Correlation of aortic valve annular plane assessment by on-table three-dimensional rotational angiography and preprocedural computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the correlation between the aortic valve annular plane (AVAP) obtained by preprocedural computed tomography (CT) with on-table three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA), in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUND: Accurate assessment of the AVAP is critical during TAVR procedures to enable optimal positioning and minimize complications. Most commonly, preprocedural CT has been used to determine the AVAP. However, this can differ from the actual AVAP obtained during the TAVR procedure. METHODS: Consecutive TAVR patients at a single center undergoing both preprocedural CT and 3DRA were included in the study. The AVAP assessment by CT was performed using 3mensio software (Pie Medical Imaging). 3DRA assessment was performed using DynaCT (Siemens). RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were included in the analysis. A difference of ≥5° and ≥10° in both the LAO/RAO and cranial/caudal components of the AVAP projection angle as assessed by CT and 3DRA was recorded in 39% and 10% of patients, respectively. The concordance correlation coefficient for the LAO/RAO and cranial/caudal implantation angles was 0.519 (95% CI: 0.377-0.661) and 0.558 (95% CI: 0.432-0.684), respectively. CONCLUSION: Correlation between preprocedural CT and on-table 3DRA in the prediction of the actual AVAP at the time of TAVR implantation is moderate.

Humoral response to heterologous prime-booster vaccination in heart transplant recipients aged 18-70 years primed with a viral vector SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

Solid organ transplant recipients have demonstrated a blunted immune response to standard 2-dose vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. This study sought to determine the humoral response to heterologous booster vaccination (viral vector vaccine dose 1 and 2 + mRNA booster). Heart transplant recipients, aged 18 to 70 years of age who initially received two doses of the viral vector ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine followed by a BNT162b2 mRNA booster were recruited. A detectable antibody response in the absence of prior SARS-CoV-2 was the primary outcome measured. This was defined as an anti-spike titre of ≥0.8 U/mL on the Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay. A total of 80 heart transplant patients (mean age 49 ± 13 years, 28% female) were included. Blood samples were drawn at a median of 30 (IQR 28-33) days after the BNT162b2 mRNA booster. The frequency of a detectable antibody response increased from 37.5% (n = 30) after dose 2 to 56% (n = 45) post dose 3 (p < 0.001). A non-detectable antibody response was significantly more common in recipients with a shorter time interval from transplantation (p < 0.001), lower likelihood of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (p = 0.003) and in those prescribed a triple versus dual immunosuppressant regime (p = 0.009) and a tacrolimus versus cyclosporine basedregimen (p = 0.007). Despite heterologous prime-booster vaccination 44% of this vulnerable population ultimately continue to have no detectable antibodies.

Real-World Experience With Antiplatelet Agents After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With an Indication for an Oral Anticoagulant.

ABSTRACT: Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a clinical indication for oral anticoagulation (OAC) in addition to antiplatelet therapy (APT) necessitate rigorous evaluation of bleeding and ischemic risk to guide therapy. The optimal OAC/APT drug combination and duration of treatment is not known. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of patients undergoing PCI with an OAC indication and the rationale for post-PCI combined OAC/APT selection in clinical practice. Consecutive patients undergoing PCI with an indication for combined OAC/APT were included in a 12-month retrospective case series. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, prescribed OAC/APT regimens, and rationale for drug selection were reviewed. PCI was performed in 1650 patients during the study period, with an indication for OAC/APT in 133 (8.1%). A combination of aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitor, and OAC was the most frequently prescribed regime on discharge (n = 103, 81%). Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in combination with OAC was continued for a mean duration of 6.4 ± 4.4 weeks (range 3-52 weeks) before one antiplatelet was discontinued. There was no significant difference between the mean CHA2DS2-VASc or HAS-BLED score of patients with atrial fibrillation discharged on OAC/DAPT compared with alternate combinations (DAPT alone or OAC/single APT), 3.6 ± 1.3 versus 3.8 ± 1, P = 0.37 and 2.04 ± 0.7 versus 2.05 ± 1.0, P = 0.98, respectively. This case series identifies high variability in OAC/APT treatment duration and limited application of risk scoring systems and high-risk PCI characteristics in the selection of OAC/APT regimens. A more systematic patient assessment is needed to help standardize OAC/APT prescribing for this important patient cohort.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the young population; a 6-year review of the Irish out-of-hospital cardiac arrest register.

