Impact of systematic diabetes screening on peri-operative infections in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Detection of high glycated hemoglobin (A1c) is associated with worse postoperative outcomes, including predisposition to develop systemic and local infectious events. Diabetes and infectious Outcomes in Cardiac Surgery (DOCS) study is a retrospective case-control study aimed to assess in DM and non-DM cardiac surgery patients if a new screening and management model, consisting of systematic A1c evaluation followed by a specialized DM consult, could reduce perioperative infections and 30-days mortality. Effective July 2021, all patients admitted to the cardiac surgery of IRCCS ISMETT were tested for A1c. According to the new protocol, glucose values of patients with A1c ≥ 6% or with known diabetes were monitored. The diabetes team was activated to manage therapy daily until discharge or provide indications for the diagnostic-therapeutic process. Propensity score was used to match 573 patients managed according to the new protocol (the Screen+ Group) to 573 patients admitted before July 2021 and subjected to the traditional management (Screen-). Perioperative prevalence of infections from any cause, including surgical wound infections (SWI), was significantly lower in the Screen+ as compared with the Screen- matched patients (66 [11%] vs. 103 [18%] p = 0.003). No significant difference was observed in 30-day mortality. A1c analysis identified undiagnosed DM in 12% of patients without known metabolic conditions. In a population of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, systematic A1c evaluation at admission followed by specialist DM management reduces perioperative infectious complications, including SWI. Furthermore, A1c screening for patients undergoing cardiac surgery unmasks unknown DM and enhances risk stratification.

MicroRNA-30d and -483-3p for bi-ventricular remodelling and miR-126-3p for pulmonary hypertension in advanced heart failure.

AIMS: MicroRNAs play a role in pathogenic mechanisms leading to heart failure. We measured a panel of 754 miRNAs in the myocardial tissue and in the serum of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction due to dilatative idiopathic cardiomyopathy (DCM, N = 10) or ischaemic cardiomyopathy (N = 3), referred to left ventricular assist device implant. We aim to identify circulating miRNAs with high tissue co-expression, significantly associated to echocardiographic and haemodynamic measures. METHODS AND RESULTS: We have measured a panel of 754 miRNAs in the myocardial tissue [left ventricular (LV) apex] and in the serum obtained at the same time in a well selected study population of end-stage heart failure with reduced ejection fraction due to either DCM or ischaemic cardiomyopathy, referred to continuous flow left ventricular assist device implant. We observed moderate agreement for miR-30d, miR-126-3p, and miR-483-3p. MiR-30d was correlated to LV systolic as well as diastolic volumes (r = 0.78, P = 0.001 and r = 0.80, P = 0.005, respectively), while miR-126-3p was associated to mPAP and PCWP (r = -0.79, P = 0.007 and r = -0.80, P = 0.005, respectively). Finally, serum miR-483-3p had an association with right ventricular end diastolic diameter (r = -0.73, P = 0.02) and central venous pressure (CVP) (r - 0.68 p 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with DCM, few miRNAs are co-expressed in serum and tissue: They are related to LV remodelling (miR-30d), post-capillary pulmonary artery pressure (miR-126-3p), and right ventricular remodelling/filling pressures (miR-483-3p). Further studies are needed to confirm their role in diagnosis, prognosis or as therapeutic targets in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Molecular Analysis With 16S rRNA PCR/Sanger Sequencing and Molecular Antibiogram Performed on DNA Extracted From Valve Improve Diagnosis and Targeted Therapy of Infective Endocarditis: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Molecular analysis (MA) on heart valve (HV) improves the microbiologic diagnosis of infectious endocarditis (IE). The main drawback of MA is the lack of antimicrobial susceptibility information. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort observational study of consecutive adult patients from April 2012 to May 2021 who underwent valve surgery at our hospital. The performance of MA, blood cultures (BC) and valve cultures (VC), and the diagnostic and therapeutic impact of MA were evaluated. Molecular antibiogram results were compared to culture-based antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). RESULTS: A total of 137 patients with definite IE and 52 patients with no IE were enrolled in the study. Among IE cases BC, VC, and MA were positive in 75 (55%), 30 (22%), and 120 (88%) of IE cases, respectively. Among 62 cases of BC-negative IE (BCNE), 57 achieved diagnosis with MA. MA led to a change of antimicrobial therapy in 92% of BCNE. MA was negative in 100% of patients with no IE. Molecular antibiogram performed on 17 valve specimens that resulted positive for pathogens potential carrier of genes encoding for multidrug resistant mechanisms showed 100% concordance with AST. CONCLUSIONS: MA showed a high specificity and sensitivity in etiological diagnosis of IE. Molecular antibiogram could overcome the major limitation of MA that is the lack of susceptibility testing. We advocate for the inclusion of MA among diagnostic criteria for IE and for a more extensive use of molecular antibiogram when the culture result is negative, and MA is the only positive test.

Prevalence and diagnostic value of extra-left ventricle echocardiographic findings in transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is cardiomyopathy with a hypertrophic phenotype characterised by diffuse deposition of anomalous fibrillar proteins in the extracellular matrix. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and diagnostic value of extra left ventricle echocardiographic findings in patients with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophic phenotype and amyloid deposition. METHODS: A group of 146 patients with LV thickness ≥15 mm were enrolled: 70 patients who received a definite diagnosis of sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM group) and 76 patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (CA group). Echocardiographic analysis of crista terminalis (CriT), atrio-ventricular plane (AVP), mitro-aortic lamina (MAL), anterior ascending aortic wall, interatrial septum (IAS), Eustachian valve (EusV) and coumadin ridge (CouR) was performed in all patients, and these structures were compared among the two groups. RESULTS: CA group showed significantly higher dimensions of CriT, IAS, CouR, AVP, MAL and IAS compared to the HCM group. The logistic analysis showed that LV EF, LV septal thickness, CriT presence, CriT area, MAL and IAS were all predictors of CA in univariate analyses. The stepwise multivariate analysis showed independent predictors of CA: CriT area, MAL and LVEF. According to areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves the best cut-off values to determine CA were identified (IAS > 9 mm, MAL > 7 mm, CriT > 9 mm2). Among these 3 independent predictors, IAS > 9 mm had the best specificity (96%) and positive predictive value (93%) in identifying CA. CONCLUSIONS: evidence of extra left ventricle sites of amyloid deposition is a frequent finding in CA. In the context of hypertrophic phenocopies, an increased thickness of IAS, and/or CT and/or MAL should suggest a diagnosis of transthyretin CA.

Usefulness of longitudinal systolic strain and delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance in depicting risk of supraventricular arrythmias in patients with acute myocarditis and preserved left ventricular function.

BACKGROUND: Myocarditis have variable clinical presentation, evolution and prognosis. Aim of our study was to evaluate the value of speckle tracking echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in the short-term prediction of supraventricular arrhythmias (SVA) in patients with acute myocarditis. METHODS: Seventy patients (mean age 31±14 years old) with acute myocarditis and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were enrolled. Longitudinal systolic strain (LS) of the left ventricle (LV), mechanical dispersion (MD) and CMR with quantitative measurement of delayed enhancement (DE) were performed in a subset of 43 patients. Logistic regression and ROC analysis were used to identify predictors of SVA RESULTS: Only LS measured at sup-epicardial, mid-wall and sub-endocardial level of the apical 4-chamber view was significantly lower in patients with SVA, while MD was marginally prolonged in this setting. A value of LS > - 16.1% measured at LV mid-wall in the apical 4-chamber view (ROC-AUC .75, Sensitivity 63%, Specificity 85%) was the most accurate measure to identify patients with SVA. DE mass was also helpful with a ROC-AUC .76; a DE-Mass > 18.9 gr. had a Sensitivity 63% and a Specificity 77%, to identify patients at risk of SVA. CONCLUSIONS: Both DE mass and LS were associated with higher risk of SVA in patients with acute myocarditis and preserved LVEF. However, LS measured at the mid-wall level and limited to LV segments included in the apical 4-chamber view was the most accurate measure and did not show interaction with DE mass.

Prognostic significance of longitudinal strain in dilated cardiomyopathy with recovered ejection fraction.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NICM) may experience a normalisation in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Although this correlates with improved prognosis, it does not correspond to a normalisation in the risk of death during follow-up. Currently, there are no tools to risk stratify this population. We tested the hypothesis that absolute global longitudinal strain (aGLS) is associated with mortality in patients with NICM and recovered ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS: We designed a retrospective, international, longitudinal cohort study enrolling patients with NICM with LVEF <40% improved to the normal range (>50%). We studied the relationship between aGLS measured at the time of the first recording of a normalised LVEF and all-cause mortality during follow-up. We considered aGLS >18% as normal and aGLS ≥16% as of potential prognostic value. RESULTS: 206 patients met inclusion criteria. Median age was 53.5 years (IQR 44.3-62.8) and 56.6% were males. LVEF at diagnosis was 32.0% (IQR 24.0-38.8). LVEF at the time of recovery was 55.0% (IQR 51.7-60.0). aGLS at the time of LVEF recovery was 13.6%±3.9%. 166 (80%) and 141 (68%) patients had aGLS ≤18% and <16%, respectively. During a follow-up of 5.5±2.8 years, 35 patients (17%) died. aGLS at the time of first recording of a recovered LVEF correlated with mortality during follow-up (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.91 to 0.99, p=0.048 in adjusted Cox model). No deaths were observed in patients with normal aGLS (>18%). In unadjusted Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, aGLS <16% was associated with higher mortality during follow-up (31 deaths (22%) in patients with GLS <16% vs 4 deaths (6.2%) in patients with GLS ≥16%, HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 9, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with NICM and normalised LVEF, an impaired aGLS at the time of LVEF recovery is frequent and associated with worse outcomes.

Physiopathology and Diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure: Consolidated Certainties and New Perspectives.

Volume overload and fluid congestion are a fundamental issue in the assessment and management of patients with heart failure (HF). Recent studies have found that in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), right and left-sided pressures generally start to increase before any notable weight changes take place preceding an admission. ADHF may be a problem of volume redistribution among different vascular compartments instead of, or in addition to, fluid shift from the interstitial compartment. Thus, identifying heterogeneity of volume overload would allow guidance of tailored therapy. A comprehensive evaluation of congestive HF needs to take into account myriad parameters, including physical examination, echocardiographic values, and biomarker serum changes. Furthermore, potentially useful diagnostic tools include bioimpedance to measure intercompartmental fluid shifts, and evaluation of ultrasound lung comets to detect extravascular lung water.

A Study on the Effect of Contact Pressure during Physical Activity on Photoplethysmographic Heart Rate Measurements.

Heart rate (HR) as an important physiological indicator could properly describe global subject's physical status. Photoplethysmographic (PPG) sensors are catching on in field of wearable sensors, combining the advantages in costs, weight and size. Nevertheless, accuracy in HR readings is unreliable specifically during physical activity. Among several identified sources that affect PPG recording, contact pressure (CP) between the PPG sensor and skin greatly influences the signals. METHODS: In this study, the accuracy of HR measurements of a PPG sensor at different CP was investigated when compared with a commercial ECG-based chest strap used as a test control, with the aim of determining the optimal CP to produce a reliable signal during physical activity. Seventeen subjects were enrolled for the study to perform a physical activity at three different rates repeated at three different contact pressures of the PPG-based wristband. RESULTS: The results show that the CP of 54 mmHg provides the most accurate outcome with a Pearson correlation coefficient ranging from 0.81 to 0.95 and a mean average percentage error ranging from 3.8% to 2.4%, based on the physical activity rate. CONCLUSION: Authors found that changes in the CP have greater effects on PPG-HR signal quality than those deriving from the intensity of the physical activity and specifically, the individual best CP for each subject provided reliable HR measurements even for a high intensity of physical exercise with a Bland-Altman plot within ±11 bpm. Although future studies on a larger cohort of subjects are still needed, this study could contribute a profitable indication to enhance accuracy of PPG-based wearable devices.

Echocardiography to estimate high filling pressure in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.

AIMS: Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular filling pressures is performed using a multi-parametric algorithm. Unselected sample of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients may demonstrate an indeterminate status of diastolic indices making interpretation challenging. We sought to test improvement in the diagnostic accuracy of standard and strain echocardiography of the left ventricle and left atrium (LA) to estimate a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) > 15 mmHg in patients with HFrEF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Out of 82 consecutive patients, 78 patients were included in the final analysis and right heat catheterization, and echocardiogram was performed simultaneously. According to the univariable analysis, E wave velocity, the ratio between E-wave/A-wave (E/A, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.81, respectively), isovolumic relaxation time (AUC = 0.83), pulmonary vein D wave (AUC = 0.84), pulmonary vein S/D Ratio (AUC = 0.85), early pulmonary regurgitation velocity (AUC = 0.80), and accelerationa time at right ventricular out-flow tract (RVOT AT, AUC = 0.84) identified with the highest accuracy PCWP > 15 mmHg. They were all tested in multivariate analysis, and they were not independently correlated with PCWP. Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velocity was measurement with the highest predictive value in identifying PCWP > 15 mmHg (AUC = 0.89), compared with other established parameters such as the ratio between e-wave velocity divided by mitral annular e' velocity (E/e'), deceleration time, or LA indexed volume (LAVi), which all reached a lower accuracy level (AUC = 0.75; 0.78; 0.76). Among strain measures, global longitudinal strain in four chamber view (GLS 4ch), the ratio between e-wave velocity divided by mitral annular e' strain rate (E/e'sr), and LA longitudinal strain at the reservoir phase were helpful in estimating elevated PCWP (AUC = 0.77; 0.76; 0.75). According to multivariable analysis, the following two models had the greatest accuracy in detecting PCWP > 15 mmHg: (i) TR velocity, LAVi, and E wave velocity (receiver operating characteristic [ROC]-AUC = 0.98), (ii) AT RVOT, LAVi and GLS 4ch (ROC-AUC = 0.96). Neither E/A (ROC-AUC = 0.81) nor E/e' (ROC-AUC = 0.75) was an independent predictor when included in the model. The two MODELS were applicable to the entire population and demonstrated better agreement with the invasive reference (91% and 88%) than the guidelines algorithm (77%) regardless of the type of rhythm. CONCLUSIONS: Our suggested echocardiographic approach could be used to potentially reduce the frequency of "doubtful" classification and increase the accuracy in predicting elevated left ventricular filling pressure leading to a decrease in the number of invasive assessment made by right heart catheterization.

Statistical Shape Analysis of Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: Correlation between Shape and Biomechanical Descriptors.

An ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) is a heterogeneous disease showing different patterns of aortic dilatation and valve morphologies, each with distinct clinical course. This study aimed to explore the aortic morphology and the associations between shape and function in a population of ATAA, while further assessing novel risk models of aortic surgery not based on aortic size. Shape variability of n = 106 patients with ATAA and different valve morphologies (i.e., bicuspid versus tricuspid aortic valve) was estimated by statistical shape analysis (SSA) to compute a mean aortic shape and its deformation. Once the computational atlas was built, principal component analysis (PCA) allowed to reduce the complex ATAA anatomy to a few shape modes, which were correlated to shear stress and aortic strain, as determined by computational analysis. Findings demonstrated that shape modes are associated to specific morphological features of aneurysmal aorta as the vessel tortuosity and local bulging of the ATAA. A predictive model, built with principal shape modes of the ATAA wall, achieved better performance in stratifying surgically operated ATAAs versus monitored ATAAs, with respect to a baseline model using the maximum aortic diameter. Using current imaging resources, this study demonstrated the potential of SSA to investigate the association between shape and function in ATAAs, with the goal of developing a personalized approach for the treatment of the severity of aneurysmal aorta.

Shear Stress and Aortic Strain Associations With Biomarkers of Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the association of wall shear stress (WSS) and aortic strain with circulating biomarkers including matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP), and exosomal level of microRNA (miRNA) in ascending aortic aneurysms of patients with bicuspid or tricuspid aortic valve. METHODS: A total of 76 variables from 125 patients with ascending aortic aneurysms were collected from (1) blood plasma to measure plasma levels of miRNAs and protein activity; (2) computational flow analysis to estimate peak systolic WSS and time-average WSS (TAWSS); and (3) imaging analysis of computed tomography angiography to determine aortic wall strain. Principal component analysis followed by logistic regression allowed the development of a predictive model of aortic surgery by combining biomechanical descriptors and biomarkers. RESULTS: The protein activity of MMP-1, TIMP-1, and MMP-2 was positively correlated to the systolic WSS and TAWSS observed in the proximal ascending aorta (eg, R = 0.52, P < .001, for MMP-1 with TAWSS) where local maxima of WSS were found. For bicuspid patients, aortic wall strain was associated with miR-26a (R = 0.55, P = .041) and miR-320a (R = 0.69, P < .001), which shows a significant difference between bicuspid and tricuspid patients. Receiver-operating characteristics curves revealed that the combination of WSS, MMP-1, TIMP-1, and MMP-12 is predictive of aortic surgery (area under the curve 0.898). CONCLUSIONS: Increased flow-based and structural descriptors of ascending aortic aneurysms are associated with high levels of circulating biomarkers, implicating adverse vascular remodeling in the dilated aorta by mechanotransduction. A combination of shear stress and circulating biomarkers has the potential to improve the decision-making process for ascending aortic aneurysms to a highly individualized level.

Simulation study of transcatheter heart valve implantation in patients with stenotic bicuspid aortic valve.

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) anatomy has routinely been considered an exclusion in the setting of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) because of the large dimension of the aortic annulus having a more calcified, bulky, and irregular shape. The study aims to develop a patient-specific computational framework to virtually simulate TAVI in stenotic BAV patients using the Edwards SAPIEN 3 valve (S3) and its improved version SAPIEN 3 Ultra and quantify stent frame deformity as well as the severity of paravalvular leakage (PVL). Specifically, the aortic root anatomy of n.9 BAV patients who underwent TAVI was reconstructed from pre-operative CT imaging. Crimping and deployment of S3 frame were performed and then followed by fluid-solid interaction analysis to simulate valve leaflet dynamics throughout the entire cardiac cycle. Modeling revealed that the S3 stent frame expanded well on BAV anatomy with an elliptical shape at the aortic annulus. Comparison of predicted S3 deformity as assessed by eccentricity and expansion indices demonstrated a good agreement with the measurement obtained from CT imaging. Blood particle flow analysis demonstrated a backward blood jet during diastole, whereas the predicted PVL flows corresponded well with those determined by transesophageal echocardiography. This study represents a further step towards the use of personalized simulations to virtually plan TAVI, aiming at improving not only the efficacy of the implantation but also the exploration of "off-label" applications as the TAVI in the setting of BAV patients. Graphical abstract Computational frameworks of TAVI in patients with stenotic bicuspid aortic valve.

Usefulness of regional right ventricular and right atrial strain for prediction of early and late right ventricular failure following a left ventricular assist device implant: A machine learning approach.

BACKGROUND: Identifying candidates for left ventricular assist device surgery at risk of right ventricular failure remains difficult. The aim was to identify the most accurate predictors of right ventricular failure among clinical, biological, and imaging markers, assessed by agreement of different supervised machine learning algorithms. METHODS: Seventy-four patients, referred to HeartWare left ventricular assist device since 2010 in two Italian centers, were recruited. Biomarkers, right ventricular standard, and strain echocardiography, as well as cath-lab measures, were compared among patients who did not develop right ventricular failure (N = 56), those with acute-right ventricular failure (N = 8, 11%) or chronic-right ventricular failure (N = 10, 14%). Logistic regression, penalized logistic regression, linear support vector machines, and naïve Bayes algorithms with leave-one-out validation were used to evaluate the efficiency of any combination of three collected variables in an "all-subsets" approach. RESULTS: Michigan risk score combined with central venous pressure assessed invasively and apical longitudinal systolic strain of the right ventricular-free wall were the most significant predictors of acute-right ventricular failure (maximum receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve = 0.95, 95% confidence interval = 0.91-1.00, by the naïve Bayes), while the right ventricular-free wall systolic strain of the middle segment, right atrial strain (QRS-synced), and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion were the most significant predictors of Chronic-RVF (receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve = 0.97, 95% confidence interval = 0.91-1.00, according to naïve Bayes). CONCLUSION: Apical right ventricular strain as well as right atrial strain provides complementary information, both critical to predict acute-right ventricular failure and chronic-right ventricular failure, respectively.

The Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan on Clinical, Biochemical and Echocardiographic Parameters in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: The "Hemodynamic Recovery".

BACKGROUND: Sacubitril/valsartan has been shown to be superior to enalapril in reducing the risks of death and hospitalization for heart failure (HF). However, knowledge of the impact on cardiac performance remains limited. We sought to evaluate the effects of sacubitril/valsartan on clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic parameters in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS: Sacubitril/valsartan was administered to 205 HFrEF patients. RESULTS: Among 230 patients (mean age 59 ± 10 years, 46% with ischemic heart disease) 205 (89%) completed the study. After a follow-up of 10.49 (2.93 ± 18.44) months, the percentage of patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III changed from 40% to 17% (p < 0.001). Median N-Type natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) decreased from 1865 ± 2318 to 1514 ± 2205 pg/mL, (p = 0.01). Furosemide dose reduced from 131.3 ± 154.5 to 120 ± 142.5 (p = 0.047). Ejection fraction (from 27± 5.9% to 30 ± 7.7% (p < 0.001) and E/A ratio (from 1.67 ± 1.21 to 1.42 ± 1.12 (p = 0.002)) improved. Moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (from 30.1% to 17.4%; p = 0.002) and tricuspid velocity decreased from 2.8 ± 0.55 m/sec to 2.64 ± 0.59 m/sec (p < 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Sacubitril/valsartan induce "hemodynamic recovery" and, consistently with reduction in Nt-proBNP concentrations, improve NYHA class despite diuretic dose reduction.

