Circulating endothelial progenitor cells are inversely correlated with in-stent restenosis in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes treated with EPC-capture stents (JACK-EPC trial).

AIM: Aim of the study was to evaluate the association between circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and angiographic outcomes after implantation of GenousTM stent in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (ACS) (NSTE-ACS) undergoing urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Sixty patients treated with EPC-capture stent (N.=30) or bare metal stents (BMS) (N.=30) receiving 80 mg atorvastatin and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) for 12 months. Restenosis was assessed after 6 months by quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and major acute coronary events (MACE) evaluated after 6 and 12 months. INCLUSION CRITERIA: de novo lesion >70% in native vessel, diameter 2.5-4 mm, lesion length <30 mm. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: diabetes, previous revascularization, significant left main stenosis, chronic total occlusions (CTO) and multivessel disease. RESULTS: Majority of patients in EPC-capture stent and BMS groups presented with NSTEMI (73.3% and 70%, respectively). Mean stent length was 20.1±8 and 19.9±10 mm, diameter 3±0.97 and 3.1±0.88 mm in respective groups. The binary restenosis was significantly lower in GenousTM (13 vs. 26.6%, P=0.04). Risk of MACE after 6 and 12 months were comparable in both groups. There was no stent thrombosis. Numbers of circulating EPCs were significantly approximately 2-fold higher during the ACS than after 6 months. Mobilization of EPCs during acute ischemia was significantly lower in patients who developed restenosis after 6 months (3 vs. 4.5 cells/µL, P=0.002) and it was negatively correlated with late-loss after 6 months (R=-0.42; P<0.03). CONCLUSION: Use of GenousTM stents in NSTE-ACS is associated with lower restenosis rate than BMS at 6 months. There was no ST through 1 year. The number of circulating EPCs is inversely correlated with in-stent late loss (LL).

[Para valvular leak closure in TAVI]. / Fermeture des fuites para-prothétiques des TAVI.

Literature concerning transcutaneous symptomatic para valvular cardiac leaks closure (PVLC) after trans aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is relatively scarce. Hereby we present 2 clinical cases, one on an Edwards® Sapien 3 valve and the other one on a Medtronic® Evolut R valve. We present also the preliminary results of the 7 PVLC on TAVI included in our prospective FFPP registry during the 2 first years of enrolment (2017-2018), for a total of 158 inclusions for all valves. Seven procedures were performed on 8 leaks, using a majority of vascular plugs (3 Abbott® Amplatzer Vascular Plugs 2 (AVP2), 3 AVP3, 1 AVP4, and 1 muscular Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) occluder). All procedures were successful without complication. At 1-month follow-up, all patients became asymptomatic. One-year follow-up was already available for 4 patients: 3 of them were symptoms free, and one-who had a second leak not suitable for PVLC-, underwent a « TAVI in TAVI ¼ procedure 2 months after PVLC. This short experience demonstrates the feasibility, the efficacy and the safety of PVLC on TAVI. We expect to be able to offer more in depth information at the end of our prospective ongoing study.

Expression of genes encoding kinin receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays a critical role in all stages of atherogenesis, including plaque destabilization leading to the rupture and local thrombosis, clinically manifested as unstable angina (UA) or myocardial infarction (MI). Recent data report enhanced expression of numerous pro-inflammatory genes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) both in plaque and in inflammatory cells. Kinins are peptides involved in vasodilation, vascular permeability, pain and inflammation. Their effects are mediated by two receptors, B1 and B2. As the role of kinins in ACS is not clear, the aim of the study was to assess the expression of the genes encoding kinin receptors in patients with ACS. METHODS: The study was carried out on 40 patients with ACS and 10 age-matched healthy subjects (control (C)). To evaluate gene expression of B1 and B2 kinin receptors, total mRNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the number of mRNA copies was assessed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In patients with MI and UA, the B1 receptor (B1R)/B2 receptor (B2R) ratio was inversed compared with healthy subjects (C group) (MI vs C: 1.54 +/- 0.39 vs 0.36 +/- 0.04; P < 0.01; UA vs C: 2.13 +/- 0.98 vs 0.36 +/- 0.04; P < 0.05 respectively). B2R gene mRNA level was markedly lower in MI group versus C group (24 216 +/- 5409 copies/microg vs 39 908 +/- 5309 copies/microg; P < 0.05). The difference in B1R gene expression between MI and C group was negligible. We have not observed differences in studied genes expression between UA and C groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with ACS show inverted B1R/B2R ratio. Such disturbance in kinin signalling may reflect increased activation of circulating mononuclears, which are important participants of atherosclerotic plaque development and eventually rupture.

Percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation in haemophilic A patient with unstable angina.

The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute coronary syndromes in patients with haemophilia is much lower than in general population and there is a lack of information regarding safe interventional or surgical treatment of CAD in haemophiliacs. This report presents a case of patient with moderate haemophilia A and unstable angina pectoris, who underwent successful coronary angioplasty. The patient was pretreated with factor VIII (before and after the procedure) and the incision site was sealed with vessel closure device. Additionally, the article discusses the issue of the safety of standard, postpercutaneous coronary intervention antiplatelet therapy in patients with haemophilia.

[Social structure and social behavior of elderly ambulatory surgical patients]. / Sozialstruktur und Sozialverhalten älterer ambulant chirurgischer Patienten.

Geriatric surgery is getting more and more important. Rising expectation of life, improved pre- and postoperative therapy deferred the age limit for elective operations for about 20 years above the former average. In a chance control we examined the social structure and the social behaviour of older ambulant patients suffering from surgical complaints. The arrangement of those patients according to their age, their homing conditions, their working time after their age limit and the general possibilities of communication were analysed. The importance of the social anamnesis for the therapeutic effect was proved. The regular increase of appropriate dwellings for older persons has to be secured. The possibilities contacts between old-age pensioners and social organisations have to be developed furthermore in order to integrate more and more older persons into social life.

[Cystic lymphangioma with endosalpingiosis as a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding]. / Zystisches Dünndarmlymphangiom mit Endosalpingiose als seltene Ursache einer gastrointestinalen Blutung.

We report on a 31-year-old woman with an iron-deficiency anemia and positive Guaiac test, existing for more than 2 years. Despite an extensive gastrointestinal examination a bleeding source could not be found. Also angiography of the abdominal arteries with injection of heparin as provocative protocol was normal. Enteroclysis showed a remarkable finding which led to laparotomy. A cystic lymphangioma with endolymphatic endosalpingiosis as the bleeding source was identified and removed. Lymphangioma is a rare benign soft tissue tumor which usually appears during the first 2 years of life. Only in some cases the lymphangioma is intraabdominal and there can be different, no specific symptoms. Endosalpingiosis is also a rare benign disease, it consists of scattered epithelium of the Fallopian tube. It is the first case to our knowledge, in which the appearance of the endosalpingiosis in a lymphangioma is described.