Consensus guidelines for interventional cardiology services delivery during covid-19 pandemic in Australia and new Zealand.

The global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic poses an unprecedented stress on healthcare systems internationally. These Health system-wide demands call for efficient utilisation of resources at this time in a fair, consistent, ethical and efficient manner would improve our ability to treat patients. Excellent co-operation between hospital units (especially intensive care unit [ICU], emergency department [ED] and cardiology) is critical in ensuring optimal patient outcomes. The purpose of this document is to provide practical guidelines for the effective use of interventional cardiology services in Australia and New Zealand. The document will be updated regularly as new evidence and knowledge is gained with time. Goals Considerations.

Ipsenol, Ipsdienol, Ethanol, and α-Pinene: Trap Lure Blend for Cerambycidae and Buprestidae (Coleoptera) in Pine Forests of Eastern North America.

In 2007-2008, we examined the flight responses of wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae and Buprestidae) to multiple-funnel traps baited with the pine volatiles, ethanol, and α-pinene [85% (-)], and the bark beetle pheromones, racemic ipsenol and racemic ipsdienol. Experiments were conducted in mature pine stands in Canada (Ontario and New Brunswick) and the United States (Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin). At each location, traps were deployed in 10 replicate blocks of four traps per block. The trap treatments were: 1) blank control; 2) ipsenol and ipsdienol; 3) ethanol and α-pinene; and 4) a quaternary blend of ipsenol, ipsdienol, ethanol, and α-pinene. Traps baited with the quaternary blend caught the greatest numbers of Acanthocinus nodosus (F.), Acanthocinus obsoletus (Olivier), Acmaeops proteus (Kirby), Astylopsis sexguttata (Say), Rhagium inquisitor (L.) (Cerambycidae), and Buprestis lineata (F.) (Buprestidae). Traps baited with ethanol and α-pinene caught the greatest numbers of Arhopalus rusticus (LeConte), Asemum striatum (L.), Tetropium spp., Xylotrechus sagittatus (Germar) (Cerambycidae), and Buprestis maculipennis Gory (Buprestidae) with minimal interruption by ipsenol and ipsdienol. Our results suggest that multiple-funnel traps baited with the quaternary lure blend of ipsenol, ipsdienol, ethanol, and α-pinene are effective for trapping various species of wood-boring beetles in pine forests of eastern North America, and may have utility in detection programs for adventive species in North America and overseas.

c-FLIP inhibits chemotherapy-induced colorectal cancer cell death.

c-FLIP inhibits caspase 8 activation and apoptosis mediated by death receptors such as Fas and DR5. We studied the effect of c-FLIP on the apoptotic response to chemotherapies used in colorectal cancer (CRC) (5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and irinotecan). Simultaneous downregulation of both c-FLIP splice forms c-FLIP(L) and c-FLIP(S) with siRNA synergistically enhanced chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in p53 wild-type (HCT116p53(+/+), RKO), null (HCT116p53(-/-)) and mutant (H630) CRC cell lines. Furthermore, overexpression of c-FLIP(L), but not c-FLIP(S), potently inhibited apoptosis induced by chemotherapy in HCT116p53(+/+) cells, suggesting that c-FLIP(L) was the more important splice form in mediating chemoresistance. In support of this, siRNA specifically targeted against c-FLIP(L) synergistically enhanced chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in a manner similar to the siRNA targeted against both splice forms. Inhibition of caspase 8 blocked the enhanced apoptosis induced by c-FLIP-targeted (FT) siRNA and chemotherapy. Furthermore, we found that downregulating cell surface DR5, but not Fas, also inhibited apoptosis induced by FT siRNA and chemotherapy. Interestingly, these effects were not dependent on activation of DR5 by its ligand TRAIL. These results indicate that c-FLIP inhibits TRAIL-independent, DR5- and caspase 8-dependent apoptosis in response to chemotherapy in CRC cells. Moreover, targeting c-FLIP in combination with existing chemotherapies may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of CRC.

Coronary sinus sampling of cytokines after heart transplantation: evidence for macrophage activation and interleukin-4 production within the graft.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate the organ-specific release of cytokines after heart transplantation and to assess any correlation with transplant rejection. This cytokine profile should document the relative activation of mononuclear cell subsets within the graft. BACKGROUND: Up to 60% of mononuclear cells infiltrating the cardiac allograft during rejection are macrophages, but their role is undetermined. The T lymphocytes are activated, but the activity of specific T cell subsets is not known. We sought to assess for the first time in humans the in vivo activation of mononuclear cell subsets by measuring coronary sinus cytokine levels after heart transplantation. METHODS: Paired superior vena cava and coronary sinus serum samples were assayed for interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and IL-6, soluble IL-2 receptors, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and neopterin in 10 patients at the time of 40 routine endomyocardial biopsy procedures. All cytokine measurements were made by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; neopterin was measured by using radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Interleukin-2 levels were not detectable (< 0.8 U/ml) in either the superior vena cava or the coronary sinus in the presence or absence of rejection. Interleukin-2 receptor levels were uniformly elevated to 1,283 U/ml in the superior vena cava and to 1,232 U/ml in the coronary sinus, with no correlation with rejection severity. Interleukin-4 levels were consistently higher in coronary sinus serum than in peripheral blood (229 vs. 61 pg/ml, p < 0.0005), but there was no relation with rejection. Interleukin-6 levels were higher in the coronary sinus than in the superior vena cava (200 vs. 120 pg/ml, p < 0.05). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha showed consistently elevated levels in coronary sinus serum (68 vs. 17 pg/ml, p < 0.0005), with no relation with rejection. Neopterin, which is produced only by activated macrophages, was also consistently elevated in the coronary sinus (2.5 vs. 2.2 nmol, p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: The cardiac allograft is a major source of cytokines after heart transplantation. The cytokine profile allows the activity of subsets of the mononuclear cell infiltrate to be investigated. Elevated coronary sinus activity of the macrophage-specific metabolite neopterin suggests macrophage activation within the allograft. This possibility is supported by elevated coronary sinus levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-6. The T lymphocytes are activated, as evidenced by high soluble IL-2 receptor levels, but IL-2 production was suppressed by conventional immunosuppressive therapy. Coronary sinus IL-4 levels represent T helper-2 cell activation within the graft despite immunosuppression. We could find no temporal relation between the coronary sinus or superior vena cava cytokine concentration or profile and severity of rejection on concurrent biopsy studies.

