Consensus statement-graft treatment in cardiovascular bypass graft surgery.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is and continues to be the preferred revascularization strategy in patients with multivessel disease. Graft selection has been shown to influence the outcomes following CABG. During the last almost 60 years saphenous vein grafts (SVG) together with the internal mammary artery have become the standard of care for patients undergoing CABG surgery. While there is little doubt about the benefits, the patency rates are constantly under debate. Despite its acknowledged limitations in terms of long-term patency due to intimal hyperplasia, the saphenous vein is still the most often used graft. Although reendothelialization occurs early postoperatively, the process of intimal hyperplasia remains irreversible. This is due in part to the persistence of high shear forces, the chronic localized inflammatory response, and the partial dysfunctionality of the regenerated endothelium. "No-Touch" harvesting techniques, specific storage solutions, pressure controlled graft flushing and external stenting are important and established methods aiming to overcome the process of intimal hyperplasia at different time levels. Still despite the known evidence these methods are not standard everywhere. The use of arterial grafts is another strategy to address the inferior SVG patency rates and to perform CABG with total arterial revascularization. Composite grafting, pharmacological agents as well as latest minimal invasive techniques aim in the same direction. To give guide and set standards all graft related topics for CABG are presented in this expert opinion document on graft treatment.

Five-year results from a prospective, single-arm European trial on decellularized allografts for aortic valve replacement-the ARISE Study and ARISE Registry Data.

OBJECTIVES: Decellularized aortic homografts (DAH) were introduced as a new option for aortic valve replacement for young patients. METHODS: A prospective, EU-funded, single-arm, multicentre study in 8 centres evaluating non-cryopreserved DAH for aortic valve replacement. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients (99 male) were prospectively enrolled in the ARISE Trial between October 2015 and October 2018 with a median age of 30.4 years [interquartile range (IQR) 15.9-55.1]; 45% had undergone previous cardiac operations, with 19% having 2 or more previous procedures. The mean implanted DAH diameter was 22.6 mm (standard deviation 2.4). The median operation duration was 312 min (IQR 234-417), the median cardiopulmonary bypass time was 154 min (IQR 118-212) and the median cross-clamp time 121 min (IQR 93-150). No postoperative bypass grafting or renal replacement therapy were required. Two early deaths occurred, 1 due to a LCA thrombus on day 3 and 1 due ventricular arrhythmia 5 h postoperation. There were 3 late deaths, 1 death due to endocarditis 4 months postoperatively and 2 unrelated deaths after 5 and 7 years due to cancer and Morbus Wegener resulting in a total mortality of 3.47%. After a median follow-up of 5.9 years [IQR 5.1-6.4, mean 5.5 years. (standard deviation 1.3) max. 7.6 years], the primary efficacy end-points peak gradient with median 11.0 mmHg (IQR 7.8-17.6) and regurgitation of median 0.5 (IQR 0-0.5) of grade 0-3 were excellent. At 5 years, freedom from death/reoperation/endocarditis/bleeding/thromboembolism were 97.9%/93.5%/96.4%/99.2%/99.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The 5-year results of the prospective multicentre ARISE trial continue to show DAH to be safe for aortic valve replacement with excellent haemodynamics.

Causal effects of mental health on food security.

Although mental health conditions are known to be associated with socioeconomic hardships, their causal effects remain largely unexplored. Using a sample of low-income families in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we assess causal effects of serious mental illness (SMI) and related mental health conditions on family food security. We apply partial identification methods to account for fundamental endogeneity and measurement identification problems in a unified framework. To implement these methods, we combine a proxy measure of SMI in the NHIS with an estimate of the true rate of SMI from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. We also develop an innovative approach to approximate true prevalence rates when only self-reported prevalence rates are available. Applying relatively weak monotonicity assumptions on latent food security outcomes, we find that alleviating SMI would improve the food security rate by at least 9.5 percentage points, or 15 %. JEL codes: C21, I10, I38.

A computational study of the effects of size, location, and number of tears on haemodynamics in surgically repaired type A aortic dissection.

Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively examine the roles of size, location, and number of tears in the progression of surgically repaired type A aortic dissection (TAAD) by assessing haemodynamic changes through patient-specific computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. Methods: Two patient-specific TAAD geometries with replaced ascending aorta were reconstructed based upon computed 15 tomography (CT) scans, after which 10 hypothetical models (5 per patient) with different tear configurations were artificially created. CFD simulations were performed on all the models under physiologically realistic boundary conditions. Results: Our simulation results showed that increasing either the size or number of the re-entry tears reduced the luminal pressure difference (LPD) and maximum time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), as well as areas exposed to abnormally high or low TAWSS values. Models with a large re-entry tear outperformed the others by reducing the maximum LPD by 1.88 mmHg and 7.39 mmHg, for patients 1 and 2, respectively. Moreover, proximally located re-entry tears in the descending aorta were more effective at reducing LPD than distal re-entry tears. Discussion: These computational results indicate that the presence of a relatively large re-entry tear in the proximal descending aorta might help stabilize post-surgery aortic growth. This finding has important implications for the management and risk stratification of surgically repaired TAAD patients. Nevertheless, further validation in a large patient cohort is needed.

Formal consensus study on surgery to replace the aortic valve in adults aged 18-60 years.

OBJECTIVE: There is uncertainty about surgical procedures for adult patients aged 18-60 years undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). Options include conventional AVR (mechanical, mAVR; tissue, tAVR), the pulmonary autograft (Ross) and aortic valve neocuspidisation (Ozaki). Transcatheter treatment may be an option for selected patients. We used formal consensus methodology to make recommendations about the suitability of each procedure. METHODS: A working group, supported by a patient advisory group, developed a list of clinical scenarios across seven domains (anatomy, presentation, cardiac/non-cardiac comorbidities, concurrent treatments, lifestyle, preferences). A consensus group of 12 clinicians rated the appropriateness of each surgical procedure for each scenario on a 9-point Likert scale on two separate occasions (before and after a 1-day meeting). RESULTS: There was a consensus that each procedure was appropriate (A) or inappropriate (I) for all clinical scenarios as follows: mAVR: total 76% (57% A, 19% I); tAVR: total 68% (68% A, 0% I); Ross: total 66% (39% A, 27% I); Ozaki: total 31% (3% A, 28% I). The remainder of percentages to 100% reflects the degree of uncertainty. There was a consensus that transcatheter aortic valve implantation is appropriate for 5 of 68 (7%) of all clinical scenarios (including frailty, prohibitive surgical risk and very limited life span). CONCLUSIONS: Evidence-based expert opinion emerging from a formal consensus process indicates that besides conventional AVR options, there is a high degree of certainty about the suitability of the Ross procedure in patients aged 18-60 years. Future clinical guidelines should include the option of the Ross procedure in aortic prosthetic valve selection.

Matched comparison between external aortic root support and valve-sparing root replacement.

OBJECTIVES: Differences in indication and technique make a randomised comparison between valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR) and personalised external aortic root support (PEARS) challenging. We performed a propensity score (PS)-matched comparison of PEARS and VSRR for syndromic root aneurysm. METHODS: Patients in the PEARS 200 Database and Aortic Valve Insufficiency and ascending aorta Aneurysm InternATiOnal Registry (undergoing VSRR) with connective tissue disease operated electively for root aneurysm <60 mm with aortic regurgitation (AR) <1/4 were included. Using a PS analysis, 80 patients in each cohort were matched. Survival, freedom from reintervention and from AR ≥2/4 were estimated using a Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 25 and 55 months for 159 PEARS and 142 VSRR patients. Seven (4.4%) patients undergoing PEARS required an intervention for coronary injury or impingement, resulting in one death (0.6%). After VSRR, there were no early deaths, 10 (7%) reinterventions for bleeding and 1 coronary intervention. Survival for matched cohorts at 5 years was similar (PEARS 98% vs VSRR 99%, p=0.99). There was no difference in freedom from valve or ascending aortic/arch reintervention between matched groups. Freedom from AR ≥2/4 at 5 years in the matched cohorts was 97% for PEARS vs 92% for VSRR (p=0.55). There were no type A dissections. CONCLUSIONS: VSRR and PEARS offer favourable mid-term survival, freedom from reintervention and preservation of valve function. Both treatments deserve their place in the surgical repertoire, depending on a patient's disease stage. This study is limited by its retrospective nature and different follow-ups in both cohorts.

Personalized external aortic root support in aneurysm disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To bring together and annotate publications about personalised external aortic root support reported in the 18 months preceding submission. RECENT FINDINGS: The total number of personalised external aortic root support (PEARS) operations is now approaching 700 in 30 centres in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland and Slovakia. There are continued reports of stability of aortic dimensions and aortic valve function with the only exceptions known being where the surgeon has deviated from the instructions for use of the device. The median root diameter of Marfan patients having PEARS was 47 mm suggesting that the existing criterion of 50 mm is due for reconsideration. The peri-operative mortality currently estimated to be less than 0.3%. The first recipient remains alive and well after 18 years. The use of PEARS as an adjunct to the Ross operation to support the pulmonary autograft is being explored in several centres. SUMMARY: The operation requires proctoring and adherence to a strict operative protocol and with those precautions excellent results are attained. The evidence and opinions provided in the cited publications indicate that PEARS is a proven and successful prophylactic operation for aortic root aneurysm.