STUDY PURPOSE: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) in the young population have only been examined in a limited number of regional studies. Hence, we sought to describe OHCA characteristics and predictors of survival to hospital discharge for the young Irish population. STUDY DESIGN: An observational analysis of the national Irish OHCA register for all OHCAs aged ≤35 years between January 2012 and December 2017 was performed. The young population was categorised into three age groups: ≤1 year, 1-15 years and 16-35 years. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS: A total of 1295 OHCAs aged ≤35 years (26.9% female, median age 25 (IQR 17-31)) had resuscitation attempted. OHCAs in those aged ≥16 years (n=1005) were more likely to happen outside the home (38.5% vs 22.8%, p<0.001) and be of non-medical aetiology (59% vs 27.6%, p<0.001) compared with those aged <16 years (n=290). Asphyxiation, trauma and drug overdoses accounted for over 90% of the non-medical OHCAs for those 16-35 years. Overall survival to hospital discharge for the cohort was 5.1%; survival was non-significantly higher for those aged 16-35 years compared with those aged 1-15 years (6.0%, vs 2.8% p=0.93). Independent predictors of survival to hospital discharge included bystander witnessed OHCA, a shockable initial rhythm and a bystander defibrillation attempt. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of non-medical OHCAs and the OHCA location need to be considered when developing OHCA care pathways and preventative strategies to reduce the burden of OHCAs in the young population.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the older population in Ireland.

INTRODUCTION: Age influences survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) but it is unclear to what extent. Improved understanding of the impact of increasing age may be helpful in improving decision making on who should receive attempted resuscitation to optimise outcomes and minimise inappropriate end-of-life management. Our aim is to describe the demographics, characteristics and outcomes following resuscitation attempts in OHCA patients aged 70 years and older in Ireland. METHODS: Data were extracted from the national OHCA Register. Patient and event characteristics were compared across three age categories (70-79; 80-89; ≥90 years). Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of the primary outcome (survival to hospital discharge). RESULTS: A total of 2281 patients aged 70 years and older were attended by emergency medical services and had resuscitation attempted between 2012 and 2014. Overall survival to hospital discharge was 2.9%. For those aged 70-79 years, 80-89 years, 90 years and older survival to hospital discharge in each age group was 4.0%, 1.8% and 1.4%, respectively. Older age (adjusted OR (AOR) 0.95 95% CI 0.90 to 0.99) and having an arrest in the subjects own home (AOR 0.14 95% CI 0.07 to 0.28) were independent predictor associated with reduced odds of survival to hospital discharge. An initial shockable rhythm (AOR 17.9. 95% CI 8.19 to 39.2) and having a bystander witnessed OHCA (AOR 3.98. 95% CI 1.38 to 11.50) were independent predictors associated with increased odds of survival to hospital discharge. CONCLUSION: In those aged 70 years and older, the rate of survival to hospital discharge declined with increasing age group. Younger age, an initial shockable rhythm and witnessed arrest were independent predictors of survival to hospital discharge.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on clinical outcomes after first episode in-stent restenosis PCI: Results from a large registry.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a high rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after de novo coronary artery percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Whether patients with DM undergoing PCI for in-stent restenosis (ISR) experience a similar heightened risk of MACE is not known. Hence, we sought to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with and without DM undergoing PCI for ISR. METHODS: Patients undergoing first episode ISR PCI between January 2015 and December 2021 were included. The primary outcome of interest was MACE (all-cause death, myocardial infarction [MI], and target lesion revascularization [TVR]) at 1-year. RESULTS: A total of 3156 patients (56.7% with DM) underwent PCI for ISR during the study period. Patients with DM were younger, more likely to be female, and had a higher prevalence of comorbidities. At 1-year follow-up, DM was associated with a higher rate of MACE (22.4% vs. 18.7%, unadjusted HR 2.03, 95%CI(1.27-3.25), p = 0.003). All-cause mortality and MI were significantly more frequent among people with DM at 1-year follow-up. The rate of TVR was similar in both groups (17.9% vs. 16.0%, unadjusted HR 1.14, 95%CI (0.94-1.37), p = 0.180). On adjusted analysis, there was no significant difference in the rate of MACE (AHR 1.07, 95%CI(0.90 - -1.29), p = 0.444), all-cause death (AHR 1.54, 95%CI(0.93-2.54), p = 0.095) or MI (AHR 1.10, 95%CI(0.74-1.63), p = 0.652). CONCLUSION: ISR PCI in patients with DM was associated with a higher rate of MACE at 1-year follow-up. However, this increased risk was no longer significant after adjusting for baseline characteristics.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Current Status and Future Indications.