Improved specificity of myocardial thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography in patients with left bundle branch block by dipyridamole.

Reduced septal uptake of thallium-201 during exercise is frequently observed in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) and normal coronary arteries. This may reflect normal coronary autoregulation in response to lower septal oxygen demand; thus, dipyridamole, which uniformly exploits flow reserve, would be more accurate for diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Sixteen patients with LBBB underwent exercise and dipyridamole thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography and coronary angiography within 3 months. Sensitivity for detection of left anterior descending CAD (greater than 50% stenosis) was 0.83 for exercise and 1.00 for dipyridamole. Specificity was 0.30 (visual) or 0.20 (quantitative analysis) for exercise and 0.80 (visual) or 0.90 (quantitative) for dipyridamole (p less than 0.05). Dipyridamole combined with quantitative analysis also improved specificity of CAD detection overall (p less than 0.01). These data demonstrate that pharmacologic vasodilation is more accurate than exercise when diagnosing CAD by myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients with LBBB.

Balloon expandable stents for acute closure post failed coronary angioplasty: case report and review of the literature.

Abrupt closure of a dominant right coronary artery occurred in a patient 1 h post coronary angioplasty. Angiography revealed a long spiral dissection involving the mid to distal segment of the right coronary artery. Four intracoronary balloon expandable stents were deployed to 'tack up' the dissection and recanalize the occluded artery. Six month follow-up angiography revealed continued patency of the stented segment. Balloon expandable stents may be an effective alternative to coronary bypass surgery in the treatment of acute closure following coronary angioplasty.

Right internal mammary artery graft angioplasty through a right brachial artery approach using a new custom guide catheter: a case report.

Angioplasty of right internal mammary artery grafts may present problems because of the variable origin of the mammary artery and its angulation from the subclavian artery. We report a case of successful angioplasty using a custom designed guide catheter, after failed attempts using conventional guide catheters.

Characterization of protein C receptor expression in monocytes.

Many sequelae associated with endotoxaemic-induced shock result from excessive production of the cytokine mediators, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1 (IL-1) and IL-6 from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated monocytes. Protein C (PC)/activated protein C (APC) has potent cytokine-modifying properties and is protective in animal models and human clinical trials of sepsis. The precise mechanism by which this anti-inflammatory response is achieved remains unknown; however, the recently described endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) appears to be essential for this function. The pivotal role that monocytes play in the pathophysiology of septic shock led us to investigate the possible expression of a protein C receptor on the monocyte membrane. We used similarity algorithms to screen human sequence databases for paralogues of the EPCR but found none. However, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we detected an mRNA transcribed in primary human monocytes and THP1 cells that was identical to human EPCR mRNA. We also used immunocytochemical analysis to demonstrate the expression of a protein C receptor on the surface of monocytes encoded by the same gene as EPCR. These results confirm a new member of the protein C pathway involving primary monocytes. Further characterization will be necessary to compare and contrast its biological properties with those of EPCR.

Safety, success, and restenosis after elective coronary implantation of the Palmaz-Schatz stent in 100 patients at a single center.

We report the immediate safety, efficacy, and 6-month angiographic follow-up after elective implantation of the Palmaz-Schatz stent (Johnson & Johnson Interventional Systems, Warren, N.J.) in the first 100 consecutive patients at a single center. Patients with suitable cardiac anatomy and no contraindications to anticoagulation were prospectively entered into the study. One hundred two stents were successfully implanted in 99 patients. The mean diameter stenosis was 70% +/- 11% before implantation and was reduced to 20% +/- 11% after stent implantation. There were no deaths, Q-wave myocardial infarcts, urgent bypass operations, or strokes during the procedure or follow-up period. Stent thrombosis occurred in two patients; in both vessel patency was successfully accomplished by balloon angioplasty. There were three gastrointestinal hemorrhages, two of which required transfusion. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 98% of patients at 6.3 +/- 2.6 months after the procedure. Restenosis (> or = 50% stenosis within or immediately adjacent to the stent) occurred in 32%. Stent restenosis was associated with male sex (36% vs 7% for female subjects; p = 0.03) and stent implantation in a restenosis lesion (47% vs 25% for de novo lesions; p = 0.03); it was inversely associated with current cigarette smoking (0% vs 36% for nonsmokers; p = 0.02). In conclusion, the Palmaz-Schatz stent can be electively implanted with high success and low complication rates. The restenosis rate appears to be similar to that of balloon angioplasty.