Nanomaterial in controlling biofilms and virulence of microbial pathogens.

The escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a grave concern to global public health, exacerbated by the alarming shortage of effective antibiotics in the pipeline. Biofilms, intricate populations of bacteria encased in self-produced matrices, pose a significant challenge to treatment, as they enhance resistance to antibiotics and contribute to the persistence of organisms. Amid these challenges, nanotechnology emerges as a promising domain in the fight against biofilms. Nanomaterials, with their unique properties at the nanoscale, offer innovative antibacterial modalities not present in traditional defensive mechanisms. This comprehensive review focuses on the potential of nanotechnology in combating biofilms, focusing on green-synthesized nanoparticles and their associated anti-biofilm potential. The review encompasses various aspects of nanoparticle-mediated biofilm inhibition, including mechanisms of action. The diverse mechanisms of action of green-synthesized nanoparticles offer valuable insights into their potential applications in addressing AMR and improving treatment outcomes, highlighting novel strategies in the ongoing battle against infectious diseases.

In-silico and in-vitro studies revealed alpha-amyrin as a potent pnhibitor of TLR2 for the therapeutics of bacterial infection and sepsis.

This study employed a multifaceted approach to investigate the inhibitory potential of alpha-amyrin against TLR2, a key player in bacterial infection and sepsis. A high-resolution TLR2 model was constructed using Swiss-MODEL, exhibiting excellent quality with 100% sequence identity and coverage. Cavity detection revealed five significant cavities on TLR2. Molecular docking identifies alpha-amyrin as a potent inhibitor, displaying a strong binding affinity of -8.6 kcal/mol. Comprehensive analyses, including ADMET predictions, PASS analysis, and SwissTargetPrediction, affirm alpha-amyrin's drug-like properties and diverse biological activities. Cytotoxicity assays on HEK-293 cells confirm its safety, and fluorescence-based inhibition assays provide empirical evidence of its inhibitory potency on TLR2 enzymatic activity. Further validations in HUVECs show a significant decrease in TLR2 mRNA expression (p<0.01) and activity (p<0.05) upon alpha-amyrin treatment. In conclusion, this integrative study positions alpha-amyrin as a promising therapeutic candidate for TLR2 inhibition, emphasizing its potential in combating bacterial infections with safety and efficacy.

Predicting premature termination of exercise during Bruce protocol stress echocardiography.

AIMS: Clinical guidelines recommend that the exercise protocol of a stress echocardiogram is selected to induce volitional exhaustion after a target duration of at least 8 minutes. While the Bruce protocol is very commonly used for clinical stress tests, it is known to be "steep", and many patients therefore fail to reach 8 minutes. We studied predictors of failure and developed a method for identifying patients not suitable for Bruce protocol which was accurate and yet simple enough to be used as a point-of-care decision support tool. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied data out-patients undergoing Bruce protocol stress echocardiograms (n = 11 086) and analyzed predictors of inappropriate early termination (defined as test duration < 8 min as per current practice guidelines) using logistic regression. A prediction model was constructed as follows: .5 points were given for each of hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and E/e' > 7.9 in the resting echocardiogram; .1 point was added for each 1-unit increment in body mass index; 1 point was added for patient age by decade; 2.0 points were subtracted for male sex (p for all < 0.001). In tests on held-out validation data, the model was well calibrated (in plots of predicted vs actual risk) and discriminated failure versus non-failure well (C-statistic .86 for a score of 6.0 points; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These data may help to standardize protocol selection in stress echocardiography, by identifying patients pre-hoc where Bruce protocol will be inappropriately steep.

