Depth of SCUBA Diving Affects Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System.

The present study investigated the influence of SCUBA dives with compressed air at depths of 10 and 20 m on ECG-derived HRV parameters in apparently healthy individuals. We hypothesized that cardiac sympathetic activity (measured by HRV parameters) adapts proportionally to diving depth, and that both time- and frequency-domain parameters are sensitive enough to track changes in cardiac ANS function during diving activities and subsequently during the recovery period. Eleven healthy middle-aged recreational divers (nine men and two women, age 43 ± 8, all nonsmokers) volunteered to participate in the present study. The participants (all open-circuit divers) were equipped with dry suits and ECG Holter devices and were later randomly assigned to dive pairs and depths (10 m vs. 20 m), and each participant served as his or her own control. No interaction effects (diving depth x time epoch) were found for the most commonly used HRV markers. More precisely, in response to two different diving protocols, a significant post hoc effect of time was observed for HR and SDNN, as these parameters transiently decreased during the dives and returned to baseline after ascent (p < 0.001). The ULF, VLF (p < 0.003), TP, and LF parameters decreased significantly during the dives, while HF significantly increased (p < 0.003). SCUBA diving apparently challenges the cardiac ANS, even in healthy individuals. The observed changes reveal possible underwater methods of influencing the parasympathetic activity of the heart depending on the depth of the dive. These results identify autonomic nervous system markers to track the cardiovascular risk related to diving and point to the possibility of tracking cardiovascular system benefits during underwater activities in selected patients.

Effects of Oxygen Prebreathing on Bubble Formation, Flow-Mediated Dilatation, and Psychomotor Performance during Trimix Dives.

Introduction: This research was performed to examine the effects of air and oxygen prebreathing on bubble formation, flow-mediated dilatation, and psychomotor performance after scuba dives. Methods: Twelve scuba divers performed two dives using a gas mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, and helium (trimix). In a randomized protocol, they breathed air or oxygen 30 min before the trimix dives. Venous bubble formation, flow-mediated dilatation, and psychomotor performance were evaluated. The participants solved three psychomotor tests: determining the position of a light signal, coordination of complex psychomotor activity, and simple arithmetic operations. The total test solving time, minimum single-task solving time, and median solving time were analyzed. Results: The bubble grade was decreased in the oxygen prebreathing protocol in comparison to the air prebreathing protocol (1.5 vs. 2, p < 0.001). The total test solving times after the dives, in tests of complex psychomotor coordination and simple arithmetic operations, were shorter in the oxygen prebreathing protocol (25 (21-28) vs. 31 (26-35) and 87 (82-108) vs. 106 (90-122) s, p = 0.028). Conclusions: In the oxygen prebreathing protocol, the bubble grade was significantly reduced with no change in flow-mediated dilatation after the dives, indicating a beneficial role for endothelial function. The post-dive psychomotor speed was faster in the oxygen prebreathing protocol.

The 'peptide for life' initiative in the emergency department study.

AIMS: Natriuretic peptide (NP) uptake varies in Emergency Departments (EDs) across Europe. The 'Peptide for Life' (P4L) initiative, led by Heart Failure Association, aims to enhance NP utilization for early diagnosis of heart failure (HF). We tested the hypothesis that implementing an educational campaign in Western Balkan countries would significantly increase NP adoption rates in the ED. METHODS AND RESULTS: This registry examined NP adoption before and after implementing the P4L-ED study across 10 centres in five countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. A train-the-trainer programme was implemented to enhance awareness of NP testing in the ED, and centres without access received point-of-care instruments. Differences in NP testing between the pre-P4L-ED and post-P4L-ED phases were evaluated. A total of 2519 patients were enrolled in the study: 1224 (48.6%) in the pre-P4L-ED phase and 1295 (51.4%) in the post-P4L-ED phase. NP testing was performed in the ED on 684 patients (55.9%) during the pre-P4L-ED phase and on 1039 patients (80.3%) during the post-P4L-ED phase, indicating a significant absolute difference of 24.4% (95% CI: 20.8% to 27.9%, P < 0.001). The use of both NPs and echocardiography significantly increased from 37.7% in the pre-P4L-ED phase to 61.3% in the post-P4L-ED phase. There was an increased prescription of diuretics and SGLT2 inhibitors during the post-P4L-ED phase. CONCLUSIONS: By increasing awareness and providing resources, the utilization of NPs increased in the ED, leading to improved diagnostic accuracy and enhanced patient care.

