Background: Diabetes mellitus might be associated with severity and death in patients with COVID-19; but its mechanisms are still unknown. Objective: to carry out a systematic review of what has been published so far on mortality in patients with COVID-19 associated with diabetes comorbidity. Methods: A search was carried out in PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and EMBASE Classic and Google Scholar databases; up to April 2020 using the search medical subheadings (MeSH) terms : "mortality from Coronavirus", "mortality from COVID-19" and "mortality in patients with diabetes by COVID-19". Enrolled studies were assessed independently by two blinded researchers. Studies quality was assessed using the Jedad scale. The articles score equal or greater than two points were considered highly methodological quality. Results: Initially, 65 articles were found and 46 were excluded for not meeting the eligibility criteria. Among the 10 remaining, 3 were excluded because had Jedad score lower than two points. Among the remaining seven, two were excluded because they were meta-analysis. Eventually, ve articles remained for nal analysis. For all, mortality among patients with diabetes was higher than without diabetes. The risk of global mortality among diabetes patients was 8.9 times higher (p<0.0001) than without diabetes The time of diagnosis could be more determining for mortality, meanwhile HB1Ac level was not determining Conclusion: Mortality risk observed by COVID-19 is higher among diabetes patients than healthy age matched peers. This result can be partially explained by hormonal signaling changes, such as blood clotting and abnormal pancreas functioning.

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This feasibility study shows that DHBP can be accomplished with a new system consisting of a steerable catheter and an active fixation lead in 92% of the patients in whom it was attempted.

This study suggests that moderate-to-severe ASA might be associated with LA dysfunction in patients with PFO. The resultant similarities to the pathophysiology of AF might represent an additional contributing mechanism for arterial embolism in such patients.

Compared with BiV pacing at any LV site, MPP yielded a small but consistent increase in hemodynamic response. A correlation between the increase in hemodynamics and Q-LV on MPP was observed for all measurements, including those taken at the best and worst sites. The MPP-induced improvement in contractility was associated with significantly greater narrowing of the QRS complex than conventional BiV pacing.

The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of percutaneous interventional closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) with or without atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) in symptomatic patients. Between June 1999 and June 2002, we performed transcatheter closure of PFO in 256 consecutive symptomatic patients (female/male = 1.45; mean age 48 +/- 16 years; range 14-75): ischemic stroke (n = 101), transient ischemic attack (n = 144), peripheral and coronary arterial embolism (n = 17); multiple events (n = 23); platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (n = 2); refractory hypoxemia (n = 1); and migraine aura (n = 27). The implanted devices were an Amplatzer PFO Occluder (n = 248), a Gore-HELEX Septal Occluder (n = 4), and PFO STAR (n = 4). Most procedures (n = 176.69%) were done under two-dimensional intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) guidance alone; in the last 30 patients, 3D/4D ICE reconstruction (TomTec Imaging Systems) 6mbH was obtained. In 30 cases, ICE and contrast enhanced-TCD have been used simultaneously in the catheterization laboratory. The devices were placed correctly in all patients. Mean fluoroscopy time was 9.45 +/- 5 minutes (range = 2.5-35 minutes); mean procedural time was 57 +/- 21 minutes (range = 15-135 minutes). Total occlusion rate at follow-up (mean 19 months, range 1-33) was 98.1%. No significant recurrent neurological events were observed. Transcatheter closure of PFO with or without ASA is a safe and effective, minimally invasive procedure that ensures high closure rate and avoids life-long anticoagulation. Mid-term follow-up results appear favorable with respect to recurrent thromboembolic events.

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The ICE evaluation of ASDs allows quantitative and qualitative information for both proper ASO selection and optimal device placement, thus eliminating the cumbersome balloon-sizing maneuver and the need for general anesthesia during TEE monitoring.