[Cardiovascular prevention in the elderly: limitations and opportunities]. / Prevenzione cardiovascolare negli anziani: limiti e opportunità.

The world's population is ageing; however, the prolonged life expectancy is barely associated with an increase of healthy aging, and an important part of this demographic shift is a rising susceptibility to development and progressive accumulation of multiple chronic illness, challenging healthcare systems. Aging, therefore, represents the major risk factor for multimorbidity, a milestone for progressive loss of resilience and age-related multisystem homeostatic dysregulation. Cardiovascular risk factors, time and comorbidities play a vicious role in the development of heart disease. Among the other comorbidities, age itself is one of the most important risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease and the prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular disease in the elderly are significantly increased. Elderly subjects, particularly when frail and with comorbidities, however, are scarcely represented in primary and secondary prevention trial aimed to treat hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension. In particular, concerns exist about whether treatment should more or less intensive according to tolerability and risk of interactions; as well as there is uncertainty about therapeutic targets at different ages.This article reviews the relationship between ageing and cardiovascular disease, focusing on several issues regarding cardiovascular prevention in the elderly.

Formal Synthesis of ent-Cephalotaxine Using a One-Pot Parham-Aldol Sequence.

A short formal synthesis of ent-Cephalotaxine is achieved. The approach features a new Lewis acid-mediated [2,3]-Stevens rearrangement of N-allylated prolineamide to generate a key quaternary stereogenic center. Additionally, a one-pot Parham-aldol sequence was developed to rapidly assemble two of the four rings in the cephalotaxine core.

Iron-Catalyzed Direct C3-Benzylation of Indoles with Benzyl Alcohols through Borrowing Hydrogen.

We present the coupling of primary and secondary benzyl alcohols with indoles to form 3-benzylated indoles and H2O that is catalyzed, for the first time, by a complex of earth-abundant iron. This transformation accommodates a variety of substrates and is distinguished by its operational simplicity, sustainability, high functional-group tolerance, and amenability to gram-scale synthesis. On the basis of the preliminary experimental observations, we propose that the reaction proceeds through a borrowing hydrogen process.

ANMCO Position Paper: hospital discharge planning: recommendations and standards.

The hospital discharge is often poorly standardized and affected by discontinuity and fragmentation of care, putting patients at high risk of both post-discharge adverse events and early readmission. The present ANMCO document reviews the modifiable components of the hospital discharge process related to adverse events or re-hospitalizations and suggests the optimal methods for redesigning the whole discharge process. The key principles for proper hospital discharge or transfer of care acknowledge that the hospital discharge: • is not an isolated event, but a process that has to be planned as soon as possible after the admission, ensuring that the patient and the caregiver understand and contribute to the planned decisions, as equal partners; • is facilitated by a comprehensive systemic approach that begins with a multidimensional evaluation process; • must be organized by an operator who is responsible for the coordination of all phases of the hospital patient journey, involving afterward the general practitioner and transferring to them the information and responsibility at discharge; • is the result of an integrated multidisciplinary team approach; • appropriately uses the transitional and intermediate care services; • is carried out in an organized system of care and continuum of services; and • programs the passage of information to after-discharge services.

Patient selection for transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A combined clinical and multimodality imaging approach.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been validated as a new therapy for patients affected by severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are not eligible for surgical intervention because of major contraindication or high operative risk. Patient selection for TAVR should be based not only on accurate assessment of aortic stenosis morphology, but also on several clinical and functional data. Multi-Imaging modalities should be preferred for assessing the anatomy and the dimensions of the aortic valve and annulus before TAVR. Ultrasounds represent the first line tool in evaluation of this patients giving detailed anatomic description of aortic valve complex and allowing estimating with enough reliability the hemodynamic entity of valvular stenosis. Angiography should be used to assess coronary involvement and plan a revascularization strategy before the implant. Multislice computed tomography play a central role as it can give anatomical details in order to choice the best fitting prosthesis, evaluate the morphology of the access path and detect other relevant comorbidities. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography are emergent modality helpful in aortic stenosis evaluation. The aim of this review is to give an overview on TAVR clinical and technical aspects essential for adequate selection.

[ANMCO Position paper: Hospital discharge planning]. / Position paper ANMCO: Gestione della dimissione ospedaliera.

Hospital discharge is often poorly standardized and is characterized by discontinuity and fragmentation of care, putting patients at high risk of post-discharge adverse events and early readmission. The present ANMCO position paper reviews the modifiable components of the hospital discharge process related to adverse events or rehospitalizations and suggests the optimal methods for redesign the whole discharge process. The key principles for proper hospital discharge or transfer of care acknowledge that hospital discharge:- is not an isolated event, but a process that has to be planned immediately after admission, ensuring that the patient and the caregiver understand and contribute to the planned decisions as equal partners;- is facilitated by a comprehensive systemic approach that begins with a multidimensional evaluation process;- must be organized by an operator who is responsible for the coordination of all phases of the hospital patient pathway, involving afterwards the physician and transferring to them the information and responsibility;- is the result of an integrated multidisciplinary team approach;- uses appropriately the transitional and intermediate care services;- is carried out in an organized system of care and continuum of services;- programs the passage of information to after-discharge services.

Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound: Physical Principles and Principal Applications in Neurocritical Care Unit.

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography is a noninvasive ultrasound study, which has been extensively applied on both outpatient and inpatient settings. It involves the use of a low-frequency (≤2 MHz) transducer, placed on the scalp, to insonate the basal cerebral arteries through relatively thin bone windows and to measure the cerebral blood flow velocity and its alteration in many different conditions. In neurointensive care setting, TCD is useful for both adults and children for day-to-day bedside assessment of critical conditions including vasospasm in subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, acute ischemic stroke, and brain stem death. It also allows to investigate the cerebrovascular autoregulation in setting of carotid disease and syncope. In this review, we will describe physical principles underlying TCD, flow indices most frequently used in clinical practice and critical care applications in Neurocritical Unit care.

The Coronary Tree of the Anatomical Machines of the Prince of Sansevero: The reality of a legend.

During the 18th century in Naples, Raimondo di Sangro, Prince of Sansevero, gave definitive form to the family chapel, the so-called "Cappella San Severo". The chapel houses not only extraordinarily beautiful and spectacularly detailed statues but also two human skeletons known as anatomical machines ("Macchine Anatomiche") in the basement. These two skeletons, a man and a pregnant woman, are entirely surrounded by their own circulatory system, just as they were suddenly and mysteriously, fixed. Legend, believed as truth until few years ago, tells that Prince Raimondo had prepared and injected an unknown embalming substance in their blood vessels convicting them to eternal fixity. Most recent investigations, however, demonstrated that while the bones are authentic, the blood vessels are actually an extraordinary artifact, even though the perfect reproduction of the coronary vascular tree, including congenital malformations in detail, raises some doubts about the technique used by the Prince. The dreadful aspect of these two skeletons appears to be in strident contrast with the classic beauty of the statues, which glorifies and celebrates the ideal of morphology. Conversely, the two "Anatomical Machines", protagonists of legends and superstitions since centuries, represent a marvelous example of science and art.

Science, art, and mistery in the statues and in the anatomical machines of the prince of sansevero: the masterpieces of the "Sansevero Chapel".

During the 18th century in Naples, Raimondo di Sangro, Prince of Sansevero, completed works on the family chapel, the so-called "Cappella Sansevero." The chapel houses statues of extraordinary beauty and spectacularly detailed but also, in the basement, two human skeletons known as the "Anatomical Machines" ("Macchine Anatomiche"). These two skeletons, a man and a pregnant woman, are entirely surrounded by their circulatory systems, just as if these were suddenly fixed. Legend, believed as truth until few years ago, says that Prince Raimondo had prepared and injected an unknown embalming substance in the blood vessels of two of his servants convicting them to eternal fixity. Recent investigations have demonstrated that, while the bones are authentic, the blood vessels are actually extraordinary artifacts that also reproduce some congenital malformations. The dreadful aspect of these two skeletons appears to be in strident contrast with the classic beauty of the statues which glorify and celebrate the ideal of morphology. Conversely, the two Anatomical Machines, protagonists of legends and superstitions since centuries, represent a marvelous example of science mixed with art.

Surgical treatment of impending paradoxical embolization associated with pulmonary embolism in a patient with heterozygosis of factor V Leiden.

We report an unusual case of impending paradoxical embolization in a 69-year-old woman heterozygote carrier of factor V Leiden mutation. The patient presented to the emergency room with the clinical scenario of massive pulmonary embolism. Serial echocardiographic examinations revealed a large thrombus in the right atrium floating via a patent foramen ovale into the left atrium. Anticoagulation therapy was started. After 72 h, due to the unresolved thrombus, the patient underwent surgical treatment consisting of complete excision of the thrombus, closure of the foramen ovale, and pulmonary embolectomy. No in-hospital complications were noted. At 1-year follow-up, the patient is doing well on long-term anticoagulation treatment free of thromboembolic events.

Right ventricular involvement and pulmonary hypertension in an elderly woman with tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy.

We describe a case of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy in an elderly woman with a permanent pacemaker admitted to the ED with chest pain and dyspnea. Coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries. Typical left ventricular apical ballooning was demonstrated on contrast ventriculography. Left and right ventricular ballooning with pulmonary artery systolic hypertension was detected by transthoracic echocardiography. Velocity vector imaging and strain analysis showed a typical pattern of regional myocardial apical right ventricular contraction characterized by paradoxical positive longitudinal systolic strain. Biventricular involvement was associated with hemodynamic instability, signs of pulmonary vascular congestion, and bilateral basal pleural effusion. The patient's clinical condition gradually improved, and she was discharged after prolonged hospitalization. Predischarge echocardiography showed substantial recovery of left and right systolic function along with normalization of pulmonary artery systolic pressure. Right ventricular function should be carefully evaluated in patients with tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy, especially in the acute phase.