Patterns of ascending aortic dilatation and predictors of surgical replacement of the aorta: A comparison of bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve patients over eight years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Predictors of thoracic aorta growth and early cardiac surgery in patients with bicuspid aortic valve are undefined. Our aim was to identify predictors of ascending aorta dilatation and cardiac surgery in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). METHODS: Forty-one patients with BAV were compared with 165 patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). All patients had LV EF > 50%, normal LV dimensions, and similar degree of aortic root or ascending aorta dilatation at enrollment. Patients with more than mild aortic stenosis or regurgitation were excluded. A CT-scan was available on 76% of the population, and an echocardiogram was repeated every year for a median time of 4 years (range: 2 to 8 years). Patterns of aortic expansion in BAV and TAV groups were analyzed by a mixed-effects longitudinal linear model. In the time-to-event analysis, the primary end point was elective or emergent surgery for aorta replacement. RESULTS: BAV patients were younger, while the TAV group had greater LV wall thickness, arterial hypertension, and dyslipidemia than BAV patients. Growth rate was 0.46 ±â€¯0.04 mm/year, similar in BAV and TAV groups (p = 0.70). Predictors of cardiac surgery were aorta dimensions at baseline (HR 1.23, p = 0.01), severe aortic regurgitation developed during follow-up (HR 3.49, p 0.04), family history of aortic aneurysm (HR 4.16, p 1.73), and history of STEMI (HR 3.64, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Classic baseline risk factors were more commonly observed in TAV aortopathy compared with BAV aortopathy. However, it is reassuring that, though diagnosed with aneurysm on average 10 years earlier and in the absence of arterial hypertension, BAV patients had a relatively low growth rate, similar to patients with a tricuspid valve. Irrespective of aortic valve morphology, patients with a family history of aortic aneurysm, history of coronary artery disease, and those who developed severe aortic regurgitation at follow-up, had the highest chances of being referred for surgery.

Additive Value of Biomarkers and Echocardiography to Stratify the Risk of Death in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Risk stratification is a crucial issue in heart failure. Clinicians seek useful tools to tailor therapies according to patient risk. METHODS: A prospective, observational, multicenter study on stable chronic heart failure outpatients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF). Baseline demographics, blood, natriuretic peptides (NPs), high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI), and echocardiographic data, including the ratio between tricuspid annular plane excursion and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (TAPSE/PASP), were collected. Association with death for any cause was analyzed. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty-one (431) consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. Fifty deaths occurred over a median follow-up of 32 months. On the multivariable Cox model analysis, TAPSE/PASP ratio, number of biomarkers above the threshold values, and gender were independent predictors of death. Both the TAPSE/PASP ratio ≥0.36 and TAPSE/PASP unavailable groups had a three-fold decrease in risk of death in comparison to the TAPSE/PASP ratio <0.36 group. The risk of death increased linearly by 1.6 for each additional positive biomarker and by almost two for women compared with men. CONCLUSIONS: In a HFrEF outpatient cohort, the evaluation of plasma levels of both NPs and hsTnI can contribute significantly to identifying patients who have a worse prognosis, in addition to the echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular-arterial coupling.

Computational modeling of bicuspid aortopathy: Towards personalized risk strategies.

This paper describes current advances on the application of in-silico for the understanding of bicuspid aortopathy and future perspectives of this technology on routine clinical care. This includes the impact that artificial intelligence can provide to develop computer-based clinical decision support system and that wearable sensors can offer to remotely monitor high-risk bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients. First, we discussed the benefit of computational modeling by providing tangible examples of in-silico software products based on computational fluid-dynamic (CFD) and finite-element method (FEM) that are currently transforming the way we diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases. Then, we presented recent findings on computational hemodynamic and structural mechanics of BAV to highlight the potentiality of patient-specific metrics (not-based on aortic size) to support the clinical-decision making process of BAV-associated aneurysms. Examples of BAV-related personalized healthcare solutions are illustrated.