Emerging Therapies for the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: From Bench to Bedside.

Primarily a consequence of sedentary lifestyle, atherosclerosis has already reached pandemic proportions, and with every year the burden of it is only increasing. As low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) represents a crucial factor in atherosclerosis formation and progression, stringent lipid-lowering therapy could conceivably be the key to preventing the unfavorable outcomes that arise as a consequence of atherosclerosis. The use of statins in lipid-lowering is often burdened by adverse events or is insufficient to prevent cardiovascular events as a monotherapy. Therefore, in the present review, the authors aimed to discuss the underlying mechanisms of dyslipidemia and associated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and preclinical and clinical trials of novel therapeutic approaches to its treatment, some of which are still in the early stages of development. Apart from novel therapies, a novel change in perspective is needed. Specifically, the critical objective in the future management of ASCVD is to embrace emerging evidence in the field of atherosclerosis, because clinicians are often burden by common practice and personal experience, both of which have so far been shown to be futile in the setting of atherosclerosis.

Brachial flow-mediated dilation and carotid intima-media thickness in glaucoma patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to assess the ultrasound measurements of the brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and their relationship in glaucoma patients. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with glaucoma and thirty-one healthy controls were included in the study. All glaucoma patients and controls underwent ultrasound measurement of FMD of the brachial artery and ultrasound measurement of IMT of the carotid artery. RESULTS: The mean values of brachial FMD were significantly lower among the glaucoma compared with controls (16.4 ± 10.6% vs 20.3 ± 8.5%, p = 0.034). No significant difference was found in carotid IMT (1.2 ± 0.4 vs. 1.1 ± 0.4, p = 0.3), and brachial artery diameter at rest (4.7 ± 0.6 vs. 4.9 ± 0.3, p = 0.2) between the glaucoma patients and controls. The significant difference in brachial artery diameter in hyperemia between the glaucoma patients and controls (5.5 ± 0.6 vs. 5.9 ± 0.4 p = 0.002) was found. A negative correlation among brachial FMD and carotid IMT as well as among brachial FMD and brachial artery diameter at rest was found. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired brachial FMD indicates presence of systemic vascular endothelial dysfunction in glaucoma; glaucoma patients with lower values of the brachial FMD are at increased risk of having thickened carotid IMT.

Efficacy of high-dose atorvastatin or rosuvastatin loading in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with GRADE qualification of available evidence.

PURPOSE: We aimed to summarize current evidence regarding the impact of a high-dose statin loading before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on short-term outcomes in patients presenting with the acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: This meta-analysis was based on a search of the MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Journals, and SCOPUS for randomized controlled trials that compared high-dose atorvastatin or rosuvastatin with no or low-dose statin administered before planned PCI in statin-naive patients with ACS. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), myocardial infarction (MI), and all-cause mortality at 30 days. Prespecified subanalyses were performed with respect to statin and ACS type. RESULTS: A total of eleven trials enrolling 6291 patients were included, of which 75.4% received PCI. High-dose statin loading was associated with an overall 43% relative risk (RR) reduction in MACCE at 30 days (RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41-0.77) in whole ACS population. This effect was primarily driven by the 39% reduction in the occurrence of MI (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.46-0.80). No significant effect on all-cause mortality reduction was observed (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.67-1.26). In the setting of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), atorvastatin loading was associated with a 33% reduction in MACCE (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.48-0.94), while in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction ACS (NSTE-ACS), rosuvastatin loading was associated with 52% reduction in MACCE at 30 days (RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.34-0.66). The level of evidence as qualified with GRADE was low to high, depending on the outcome. CONCLUSION: A high-dose loading of statins before PCI in patients with ACS reduces MACCE and reduces the risk of MI with no impact on mortality at 30 days. Atorvastatin reduces MACCE in STEMI while rosuvastatin reduces MACCE in NSTE-ACS at 30 days.

Clinical use of ivabradine in the acute coronary syndrome: A systematic review and narrative synthesis of current evidence.

Heart rate (HR) lowering during acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is beneficial as it reduces myocardial oxygen consumption. However, the role of ivabradine as an HR-lowering agent in the setting of ACS is not clear. We aimed to systematically review and synthesize the current evidence on the role of ivabradine use in the ACS. A systematic review was conducted for eligible randomized clinical trials and quasi-experimental studies, between 2009 and 2020, that investigated the use of ivabradine in ACS. Various clinical endpoints were evaluated such as major adverse cardiovascular events, efficacy in HR control, impact on left ventricular (LV) dimensions and function, and overall safety. Eleven publications were included encompassing a total of 1833 patients. The mean age of the examined cohort was 57 ± 11 years and 80 % were men. Seven studies were in the setting of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) while the remaining studies also included patients with unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation MI. Ivabradine was administered as a peroral drug with dosing from 2.5 to 7.5 mg b.i.d. Overall, the addition of ivabradine was superior to the control arm concerning HR control with a good safety profile. Beneficial effects on LV function and potential impact on infarct size reduction were observed as well. The use of ivabradine appeared to not affect short-term mortality. In conclusion, the use of ivabradine for HR control is safe, feasible, and efficacious for HR control in the ACS. Further studies are required to elucidate other potentially beneficial effects of ivabradine.

Carbohydrate Antigen 125: A Biomarker at the Crossroads of Congestion and Inflammation in Heart Failure.

Because heart failure (HF) is more lethal than some of the common malignancies in the general population, such as prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women, there is a need for a cost-effective prognostic biomarker in HF beyond natriuretic peptides, especially concerning congestion, the most common reason for the hospitalisation of patients with worsening of HF. Furthermore, despite diuretics being the mainstay of treatment for volume overload in HF patients, no randomised trials have shown the mortality benefits of diuretics in HF patients, and appropriate diuretic titration strategies in this population are unclear. Recently, carbohydrate antigen (CA) 125, a well-established marker of ovarian cancer, emerged as both a prognostic indicator and a guide in tailoring decongestion therapy for patients with HF. Hence, in this review the authors present the molecular background regarding the role of CA125 in HF and address valuable clinical aspects regarding the relationship of CA125 with both prognosis and therapeutic management in HF.

Acute respiratory failure on a low dose of amiodarone - is it an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition?

Amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity (AIPT) has a variety of presentations. Amiodarone use has been rarely associated with the development of acute respiratory failure. We present a patient with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome despite taking a low dose of amiodarone and having no risk or precipitating factors. The diagnosis of AIPT was made after drug discontinuation and exclusion of other potential causes. The development of acute respiratory failure due to AIPT is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Better identification of risk factors and developing appropriate diagnostic tools for risk stratification of patients receiving amiodarone is mandatory.

The use of Smith-modified Sgarbossa criteria to diagnose an extensive anterior acute myocardial infarction in a patient presenting with a left bundle branch block.

Patients with LBBB of unknown onset presenting with chest pain can pose a diagnostic challenge in the ED while Smith-Modified-Sgarbossa (SMS) ECG criteria might facilitate AMI diagnosis. We demonstrate a case of a 79-year-old man that presented to the ED with chest pain. Original Sgarbossa criteria were negative for AMI while SMS criteria were applied showing proportionally excessive discordance between ST-segment and preceding S-wave thus fulfilling diagnostic criterion for AMI. The coronary angiogram showed the total occlusion of the culprit left anterior descending artery. In this case, awareness of SMS criteria aided in the early prehospital diagnosis of AMI in the setting of LBBB and impacted the course of treatment.

