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2020 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)

The current COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health systems and communities globally. As such, several countries have embarked on national COVID-19 vaccination programmes in order to curb spread of the disease. However, at present, there isn’t yet enough dosages to enable vaccination of the general population. Different vaccine prioritization strategies are thus being implemented in different communities in order to permit for a systematic vaccination of individuals. Here, on behalf of the World Heart Federation, we emphasize the need for individuals with Cardiovascular disease to be prioritized in national vaccine prioritization programmes as these are high risk individuals.

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death around the world; however, many CVD events could be prevented if we focused on modification of the main risk factors. Increased salt consumption is estimated to have caused millions of deaths, mostly related to CVD, particularly stroke, which is the leading cause of death in Portugal. In our study, we aim to assess trends in the proportion of high blood pressure (HBP) in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients as well as the trends in stroke and ACS in Portugal, especially after a set of public health initiatives were implemented to reduce salt intake. Methods The monthly proportion of ACS patients presenting with previously diagnosed HBP and the monthly rate of CVD admissions into public hospitals in Portugal were calculated. CVD rates were stratified into ACS rate and stroke rates. Data were stratified by demographics variables. An interrupted time-series model was used to assess changes over time. Results Breakpoint analysis revealed an estimated breakpoint around the year 2013 for the proportion of HBP patients, the following year there was a decreasing trend, however it was not significant. Analyses showed the trend before 2013 was increasing and started to decrease after this year. This decreased in proportion of HBP patients can be translated into a reduction of 555 people per year presenting with HBP in the ACS population. We analysed trends for ACS and stroke and tested the significance for a breakpoint in the year 2013. Although none of the remaining trends were significant for ACS crude rates and stroke crude rate, a decreasing trend was observed. Conclusions This research provides an indication about the impact a population-wide approach to CVD risk factors has on CVD trends themselves. Our results suggest that population-wide approaches can have an impact on the prevention and improvement of CVD control, reducing the number of CVD events, and eventually reducing premature death by CVD. As more restrictions on salt intake are being planned in Portugal in the next years, it is highly relevant to assess what is the current panorama and what further reductions we can expect.

Раскрытие потенциального конфликта интересов (КИ) в биомедицинских журналах призвано обеспечить надежность и прозрачность научного процесса. Тем не менее, большинство журналов не уделяют должного внимания систематическому, последовательному решению проблемы раскрытия КИ. В последние годы, благодаря совместным усилиям редакторов биомедицинских журналов, были разработаны единые механизмы уведомления о КИ. В настоящей статье подробно описывается точка зрения редакторов биомедицинских журналов на проблему КИ. Кроме того, представлены результаты выполненного с помощью стандартизованного вопросника исследования, которое оценивало существующие требования в отношении раскрытия КИ и их практическое внедрение в национальных кардиологических журналах Европейского общества кардиологов.

Раскрытие потенциального конфликта интересов (КИ) в биомедицинских журналах призвано обеспечить надежность и прозрачность научного процесса. Тем не менее, большинство журналов не уделяют должного внимания систематическому, последовательному решению проблемы раскрытия КИ. В последние годы, благодаря совместным усилиям редакторов биомедицинских журналов, были разработаны единые механизмы уведомления о КИ. В настоящей статье подробно описывается точка зрения редакторов биомедицинских журналов на проблему КИ. Кроме того, представлены результаты выполненного с помощью стандартизованного вопросника исследования, которое оценивало существующие требования в отношении раскрытия КИ и их практическое внедрение в национальных кардиологических журналах Европейского Общества Кардиологов.

