Cardiovascular Disease, Drug Therapy, and Mortality in Covid-19.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) may disproportionately affect people with cardiovascular disease. Concern has been aroused regarding a potential harmful effect of angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) in this clinical context. METHODS: Using an observational database from 169 hospitals in Asia, Europe, and North America, we evaluated the relationship of cardiovascular disease and drug therapy with in-hospital death among hospitalized patients with Covid-19 who were admitted between December 20, 2019, and March 15, 2020, and were recorded in the Surgical Outcomes Collaborative registry as having either died in the hospital or survived to discharge as of March 28, 2020. RESULTS: Of the 8910 patients with Covid-19 for whom discharge status was available at the time of the analysis, a total of 515 died in the hospital (5.8%) and 8395 survived to discharge. The factors we found to be independently associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death were an age greater than 65 years (mortality of 10.0%, vs. 4.9% among those ≤65 years of age; odds ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60 to 2.41), coronary artery disease (10.2%, vs. 5.2% among those without disease; odds ratio, 2.70; 95% CI, 2.08 to 3.51), heart failure (15.3%, vs. 5.6% among those without heart failure; odds ratio, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.62 to 3.79), cardiac arrhythmia (11.5%, vs. 5.6% among those without arrhythmia; odds ratio, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.86), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (14.2%, vs. 5.6% among those without disease; odds ratio, 2.96; 95% CI, 2.00 to 4.40), and current smoking (9.4%, vs. 5.6% among former smokers or nonsmokers; odds ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.29 to 2.47). No increased risk of in-hospital death was found to be associated with the use of ACE inhibitors (2.1% vs. 6.1%; odds ratio, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.54) or the use of ARBs (6.8% vs. 5.7%; odds ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.74). CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed previous observations suggesting that underlying cardiovascular disease is associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death among patients hospitalized with Covid-19. Our results did not confirm previous concerns regarding a potential harmful association of ACE inhibitors or ARBs with in-hospital death in this clinical context. (Funded by the William Harvey Distinguished Chair in Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.).

