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Heart failure (HF) is a growing epidemic with the annual number of hospitalizations constantly increasing over the last decades for HF as a primary or secondary diagnosis. Despite the emergence of novel therapeutic approached that can prolong life and shorten hospital stay, HF patients will be needing rehospitalization and will often have a poor prognosis. Telemonitoring is a novel diagnostic modality that has been suggested to be beneficial for HF patients. Telemonitoring is viewed as a means of recording physiological data, such as body weight, heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and electrocardiogram recordings, by portable devices and transmitting these data remotely (via a telephone line, a mobile phone or a computer) to a server where they can be stored, reviewed and analyzed by the research team. In this systematic review of all randomized clinical trials evaluating telemonitoring in chronic HF, we aim to assess whether telemonitoring provides any substantial benefit in this patient population.

Background-The prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy, which accounts for considerable morbidity and mortality, remains a vexing problem. Contrast-induced renal vasoconstriction is believed to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of contrast-induced nephropathy. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of the prostacyclin analog iloprost in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with renal dysfunction undergoing a coronary procedure. Methods and Results-We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of iloprost in 208 patients with a serum creatinine concentration Ն1.4 mg/dL who underwent coronary angiography and/or intervention. Iloprost 1 ng · kg Ϫ1 · min Ϫ1 or placebo was administered intravenously beginning 30 to 90 minutes before and ending 4 hours after the procedure. Contrast-induced nephropathy was defined by an absolute increase in serum creatinine Ն0.5 mg/dL or a relative increase Ն25% measured 2 to 5 days after the procedure. Contrast-induced nephropathy occurred in 23 of the 105 patients (22%) in the control group and in 8 of the 103 patients (8%) in the iloprost group (odds ratio, 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.12 to 0.69; Pϭ0.005). In the control group, the estimated glomerular filtration rate declined from 49.7Ϯ15.5 to 46.6Ϯ16.6 mL · min Ϫ1 · 1.73 m Ϫ2 (Pϭ0.01). In the iloprost group, the estimated glomerular filtration rate increased marginally from 47.5Ϯ14.5 to 48.6Ϯ16.1 mL · min Ϫ1 · 1.73 m Ϫ2 (Pϭ0.26). The mean absolute estimated glomerular filtration rate decline in the control group was greater than its change in the iloprost group (difference, 4.2 mL · min Ϫ1 · 1.73 m Ϫ2; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 7.3; Pϭ0.008). Conclusion-Prophylactic

In this study, we sought to evaluate the impact of implantable cardiac monitoring (ICM) in the prevention of stroke recurrence after a cryptogenic ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Methods: We evaluated consecutive patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke or TIA admitted in a comprehensive stroke center during an 8-year period. We compared the baseline characteristics and outcomes between patients receiving conventional cardiac monitoring with repeated 24-hour Holter-monitoring during the first 5 years in the outpatient setting and those receiving continuous cardiac monitoring with ICM during the last 3 years. Associations on the outcomes of interest were further assessed in multivariable regression models adjusting for potential confounders. Results: We identified a total of 373 patients receiving conventional cardiac monitoring and 123 patients receiving ICM. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) detection was higher in the ICM cohort compared to the conventional cardiac monitoring cohort (21.1% vs 7.5%, p < 0.001). ICM was independently associated with an increased likelihood of PAF detection during follow-up (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16-3.24) in multivariable analyses. Patients receiving ICM were also found to have significantly higher rates of anticoagulation initiation (18.7% vs 6.4%, p < 0.001) and lower risk of stroke recurrence (4.1% vs 11.8%, p = 0.013). ICM was independently associated with a lower risk of stroke recurrence during follow-up (HR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.11-0.90) in multivariable analyses. Interpretation: ICM appears to be independently associated with a higher likelihood of PAF detection and anticoagulation initiation after a cryptogenic ischemic stroke or TIA. ICM was also independently related to lower risk of stroke recurrence in our cryptogenic stroke / TIA cohort.

The results of this pilot study suggest that prophylactic administration of iloprost may effectively prevent CMN, but higher dosages are connected with substantial tolerability issues.

Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery is a congenital abnormality of the origin or course of a coronary artery that arises from the aorta. The surgical treatment of this anomaly is highly variable and controversial and is achieved by implementing elaborate techniques of anatomic repair or by simple coronary artery bypass grafting. This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Two independent reviewers determined whether studies met the inclusion criteria. Eligible papers were published in English, clinical studies describing surgical repair of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery including coronary artery bypass in adults, and enrolled >5 patients. In the absence of multicentre trials, 7 single-center retrospective series were included, which demonstrated comparable short- and midterm outcomes of anatomic repair and coronary artery bypass in adults with anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery. Coronary unroofing was the preferred technique when the anomalous artery has an intramural component, but there is a risk of aortic insufficiency. Anatomic repair is technically demanding and should be carried out in experienced centers. Coronary artery bypass with internal thoracic artery or vein grafts is technically straightforward with low operative risk and comparable midterm outcomes, however, long-term outcomes are unknown. Coronary artery bypass grafting is the technique of choice for older patients, in those with concomitant coronary artery disease, as a bailout procedure for failed anatomic repair, or in centers without experience in anatomic repair for anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery.

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