Elevated Baseline Serum Fibrinogen: Effect on 2-Year Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BackgroundElevated fibrinogen is associated with short-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after percutaneous coronary intervention, but the relation with late MACE is unknown.Methods and resultsBaseline demographics and 2-year MACE were recorded among subjects undergoing nonemergent percutaneous coronary intervention. A total of 332 subjects (66.6±19.5 years, 69.9% male, 25.3% acute coronary syndrome) were enrolled. Two-year MACE (periprocedural myocardial infarction 9.0%, rehospitalization 6.3%, revascularization 12.7%, non-periprocedural myocardial infarction 4.5%, stent thrombosis 0.9%, stroke 1.8%, and death 0.6%) were associated with higher fibrinogen (352.8±123.4 mg/dL versus 301.6±110.8 mg/dL; P<0.001), longer total stent length (40.1±25.3 mm versus 32.1±19.3 mm; P=0.004), acute coronary syndrome indication (38.7% versus 17.8%; P<0.001), number of bare-metal stents (0.5±1.1 versus 0.2±0.5; P=0.002), and stent diameter ≤2.5 mm (55.8% versus 38.4%, P=0.003). No relation between platelet reactivity and 2-year MACE was observed. Fibrinogen ≥280 mg/dL (odds ratio [OR] 3.0, confidence interval [CI], 1.6-5.4, P<0.001), total stent length ≥32 mm (OR 2.2, CI, 1.3-3.8, P<0.001), acute coronary syndrome indication (OR 4.1, CI, 2.3-7.5, P<0.001), any bare-metal stents (OR 3.2, CI, 1.6-6.1, P<0.001), and stent diameter ≤2.5 mm (OR 2.0, CI, 1.2-3.5, P=0.010) were independently associated with 2-year MACE. Following a landmark analysis excluding periprocedural myocardial infarction, fibrinogen ≥280 mg/dL remained strongly associated with 2-year MACE (37.0% versus 17.4%, log-rank P<0.001).ConclusionsElevated baseline fibrinogen level is associated with 2-year MACE after percutaneous coronary intervention. Acute coronary syndrome indication for percutaneous coronary intervention, total stent length implanted, and use of bare-metal stents or smaller-diameter stents are also independently associated with 2-year MACE, while measures of on-thienopyridine platelet reactivity are not

Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Promotes Tissue Remodeling, Arteriogenesis, and Perfusion in a Rat Hindlimb Ischemia Model.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine acellular extracellular matrix based hydrogels as potential therapies for treating peripheral artery disease (PAD). We tested the efficacy of using a tissue specific injectable hydrogel, derived from decellularized porcine skeletal muscle (SKM), compared to a new human umbilical cord derived matrix (hUC) hydrogel, which could have greater potential for tissue regeneration because of its young tissue source age.BackgroundThe prevalence of PAD is increasing and can lead to critical limb ischemia (CLI) with potential limb amputation. Currently there are no therapies for PAD that effectively treat all of the underlying pathologies, including reduced tissue perfusion and muscle atrophy.MethodsIn a rodent hindlimb ischemia model both hydrogels were injected 1-week post-surgery and perfusion was regularly monitored with laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA) to 35 days post-injection. Histology and immunohistochemistry were used to assess neovascularization and muscle health. Whole transcriptome analysis was further conducted on SKM injected animals on 3 and 10 days post-injection.ResultsSignificant improvements in hindlimb tissue perfusion and perfusion kinetics were observed with both biomaterials. End point histology indicated this was a result of arteriogenesis, rather than angiogenesis, and that the materials were biocompatible. Skeletal muscle fiber morphology analysis indicated that the muscle treated with the tissue specific, SKM hydrogel more closely matched healthy tissue morphology. Short term histology also indicated arteriogenesis rather than angiogenesis, as well as improved recruitment of skeletal muscle progenitors. Whole transcriptome analysis indicated that the SKM hydrogel caused a shift in the inflammatory response, decreased cell death, and increased blood vessel and muscle development.ConclusionThese results show the efficacy of an injectable ECM hydrogel alone as a potential therapy for treating patients with PAD. Our results indicate that the SKM hydrogel improved functional outcomes through stimulation of arteriogenesis and muscle progenitor cell recruitment

Correlation of left ventricular diastolic filling characteristics with right ventricular overload and pulmonary artery pressure in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