E/e' in relation to outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a high-risk condition especially when filling pressure is raised, and earlier reports have suggested that E/e' is associated with poor outcome. However, whether E/e' predicts risk better than LVEF, which is the current standard of practice, is not known. We investigated this question in the largest and most rigorous study of MI patients so far. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 660 patients with ST-elevation MI (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and related E/e' to short-term mortality (in-hospital death), as well as long-term events at 2 years comprising (a) a composite of MI, stroke, heart failure, and death, and (b) death alone. Short-term models were adjusted for age, sex, and LVEF. Long-term models were adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, revascularization procedure, history of MI, hypertension, renal function, drugs on discharge, and LVEF. Elevated E/e'> 15 indicated higher risk of short-term events (n = 19:7.0% (95% confidence interval 3.4-10.8%) vs. 1.0% (0.3 - 2.3%); adjusted odds ratio 3.7 (1.3-10.5)). While elevated E/e' was also associated with long-term outcomes (n = 103 composite events: 15.9% (11.9% - 21.4%) vs 6.8% (5.2% - 8.7%), P < .001; n = 38 death events: 6.0% (3.9% - 9.5%) vs 2.0% (1.3% - 3.2%), P = .001), E/e' was rendered nonsignificant for long-term outcomes by multivariable adjustment (p = ns for both). LVEF, on the contrary, was a highly significant predictor in the adjusted long-term model. CONCLUSION: E/e' is associated with poor outcome in STEMI, but LVEF is a stronger predictor of long-term risk.

Allometric Relationships for Cardiac Size and Longitudinal Function in Healthy Chinese Adults　- Normal Ranges and Clinical Correlates.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac size measurements require indexing to body size. Allometric indexing has been investigated in Caucasian populations but a range of different values for the so-called allometric power exponent (b) have been proposed, with uncertainty as to whether allometry offers clinical utility above body surface area (BSA)-based indexing. We derived optimal values for b in normal echocardiograms and validated them externally in cardiac patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Values for b were derived in healthy adult Chinese males (n=1,541), with optimal b for left ventricular mass (LVM) of 1.66 (95% confidence interval 1.41-1.92). LV hypertrophy (LVH) defined as indexed LVM >75 g/m1.66 was associated with adverse outcomes in an external validation cohort (n=738) of patients with acute coronary syndrome (odds ratio for reinfarction: 2.4 (1.1-5.4)). In contrast, LVH defined by BSA-based indexing or allometry using exponent 2.7 exhibited no significant association with outcomes (P=NS for both). Cardiac longitudinal function also varied with body size: septal and RV free wall s', TAPSE and lateral e' all scaled allometrically (b=0.3-0.9). CONCLUSIONS: An optimal b of 1.66 for LVM in healthy Chinese was found to validate well, with superior clinical utility both to that of BSA-based indexing and to b=2.7. The effect of allometric indexing of cardiac function requires further study.

Impact of aortic root size on left ventricular afterload and stroke volume.

PURPOSE: The left ventricle (LV) ejects blood into the proximal aorta. Age and hypertension are associated with stiffening and dilation of the aortic root, typically viewed as indicative of adverse remodeling. Based on analytical considerations, we hypothesized that a larger aortic root should be associated with lower global afterload (effective arterial elastance, EA) and larger stroke volume (SV). Moreover, as antihypertensive drugs differ in their effect on central blood pressure, we examined the role of antihypertensive drugs for the relation between aortic root size and afterload. METHODS: We studied a large group of patients (n = 1250; 61 ± 12 years; 78 % males; 64 % hypertensives) from a single-center registry with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Aortic root size was measured by echocardiography as the diameter of the tubular portion of the ascending aorta. LV outflow tract Doppler was used to record SV. RESULTS: In the population as a whole, after adjusting for key covariates in separate regression models, aortic root size was an independent determinant of both SV and EA. This association was found to be heterogeneous and stronger in patients taking a calcium channel blocker (CCB; 10.6 % of entire population; aortic root size accounted for 8 % of the explained variance of EA). CONCLUSION: Larger aortic root size is an independent determinant of EA and SV. This association was heterogeneous and stronger in patients on CCB therapy.

Safety and efficacy of cerebral embolic protection in transcatheter aortic valve implantation: an updated meta-analysis.

