Optical Coherence Tomography-Based Functional Stenosis Assessment: FUSION-A Prospective Multicenter Trial.

Background: Intravascular imaging and intracoronary physiology may both be used to guide and optimize percutaneous coronary intervention; however, they are rarely used together. The virtual flow reserve (VFR) is an optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based model of fractional flow reserve (FFR) facilitating the assessment of the physiological significance of coronary lesions. We aimed to validate the VFR assessment of intermediate coronary artery stenoses.

Potential mechanisms underlying the effect of gender on response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: insights from the SMART-AV multicenter trial.

Background: Recent studies demonstrate that women may respond more favorably to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) than do men. The mechanisms remain unclear.

Objectives: To describe the effects of gender on response to CRT and to explore potential mechanisms behind these differences.

Primary results from the SmartDelay determined AV optimization: a comparison to other AV delay methods used in cardiac resynchronization therapy (SMART-AV) trial: a randomized trial comparing empirical, echocardiography-guided, and algorithmic atrioventricular delay programming in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: one variable that may influence cardiac resynchronization therapy response is the programmed atrioventricular (AV) delay. The SmartDelay determined av optimization: a comparison to other AV delay methods used in cardiac resynchronization therapy (SMART-AV) trial prospectively randomized patients to a fixed empirical AV delay (120 milliseconds), echocardiographically optimized AV delay, or AV delay optimized with SmartDelay, an electrogram-based algorithm.

Methods And Results: a total of 1014 patients (68% men; mean age, 66 ± 11 years; mean left ventricular ejection fraction, 25 ± 7%) who met enrollment criteria received a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator, and 980 patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio.

Untreated HIV infection and large and small artery elasticity.

Background: Untreated HIV infection may increase risk for cardiovascular disease, and arterial elasticity is a marker of cardiovascular risk and early disease.

Methods: HIV-infected participants not taking antiretroviral therapy (n=32) were compared with HIV-negative controls (n=30). Large and small artery elasticity (LAE and SAE) were estimated via analysis of radial pulse waveforms.

Survival patterns among lymphoma patients with a family history of lymphoma.

Purpose: Genetic factors are important in the etiology and pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Only a few small studies have assessed clinical characteristics and prognosis for familial patients, with inconsistent findings.

Methods: Using population-based registries from Sweden and Denmark, 7,749 patients with CLL, 7,476 patients with HL, and 25,801 patients with NHL with linkable first-degree relatives were identified.

CD4+ count and risk of non-AIDS diseases following initial treatment for HIV infection.

Background: Reductions in AIDS-related morbidity and mortality following the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy have coincided with relative increases in chronic non-AIDS end-organ diseases among HIV+ patients.

Objective: To examine the association of latest CD4+ counts with risk of non-AIDS diseases in a cohort of 1397 patients who initiate antiretroviral therapy.

Methods: CD4+ counts and HIV RNA levels along with fatal, and non-fatal, AIDS and non-AIDS diseases (liver, cardiovascular, renal, and cancer) were assessed over a median follow-up of 5 years.

Respiratory tract infections in the pathway to multiple myeloma: a population-based study in Scandinavia.

Encounter with infectious antigens has been proposed to initiate the cascade of events associated with progression from premalignancy (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, MGUS) to multiple myeloma (MM). We conducted a population-based case-control study to evaluate risk of developing MM associated with a personal history of various respiratory tracts infections occurring >1 year prior to MM. Inpatient (1977-1997) and outpatient (1994-1997) diagnoses were obtained for all MM patients (n=4,476) diagnosed in Denmark (1977-1997) and 16,727 matched controls.

Respiratory tract infections and subsequent risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Recent evidence suggests that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) might occur following a response to an infectious agent. We conducted a population-based study including 4249 CLL patients diagnosed in Denmark from 1977 to 1997 and 15 690 frequency-matched controls to quantify risk of CLL following various airway infections. Through data linkage we gathered information on hospital inpatient/outpatient discharges that listed infections present at least 1 year prior to CLL.