AbstractObjectivesThis study was designed to determine a quantitative relationship between right ventricular (RV) pressure overload and left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling characteristics in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).BackgroundRight ventricular pressure overload in patients with CTEPH causes abnormal LV diastolic filling. However, a quantitative relationship between RV pressure overload and LV diastolic function has not been established.MethodsWe analyzed pre- and postoperative diastolic mitral inflow velocities and right heart hemodynamic data in 39 consecutive patients with CTEPH over the age of 30 (55 ± 11 years) with mean pulmonary artery pressure >30 mm Hg who underwent pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE).ResultsAfter PTE, mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) decreased from 50 ± 11 to 28 ± 9 mm Hg (p < 0.001) while cardiac output (CO) increased from 4.4 ± 1.1 to 5.7 ± 0.9 l/m (p < 0.001). Mitral E/A ratio (E/A) increased from 0.74 ± 0.22 to 1.48 ± 0.69 (p < 0.001). E/A was < 1.25 in all patients pre-PTE. After PTE, all patients with E/A >1.50 had mPAP <35 mm Hg and CO >5.0 l/min. E/A correlated inversely with mPAP (r = 0.55, p < 0.001) and directly with CO (r = 0.53, p < 0.001).ConclusionsE/A is consistently abnormal in patients with CTEPH and increases post-PTE. Moreover, E/A varies inversely with mPAP and directly with CO. Following PTE, E/A >1.5 correlates with the absence of severe pulmonary hypertension (mPAP >35 mm Hg) and the presence of normal cardiac output (> 5.0 l/m)

Using multivariate regression and ANN models to predict properties of concrete cured under hot weather: a case of Rawalpindi Pakistan

Concrete is an important construction material. Its characteristics depend on the environmental conditions, construction methods, and mix factors. Working with concrete is particularly tricky in a hot climate. This study predicts the properties of concrete in hot conditions using the case study of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. In this research, variable casting temperatures, design factors, and curing conditions are investigated for their effects on concrete characteristics. For this purpose, water–cement ratio (w/c), in-situ concrete temperature (T), and curing methods of the concrete are varied, and their effects on pulse velocity (PV), compressive strength (fc), depth of water penetration (WP), and split tensile strength (ft) were studied for up to 180 days. Quadratic regression and artificial neural network (ANN) models have been formulated to forecast the properties of concrete in the current study. The results show that T, curing period, and moist curing strongly influence fc, ft, and PV, while WP is adversely affected by T and moist curing. The ANN model shows better results compared to the quadratic regression model. Furthermore, a combined ANN model of fc, ft, and PV was also developed that displayed higher accuracy than the individual ANN models. These models can help construction site engineers select the appropriate concrete parameters when concreting under hot climates to produce durable and long-lasting concrete

Outcomes of bailout percutaneous ventricular assist device versus prophylactic strategy in patients undergoing nonemergent percutaneous coronary intervention

OBJECTIVES: To compare in-hospital outcomes of bailout support to prophylactic support with percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVAD) for high-risk nonemergent percutaneous coronary intervention (HRPCI). BACKGROUND: Prophylactic support with pVAD for a HRPCI is used in patients felt to be at risk for hemodynamic collapse during PCI. An alternative strategy of bailout pVAD support in the event of hemodynamic collapse is also entertained. METHODS: We compared the outcomes of patients entered in the cVAD database who underwent Impella Protected PCI (ProPCI group) with patients from the cVAD and USpella databases receiving bailout Impella support for hemodynamic collapse during HRPCI (Bailout group). RESULTS: A total of 1,028 patients supported with Impella pVAD were entered into the cVAD database as of July 2019 and were included in this analysis. Of those 971 were in the ProPCI group and 57 in the Bailout group. Patients in the Bailout group were more often female (50.9%vs. 27.2%, p = .0002) with higher median baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (40%vs. 30%, p \u3c .0001) and with lower prevalence of both heart failure (42.1%vs. 56.9%, p = .0385) and left main disease (40.0%vs. 56.1%, p = .0250) compared to the ProPCI group. Unadjusted and adjusted in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the Bailout group (49.1%vs. 4.3%, and 57.8%vs. 4.4%, p \u3c .0001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: In our study population, the bailout group was associated with significant increased mortality compared to ProPCI group. Female gender was more frequently observed in patients requiring bailout pVAD. Further investigation is warranted in order to generalize the findings of our study

Triage Considerations for Patients Referred for Structural Heart Disease Intervention During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: An ACC /SCAI Consensus Statement

The COVID-19 pandemic has strained health care resources around the world causing many institutions to curtail or stop elective procedures. This has resulted in the inability to care for patients valvular and structural heart disease (SHD) in a timely fashion potentially placing these patients at increased risk for adverse cardiovascular complications including congestive heart failure and death. The effective triage of these patients has become challenging in the current environment as clinicians have had to weigh the risk of bringing susceptible patients into the hospital environment during the COVID-19 pandemic versus the risk of delaying a needed procedure. In this document, we suggest guidelines as to how to triage patients in need of SHD interventions and provide a framework of how to decide when it may be appropriate to proceed with intervention despite the ongoing pandemic. In particular, we address the triage of patients in need of trans-catheter aortic valve replacement and percutaneous mitral valve repair. We also address procedural issues and considerations for the function of structural heart disease teams during the COVID-19 pandemic