Lower basophil count after anti-thymocyte globulin induction is associated with lower incidence of acute cellular rejection in heart transplant recipients.

Introduction: While lymphodepletion is considered a therapeutic effect of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG), a concomitant decrease in basophil count (BC) has unknown clinical effect.

Objective: To investigate the association between BC following rATG induction and acute cellular rejection (ACR) during the first post-HTx year.

Methods: Retrospective single-center study included 183 HTx recipients receiving rATG induction between 2010 and 2021 (mean age 52 ± 13 years, 23 % female).

Myocardial deposition of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, and lead accelerates heart failure and alters UPRmt in humans.

In the myocardium of control subjects and patients undergoing heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device implantation (LVAD), we analyzed concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Pb, and Ni using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Myocardial generation of oxidative-stress-induced lipid peroxidation was analyzed by quantifying concentration of 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) with ELISA and pro-apoptotic DAPK2 gene expression was determined with quantitative RT-PCR. Compared to six control hearts, myocardial samples of 128 individuals undergoing heart transplantation or LVAD implantation exhibited a moderate increase in deposition of five tested non-essential elements, which was significantly increased only for Cd and cumulative deposition of Al, As, Cd, and Pb.

Stanford A aortic dissection 40 years after aortic valve replacement with a Starr-Edwards caged-ball prosthesis: a case report.

Stanford A aortic dissection is one of the most devastating acute medical conditions due to its high morbidity and mortality. We describe a 77-year-old male patient with a medical history of surgical aortic valve replacement with a still functioning Starr-Edwards caged-ball valve 40 years prior. The patient was promptly diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm and dissection, and an emergency Bentall procedure in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was performed.

Cardiotoxicity of Iron and Zinc and Their Association with the Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response in Humans.

This study was designed to examine the association between myocardial concentrations of the trace elements Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn and the expression of mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) elements and the age of patients who received heart transplantation or a left-ventricular assist device (ageHTx/LVAD). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn in the myocardium of control subjects and patients undergoing heart transplantation or left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We used ELISA to quantify the expression of UPRmt proteins and 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), which served as a marker of oxidative-stress-induced lipid peroxidation.

Aortic valve replacement vs. conservative treatment in asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis: long-term follow-up of the AVATAR trial.

Background And Aims: The question of when and how to treat truly asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function is still subject to debate and ongoing research. Here, the results of extended follow-up of the AVATAR trial are reported (NCT02436655, ClinicalTrials.gov).