Sympathetic nervous system activation and heart failure: Current state of evidence and the pathophysiology in the light of novel biomarkers.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by the activation of at least several neurohumoral pathways that have a common role in maintaining cardiac output and adequate perfusion pressure of target organs and tissues. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is upregulated in HF as evident in dysfunctional baroreceptor and chemoreceptor reflexes, circulating and neuronal catecholamine spillover, attenuated parasympathetic response, and augmented sympathetic outflow to the heart, kidneys and skeletal muscles. When these sympathoexcitatory effects on the cardiovascular system are sustained chronically they initiate the vicious circle of HF progression and become associated with cardiomyocyte apoptosis, maladaptive ventricular and vascular remodeling, arrhythmogenesis, and poor prognosis in patients with HF. These detrimental effects of SNS activity on outcomes in HF warrant adequate diagnostic and treatment modalities. Therefore, this review summarizes basic physiological concepts about the interaction of SNS with the cardiovascular system and highlights key pathophysiological mechanisms of SNS derangement in HF. Finally, special emphasis in this review is placed on the integrative and up-to-date overview of diagnostic modalities such as SNS imaging methods and novel laboratory biomarkers that could aid in the assessment of the degree of SNS activation and provide reliable prognostic information among patients with HF.

Circulating sST2 and catestatin levels in patients with acute worsening of heart failure: a report from the CATSTAT-HF study.

AIMS: Soluble suppression of tumourigenicity 2 (sST2) and catestatin (CST) reflect myocardial fibrosis and sympathetic overactivity during the acute worsening of heart failure (AWHF). We aimed to determine serum levels and associations of sST2 and CST with in-hospital death as well as the association between sST2 and CST among AWHF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 96 AWHF patients were consecutively enrolled, while levels of sST2 and CST were determined and compared between non-survivors and survivors. Predictive values of sST2 and CST for in-hospital death were determined by the penalized multivariable Firth logistic regression. The diagnostic ability of sST2 and CST for in-hospital death was assessed by the receiver operating characteristic analysis and examined with respect to the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, and C-reactive protein. The in-hospital death rate was 6.25%. Serum sST2 and CST levels were significantly higher among non-survivors than survivors [146.6 (inter-quartile range, IQR 65.9-156.2) vs. 35.3 (IQR 20.6-64.4) ng/mL, P < 0.001, and 19.8 (IQR 9.9-28.0) vs. 5.6 (IQR 3.4-9.8) ng/mL, P < 0.001, respectively]. Both sST2 and CST were independent predictors of in-hospital death [Firth coefficient (FC) 6.00, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.48-15.20, P = 0.005, and FC 6.58, 95% CI 1.66-21.78, P = 0.003, respectively], while NT-proBNP was not a significant predictor (FC 1.57, 95% CI 0.51-3.99, P = 0.142). In classifying non-survivors from survivors, sST2 provided area under the curve (AUC) of 0.917 (95% CI 0.819-1.000, P < 0.001) followed by CST (AUC 0.905, 95% CI 0.792-1.000, P < 0.001), while NT-proBNP yielded AUC of 0.735 (95% CI 0.516-0.954, P = 0.036). High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and C-reactive protein were not found as significant classifiers of in-hospital death (AUC 0.719, 95% CI 0.509-0.930, P = 0.075, and AUC 0.682, 95% CI 0.541-0.822, P = 0.164, respectively). Among survivors, those with sST2 serum levels ≥35 ng/mL had significantly higher CST levels, compared with those with sST2 < 35 ng/mL (9.05 ± 5.17 vs. 5.06 ± 2.76 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Serum sST2 levels positively and independently correlated with CST levels in the whole patient cohort (ß = 0.437, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated sST2 and CST levels, reflecting two distinct pathophysiological pathways in heart failure, might indicate impending clinical deterioration among AWHF patients during hospitalization and facilitate prognosis beyond traditional biomarkers regarding the risk of in-hospital death (CATSTAT-HF ClinicalTrials.gov Number NCT03389386).