Prediction of aortic dilatation in surgically repaired type A dissection: A longitudinal study using computational fluid dynamics.

Objective: To examine the role of a key hemodynamic parameter, namely the true and false lumen pressure difference, to predict progressive aortic dilatation following type A aortic dissection (TAAD) repair. Methods: Four patients with surgically repaired TAAD with multiple follow-up computed tomography angiography scans (4-5 scans per patient; N = 18) were included. Through-plane diameter of the residual native thoracic aorta was measured in various aortic segments during the follow up period (mean follow-up: 49.6 ± 31.2 months). Computational flow analysis was performed to estimate true and false lumen pressure difference at the same locations and the correlation with aortic size change was studied using a linear mixed effects model. Results: Greater pressure difference between the true and false lumen was consistent with greater aortic diameter expansion during the follow up period (linear mixed effects analysis; coefficient, 0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.37; P < .001). Based on our limited data points, a pressure difference higher than 5 mm Hg might cause unstable aortic growth. Conclusions: Computational fluid dynamic assessment of standard aortic computed tomography angiography offers a noninvasive technique that predicts the risk of aortic dilatation following TAAD. The technique may be used to plan closer observation or intervention in high-risk patients.

Determining the genetic contribution in patients with non-syndromic ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms: Correlation with findings from computational pathology.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify the clinical utility of targeted-genetic sequencing in a cohort of patients with TAA and establish a new method for regional histological characterisation of TAA disease. METHODS: Fifty-four patients undergoing surgery for proximal TAA were recruited. EXCLUSIONS: connective tissue disease, bicuspid aortic valves, redo surgery. All patients underwent next generation sequencing (NGS) using a custom gene panel containing 63 genes previously associated with TAA on Illumina MiSeqor NextSeq550 platforms. Explanted TAA tissue was obtained en-bloc from 34/54 patients, and complete circumferential strips of TAA tissue processed into whole slides which were subsequently digitalised. Computational pathology methods were employed to quantify elastin, cellularity and collagen in six equally divided regions across the whole aneurysm circumference. RESULTS: Of 54 patients, clearly pathogenic or potentially pathogenic variants were found in 7.4%: namely LOX, PRKG1, TGFBR1 and SMAD3 genes. 55% had at least one variant of unknown significance (VUS) and seven of the VUSs were in genes with a strong disease association (category A) genes, whilst 15 were from moderate risk (category B) genes. Elastin and collagen abundance displayed high regional variation throughout the aneurysm circumference. In patients with <60% total elastin, the loss of elastin was more significant on the outer curve (38.0% vs 47.4%, p = 0.0094). The presence of VUS, higher pulse wave velocity and advancing age were predictors of elastin loss (regression analysis: p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate the heterogeneity of TAA disease microstructure and the potential link between histological appearance and clinical factors, including genetic variation.

Comparative performance of two automated machine learning platforms for COVID-19 detection by MALDI-TOF-MS.

The 2019 novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in an unsustainable need for diagnostic tests. Currently, molecular tests are the accepted standard for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Mass spectrometry (MS) enhanced by machine learning (ML) has recently been postulated to serve as a rapid, high-throughput, and low-cost alternative to molecular methods. Automated ML is a novel approach that could move mass spectrometry techniques beyond the confines of traditional laboratory settings. However, it remains unknown how different automated ML platforms perform for COVID-19 MS analysis. To this end, the goal of our study is to compare algorithms produced by two commercial automated ML platforms (Platforms A and B). Our study consisted of MS data derived from 361 subjects with molecular confirmation of COVID-19 status including SARS-CoV-2 variants. The top optimized ML model with respect to positive percent agreement (PPA) within Platforms A and B exhibited an accuracy of 94.9%, PPA of 100%, negative percent agreement (NPA) of 93%, and an accuracy of 91.8%, PPA of 100%, and NPA of 89%, respectively. These results illustrate the MS method's robustness against SARS-CoV-2 variants and highlight similarities and differences in automated ML platforms in producing optimal predictive algorithms for a given dataset.

Fluid-Structure Interaction Simulations of Repaired Type A Aortic Dissection: a Comprehensive Comparison With Rigid Wall Models.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aortic wall compliance on intraluminal hemodynamics within surgically repaired type A aortic dissection (TAAD). Fully coupled two-way fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations were performed on two patient-specific post-surgery TAAD models reconstructed from computed tomography angiography images. Our FSI model incorporated prestress and different material properties for the aorta and graft. Computational results, including velocity, wall shear stress (WSS) and pressure difference between the true and false lumen, were compared between the FSI and rigid wall simulations. It was found that the FSI model predicted lower blood velocities and WSS along the dissected aorta. In particular, the area exposed to low time-averaged WSS ( ≤ 0.2   P a ) was increased from 21 cm2 (rigid) to 38 cm2 (FSI) in patient 1 and from 35 cm2 (rigid) to 144 cm2 (FSI) in patient 2. FSI models also produced more disturbed flow where much larger regions presented with higher turbulence intensity as compared to the rigid wall models. The effect of wall compliance on pressure difference between the true and false lumen was insignificant, with the maximum difference between FSI and rigid models being less than 0.25 mmHg for the two patient-specific models. Comparisons of simulation results for models with different Young's moduli revealed that a more compliant wall resulted in further reduction in velocity and WSS magnitudes because of increased displacements. This study demonstrated the importance of FSI simulation for accurate prediction of low WSS regions in surgically repaired TAAD, but a rigid wall computational fluid dynamics simulation would be sufficient for prediction of luminal pressure difference.

Identification of Endogenous Peptides in Nasal Swab Transport Media used in MALDI-TOF-MS Based COVID-19 Screening.

Mass spectrometry (MS) based diagnostic detection of 2019 novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) has been postulated to be a useful alternative to classical PCR based diagnostics. These MS based approaches have the potential to be both rapid and sensitive and can be done on-site without requiring a dedicated laboratory or depending on constrained supply chains (i.e., reagents and consumables). Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-time-of-flight (TOF) MS has a long and established history of microorganism detection and systemic disease assessment. Previously, we have shown that automated machine learning (ML) enhanced MALDI-TOF-MS screening of nasal swabs can be both sensitive and specific for COVID-19 detection. The underlying molecules responsible for this detection are generally unknown nor are they required for this automated ML platform to detect COVID-19. However, the identification of these molecules is important for understanding both the mechanism of detection and potentially the biology of the underlying infection. Here, we used nanoscale liquid chromatography tandem MS to identify endogenous peptides found in nasal swab saline transport media to identify peptides in the same the mass over charge (m/z) values observed by the MALDI-TOF-MS method. With our peptidomics workflow, we demonstrate that we can identify endogenous peptides and endogenous protease cut sites. Further, we show that SARS-CoV-2 viral peptides were not readily detected and are highly unlikely to be responsible for the accuracy of MALDI based SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics. Further analysis with more samples will be needed to validate our findings, but the methodology proves to be promising.

Corneal Neurotization via Dual Nerve Autografting.

Corneal neurotization is a fast-evolving surgical procedure for sensory reinnervation in neurotrophic keratopathy. After neurotization, prior reports document return of corneal sensation on average 8 months after surgery with 38 mm of sensation gain measured via cochet bonnet esthesiometer testing. Here, the authors describe a dual nerve grafting approach via simultaneous parallel sural nerve grafts from both the supratrochelar and supraorbital nerves to the affected contralateral cornea with return of sensation by postoperative week 11.

Dental care use and other population characteristics of older Americans with self-reported chronic conditions in the health and retirement study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze relative differences in oral health care utilization, oral health, and other population characteristics of older Americans with respect to self-reported chronic conditions in the health and retirement study. METHODS: Differences in estimated percentages of those with specific chronic conditions by selected attributes were tested for statistical significance with standardized normal Z tests and logistic regressions. All estimates were based on weighted data from 1992 to 2016 Early Release RAND HRS Longitudinal file. SE estimates for the percentages accounted for the complex sample design of the survey. RESULTS: We establish that the strength of the associations between regular use of dental care and the absence of a chronic condition is similar in magnitude to having a college education, living in a high-income family, never smoking, not having certain functional limitations, and being under 65 years of age. DISCUSSION: These cross-sectional findings establish the relative strength of relationships between dental care use, oral health status, and other population characteristics and eight diagnosed conditions. Further work beyond the scope of this paper is needed to confirm these results as either attributes of those with the disease or causal risk factors for the onset of the condition.

Utility of echocardiographic right ventricular subcostal strain in critical care.

AIMS: Right ventricular (RV) strain is a known predictor of outcomes in various heart and lung pathologies but has been considered too technically challenging for routine use in critical care. We examined whether RV strain acquired from the subcostal view, frequently more accessible in the critically ill, is an alternative to conventionally derived RV strain in intensive care. METHODS AND RESULTS: RV strain data were acquired from apical and subcostal views on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in 94 patients (35% female), mean age 50.5 ± 15.2 years, venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VVECMO) (44%). RV strain values from the apical (mean ± standard deviation; -20.4 ± 6.7) and subcostal views (-21.1 ± 7) were highly correlated (Pearson's r -0.89, P < 0.001). RV subcostal strain correlated moderately well with other echocardiography parameters including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (r -0.44, P < 0.001), RV systolic velocity (rho = -0.51, P < 0.001), fractional area change (r -0.66, P < 0.01), and RV outflow tract velocity time integral (r -0.49, P < 0.001). VVECMO was associated with higher RV subcostal strain (non-VVECMO -19.6 ± 6.7 vs. VVECMO -23.2 ± 7, P = 0.01) but not apical RV strain. On univariate analysis, RV subcostal strain was weakly associated with survival at 30 days (R2 = 0.04, P = 0.05, odds ratio =1.08) while apical RV was not (P = 0.16). CONCLUSION: RV subcostal deformation imaging is a reliable surrogate for conventionally derived strain in critical care and may in time prove to be a useful diagnostic marker in this cohort.

Molecular Characterization of the Highest Risk Adult Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Through Multi-Omics Clustering.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clinically heterogeneous group of cancers. While some patients respond well to chemotherapy, we describe here a subgroup with distinct molecular features that has very poor prognosis under chemotherapy. The classification of AML relies substantially on cytogenetics, but most cytogenetic abnormalities do not offer targets for development of targeted therapeutics. Therefore, it is important to create a detailed molecular characterization of the subgroup most in need of new targeted therapeutics. Methods: We used a multi-omics approach to identify a molecular subgroup with the worst response to chemotherapy, and to identify promising drug targets specifically for this AML subgroup. Results: Multi-omics clustering analysis resulted in three primary clusters among 166 AML adult cancer cases in TCGA data. One of these clusters, which we label as the high-risk molecular subgroup (HRMS), consisted of cases that responded very poorly to standard chemotherapy, with only about 10% survival to 2 years. The gene TP53 was mutated in most cases in this subgroup but not in all of them. The top six genes over-expressed in the HRMS subgroup included E2F4, CD34, CD109, MN1, MMLT3, and CD200. Multi-omics pathway analysis using RNA and CNA expression data identified in the HRMS subgroup over-activated pathways related to immune function, cell proliferation, and DNA damage. Conclusion: A distinct subgroup of AML patients are not successfully treated with chemotherapy, and urgently need targeted therapeutics based on the molecular features of this subgroup. Potential drug targets include over-expressed genes E2F4, and MN1, as well as mutations in TP53, and several over-activated molecular pathways.

A novel cardiovascular magnetic resonance risk score for predicting mortality following surgical aortic valve replacement.

The increasing prevalence of patients with aortic stenosis worldwide highlights a clinical need for improved and accurate prediction of clinical outcomes following surgery. We investigated patient demographic and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) characteristics to formulate a dedicated risk score estimating long-term survival following surgery. We recruited consecutive patients undergoing CMR with gadolinium administration prior to surgical aortic valve replacement from 2003 to 2016 in two UK centres. The outcome was overall mortality. A total of 250 patients were included (68 ± 12 years, male 185 (60%), with pre-operative mean aortic valve area 0.93 ± 0.32cm2, LVEF 62 ± 17%) and followed for 6.0 ± 3.3 years. Sixty-one deaths occurred, with 10-year mortality of 23.6%. Multivariable analysis showed that increasing age (HR 1.04, P = 0.005), use of antiplatelet therapy (HR 0.54, P = 0.027), presence of infarction or midwall late gadolinium enhancement (HR 1.52 and HR 2.14 respectively, combined P = 0.12), higher indexed left ventricular stroke volume (HR 0.98, P = 0.043) and higher left atrial ejection fraction (HR 0.98, P = 0.083) associated with mortality and developed a risk score with good discrimination. This is the first dedicated risk prediction score for patients with aortic stenosis undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement providing an individualised estimate for overall mortality. This model can help clinicians individualising medical and surgical care.Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00930735 and ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01755936.