BackgroundApproximately half of the patients presenting with new‐onset heart failure (HF) have HF with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) and HF with mid‐range left ventricular ejection fraction (HFmrEF). These patients have neurohormonal activation like that of HF with reduced ejection fraction; however, beta‐blockers and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors have not been shown to improve their outcomes, and current treatment for these patients is symptom based and empiric. Sympathoinhibition using parasympathetic stimulation has been shown to improve central and peripheral aspects of the cardiac nervous system, reflex control, induce myocyte cardioprotection, and can lead to regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. Beneficial effects of autonomic regulation therapy (ART) using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) have also been observed in several animal models of HFpEF, suggesting a potential role for ART in patients with this disease.MethodsThe Autonomic Neural Regulation Therapy to Enhance Myocardial Function in Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction (ANTHEM‐HFpEF) study is designed to evaluate the feasibility, tolerability, and safety of ART using right cervical VNS in patients with chronic, stable HFpEF and HFmrEF. Patients with symptomatic HF and HFpEF or HFmrEF fulfilling the enrolment criteria will receive chronic ART with a subcutaneous VNS system attached to the right cervical vagus nerve. Safety parameters will be continuously monitored, and cardiac function and HF symptoms will be assessed every 3 months during a post‐titration follow‐up period of at least 12 months.ConclusionsThe ANTHEM‐HFpEF study is likely to provide valuable information intended to expand our understanding of the potential role of ART in patients with chronic symptomatic HFpEF and HFmrEF.

Background & objectives:The genesis of atherosclerotic lesions, a major cardiovascular risk factor starts in the early stage of life. If the premature development of cardiovascular risk factors can be anticipated during childhood, cardiovascular events can be prevented effectively by taking appropriate measures. This study was carried out to assess the role of in utero malnutrition in cardiovascular disease development by comparing cord blood lipid profiles and serum insulin levels between small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) term newborns.Methods:Consecutive full-term infants who were born between June 20 and August 19, 2013, at the Obstetric Unit of a Hospital at Secunderabad, India, were enrolled in this study. Participating newborns were divided into SGA group (n = 51; test group) and AGA group (n = 52; control group) based on their gestational age and body weight. Cord blood lipid profile and insulin levels were compared between these two groups.Results:As compared to the newborns in AGA group, SGA group of newborns had significantly (P<0.01) higher levels of cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein. No difference was observed between the groups for high-density lipoprotein and insulin levels. Mild and moderate anaemia was observed among mothers of both groups, while severe anaemia was seen in mothers of SGA group only.Interpretation & conclusions:SGA newborns exhibited elevated lipid profiles as compared to AGA newborns. Hence, SGA newborns should be closely monitored for cardiovascular morbidities during childhood, adolescence and early adult life.

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Objectives Though invasive monitoring is the most accurate to estimate diastolic dysfunction but it has its own risk. The purpose of this study was to find out any standardized correlation between invasive and non -invasive parameters. Methods It is an observational, descriptive study comprising of a total of 500 patients. The primary objective of the study was to determine the correlation between echocardiographic diastolic parameters and invasively measured left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Results On studying correlation of different invasive and non-invasive data it was reported that there was a weak correlation between peak E velocity ( r = 0.14, p = 0.631), Peak A velocity ( r = 0.67, p = 0.59), IVRT ( r = −0.35, p = 0.178), Mitral deceleration time (DT) ( r = −0.06, p = 0.842), pulmonary venous peak systolic ( r = −0.02, p = 0.966) and diastolic flows ( r = 0.47, p = 0.201) to LVEDP. There was a good positive correlation between elevated LVEDP and difference in duration of pulmonary venous and mitral flow at atrial contraction (A-Ard) and E/Ea at all four longitudinal segments of the left ventricle. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting an elevated LVEDP of more than 12 mm Hg, using a cut off value of E/Ea< 8, were 89% and 90%.Lateral E/Ea ≥ 12, LAVI ≥34 mL/m2, and Ard–Ad > 30 msec have the greatest diagnostic value for diagnosing diastolic dysfunction in HFpEF patients. Conclusion Lateral E/Ea ≥ 12, LAVI ≥34 mL/m2, and Ard–Ad > 30 msec have the greatest diagnostic value for diagnosing diastolic dysfunction in HFpEF patients and have good correlation with invasively measured LVEDP.

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