Right Ventricular Free Wall Strain and Congestive Hepatopathy in Patients with Acute Worsening of Chronic Heart Failure: A CATSTAT-HF Echo Substudy.

Right ventricular (RV) function is an important predictor of prognosis in patients with heart failure. However, the relationship of the RV free wall longitudinal strain (RV FWS) and the degree of hepatic dysfunction during the acute worsening of heart failure (AWHF) is unknown. We sought to determine associations of RV FWS with laboratory liver function tests and parameters of RV function including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), RV fractional area change (RV FAC), maximal tricuspid jet velocity (TR Vmax), RV S' velocity, and estimated RV systolic pressure (RVSP). A total of 42 AWHF patients from the CATSTAT-HF study were stratified in two groups by the RV FWS median (-16.5%). Patients < RV FWS median had significantly prolonged international normalized ratio (INR; p = 0.002), increased total bilirubin (p < 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP; p = 0.020), and decreased albumin (p = 0.005) and thrombocytes (p = 0.017) compared to patients > RV FWS median. RV FWS independently correlated to total bilirubin (ß = 0.457, p = 0.004), ALP (ß = 0.556, p = 0.002), INR (ß = 0.392, p = 0.022), albumin (ß = -0.437, p = 0.013), and thrombocytes (ß = -404, p = 0.038). Similarly, TAPSE, RV FAC, and RV S' significantly correlated with RV FWS. In conclusion, RV impairment, reflected in reduced RV FWS, is independently associated with a higher degree of hepatic dysfunction among patients with AWHF (CATSTAT-HF ClinicalTrials gov number, NCT03389386).

Predicting the 1-Year All-Cause Mortality After Hospitalisation for an Acute Heart Failure Event: A Real-World Derivation Cohort for the Development of the S2PLiT-UG Score.

BACKGROUND: Acute heart failure (AHF) is a complex syndrome associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to derive a simple risk score with which to identify AHF patients at high risk for an all-cause death event during the first year after hospital discharge. METHODS: Three hundred AHF patients from the Heart Failure registry were included in the analysis. Cox regression with a forward-conditional algorithm and bootstrapping procedure was used to build the prognostic score, while c-statistic was used to assess the prognostic performance of the score. RESULTS: Seven variables were independently associated with an all-cause mortality event during the 1-year follow-up (FU): estimated glomerular filtration rate of 40-60; estimated glomerular filtration rate <40 mL/min/1.73 m2; uric acid >450 µmol/L; left-ventricular ejection fraction <45%; sodium <136 mmol/L; systolic blood pressure <115 mmHg; and a positive history of previous heart failure-related decompensation event(s). The score derived from significant variables enabled classification of patients into three risk categories: low (0-2 points), intermediate (3 points), and high (4-6 points). Observed all-cause mortality rates during the 1-year FU were 6.1%, 30.5%, and 80.9% across the three risk categories, respectively. The score demonstrated a high level of discrimination for an all-cause death event in the derivation cohort with the c-statistic value of 0.907 (95% CI, 0.867-0.939; p < 0.0001) and adequate calibration. CONCLUSIONS: The S2PLiT-UG score is a simple tool with potential for facilitating risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making during the first year after hospitalisation for an AHF event. Future external validation studies are required to confirm its prognostic performance.

Catestatin in Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure Patients: Insights from the CATSTAT-HF Study.

