Autologous mesenchymal stem cells produce concordant improvements in regional function, tissue perfusion, and fibrotic burden when administered to patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: The Prospective Randomized Study of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery (PROMETHEUS) trial.

RATIONALE: Although accumulating data support the efficacy of intramyocardial cell-based therapy to improve left ventricular (LV) function in patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing CABG, the underlying mechanism and impact of cell injection site remain controversial. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) improve LV structure and function through several effects including reducing fibrosis, neoangiogenesis, and neomyogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the impact on cardiac structure and function after intramyocardial injections of autologous MSCs results from a concordance of prorecovery phenotypic effects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six patients were injected with autologous MSCs into akinetic/hypokinetic myocardial territories not receiving bypass graft for clinical reasons. MRI was used to measure scar, perfusion, wall thickness, and contractility at baseline, at 3, 6, and 18 months and to compare structural and functional recovery in regions that received MSC injections alone, revascularization alone, or neither. A composite score of MRI variables was used to assess concordance of antifibrotic effects, perfusion, and contraction at different regions. After 18 months, subjects receiving MSCs exhibited increased LV ejection fraction (+9.4 ± 1.7%, P=0.0002) and decreased scar mass (-47.5 ± 8.1%; P<0.0001) compared with baseline. MSC-injected segments had concordant reduction in scar size, perfusion, and contractile improvement (concordant score: 2.93 ± 0.07), whereas revascularized (0.5 ± 0.21) and nontreated segments (-0.07 ± 0.34) demonstrated nonconcordant changes (P<0.0001 versus injected segments). CONCLUSIONS: Intramyocardial injection of autologous MSCs into akinetic yet nonrevascularized segments produces comprehensive regional functional restitution, which in turn drives improvement in global LV function. These findings, although inconclusive because of lack of placebo group, have important therapeutic and mechanistic hypothesis-generating implications. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00587990. Unique identifier: NCT00587990.

Fractured sternal wire causing a cardiac laceration.

BACKGROUND: Hemopericardium is a serious complication that can occur after cardiac surgery. While most post-operative causes are due to inflammation and bleeding, patients with broken sternal wires and an unstable sternum may develop hemopericardium from penetrating trauma. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 62-year-old male who underwent triple coronary bypass surgery and presented five months later with sudden anterior chest wall pain. Chest computed tomography revealed hemopericardium with an associated broken sternal wire that had penetrated into the pericardial space. The patient underwent a redo-sternotomy which revealed a 3.5 cm bleeding, jagged right ventricular laceration that correlated to the imaging findings of a fractured sternal wire projecting in the pericardial space. The laceration was repaired using interrupted 4 - 0 polypropylene sutures in horizontal mattress fashion between strips of bovine pericardium. The patient's recovery was uneventful and he was discharged on post-operative day four without complications. CONCLUSION: Patients with broken sternal wires and an unstable sternum require careful evaluation and management as these may have potentially life-threatening complications if left untreated.

Multidisciplinary approach to pelvic leiomyomatosis with intracaval and intracardiac extension: A case report and review of the literature.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) is an uncommon variant of leiomyoma characterized by intravascular proliferation of a histologically benign smooth muscle tumor extending beyond the uterus into the distant great vessels. Leiomyomatosis may reach the inferior vena cava, right atrium, and pulmonary arteries. Owing to its rare occurrence, intracardiac leiomyomatosis has been reported as isolated case reports and small case series. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are vital to prevent cardiac symptoms, pulmonary embolism, and sudden death. Complete tumor resection is essential for a favorable outcome, usually assisted with multimodal surgical imaging and multidisciplinary surgical planning. Herein, we report the case of a 50-year-old female that presented with a three-month history of abdominal pain and lower extremity edema with evidence of IVL extending to the inferior vena cava and right atrium. The patient was managed with a single-stage surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass and excision of the right atrial and inferior vena cava tumors, as well as modified radical total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

C-ring mitral annuloplasty: 27-year follow-up.

We report the long-term follow-up of a patient with rheumatic mitral valve disease who underwent annuloplasty with a specially developed C-ring (the Cooley C-ring) for mitral valve repair in 1977. The repaired valve remained competent and unobstructed for 27 years before requiring replacement.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer: Executive Summary of an ASTRO Evidence-Based Guideline.

PURPOSE: This guideline presents evidence-based recommendations for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in challenging clinical scenarios in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: The American Society for Radiation Oncology convened a task force to perform a systematic literature review on 4 key questions addressing: (1) application of SBRT to operable patients; (2) appropriate use of SBRT in tumors that are centrally located, large, multifocal, or unbiopsied; (3) individual tailoring of SBRT in "high-risk" clinical scenarios; and (4) SBRT as salvage therapy after recurrence. Guideline recommendations were created using a predefined consensus-building methodology supported by American Society for Radiation Oncology-approved tools for grading evidence quality and recommendation strength. RESULTS: Although few randomized trials have been completed for SBRT, strong consensus recommendations based on extensive, consistent publications were generated for several questions, including recommendations for fractionation for central tumors and surgery versus SBRT in standard-risk medically operable patients with early-stage NSCLC. Lower quality evidence led to conditional recommendations on use of SBRT for tumors >5 cm, patients with prior pneumonectomy, T3 tumors with chest wall invasion, synchronous multiple primary lung cancer, and as a salvage therapy after prior radiation therapy. These areas of moderate- and low-quality evidence highlight the importance of clinical trial enrollment as well as the role of prospective data registries. CONCLUSIONS: SBRT has an important role to play in treating early-stage NSCLC, particularly for medically inoperable patients with limited other treatment options. Shared decision-making with patients should be performed in all cases to ensure the patient understands the risks related to SBRT, the side effects, and the alternative treatments available.

Impact of Race on Treatment and Survival among U.S. Veterans with Early-Stage Lung Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous reports suggest lower rates of surgical procedures and poorer survival for black patients with early-stage (stage I or II) NSCLC than for white patients. This study examined treatment trends among blacks and whites with early-stage NSCLC and determined whether racial disparities exist in survival among patients receiving similar treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 18,466 patients in the Veteran Affairs Central Cancer Registry in whom stage I or II NSCLC was diagnosed in 2001-2010 was conducted. Patients were categorized as receiving an operation, radiation, or other/no treatment. Overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant disparity between black and white patients receiving an operation that decreased over time to similar rates (p = 0.01). No significant racial differences in receipt of radiation were noted. Race was not associated with OS among all patients (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93-1.02). Among patients who received an operation, no racial difference in OS was observed (HR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.87-1.01), but the HR for blacks versus whites was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.82-0.98) for radiation treatment and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.81-0.97) for other/no treatment. Race was not associated with LCSS among all patients combined or within each treatment category. CONCLUSIONS: A racial disparity in the rate of operation was no longer apparent at the end of the study period. There was no racial difference in OS or LCSS among all patients in this equal access health care system. Long-documented racial differences in lung cancer treatment and mortality result from disparity of access to health care and delivery of recommended treatment.

Delayed left ventricular pseudoaneurysms after left ventricular aneurysm repairs with the CorRestore patch.

We present two cases of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm that developed after left ventricular aneurysm repair with the CorRestore patch (Somanetics Corp, Troy, MI). Both patients underwent subsequent pseudoaneurysm repair with Dacron patches (Boston Scientific Corp, Natick, MA). We discuss the physiologic limitations of the CorRestore patch and the causes of pseudoaneurysms that arise after left ventricular aneurysm repair.