Introduction: Efforts were made to improve management of coronary disease as the fast-track system to the Coronary Unit. We aim to analyse case-fatality rates by acute coronary syndrome in Portugal from 2000 to 2016, mainly the impact of the fast-track system and the proportion of patients that activate the fast-track system. Methods: We analysed monthly acute coronary syndrome case-fatality before and after the implementation of the fasttrack system in 2007. Impact of the system was assessed through regression models for interrupted time-series. We calculated annual proportion of fast-track system admissions. Results: After 2007 case-fatality by acute coronary syndrome decreased (β=-1.27, p-value<0.01). The estimates obtained for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction suggest a reduction of nearly 86 monthly deaths prevented after 2007. The highest percentage of patients admitted through the fast-track system was 35%. Conclusions: Our results suggest fast-track system may have contributed to a decline in acute coronary syndrome case-fatality. However, more than half of patients were not admitted through the system. This should encourage health authorities to make efforts to ensure compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fig (Ficus carica L.) is a fruit produced worldwide for in in natura consumption and processing. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of edible coatings on the post-harvest qualities of fig fruit. The experiment was conducted at the Instituto Federal Goiano – Urutaí Campus, using figs from a orchard in the municipality of Silvania-GO. The fruits, after washing and sanitization, received edible coatings (polysaccharide, protein and lipid), constituting the treatments together with the control treatment (without cover). The fruits were stored for six days at a temperature of 25 ± 2 º C, in a completely randomized design with 5 replications. Sensory parameters (appearance, aroma and flavor) and physicochemical (weight loss, titratable acidity, soluble solids, ratio, pH and diameter) were analyzed at 0, 3 and 6 days of storage. The data obtained were submitted to MANOVA analysis and the treatments were compared using ellipses of 95% of confidence. The fig fruits, of all treatments, showed no variation of soluble solids over time (10 º Brix), and did not present aroma and alcoholic flavor. For the other variables analyzed there were variations, highlighting the lipid coatings, which maintained better fruit qualities over time, differentiating from the other treatments. The polysaccharide and proteic coatings presented identical behavior, this, intermediate to the lipid coatings and to the control treatment. In the conditions that the study was carried out, there was a rapid loss of fruit quality and, among the covers, the lipid minimized these losses.

The production of good quality seedlings becomes essential strategy for those who wish to become production that is more competitive. To induce dormancy breaking and germination and emergence of these, the imbibing of natural acid in seeds can be an alternative for the optimization of this process. The aim of this study is to evaluate the dormancy breaking in Anonna seeds squamosa immersed in different natural acid in times through the lemon juice Rangpur (Citrus limonia Osbeck). This work is being conducted in Biotecnogia laboratory greenhouse at the Federal Institute Goiano campus Urutaí where the seeds were soaked in lemon juice Rangpur (C. limonia) in five different times, each time constituting a treatment: seeds without soaking in lemon groove variety Cravo '(T1); soaked for 8 hours (T2); soaked for 16 hours (T3); soaked for 24 hours (T4); soaked for 32 hours (T5). The seeds were sown in plastic boxes with dimensions 40 x 27 x 10 cm, containing washed sand substrate, 2 cm deep in spacing of 2 x 2 cm. The germination percentage data were determined up to 45 days after sowing (DAS), and survival to 73 (DAS). After 73 DAS were evaluated after 73 days of sowing, they were evaluated; germination and survival; emergence speed index (EVI); total length of seedlings; shoot length of seedlings and radicle length (cm); Stem diameter (mm); pair of leaf number (MPN); total fresh mass changes (MFT); dry matter of shoot and radicle (g). There was not statistical diseases among treatments. T4 treatment in comparison to others on the numerical difference CTM, NPF, DC and CPA.

Purpose: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a frequent cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). We aim to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RCA) of VT in patients with IHD and to discuss its appropriate timing and limitations., Methods: Literature searches of MEDLINE, CENTRAL, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Health Technology Assessment, and PsycINFO were performed in February 2020. RCTs comparing RCA vs conventional management for VT in patients with IHD and previous or planned implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) were identified. Clinical outcomes included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, cardiovascular hospitalization, VT storm, recurrent VT/ventricular fibrillation (VF), appropriate ICD therapies, and appropriate ICD shocks. Using a random-effects model, relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for each outcome., Results: A total of 6 RCTs (N = 791) met inclusion criteria. RCA was associated with significantly lower VT storm (RR 0.70; CI 95% 0.51 to 0.94, p = 0.02) and appropriate ICD therapies (RR 0.69; CI 95% 0.54 to 0.88, p = 0.003), including appropriate ICD shocks (RR 0.66; CI 95% 0.47 to 0.92, p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in all-cause or cardiovascular mortality, cardiovascular hospitalization, and recurrent VT/VF., Conclusions: Radiofrequency catheter ablation for VT in patients with IHD was associated with a reduced risk of VT storm, ICD therapies, and ICD shocks. There is a need for future carefully designed RCTs that incorporate improved RCA procedural aspects.