The role of catestatin (CST) in acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and myocardial infarction (MI) is poorly elucidated. Due to the implicated role of CST in the regulation of neurohumoral activity, the goals of the study were to determine CST serum levels among ninety consecutively enrolled ADHF patients, with respect to the MI history and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and to examine its association with clinical, echocardiographic, and laboratory parameters. CST levels were higher among ADHF patients with MI history, compared to those without (8.94 ± 6.39 vs. 4.90 ± 2.74 ng/mL, p = 0.001). CST serum levels did not differ among patients with reduced, midrange, and preserved LVEF (7.74 ± 5.64 vs. 5.75 ± 4.19 vs. 5.35 ± 2.77 ng/mL, p = 0.143, respectively). In the multivariable linear regression analysis, CST independently correlated with the NYHA class (ß = 0.491, p < 0.001), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (ß = -0.237, p = 0.026), HbA1c (ß = -0.235, p = 0.027), LDL (ß = -0.231, p = 0.029), non-HDL cholesterol (ß = -0.237, p = 0.026), hs-cTnI (ß = -0.221, p = 0.030), and the admission and resting heart rate (ß = -0.201, p = 0.036 and ß = -0.242, p = 0.030), and was in positive association with most echocardiographic parameters. In conclusion, CST levels were increased in ADHF patients with MI and were overall associated with a favorable cardiometabolic profile but at the same time reflected advanced symptomatic burden (CATSTAT-HF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03389386).

Influence of oxygen enriched gases during decompression on bubble formation and endothelial function in self-contained underwater breathing apparatus diving: a randomized controlled study.

AIM: To assess the effect of air, gas mixture composed of 50% nitrogen and 50% oxygen (nitrox 50), or gas mixture composed of 1% nitrogen and 99% oxygen (nitrox 99) on bubble formation and vascular/endothelial function during decompression after self-contained underwater breathing apparatus diving. METHODS: This randomized controlled study, conducted in 2014, involved ten divers. Each diver performed three dives in a randomized protocol using three gases: air, nitrox 50, or nitrox 99 during ascent. The dives were performed on three different days limited to 45 m sea water (msw) depth with 20 min bottom time. Nitrogen bubbles formation was assessed by ultrasound detection after dive. Arterial/endothelial function was evaluated by brachial artery flow mediated dilatation (FMD) before and after dive. RESULTS: Nitrox 99 significantly reduced bubble formation after cough compared with air and nitrox 50 (grade 1 vs 3 and vs 3, respectively, P=0.026). Nitrox 50 significantly decreased post-dive FMD compared with pre-dive FMD (3.62 ± 5.57% vs 12.11 ± 6.82% P=0.010), while nitrox 99 did not cause any significant change. CONCLUSION: Nitrox 99 reduced bubble formation, did not change post-dive FMD, and decreased total dive duration, indicating that it might better preserve endothelial function compared with air and nitrox 50 dive protocols.

The midrange left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is associated with higher all-cause mortality during the 1-year follow-up compared to preserved LVEF among real-world patients with acute heart failure: a single-center propensity score-matched analysis.

The objectives of the study were to characterize and compare different acute heart failure (AHF) subgroups according to left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in terms of all-cause mortality and HF-related readmissions during the 1-year follow-up (FU). Three hundred and fifty-six AHF patients admitted to Cardiology ward and/or CCU were retrospectively included in the study and analyzed during the 1-year FU. Patients were stratified according to LVEF as those with preserved (HFpEF), midrange (HFmrEF) and reduced LVEF (HFrEF). During the FU period, 148 (43.3%) patients died, and 116 HF-related readmission events were recorded. HFmrEF group had significantly higher standardized all-cause mortality rate, unadjusted for age, compared to HFpEF group and significantly lower than HFrEF group (41 vs. 18 and 41 vs. 62.5 events per 100 patient-years; χ2 = 41.08, p < 0.001 and χ2 = 16.62, p < 0.001, respectively). A propensity score-matched analysis in which all HF groups were matched for age and other covariates confirmed that HFmrEF group had significantly higher all-cause mortality rate than HFpEF group (χ2 = 15.66, p < 0.001) while no significant differences in readmission rates were observed across all groups (p = NS). The hazard risk for a composite endpoint of death and readmission was highest in HFrEF group (HR 6.53, 95% CI 3.53-12.08, p < 0.001), followed by HFmrEF group (HR 3.30, 95% CI 1.86-5.87, p < 0.001) when compared to HFpEF group set as a reference. Among AHF patients, the HFmrEF phenotype was associated with significantly higher all-cause mortality compared to HFpEF, during the 1-year FU. This finding might implicate more stringent clinical approach towards this patient group.