RETRACTED: Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19: a multinational registry analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often in combination with a second-generation macrolide, are being widely used for treatment of COVID-19, despite no conclusive evidence of their benefit. Although generally safe when used for approved indications such as autoimmune disease or malaria, the safety and benefit of these treatment regimens are poorly evaluated in COVID-19. METHODS: We did a multinational registry analysis of the use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine with or without a macrolide for treatment of COVID-19. The registry comprised data from 671 hospitals in six continents. We included patients hospitalised between Dec 20, 2019, and April 14, 2020, with a positive laboratory finding for SARS-CoV-2. Patients who received one of the treatments of interest within 48 h of diagnosis were included in one of four treatment groups (chloroquine alone, chloroquine with a macrolide, hydroxychloroquine alone, or hydroxychloroquine with a macrolide), and patients who received none of these treatments formed the control group. Patients for whom one of the treatments of interest was initiated more than 48 h after diagnosis or while they were on mechanical ventilation, as well as patients who received remdesivir, were excluded. The main outcomes of interest were in-hospital mortality and the occurrence of de-novo ventricular arrhythmias (non-sustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation). FINDINGS: 96 032 patients (mean age 53·8 years, 46·3% women) with COVID-19 were hospitalised during the study period and met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 14 888 patients were in the treatment groups (1868 received chloroquine, 3783 received chloroquine with a macrolide, 3016 received hydroxychloroquine, and 6221 received hydroxychloroquine with a macrolide) and 81 144 patients were in the control group. 10 698 (11·1%) patients died in hospital. After controlling for multiple confounding factors (age, sex, race or ethnicity, body-mass index, underlying cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, diabetes, underlying lung disease, smoking, immunosuppressed condition, and baseline disease severity), when compared with mortality in the control group (9·3%), hydroxychloroquine (18·0%; hazard ratio 1·335, 95% CI 1·223-1·457), hydroxychloroquine with a macrolide (23·8%; 1·447, 1·368-1·531), chloroquine (16·4%; 1·365, 1·218-1·531), and chloroquine with a macrolide (22·2%; 1·368, 1·273-1·469) were each independently associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Compared with the control group (0·3%), hydroxychloroquine (6·1%; 2·369, 1·935-2·900), hydroxychloroquine with a macrolide (8·1%; 5·106, 4·106-5·983), chloroquine (4·3%; 3·561, 2·760-4·596), and chloroquine with a macrolide (6·5%; 4·011, 3·344-4·812) were independently associated with an increased risk of de-novo ventricular arrhythmia during hospitalisation. INTERPRETATION: We were unable to confirm a benefit of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, when used alone or with a macrolide, on in-hospital outcomes for COVID-19. Each of these drug regimens was associated with decreased in-hospital survival and an increased frequency of ventricular arrhythmias when used for treatment of COVID-19. FUNDING: William Harvey Distinguished Chair in Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Phase I and registry study of autologous bone marrow concentrate evaluated in PDE5 inhibitor refractory erectile dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow mononuclear cells have been successfully utilized for numerous regenerative purposes. In the current study, patients suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) unresponsive to phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors were administered autologous bone marrow concentrate delivered intracavernously utilizing a point of care FDA cleared medical device. METHODS: A total of 40 patients were treated in the primary trial and 100 in the clinical registry, with the longest follow up of 12 months. RESULTS: Minimal treatment associated adverse effects where observed related to short term bruising at the site of harvest or injection. No long-term adverse events were noted related to the intervention. Mean improvements in IIEF-5 score were 2 in the Caverstem 1.0 low dose group, 3 in the high dose Caverstem 1.0 group and 9 in the Caverstem 2.0 group. Furthermore, improvements peaked by 3 months and maintained at 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSION: These data support the safety and efficacy of point of care, minimally to non-manipulated, non-expanded bone marrow concentrate for the treatment of ED. Trial registration Funded by Creative Medical Health, Inc.; Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT03699943; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03699943?term=caverstem&rank=1; initially registered December 12, 2015.

Isolation of clinically relevant concentrations of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells without centrifugation.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the quality of bone marrow aspirates extracted using a novel, FDA cleared method to optimally target cells from the inner cortical iliac bone surface without the need for centrifugation. This method employs small draws from a single puncture that promote only lateral flow from multiple sites (SSLM method). The study utilized the Marrow Cellutions bone marrow aspiration system (MC system) which is based on the SSLM method and compared the MC system directly to bone marrow concentrates (BMAC) generated by centrifugation of aspirates harvested with a standard aspiration needle. METHODS: Three direct comparisons were conducted evaluating the SSLM draws and BMACs derived from the same patient from contralateral iliac crests. The levels of TNCs/mL, CD34+ cells/mL, CD117+ cells/mL, and CFU-f/mL were compared between the various bone marrow preparations. The cellular content of a series of SSLM draws was also analyzed to determine the total nucleated cell (TNC) count and the concentration of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells as measured by colony forming unit fibroblasts (CFU-f). RESULTS: In direct comparisons with BMAC systems, SSLM draws yielded significantly higher CFU-f concentrations and comparable concentrations of CD34+ and CD117+ cells. In addition, the average quantity of TNCs/mL in a series of 30 patients utilizing the SSLM draw was 35.2 × 106 ± 17.1 × 106 and the average number of CFU-f/mL was 2885 ± 1716. There were small but significant correlations between the TNCs/mL and the CFU-fs/mL using the SSLM method as well as between the age of the patient and the CFU-fs/mL. CONCLUSIONS: The MC Device, using the SSLM draw technique, produced concentrations of CFU-fs, CD34+ cells and CD117+ cells that were comparable or greater to BMACs derived from the same patient. Given the rapid speed and simplicity of the MC Device, we believe this novel system possesses significant practical advantages to other currently available centrifugation based systems.