Background: The use of cerebral embolic protection devices during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) reveals conflicting data. Aims: This updated meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the SENTINEL Cerebral Protection System. Methods: A literature search for relevant studies up to September 2022 was performed. Study outcomes were divided based on time period - overall (up to 30 days) and short (≤7 days). The outcomes studied include stroke (disabling, non-disabling), mortality, neuroimaging findings, transient ischaemic attack, acute kidney injury and major vascular and bleeding complications. Results: A total of 15 studies involving 294,134 patients were included. Regarding overall outcomes, significant reductions were noted for mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.41-0.88; p=0.008), all stroke (OR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.46-0.88; p=0.006) and disabling stroke (OR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.23-0.74; p=0.003) using the SENTINEL device. No significant differences were noted for other outcomes. There was significant heterogeneity across the studies for mortality (p=0.013) and all stroke (p=0.003). Including only randomised data (n=4), there was only significant reduction in the incidence of disabling stroke (OR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.17-0.89; p=0.026) in the SENTINEL group. In studies reporting ≤7-day outcomes (n=8), use of the SENTINEL device demonstrated significantly lower rates of all stroke (p<0.001), disabling stroke (p<0.001) and major bleeding complications (p=0.02). No differences in neuroimaging outcomes were noted. Conclusions: In this updated meta-analysis, use of the SENTINEL Cerebral Protection System was associated with lower rates of mortality, all stroke and disabling stroke, although significant heterogeneity was noted for mortality and all stroke. Including exclusively randomised data, there was only significant reduction in the incidence of disabling stroke. No significant adverse outcomes with device use were noted.

Synthesis of potent MDA-MB 231 breast cancer drug molecules from single step.

We have prepared novel potent breast cancer drug molecules from non-toxic and inexpensive method. Column chromatography is not necessary for purification of target molecules. The value of overall atom economy, environmental factor, environmental catalyst and product mass intensity gives additional merits for this synthetic method. Synthesized flexible dimeric imidazolium bromides showed less toxicity and gives excellent anticancer response against normal mammary epithelial cells. Novel dimeric pyridinium bromides showed excellent anticancer response against tested cancer cell lines. In cell cycle, novel flexible dimeric pyridinium bromides showed significant arrest in the G2/M phase by nearly three folds, when compared with control drug. We have studied the targeting epidermal growth factor receptor for all the synthesized flexible amino substituted and methyl substituted dimeric pyridinium bromides.

Network Meta-Analysis Comparing Transcatheter, Minimally Invasive, and Conventional Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement.

The landscape of aortic valve replacement (AVR) has evolved dramatically over the years, but time-varying outcomes have yet to be comprehensively explored. This study aimed to compare the all-cause mortality among 3 AVR techniques: transcatheter (TAVI), minimally invasive (MIAVR), and conventional AVR (CAVR). An electronic literature search was performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing TAVI with CAVR and RCTs or propensity score-matched (PSM) studies comparing MIAVR with CAVR or MIAVR to TAVI. Individual patient data for all-cause mortality were derived from graphical reconstruction of Kaplan-Meier curves. Pairwise comparisons and network meta-analysis were conducted. Sensitivity analyses were performed in the TAVI arm for high risk and low/intermediate risk, as well as patients who underwent transfemoral (TF) TAVI. A total of 27 studies with 16,554 patients were included. In the pairwise comparisons, TAVI showed superior mortality to CAVR until 37.5 months, beyond which there was no significant difference. When restricted to TF TAVI versus CAVR, a consistent mortality benefit favoring TF TAVI was seen (shared frailty hazard ratio [HR] = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76 to 0.98, p = 0.024). In the network meta-analysis involving majority PSM data, MIAVR demonstrated significantly lower mortality than TAVI (HR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.59 to 0.82) and CAVR (HR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.59 to 0.80); this association remained compared with TF TAVI but with a lower extent of benefit (HR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.65 to 0.99). In conclusion, the initial short- to medium-term mortality benefit for TAVI over CAVR was attenuated over the longer term. In the subset of patients who underwent TF TAVI, a consistent benefit was found. Among majority PSM data, MIAVR showed improved mortality compared with TAVI and CAVR but less than the TF TAVI subset, which requires validation by robust RCTs.

Factors Affecting Rate of Progression of Aortic Stenosis and Its Impact on Outcomes.

