Penningtonmacgregor3974

Hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system plays a central role in the pathophysiology of hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess cardiac sympathetic activity and investigate the role of myocardial123I-labelled meta-iodo benzyl guanidine ([123I] MIBG) scintigraphy in cardiovascular risk stratification of patients with resistant hypertension treated with renal denervation (RDN). Eighteen patients were included in this prospective study (mean age 56 ± 10 years old, 27.8% females). Transthoracic echocardiogram, general blood analysis and myocardial ([123I] MIBG scintigraphy were performed before and six-months after RDN. A patient was considered a responder (R) if a drop ≥ 5mmHg on mean systolic ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring was observed at the six-month follow-up. 66.7% of patients were R (drop in systolic BP of 20.6 ± 14.5mmHg, vs minus 8 ± 11.6mmHg in non-responders (NR), p=0.001). Early heart-mediastinum ratio (HMR) was significantly lower at baseline in the R group (1.6 ± 0.1 vs 1.72 ± 0.1, p less then 0.02) but similar at six months. Considering both instants in time, the R group had lower early HMR values than the NR group (p less then 0.05). Both the late HMR and the washout rate were identical and no significant correlation between response to RDN or any MIBG imaging index was found. Renal denervation effectively lowered blood pressure in the majority of patients but [123I] MIBG was not useful in predicting the response. However, there was evidence of sympathetic overdrive and, both early and late HMR were overall reduced, probably putting this population at a higher risk of adverse events.

Conventional right ventricular pacing increases the risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure in pacemaker patients. Stimulation of the left bundle branch (LBB) of the His-Purkinje system can prevent the unwanted outcomes of right ventricular pacing.

To retrospectively analyze the intraoperative outcomes, electrocardiographic and clinical data from the initial follow-up of patients submitted to stimulation of the LBB.

The electronic parameters of the implant and of possible early complications of 52 consecutive patients submitted to stimulation of the conduction system were evaluated. The adopted significance level was 0.05.

Fifty-two patients underwent left bundle branch stimulation, with 50 successful procedures; 69.2% of the patients were male, and the median and interquartile range of age at the time of implantation was 73.5 (65.0-80.0) years. The pre-implant QRS duration was 146 (104-175) ms and 120 (112-130) ms after the procedure. The left ventricle activation time was 78 (70-84) ms. The R-wave amplitude was 12.00 (7.95-15.30) mV, with a stimulation threshold of 0.5 (0.4-0.7) V x 0.4 ms and impedance of 676 (534-780) ohms. The procedure duration was 116 (90-130) min, and the fluoroscopy time was 14.2 (10.0-21.6) min.

Cardiac stimulation of the His-Purkinje conduction system through the stimulation of the left bundle branch is a safe and feasible technique. In this study, it showed a high success rate, with low procedure and fluoroscopy periods, achieving adequate electronic measurements.

Cardiac stimulation of the His-Purkinje conduction system through the stimulation of the left bundle branch is a safe and feasible technique. In this study, it showed a high success rate, with low procedure and fluoroscopy periods, achieving adequate electronic measurements.

Artificial cardiac pacing by direct or indirect His bundle capture results in synchronous ventricular contraction (physiological pacing).

To compare cardiac synchronization, technical characteristics, and electronic parameters between two techniques of indirect His-bundle pacing non-selective (NS-HBP) vs para-Hisian pacing (PHP).

The experimental intervention (between November 2019 and April 2020) consisted of implanting a DDD pacemaker in patients who had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) > 35%. The resulting cardiac synchronization was compared using an electrocardiographic algorithm that analyzed QRS variation and the technical characteristics of non-selective Hisian pacing (DDD-His) and para-Hisian pacing (DDD-Var).

Of 51 total patients (men 28), 66.7% (34) were allocated to the DDD-Var group and 33.3% (17) to the DDD-His group. The mean ages in each group were 74 and 79 years, respectively. In the DDD-Var group, QRS variation (ventricular synchrony) improved after implantation (p < egy for physiological pacing, resulting in synchronous ventricular contraction similar to that of non-selective Hisian pacing.

The direct relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and lung cancer is not well known.

To investigate the association between the anatomical severity of CAD and lung cancer.

Three-hundred study patients, including 75 recently diagnosed lung cancer patients and 225 matched non-cancer patients, underwent coronary angiography during hospitalization without previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The SYNTAX score (SXscore) was used to assess the severity of CAD. A high SXscore (SXhigh) grade was defined as SXscore > 15 (the highest quartile of the SXscore). The Cochran-Armitage test for trend was used to assess the distribution of patients' SXscores. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between the severity of CAD and lung cancer. P-values were set when significance level was 5%.

