STEMI associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the use of ECMO as a potential therapeutic approach in addition to the PCI.

A 55-year-old male presented to the emergency department with the complaints of chest pain that started 4 h before presentation. Pain was located over the anterior chest, 5 out of 10 intensity, with radiation to the left arm. Chest x-ray on admission showed severe diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltrates concerning for COVID-19 pneumonia. Electrocardiogram showed inferior and lateral ST-segment elevation compatible with acute inferolateral myocardial infarction. Successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the proximal and mid-right coronary artery using the balloon angioplasty and drug-eluting stent was performed. Post-PCI stenosis was 0% with a thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow of 3. Five-day course of azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine was completed with no improvement overall. Patient received two doses of 400 mg of tocilizumab intravenously on hospital days 5 (HD#5) and #6. The patient was proned, on FiO2 100%, PEEP 15 cm H2O, on epoprostenol sodium and paralytics and eventually received venovenous ECMO, which improved outcome.

Minimally Invasive Versus Full-Sternotomy Septal Myectomy for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: Septal myectomy remains the criterion standard for the treatment of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy refractory to medical therapy. There have been few reports of minimally invasive approaches. This study compared a minimally invasive septal myectomy performed at our institution with the traditional full-sternotomy approach. METHODS: Patients receiving a stand-alone septal myectomy were retrospectively reviewed from November 1999 to December 2016 (N = 120). Patients were stratified by surgical approach: traditional full sternotomy (n = 34) and ministernotomy (n = 86). Preoperative and perioperative variables were compared as well as follow-up symptomatic and echocardiographic outcomes. RESULTS: Both groups had a significant decrease in New York Heart Association class heart failure symptoms (P < 0.001). At a mean ± SD follow-up time of 2.0 ± 3.4 years, postoperative New York Heart Association class distribution was similar between ministernotomy and full sternotomy (P = 0.684). Follow-up resting left ventricular outflow tract gradient was also similar between ministernotomy and full sternotomy (11 mm Hg ± 15 vs 9 mm Hg ± 13, P = 0.381). Perioperatively, ministernotomy was not significantly different from full sternotomy in median cardiopulmonary bypass time (81 minutes vs 78 minutes, P = 0.101) but had a slightly longer median cross-clamp time (39 minutes vs 35 minutes, P = 0.017). Major complications were similar in the two groups. There was one 30-day mortality in the full-sternotomy group, but no in-hospital deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Septal myectomy performed using a minimally invasive approach has similar outcomes to the criterion standard operation done through a full sternotomy. It represents a feasible option for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy unresponsive to medications.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 modulation by resident arterial cells is responsible for injury-induced accelerated atherosclerotic plaque development in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

OBJECTIVE: Although matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been implicated in atherosclerotic plaque instability, the exact role it plays in the plaque development and progression remains largely unknown. We generated apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient (apoE-/-) MMP-9-deficient (MMP-9-/-) mice to determine the mechanisms and the main cell source of MMP-9 responsible for the plaque composition during accelerated atherosclerotic plaque formation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three weeks after temporary carotid artery ligation revealed that while on a Western-type diet, apoE-/- MMP-9-/- mice had a significant reduction in intimal plaque length and volume compared with apoE-/- MMP-9+/+ mice. The reduction in plaque volume correlated with a significantly lower number of intraplaque cells of resident cells and bone marrow-derived cells. To determine the cellular origin of MMP-9 in plaque development, bone marrow transplantation after total-body irradiation was performed with apoE-/- MMP-9+/+ and apoE-/- MMP-9-/- mice, which showed that only MMP-9 derived from resident arterial cells is required for plaque development. CONCLUSIONS: MMP-9 is derived from resident arterial cells and is required for early atherosclerotic plaque development and cellular accumulation in apoE-/- mice.

Beta3-integrin mediates smooth muscle cell accumulation in neointima after carotid ligation in mice.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacological blockade of beta3-integrins inhibits neointimal lesion formation in nonmouse animal models of arterial injury. In contrast, beta3-integrin-deficient (beta3-/-) mice are not protected from neointimal lesion formation after arterial injury. We investigated this discrepancy in beta3-/- and wild-type (beta3+/+) mice using different models of injury. METHODS AND RESULTS: After disruption of the carotid with a transluminal probe, there was no significant difference in neointimal thickening between beta3-/- and beta3+/+ mice. However, after ligation of the carotid without medial disruption, there was reduced neointimal thickening in beta3-/- mice compared with beta3+/+ mice at intervals up to 3 months. Lesion reduction in beta3-/- mice was associated with fewer intimal smooth muscle cells (SMCs) without a difference in SMC apoptosis or proliferation rate compared with beta3+/+ mice, consistent with reduced SMC migration from the media into the intima of beta3-/- mice. Moreover, combined eccentric medial disruption and ligation of the carotid in beta3-/- mice resulted in neointimal lesion formation only at the site of medial disruption. Transplantation of bone marrow cells harvested from beta3+/+ mice into irradiated beta3-/- mice resulted in reduced neointimal lesion formation after carotid ligation injury, confirming the importance of alpha(v)beta3 and not alpha(IIb)beta3 in the attenuated response. CONCLUSIONS: The alpha(v)beta3-integrin mediates intimal SMC accumulation that contributes to neointimal thickening in the setting of arterial ligation.