The rate of aortic stenosis (AS) progression in patients with moderate AS is unclear. This study examined the risk factors of progression from moderate to severe AS and its impact on clinical outcomes. A total of 954 patients with moderate AS (valve area >1.0 and ≤1.5 cm²) and follow-up echocardiograms were included. AS progressed to severe (valve area <1.0 cm1) in 589 patients (61.7%) over a median follow-up of 2.46 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.29 to 3.91) years. Of those who progressed to severe AS, patients were subdivided into Slow (n = 294, over 3.91 [IQR 3.11 to 5.10] years) versus Fast (n = 295, over 1.29 [IQR 0.85 to 1.85] years) Progressors, according to the median time between the 2 echocardiograms. The correlates of fast AS progression and its impact on cumulative survival and freedom from valve intervention were evaluated. On multivariate analysis, age, thickened left ventricle posterior wall, severe renal impairment, and aortic valve area were significantly associated with fast AS progression. Over a median follow-up of 6.34 (IQR 4.05 to 9.55) years, 228 patients (38.7%) died. Despite similar aortic valve intervention rates, Fast Progressors had worse 5-year survival (61.2% vs 81.9%, log-rank p <0.001) and event-free (valve intervention and all-cause mortality) survival rates (16.2% vs 55.9%, log-rank p <0.001). On multivariable Cox analysis, shorter progression to severe AS (in years) was independently associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 1.16 to 1.37, p <0.001), or combined aortic valve intervention and death (hazard ratio 1.46, 95% confidence interval 1.38 to 1.55, p <0.001). In conclusion, fast progression from moderate to severe AS is associated with worse outcomes.

Impact of aortic annular size and valve type on haemodynamics and clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

INTRODUCTION: Data on patients with small aortic annuli (SAA) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are limited. We aim to describe the impact of aortic annular size, particularly SAA and TAVI valve type on valve haemodynamics, durability and clinical outcomes. METHOD: All patients in National Heart Centre Singapore who underwent transfemoral TAVI for severe symptomatic native aortic stenosis from July 2012 to December 2019 were included. Outcome measures include valve haemodynamics, prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM), structural valve degeneration (SVD) and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 244 patients were included. The mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 6.22±6.08, with 52.5% patients with small aortic annulus (<23mm), 33.2% patients with medium aortic annulus (23-26mm) and 14.3% patients with large aortic annulus (>26mm). There were more patients with self-expanding valve (SEV) (65.2%) versus balloon-expandable valve (BEV) (34.8%). There were no significant differences in indexed aortic valve area (iAVA), mean pressure gradient (MPG), PPM, SVD or mortality across all aortic annular sizes. However, specific to the SAA group, patients with SEV had larger iAVA (SEV 1.19±0.35cm2/m2 vs BEV 0.88±0.15cm2/m2, P<0.01) and lower MPG (SEV 9.25±4.88 mmHg vs BEV 14.17±4.75 mmHg, P<0.01) at 1 year, without differences in PPM or mortality. Aortic annular size, TAVI valve type and PPM did not predict overall mortality up to 7 years. There was no significant difference in SVD between aortic annular sizes up to 5 years. CONCLUSION: Valve haemodynamics and durability were similar across the different aortic annular sizes. In the SAA group, SEV had better haemodynamics than BEV at 1 year, but no differences in PPM or mortality. There were no significant differences in mortality between aortic annular sizes, TAVI valve types or PPM.

Prognostic implications of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in moderate aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic impact of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in patients with moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved LV systolic function. METHODS: Patients with a first diagnosis of moderate AS (aortic valve area >1.0 and ≤1.5 cm2) and preserved LV systolic function (LV ejection fraction ≥50%) were identified. LV diastolic function was evaluated using echocardiographic criteria according to the 2016 American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging guidelines. Clinical outcomes were defined as all-cause mortality and a composite of all-cause mortality and aortic valve replacement (AVR). RESULTS: Of 1247 patients (age 74±10 years, 47% men), 535 (43%) had LV diastolic dysfunction at baseline. Patients with LV diastolic dysfunction showed significantly higher mortality rates at 1-year, 3-year and 5-year follow-up (13%, 30% and 41%, respectively) when compared with patients with normal LV diastolic function (6%, 17% and 29%, respectively) (p<0.001). On multivariable analysis, LV diastolic dysfunction was independently associated with all-cause mortality (HR 1.368; 95% CI 1.085 to 1.725; p=0.008) and the composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and AVR (HR 1.241; 95% CI 1.035 to 1.488; p=0.020). CONCLUSIONS: LV diastolic dysfunction is independently associated with all-cause mortality and the composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and AVR in patients with moderate AS and preserved LV systolic function. Assessment of LV diastolic function therefore contributes significantly to the risk stratification of patients with moderate AS. Future clinical trials are needed to investigate whether patients with moderate AS and LV diastolic dysfunction may benefit from earlier valve intervention.

