Severe early graft dysfunction post-heart transplantation: Two clinical trajectories and diastolic perfusion pressure as a predictor of mechanical circulatory support.

Background: Severe early graft dysfunction (EGD) is defined by mechanical circulatory support (MCS) <24 hours of heart transplantation (HT). We classified severe EGD based on timing of post-HT MCS: ''Immediate'' intra-operative vs ''Delayed'' post-operative MCS (after admission into intensive care unit (ICU) from operating theater). We hypothesized that (1) risk factors and clinical course differ between ''Immediate'' and ''Delayed'' MCS; and (2) diastolic perfusion pressure (DPP=diastolic blood pressure-central venous pressure) and Norepinephrine equivalents (NE=sum of vasopressor doses), as measures of vasoplegia are related to ''Delayed'' MCS.

The type of inhibition provided by thalamic interneurons alters the input selectivity of thalamocortical neurons.

A fundamental problem in neuroscience is how neurons select for their many inputs. A common assumption is that a neuron's selectivity is largely explained by differences in excitatory synaptic input weightings. Here we describe another solution to this important problem.

Predictors and clinical implications of residual mitral regurgitation following left ventricular assist device therapy.

Background: Correction of mitral regurgitation (MR) at the time of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation remains controversial. There is conflicting evidence regarding the clinical impact of residual MR, and studies have not examined whether MR aetiology or right heart function impacts the likelihood of residual MR.

Methods: This is a retrospective single-centre study of 155 consecutive patients with LVAD implantation from January 2011 to March 2020.

Cardiac transplantation in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: Outcomes from three decades of tertiary center experience.

Aims: Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) is a progressive and fatal cardiomyopathy. Treatment options in patients with advanced ATTR-CM are limited to cardiac transplantation (CT). Despite case series demonstrating comparable outcomes with CT between patients with ATTR-CM and non-amyloid cardiomyopathies, ATTR-CM is considered to be a contraindication to CT in some centers, partly due to a perceived risk of amyloid recurrence in the allograft.

A Critical Evaluation of Patient Pathways and Missed Opportunities in Treatment for Heart Failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a global problem responsible for significant morbidity and mortality.

Methods: This review describes the patient pathways and missed opportunities related to treatment for patients with HF.

Results: The contemporary management strategies in HF, including medical therapies, device therapy, transplant, and palliative care.

Outcomes of temporary mechanical circulatory support in cardiogenic shock due to end-stage heart failure.

Background: There are few reports of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) due to end-stage heart failure (ESHF). We evaluated our institutional MCS strategy and compared the outcomes of INTERMACS 1 and 2 patients with CS due to ESHF.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data (November 2014 to July 2019) from a single centre.

The Use and Potential of Biomedical Detection Dogs During a Disease Outbreak.

Biomedical detection dogs offer incredible advantages during disease outbreaks that are presently unmatched by current technologies, however, dogs still face hurdles of implementation due to lack of inter-governmental cooperation and acceptance by the public health community. Here, we refine the definition of a biomedical detection dog, discuss the potential applications, capabilities, and limitations of biomedical detection dogs in disease outbreak scenarios, and the safety measures that must be considered before and during deployment. Finally, we provide recommendations on how to address and overcome the barriers to acceptance of biomedical detection dogs through a dedicated research and development investment in olfactory sciences.

Pathophysiology of severe primary graft dysfunction in orthotopic heart transplantation.

Background: A series of insults on the donor heart result in pathophysiological changes that manifest as primary graft dysfunction (PGD) post-orthotopic heart transplantation. The objectives of this study were: (i) describe the pathophysiology of severe PGD using an established cardiovascular model; and (ii) the evolution of the pathophysiology during recovery from severe PGD.

Methods: Hemodynamic data from 20 consecutive patients with severe PGD (need for mechanical circulatory support, MCS) at baseline (T0), 6 h (T6) and "recovery" (explant of support), and 20 consecutive patients without severe PGD were used to model the pathophysiology using the cardiovascular model described by Burkhoff and Dickstein.

Cardiac Power Output Index and Severe Primary Graft Dysfunction After Heart Transplantation.

Objectives: To evaluate the value of cardiac power output index (CPOi) in predicting severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after heart transplantation (defined as mechanical circulatory support [MCS] and/or mortality <30 days after transplant).

Design: Observational cohort study.

Setting: A heart transplant center in the United Kingdom.

Vasculogenic properties of adventitial Sca-1CD45 progenitor cells in mice: a potential source of vasa vasorum in atherosclerosis.

