COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on mental health of healthcare professionals.

In light of the unprecedented public health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is highly important to acknowledge the psychological impact of this mounting threat on healthcare professionals. Previous experience from smaller scale epidemics and emerging literature around COVID-19 show that the unparalleled amount of stress that healthcare workers are dealing with, is associated with increased psychological morbidities. We have depicted the psychological burden that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed on healthcare professionals in Greece and have reviewed the literature around the effect of previous epidemics on frontline healthcare staff. Moreover, we discuss potential triggers and the need for measures to minimise the psychological pressure on those at the frontline against this biothreat

[Case Report] Stress induced (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stress induced (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy (TC) represents an acute heart failure syndrome triggered by physical or emotional stressors. COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented health crisis resulting in fear, distress and anxiety, with emerging cardiovascular implications. COVID-19 related stress can act as potential trigger for TC. We present a case of an elderly female who developed TC due to stress surrounding COVID-19

Summarising data and factors associated with COVID-19 related conspiracy theories in the first year of the pandemic: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Conspiracy theories can have particularly harmful effects by negatively shaping health-related behaviours. A significant number of COVID-19 specific conspiracy theories emerged in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic outbreak. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic (2020), to identify their prevalence, their determinants and their public health consequences. A comprehensive literature search was carried out in PubMed and PsycINFO to detect all studies examining any conspiracy theory related to COVID-19 between January 1st 2020, and January 10th 2021. Forty-three studies were included with a total of 61,809 participants. Between 0.4 and 82.7% of participants agreed with at least one conspiracy belief. Certain sociodemographic factors (young age, female gender, being non-white, lower socioeconomic status), psychological aspects (pessimism, blaming others, anger) and other qualities (political conservatism, religiosity, mistrust in science and using social media as source of information) were associated with increased acceptance of conspiracy theories. Conspiracy beliefs led to harmful health-related behaviours and posed a serious public health threat. Large-scale collaborations between governments and healthcare organizations are needed to curb the spread of conspiracy theories and their adverse consequences

COVID-19 related stress exacerbates common physical and mental pathologies and affects treatment (Review).

COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global public health emergency resulting in unprecedented individual and societal fear and anxiety. The stress surrounding this biothreat appears to have clinical implications in all aspects of medicine, both in mental and physical health spheres. The impact of COVID-19 related anxiety in Cardiology, Paediatrics, Oncology, Dermatology, Neurology and Mental Health and how it affects treatments is discussed. Moreover, the need for introducing novel communication and therapeutic approaches is highlighted in the new landscape of the COVID-19 era

Cryoablation for atrial fibrillation and antiarrhythmic drug pretreatment: A single referral center experience

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation has emerged as the gold standard of ablative strategies to treat medically refractory paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Regardless of the superiority of catheter ablation based on PVI over antiarrhythmic drug therapy, recurrence rates of AF remain higher than desired. PVI via cryoablation has rapidly become a mainstream treatment for AF, due to its effectiveness and fast learning curve. Our objective was to assess the safety and efficacy of cryoablation in a single referral center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of results after cryoablation treatment of AF over three years. 146 patients with AF underwent a cryoablation procedure in our clinical center and were followed-up for three years after the procedure. All patients received cryoablation of the pulmonary veins, although concomitant procedures were performed in 6 patients (re-ablation), including radiofrequency and cryoablation. RESULTS: Cryoablation was clinically successful in 90.83% of the patients with paroxysmal AF and 60% of those with persistent AF. The clinical success of cryoablation was correlated with pretreatment with amiodarone and in the case of re-ablation. Concerning postoperative complications, major bleeding was correlated with female gender, treatment with rivaroxaban and amiodarone. CONCLUSIONS: Among large trials, freedom from recurrent AF is about 65% with follow-up limited to 1 to 2 years. PVI via balloon cryoablation is a safe and efficient guideline-based treatment for AF, producing a durable event-free result in most patients out to 3 years with better outcomes than previously reported. © 2018 Verduci Editore. All rights reserved

Age and gender effects on the association of sleep insufficiency with hypertension among adults in Greece

Background: We aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep characteristics with hypertension using self-reported questionnaires. Material & methods: A total of 957 adults were classified into three groups (short [<6 h], normal [6-8 h] and long [>8 h] sleepers). Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg or use of antihypertensive medication at the time of interview. Results: Overall prevalence of hypertension was 34.3%. Association between short sleep duration and hypertension that was age-specific, present only among younger and middle aged individuals and sparing the elderly, but not gender-specific, as no discrepancies existed between males and females in all age groups, was evident. Conclusion: This study promotes early pharmacological or cognitive behavioral interventions on sleep disturbances in order to reduce hypertension burden. © 2021 Future Medicine Ltd

Perforation of a Saphenous Vein Graft Anastomosed at a Y-Configuration to the Left Internal Mammary Artery

Perforation of a saphenous vein graft (SVG) is a rare, yet dreadful complication during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Perforation of a SVG arising at a Y-construction from the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) can be catastrophic since manipulations and material delivery through the single LIMA inflow can aggravate ischemia and accelerate hemodynamic collapse. Prior CABG and pericardial obliteration should not offer reassurance against tamponade, since coronary perforation in these patients may cause the development of loculated pericardial effusions, a complication associated with high mortality. Treating physicians must be alert for potential periprocedural pitfalls during PCI in post-CABG patients and these should be taken into consideration during interventional planning, procedure and follow-up. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved