Anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced myocarditis - real but, in general, rare and mild: A consensus statement from the Studies Committee of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology.

Acute myocarditis (especially) and pericarditis have been consistently associated with the administration of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), generating anxiety in the general population, uncertainty in the scientific community and obstacles to ambitious mass vaccination programs, especially in foreign countries. Like some of its European counterparts, the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC), through its Studies Committee, decided to take a position on some of the most pressing questions related to this issue: (i) How certain are we of this epidemiological association? (ii) What is the probability of its occurrence? (iii) What are the pathophysiological bases of these inflammatory syndromes? (iv) Should their diagnosis, treatment and prognosis follow the same steps as for typical idiopathic or post-viral acute myopericarditis cases? (v) Is the risk of post-vaccine myocarditis great enough to overshadow the occurrence of serious COVID-19 disease in unvaccinated individuals? In addition, the SPC will issue clinical recommendations and offer its outlook on the various paths this emerging disease may take in the future.

Do adrenergic alpha-antagonists increase the risk of poor cardiovascular outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Due to concerns regarding neurohormonal activation and fluid retention, adrenergic alpha-1 receptor antagonists (A1Bs) are generally avoided in the setting of heart disease, namely, symptomatic heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, this contraindication is mainly supported by ancient studies, having recently been challenged by newer ones. We aim to perform a comprehensive meta-analysis aimed at ascertaining the extent to which A1Bs might influence cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science for both prospective and retrospective studies, published until 1 December 2020, addressing the impact of A1Bs on both clinical outcomes-namely, acute heart failure (AHF), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), CV and all-cause mortality-and on CV surrogate measures, specifically left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and exercise tolerance, by means of exercise duration. Both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and studies including only HF patients were further investigated separately. Study-specific odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences (MDs) were pooled using traditional meta-analytic techniques, under a random-effects model. A record was registered in PROSPERO database, with the code number CRD42020181804. Fifteen RCTs, three non-randomized prospective and two retrospective studies, encompassing 32 851, 19 287, and 71 600 patients, respectively, were deemed eligible; 62 256 patients were allocated to A1B, on the basis of multiple clinical indications: chronic HF itself [14 studies, with 72 558 patients, including seven studies with 850 HFrEF or HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) patients], arterial hypertension (four studies, with 44 184 patients) and low urinary tract symptoms (two studies, with 6996 patients). There were 25 998 AHF events, 1325 ACS episodes, 955 CV deaths and 33 567 all-cause deaths. When considering only RCTs, A1Bs were, indeed, found to increase AHF risk (OR 1.78, [1.46, 2.16] 95% CI, P < 0.00001, i2 2%), although displaying no significant effect on neither ACS nor CV or all-cause mortality rates (OR 1.02, [0.91, 1.15] 95% CI, i2 0%; OR 0.95, [0.47, 1.91] 95% CI, i2 17%; OR 1.1, [0.84, 1.43] 95% CI, i2 17%, respectively). Besides, when only HF patients were evaluated, A1Bs revealed themselves neutral towards not only ACS, CV, and all-cause mortality events (OR 0.49, [0.1, 2.47] 95% CI, i2 0%; OR 0.7, [0.21, 2.31] 95% CI, i2 21%; OR 1.09, [0.53, 2.23] 95% CI, i2 17%, respectively), but also AHF (OR 1.13, [0.66, 1.92] 95% CI, i2 0%). As for HFrEF and HFmrEF, A1Bs were found to exert a similarly inconsequential effect on AHF rates (OR 1.01, [0.5-2.05] 95% CI, i2 6%). Likewise, LVEF was not significantly influenced by A1Bs (MD 1.66, [-2.18, 5.50] 95% CI, i2 58%). Most strikingly, exercise tolerance was higher in those under this drug class (MD 139.16, [65.52, 212.8] 95% CI, P < 0.001, i2 26%). A1Bs do not seem to exert a negative influence on the prognosis of HF-and even of HFrEF-patients, thus contradicting currently held views. These drugs' impact on other major CV outcomes also appear trivial and they may even increment exercise tolerance.

Integrated Structural and Environmental Form-Finding: A Teaching Experiment.

This paper presents a teaching experiment in which 3D digital computational models are explored as the representational base to integrate formal, structural, and environmental performance criteria in design. By describing the academic experience, the paper reflects on its methodologies and results, as well as on the relation between human and computer factors in the design process. This assessment is important to make the students aware of the increasingly intelligent design systems offered by digital technologies to support architectural design, as well as of their relationship with precedent digital and analog representational mediums.