Catheter-based retrograde coronary sinus infusion is a practical delivery technique for introducing biological molecules into the cardiac system.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate coronary sinus (CS) retrograde catheterization as a practicable technique for delivering biologics into the heart. BACKGROUND: There are many options to deliver biologics into the heart. However, there is no single optimal technique when considering safety, biologic retention, and reproducibility. Retrograde delivery has the potential to address many of these concerns. This study evaluated retrograde CS infusion of luciferase-expressing plasmid in a porcine model using the Advance® CS Coronary Sinus Infusion Catheter and bioluminescence imaging to track the expression of the infused biological markers. METHODS: Plasmid was delivered retrograde into the CS in one of three infusion volumes. Twenty-four hours post-infusion, hearts were excised and underwent bioluminescence imaging to characterize the expression of the infusates. Heart and lung biopsies were also assessed for luciferase expression using RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Retrograde infusion was safe and successful in all nine test subjects. Luciferase detection was inconsistent in the low volume group. Bioluminescence was confined predominantly along the posterolateral left ventricle for medium volume infusions and was more broadly dispersed along the anterior side of the heart for high volume infusions. Tissue mRNA analysis corroborated the bioluminescence results, with the highest concentration of luciferase expression localized in the left ventricle. CONCLUSIONS: Retrograde CS infusion is a promising technique for delivering biological molecules to the heart. Specifically, this study demonstrated that the low pressure coronary venous system accommodates a wide range of infusion volumes and that biological infusates can be maintained in situ following the resumption of coronary venous flow.

Safety and Efficacy of the Intravenous Infusion of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Patients With Heart Failure: A Phase 1/2 Randomized Controlled Trial (RIMECARD Trial [Randomized Clinical Trial of Intravenous Infusion Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Cardiopathy]).

RATIONALE: Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) are easily accessible and expanded in vitro, possess distinct properties, and improve myocardial remodeling and function in experimental models of cardiovascular disease. Although bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells have been previously assessed for their therapeutic potential in individuals with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, no clinical trial has evaluated intravenous infusion of UC-MSCs in these patients. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the safety and efficacy of the intravenous infusion of UC-MSC in patients with chronic stable heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction under optimal medical treatment were randomized to intravenous infusion of allogenic UC-MSCs (Cellistem, Cells for Cells S.A., Santiago, Chile; 1×106 cells/kg) or placebo (n=15 per group). UC-MSCs in vitro, compared with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, displayed a 55-fold increase in the expression of hepatocyte growth factor, known to be involved in myogenesis, cell migration, and immunoregulation. UC-MSC-treated patients presented no adverse events related to the cell infusion, and none of the patients tested at 0, 15, and 90 days presented alloantibodies to the UC-MSCs (n=7). Only the UC-MSC-treated group exhibited significant improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up assessed both through transthoracic echocardiography (P=0.0167 versus baseline) and cardiac MRI (P=0.025 versus baseline). Echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction change from baseline to month 12 differed significantly between groups (+7.07±6.22% versus +1.85±5.60%; P=0.028). In addition, at all follow-up time points, UC-MSC-treated patients displayed improvements of New York Heart Association functional class (P=0.0167 versus baseline) and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (P<0.05 versus baseline). At study completion, groups did not differ in mortality, heart failure admissions, arrhythmias, or incident malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous infusion of UC-MSC was safe in this group of patients with stable heart failure and reduced ejection fraction under optimal medical treatment. Improvements in left ventricular function, functional status, and quality of life were observed in patients treated with UC-MSCs. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01739777. Unique identifier: NCT01739777.

Design of a Phase 3 trial of intracoronary administration of human adenovirus 5 encoding human adenylyl cyclase type 6 (RT-100) gene transfer in patients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction: The FLOURISH Clinical Trial.

