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Atrial cardiomyopathy and remodeling play pivotal roles in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF), involving complex changes in atrial structure and function. These changes facilitate the progression of AF and HF by creating a dynamic interplay between mechanical stress and electrical disturbances in the heart. Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), initially developed for the management of type 2 diabetes, have demonstrated promising cardiovascular benefits, being currently one of the cornerstone treatments in HF management. Despite recent data from randomized clinical trials indicating that SGLT2is may significantly influence atrial remodeling, their overall effectiveness in this context is still under debate. Given the emerging evidence, this review examines the molecular mechanisms through which SGLT2is exert their effects on atrial remodeling, aiming to clarify their potential benefits and limitations. By exploring these mechanisms, this review aims to provide insights into how SGLT2is can be integrated into strategies for preventing the progression of atrial remodeling and HF, as well as the development of AF.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common presentation in adult patients with cor triatriatum sinister. The key to successful and safe catheter ablation in these patients is an accurate exploration and thorough understanding of the left atrial anatomy, both before and during the procedure. Catheter manipulation is highly dependable on left atrial anatomy, including the interatrial septum, insertion of pulmonary veins and cor triatriatum membrane. Anatomical variants such as the left common pulmonary trunk may influence the ablation approach and outcome. We report the case of a 52-year-old patient with cor triatriatum sinister and the left common pulmonary vein variant who underwent successful high-power, short-duration catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: Three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) allows simultaneous assessment of multidirectional components of strain. However, there are few data on its usefulness to predict prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The objective of our pilot study was to evaluate the prognostic value of four different 3D-STE parameters (global longitudinal strain (GLS-3D), global circumferential strain (GCS-3D), global radial strain (GRS-3D), and global area strain (GAS)) in AMI, after successful revascularization by primary PCI. Methods: We enrolled 94 AMI patients (66 ± 13 years, 56% men) who underwent coronary angiography. All patients had been 3D-STE assessed and followed-up for 1 year for the occurrence of MACE. Results: A total of 25 MACE were recorded over follow-up. Cut-off values of −17% for GAS (HR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.39–6.92, p = 0.005), −12% for GCS-3D (HR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.36–6.8, p = 0.006), −10% for GLS-3D (HR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.36–6.78, p = 0.006), and 25% for GRS-3D (HR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.29–6.46, p = 0.009) showed moderate accuracy in MACE prediction. Multivariate regression showed that GAS (HR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.03–1.16), GLS-3D (HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03–1.26), and GCS-3D (HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03–1.23) remained independent predictors of MACE (HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01–1.14 for GAS, and HR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.01–1.2 for GCS-3D). However, post hoc power analysis indicated adequate sample size (power of 80%) only for GAS and GCS-3D for the ROC curve analysis and for GAS, GCS-3D, and GRS-3D for the log-rank test. Conclusion: Patients with AMI might benefit from early risk stratification with the aid of 3D-STE measurements, particularly GAS and GCS-3D, but larger studies are necessary to determine the optimal cut-off values to predict MACE.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) remains a challenging issue. This study aims to explore the left atrial appendage function by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and assess its value in predicting AF recurrence following RFCA in paroxysmal AF patients. Eighty-one patients with paroxysmal AF that underwent RFCA were recruited. TEE was performed before ablation with the assessment of left atrial appendage emptying flow velocity (LAAeV). AF recurrence occurred in 24 patients (29.6%) within 12 months after RFCA. The left atrium diameter (LAD) and left atrium volume index (LAVI) were both significantly higher in the recurrence group compared to the non-recurrence group, while the LAAeV was significantly lower in the recurrence group. LAD, LAVi and LAAeV were univariately significant risk factors for AF recurrence after ablation. Based on receiver operating curve (ROC), LAAeV < 40.5 cm/s, LAVi > 40.5 mL and LAD > 41 mm were identified as cut-off values for predicting AF recurrence. In multivariate regression analysis LAAeV < 40.5 cm/s (HR 8.194, 95% CI 2.980–22.530, p < 0.001) was identified as the only statistically significant independent predictor of AF recurrence, as the statistical significance threshold was not achieved for LAVI > 40.5 mL and LAD > 41 mm (p = 0.319; p = 0.507, respectively). A low LAAeV was the only important independent predictor of AF recurrence within 1 year after first RFCA.

