Novel use of levodopa in human immunodeficiency virus encephalopathy-mediated parkinsonism in an adult

We report a case of a 36-year-old man with a medical history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who presented with hypomimia, hypophonia, bradykinesia, rigidity, and freezing of gait. His clinical presentation and magnetic resonance imaging were consistent with HIV encephalopathy with involvement of the bilateral basal ganglia and diffuse leukoencephalopathy. We initiated a trial of carbidopa-levodopa. The dose was escalated to 1050 mg levodopa daily. Amantadine was also started. The patient was closely monitored for behavioral, neurological, or systemic side effects. He tolerated therapy well without adverse effects. The patient's neurological status significantly improved with levodopa, including hypomimia, hypophonia, bradykinesia, and fluidity of gait. This case demonstrates that carbidopa-levodopa can be safely utilized to manage parkinsonism in an adult patient with HIV encephalopathy

Acute performance of a novel restorative transcatheter aortic valve: preclinical results

Aims: The Xeltis aortic valve leaflets are made from a bioabsorbable supramolecular polymer that guides the tissue to restoring itself. It is mounted on a self-expanding nitinol frame that includes three feelers and a native leaflet clipping mechanism. We sought to investigate the acute valve performance in a preclinical setting. Methods and results: In 33 sheep, 26 mm Xeltis aortic valves were transapically implanted in a 23 mm native annulus. Aortography (analysable, n = 28) and echocardiography (analysable, n = 20) images were acquired immediately after implantation of the Xeltis aortic valve to assess the acute device performance. On echocardiography, transvalvular peak pressure gradient (PG) was 7.4 (IQR: 6.0-8.9) mmHg, mean PG was 4.0 (IQR: 3.0-5.0) mmHg, and effective orifice area was 2.2 (IQR: 1.6-2.5) cm(2). Trace (n = 6), mild (n = 2) and no (n = 12) transvalvular aortic regurgitation (AR) were seen. Likewise, no paravalvular AR was detected in 7 cases, whereas trace, mild and moderate were seen in 7, 5 and 1 cases, respectively. On quantitative videodensitometric AR (VD-AR) assessment, a median value of 6% (IQR: 1-12%) of AR was seen. Three cases had a VD-AR superior to 17%, which has a prognostic significance. Out of these three cases, two had echocardiographic assessment available, which showed mild and moderate paravalvular regurgitation due to inadequate leaflet clipping. Conclusions: In a transapical ovine model, the novel restorative transcatheter aortic valve with bioabsorbable leaflets demonstrated good haemodynamic performance comparable to commercially available devices. The highly porous polymeric leaflets demonstrated good competence immediately after implantation with no cases having > mild transvalvular A

www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms Bioresorbable Drug-Eluting Magnesium-Alloy Scaffold for Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract: The introduction of metallic drug-eluting stents has reduced the risk of restenosis and widened the indications of percutaneous coronary intervention in treatment of coronary artery disease. However, this medical device can induce hypersensitive reaction that interferes with the endothelialization and healing process resulting in late persistent or acquired malapposition of the permanent metallic implant. Delayed endotheliaization and malapposition may lead to late and very late stent thrombosis. Bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) have been introduced to potentially overcome these limitations, as they provide temporary scaffolding and then disappear, liberating the treated vessel from its cage. Magnesium is an essential mineral needed for a variety of physiological functions in the human body and its bioresorbable alloy has the strength-to-weight ratio comparable with that of strong aluminum alloys and alloy steels

Rivaroxaban or aspirin for patent foramen ovale and embolic stroke of undetermined source: a prespecified subgroup analysis from the NAVIGATE ESUS trial

Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a contributor to embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Subgroup analyses from previous studies suggest that anticoagulation could reduce recurrent stroke compared with antiplatelet therapy. We hypothesised that anticoagulant treatment with rivaroxaban, an oral factor Xa inhibitor, would reduce the risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke compared with aspirin among patients with PFO enrolled in the NAVIGATE ESUS trial. Methods: NAVIGATE ESUS was a double-blinded, randomised, phase 3 trial done at 459 centres in 31 countries that assessed the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban versus aspirin for secondary stroke prevention in patients with ESUS. For this prespecified subgroup analysis, cohorts with and without PFO were defined on the basis of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE). The primary efficacy outcome was time to recurrent ischaemic stroke between treatment groups. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding, according to the criteria of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. The primary analyses were based on the intention-to-treat population. Additionally, we did a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of studies in which patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO were randomly assigned to receive anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy. Findings: Between Dec 23, 2014, and Sept 20, 2017, 7213 participants were enrolled and assigned to receive rivaroxaban (n=3609) or aspirin (n=3604). Patients were followed up for a mean of 11 months because of early trial termination. PFO was reported as present in 534 (7·4%) patients on the basis of either TTE or TOE. Patients with PFO assigned to receive aspirin had a recurrent ischaemic stroke rate of 4·8 events per 100 person-years compared with 2·6 events per 100 person-years in those treated with rivaroxaban. Among patients with known PFO, there was insufficient evidence to support a difference in risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke between rivaroxaban and aspirin (hazard ratio [HR] 0·54; 95% CI 0·22–1·36), and the risk was similar for those without known PFO (1·06; 0·84–1·33; pinteraction=0·18). The risks of major bleeding with rivaroxaban versus aspirin were similar in patients with PFO detected (HR 2·05; 95% CI 0·51–8·18) and in those without PFO detected (HR 2·82; 95% CI 1·69–4·70; pinteraction=0·68). The random-effects meta-analysis combined data from NAVIGATE ESUS with data from two previous trials (PICSS and CLOSE) and yielded a summary odds ratio of 0·48 (95% CI 0·24–0·96; p=0·04) for ischaemic stroke in favour of anticoagulation, without evidence of heterogeneity. Interpretation: Among patients with ESUS who have PFO, anticoagulation might reduce the risk of recurrent stroke by about half, although substantial imprecision remains. Dedicated trials of anticoagulation versus antiplatelet therapy or PFO closure, or both, are warranted. Funding: Bayer and Janssen