Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 predicts mortality risk in heart failure.

Background: Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 (IGFBP2) showed greater heart failure (HF) diagnostic accuracy than the "grey zone" B-type natriuretic peptides, and may have prognostic utility as well.

Objectives: To determine if IGFBP2 provides independent information on cardiovascular mortality in HF.

Methods: A retrospective study of 870 HF patients from 3 independent international cohorts.

sST2 adds to the prognostic value of Gal-3 and BNP in chronic heart failure.

The soluble form of the IL-33 receptor (sST2) and Galectin-3 (Gal-3) are fibrosis biomarkers with prognostic value in heart failure (HF). We investigated the prognostic capacity of sST2 when combined with Gal-3, and determined if the prognostic utility of sST2 is affected by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) therapy. sST-2 and Gal-3 were measured in 101 stable chronic HF (CHF) patients receiving MRA therapy and compared to 97 BNP and cardiovascular risk factor matched patients not treated with MRA.

Aging induces cardiac mesenchymal stromal cell senescence and promotes endothelial cell fate of the CD90 + subset.

Aging is a major risk factor in the development of chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases. Age-related organ dysfunction is strongly associated with the accumulation of senescent cells. Cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells (cMSCs), deemed part of the microenvironment, modulate cardiac homeostasis through their vascular differentiation potential and paracrine activity.

Incidence, predictors, and clinical impact of electrical storm in patients with left ventricular assist devices: New insights from the ASSIST-ICD study.

Background: Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) can occur after continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation as a single arrhythmic event or as electrical storm (ES) with multiple repetitive VA episodes.

Objective: We aimed at analyzing the incidence, predictors, and clinical impact of ES in LVAD recipients.

Methods: Patients analyzed were those included in the multicenter ASSIST-ICD observational study.

Risk factors and prognostic impact of left ventricular assist device-associated infections.

Background: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)-associated infections may be life-threatening and impact patients' outcome. We aimed to identify the characteristics, risk factors, and prognosis of LVAD-associated infections.

Methods: Patients included in the ASSIST-ICD study (19 centers) were enrolled.

Structural evidence for a new elaborate 3D-organization of the cardiomyocyte lateral membrane in adult mammalian cardiac tissues.

Aims: This study explored the lateral crest structures of adult cardiomyocytes (CMs) within healthy and diseased cardiac tissue.

Methods And Results: Using high-resolution electron and atomic force microscopy, we performed an exhaustive quantitative analysis of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the CM lateral surface in different cardiac compartments from various mammalian species (mouse, rat, cow, and human) and determined the technical pitfalls that limit its observation. Although crests were observed in nearly all CMs from all heart compartments in all species, we showed that their heights, dictated by the subsarcolemmal mitochondria number, substantially differ between compartments from one species to another and tightly correlate with the sarcomere length.

Unusual Pathology in a Kidney from a Heart-Transplant Patient.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is often observed after heart transplantation. In this setting, acute tubular necrosis is the main histological finding on kidneys. We report the unusual pathology found in a kidney from a heart-transplant patient.

Early Prediction of 3-month Survival of Patients in Refractory Cardiogenic Shock and Cardiac Arrest on Extracorporeal Life Support.

Background: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) holds the promise of significant improvement of the survival of patient in refractory cardiogenic shock (CS) or cardiac arrest (CA). Nevertheless, it remains to be shown to which extent these highly invasive supportive techniques could improve long-term patient's outcome.

Methods: The outcomes of 82 adult ECLS patients at our institution between January 2012 and December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.

Feasibility and accuracy of gated blood pool SPECT equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography for the assessment of left and right ventricular volumes and function in patients with left ventricular assist devices.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) require serial assessment of right and left ventricular (RV & LV) volumes and function. Because the RV is not assisted, its function is a critical determinant of the hemodynamic and contributes significantly to postoperative morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the feasibility and the accuracy of tomographic-equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (t-ERV) for the assessment of patients with LVADs.

Increased mean aliphatic lipid chain length in left ventricular hypertrophy secondary to arterial hypertension: A cross-sectional study.

About 77.9 million (1 in 4) American adults have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is the primary cause of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which represents a strong predictor of future heart failure and cardiovascular mortality.

Drug-induced aortic valve stenosis: An under recognized entity.

Background: We have been intrigued by the observation that aortic stenosis (AS) may be associated with characteristic features of mitral drug-induced valvular heart disease (DI-VHD) in patients exposed to valvulopathic drugs, thus suggesting that beyond restrictive heart valve regurgitation, valvulopathic drugs may be involved in the pathogenesis of AS.

Methods: Herein are reported echocardiographic features, and pathological findings encountered in a series of patients suffering from both AS (mean gradient >15mmHg) and mitral DI-VHD after valvulopathic drugs exposure. History of rheumatic fever, chest radiation therapy, systemic disease or bicuspid aortic valve disease were exclusion criteria.

Apolipoprotein O is mitochondrial and promotes lipotoxicity in heart.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a secondary complication of diabetes with an unclear etiology. Based on a functional genomic evaluation of obesity-associated cardiac gene expression, we previously identified and cloned the gene encoding apolipoprotein O (APOO), which is overexpressed in hearts from diabetic patients. Here, we generated APOO-Tg mice, transgenic mouse lines that expresses physiological levels of human APOO in heart tissue.

The role of stent-grafts in the management of aortic trauma.

Stent graft has resulted in major advances in the treatment of trauma patients with blunt traumatic aortic injury (TAI) and has become the preferred method of treatment at many trauma centers. In this review, we provide an overview of the place of stent grafts for the management of this disease. As a whole, TEVAR repair of TAIs offers a survival advantage and reduction in major morbidity, including paraplegia, compared with open surgery.

[Management of aortic dissection. Stent grafts for who?].

Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) describes several life threatening aortic pathologies. Acute aortic syndrome include intramural haematoma, penetrating aortic ulcer and acute aortic dissection. Advances in both imaging and endovascular treatment has led to an increase in diagnosis and improved management of these often catastrophic pathologies.

First experience of percutaneous radio-frequency ablation for atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation in a patient with HeartMate II left ventricular assist device.

We report the first case of percutaneous radio-frequency (RF) ablation procedure in a patient implanted with a HeartMate II left ventricular assist device for refractory heart failure. This procedure was performed for poorly tolerated recurrent atrial arrhythmias. No harmful consequence happened during or after the procedure despite the potential electromagnetic interferences existing between the RF delivery and the functioning of the device.

Endovascular repair of traumatic rupture of the aortic isthmus: midterm results.

Objective: The endovascular management of aortic traumatic ruptures has been proposed as an alternative to classical surgical procedures. The aim of this work was to report the midterm results of the endovascular treatment of traumatic ruptures of the isthmic aorta.

Methods: Between January 1996 and July 2005, endovascular repair of blunt traumatic aortic ruptures was performed in 33 patients (mean age, 40 +/- 17 years).