Left ventricular remodelling patterns in patients with moderate aortic stenosis.

AIMS: Moderate aortic stenosis (AS) is associated with an increased risk of adverse events. Because outcomes in patients with AS are ultimately driven by the condition of the left ventricle (LV) and not by the valve, assessment of LV remodelling seems important for risk stratification. This study evaluated the association between different LV remodelling patterns and outcomes in patients with moderate AS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with moderate AS (aortic valve area 1.0-1.5 cm2) were identified and stratified into four groups according to the LV remodelling pattern: normal geometry (NG), concentric remodelling (CR), concentric hypertrophy (CH), or eccentric hypertrophy (EH). Clinical outcomes were defined as all-cause mortality and a composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and aortic valve replacement (AVR). Of 1931 patients with moderate AS (age 73 ± 10 years, 52% men), 344 (18%) had NG, 469 (24%) CR, 698 (36%) CH, and 420 (22%) EH. Patients with CH and EH showed higher 3-year mortality rates (28% and 32%, respectively) when compared with patients with NG (19%) (P < 0.001). After multivariable adjustment, CH remained independently associated with mortality (HR 1.258, 95% CI 1.016-1.558; P = 0.035), whereas both CH (HR 1.291, 95% CI 1.088-1.532; P = 0.003) and EH (HR 1.217, 95% CI 1.008-1.470; P = 0.042) were associated with the composite endpoint of death or AVR. CONCLUSION: In patients with moderate AS, those who develop CH already have an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Assessment of the LV remodelling patterns may identify patients at higher risk of adverse events, warranting closer surveillance, and possibly earlier intervention.

Moderate aortic stenosis: importance of symptoms and left ventricular ejection fraction.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to investigate the independent determinants of survival in patients with moderate aortic stenosis (AS), stratified by severity of symptoms and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with a first diagnosis of moderate AS (aortic valve area >1.0 and ≤1.5 cm2) were identified. Patients were stratified by New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (NYHA I, NYHA II, or NYHA III-IV) and LVEF (LVEF ≥60%, LVEF 50-59%, or LVEF <50%) at the time of moderate AS diagnosis. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, while the secondary endpoint included all-cause mortality and aortic valve replacement. Of 1961 patients with moderate AS (mean age 73 ± 10 years, 51% men), 1108 (57%) patients were in NYHA class I, while 527 (27%) and 326 (17%) patients had symptoms of NYHA class II and III-IV, respectively. Regarding LVEF, 1032 (53%) had LVEF ≥60%, 544 (28%) LVEF 50-59%, and 385 (20%) LVEF <50%. During a median follow-up of 50 (23-82) months, 868 (44%) patients died. On multivariable analysis, NYHA class II [hazard ratio (HR): 1.633; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.431-1.864; P < 0.001], NYHA class III-IV (HR: 2.084; 95% CI: 1.797-2.417; P < 0.001), LVEF 50-59% (HR: 1.194; 95% CI: 1.013-1.406; P = 0.034), and LVEF <50% (HR: 1.694; 95% CI: 1.417-2.026; P < 0.001) were independently associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSION: Moderate AS is associated with poor long-term survival. Baseline symptom severity and LVEF are associated with worse outcomes in these patients. Patients with low-normal LVEF (<60%) and mild symptoms (NYHA II) already have an increased risk of adverse events.