In the past two decades, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has transformed the management of aortic stenosis and has become the standard of care regardless of surgical risk levels. Advances in transcatheter valve design across newer generations, improved imaging, greater operator expertise, and technical enhancements have collectively contributed to increased safety and a decline in procedural complications over this timeframe. The application of TAVR has progressively expanded to include younger patients with lower risks, who have longer life expectancies. This article offers an up-to-date review of the latest innovations in transcatheter delivery systems, devices, and its possible future indications.

Trends in transcatheter aortic valve implantation practice and clinical outcomes at an Irish tertiary referral centre.

OBJECTIVE: A paucity of data exists on how transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) practice has evolved in Ireland. This study sought to analyse temporal trends in patient demographics, procedural characteristics, and clinical outcomes at an Irish tertiary referral centre. METHODS: The prospective Mater TAVI database was divided into time tertiles based on when TAVI was performed: Group A, November 2008-April 2013; Group B, April 2013-September 2017; and Group C, September 2017-February 2022. Patient and procedural characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared across groups. RESULTS: A total of 1063 (Group A, 59; Group B, 268; and Group C:, 736) patients were treated with TAVI during the study period (mean age 81.1±7.4, mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score 5.9±5.1).Conscious sedation (Group A, 0%; Group B, 59.9%; and Group C, 90.2%, p<0.001) and femoral artery access (Group A, 76.3%; Group B, 90.7%; and Group C, 96.6%, p<0.001) were used more frequently over time. The median length of hospital stay reduced from 9 days (IQR 7, 18) in Group A to 2 days (IQR 2, 3) in Group C. In-hospital death was numerically higher in Group A compared with Group C (6.8% vs 1.9%, p=0.078). At 1-year follow-up, the rate of death and/or stroke was similar in Group A and Group C (20.3% vs 12.0%, adjusted HR 1.49, 95% CI (0.59 to 3.74)). CONCLUSION: There was exponential growth in TAVI procedural volume during the study period. A minimalist approach to TAVI emerged, and this was associated with significantly shorter procedure duration and hospital stay. Clinical outcomes at 1-year follow-up did not change significantly over time.

Right coronary artery obstruction following transcatheter aortic valve replacement by aortic valve mass.

A 93-year-old woman with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and normal biventricular function was referred for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) evaluation. Cardiac computed tomography revealed safe coronary heights and multiple large calcified mobile mass-like structures attached to the aortic valve (AV), confirmed also by transesophageal echocardiography, which were thought to be prominent Lambl's excrescences.

