Bennettmedeiros0001

The risks for adverse thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis, are markedly increased in dyslipidemia and other metabolic disorders and are the major cause of death worldwide. Recent evidence points out that increased thrombotic risk in dyslipidemia is mediated by platelets circulating in a pre-activated state. The mechanisms of platelet reactivity in this setting are multifaceted including platelet activation by classic agonist receptor signaling as well as platelet sensitization by pattern recognition receptors. Elevated platelet counts in dyslipidemia due to dysregulation in hematopoiesis also contribute to the overall thrombotic phenotype. Despite recent advancements in antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapies, recurrences of adverse thrombotic events remain to be a large clinical burden. In the light of new knowledge, understanding mechanisms that drive pathologic thrombosis in dyslipidemia, the antithrombotic approach shall be revisited. Here, we discuss potential therapeutic avenues based on the overview of platelet signaling mechanisms that contribute to a prothrombotic phenotype in dyslipidemia.The complex and reciprocal relationship between the brain and the heart has gained increasing attention under the concept of neurocardiology. Myocardial injury is common in cerebrovascular disease, and cardiovascular complications are the second leading cause of death after stroke. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is a fast and reliable non-invasive tool for the assessment of cardioembolic sources. Compared to single energy CT, spectral/dual energy cardiac CT improves tissue characterization and also leads to significant reductions in contrast volume. In this review article, we portray the potential clinical applications of spectral CT in neurocardiology, focusing in the enhanced diagnosis of cardioembolic sources and cardiovascular risk assessment of patients with stroke, including improved detection of thrombus, identification of subtle myocardial disease, and pulmonary complications within the same session.In the next 20 years, the percentage of people older than 65 years of age in the United States is expected to double. Heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in developed nations, including the United States. Due to the increased incidence of cardiac disease in elderly patients, the need for special treatment considerations, including cardiac devices, may be necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality in this patient population. The purpose of this review is to provide a primer of the common cardiac devices used in the management of cardiac disorders in the geriatric patient population. In order to do this, we have performed a literature review for articles related to cardiac devices published between 2000 and 2020, in addition to reviewing guidelines and recommendations from relevant professional societies. We provide readers with an overview of several cardiac devices including implantable loop recorders, pacemakers, cardiac resynchronization therapy, automated implantable cardiac defibrillators, watchman devices, and ventricular assist devices. Indications, contraindications, clinical trial data, and general considerations in the geriatric population were included. Due to the aging population and increased incidence of cardiac disease, clinicians should be aware of the indications and contraindications of cardiac device therapy in the management of various cardiac conditions that afflict the geriatric population.Transcatheter mitral valve repair with MitraClip has emerged as a possible therapeutic option for patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) with high risk for surgical valve repair. MitraClip intervention has demonstrated to improve haemodynamics and clinical outcomes in selected patients in observational and randomized studies. Preoperative pulmonary hypertension (PH) is known to affect prognosis in patients undergoing surgical mitral valve intervention. The aim of the present review is to discuss the available literature focused on the haemodynamic and clinical effects of MitraClip in patients with severe MR and PH.The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) recently revised its heart allocation policy to address numerous shortcomings of the previous system. Implemented in 2018, the changes sought to reduce waiting list mortality, clearly define urgency status based on objective physiologic variables, decrease exemption requests, and introduce geographic modifications to ensure organ distribution favors the highest urgency candidates. In large part, UNOS policy revisions were driven by the growing use of continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) and the relevant device complications that led to an unacceptably high number of status exemptions. The new 6-tiered system assigns a comparatively lower urgency status to patients supported on CF-LVADs and higher urgency to patients supported on short-term mechanical circulatory assist (MCA) such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) counterpulsation. LVAD use as bridge to transplant (BTT) therapy increased steadily throughout the preceding decade due to technological improvements and increased physician familiarity, but the recent policy changes introduce incentives for physicians to withhold this life-saving therapy in order to achieve higher urgency status for their patients. This paper will explore the technological evolution of MCA and the pertinent clinical trials that have led to their FDA approval as BTT and destination therapy. PACAP 1-38 cost A review of the inception and development of the donor allocation system will be provided before examining available post-policy outcome data. Finally, we will highlight successes and shortcomings of the implemented changes before commenting on areas to potentially expand upon the existing policy.Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasingly prevalent and represents more than half of all heart failure cases. It is defined by the presence of heart failure signs and symptoms, identification of cardiac structural abnormalities leading to high left ventricular filling pressures, and an EF > 50%. Common imaging findings in HFpEF include left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, left atrial enlargement, and elevated pulmonary artery pressure (> 35 mm Hg). Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for diagnosing HFpEF. It can be complemented by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) when further characterization is needed. Advances like real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography and speckle-tracking derived strain, as well as tissue characterization by CMR, have furthered our understanding of the mechanisms and aided in making the diagnosis of a diverse group of conditions that can present as HFpEF. This review aims to touch upon the imaging methods of characterizing HFpEF and discuss their role in specific disease entities.