Identification of circumferential regional heterogeneity of ascending thoracic aneurysmal aorta by biaxial mechanical testing.

Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) can present an asymmetrical aortic dilatation compared with patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). This pattern of aneurysm dilatation led us to hypothesize that biomechanical differences likely induced by regional heterogeneity of material properties can underlie the observed asymmetric enlargement discrepancies between BAV ATAA and TAV ATAA. This study aimed to characterize the mechanical properties and associated aortic tissue stiffness changes along the circumferential direction of aortic rings collected from surgically-repaired patients with ATAA. Biaxial material testing was performed on tissue specimens extrapolated from all aortic quadrants (i.e. anterior, posterior, major and minor curvature of the aorta), and then the tissue stiffness was quantified at both physiological and supra-physiological stress levels (i.e. 142 kPa and 242 kPa, respectively). Tissue stiffness revealed that the major curvature of BAV ATAA is statistically less stiff than the anterior quadrant (276.6 ±â€¯137.1 kPa for BAV ATAA and 830.1 ±â€¯557.1 kPa for BAV ATAA, p = .024, at 142 kPa) and to that of major curvature of TAV ATAA (276.6 ±â€¯137.0 kPa for BAV ATAA and 733.2 ±â€¯391.1 kPa for TAV ATAA, p = .001, at 142 kPa), suggesting local weakening of bicuspid aortic wall. Multiphoton imaging revealed local changes on elastic fiber networks. The recovered material parameters for the Fung-type constitutive model are crucial for reliable stress predictions while the information on regional tissue stiffness changes are fundamental to develop risk stratification strategies not based on aortic size.

On the role of material properties in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms.

One of the obstacles standing before the biomechanical analysis of an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) is the difficulty in obtaining patient-specific material properties. This study aimed to evaluate differences on ATAA-related stress predictions resulting from the elastostatic analysis based on the optimization of arbitrary material properties versus the application of patient-specific material properties determined from ex-vivo biaxial testing. Specifically, the elastostatic analysis relies the on the fact that, if the aortic wall stress does not depend on material properties, the aorta has to be statistically determinate. Finite element analysis (FEA) was applied to a group of nine patients who underwent both angio-CT imaging to reconstruct ATAA anatomies and surgical repair of diseased aorta to collect tissue samples for experimental material testing. Tissue samples cut from excised ATAA rings were tested under equibiaxial loading conditions to obtain experimentally-derived material parameters by fitting stress-strain profiles. FEAs were carried out using both optimized and experimentally-derived material parameters to predict and compare the stress distribution using the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Although physiological strains were below yield point (range of 0.08-0.25), elastostatic analysis led to errors on the stress predictions that depended on the type of constitutive model (highest MAPE of 0.7545 for Yeoh model and 0.7683 for Fung model) and ATAA geometry (lowest MAPE of 0.0349 for patient P.7). Elastostatic analysis needs better understanding of its application for determining aneurysm mechanics, and patient-specific material parameters are essential for reliable accurate stress predictions in ATAAs.

NT-ProBNP and hsTnI: A Multistate Survival Analysis in Outpatients with Reduced Left-Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has a well-known epidemic relevance in western countries. It affects up to 1-2% of patients > 60 years and reaches a prevalence of 12% in octogenarian patients. The role of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitive troponin I (hsTnI) in risk stratifying HFrEF patients has been established; at present, evidence is exclusively based on one-time assessments, and the prognostic usefulness of serial biochemical assessments in this population still remains to be determined. We prospectively recruited 226 patients with chronic HFrEF, who were all referred to the Outpatient Clinic of our institution from November 2011 through September 2014. Recruited patients underwent full clinical evaluation with complete history taking and physical examination as well as ECG, biochemical assessment, and standard 2D and Doppler flow echocardiography at the first visit, and then again at each visit during the follow-up, repeated every 6 months. During the follow-up period, cardiovascular (CV) death, which occurred in 16 patients, was not statistically correlated with gender (p = 0.088) or age (p = 0.1636); however, baseline serum levels of NT-proBNP, which were 3 times higher in deceased patients, were significantly related to this clinical event (p = 0.001). We found that NT-proBNP represents a strong and independent predictor of CV outcome; serum levels of hsTnI, which are significantly related to an increased risk of hospitalization, cannot properly predict the relative risk of CV mortality. Our study validates, eventually, the multimarker strategy, which reflects the complexity of the HF pathophysiology.