Impact of Bleeding Risk and Inflammation on Cardiovascular Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Markers of systemic inflammation, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), have been associated with the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Whether this risk varies according to the presence of high bleeding risk (HBR) conditions is unclear. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of systemic inflammation, as measured by hsCRP levels and cardiovascular outcomes in patients stratified by HBR status following PCI. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing PCI between 2012 and 2019 with baseline hsCRP levels were included. High hsCRP was defined as >3 mg/L, and HBR was defined per the Academic Research Consortium HBR criteria. The primary outcome was MACCE, including all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at 1 year. All bleeding was assessed as a secondary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 15,150 patients were included, and 40.4% (n = 6,125) qualified as HBR. The adjusted risk for MACCE was consistently higher in patients with high hsCRP in both HBR (adjusted HR [aHR]: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.18-1.87) and non-HBR (aHR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.31-2.66) subgroups, with no interaction between HBR status and hsCRP level (Pinteraction = 0.26). Conversely, although bleeding risk was higher in the HBR cohort, hsCRP did not predict the occurrence of bleeding in either the HBR (aHR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.82-1.31) or the non-HBR (aHR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.71-1.39) subgroup (Pinteraction = 0.539). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated hsCRP at the time of PCI is associated with a higher risk for ischemic but not bleeding events, irrespective of HBR status.

Outcomes Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Multivessel Disease Who Were Recommended for But Declined Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Patients may prefer percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) over coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, despite heart team recommendations. The outcomes in such patients have not been examined. We sought to examine the results of PCI in patients who were recommended for but declined CABG. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients with stable ischemic heart disease and unprotected left main or 3-vessel disease or Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score >22 who underwent PCI after heart team review between 2013 and 2020 were included. Patients were categorized into 3 groups according to heart team recommendations on the basis of appropriate use criteria: (1) PCI-recommended; (2) CABG-eligible but refused CABG (CABG-refusal); and (3) CABG-ineligible. The primary end point was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at 1 year. The study included 3687 patients undergoing PCI (PCI-recommended, n=1718 [46.6%]), CABG-refusal (n=1595 [43.3%]), and CABG-ineligible (n=374 [10.1%]). Clinical and procedural risk increased across the 3 groups, with the highest comorbidity burden in CABG-ineligible patients. Composite events within 1 year after PCI occurred in 55 (4.1%), 91 (7.0%), and 41 (14.8%) of patients in the PCI-recommended, CABG-refusal, and CABG-ineligible groups, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, the risk of the primary composite outcome was significantly higher in the CABG-refusal (hazard ratio [HR], 1.67 [95% CI, 1.08-3.56]; P=0.02) and CABG-ineligible patients (HR, 3.26 [95% CI, 1.28-3.65]; P=0.004) groups compared with the reference PCI-recommended group, driven by increased death and stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular event rates after PCI were significantly higher in patients with multivessel disease who declined or were ineligible for CABG. Our findings provide real-world data to inform shared decision-making discussions.

Recurrent Groin Hernia Containing the Ovary and Fallopian Tube.

A 46-year-old female presented to the emergency room with complaints of right groin pain. A palpable mass was found inferior to the right inguinal ligament. Computed tomography showed evidence of a viscera-containing hernia sac within the femoral canal. The patient was taken to the operating room for exploration of the hernia where a well-perfused right fallopian tube and right ovary were identified within the sac. These contents were reduced, and the facial defect repaired primarily. The patient was discharged and has since been seen in clinic with no residual pain or recurrence of her hernia. Femoral hernias containing gynecological structures pose unique management and only anecdotal evidence exists to guide decision making. Prompt intervention with primary repair resulted in a favorable operative outcome in this case of a femoral hernia containing adnexal structures.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation-related infective endocarditis: experience from an Irish tertiary referral centre.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation-related infective endocarditis (TAVI-IE) is a well-recognised and serious complication following TAVI. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics, microorganism spectrum, and outcomes of TAVI-IE in an Irish context. METHODS: A prospective registry was used to assess the baseline demographics, procedural variables, and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing TAVI between 2009 and 2020 at two tertiary referral Irish Hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 733 patients underwent TAVI during the study period. During a follow-up duration of 1,949 person-years (median 28 months), TAVI-IE occurred in 17 (2.3%) patients. The overall incidence was 0.87 per 100 person-years and the median time from TAVI to presentation with IE was 7 months [IQR: 5-13 months]. In those who developed TAVI-IE, the mean age was 78.7 years, 70.5% were male, and there was a trend towards more permanent pacemaker implantations post-TAVI (17.6% vs. 5.86%; p = 0.08). The dominant culprit microorganisms were streptococci (41.1%) and four (23.5%) cases were attributed to dental seeding. Major complications of TAVI-IE included one (5.8%) stroke, one (5.8%) in-hospital death, and two (11.7%) urgent surgical aortic valve replacements. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival at 1-year was 82% (95% CI = 55-95). CONCLUSIONS: This Irish cohort of TAVI-IE exhibited a similar incidence and time to presentation compared to prior international registries; however, the 1-year mortality rate was comparatively lower. The need for rigorous dental clearance pre-TAVI and maintenance of dental health post-TAVI is underscored by the high prevalence of oral streptococcus species in this cohort.