Illustrated techniques for performing the Cox-Maze IV procedure through a right mini-thoracotomy.

The Cox-Maze IV procedure has replaced the "cut-and-sew" technique of the original Cox-Maze operation with lines of ablation created using bipolar radiofrequency (RF) and cryothermal energy devices. In select patients, this procedure can be performed through a right mini-thoracotomy. This illustrated review is the first to detail the complete steps of the Cox-Maze IV procedure performed through a right mini-thoracotomy with careful attention paid to operative anatomy and advice. Pre- and post-operative management and outcomes are also discussed. This should be a practical guide for the practicing cardiac surgeon.

A model of primary atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis in mice.

Although mice deficient in various genes are providing greater insight into the mechanisms of restenosis after angioplasty, there have been limitations with murine models not simulating human vascular disease. To develop a more clinically applicable model of primary atherosclerosis and restenosis following angioplasty of the primary lesion, we fed apolipoprotein E-deficient mice a Western diet and occluded the left common carotid artery for 2 days. Three weeks after flow was restored, the temporarily occluded carotids demonstrated atherosclerotic lesions containing foam cells, cholesterol clefts, necrotic cores, and fibrous capsules. The atherosclerotic carotids in other animals underwent angioplasty with a beaded probe, resulting in plaque and medial layer disruption. Three weeks after angioplasty, although there was significant neointimal lesion formation, the luminal narrowing did not change significantly secondary to overall vessel enlargement (positive remodeling). Neointimal lesions were composed of smooth-muscle cells and extracellular matrix observed adjacent to the original atherosclerotic plaques. Similarly, even at 3 months after the angioplasty the lumen was maintained despite greater neointimal lesion formation caused by progressive positive remodeling. This new murine model of primary atherosclerosis and postangioplasty intimal hyperplasia and remodeling mimics the human disease pattern of postangioplasty intimal hyperplasia. Used in transgenic animals, this model will likely facilitate understanding of the mechanisms of restenosis in humans.

Transient exposure to elastase induces mouse aortic wall smooth muscle cell production of MCP-1 and RANTES during development of experimental aortic aneurysm.

PURPOSE: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is associated with chronic transmural inflammation and destruction of the elastic media. The purpose of this study was to elucidate molecular mechanisms that might orchestrate leukocyte recruitment into the outer aortic wall by determining whether CC chemokines contribute to development of aneurysm degeneration in an elastase-induced mouse model of AAA. METHODS: Adult male C57BL/6J mice underwent transient elastase perfusion of the abdominal aorta to induce development of AAA. At various intervals after elastase perfusion (0, 4, 7, 14 days), real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure aortic wall expression of the CC (beta) chemokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). Expression of these chemokines by cultured mouse aortic smooth muscle cells (AoSMC) was similarly assessed after transient (5 minutes) exposure to elastase solutions in vitro. RESULTS: Mouse aortic diameter (mean +/- SEM) increased to aneurysmal proportions by 14 days after elastase perfusion (from 0.51 +/- 0.03 mm to 1.34 +/- 0.32 mm; 163% increase; P <.05), with macrophage infiltration of the outer aortic wall beginning within 7 to 10 days. Increased aortic wall messenger RNA expression for MCP-1 (28-fold) and RANTES (11-fold) was observed on day 4, with maximal production of chemokine protein on day 7 (MCP-1, from 7.07 +/- 0.06 ng/mL to 19.60 +/- 0.19 ng/mL; P <.001; RANTES, from 0.23 +/- 0.006 ng/mL to 2.03 +/- 0.057 ng/mL; P <.001). Neither MCP-1 nor RANTES was detected in normal mouse aorta with immunohistochemistry, but both chemokines were abundant in AAA. Within 48 hours of transient exposure to elastase, cultured mouse AoSMC exhibited pronounced induction (>90-fold) of MCP-1 and RANTES, despite concomitant decrease in cell numbers. CONCLUSIONS: Increased mouse aortic wall expression of MCP-1 and RANTES occurs early in development of elastase-induced AAA and before onset of the chronic inflammatory response. Moreover, elastase directly stimulates AoSMC chemokine production in vitro. Elastase-induced medial SMC production of CC chemokines may therefore provide an important link between enzymatic injury, leukocyte recruitment, and aneurysmal degeneration of the aortic wall.