Patient Characteristics.

<p>CCS Class – Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Class.</p><p>PCI – percutaneous coronary intervention.</p><p>CAD – coronary artery disease.</p><p>MI – myocardial infarction.</p><p>ACEI/ARB – angiotensin converting enzyme/angiotensin II receptor blocker.</p><p>eGFR – estimated glomerular filtration rate ml/min/1.73 m².</p><p>SD – standard deviation.</p><p>SEM – standard error of the mean.</p

Effect of statin on cultured angiogenic cell (CAC) function <i>in vitro</i>.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Atorvastatin supplementation of the media (0.1 mM). Statin treatment improves CAC attachment to bare metal stent struts <i>in vitro</i> (n = 10). * indicates p<0.01. (<b>B</b>) Representative photos showing DAPI nuclear staining of CAC attachment to stent struts. (<b>C</b>) Atorvastatin supplementation of the media at 0.1 mM does not effect VEGF secretion by EPCs (n = 6, p>0.05). (<b>D</b>) Statin does not ameliorate survival of CACs in culture (n = 6, p>0.05).</p

Laboratory characteristics of patients.

<p>WBC – white blood cell 10⁹ cells/L.</p><p>HbA1C – hemoglobin A1C.</p><p>HDL – high density lipoprotein mmol/L.</p><p>LDL – low density lipoprotein mmol/L.</p><p>TG – triglycerides mmol/L.</p><p>SEM – standard error of the mean.</p

<i>In vitro</i> assessment of cultured angiogenic cells (CAC).

<p>(<b>A</b>) Comparison of baseline CAC levels in patients with CAD (n = 32) <i>vs</i>. healthy controls (non-CAD). (<b>B</b>) CAC levels expressed at each interval as a ratio to baseline levels (taken three days prior to the procedure) for patients receiving and not receiving Atorvastatin therapy (n = 10 per group). * indicates p<0.05, # indicates p<0.01.</p

Additional file 1: of Association between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and cardiovascular events: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Association between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and cardiovascular events: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (DOCX 4410 kb

Flow cytometric analysis of CD45dimCD34+CD133+CD117+ endothelial progenitor cells (EPC).

<p>(<b>A</b>) Sample gating strategy. (<b>B</b>) EPC levels, expressed at each interval as a ratio to baseline levels (taken three days prior to PCI) for patients receiving and not receiving Atorvastatin therapy (n = 10 per group). * indicates p<0.05.</p

A novel echocardiographic hemodynamic index for predicting outcome of aortic stenosis patients following transcatheter aortic valve replacement

<div><p>Objective</p><p>Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) reduces left ventricular (LV) afterload and improves prognosis in aortic stenosis (AS) patients. However, LV afterload consists of both valvular and arterial loads, and the benefits of TAVR may be attenuated if the arterial load dominates. We proposed a new hemodynamic index, the Relative Valve Load (RVL), a ratio of mean gradient (MG) and valvuloarterial impedance (Zva), to describe the relative contribution of the valvular load to the global LV load, and examined whether RVL predicted patient outcome following TAVR.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A total of 258 patients with symptomatic severe AS (indexed aortic valve area (AVA)<0.6cm²/m², AR≤2+) underwent successful TAVR at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and had clinical follow-up to 1-year post-TAVR. Pre-TAVR MG, AVA, percent stroke work loss (%SWL), Zva and RVL were measured by echocardiography. The primary endpoint was all cause mortality at 1-year post TAVR.</p><p>Results</p><p>There were 53 deaths (20.5%) at 1-year. RVL≤7.95ml/m² had a sensitivity of 60.4% and specificity of 75.1% for identifying all cause mortality at 1-year post-TAVR and provided better specificity than MG<40 mmHg, AVA>0.75cm², %SWL≤25% and Zva>5mmHg/ml/m² despite equivalent or better sensitivity. In multivariable Cox analysis, RVL≤7.95ml/m² was an independent predictor of all cause mortality (HR 3.2, CI 1.8–5.9; p<0.0001). RVL≤7.95ml/m² was predictive of all cause mortality in both low flow and normal flow severe AS.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>RVL is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality in severe AS patients undergoing TAVR. A pre-procedural RVL≤7.95ml/m² identifies AS patients at increased risk of death despite TAVR and may assist with decision making on the benefits of TAVR.</p></div

Study protocol of inclusion and exclusion criteria.

<p>SAVR = surgical aortic valve replacement, TAVR = transcatheter aortic valve replacement.</p

Receiver operator curve analysis of the hemodynamic indices for predicting the combined outcome of all cause mortality or cardiovascular re-admission 1-year post-TAVR.

<p>Receiver operator curve analysis of the hemodynamic indices for predicting the combined outcome of all cause mortality or cardiovascular re-admission 1-year post-TAVR.</p

Comparison of the sensitivity and specificity of hemodynamic indices for predicting the combined outcome of all cause mortality or cardiovascular re-admission 1-year post-TAVR.

<p>Comparison of the sensitivity and specificity of hemodynamic indices for predicting the combined outcome of all cause mortality or cardiovascular re-admission 1-year post-TAVR.</p