Transient left ventricular ballooning (tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy) soon after intravenous ergonovine injection following caesarean delivery.

Transient left ventricular ballooning also called tako-tsubo syndrome, is increasingly being recognized as cardiomyopathy mimicking the clinical scenario of an acute myocardial infarction. Generally, it is characterized by apical ballooning appearance of the left ventricle in the presence of normal coronary arteries on the angiogram. Recently, a variant form involving the midventricle with sparing of the apical and basal segments has been described. This syndrome is more prevalent in postmenopausal woman and usually preceded by extreme emotional and/or physical stress. We describe a case never reported before of transient left ventricular ballooning occurring during the early postpartum period after ergonovine injection rapidly evolving from a 'typical apical' ballooning into a 'midventricular' myocardial dysfunction.

Ablating the ventricular insertion of atrio-fascicular Mahaim fiber: what selection criteria should we use?

We reported a patient who underwent RF ablation of the distal insertion of an atrio-fascicular accessory pathway with decremental properties because of inability to map a suitable potential alongside the tricuspid annulus. Small, discrete potentials resembling those of purkinje fiber were found at right ventricular apex, all these potentials showed early activation during tachycardia preceding the QRS onset of various degrees. Pace mapping helped to localize the presumed main distal insertion of the atrio-fascicular AP in a region where a damage of the His-purkinje system may ensue. This case report describes catheter ablation of an atriofascicular accessory pathway by targeting its distal (ventricular) insertion site.

Ablating the ventricular insertion of atrio-fascicular mahaim fiber: could be performed safely?

We report a patient who underwent radiofrequency ablation of the distal insertion of an atrio-fascicular accessory pathway with decremental properties because of inability to map a suitable potential alongside the tricuspid annulus. Small, discrete potentials resembling those of Purkinje fiber were found at right ventricular apex. All these potentials showed early activation during tachycardia preceding the QRS onset of various degree. Pace mapping helped to localize the presumed main distal insertion of the atrio-fascicular accessory pathway in a region where damage of the His-purkinje system may ensue. This case report describes catheter ablation of an atriofascicular accessory pathway by targeting its distal (ventricular) insertion site.

Clinical value of echocardiographic assessment of coronary flow reserve after left anterior descending coronary artery stenting in an unselected population.

BACKGROUND: Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is a valuable tool to measure coronary flow reserve (CFR) and detect in-stent restenosis (ISR) after percutaneous coronary angioplasty in selected series of patients. OBJECTIVES: To assess the usefulness of coronary flow reserve measured by echocardiography in detecting significant (> or =70%) ISR of the left anterior descending coronary artery in a large unselected population. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-three patients (age 61 +/- 10 years; 168 men) treated with left anterior descending stenting underwent CFR measurement by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and venous adenosine infusion 24-72 h before control coronary angiography. Coronary-active drugs were continued, and patients with multiple risk factors and old anterior-apical myocardial infarction were included. RESULTS: Significant ISR occurred in 56 patients (25%). Patients with ISR had higher basal coronary flow velocity (27 +/- 10 cm/s vs. 24 +/- 7 cm/s; P < 0.002) and lower CFR (1.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.7 +/- 0.6; P < 0.0001) than those without ISR. A linear relation was found between ISR and CFR (r = -0.73; P < 0.0001) and remained significant after adjustment for blood pressure and heart rate (r = -0.74; P < 0.0001). A CFR less than two identified significant ISR (sensitivity 88%, specificity 88%, area under the curve = 0.943; P < 0.001). In a multivariate model of CFR prediction, myocardial infarction and heart rate were slightly contributory (ss = -0.19, P < 0.01; ss = -0.16, P < 0.03, respectively), whereas ISR had a large influence (ss = -0.66; P < 0.0001). The inverse correlation between ISR and CFR persisted in patients with myocardial infarction (r = -0.64; P < 0.0001) and in those treated with beta-blockers (r = -0. 71; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Echocardiographic measurement of CFR detects significant left anterior descending ISR in unselected patients with multiple risk factors, old anterior-apical myocardial infarction, and taking beta-blockers.

Tissue Doppler and strain imaging: anything left in the echo-lab?

Medline research indicates that an increasing number of manuscripts have been published in the last decade claiming, the feasibility and the potential clinical role of tissue Doppler and strain/strain rate imaging. However, despite this amount of scientific evidence, these technologies are still confined to dedicated, high-tech, research-oriented echocardiography laboratories. In this review we have critically evaluated these techniques, analysing their physical principles, the technical problems related to their current clinical application, and the future perspectives. Finally, this review explores the reasons why these technologies are still defined "new technologies" and the impact of their implementation on the current clinical activity of an echocardiography laboratory.

Isolated left cor triatriatum: a rare cause of effort dyspnoea in the adult.

Left cor triatriatum is a congenital heart disease characterized by an intra-atrial membrane determining obstruction and pressure gradient. We report an unusual case of cor triatriatum in a nonprofessional athlete presenting with effort dyspnoea. Although frequently diagnosed in the infant, it may also be a rare cause of effort dyspnoea in the adult.