Iatrogenic atrial septal defect after percutaneous left atrial appendage closure: a single-center study.

There is conflicting evidence regarding the significance of iatrogenic atrial septal defects (iASDs) after transseptal puncture during percutaneous cardiac interventions. To study the clinical outcome of iASD after percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAo). Single-center, retrospective study of 70 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous LAAo between May 2010 and August 2017, and subsequent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at 1 month. The sample population was divided into two groups: A (with iASD, 22 (37%) patients) and B (no iASD, 44 (63%) patients). Procedures were guided either by TEE (36 patients (54%)) or intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) from the left atrium (30 patients (46%)). The primary end point was presence of iASD at 1 month, and secondary end points included mortality, hospital admission due to heart failure (HF), and right atrium (RA) size during follow-up. 70 patients were included in this study and the prevalence of iASD at 1 month was 37%. The use of ICE was associated with iASD (adjusted odds ratio, 3.79; 95% CI 1.27-11.34). The presence of iASD was not associated with adverse events (mortality, 15.4% vs 20.5%; P = 0.60; HF hospitalizations, 7.7% vs 13.6%, P = 0.45; and RA area, 24.8 ± 7.0 cm2 vs 22.2 ± 6.8 cm2, P = 0.192). At 1-month follow-up after LAAo, iASD was present in one third of patients, but was not associated with clinical outcomes. The use of ICE was associated with a higher risk of short-term iASD.

Impact of previous coronary artery bypass grafting in patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome: Current trends and clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: Among patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome, those with previous coronary artery bypass grafting are a particular subset. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of previous coronary artery bypass grafting in acute coronary syndrome patients and to identify the current trends in their clinical management. METHODS: We performed a cohort analysis of patients prospectively enrolled in the Portuguese Registry of acute coronary syndrome between 2010-2019 with known previous coronary artery bypass grafting status. The co-primary endpoints were in-hospital and one-year mortality. RESULTS: A total of 19,334 (962 coronary artery bypass grafting and 18,372 non-coronary artery bypass grafting) and 9402 (479 coronary artery bypass grafting and 8923 non-coronary artery bypass grafting) patients were included in the analyses of in-hospital and mid-term outcomes, respectively. Coronary artery bypass grafting patients were older and had a higher incidence of comorbidities. They were less likely to undergo invasive angiography (74.9 vs 84.6%, p<0.001), but were equally likely to receive dual antiplatelet therapy (91.0 vs 90.8%, p=0.823). In-hospital mortality was similar between groups (3.6 vs 3.4%, p=0.722). Unadjusted one-year mortality was higher in the coronary artery bypass grafting group (hazard ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.09-2.01, p=0.012), but similar in both groups after propensity-matching and multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.37-1.09, p=0.098). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with acute coronary syndrome, a previous history of coronary artery bypass grafting was associated with a high burden of comorbidities and a high-risk profile but was not an independent predictor of adverse events. Treatment decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, and should not be based on previous coronary artery bypass grafting status alone.

Percutaneous Occlusion of Paravalvular Aortic Leaks: A Single-Center Experience Focused on Intracardiac Echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: To describe our initial experience with an intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) for guidance of aortic percutaneous paravalvular leak occlusion (PPVLO) and to assess the outcomes after aortic PPVLO. BACKGROUND: PPVLO has emerged as an alternative to cardiac surgery for patients with symptomatic PVLs. ICE is an appealing alternative to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for guidance of percutaneous structural interventions, but experience with ICE for PPVLO guidance is limited. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all aortic PPVLOs performed in our center. The primary endpoints were technical and procedural success. Secondary endpoints included procedure-related complications, mortality, hospital admission due to heart failure, and improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class. RESULTS: Ten aortic PPVLOs were included. ICE was used to guide 40% of the aortic PPVLOs. Median follow-up was 22 months (interquartile range, 3-33 months). Mortality was 22% and hospital admission due to heart failure was 33%. Technical and procedural success rates were 90% and 80%, respectively. Median NYHA class improved significantly after the procedure (P<.01). Success was achieved in all ICE cases without any procedure-related complications. CONCLUSION: In our initial experience with an ICE-guided approach for aortic PPVLO, technical and procedural success were achieved and there were no procedure-related complications.