Validation of UK-BCIS CHIP Score to Predict 1-Year Outcomes in a Contemporary United States Population.

BACKGROUND: A complex high-risk indicated percutaneous coronary intervention (CHIP) score was recently developed from the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) database to define CHIP cases and their risk of in-hospital major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE). OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to apply this score to a contemporary U.S. population for the prediction of adverse events at 1 year following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing PCI at a large tertiary care center between 2011 and 2020 were considered for inclusion. Patients were categorized into 4 groups based on their BCIS-CHIP score (0, 1-2, 3-4, ≥5). In each category, we assessed the 1-year risk of MACCE, a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of MACCE, and major bleeding at 1 year. RESULTS: Among 20,799 patients included, MACCE at 1 year occurred in 1.7% patients with score 0 (reference), 3.0% with score 1 or 2 (HR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.32-2.24), 6.1% with score 3 or 4 (HR: 3.60; 95% CI: 2.78-4.66), and 12.0% with score ≥5 (HR: 7.40; 95% CI: 5.75-9.51). Each point increase of the BCIS-CHIP score conferred a 28.0% increase of MACCE risk. The BCIS-CHIP score demonstrated good discrimination for the prediction of 1-year MACCE (C-index 0.70). The risk of secondary outcomes also progressively increased with higher score values. CONCLUSIONS: In a large PCI registry, the BCIS-CHIP score had a good predictive value for MACCE at 1 year. The utilization of this score can facilitate an accurate risk stratification of patients undergoing PCI.

Humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 adenovirus vector vaccination (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 [AZD1222]) in heart transplant recipients aged 18 to 70 years of age.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested a blunted immune response to messenger RNA vaccines in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Given the paucity of data on adenovirus vector vaccines use in immunosuppressed SOT recipients, we sought to describe the safety and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in a heart transplant population. METHODS: Heart transplant recipients aged 18 to 70 years scheduled to receive 2 doses of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine were enrolled into a prospective study involving serum analysis to define their antibody response. An antibody concentration against the spike protein receptor-binding domain of ≥0.8 U/mL was deemed a detectable antibody response. RESULTS: A total of 99 heart transplant recipients (mean age 51 ± 12.5 years, 28% female) were enrolled. No major adverse events were recorded after vaccination; minor symptoms included injection site pain (24%), fatigue (21%) and headache (14%). Of 7 patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 confirmed by PCR testing, all (100%) had detectable antibody responses following first and second vaccine doses. In those with no prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 92), 24% (n = 22) showed an antibody response after dose 1, increasing to 34.8% (n = 32) after dose 2, p < 0.001. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage ≥3 (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.5-15, p = 0.009) and mycophenolate use (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.2-14, p = 0.02) were independently associated with a nondetectable antibody response. CONCLUSIONS: Almost two-thirds of heart transplant recipients aged 18 to 70 years without a history of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection failed to develop a detectable antibody response following administration of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. Patient phenotyping may help predict which patients are less likely to develop detectable antibody responses.

Peritricuspid annular prostate pellet.

A 75-year-old was treated for prostate adenocarcinoma with brachytherapy in September 2018. A routine follow-up chest radiograph 3 months later revealed a metallic object of the same dimensions as a brachytherapy pellet located in the right ventricle. Further imaging showed the brachtherapy pellet was located in the anterobasal right ventricular endocardium close to the tricuspid valve. Frequent asymptomatic premature ventricular contractions were observed with likely origin from the left ventricular outflow tract, an area remote from the site of the pellet. The patient remains asymptomatic and subsequent imaging shows that the position of the pellet has not changed.

