The influence of lipoprotein(a) on aortic valve calcification in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) have been recognized as substantial risk factors for cardiovascular disease and aortic stenosis (AS). However, the specific role of Lp(a) in promoting aortic valve calcification (AVC) and influencing mortality in elderly, multimorbid patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains unclear and warrants further investigation.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on all consecutive patients who underwent TAVR between August 2019 and June 2020 at our clinic.

Development of criteria to optimize manual smear review of automated complete blood counts using a machine learning model.

Objective: In this study, we aim to determine if machine learning can reduce manual smear review (MSR) rates while meeting or exceeding the performance of traditional MSR criteria.

Method: 9938 automated CBCs with paired MSRs were performed on samples from rhesus and cynomolgus macaques. The definition of a positive (abnormal) smear was determined.

Impact of right ventricular function on cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in mitral regurgitation patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve intervention.

Objective: Transcatheter mitral valve interventions (TMVI) have been proven to reduce symptom burden and improve outcomes in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). However, the impact of right ventricular function (RVF) on exercise capacity in MR patients is less well understood.

Methods: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the most comprehensive approach to assess maximum exercise capacity.

Exercise testing in patients with tricuspid regurgitation undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention.

Background: Transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI) has shown promising results with persistent reduction of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and improvements in functional class and quality of life (QOL).

Objectives: To analyze the impact of TTVI on maximal and submaximal exercise capacity (SEC).

Methods: Constant work-rate exercise-time (CWRET) testing reflects SEC, which is more likely to be relevant for daily life activities and provides more differentiated physiological insight into the nature of exercise intolerance.

Robustness of tricuspid regurgitation reduction at 1 year following edge-to-edge repair for primary tricuspid regurgitation.

Background And Objective: Within recent years, transcatheter tricuspid edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) has emerged as a safe and effective treatment option in patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR). However, for primary TR, data on the robustness and durability of TR reduction 1 year following T-TEER is limited.

Methods: All consecutive patients treated with T-TEER for TR at two high-volume centers between September 2018 and December 2022 were enrolled in a registry.

Time to assess more than prognosis: advancements and challenges in transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions.

We provide an overview about the current landscape of transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions (TTVI) and summarize recent findings from trials including TRILUMINATE, TRILUMINATE Pivotal, bRIGHT, TRICLASP, TRISCEND, TRISCEND II, TRICUS, and Cardioband TR EFS. These studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of TTVI. Yet, they have failed to show a prognostic benefit over conservative treatment.

Artificial intelligence-analyzed computed tomography in patients undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve repair.

Background: Baseline right ventricular (RV) function derived from 3-dimensional analyses has been demonstrated to be predictive in patients undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve repair (TTVR). The complex nature of these cumbersome analyses makes patient selection based on established imaging methods challenging. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven computed tomography (CT) segmentation of the RV might serve as a fast and predictive tool for evaluating patients prior to TTVR.

GLIDE Score: Scoring System for Prediction of Procedural Success in Tricuspid Valve Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair.

Background: Tricuspid valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) is the most widely used transcatheter therapy to treat patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a simple anatomical score to predict procedural outcomes of T-TEER.

Methods: All patients (n = 168) who underwent T-TEER between January 2017 and November 2022 at 2 centers were included in the derivation cohort.

Mortality after cardiac resynchronization therapy or right ventricular pacing in transcatheter aortic valve replacement recipients.

Background: Permanent pacemaker implantation (PMI) is associated with increased morbidity after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Cardiac resynchronization-therapy (CRT) is recommended for patients if left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is ≤ 40% and ventricular pacing is expected in favor to sole right ventricular (RV) pacing. Meanwhile, LVEF may recover after TAVR in patients with aortic valve disease and the benefit of CRT is unknown.

Seminoperitoneum in a Dog with a History of a Vasectomy: Case Report.

An 8 yr old male German shorthaired pointer was presented on July 4, 2022, for acute abdominal and testicular pain. The dog was vasectomized at an unknown age under the care of his previous owners. The dog had an enlarged, painful left testis, scrotal edema, and an enlarged, nonpainful prostate.

Incidence and clinical impact of renal failure and bleeding following transcatheter tricuspid valve annuloplasty.

Background: Bleeding is the most common complication after percutaneous leaflet-based tricuspid valve repair and associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) and adverse outcome. TTVA with the Cardioband system is a technically more complex procedure; however, frequency and prognostic impact of postinterventional bleeding and renal complications have not been thoroughly examined.

Aims: This study was performed to determine the incidence and clinical impact of bleeding complications (MVARC criteria) and acute kidney injury (KDIGO criteria) following transcatheter tricuspid valve annuloplasty (TTVA).

A Comparative Study of 1-Year Postprocedural Outcomes in Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair in Advanced Primary Mitral Regurgitation: PASCAL vs. MitraClip.

Both the MitraClip and PASCAL systems offer transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) solutions for mitral regurgitation. Evidence indicates a lower technical success rate for TEER in complex degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) cases. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent transcatheter edge-to-edge therapy for primary mitral regurgitation with advanced anatomy, defined as mitral regurgitation effective regurgitant orifice area (MR-EROA) ≥0.

Tricuspid valve disease and cardiac implantable electronic devices.

The role of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-related tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is increasingly recognized as an independent clinical entity. Hence, interventional TR treatment options continuously evolve, surgical risk assessment and peri-operative care improve the management of CIED-related TR, and the role of lead extraction is of high interest. Furthermore, novel surgical and interventional tricuspid valve treatment options are increasingly applied to patients suffering from TR associated with or related to CIEDs.

Artificial intelligence-enabled assessment of right ventricular to pulmonary artery coupling in patients undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention.

Aims: Right ventricular to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling has been established as a prognostic marker in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions (TTVI). RV-PA coupling assesses right ventricular systolic function related to pulmonary artery pressure levels, which are ideally measured by right heart catheterization. This study aimed to improve the RV-PA coupling concept by relating tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) to mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) levels.

Tricuspid edge-to-edge repair for tricuspid valve prolapse and flail leaflet: feasibility in comparison to patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation.

Aims: Transcatheter tricuspid edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) has gained widespread use for the treatment of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in symptomatic patients with high operative risk. Although secondary TR is the most common pathology, some patients exhibit primary or predominantly primary TR. Characterization of patients with these pathologies in the T-TEER context has not been systematically performed.

Long-term assessment of relationships between changing environmental conditions and the physiology of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears (Ursus maritimus).

Climate change is influencing polar bear (Ursus maritimus) habitat, diet, and behavior but the effects of these changes on their physiology is not well understood. Blood-based biomarkers are used to assess the physiologic health of individuals but their usefulness for evaluating population health, especially as it relates to changing environmental conditions, has rarely been explored. We describe links between environmental conditions and physiologic functions of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears using data from blood samples collected from 1984 to 2018, a period marked by extensive environmental change.

Characterization of Screen Failures Among Patients Evaluated for Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair (TriSelect-Study).

Background: Transcatheter tricuspid valve repair (TTVr) has significantly expanded treatment options for tricuspid regurgitation (TR). However, a sizeable proportion of patients are still declined for TTVr and little is known about their clinical characteristics and cardiac morphology.

Objectives: This study sought to characterize patients who screen fail for TTVr with respect to their clinical characteristics and cardiac morphology.

A Stepwise Approach for Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair in Very Advanced Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is the most widely used approach for tricuspid regurgitation in patients with prohibitive surgical risk. However, TEER might not be feasible in advanced tricuspid regurgitation. In such cases, a stepwise approach with initial annuloplasty and subsequent TEER can be a worthwhile alternative, which is reported in this series.