IL-1β Induces Human Endothelial Surface Expression of IL-15 by Relieving let-7c-3p Suppression of Protein Translation.

Expression of IL-15 on the surface of human graft endothelial cells (ECs) bound to the IL-15Rα subunit can increase the activation of CTLs, potentiating allograft rejection. Our previous work showed that surface expression of this protein complex could be induced by alloantibody-mediated complement activation through increased IL-1β synthesis, secretion, and autocrine/paracrine IL-1-mediated activation of NF-κB. In this article, we report that cultured human ECs express eight differently spliced IL-15 transcripts.

Clinical implications of Type 2 diabetes on outcomes after cardiac transplantation.

Background: T2D is an increasingly common disease that is associated with worse outcomes in patients with heart failure. Despite this, no contemporary study has assessed its impact on heart transplantation outcomes. This paper examines the demographics and outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) undergoing heart transplantation.

Redo mitral valve surgery: A totally endoscopic, robotic-assisted approach for adhesiolysis and complex repair.

We describe our technique for totally endoscopic, robotic-assisted thoracic and pericardial adhesiolysis and redo complex mitral valve repair.

Totally endoscopic, robotic-assisted tricuspid valve repair with neochords.

We describe our technique for totally endoscopic, robotic-assisted tricuspid valve repair with neochords and annuloplasty in a high-risk, obese patient.

Double Papillary Muscle Relocation: A Totally Endoscopic, Robotic-Assisted Approach.

We detail our technique for totally endoscopic, robotic-assisted mitral valve repair with the reimplantation of a ruptured papillary muscle head supported by double papillary muscle relocation and mitral annuloplasty for the treatment of nonacute ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Impact of Obesity on Heart Transplantation Outcomes.

Background Patients with obesity and advanced heart failure face unique challenges on the path to heart transplantation. There are limited data on waitlist and transplantation outcomes in this population. We aimed to evaluate the impact of obesity on heart transplantation outcomes, and to investigate the effects of the new organ procurement and transplantation network allocation system in this population.

The impact of trainees' working hour regulations on outcome in CABG and valve surgery in the State of New York.

Background And Aim: In 2011, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) restricted the first-year residents' duty-hour to less than 16-hour shifts, decreased the maximum shift duration for senior residents, and increased minimum time off after on-call duties. Whether these changes may have impacted the outcomes in cardiac surgery remains unclear.

Methods: We performed a difference-in-difference analysis of the New York State Cardiac Surgery Reporting System data in 2004-2006 (before the duty-hour policies change) and 2014-2016 (after the change).

Brief report: Cannabis and opioid use disorder among heart failure admissions, 2008-2018.

Background: In the United States, both cannabis use disorder (CUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) have increased in prevalence. The prevalence, demographics, and costs of CUD and OUD are not well known in heart failure (HF) admissions. This study aimed to use a national database to examine the prevalence, demographics, and costs associated with CUD and OUD in HF.

Trends in transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement in the United States, 2008-2018.

We conducted a retrospective study using the NIS database from 2008 to 2018 to examine the most contemporary national hospitalization trends of transcatheter (TAVR) and surgical (SAVR) aortic valve replacement regarding volume, patient and hospital demographics and economics, resource utilization, total cost of stay, and in-hospital mortality. We demonstrate that TAVR procedures have been performed on a slow by steadily diversifying patient population while volume has grown significantly, while in-hospital mortality, length of stay, discharge home, and costs have improved, whereas these metrics have generally remained stable for SAVR. These trends will likely drive continued TAVR adoption, greatly expanding the overall aortic stenosis patient population eligible for AVR.

Evaluation of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cardiac Transplantation.

Background Racial and ethnic disparities contribute to differences in access and outcomes for patients undergoing heart transplantation. We evaluated contemporary outcomes for heart transplantation stratified by race and ethnicity as well as the new 2018 allocation system. Methods and Results Adult heart recipients from 2011 to 2020 were identified in the United Network for Organ Sharing database and stratified into 3 groups: Black, Hispanic, and White.

Mechanical ventilation at the time of heart transplantation and associations with clinical outcomes.

Aims: The impact of mechanical ventilation (MV) at the time of heart transplantation is not well understood. In addition, MV was recently removed as a criterion from the new US heart transplantation allocation system. We sought to assess for the association between MV at transplantation and 1-year mortality.

The Impact of Depression on Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction Treated in the GUIDE-IT Trial.

Background: It remains unclear why depression is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). We examine the relationship between depression and clinical outcomes among patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction managed with guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT).

Methods And Results: Using the GUIDE-IT trial, 894 patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction were stratified according to a history of depression, and Cox proportional hazards regression modeling was used to examine the association with outcomes.

Relationship of surgeon experience and outcomes of surgery for degenerative mitral valve disease.

Objective: To assess the impact of surgeon experience on the outcomes of degenerative mitral valve disease.

Methods: We reviewed all patients who had surgery for degenerative mitral valve disease between 2011 and 2016. Experienced surgeon was defined as performing ≥ 25 mitral valve operations/year.

Variants of the aortic arch in adult general population and their association with thoracic aortic aneurysm disease.

Background: Query a single institution computed tomography (CT) database to assess the prevalence of aortic arch anomalies in general adult population and their potential association with thoracic aortopathies.

Methods: CT chest scan reports of patients aged 50-85 years old performed for any indication at a single health system between 2013 and 2016 were included in the analysis. Characteristics of patients with and without aortic arch anomalies were compared by t test and Fisher exact tests.

Changes in Use of Left Ventricular Assist Devices as Bridge to Transplantation With New Heart Allocation Policy.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to describe outcomes of patients with bridge to heart transplantation (BTT) after changes were made to the donor heart allocation system.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been used as a BTT. On October 18, 2018, the donor heart allocation system in the United States was updated.

Impact of the new heart allocation policy on patients with restrictive, hypertrophic, or congenital cardiomyopathies.

Background: Patients with restrictive or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (RCM/HCM) and congenital heart disease (CHD) do not derive clinical benefit from inotropes and mechanical circulatory support. Concerns were expressed that the new heart allocation system implemented in October 2018 would disadvantage these patients. This paper aimed to examine the impact of the new adult heart allocation system on transplantation and outcomes among patients with RCM/HCM/CHD.