Heart and brain interaction in patients with heart failure: overview and proposal for a taxonomy. A position paper from the Study Group on Heart and Brain Interaction of the Heart Failure Association.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome with multiple interactions between the failing myocardium and cerebral (dys-)functions. Bi-directional feedback interactions between the heart and the brain are inherent in the pathophysiology of HF: (i) the impaired cardiac function affects cerebral structure and functional capacity, and (ii) neuronal signals impact on the cardiovascular continuum. These interactions contribute to the symptomatic presentation of HF patients and affect many co-morbidities of HF. Moreover, neuro-cardiac feedback signals significantly promote aggravation and further progression of HF and are causal in the poor prognosis of HF. The diversity and complexity of heart and brain interactions make it difficult to develop a comprehensive overview. In this paper a systematic approach is proposed to develop a comprehensive atlas of related conditions, signals and disease mechanisms of the interactions between the heart and the brain in HF. The proposed taxonomy is based on pathophysiological principles. Impaired perfusion of the brain may represent one major category, with acute (cardio-embolic) or chronic (haemodynamic failure) low perfusion being sub-categories with mostly different consequences (i.e. ischaemic stroke or cognitive impairment, respectively). Further categories include impairment of higher cortical function (mood, cognition), of brain stem function (sympathetic over-activation, neuro-cardiac reflexes). Treatment-related interactions could be categorized as medical, interventional and device-related interactions. Also interactions due to specific diseases are categorized. A methodical approach to categorize the interdependency of heart and brain may help to integrate individual research areas into an overall picture.

Characterization of blood flow through intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses and patent foramen ovale at rest and during exercise in stroke and transient ischemic attack patients.

OBJECTIVES: We determined whether stroke and/or TIA subjects have exercise-induced blood flow through intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses (QIPAVA ) and/or patent foramen ovale (QPFO ) and a genetic predisposition for ischemic stroke. METHODS: Twenty-eight stroke and/or TIA subjects (33-63 years old) underwent transthoracic saline contrast echocardiography concomitant with transcranial Doppler to detect QIPAVA and QPFO at rest and during supine exercise with and without breathing 100% O2 . We also examined genetic polymorphisms in FV Leiden (G1691A; rs6025), factor II (FII) prothrombin (G20210A; rs1799963), methylene tetrahydfropholate reductase (C677T, rs1801133), and plasminogen-activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (4G/5G; rs1799889) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE; I/D, rs4646994) in 24/28 subjects. RESULTS: No subject without PFO had QIPAVA at rest (n=17), but 12/17 did with exercise. All PFO subjects had QPFO at rest (n=11) and 7/11 had either QIPAVA or QPFO with exercise. Breathing 100% O2 during exercise reduced or eliminated left heart contrast in all subjects. Gene analyses revealed that 15/24 patients were either heterozygous or homozygous for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism; 4G/4G and 4G/5G genotypes of plasminogen-activator inhibitor-1 were present in 7/24 and 13/24 patients, respectively; polymorphisms of ACE D/D genotype were present in 6/24 and I/D in 14/24 patients. Having both I/D and 4G/4G genotypes was more prevalent in PFO+ subjects (P=.03), and there was a trend (P=.06) for PFO- subjects to have a greater D/D genotype prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Novel genetic predispositions reported here in PFO subjects should be investigated further in larger stroke and/or TIA patient datasets.