictor infusions. Further research should consider a prospective design and examine depth of anesthesia during the post-bypass period.","PeriodicalId":93563,"journal":{"name":"Hearts (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"2 1","pages":"213-223"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3390/HEARTS2020017","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46568583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Molecular Basis of Atrial Fibrillation Initiation and Maintenance","authors":"K. Beneke, C. Molina","doi":"10.3390/HEARTS2010014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/HEARTS2010014","url":null,"abstract":"Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, largely associated to morbidity and mortality. Over the past decades, research in appearance and progression of this arrhythmia have turned into significant advances in its management. However, the incidence of AF continues to increase with the aging of the population and many important fundamental and translational underlaying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we review recent advances in molecular and cellular basis for AF initiation, maintenance and progression. We first provide an overview of the basic molecular and electrophysiological mechanisms that lead and characterize AF. Next, we discuss the upstream regulatory factors conducting the underlying mechanisms which drive electrical and structural AF-associated remodeling, including genetic factors (risk variants associated to AF as transcriptional regulators and genetic changes associated to AF), neurohormonal regulation (i.e., cAMP) and oxidative stress imbalance (cGMP and mitochondrial dysfunction). Finally, we discuss the potential therapeutic implications of those findings, the knowledge gaps and consider future approaches to improve clinical management.","PeriodicalId":93563,"journal":{"name":"Hearts (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3390/HEARTS2010014","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44466458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F. Giallauria, Alessandro Parlato, A. Di Lorenzo, Crescenzo Testa, A. D’Onofrio, G. Sinagra, M. Biffi, C. Vigorito, A. Coats
{"title":"Cardiac Contractility Modulation in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction","authors":"F. Giallauria, Alessandro Parlato, A. Di Lorenzo, Crescenzo Testa, A. D’Onofrio, G. Sinagra, M. Biffi, C. Vigorito, A. Coats","doi":"10.3390/HEARTS2010013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/HEARTS2010013","url":null,"abstract":"Cardiac contractility modulation is an innovative therapy conceived for the treatment of heart failure. It is a device-based therapy, employing multiple electrodes to deliver relatively high-voltage (~7.5 V) biphasic signals to the endocardium of the right ventricular septum, in order to improve heart failure symptoms, exercise capacity and quality of life. Multiple clinical and mechanistic studies have been conducted to investigate the potential usefulness of this technology and, as of now, they suggest that it could have a place in therapy and meet a relevant medical need for a specific sub-category of underserved heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. More studies are needed to further investigate its effect on outcomes such as mortality and rate of hospitalizations.","PeriodicalId":93563,"journal":{"name":"Hearts (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3390/HEARTS2010013","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46930783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Loforte, L. Botta, S. Boschi, G. Gliozzi, G. Cavalli, C. Mariani, S. Martìn Suarez, D. Pacini
{"title":"Durable Continuous-Flow Mechanical Circulatory Support: State of the Art","authors":"A. Loforte, L. Botta, S. Boschi, G. Gliozzi, G. Cavalli, C. Mariani, S. Martìn Suarez, D. Pacini","doi":"10.3390/HEARTS2010010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/HEARTS2010010","url":null,"abstract":"Implantable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) systems for ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy have emerged as an important strategy due to a shortage of donor organs for heart transplantation. A growing number of patients are receiving permanent assist devices, while fewer are undergoing heart transplantation (Htx). Continuous-flow (CF) pumps, as devices that can be permanently implanted, show promise for the treatment of both young and old patients with heart failure (HF). Further improvement of these devices will decrease adverse events, enable pulse modulation of continuous blood flow, and improve automatic remote monitoring. Ease of use for patients could also be improved. We herein report on the current state of the art regarding implantable CF pumps for use as MCS systems in the treatment of advanced refractory HF.","PeriodicalId":93563,"journal":{"name":"Hearts (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3390/HEARTS2010010","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48709814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Isa, O. Adegbala, O. Buhari, Mahin R Khan, O. S. Adekolujo, Oyebimpe O. Adekolujo, A. Munir, Mustafa Hassan
{"title":"Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on In-Hospital Outcomes of Patients with Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction","authors":"S. Isa, O. Adegbala, O. Buhari, Mahin R Khan, O. S. Adekolujo, Oyebimpe O. Adekolujo, A. Munir, Mustafa Hassan","doi":"10.3390/HEARTS2010009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/HEARTS2010009","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common breathing disorders. There are uncertainties about its impact on the in-hospital outcomes of patients who suffer acute coronary syndromes. We studied the largest publicly available all-payer inpatient healthcare database in the United States (National Inpatient Sample) to determine the effects of obstructive sleep apnea on the in-hospital outcomes of patients admitted with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Methods: All adult patients (age ≥ 18) admitted primarily for NSTEMI between September 2010 and September 2015 were identified in the National Inpatient Sample. They were then categorized into those with OSA and those without OSA. The main outcome was in-hospital mortality. Propensity scoring and logistic regression models were created to determine the outcomes. Results: There were 1,984,432 patients with NSTEMI (weighted estimates), 123,551 (6.23%) of who had diagnosed OSA while 1,860,881 (93.77%) did not. In-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the OSA group [2.61% vs. 3.53%, adjusted odd ratio (aOR) 0.73 and confidence interval (CI) (0.66–0.81)]. Patients with OSA were also less likely to require coronary artery bypass surgery: 13.85% and 12.77% (p-value 0.0003). The patients with OSA had higher mean hospital costs compared to the patients who did not have OSA: $17,326 vs. $16,984, adjusted mean ratio (aMR) 1.02; CI (1.01–1.02). Conclusion: In-hospital mortality was lower in NSTEMI patients with diagnosed OSA compared to patients without diagnosed OSA. This appears to contrast with the widely recognized adverse effects of OSA on the cardiovascular system.","PeriodicalId":93563,"journal":{"name":"Hearts (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3390/HEARTS2010009","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47497125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. Franco, C. García-Padilla, J. Domínguez, E. Lozano-Velasco, A. Aránega
