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Int J Cardiol 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Monaldi Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy.

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2021 Jun 12. Epub 2021 Jun 12.

Department of Advanced Cardiovascular Therapies and Transplantation, Center for Advanced Heart Failure, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, Houston, TX, USA.

We present the case of a 47-year-old male patient with a history of symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who failed guideline-directed medical treatment and cardioversion. Electrical mapping was attempted and complicated with catheter entrapping in the mitral valve (MV) apparatus, and multiple attempts for retrieval were unsuccessful and caused severe valvular dysfunction. Emergent valve replacement was required secondary to the extensive disruption of the valvular apparatus and posterior annulus. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2021 Jun 12. Epub 2021 Jun 12.

Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University and Heart Centre, Umeå, Sweden.

Aims: In patients with heart failure (HF), chronically raised left ventricular (LV) filling pressures lead to progressive left atrial (LA) dysfunction and fibrosis. We aimed to assess the correlation of LA reservoir strain (peak atrial longitudinal strain, PALS) by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and LA fibrosis assessed by myocardial biopsy in patients undergoing heart transplantation (HTx).

Methods And Results: Forty-eight patients with advanced HF [mean age 51. Read More

J Card Surg 2021 Jun 12. Epub 2021 Jun 12.

Transplant Coordination Unit and Service of Intensive Care, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla-IDIVAL, Santander, Spain.

Background: Heart transplantation from controlled donation after the circulatory determination of death (cDCDD) may be an option to increase the pool of grafts for transplantation.

Materials And Methods: Initial experiences on cDCDD heart transplantation were based on the direct procurement of the heart followed by preservation with ex situ perfusion devices. Later, the use of thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) has emerged as an option to recover hearts. Read More

Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2021 May 27. Epub 2021 May 27.

Institute for Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), Avenue Hippocrate 55, Brussels 1200, Belgium. Electronic address:

Background Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis is an autosomal dominant disease linked to transthyretin gene mutations which cause instability of the transthyretin tetramer. After dissociation and misfolding they reassemble as insoluble fibrils (i.e. Read More

Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Pediatr Card Surg Annu 2021 ;24:2-9

Texas Children's Hospital Heart Center, Texas Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Electronic address:

Patients with ccTGA or d-TGA managed via atrial switch (Mustard or Senning operations) have biventricular circulations with a sub-aortic right ventricle (2V-RV). Other than in a tiny percentage of ccTGA patients, premature heart failure (HF) is common, driven by chronic RV dilatation and dysfunction and/or tricuspid regurgitation. These patients are different from the general HF population in that they are younger, more heterogeneous, are predisposed to pulmonary hypertension and present unique and complex surgical challenges. Read More

Prog Transplant 2021 Jun 11:15269248211024616. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.

As organ procurement organizations nationwide see an increased opportunity to retransplant already transplanted hearts, we would like to share the overview and process of our 2 successful cases. Heart retransplantation increased our cardiac placement rates by 2.64% and 2% in 2015 and 2019, respectively. Read More

Med Res Rev 2021 Jun 11. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Department of Cardio and Organ Systems, UHasselt-Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek, Belgium.

Myocardial infarction irreversibly destroys millions of cardiomyocytes in the ventricle, making it the leading cause of heart failure worldwide. Over the past two decades, many progenitor and stem cell types were proposed as the ideal candidate to regenerate the heart after injury. The potential of stem cell therapy has been investigated thoroughly in animal and human studies, aiming at cardiac repair by true tissue replacement, by immune modulation, or by the secretion of paracrine factors that stimulate endogenous repair processes. Read More

Heart Rhythm O2 2020 Oct 4;1(4):243-249. Epub 2020 Aug 4.

Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.

Background: Women seem to derive more benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) than men, even after accounting for the higher burden of risk factors for nonresponse often observed in men.

Objective: To assess for sex-specific differences in left ventricular (LV) electrical dyssynchrony as a contributing electrophysiological explanation for the greater degree of CRT benefit among women.

Methods: We compared the extent of baseline LV electrical dyssynchrony, as measured by the QRS area (QRSA), among men and women with left bundle branch block (LBBB) undergoing CRT at Duke University (n = 492, 35% women) overall and in relation to baseline QRS characteristics using independent sample tests and Pearson correlation coefficients. Read More

Transplant Direct 2021 Mar 22;7(3):e677. Epub 2021 Feb 22.

Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Despite comprehensive multidisciplinary candidacy assessments to determine appropriateness for solid organ transplantation, limitations persist in identifying candidates at risk of adverse outcomes. Frailty measures may help inform candidacy evaluation. Our main objective was to create a solid organ transplant frailty index (FI), using the cumulative deficits model, from data routinely collected during candidacy assessments. Read More

Front Cardiovasc Med 2021 25;8:690438. Epub 2021 May 25.

Kingston Health Science Center, Division of Cardiology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.

J Heart Lung Transplant 2021 Apr 21. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Heart Transplant and Pulmonary Hypertension Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Background: End-stage Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) due to unrepaired atrial septal defect (ASD) or ventricular septal defect (VSD) is an indication for lung transplantation (LTx) or heart-lung transplantation (HLTx). Limited evidence exists as to the optimal transplant strategy for this unique population.

Aim: To describe waitlist characteristics and post-transplant outcomes in patients with ES-ASD or ES-VSD. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2021 Apr 30. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, Mo.

JACC Cardiovasc Interv 2021 Jun;14(11):1196-1206

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology, Gabriele Monasterio Tuscany Foundation, G. Pasquinucci Heart Hospital, Massa, Italy.

Objectives: No standardized algorithm exists to identify patients at risk of bleeding after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The aim of this study was to generate and validate a useful predictive model.

Background: Bleeding events after TAVR influence prognosis and quality of life and may be preventable. Read More

Crit Care 2021 Jun 10;25(1):201. Epub 2021 Jun 10.

Research Center, CIUSSS du Nord-de-L'île-de-Montréal, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Background: β-adrenergic antagonists (BAAs) are used to treat cardiovascular disease such as ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, dysrhythmias, and hypertension. Poisoning from BAAs can lead to severe morbidity and mortality. We aimed to determine the utility of extracorporeal treatments (ECTRs) in BAAs poisoning. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2021 Jun 10. Epub 2021 Jun 10.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, 1873 Rama IV Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.

Aims: This study aimed to examine (i) whether circulating growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is associated with acute cellular cardiac allograft rejection (ACR); (ii) a longitudinal trend of GDF-15 after heart transplantation; and (iii) the prognostic value of GDF-15 in predicting a composite outcome of severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and 30 day mortality post-transplant.

Methods And Results: Serum samples were collected before heart transplantation and at every endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) post-heart transplantation in de novo transplant patients. A total of 60 post-transplant serum samples were matched to the corresponding EMBs. Read More

Bone Marrow Transplant 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Unité de Médecine Interne: Maladies Auto-immunes et Pathologie Vasculaire (UF 04), Centre de Référence des Maladies auto-immunes systémiques Rares d'Ile-de-France MATHEC, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.

Two randomised trials (ASTIS, SCOT) of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT) versus monthly Cyclophosphamide for severe Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients used similar inclusion criteria, but different primary endpoints: event-free-survival (EFS) at 24 months in ASTIS versus the global rank composite score (GRCS) at 54 months in SCOT. Here we analysed the French ASTIS cohort (n = 49) outcome using the same GRCS endpoint as reported in SCOT. All patients, randomised to AHSCT (n = 26) or Cyclophosphamide (n = 23), were evaluated for the non-parametric GRCS endpoint based on: death, EFS, forced vital capacity (FVC), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) at 60 months. Read More

J Heart Lung Transplant 2021 May 8. Epub 2021 May 8.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: Although induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived cardiac constructs may have a potential in cardiomyogenesis of a distressed myocardium, obtaining polarity in cardiac constructs, such as via myocyte alignment, may be crucial to achieve a maximum contractile force for better clinical outcomes. We herein hypothesized that transplantation of an aligned cardiac tissue derived from iPS cells has therapeutic effects in a porcine ischemic cardiomyopathy model as a preclinical trial.

Methods: Aligned cardiac tissues were developed by culturing high-purity iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes in xeno-free conditions and transplanting them into infarct porcine hearts (iPS-CM group, n = 7; control, n = 6). Read More

Gerontology 2021 Jun 9:1-9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Introduction: An increase in age has been observed among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Age is a well-known risk factor for ICU readmission and mortality. However, clinical characteristics and risk factors of ICU readmission of elderly patients (≥65 years) have not been studied. Read More

Acta Odontol Scand 2021 Jun 9:1-9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Section of Oral Biology and Oral Pathology, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.