Background and Objectives: Prior studies have identified a number of predictors for Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation success, including comorbidities, the type of AF, and left atrial (LA) size. Ectopic foci in the initiation of paroxysmal AF are frequently found in pulmonary veins. Our aim was to assess how pulmonary vein anatomy influences the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency catheter ablation. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients diagnosed with paroxysmal or persistent AF underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) between November 2016 and December 2017. All of these patients underwent computed tomography before AF ablation. PV anatomy was classified according to the presence of common PVs or accessory PVs. Several clinical and imagistic parameters were recorded. After hospital discharge, all patients were scheduled for check-up in an outpatient clinic at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after RFCA to detect AF recurrence. Results: A total of 80 consecutive patients, aged 53.8 ± 9.6 years, 54 (67.5%) men and 26 (32.5%) women were enrolled. The majority of patients had paroxysmal AF 53 (66.3%). Regular PV anatomy (2 left PVs, 2 right PVs) was identified in 59 patients (73.7%), a left common trunk (LCT) was detected in 15 patients (18.7%), an accessory right middle pulmonary vein (RMPV) was found in 5 patients (6.25%) and one patient presented both an LCT and an RMPV. The median follow-up duration was 14 (12; 15) months. Sinus rhythm was maintained in 50 (62.5%) patients. Age, gender, antiarrhythmic drugs, and the presence of cardiac comorbidities were not predictive of AF recurrence. The diagnosis of persistent AF before RFCA was more closely associated with an increase in recurrent AF after RFCA than after paroxysmal AF (p = 0.01). Longer procedure times (>265 minutes) were associated with AF recurrence (p = 0.04). Patients with an LA volume index of over 48.5 (mL/m2) were more likely to present AF recurrence (p = 0.006). Multivariate analysis of recurrence risk showed that only the larger LA volume index and variant PV anatomy were independently associated with AF recurrence. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that an increased volume of the left atrium was the most important predictive factor for the risk of AF recurrence after catheter ablation. Variant anatomy of PV was the only other independent predictive factor associated with a higher rate of AF recurrence.

Structural cardiac, mainly atrial remodeling in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) creates conditions for thromboembolic complications, despite the optimization of oral anticoagulant treatment over the past years. This study aims to provide a comparative analysis of patients with NVAF, with and without atrial thrombotic masses, in an integrated approach using clinical, electrocardiographic, anatomohemodynamic cardiac findings assessed by echocardiography, as well as an evaluation of the inflammatory status based on the usual screening blood markers. Methods - The study was based on the anonymous analysis of the medical records of 50 patients with NVAF monitored in a center of cardiology in Cluj-Napoca between March 2019 - February 2020, who received optimal oral anticoagulant treatment, all undergoing transesophageal ultrasound prior to cardioversion or ablation therapy. The statistical data processing methods were based on the "chi square" test and overall model fit logistic regression. Results - Atrial thrombotic complications were found in 7 (14%) patients with NVAF. These had, compared to patients without thrombotic masses, a mean CHA2DS2-VASc scale of 3 versus 2.76 (p=0.05), more frequently other atrial tachyarrhythmias (p<0.01), a more expressed inflammatory reaction (p=0.02), as well as a reduction of LVEF (p<0.01) and the peak left atrial appendage emptying velocity (p<0.01). Conclusions - In addition to a high CHA2DS2-VASc score, left anatomohemodynamic cardiac alteration, atrial arrhythmic complexity and background inflammatory status create conditions for high thromboembolic risk in patients with NVAF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D deficiency is a significant global public health issue, even in regions with all year sun exposure. Currently, the scientific community has not yet reached a unanimous agreement regarding the optimum levels of vitamin D and the precise threshold values. Additional efforts are required to standardize the evaluation of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency and to provide uniform treatment guidelines. Epidemiological studies have identified a broad spectrum of estimated prevalences in athletes. Their performance when participating in sports. depend on their muscles, heart and lung function. It seems that athletes have significantly lower levels of vitamin D compared to the general population. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies and systematic reviews on this subject, making it challenging to reach conclusions due to variations in laboratory techniques and cut-off values. While there is an abundant of research on the supplementation of vitamin D and its benefits, it is challenging to provide general recommendations for athletes due to the limitations of extrapolation. However, there is a rather high occurrence of Vitamin D deficiency among individuals who engage in regular physical activity. Supplementing with Vitamin D helps prevents osteoporosis, bone fractures, enhances muscle strength, avoids lung infections, heart failure, and arrhythmias. It is generally safe when used in appropriate quantities, given its wide therapeutic range. Athletes can decrease the occurrence of training dropouts caused by infection, arrhythmias, muscular weakness and potentially prevent the inability to participate in competitions through correct nutrition and vitamin D supplementation.