The prognosis of patients with HFrEF remains poor despite the use of current medical and device therapies. Preclinical studies of HFrEF using IC delivery of RT-100, a replication deficient, E1/E3-deleted human adenovirus 5 encoding human AC6 was associated with favorable effects on LV function and remodeling. A recent multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study demonstrated the safety of IC delivery of RT-100 in HFrEF patients and potential efficacy at the higher doses. This phase 2 dose finding study, which included doses not expected to be effective, identified a potential reduction in congestive heart failure admissions in the AC6-treated group one year after randomization. The FLOURISH study is designed to investigate the prospect of reduction of heart failure hospitalization and other clinical adverse events and improvement in EF. The FLOURISH study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase 3 clinical trial that will randomize 536 patients to a one-time IC administration of RT-100 (1012 vp) or placebo in a 1:1 ratio. Subjects will be 18-80 years of age, on optimal standard of care HF therapy with LVEF ≥10% and ≤35% by echocardiogram, and will undergo IC administration of RT-100 vs. placebo on Day 1. Follow-up study visits will be performed at Weeks 1 and 4, and Months 3, 6, and 12. Patients will be followed for an additional 36 months for safety assessments with telephone contact at Months 24, 36, and 48. The primary objective is to determine the efficacy of IC RT-100 vs. placebo in reducing the event rate of all (first and repeat) HF hospitalizations occurring from baseline to 12 months. The secondary objectives are to determine the efficacy of IC RT-100 on CV death, all cause death, and all HF events and in improving NYHA functional classification. Exploratory endpoints will include echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, HF symptoms and physical limitations, 6-minute walking distance, Borg dyspnea score, and NT-proBNP levels. The FLOURISH study, which received fast track designation from the Food and Drug Administration in December 2017, will further investigate the role of a one-time intracoronary injection of RT-100 in reducing HF hospitalizations and will serve as a registration trial (potentially pivotal investigation) for RT-100 as a treatment for HFrEF.

Evidence for a hyper-reductive redox in a sub-set of heart failure patients.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress has been linked to heart failure (HF) in humans. Antioxidant-based treatments are often ineffective. Therefore, we hypothesize that some of the HF patients might have a reductive stress (RS) condition. Investigating RS-related mechanisms will aid in personalized optimization of redox homeostasis for better outcomes among HF patients. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from HF patients (n = 54) and healthy controls (n = 42) and serum was immediately preserved in - 80 °C for redox analysis. Malondialdehyde (MDA; lipid peroxidation) levels by HPLC, reduced glutathione (GSH) and its redox ratio (GSH/GSSG) using enzymatic-recycling assay in the serum of HF patients were measured. Further, the activities of key antioxidant enzymes were analyzed by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Non-invasive echocardiography was used to relate circulating redox status with cardiac function and remodeling. RESULTS: The circulatory redox state (GSH/MDA ratio) was used to stratify the HF patients into normal redox (NR), hyper-oxidative (HO), and hyper-reductive (HR) groups. While the majority of the HF patients exhibited the HO (42%), 41% of them had a normal redox (NR) state. Surprisingly, a subset of HF patients (17%) belonged to the hyper-reductive group, suggesting a strong implication for RS in the progression of HF. In all the groups of HF patients, SOD, GPx and catalase were significantly increased while GR activity was significantly reduced relative to healthy controls. Furthermore, echocardiography analyses revealed that 55% of HO patients had higher systolic dysfunction while 62.5% of the hyper-reductive patients had higher diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that RS may be associated with HF pathogenesis for a subset of cardiac patients. Thus, stratification of HF patients based on their circulating redox status may serve as a useful prognostic tool to guide clinicians designing personalized antioxidant therapies.

