Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death and disability in Europe. For patients presenting with an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), timely myocardial reperfusion using either thrombolytic therapy or primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the most effective therapy for limiting myocardial infarct (MI) size, preserving left-ventricular systolic function and reducing the onset of heart failure. Despite this, the morbidity and mortality of STEMI patients remain significant, and novel therapeutic interventions are required to improve clinical outcomes in this patient group. Paradoxically, the process of myocardial reperfusion can itself induce cardiomyocyte death-a phenomenon which has been termed 'myocardial reperfusion injury' (RI), the irreversible consequences of which include microvascular obstruction and myocardial infarction. Unfortunately, there is currently no effective therapy for preventing myocardial RI in STEMI patients making it an important residual target for cardioprotection. Previous attempts to translate cardioprotective therapies (antioxidants, calcium-channel blockers, and anti-inflammatory agents) for reducing RI into the clinic, have been unsuccessful. An improved understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying RI has resulted in the identification of several promising mechanical (ischaemic post-conditioning, remote ischaemic pre-conditioning, therapeutic hypothermia, and hyperoxaemia), and pharmacological (atrial natriuretic peptide, cyclosporin-A, and exenatide) therapeutic strategies, for preventing myocardial RI, many of which have shown promise in initial proof-of-principle clinical studies. In this article, we review the pathophysiology underlying myocardial RI, and highlight the potential therapeutic interventions which may be used in the future to prevent RI and improve clinical outcomes in patients with CHD.

This randomized study demonstrated that in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients treated by PPCI, RIC, initiated prior to PPCI, reduced MI size, increased myocardial salvage, and reduced myocardial edema.

Coronary collaterals are an alternative source of blood supply to myocardium jeopardized by ischaemia. In comparison with other species, the human coronary collateral circulation is very well developed. Among individuals without coronary artery disease (CAD), there are preformed collateral arteries preventing myocardial ischaemia during a brief vascular occlusion in 20-25%. Determinants of such anastomoses are low heart rate and the absence of systemic arterial hypertension. In patients with CAD, collateral arteries preventing myocardial ischaemia during a brief occlusion are present in every third individual. Collateral flow sufficient to prevent myocardial ischaemia during coronary occlusion amounts to one-fifth to one-fourth the normal flow through the open vessel. Myocardial infarct size, the most important prognostic determinant after such an event, is the product of coronary artery occlusion time, area at risk for infarction, and the inverse of collateral supply. Well-developed coronary collateral arteries in patients with CAD mitigate myocardial infarcts and improve survival. Approximately one-fifth of patients with CAD cannot be revascularized by percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. Therapeutic promotion of collateral growth is a valuable treatment strategy in those patients. It should aim at growth of large conductive collateral arteries (arteriogenesis). Potential arteriogenic approaches include the treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, physical exercise training, and external counterpulsation.

In patients with CAD, the coronary collateralization has a relevant protective effect. Patients with a high collateralization have a 36% reduced mortality risk compared with patients with low collateralization.

The volumetric model of UCA kinetics allows the quantification of MBF in humans using MCE and provides the basis for the noninvasive and quantitative assessment of coronary artery disease.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the availability of highly effective treatments, the contemporary burden of disease remains huge. Digital health interventions hold promise to improve further the quality and experience of cardiovascular care. This position paper provides a brief overview of currently existing digital health applications in different cardiovascular disease settings. It provides the reader with the most relevant challenges for their large-scale deployment in Europe. The potential role of different stakeholders and related challenges are identified, and the key points suggestions on how to proceed are given. This position paper was developed by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) e-Cardiology working group, in close collaboration with the ESC Digital

This meta-analysis including 2,763 subjects suggests that iodixanol, when compared with LOCM overall, is not associated with less CI-AKI. The relative renal safety of LOCM compared with iodixanol may vary based on the specific type of LOCM.

Background and Purpose-For patients having suffered ischemic stroke, the current diagnostic strategies often fail to detect atrial fibrillation as a potential cause of embolic events. The aim of the study was to identify paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in stroke patients. We hypothesized that patients with frequent atrial premature beats (APBs) recorded in 24-hour ECG will show more often atrial fibrillation when followed by repeated long-term ECG recordings than patients without or infrequent APBs. Methods-127 patients with acute ischemic stroke and without known AF were enrolled in a prospective study to detect paroxysmal AF. Patients were stratified according to the number of APBs recorded in a 24-hour ECG (Ն70 APBs versus Ͻ70 APBs). Subsequently, they all underwent serial 7-day event-recorder monitoring at 0, 3, and 6 months. Results-Serial extended ECG monitoring identified AF in 26% of patients with frequent APBs but only in 6.5% when APBs were infrequent (Pϭ0.0021). A multivariate analysis showed that the presence of frequent APBs in the initial 24-hour ECG was the only independent predictor of paroxysmal AF during follow-up (odds ratio 6.6, 95% confidence intervals 1.6 to 28.2, Pϭ0.01). Conclusions-In patients with acute ischemic stroke, frequent APBs (Ն70/24 hours) are a marker for individuals who are at greater risk to develop or have paroxysmal AF. For such patients, we propose a diagnostic workup with repeated prolonged ECG monitoring to diagnose paroxysmal AF.