Objective: To examine how hospital-affiliated dentists assess risk and evaluate oral foci of infection in patients facing certain medical treatments, and whether the nature of upcoming medical treatment affects the choice of dental intervention.

Materials And Methods: A survey comprising six clinical cases (50 teeth) was sent to hospital-affiliated dentists in Sweden. A treatment option for the affected tooth/teeth in each case was selected whether the patient was facing heart valve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, intravenous bisphosphonate treatment, solid organ transplantation or was diagnosed with endocarditis. Read More

J Clin Oncol 2021 Jun 9:JCO2003380. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.

Purpose: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the only potentially curative therapy for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), although it is infrequently offered to older patients. The relative benefits of HCT over non-HCT therapy in older patients with higher-risk MDS have not been defined.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter biologic assignment trial comparing reduced-intensity HCT to hypomethylating therapy or best supportive care in subjects 50-75 years of age with intermediate-2 or high-risk de novo MDS. Read More

J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 Jun 8. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Storrs, Connecticut, USA.

Objective: To examine if older age (>70 years) should be a relative contraindication for heart transplantation, we evaluated the characteristics and outcomes of patients with age ≥70 years listed for heart transplantation; and whether post-transplantation survival was inferior to younger counterparts.

Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting: The scientific registry of transplant recipients (SRTR). Read More

Transplant Direct 2021 Mar 22;7(3):e676. Epub 2021 Feb 22.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Organ donation after euthanasia is performed in an increasing number of countries. In this donation after circulatory death procedure, it has not been possible to donate the heart. Recent literature, however, reports positive results of heart donation after circulatory death. Read More

Turk Gogus Kalp Damar Cerrahisi Derg 2021 Apr 26;29(2):191-200. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Kartal Koşuyolu High Specialization Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: In this study, we aimed to discuss our anesthesia management strategies, experiences, and outcomes in patients undergoing lung transplantation.

Methods: Between December 2016 and December 2018, a total of 53 patients (43 males, 10 females; mean age: 46.1±13 years; range, 14 to 64 years) undergoing lung transplantation in our center were included. Read More

Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J 2021 Apr;17(1):e1-e4

University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston, Houston, Texas.

Patients with symptomatic stage D heart failure who require left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support and suffer concomitant severe mitral regurgitation are often difficult to manage. One reason is due to cardiac anatomic constraints that limit optimization of the mechanical assist device. Typically, these patients are not candidates for repeat sternotomy with surgical mitral valve repair, and heart transplantation may not be feasible or timely. Read More

Ann Pediatr Cardiol 2021 Apr-Jun;14(2):224-227. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBIS) of Seville, CIBER-CV, Seville, Spain.

Cardiac fibromas (CF) are the second most common cardiac tumors in children. They can be aggressive tumors despite their benign histopathologic nature, accounting for the highest mortality rate among primary cardiac tumors. CF usually show a progressive growth and spontaneous regression is rare. Read More

J Heart Lung Transplant 2021 Apr 22. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Electronic address:

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the indication for transplantation in approximately 15% of recipients worldwide, and Cystic Fibrosis Lung Transplant Recipients (CFLTRs) have excellent long-term outcomes. Yet, CFLTRs have unique comorbidities that require specialized care. The objective of this document is to provide recommendations to CF and lung transplant clinicians for the management of perioperative and underlying comorbidities of CFLTRs and the impact of transplantation on these comorbidities. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2021 Jun 5. Epub 2021 Jun 5.

Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC.

End-stage liver disease (ESLD) is increasingly prevalent and shares many risk factors with coronary artery disease (CAD). No specific guidelines exist for pre-liver transplant evaluation of CAD, and pretransplant cardiovascular testing varies widely. The aim of this study is to characterize pre-transplant cardiac testing practices with post-transplant clinical outcomes. Read More

Clin Transplant 2021 Jun 8. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

Division of Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX.

Purpose: The risks and benefits of remote corticosteroid weaning in heart transplant recipients more than two years post-transplant are unknown. We compared outcomes in patients undergoing early and remote steroid weaning after heart transplantation.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study (range 09/1991- 04/2017). Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2021 Jul;46(13):E743-E749

Department of Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery and Hand Unit, Helios Klinikum Krefeld, Krefeld, Germany.

Study Design: Case report and literature review.

Objective: We present a case of a pathologic unstable fracture of the odontoid process due to vertebral osseous sarcoidosis. The surgical management of this unreported pathology is described and a review of the literature is given. Read More