Ventricular arrhythmias may occur in patients without anatomical heart abnormalities, a condition that is known as idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias. The most common form originates at the level of the outflow tracts. It can manifest as PVCs, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), and sustained VT. A 52-year-old female patient was admitted for 2 episodes of syncope related to a high burden of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and several episodes of VT with the same QRS morphology as the PVCs. A diagnosis of sustained monomorphic VT was formulated in a patient with no structural heart disease and a normal ejection fraction. Antiarrhythmic drugs such as metoprolol, propafenone, and amiodarone failed to reduce the number of PVCs, hence catheter ablation was suggested to the patient. The patient consented to the treatment, and following catheter ablation, the patient no longer experienced syncope. The 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring revealed no PVCs or VTs. PVCs and VTs from the RVOT are typically benign with a good prognosis. Catheter ablation should be employed as the definitive treatment for RVOT-VT, as our case demonstrates only partial response to antiarrhythmic drugs.

Background and Objectives: Revascularization has been proven to be superior to medication for symptom improvement in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). There are well known gender differences in therapeutic strategies for PAD. The influence of gender on post-angioplasty prognosis is not fully understood though. The present study aims to identify potential peculiarities between men and women undergoing peripheral angioplasty, as well as factors responsible for those differences. Material and methods: 104 consecutive subjects (50 women and 54 men) who underwent percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) between January and October 2019 for symptomatic PAD were included. Demographics, PAD history, cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, the associated coronary or cerebrovascular diseases, biological parameters, drug-treatment and PTA type and technique were taken into account. The follow-up period was 2 years, during which major adverse limb events (MALE) were documented. Results: The mean age was 67 ± 10 years. Women were 4 years older than the men (69 ± 10 years vs. 65 ± 9.2 years—p = 0.04). Smoking was more prevalent in men (p = 0.0004), while other cardiovascular risk factors did not differ significantly. The mean follow-up of the two groups was 21 ± 2.4 months. Women had infra-inguinal involvement more frequently (78%), while men exhibited mixed disease, with supra + infra-inguinal (37%) or solely supra-inguinal (20.3%) involvement (p = 0.0012). Rates of MALE were similar in the two groups (p = 0.914). Gender did not influence the incidence of PAD-related adverse events. The only parameter that proved to have a significant influence on the occurrence of MALE was the ankle–brachial index (ABI). A value below 0.5 was found to be an independent predictor for MALE (p = 0.001). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the incidence rates of MALE between the two genders over a 2-year follow-up period post-PTA. Regardless of sex, an ankle–brachial index value below 0.5 was the sole independent predictor for limb-related adverse events.

Low atrial rhythm (LAR) is an ectopic rhythm originating in the lower part of the right or left atrium. Prior observational studies attempted to quantify the prevalence of low atrial rhythm in the pediatric population, but the observed prevalence was highly variable with relatively small sample sizes. We aimed to characterize low atrial rhythm and determine its prevalence in a large population of 24,316 asymptomatic children from northwestern Transylvania. We found a prevalence of 0.6% (145 children) for low atrial rhythm. Children with LAR had a significantly lower heart rate (mean 78.6 ± 8.3 bpm), than the control sinus rhythm group (85.02 ± 4.5 bpm). Furthermore, a shorter PR interval was seen in children with LAR (132.7 ± 12.7 ms) than in the children from the control group (141.7 ± 5.4; p = 0.0001).There was no significant association between gender and the presence of left LAR (LLAR) or right LAR (RLAR) (p = 0.5876). The heart rate of children with LLAR was significantly higher (81.7 ± 11.6 bpm) than that of the children with LRAR (77.6 ± 11.1 bpm) (p = 0.037). Pediatric cardiologists should recognize low atrial rhythm and be aware that asymptomatic, healthy children can exhibit this pattern, which does not require therapeutic intervention.