Prevalence and Prognostic Implications of Discordant Grading and Flow-Gradient Patterns in Moderate Aortic Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic implications of discordant grading in severe aortic stenosis (AS) are well known. However, the prevalence of different flow-gradient patterns and their prognostic implications in moderate AS are unknown. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence and prognostic implications of different flow-gradient patterns in patients with moderate AS. METHODS: Patients with moderate AS (aortic valve area >1.0 and ≤1.5 cm2) were identified and divided in 4 groups based on transvalvular mean gradient (MG), stroke volume index (SVi), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): concordant moderate AS (MG ≥20 mm Hg) and discordant moderate AS including 3 subgroups: normal-flow, low-gradient moderate AS (MG <20 mm Hg, SVi ≥35 mL/m2, and LVEF ≥50%); "paradoxical" low-flow, low-gradient moderate AS (MG <20 mm Hg, SVi <35 mL/m2, and LVEF ≥50%) and "classical" low-flow, low-gradient moderate AS (MG <20 mm Hg and LVEF <50%). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Of 1,974 patients (age 73 ± 10 years, 51% men) with moderate AS, 788 (40%) had discordant grading, and these patients showed significantly higher mortality rates than patients with concordant moderate AS (P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, "paradoxical" low-flow, low-gradient (HR: 1.458; 95% CI: 1.072-1.983; P = 0.014) and "classical" low-flow, low-gradient (HR: 1.710; 95% CI: 1.270-2.303; P < 0.001) patterns but not the normal-flow, low-gradient moderate AS pattern were independently associated with all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Discordant grading is frequently (40%) observed in patients with moderate AS. Low-flow, low-gradient patterns account for an important proportion of the discordant cases and are associated with increased mortality. These findings underline the need for better phenotyping patients with discordant moderate AS.

Sex-Related Differences in Medically Treated Moderate Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Recent data showed poor long-term survival in patients with moderate AS. Although sex differences in left ventricular (LV) remodeling and outcome are well described in severe AS, it has not been evaluated in moderate AS. Methods: In this retrospective, multicenter study, patients with a first diagnosis of moderate AS diagnosed between 2001 and 2019 were identified. Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were recorded at baseline and compared between men and women. Patients were followed up for the primary endpoint of all-cause mortality with censoring at the time of aortic valve replacement. Results: A total of 1895 patients with moderate AS (age 73 ± 10 years, 52% male) were included. Women showed more concentric hypertrophy and had more pronounced LV diastolic dysfunction than men. During a median follow-up of 34 (13-60) months, 682 (36%) deaths occurred. Men showed significantly higher mortality rates at 3- and 5-year follow-up (30% and 48%, respectively) than women (26% and 39%, respectively) (p = 0.011). On multivariable analysis, male sex remained independently associated with mortality (hazard ratio 1.209; 95% CI: 1.024-1.428; p = 0.025). LV remodeling (according to LV mass index) was associated with worse outcomes (hazard ratio 1.003; CI: 1.001-1.005; p = 0.006), but no association was observed between the interaction of LV mass index and sex with outcomes. Conclusions: LV remodeling patterns are different between men and women having moderate AS. Male sex is associated with worse outcomes in patients with medically treated moderate AS. Further studies investigating the management of moderate AS in a sex-specific manner are needed.

Prognostic Implications of Associated Cardiac Abnormalities Detected on Echocardiography in Patients With Moderate Aortic Stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic value of the extent of extra-aortic valvular cardiac abnormalities in a large multicenter registry of patients with moderate AS. BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of a new classification system that incorporates the extent of cardiac injury (beyond the aortic valve) has been proposed in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Whether this can be applied to patients with moderate AS is unclear. METHODS: Based on the echocardiographic findings at the time of diagnosis of moderate AS (aortic valve area between 1.0 and 1.5 cm2 and dimensionless velocity index ratio of ≥0.25), a total of 1,245 patients were included and analyzed retrospectively. They were recategorized into 5 groups according to the extent of extra-aortic valvular cardiac abnormalities: none (Group 0), involving the left ventricle (Group 1), the left atrial or mitral valve (Group 2), the pulmonary artery vasculature or tricuspid valve (Group 3), or the right ventricle (Group 4). Patients were followed for all-cause mortality and combined endpoint (all-cause mortality, stroke, heart failure, or myocardial infarction). RESULTS: The distribution of patients according to the proposed classification was 13.1%, 26.8%, 42.6%, 10.6%, and 6.9% in Groups 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. During a median follow-up of 4.3 (2.4 to 6.9) years, 564 (45.3%) patients died. There was a significant higher mortality rates with increasing extent of extra-aortic valvular cardiac abnormalities (log-rank p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, the presence of extra-aortic valvular cardiac abnormalities remained independently associated with all-cause mortality and combined outcome, adjusted for aortic valve replacement as a time-dependent covariable. In particular, Group 2 and above were independently associated with all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with moderate AS, the presence of extra-aortic valvular cardiac abnormalities is associated with poor outcome.