The cellular origins of vasa vasorum are ill-defined and may involve circulating or local progenitor cells. We previously discovered that murine aortic adventitia contains Sca-1CD45 progenitors that produce macrophages. Here we investigated whether they are also vasculogenic.

Mechanical circulatory support in the heart failure population.

Purpose Of Review: Use of durable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) has increased considerably in recent years because of the insufficient supply of donor hearts for cardiac transplantation and improvement in outcomes from refinements in technology. This review examines clinical utility of these devices and summarizes the most recent evidence supporting the use of LVAD therapy.

Recent Findings: There continues to be significant advancements made in LVAD technology, which has resulted in improvements in the rates of adverse events and overall patient quality of life.

Coronary Vasospasm Following Heart Transplantation: Rapid Progression to Aggressive Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy.

Coronary artery vasospasm (CVS) has been described in orthotopic heart transplant patients but is rare in the post-transplanted, denervated heart. Severe CVS has been associated with accelerated cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and allograft rejection. Allograft vasculopathy is the leading cause of decreased long-term survival in orthotopic heart transplant.

Mechanical Circulatory Support for Decompensated Heart Failure.

Purpose Of Review: Cardiogenic shock from decompensated heart failure is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) improves haemodynamics and reverses organ dysfunction in critically ill patients with cardiogenic shock. This paper summarises the main modalities of mechanical support and their physiological impact, practical considerations, advantages and disadvantages to facilitate a holistic approach in managing a potentially lethal pathology.

Efficacy and safety of the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator: a systematic review.

Background: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICDs) are considered an alternative to conventional transvenous ICDs (TV-ICDs) in patients not requiring pacing.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies evaluating efficacy and safety outcomes in S-ICD patients. Outcomes were pooled across studies.

The Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense Program: An Enabler of the Third Offset Strategy.

The US Department of Defense (DOD) established programs to defend against chemical and biological weapons 100 years ago because military leaders understood that the operational capability of the US military is diminished when service member health is compromised. These threats to operational readiness can be from an overt attack using chemical and biological threats but may also arise from natural exposures. In the current era of rapidly emerging technologies, adversaries are not only rediscovering chemical and biological weapons; they are also displaying an increased propensity to employ them to cause strategic instability among deployed forces or nations undergoing conflict.

Cardiovascular Effects of Unilateral Nephrectomy in Living Kidney Donors.

Unlabelled: There is a robust inverse graded association between glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and cardiovascular risk, but proof of causality is lacking. Emerging data suggest living kidney donation may be associated with increased cardiovascular mortality although the mechanisms are unclear. We hypothesized that the reduction in GFR in living kidney donors is associated with increased left ventricular mass, impaired left ventricular function, and increased aortic stiffness.

Caveolin-1 single-nucleotide polymorphism and arterial stiffness in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease.

Background: Arteriosclerosis is an independent predictor of increased cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Histologically it is characterized by hypertrophy and fibrosis of the arterial media wall leading to increased arterial stiffness and end-organ damage. Caveolin-1 acts as an intracellular signalling pathway chaperone in human fibrotic and vascular diseases.

Variability in cardiac MR measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction, volumes and mass in healthy adults: defining a significant change at 1 year.

Objective: Variability in the measurement of left ventricular (LV) parameters in cardiovascular imaging has typically been assessed over a short time interval, but clinicians most commonly compare results from studies performed a year apart. To account for variation in technical, procedural and biological factors over this time frame, we quantified the within-subject changes in LV volumes, LV mass (LVM) and LV ejection fraction (EF) in a well-defined cohort of healthy adults at 12 months.

Methods: Cardiac MR (CMR) was performed in 42 healthy control subjects at baseline and at 1 year (1.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase single nucleotide polymorphism and left ventricular function in early chronic kidney disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with accelerated cardiovascular disease and heart failure. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) Glu298Asp single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype has been associated with a worse phenotype amongst patients with established heart failure and in patients with progression of their renal disease. The association of a cardiac functional difference in non-dialysis CKD patients with no known previous heart failure, and eNOS gene variant is investigated.

Impact of renal function on survival after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI): an analysis of the UK TAVI registry.

Objective: To determine the nature of the association between renal dysfunction and outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in all cases performed in the UK between 2007 and 2012.

Methods: The UK TAVI registry was established to report outcomes on all TAVI procedures performed within the UK. Data were collected prospectively on 3980 patients from 1 January 2007 until 31 December 2012.