RNAseq profiling of blood from patients with coronary artery disease: Signature of a T cell imbalance.

Background: Cardiovascular disease had a global prevalence of 523 million cases and 18.6 million deaths in 2019. The current standard for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) is coronary angiography either by invasive catheterization (ICA) or computed tomography (CTA).

Direct Comparison of Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Veterans and Non-Veterans Using the Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry.

Objectives: This study aims to compare veterans and non-veterans undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using data from the Society for Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy (STS/ACC TVT) registry.

Methods: Patients undergoing TAVR at George Washington University (GWU) and veterans treated at Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) who underwent TAVR at GWU from 2014-2020 were included. All patients were reported in the TVT registry.

RNA sequencing of blood in coronary artery disease: involvement of regulatory T cell imbalance.

Background: Cardiovascular disease had a global prevalence of 523 million cases and 18.6 million deaths in 2019. The current standard for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) is coronary angiography.

The evolving role of coronary CT angiography in Acute Coronary Syndromes.

In the United States, non-obstructive coronary disease has been on the rise, and each year, nearly one million adults suffer myocardial infarction, 70% of which are non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). In addition, approximately 15% of patients suffering NSTEMI will have subsequent readmission for a recurrent acute coronary syndrome (ACS). While invasive angiography remains the standard of care in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to these patients, these methods have limitations that include procedural complications, uncertain specificity in diagnosis of the culprit lesion in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD), and challenges in following coronary disease over time.

Pseudoaneurysm: a rare complication of distal transradial access in the anatomical snuffbox.

Background: This report presents a case of distal radial artery pseudoaneurysm following cardiac catheterization and its successful endovascular management. Due to its novelty as a catheterization site, few to no reports exist regarding the complications associated with distal radial access.

Case Presentation: A patient presented to the emergency department with severe wrist and hand swelling 48 h after successful cardiac catheterization via distal radial artery access.

Resolving the topological classification of bismuth with topological defects.

The growing diversity of topological classes leads to ambiguity between classes that share similar boundary phenomenology. This is the status of bulk bismuth. Recent studies have classified it as either a strong or a higher-order topological insulator, both of which host helical modes on their boundaries.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Myocardial Infarction in the Transgender Population.

Background: As of 2016, ≈1.4 million people in the United States identify as transgender. Despite their growing number and increasing specific medical needs, there has been a lack of research on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors in this population.

Outcomes of Acute Conduction Abnormalities Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With a Balloon Expandable Valve and Predictors of Delayed Conduction System Abnormalities in Follow-up.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an acceptable treatment for severe aortic stenosis in high or intermediate risk patients. Conduction abnormalities are a known complication of TAVI. Most abnormalities occur perioperatively but can develop later.

Double Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Valve Replacements for Failed Surgical Bioprosthetic Aortic and Tricuspid Valves.

Transcatheter technology has revolutionized the treatment of valvular disease in the field of cardiology and cardiac surgery. We present an interesting case of a patient with prior double valve replacements, which had degenerated after a decade, with symptoms of decompensated heart failure. The patient was successfully treated with double valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic and tricuspid valve replacement.

Quasiparticle Interference Studies of Quantum Materials.

Exotic electronic states are realized in novel quantum materials. This field is revolutionized by the topological classification of materials. Such compounds necessarily host unique states on their boundaries.

Robust Epitaxial Al Coating of Reclined InAs Nanowires.

It was recently shown that in situ epitaxial aluminum coating of indium arsenide nanowires is possible and yields superior properties relative to ex-situ evaporation of aluminum ( Nat. Mater. 2015 , 14 , 400 - 406 ).

Well-differentiated bronchial neuroendocrine tumors: Clinical management and outcomes in 105 patients.

Introduction: Bronchial neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare tumors representing approximately 20%-30% of all neuroendocrine tumors and 2%-3% of all adult lung cancers. Here, they present a large case series of well-differentiated bronchial NETs with the aim of investigating the behavior of these tumors and long-term outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 105 patients with bronchial NETs managed in a tertiary referral center in the period between January 1998 and January 2012.