Safety of Conscious Sedation for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Without an Anesthetist.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the safety of performing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) under conscious sedation without an anesthetist present (TAVR-NA) vs TAVR performed with an anesthetist supervising sedation (TAVR-A). BACKGROUND: In almost all United States and European centers, TAVR-A represents the standard of care. There are limited data on the safety of TAVR-NA. METHODS: The prospective Mater TAVR database was analyzed. Patients undergoing transfemoral TAVR under conscious sedation were identified and divided into 2 groups, ie, TAVR-NA and TAVR-A. Demographics, procedural characteristics, and clinical outcomes for each group were assessed and compared. RESULTS: From a cohort of 300 patients who underwent transfemoral TAVR under conscious sedation, TAVR-NA and TAVR-A were performed in 85 patients and 215 patients, respectively. Baseline variables were similar except for a higher median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score in the TAVR-NA group vs the TAVR-A group (5.1% vs 4.4% in the TAVR-A group; P=.05). TAVR-A patients had a higher rate of conversion to general anesthesia (4.2% vs 1.2% in the TAVR-NA group; P=.29), with 1 patient in each group requiring conversion to emergency surgery. In-lab and in-hospital complication rates were similar in the TAVR-NA and TAVR-A groups (7.1% vs 6.5% [P=.86] and 8.2% vs 12.1% [P=.34], respectively). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of freedom from mortality and/or stroke at 1 month was comparable between both groups (96.5% vs 97.7%; P=.57). CONCLUSIONS: In this modest-sized transfemoral TAVR cohort with a low conversion rate to emergency surgery, TAVR-NA was associated with safety outcomes that were equivalent to TAVR-A. In healthcare systems where access to TAVR may be limited by anesthetic resources, TAVR-NA appears to be a reasonable option to enable the application of this therapy.

Clinical experience with trans-catheter aortic valve implantation at a tertiary hospital in the Republic of Ireland.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of published data on the clinical experience with trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in the Republic of Ireland. We sought to examine the clinical outcomes of patients with medium-term follow-up treated with TAVI at our institution. METHODS: A prospective TAVI registry was used to assess the baseline demographics, procedural variables and clinical outcomes of patients treated with TAVI between the inception of the programme in 2008 and November 2017. RESULTS: A total of 354 patients (mean age 80.9 ± 8.1 years, 58% male, mean STS score 6.1 ± 4.3%) were treated during the study period. Major in-hospital outcomes included in-lab death (n = 2, 0.6%), stroke (n = 8, 2.2%), device embolisation (n = 4, 1.2%), permanent pacemaker implantation (n = 22, 6.2%) and major vascular complication (n = 2, 0.6%). The median length of hospital stay was 4 days (IQR 2-8 days). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of freedom from death at 30 days and 1 year for the entire cohort was 97 ± 1% and 85.4 ± 2.3%, respectively. Trans-femoral access was associated with a significantly lower rate of death and/or stroke at 1 year compared to trans-apical access (84.9 ± 2.4% versus 60 ± 8.9%, p = 0.0005). There was no significant difference in freedom from death and/or stroke at 1 year between balloon-expandable and self-expanding valves (81.6 ± 2.6% versus 84.4 ± 7.4%, p = 0.63). CONCLUSION: This study documents low complication rates and favourable rates of survival following TAVI in a consecutive series of patients undergoing TAVI at a tertiary referral centre in the Republic of Ireland. These data support the application of this therapy in the Irish context.

Profile of time-dependent VEGF upregulation in human pulmonary endothelial cells, HPMEC-ST1.6R infected with DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4 viruses.