Clinical feasibility of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressively debilitating neurological condition in which the immune system abnormally erodes the myelin sheath insulating the nerves. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been used in the last decade to safely treat certain immune and inflammatory conditions. METHODS: A safety and feasibility study was completed on the use of umbilical cord MSC (UCMSC) as a treatment for MS. In this 1-year study, consenting subjects received seven intravenous infusions of 20 × 106 UCMSC over 7 days. Efficacy was assessed at baseline, 1 month and 1 year after treatment, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Scripps Neurological Rating Scale, Nine-Hole Peg Test, 25-Foot Walk Test, and RAND Short Form-36 quality of life questionnaire. RESULTS: Twenty subjects were enrolled in this study. No serious adverse events were reported. Of the mild AEs denoted as possibly related to treatment, most were headache or fatigue. Symptom improvements were most notable 1 month after treatment. Improvements were seen in EDSS scores (p < 0.03), as well as in bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction (p < 0.01), in non-dominant hand average scores (p < 0.01), in walk times (p < 0.02) and general perspective of a positive health change and improved quality of life. MRI scans of the brain and the cervical spinal cord showed inactive lesions in 15/18 (83.3%) subjects after 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with UCMSC intravenous infusions for subjects with MS is safe, and potential therapeutic benefits should be further investigated. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02034188. Registered Jan 13, 2014. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02034188.

The Impact of an Advanced ECMO Program on Traumatically Injured Patients.

In June 2016, an advanced extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program consisting of a multidisciplinary team was initiated at a large level-one trauma center. The program was created to standardize management for patients with a wide variety of pathologies, including trauma. This study evaluated the impact of the advanced ECMO program on the outcomes of traumatically injured patients undergoing ECMO. A retrospective cohort study was performed on all patients sustaining traumatic injury who required ECMO support from January 2014 to September 2017. The primary outcome was to determine survival in trauma ECMO patients in the two timeframes, before and after initiation of the advanced ECMO program. Secondary outcomes included complication rates, length of stay, ventilator usage, and ECMO days. One hundred and thirty eight patients were treated with ECMO during the study period. Of the 138 patients, 22 sustained traumatic injury. Seven patients were treated in our pre-group and 15 in our post-group. The majority of patients were treated with VV ECMO. Our post group VV ECMO extracorporeal survival rate was 64% and our survival to discharge was 55%. This study demonstrated an improvement in survival after implementation of our advanced ECMO program. The implementation of a multidisciplinary trauma ECMO team dedicated to the rescue of critically ill patients is the key for achieving excellent outcomes in the trauma population.

Ixmyelocel-T for patients with ischaemic heart failure: a prospective randomised double-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: Ixmyelocel-T is an expanded, multicellular therapy produced from a patient's own bone marrow by selectively expanding two key types of bone marrow mononuclear cells: CD90+ mesenchymal stem cells and CD45+ CD14+ auto-fluorescent+ activated macrophages. Early phase clinical trials suggest that intramyocardial delivery of ixmyelocel-T might improve clinical, functional, symptomatic, and quality-of-life outcomes in patients with heart failure due to ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of catheter-based transendocardial injection of ixmyelocel-T cell therapy in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fractions. METHODS: In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2B trial (ixCELL-DCM), patients from 31 sites in North America with New York Heart Association class III or IV symptomatic heart failure due to ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy, who had left ventricular ejection fraction 35% or less, an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and who were ineligible for revascularisation procedures were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive ixmyelocel-T or placebo at the time of bone marrow aspiration and followed for 12 months. Randomisation was done through an interactive (voice/web) response system. The pharmacist, treating physician, and coordinator at each site were unblinded, but the the follow-up team was completely blinded. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death, cardiovascular admission to hospital, and unplanned clinic visits to treat acute decompensated heart failure based on the blinded adjudication of an independent clinical endpoint committee. Primary efficacy endpoint analyses and safety analyses were done by modified intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01670981. FINDINGS: Between April 2, 2013, and Jan 28, 2015, 126 participants were randomly assigned to receive either ixmyelocel-T (n=66) or placebo (n=60). 114 (90%) patients comprised the modified intention-to-treat population and 109 (87%) patients were included in the per-protocol primary efficacy analysis (58 in the ixmyelocel-T group and 51 in the placebo group). The primary efficacy endpoint was observed in 47 patients: 50 events in 25 (49%) of 51 patients in the placebo group and 38 events in 22 (38%) of 58 patients in the ixmyelocel-T group, which represents a 37% reduction in cardiac events compared with placebo (risk ratio 0·63 [95% CI 0·42-0·97]; p=0·0344). 41 (75%) of 51 participants in the placebo group had serious adverse events versus 31 (53%) of 58 in the ixmyelocel-T group (p=0·0197). INTERPRETATION: To the best of our knowledge, ixCELL-DCM is the largest cell therapy study done in patients with heart failure so far. The transendocardial delivery of ixmyelocel-T in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction due to ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy resulted in a significant reduction in adjudicated clinical cardiac events compared with placebo leading to improved patient outcomes. FUNDING: Vericel Corporation.

