Predicting mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement using AI-based fully automated left atrioventricular coupling index.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether artificial intelligence (AI)-based automated assessment of left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) can provide incremental value above other traditional risk factors for predicting mortality among patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing coronary CT angiography (CCTA) before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated patients with severe AS who underwent CCTA examination before TAVR between September 2014 and December 2020. An AI-prototype software fully automatically calculated left atrial and left ventricular end-diastolic volumes and LACI was defined by the ratio between them.

BlpU is a broad-spectrum bacteriocin in .

strain B59671 naturally produces thermophilin 110, a broad-spectrum bacteriocin encoded within the bacteriocin-like peptide () gene cluster, and thermophilin 13 from a separate chromosomal locus. Analysis of the gene cluster revealed two genes, and , as potentially encoding bacteriocins. Deletion of from the B59671 chromosome did not result in a loss of antimicrobial activity against either ST113 or F.

CT in Transcatheter-delivered Treatment of Valvular Heart Disease.

Minimally invasive strategies to treat valvular heart disease have emerged over the past 2 decades. The use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the treatment of severe aortic stenosis, for example, has recently expanded from high- to low-risk patients and became an alternative treatment for those with prohibitive surgical risk. With the increase in transcatheter strategies, multimodality imaging, including echocardiography, CT, fluoroscopy, and cardiac MRI, are used.

Intermittent Occlusion of the Superior Vena Cava to Improve Hemodynamics in Patients With Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure: The VENUS-HF Early Feasibility Study.

Background: Reducing congestion remains a primary target of therapy for acutely decompensated heart failure. The VENUS-HF EFS (VENUS-Heart Failure Early Feasibility Study) is the first clinical trial testing intermittent occlusion of the superior vena cava with the preCARDIA system, a catheter mounted balloon and pump console, to improve decongestion in acutely decompensated heart failure.

Methods: In a multicenter, prospective, single-arm exploratory safety and feasibility trial, 30 patients with acutely decompensated heart failure were assigned to preCARDIA therapy for 12 or 24 hours.

Thermophilin 110 inhibits growth and biofilm formation of .

Dental caries continues to occur in both children and adults worldwide resulting in significant economic burden, and consumers have expressed interest in natural products that can prevent these recurrent infections. In this study, B59671, which produces thermophilin 110, was shown to inhibit the growth of UA159. A thermophilin concentration ≥ 80 AU ml prevented the growth of UA159 in batch culture, while ≥ 160 AU ml was required to prevent biofilm growth.

Ventricular septal defect complicating delayed presentation of acute myocardial infarction during COVID-19 lockdown: a case report.

Background: Post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal defects (VSDs) have become rare in the reperfusion era but remain associated with very high morbidity and mortality. As patients defer prompt evaluation and management of acute coronary syndromes during the COVID-19 global pandemic, the incidence of these and other post-infarction mechanical complications is expected to increase.

Case Summary: A 37-year-old gentleman with multiple coronary artery disease risk factors presented with intermittent chest discomfort and 1 week of heart failure symptoms.

Hemodynamic Impact of MitraClip Procedure for Systemic Tricuspid Regurgitation in Congenitally Corrected Transposition of Great Arteries: A Case Report.

Patients with congenitally-corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) commonly develop significant systemic tricuspid valve regurgitation and systemic right ventricular dysfunction in adulthood, both of which presenting a therapeutic dilemma for the care team. Here we describe the case of a 35-year-old male with congenitally-corrected transposition of the great arteries who presented with severe systemic tricuspid valve regurgitation, biventricular systolic failure, and pulmonary hypertension. Due to prohibitive surgical risk, he underwent percutaneous tricuspid valve repair via MitraClip placement.

SCAI expert consensus statement update on best practices for transradial angiography and intervention.

Transradial angiography and intervention continues to become increasingly common as an access site for coronary procedures. Since the first "Best Practices" paper in 2013, ongoing trials have shed further light onto the safest and most efficient methods to perform these procedures. Specifically, this document comments on the use of ultrasound to facilitate radial access, the role of ulnar artery access, the utility of non-invasive testing of collateral flow, strategies to prevent radial artery occlusion, radial access for primary PCI and topics that require further study.

Influence of Coronary Calcium on Diagnostic Performance of Machine Learning CT-FFR: Results From MACHINE Registry.

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the influence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) score on the diagnostic performance of machine-learning-based coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography (cCTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR).

Background: CT-FFR is used reliably to detect lesion-specific ischemia. Novel CT-FFR algorithms using machine-learning artificial intelligence techniques perform fast and require less complex computational fluid dynamics.

Relation of Lymphangiogenic Factor Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D to Elevated Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure.

Lymphatic flow is augmented in states of chronic heart failure (cHF). However, the biological mechanism driving increased lymphatic flow capacity (lymphangiogenesis) in cHF is unknown. Recent studies have indicated that vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF-A, -C, and -D) are involved in lymphangiogenesis.

Complete Genome Sequences of Bacteriocin-Producing Streptococcus thermophilus Strains ST106 and ST109.

Streptococcus thermophilus strains ST106 and ST109 produce broad-spectrum bacteriocins encoded within a bacteriocin-like peptide () gene cluster. This study reports the complete genome sequences for both strains, with the ST109 chromosome containing 1,788,866 nucleotides (nt) and 1,572 predicted genes, and ST106 having 1,856,083 nt and 1,601 predicted genes.

Thermophilin 109 is a naturally produced broad spectrum bacteriocin encoded within the blp gene cluster of Streptococcus thermophilus.

Objectives: To demonstrate that S. thermophilus ST109 produces an antimicrobial peptide encoded within the bacteriocin-like peptide (blp) gene cluster, and to determine its broad spectrum activity against potential human pathogens.

Results: Analysis of the cell free supernatant (CFS) revealed that antimicrobial activity was associated with the presence of a heat-stable peptide of approximately 5-6 kDa; and activity was lost after protease treatment or exposure to α-amylase.

Effects of Percutaneous LVAD Support on Right Ventricular Load and Adaptation.

Both operative and hemodynamic mechanisms have been implicated in right heart failure (RHF) following surgical left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We investigated the effects of percutaneous LVAD (pLVAD; Impella®, Abiomed) support on right ventricular (RV) load and adaptation. We reviewed all patients receiving a pLVAD for cardiogenic shock at our institution between July 2014 and April 2017, including only those with pre- and post-pLVAD invasive hemodynamic measurements.

Coronary CT Angiography-derived Fractional Flow Reserve: Machine Learning Algorithm versus Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling.

Purpose To compare two technical approaches for determination of coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR)-FFR derived from coronary CT angiography based on computational fluid dynamics (hereafter, FFR) and FFR derived from coronary CT angiography based on machine learning algorithm (hereafter, FFR)-against coronary CT angiography and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). Materials and Methods A total of 85 patients (mean age, 62 years ± 11 [standard deviation]; 62% men) who had undergone coronary CT angiography followed by invasive FFR were included in this single-center retrospective study. FFR values were derived on-site from coronary CT angiography data sets by using both FFR and FFR.