In this study, the upregulated expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a pulmonary endothelial cell line (HPMEC-ST1.6R) infected with dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4 (DENV-1, -2, -3 and -4), was investigated. This cell line exhibits the major constitutive and inducible endothelial cell characteristics, as well as angiogenic response. Infection by all four DENV serotypes was confirmed by an observed cytopathic effect (CPE), as well as RT-PCR (reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction) assays. As we had previously reported, the DENV-infected HPMEC-ST1.6R cells exhibited an elongated cytoplasmic morphology, possibly representing a response to VEGF and activation of angiogenesis. In this study, increase in VEGF expression level at designated time points of 0, 8, 24, 96 and 192 hours post-infection was investigated, using a microbead-based Bio-Plex immunoassay. Increased level of VEGF expression in infected-HPMEC-ST1.6R was detected at 8 hours post-infection. Interestingly, VEGF expression level began to decrease up to 96 hours post-infection, after which an upsurge of increased VEGF expression was detected at 192 hours post-infection. This profile of VEGF upregulated expression pattern associated with DENV infection appeared to be consistent among all four DENV-serotypes, and was not observed in mock-infected cells. In this study, the expression level of VEGF, a well-established vascular permeabilizing agent was shown to be elevated in a time-dependent manner, and exhibited a unique dual-response profile, in a DENV-infected endothelial cell. The experimental observation described here provided additional insights into potential mechanism for VEGF-mediated vascular leakage associated with DENV, and support the idea that there are potential applications of anti-VEGF therapeutic interventions for prevention of severe DENV infections.

Measurements and Monte Carlo Simulations of 241Am Activities in Three Skull Phantoms: EURADOS-USTUR Collaboration.

An international intercomparison was organized by Working Group 7, Internal Dosimetry, of the European Radiation Dosimetry Group in collaboration with Working Group 6, Computational Dosimetry, for measurement and Monte Carlo simulation of Am in three skull phantoms. The main objectives of this combined exercise were (1) comparison of the results of counting efficiency in fixed positions over each head phantom using different germanium detector systems, (2) calculation of the activity of Am in the skulls, (3) comparison of Monte Carlo simulations with measurements (spectrum and counting efficiency), and (4) comparison of phantom performance. This initiative collected knowledge on equipment, detector arrangements, calibration procedures, and phantoms used around the world for in vivo monitoring of Am in exposed persons, as well as on the Monte Carlo skills and tools of participants. Three skull phantoms (BfS, USTUR, and CSR phantoms) were transported from Europe (10 laboratories) to North America (United States and Canada). The BfS skull was fabricated with real human bone artificially labeled with Am. The USTUR skull phantom was made from the US Transuranium and Uranium Registries whole-body donor (case 0102) who was contaminated due to an occupational intake of Am; one-half of the skull corresponds to real contaminated bone, the other half is real human bone from a noncontaminated person. Finally, the CSR phantom was fabricated as a simple hemisphere of equivalent bone and tissue material. The three phantoms differ in weight, size, and shape, which made them suitable for an efficiency study. Based on their own skull calibration, the participants calculated the activity in the three European Radiation Dosimetry Group head phantoms. The Monte Carlo intercomparison was organized in parallel with the measurement exercise using the voxel representations of the three physical phantoms; there were 16 participants. Three tasks were identified with increasing difficulty: (1) Monte Carlo simulation of the simple CSR hemisphere and the Helmholz Zentrum München high-purity germanium detector for calculating the counting efficiency for the 59.54 keV photons of Am, in established measurement geometry; (2) Monte Carlo simulation of particular measurement geometries using the BfS and USTUR voxel phantoms and the Helmholz Zentrum München high-purity germanium detector detector; and (3) application of Monte Carlo methodology to calculate the calibration factor of each participant for the detector system and counting geometry (single or multidetector arrangement) to be used for monitoring a person in each in vivo facility, using complex skull phantoms. The results of both exercises resulted in the conclusion that none of the three available head phantoms is appropriate as a reference phantom for the calibration of germanium detection systems for measuring Am in exposed adult persons. The main reasons for this are: (1) lack of homogeneous activity distribution in the bone material, or (2) inadequate shape/size for simulating an adult skull. Good agreement was found between Monte Carlo results and measurements, which supports Monte Carlo calibration of body counters as an alternative method when appropriate physical phantoms are not available and the detector and source are well known.