Discordant severity criteria in patients with moderate aortic stenosis: prognostic implications.

BACKGROUND: The criteria to define the grade of aortic stenosis (AS)-aortic valve area (AVA) and mean gradient (MG) or peak jet velocity-do not always coincide into one grade. Although in severe AS, this discrepancy is well characterised, in moderate AS, the phenomenon of discordant grading has not been investigated and its prognostic implications are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the occurrence of discordant grading in patients with moderate AS (defined by an AVA between 1.0 cm² and 1.5 cm² but with an MG <20 mm Hg) and how these patients compare with those with concordant grading moderate AS (AVA between 1.0 cm² and 1.5 cm² and MG ≥20 mm Hg) in terms of clinical outcomes. METHODS: From an ongoing registry of patients with AS, patients with moderate AS based on AVA were selected and classified into discordant or concordant grading (MG <20 mm Hg or ≥20 mm Hg, respectively). The clinical endpoint was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Of 790 patients with moderate AS, 150 (19.0%) had discordant grading, moderate AS. Patients with discordant grading were older, had higher prevalence of previous myocardial infarction and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, larger LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume index, higher LV filling pressure and lower LV ejection fraction and stroke volume index as compared with their counterparts. After a median follow-up of 4.9 years (IQR 3.0-8.2), patients with discordant grading had lower aortic valve replacement rates (26.7% vs 44.1%, p<0.001) and higher mortality rates (60.0% vs 43.1%, p<0.001) as compared with patients with concordant grading. Discordant grading moderate AS, combined with low LV ejection fraction, presented the higher risk of mortality (HR 2.78 (2.00-3.87), p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Discordant-grading moderate AS is not uncommon and, when combined with low LV ejection fraction, is associated with high risk of mortality.

Salivary Osteocalcin as Potential Diagnostic Marker of Periodontal Bone Destruction among Smokers.

: The objective of the study was to assess the levels and diagnostic accuracy of salivary osteocalcin (OC), osteonectin (ON), and deoxypyridinoline-containing degradation fragment of the C-terminal telopeptide region of type I collagen (CTX) in adult smokers with periodontal bone destruction. Towards this, ninety systemically healthy patients (groups I: healthy, II: periodontitis with non-smokers, and III: periodontitis with current smokers) were included in the study. The results showed a positive correlation (weak to moderate) was observed for OC, ON, and CTX with probing pocket depth (PPD; r = 0.40, 0.32, and 0.36) and alveolar bone loss (BL; r = 0.58, 0.38, and 0.51) (p < 0.01). Smoker periodontitis was best discriminated from healthy controls using 15.25 ng/mL of OC (AUC: 0.870; 95% CI: 0.757-0.943; YI (Youden Index): 0.693; p < 0.0001). However, with a cut-off of BL at 33.33%, 19.24 ng/mL of salivary OC gave the best discrimination (AUC: 0.809; 95% CI: 0.686-0.900; Se: 80.0%; Sp: 73.47%, and YI: 0.534). A 16.45 ng/mL amount of OC gave excellent discrimination (AUC: 0.811; 95% CI: 0.688-0.901; Se: 92.31%; Sp: 65.22%, and YI: 0.575) among healthy and smoker periodontitis when PD at 6mm was considered as cut-off. Conclusion: The best discrimination between healthy controls and smoker periodontitis was obtained at 15.25 ng/mL of salivary OC.