BACKGROUND: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are early depolarizations of the myocardium which originate from the ventricle. PVCs have previously been considered a benign condition. The clinical significance of PVCs in patients without structural heart disease is controversial. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients with a palpitation complaint who underwent electrocardiography (ECG) Holter recording for 48 hours were analyzed. Patients with frequent PVCs (more than ten times in 1 hour) were identified and enrolled in the study. 26 patients were in the PVC group, and 26 patients were in the control group without PVC. The identified patients underwent an echocardiographic examination with strain modality. RESULTS: There were 15 women (57. 7%) in the PVC group and 17 women (65. 4%) in the control group (P = 0. 57). Two patients in the PVC group and three patients in the control group were hypertensive (P > 0. 99). There was only one patient with diabetes in PVC and control group (P > 0. 99). There were two smokers in the PVC group, whereas there was no smoker in the control group (P = 0. 49). In comparison between two groups, patients with frequent PVCs had significantly larger left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) (P = 0. 048) along with lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (P = 0. 011), lower (more positive) left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) (P = 0. 001), and lower peak systolic mitral annular velocity (S') (P = 0. 045). The left atrial volume index (LAVI) was significantly larger in the PVC group (P = 0. 001). In speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) parameters, global peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) (P = 0. 001) and peak atrial contraction strain (PACS) (P = 0. 001) were significantly lower and time to peak longitudinal strain (TPLS) (P = 0. 002) was significantly higher in the PVC group. CONCLUSION: In this study, left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) function and geometry were adversely affected by frequent PVCs. Early diagnosis of these effects is possible with echocardiography along with strain analysis. It can guide the timely treatment of PVC to avoid the harmful effects of frequent PVCs on the heart.

As I sat around the table at the annual Go Red for WomenTM” luncheon in Denton, Texas, United States in February, I was struck by this year’s theme "Hearts Around the World." Throughout my career in pediatric cardiovascular nursing in the last 40 years, I never even considered the fact that heart disease would ever surpass breast cancer (or any other forms of cancer combined) as the number one killer of women in the United States; the statistics from other countries are even more staggering. For example, one in eight women in the United Kingdom die from heart disease annually and almost 500 000 women in the United Kingdom have had a previous myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack. This editorial will highlight the differences in heart disease in women compared to heart disease in men. Although risk factors for cardiovascular disease are incredibly important, the discussion of them is beyond the scope of this editorial. The importance of heart disease in women has been recently highlighted by two Scientific Statements from the American Heart Association (1, 2), both of which provide a dearth of information about the large body of evidence that has been gathered thus far regarding women’s heart health.

Background: Iran is one of the countries hit hard and early by the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Interventions for congenital and structural heart disease came to a halt in the initial part the year 2020, however as the pandemic seemed no closer to an end there was a mandate for elective catheterization procedures to be slowly and cautiously resumed. Aims and Objectives: In the present report we discuss the challenges we faced and the experiences earned as a cardiovascular tertiary center in the field of adult congenital and structural interventions in the COVID era. Material and Methods: Adult congenital and structural interventions were resumed in May 2020 with implementing strict screening protocols regulated by our institutional COVID committee. Patients were closely monitored for developing COVID-19 symptoms in hospital and two weeks following discharge. Results: In the regular review performed by the COVID committee there was no increase in new cases of the disease related to the interventional procedures and related admission. Conclusion: As the fate of pandemic remains unforeseeable, structural and congenital interventions need to be resumed in a sustainable fashion and with an instituted system of patient protection. The workflow might slow down during disease peaks with a catch-up in more stable disease periods.

Aim. This review examines cardiovascular diseases as the most common disease of the elderly population, and discusses about causes and methods of prevention, mitigation and treatment.Background. Nowadays, with increased level of health and life expectancy, the phenomenon of elderly and increase in chronic diseases is a main issue. In modern societies, aging and diseases of this period of life create a high cost for health care system.Methods. This review was conducted by searching out databases such as Google Scholar, Elsevier, PubMed, PMC, and Springer for the time period of 2008 to 2016.Findings. In addition to the impact of aging on the body organs, especially the cardiovascular system, many factors including biological factors, lifestyle, risk factors for heart disease, underlying disease, psychosocial factors and personality factors, may influence the acuity of cardiovascular diseases. During aging, many irreversible changes occurs in all body systems including cardiovascular system. These changes cause hardness, thickening and narrowing of the arteries. With the narrowing of the heart arteries and increased blood pressure, the heart needs to work harder to pump the blood, resulting in left ventricular hypertrophy. Impaired cell growth and proliferation of fibrous tissue occurs as a result of the problem in production of impulse and electrical conductivity of the heart. Increase in volume of the left ventricle and blood vessel narrowing lead to ischemia of the heart. Early heart disease with progression to irreversible heart failure results in disability, exercise intolerance, and taking multiple medications in elderly, and ultimately, death may occur. By understanding the mechanisms of aging and cardiovascular disorders and modifying influential factors, the process of development of cardiovascular disease can be slowed down and the complications can be prevented.Conclusion. Aging may lead to irreversible cardiovascular disease with the ultimate result of chronic heart failure. Compliance with lifestyle modification may prevent early occurrence of this phenomenon and some of its complications such as disability and death.

CASE PRESENTATION A 14-year-old girl presented to the emergency department (ED) with a history of three episodes of seizure-like activity and no comorbidities at 2 am. The first episode had occurred at 6 am, the second at 12 pm and the third two hours before presenting to the ED. Each episode lasting less than 5 minutes, was associated with the limb and spinal rigidity and extension, the up-rolling of eyeballs and urinary incontinence. The patient reported no history of fever, recent trauma, previous febrile seizures, prodromal symptoms, tongue bite, headache or physical excretion before the episodes...