{"title":"Cardiac Development: A Glimpse on Its Translational Contributions","authors":"D. Franco, C. García-Padilla, J. Domínguez, E. Lozano-Velasco, A. Aránega","doi":"10.3390/HEARTS2010008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/HEARTS2010008","url":null,"abstract":"Cardiac development is a complex developmental process that is initiated soon after gastrulation, as two sets of precardiac mesodermal precursors are symmetrically located and subsequently fused at the embryonic midline forming the cardiac straight tube. Thereafter, the cardiac straight tube invariably bends to the right, configuring the first sign of morphological left–right asymmetry and soon thereafter the atrial and ventricular chambers are formed, expanded and progressively septated. As a consequence of all these morphogenetic processes, the fetal heart acquired a four-chambered structure having distinct inlet and outlet connections and a specialized conduction system capable of directing the electrical impulse within the fully formed heart. Over the last decades, our understanding of the morphogenetic, cellular, and molecular pathways involved in cardiac development has exponentially grown. Multiples aspects of the initial discoveries during heart formation has served as guiding tools to understand the etiology of cardiac congenital anomalies and adult cardiac pathology, as well as to enlighten novels approaches to heal the damaged heart. In this review we provide an overview of the complex cellular and molecular pathways driving heart morphogenesis and how those discoveries have provided new roads into the genetic, clinical and therapeutic management of the diseased hearts.","PeriodicalId":93563,"journal":{"name":"Hearts (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3390/HEARTS2010008","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47254561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
G. Mingrone, Elena Coletti Moia, Erica Delsignore, G. Demicheli, P. Destefanis, D. Forno, G. Giglio Tos, A. Luciano, G. Pinna, L. Ravera, A. Fava, F. Veglio, O. Bertetto, A. Milan
{"title":"Risk Stratification and Management of Arterial Hypertension and Cardiovascular Adverse Events Related to Cancer Treatments: An Oncology Network from Piedmont and Aosta Valley (North-Western Italy) Consensus Document","authors":"G. Mingrone, Elena Coletti Moia, Erica Delsignore, G. Demicheli, P. Destefanis, D. Forno, G. Giglio Tos, A. Luciano, G. Pinna, L. Ravera, A. Fava, F. Veglio, O. Bertetto, A. Milan","doi":"10.3390/HEARTS2010006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/HEARTS2010006","url":null,"abstract":"Cancer patients receiving a potentially cardiotoxic oncologic therapy have an increased risk of cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs), especially in presence of concomitant arterial hypertension (AH). Therefore, cancer patients should be evaluated before, during and after cardiotoxic treatments, to early identify new-onset or worsening AH or CVAEs. An expert panel of oncology networks from Piedmont and Aosta Valley (North-Western Italy) aimed to provide recommendations to support health professionals in selecting the best management strategies for patients, considering the impact on outcome and the risk–benefit ratio of diagnostic/therapeutic tools. We proposed an useful document for evaluating and managing AH related to cancer treatments. Patients should be divided into 4 cardiovascular (CV) risk groups before starting potentially cardiotoxic therapies: patients with low/moderate risk who should be entirely evaluated by oncologists and patients with high/very high risk who should be referred to a cardiologist or arterial hypertension specialist. According to the CV risk class, every patient should be followed up during cancer treatment to monitor any possible CV complications. Adequate control of AH related to antineoplastic treatments is crucial to prevent severe CVAEs. In the presence of high-profile risk or lack of response to anti-hypertensive therapy, the patients should be managed with a cardiovascular-oncology expert center.","PeriodicalId":93563,"journal":{"name":"Hearts (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3390/HEARTS2010006","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45872324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
I. Ponz, J. Nuche, V. Sánchez Sánchez, J. Sánchez-González, Zorba Blázquez-Bermejo, Pedro Caravaca Pérez, M. D. García-Cosío Carmena, J. de Juan Bagudá, A. Rodríguez Chaverri, F. Sarnago Cebada, F. Arribas Ynsaurriaga, B. Ibáñez, J. D. Delgado Jiménez
{"title":"Non-Invasive Assessment of Pulmonary Vasculopathy","authors":"I. Ponz, J. Nuche, V. Sánchez Sánchez, J. Sánchez-González, Zorba Blázquez-Bermejo, Pedro Caravaca Pérez, M. D. García-Cosío Carmena, J. de Juan Bagudá, A. Rodríguez Chaverri, F. Sarnago Cebada, F. Arribas Ynsaurriaga, B. Ibáñez, J. D. Delgado Jiménez","doi":"10.3390/hearts2010002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/hearts2010002","url":null,"abstract":"Right heart catheterization remains necessary for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension and, therefore, for the prognostic evaluation of patients with chronic heart failure. The non-invaSive Assessment of Pulmonary vasculoPathy in Heart failure (SAPPHIRE) study was designed to assess the feasibility and prognostic relevance of a non-invasive evaluation of the pulmonary artery vasculature in patients with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Patients will undergo a right heart catheterization, cardiac resonance imaging, and a pulmonary function test in order to identify structural and functional parameters allowing the identification of combined pre- and postcapillary pulmonary hypertension, and correlate these findings with the hemodynamic data.","PeriodicalId":93563,"journal":{"name":"Hearts (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3390/hearts2010002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44534995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}