Estimation of cardiac output and pulmonary vascular resistance by contrast echocardiography transit time measurement: a prospective pilot study.

Background: Studies with other imaging modalities have demonstrated a relationship between contrast transit and cardiac output (CO) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). We tested the hypothesis that the transit time during contrast echocardiography could accurately estimate both CO and PVR compared to right heart catheterization (RHC).

Methods: 27 patients scheduled for RHC had 2D-echocardiogram immediately prior to RHC.

Three-junction SQUID-on-tip with tunable in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic field sensitivity.

Nanoscale superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) demonstrate record sensitivities to small magnetic moments but are typically sensitive only to the field component that is normal to the plane of the SQUID and out-of-plane with respect to the scanned surface. We report on a nanoscale three-junction Pb SQUID, which is fabricated on the apex of a sharp tip. Because of its three-dimensional structure, it exhibits a unique tunable sensitivity to both in-plane and out-of-plane fields.

Aspirin insensitive thrombophilia: transcript profiling of blood identifies platelet abnormalities and HLA restriction.

Aspirin is the most widely used antiplatelet agent because it is safe, efficient, and inexpensive. However, a significant subset of patients does not exhibit a full inhibition of platelet aggregation, termed 'aspirin resistance' (AR). Several major studies have observed that AR patients have a 4-fold increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and other thrombotic events.

Multimodality imaging to diagnose pulmonary vein stenosis following atrial fibrillation ablation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasing in prevalence. Although experienced centers performing radiofrequency pulmonary vein isolation procedures have reported success rates approaching 72%, in rare instances it is complicated by stenosis of one or more pulmonary veins. In this report we present a case of recurrent pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) following radiofrequency ablation for AF.

Evidence based management of patients undergoing PCI. Conclusion.

A panel of leaders in the field of interventional cardiology convened to discuss the evidence-based management of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The articles in this supplement are based on individual presentations given during the panel meeting. Following are key points of the panel's discussion and areas that the panel has indicated warrant further study.

Contrast media and clotting: what is the evidence?

The rapid development of percutaneous coronary and peripheral vascular interventional technologies and also noninvasive imaging systems has led to a dramatic increase in the number of patients receiving contrast media (CM). Although relatively uncommon, adverse events can occur following administration of contrast, including nuisance reactions (e.g.

The concentration of oxygen, lactate and glucose in the central veins, right heart, and pulmonary artery: a study in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Introduction: Decreases in oxygen saturation (SO2) and lactate concentration [Lac] from superior vena cava (SVC) to pulmonary artery have been reported. These gradients (Delta SO2 and Delta[Lac]) are probably created by diluting SVC blood with blood of lower SO2 and [Lac]. We tested the hypothesis that Delta SO2 and Delta[Lac] result from mixing SVC and inferior vena cava (IVC) blood streams.

How long is too long? Association of time delay to successful reperfusion and ventricular function outcome in acute myocardial infarction: the case for thrombolytic therapy before planned angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of time delays to reperfusion on ventricular function after myocardial infarction. This allows one to identify a group of patients in whom a strategy using antecedent pharmacologic reperfusion therapy before planned direct angioplasty may offer significant benefit.

Background: Direct angioplasty for myocardial infarction is associated with a high rate of successful reperfusion compared with pharmacologic reperfusion.

Routine, Early, Coronary Angiography Following Thrombolysis for Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Over the last decade the use of thrombolytic therapy for patients with acute myocardial infarction has resulted in a substantial mortality reduction. While the utility of thrombolytic therapy is now widely recognized, the role of post-infarction coronary angiography remains controversial. In this report we examine the early studies which investigated the necessity and timing of angiography following thrombolysis, and review recent data that underscore the importance of achieving early infarct-related arterial patency.