MitraClip therapy in surgical high-risk patients: identification of echocardiographic variables affecting acute procedural outcome.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess predictors of acute procedural failure in surgical high-risk patients undergoing MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Abbott Park, Illinois) therapy.

Background: MitraClip implantation is a novel percutaneous option to treat significant mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods: In 300 patients (75 ± 9 years of age, 190 [63%] men), of whom 32 (10.

Aetiology of mitral regurgitation differentially affects 2-year adverse outcomes after MitraClip therapy in high-risk patients.

Aims: To assess, and identify predictors of 2-year adverse outcomes of surgical high-risk patients after successful MitraClip therapy (MC), differentiated by the aetiology of mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods And Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess survival free from death, heart failure rehospitalization, and reintervention up to 2 years in 202 successfully treated patients [74 ± 9 years, 132 men (65%); secondary MR aetiology in 140 patients, primary MR in 62]. Predictors for study endpoints were determined using Cox regression analyses.

In vitro blockade of adhesion of breast cancer cells to endothelial cells using anti-inflammatory drugs.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that a pro-inflammatory microenvironment affects distant metastasis of breast cancer cells, in particular by favoring tumor cell adhesion to endothelium. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of different anti-inflammatory drugs to inhibit this effect in vitro.

Materials And Methods: Breast cancer cells from the metastatic cell line KM22 were incubated with activated Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).