Experimental support for the effects of a probiotic/digestive enzyme supplement on serum cholesterol concentrations and the intestinal microbiome.

BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of blood cholesterol are associated with cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current therapies for addressing elevated blood cholesterol can be inadequate, ineffective or associated with side effects; therefore, the search for additional therapies is ongoing. This study evaluated Daily Body Restore (DBR), a proprietary blend of 9 probiotic organisms of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and 10 digestive enzymes, for its effects on cholesterol metabolism using an in vitro system and a mouse model. METHODS: We used a murine model of hypercholesterolemia induced by a high fat diet to evaluate the effects of DBR on blood cholesterol concentrations. Hypercholesterolemic mice were supplemented with DBR in their drinking water for 8 weeks and compared to control mice given low fat diets or unsupplemented high fat diets. To evaluate the effects of DBR on the activity of gut microbiota in vitro, the Shime(®) system consisting of sequential colon reactors was supplemented with DBR for analysis of short chain fatty acid production. RESULTS: Analysis of hypercholesterolemic mice after 4 and 8 weeks of DBR supplementation revealed significant decreases in blood concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) while triglyceride concentrations were unaltered. Specifically, after 4 weeks of DBR supplementation, there was a 47 % decrease in LDL and a 32 % increase in HDL in peripheral blood compared to unsupplemented, high fat diet-fed mice. After 8 weeks of DBR treatment, LDL concentrations were dramatically reduced by 78 % and HDL was increased by 52 % relative to control mice. Addition of DBR to the Shime(®) system led to significantly increased production of propionate in colon reactors, indicative of microbial production of short chain fatty acids known to inhibit cholesterol synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: DBR, a probiotic and digestive enzyme supplement, lowered harmful LDL and increased HDL levels in a mouse model and also exerted in vitro effects consistent with cholesterol-lowering activity. Given the magnitude of the effects of DBR, these findings are promising for clinical implementation of DBR for treating hypercholesterolemia.

Safety of targeting tumor endothelial cell antigens.

The mechanisms underlying discrimination between "self" and "non-self", a central immunological principle, require careful consideration in immune oncology therapeutics where eliciting anti-cancer immunity must be weighed against the risk of autoimmunity due to the self origin of tumors. Whole cell vaccines are one promising immunotherapeutic avenue whereby a myriad of tumor antigens are introduced in an immunogenic context with the aim of eliciting tumor rejection. Despite the possibility collateral damage to healthy tissues, cancer immunotherapy can be designed such that off target autoimmunity remains limited in scope and severity or completely non-existent. Here we provide an immunological basis for reconciling the safety of cancer vaccines, focusing on tumor endothelial cell vaccines, by discussing the following topics: (a) Antigenic differences between neoplastic and healthy tissues that can be leveraged in cancer vaccine design; (b) The layers of tolerance that control T cell responses directed against antigens expressed in healthy tissues and tumors; and, (c) The hierarchy of antigenic epitope selection and display in response to whole cell vaccines, and how antigen processing and presentation can afford a degree of selectivity against tumors. We conclude with an example of early clinical data utilizing ValloVax™, an immunogenic placental endothelial cell vaccine that is being advanced to target the tumor endothelium of diverse cancers, and we report on the safety and efficacy of ValloVax™ for inducing immunity against tumor endothelial antigens.