The field of cardiac electrophysiology has greatly developed during the past decades. Consequently, the use of electrophysiological studies (EPSs) in clinical practice has also significantly augmented, with a progressively increasing number of certified electrophysiology centers and specialists. Since Zipes et al published the Guidelines for Clinical Intracardiac Electrophysiology and Catheter Ablation Procedures in 1995, no official document summarizing current EPS indications has been published.The current paper focuses on summarizing all relevant data of the role of EPS in patients with different types of cardiac pathologies and provides up-to-date recommendations on this topic.For this purpose, the PubMed database was screened for relevant articles in English up to December 2018 and ESC and ACC/AHA Clinical Practice Guidelines, and EHRA/HRS/APHRS position statements related to the current topic were analyzed.Current recommendations for the use of EPS in clinical practice are discussed and presented in 17 distinct cardiac pathologies. A short rationale, evidence, and indications are provided for each cardiac disease/group of diseases.In conclusion, because of its capability to establish a diagnosis in patients with a variety of cardiac pathologies, the EPS remains a useful tool in the evaluation of patients with cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders and is capable of establishing indications for cardiac device implantation and guide catheter ablation procedures. Keywords: Electrophysiological study, Indications, Arrhythmias

Aim: Although the association between left ventricular dilation and mitral annulus dilation is well understood, the potential variation in the size of the mitral annulus during dilation of the left atrium is currently unknown. In order to investigate the link between the two variables, we used multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and looked at patients who had a dilated left atrium, assessing if the mitral valve also dilates. Materials and Methods: The study included 107 patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation, in whom catheter ablation was performed using pulmonary vein isolation ± atrial substrate modification. Eighty patients were male (74.8%), with a mean age of 55.8 years (±9.87 with a minimum age of 26 years and a maximum age of 79 years), of which 57.1% had paroxysmal AF and the rest had persistent fibrillation. All the patients underwent multiple-detector CT (MDCT) with contrast medium before the ablation. CT images were integrated into the three-dimensional mapping system CARTO 3, after which the diameters of the mitral annulus, area, and circumference were measured. Left atrial size was evaluated by measuring the diameters, area, and volume. Results: The left atrial area was 247 ± 65.7 cm2 and the left atrial volume was 139 ± 56.3 mL. The transverse mitral annulus (MA) was 29.9 ± 5.3 mm and the longitudinal diameter was 41.9 ± 7.6 mm. The MA circumference and area were 15.0 ± 3.5 cm and 14.2 ± 4.6 cm2, respectively. The following statistically significant correlation was identified between the dimensions of the mitral annulus and the diameters of the left atrium: the transverse mitral annulus correlates with the antero-posterior (AP) LA diameter (R = 0.594, p < 0.01) and the longitudinal MA diameter correlates with the latero-lateral (LL) LA diameter (R = 0.576, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the MA area correlates with the LA volume (R = 0.639, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The volume of the left atrium correlates with the area of the mitral annulus. In patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF, an increase in left atrial dimensions is further associated with an increase in mitral valve dimensions.

Ventricular fibrillation in the absence of structural heart disease represents an important mechanism of sudden cardiac death. It is initiated by triggers originating in the distal Purkinje fibers, arising from either the right or the left ventricle. Catheter ablation of these triggers has the potential of terminating the arrhythmia and preventing recurrence. We present the case of an electrical storm in a 39-year old female patient with no cardiac past medical history, with recurrent episodes of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, who was referred to our hospital for repeated episodes of syncope. The 12-lead ECG showed the presence of frequent ventricular premature beats (VPB), having a left-bundle branch block morphology and superior axis, with an “R on T” phenomenon, initiating non-sustained episodes of ventricular fibrillation. Using a three-dimensional, non-fluoroscopic mapping system (CARTO 3, Biosense Webster), the origin of the ventricular premature beat responsible for the initiation of VFib was identified and successfully ablated. Catheter ablation of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation using a 3-dimensional mapping system is a feasible therapeutic option for patients with this type of arrhythmia.