Global Chronic Total Occlusion Crossing Algorithm

The authors developed a global chronic total occlusion crossing algorithm following 10 steps: 1) dual angiography; 2) careful angiographic review focusing on proximal cap morphology, occlusion segment, distal vessel quality, and collateral circulation; 3) approaching proximal cap ambiguity using intravascular ultrasound, retrograde, and move-the-cap techniques; 4) approaching poor distal vessel quality using the retrograde approach and bifurcation at the distal cap by use of a dual-lumen catheter and intravascular ultrasound; 5) feasibility of retrograde crossing through grafts and septal and epicardial collateral vessels; 6) antegrade wiring strategies; 7) retrograde approach; 8) changing strategy when failing to achieve progress; 9) considering performing an investment procedure if crossing attempts fail; and 10) stopping when reaching high radiation or contrast dose or in case of long procedural time, occurrence of a serious complication, operator and patient fatigue, or lack of expertise or equipment. This algorithm can improve outcomes and expand discussion, research, and collaboration.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Feasibility, preliminary efficacy, and accessibility of a twitter-based social support group vs Fitbit only to decrease sedentary behavior in women.

BackgroundHealth behavior change interventions delivered by social media allow for real-time, dynamic interaction, peer social support, and experimenter-provided content.AimsWe tested the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a novel Twitter-based walking break intervention with daily behavior change strategies and prompts for social support, combined with a Fitbit, vs. Fitbit alone.MethodsIn a 2-group pilot, 45 sedentary women from a heart clinic were randomized to Twitter + Fitbit activity tracker (Tweet4Wellness, n = 23) or Fitbit-only (control, n = 22). All received a Fitbit and 13 weeks of tailored weekly step goals. Tweet4Wellness consisted of a private Twitter support group, with daily automated behavior change "tweets" informed by behavior change theory, and encouragement to communicate within the group. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and enrollment numbers, implementation challenges, and number and type of help requests from participants throughout the study period. Preliminary efficacy outcomes provided by Fitbit data were sedentary minutes, number of hours with >250 steps, maximum sitting bout, weighted sedentary median bout length, total steps, intensity minutes (>3.0 METS), and ratio of time spent sitting-to-moving. Acceptability outcomes included level of Twitter participation within Tweet4Wellness, and Likert scale plus open-ended survey questions on enjoyment and perceived effectiveness of intervention components. Survey data on acceptability of the features of the intervention were collected at 13 weeks (end-of-treatment [EOT]) and 22 weeks (follow-up).ResultsThe study was feasible, with addressable implementation challenges. Tweet4Wellness participants changed significantly from baseline to EOT relative to control participants on number of active hours p = .018, total steps p = .028, and ratio of sitting-to-moving, p = .014. Only sitting-to-moving was significant at follow-up (p = .047). Among Tweet4Wellness participants, each tweet sent during treatment was associated with a 0.11 increase in active hours per day (p = .04) and a 292-step increase per day (p < .001). Tweet4Wellness participants averaged 54.8 (SD = 35.4) tweets, totaling 1304 tweets, and reported liking the accountability and peer support provided by the intervention.ConclusionA Twitter-delivered intervention for promoting physical activity among inactive women from a heart clinic was feasible, acceptable, and demonstrated preliminary efficacy in increasing daily active hours, daily total steps, and the ratio of sitting-to-moving from pre to post for the intervention compared with the control. Lessons learned from this pilot suggest that the next study should expand the recruitment pool, refine the intervention to increase group engagement, and select active hours, total steps, and ratio of sitting-to-movement as primary sedentary behavior measures

Prevalence and Prognostic Role of Right Ventricular Involvement in Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SCM) is a reversible cardiomyopathy observed in patients without significant coronary disease. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and clinical significance of right ventricular (RV) involvement in SCM. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed echocardiograms from 40 consecutive patients who presented with SCM at Stanford University Medical Center from September 2000 to November 2010. The primary end point was overall mortality. RV involvement was observed in 20 patients (50%; global RV hypokinesia in 15 patients and focal RV apical akinesia in 5 patients). The independent correlates of RV involvement were older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.7two, P = .01) and LVEF (per 10% decrease: OR 3.60, CI 1.77-7.32; P = .02). At a mean follow-up of 44 \ub1 32 months, 12 patients (30%) died (in-hospital death in 3 patients). At multivariate analysis, the presence of an RV fractional area change <35% emerged as an independent predictor of death (OR 3.6, CI 1.06-12.41; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: RV involvement is a common finding in SCM, and may present as either global or focal RV apical involvement. Both older age and lower LVEF are associated with a higher risk of RV involvement, which appears to be a major predictor of death

Association between CYP2E1 polymorphisms and risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) results from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Known etiological factors include exposure to ionizing radiations, previous thyroid diseases, and hormone factors. It has been speculated that dietary acrylamide (AA) formed in diverse foods following the Maillard's reaction could be a contributing factor for DTC in humans. Upon absorption, AA is biotransformed mainly by cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) to glycidamide (GA). Considering that polymorphisms within CYP2E1 were found associated with endogenous levels of AA-Valine and GA-Valine hemoglobin adducts in humans, we raised the hypothesis that specific CYP2E1 genotypes could be associated with the risk of DTC. Analysis of four haplotype tagging SNPs (ht-SNPs) within the locus in a discovery case-control study (N = 350/350) indicated an association between rs2480258 and DTC risk. This ht-SNP resides within a linkage disequilibrium block spanning intron VIII and the 3'-untranslated region. Extended analysis in a large replication set (2429 controls and 767 cases) confirmed the association, with odds ratios for GA and AA genotypes of 1.24 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.48) and 1.56 (95 % CI, 1.06-2.30), respectively. Functionally, the minor allele was associated with low levels of CYP2E1 mRNA and protein expression as well as lower enzymatic activity in a series of 149 human liver samples. Our data support the hypothesis that inter-individual differences in CYP2E1 activity could modulate the risk of developing DTC suggesting that the exposure to specific xenobiotics, such as AA, could play a role in this process