Safety and efficacy of ixmyelocel-T: an expanded, autologous multi-cellular therapy, in dilated cardiomyopathy.

RATIONALE: Ixmyelocel-T is associated with a wide range of biological activities relevant to tissue repair and regeneration. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ixmyelocel-T in 2 prospective randomized phase 2A Trials administered via minithoracotomy or intramyocardial catheter injections in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) stratified by ischemic or nonischemic status. METHODS AND RESULTS: In IMPACT-DCM, patients were randomized to either ixmyelocel-T or standard-of-care control in a 3:1 ratio (n=39); ixmyelocel-T was administered intramyocardially via minithoracotomy. In Catheter-DCM, patients were randomized to either ixmyelocel-T or standard of care control in a 2:1 ratio (n=22); ixmyelocel-T was administered intramyocardially using the NOGA Myostar catheter. Only patients randomized to ixmyelocel-T underwent bone marrow aspiration and injections. In the 2 studies, a total of 61 patients were randomized, and 59 were treated or received standard of care. Fewer ischemic patients treated with ixmyelocel-T experienced a major adverse cardiovascular event during follow-up when compared with control patients. A similar benefit was not seen in the nonischemic patients. Heart failure exacerbation was the most common major adverse cardiovascular event. Ixmyelocel-T treatment was associated with improved New York Heart Association class, 6-minute walk distance, and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire scores in the ischemic population relative to control; a similar trend was not observed in the nonischemic population. CONCLUSIONS: Intramyocardial injection with ixmyelocel-T reduces major adverse cardiovascular event and improves symptoms in patients with ischemic DCM but not in patients with nonischemic DCM.

Changes in ventricular remodelling and clinical status during the year following a single administration of stromal cell-derived factor-1 non-viral gene therapy in chronic ischaemic heart failure patients: the STOP-HF randomized Phase II trial.

BACKGROUND: Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) promotes tissue repair through mechanisms of cell survival, endogenous stem cell recruitment, and vasculogenesis. Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1 Plasmid Treatment for Patients with Heart Failure (STOP-HF) is a Phase II, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate safety and efficacy of a single treatment of plasmid stromal cell-derived factor-1 (pSDF-1) delivered via endomyocardial injection to patients with ischaemic heart failure (IHF). METHODS: Ninety-three subjects with IHF on stable guideline-based medical therapy and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%, completed Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ) and 6-min walk distance (6 MWD), were randomized 1 : 1 : 1 to receive a single treatment of either a 15 or 30 mg dose of pSDF-1 or placebo via endomyocardial injections. Safety and efficacy parameters were assessed at 4 and 12 months after injection. Left ventricular functional and structural measures were assessed by contrast echocardiography and quantified by a blinded independent core laboratory. Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1 Plasmid Treatment for Patients with Heart Failure was powered based on change in 6 MWD and MLWHFQ at 4 months. RESULTS: Subject profiles at baseline were (mean ± SD): age 65 ± 9 years, LVEF 28 ± 7%, left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) 167 ± 66 mL, N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) (NTproBNP) 1120 ± 1084 pg/mL, MLWHFQ 50 ± 20 points, and 6 MWD 289 ± 99 m. Patients were 11 ± 9 years post most recent myocardial infarction. Study injections were delivered without serious adverse events in all subjects. Sixty-two patients received drug with no unanticipated serious product-related adverse events. The primary endpoint was a composite of change in 6 MWD and MLWHFQ from baseline to 4 months follow-up. The primary endpoint was not met (P = 0.89). For the patients treated with pSDF-1, there was a trend toward an improvement in LVEF at 12 months (placebo vs. 15 mg vs. 30 mg ΔLVEF: -2 vs. -0.5 vs. 1.5%, P = 0.20). A pre-specified analysis of the effects of pSDF-1 based on tertiles of LVEF at entry revealed improvements in EF and LVESV from lowest-to-highest LVEF. Patients in the first tertile of EF (<26%) that received 30 mg of pSDF-1 demonstrated a 7% increase in EF compared with a 4% decrease in placebo (ΔLVEF = 11%, P = 0.01) at 12 months. There was also a trend towards improvement in LVESV, with treated patients demonstrating an 18.5 mL decrease compared with a 15 mL increase for placebo at 12 months (ΔLVESV = 33.5 mL, P = 0.12). The change in end-diastolic and end-systolic volume equated to a 14 mL increase in stroke volume in the patients treated with 30 mg of pSDF-1 compared with a decrease of -11 mL in the placebo group (ΔSV = 25 mL, P = 0.09). In addition, the 30 mg-treated cohort exhibited a trend towards improvement in NTproBNP compared with placebo at 12 months (-784 pg/mL, P = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: The blinded placebo-controlled STOP-HF trial demonstrated the safety of a single endocardial administration of pSDF-1 but failed to demonstrate its primary endpoint of improved composite score at 4 months after treatment. Through a pre-specified analysis the STOP-HF trial demonstrates the potential for attenuating LV remodelling and improving EF in high-risk ischaemic cardiomyopathy. The safety profile supports repeat dosing with pSDF-1 and the degree of left ventricular remodelling suggests the potential for improved outcomes in larger future trials.