The distribution trend of patients' SXscore by quartiles was different between lung cancer patients and control patients (from the lowest to the highest quartile 20.0%, 20.0%, 24.0%, 36.0% vs. 26.7%, 26.2%, 25.8%, 21.3%, p=0.022). The SX high rate was higher in lung cancer patients than in control patients (36.0% vs. 21.3%, p=0.011).The highest quartile of the SXscore showed higher risk of lung cancer in comparison to the lowest quartile (OR 2,250, 95%CI 1,077 to 4,699 ; P-trend= 0.016). After adjustment, patients in the highest quartile of the SXscore had higher risk of lung cancer (OR 2,149, 95%CI 1,008 to 4,584; P-trend= 0.028). Patients with high SXscore (> 15) had 1,985 times more chances of having lung cancer (95%CI 1,105-3,563, P= 0.022).

The anatomical severity of CAD is associated with the risk of lung cancer, which indicates that a thorough lung cancer screening may be significant among severe CAD patients.

The anatomical severity of CAD is associated with the risk of lung cancer, which indicates that a thorough lung cancer screening may be significant among severe CAD patients.

Maladaptive cardiac remodelling is characterized by diastolic and systolic dysfunction, culminating in heart failure. In this context, the dysfunctional scenario of cardiac calcium (Ca2+) handling has been poorly studied. An experimental model of aortic stenosis has been extensively used to improve knowledge about the key mechanisms of cardiac pathologic remodelling.

To understand the dysfunctional process of the major components responsible for Ca2+ balance and its influence on cardiac function in heart failure induced by aortic stenosis.

Male 21-day-old Wistar rats were distributed into two groups control (sham; n= 28) and aortic stenosis (AoS; n= 18). Cardiac function was analysed by echocardiogram, isolated papillary muscle, and isolated cardiomyocytes. In the papillary muscle assay, SERCA2a and L-type Ca2+ channel activity was evaluated. The isolated cardiomyocyte assay evaluated Ca2+ handling. Ca2+ handling protein expression was analysed by western blot. click here Statistical significance was set at p <ajor proteins responsible for cellular Ca2+ homeostasis.

A methodology to identify patients with ascending aortic aneurysm (AsAA) under high risk for aortic growth is not completely defined.

This research seeks to numerically characterize the aortic blood flow by relating the resulting mechanical stress distribution with AsAA growth.

Analytical, observational, single-center study in which a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) protocol was applied to aortic computed tomography angiogram (CTA) images of patients with AsAA. Two CTA exams taken at a minimum interval of one year were obtained. From the CTA-gathered images, three-dimensional models were built, and clinical data were registered. Study of velocity field and coherent structures (vortices) was performed aiming to relate them to the presence or absence of aneurysm growth, as well as comparing them to the patients' clinical data. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate the normality of the distribution, and the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test, for non-normal distribution, was used to compare the paired data of the aortic angles. Statistical significance was set at 5%.

The incident jet in the aortic wall generated recirculation areas in the posterior region of the jet, inducing complex vortices formation in the group with aneurysm growth, leading to an average pressure increase in the ascending aortic wall between exams. In the group without aneurysm growth, the average pressure decreased.

This pilot study showed that CFD based on CTA may in the near future be a tool to help identify flow patterns associated with AsAA remodeling process.

This pilot study showed that CFD based on CTA may in the near future be a tool to help identify flow patterns associated with AsAA remodeling process.

Pterostilbene (PS), a natural and antioxidant polyphenolic compound emerges as a promising intervention in improving the myocardial infarction (MI) damages.

This study aimed to evaluate PS actions in promoting redox homeostasis in lungs and right ventricle (RV) of infarcted animals.

Male Wistar rats (60 day-old) were randomized into three groups SHAM, MI (infarcted), and MI+PS (MI+pterostilbene). Seven days after MI procedure, rats were treated with PS (100 mg/kg/day) via gavage for eight days. Animals were euthanized and the lungs and RV were harvested for analyses of redox balance (Differences were considered significant when p<0.05).

Our results show that MI triggers a redox disruption scenario in RV and lungs, which can contribute to MI-induced damage on these organs. Consistently, PS mitigated oxidative stress and restored antioxidant defenses (GSH in lungs SHAM= 0.79±0.07; MI=0.67±0.05; MI+PS=0.86±0.14; p<0.05), indicating its protective role in this scenario.

Our work evidences the PS potential use as an adjuvant therapeutic approach after MI focusing on protecting pulmonary and right-sided heart tissues.

Our work evidences the PS potential use as an adjuvant therapeutic approach after MI focusing on protecting pulmonary and right-sided heart tissues.

Systemic amyloidosis is a disease with heterogeneous clinical manifestations. Diagnosis depends on clinical suspicion combined with specific complementary methods.

To describe the clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic, and imaging profile in patients with systemic amyloidosis with cardiac involvement.

This study was conducted with a convenience sample, analyzing clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, nuclear medicine, and magnetic resonance data. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

A total of 105 patients were evaluated (median age of 66 years), 62 of whom were male. Of all patients, 83 had transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis, and 22 had light chain (AL) amyloidosis. With respect to ATTR cases, 68.7% were the hereditary form (ATTRh), and 31.3% were wild type (ATTRw). The most prevalent mutations were Val142Ile (45.6%) and Val50Met (40.3%). Time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 0.54 and 2.15 years, in the AL and ATTR forms, respectively (p < 0.001). Cardiac involvement was observed in 77.