Cancer anti-angiogenesis vaccines: Is the tumor vasculature antigenically unique?

Angiogenesis is essential for the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. The tumor endothelium exists in a state of chronic activation and proliferation, fueled by the tumor milieu where angiogenic mediators are aberrantly over-expressed. Uncontrolled tumor growth, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance are all driven by the dysregulated and constitutive angiogenesis occurring in the vasculature. Accordingly, great efforts have been dedicated toward identifying molecular signatures of this pathological angiogenesis in order to devise selective tumor endothelium targeting therapies while minimizing potential autoimmunity against physiologically normal endothelium. Vaccination with angiogenic antigens to generate cellular and/or humoral immunity against the tumor endothelium has proven to be a promising strategy for inhibiting or normalizing tumor angiogenesis and reducing cancer growth. Here we review tumor endothelium vaccines developed to date including active immunization strategies using specific tumor endothelium-associated antigens and whole endothelial cell-based vaccines designed to elicit immune responses against diverse target antigens. Among the novel therapeutic options, we describe a placenta-derived endothelial cell vaccine, ValloVax™, a polyvalent vaccine that is antigenically similar to proliferating tumor endothelium and is supported by pre-clinical studies to be safe and efficacious against several tumor types.

Scalable efficient expansion of mesenchymal stem cells in xeno free media using commercially available reagents.

BACKGROUND: The rapid clinical translation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) has resulted in the development of cell-based strategies for multiple indications. Unfortunately one major barrier to widespread implementation of MSC-based therapies is the limited supply of fetal calf serum (FCS) used to expand cells to therapeutic numbers. Additionally, the xenogeneic element of fetal calf serum has been previously demonstrated to stimulate antibody mediated reactions and in some cases sensitization leading to anaphylaxis. METHOD: XcytePLUS™ media, a human platelet lysate based product, was used to supplement the culture medium at 5, 7.5 and 10% and compared to fetal calf serum at 10%, for human umbilical cord MSC expansion. Properties of the expanded cells were investigated. RESULTS: This study demonstrated equivalent or superior effects of human platelet lysate compared to standard FCS supplemented media, based on doubling rate, without loss of identity or function, as demonstrated with flow cytometry characterization. Differentiation into osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes was comparable from cells expanded in either media supplement. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the implementation of human platelet lysate supplemented media as an alternative to xenogeneic containing preparations which may lead to safer MSC products with therapeutic uses.