Insights on DAPT Abbreviation and De-escalation from ULTIMATE-DAPT and Related Trials: Are we Heading Toward an Aspirin-Free Strategy?

The results of the recently concluded ULTIMATE-DAPT and T-PASS trials strongly support the emerging concept of antiplatelet monotherapy in patients at high bleeding risk undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Monotherapy with more potent antiplatelets such as ticagrelor is both a safe and an equally effective strategy to circumvent major bleeding episodes in patients at high bleeding risk while guarding against ischemic events. Although these results were not replicated with low-dose prasugrel monotherapy in the STOP-DAPT-3 trial, the other major trials investigating ticagrelor monotherapy (GLOBAL-LEADERS and TWILIGHT-ACS) suggested the feasibility and appropriateness of abbreviating the dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) as early as 1-3 months of the index procedure.

Subtle echocardiographic markers of CAD: looking beyond the LV ejection fraction in stable angina patients.

Background: A routine echocardiogram aims at identifying only regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) or left ventricle diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) for coronary artery disease (CAD). When absent, a study is often labeled "normal." This creates an unmet need to identify and add subtle markers of CAD to the routine echocardiogram to increase the diagnostic yield.

Use of strain imaging to detect subtle myocardial involvement in post COVID-19 patients: An Indian perspective.

Background: The study assessed Global longitudinal strain imaging (GLS) to detect subtle myocardial dysfunction among patients clinically recovered from COVID-19.

Methods: All patients (n = 101 76 % males, mean age 55.45 ± 11.

How Effective is Fibula Pro Tibia Plating in Treatment of Distal Tibial Fractures: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Despite recent advances, management of distal tibial fractures is challenging, with high rate of complications. Fibula pro tibia plating technique fixes fibula and tibia together, via laterally placed fibular plate without disturbing the tibial soft tissue sleeve. We contemplated this pilot study to assess effectiveness of fibula pro tibia plating in management of distal tibia fibula fractures.

RAdiation Dose Attenuation using RADPAD in CATH lab for primary and secondary operators - RADAR-CATH STUDY.

Background: Radiation injury is an important concern for interventional cardiologists and needs to be addressed. RADPAD is a radiation protection drape that has been shown to reduce the radiation exposure of the primary operator (PO). While Indian data on radiation exposure of the PO in the cath lab are scarce, the exposure of the secondary operator (SO) is even less well studied.

Longitudinal imaging of murine atherosclerosis with 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose and [F]-sodium fluoride in genetically modified Apolipoprotein E knock-out and wild type mice.

In a longitudinal design, four arterial segments in mice were followed by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging. We aimed to determine how the tracers reflected the development of atherosclerosis via the uptake of 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose ([F]FDG) for imaging inflammation and [F]-sodium fluoride (Na[F]F) for imaging active microcalcification in a murine model of atherosclerosis. Apolipoprotein E knock-out (ApoE) mice and C57 BL/6NtaC (B6) mice were divided into four groups.

CellWalker: a user-friendly and modular computational pipeline for morphological analysis of microscopy images.

Summary: The implementation of computational tools for analysis of microscopy images has been one of the most important technological innovations in biology, providing researchers unmatched capabilities to comprehend cell shape and connectivity. While numerous tools exist for image annotation and segmentation, there is a noticeable gap when it comes to morphometric analysis of microscopy images. Most existing tools often measure features solely on 2D serial images, which can be difficult to extrapolate to 3D.

A pilot study evaluating the role of ivabradine for rate control in patients with rheumatic atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: Ivabradine may have a role in rate control of atrial fibrillation (AF) due to effects on HCN channels in AV node. We studied role of Ivabradine in rate control of rheumatic AF.

Methods: 80 patients, rheumatic AF, HR > 100 bpm (age 47 ± 11 yrs, AF duration 6.

3D reconstruction of the cerebellar germinal layer reveals tunneling connections between developing granule cells.

The difficulty of retrieving high-resolution, in vivo evidence of the proliferative and migratory processes occurring in neural germinal zones has limited our understanding of neurodevelopmental mechanisms. Here, we used a connectomic approach using a high-resolution, serial-sectioning scanning electron microscopy volume to investigate the laminar cytoarchitecture of the transient external granular layer (EGL) of the developing cerebellum, where granule cells coordinate a series of mitotic and migratory events. By integrating image segmentation, three-dimensional reconstruction, and deep-learning approaches, we found and characterized anatomically complex intercellular connections bridging pairs of cerebellar granule cells throughout the EGL.

Nanoconfined anti-oxidizing RAFT nitroxide radical polymer for reduction of low-density lipoprotein oxidation and foam cell formation.

Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of death worldwide. Antioxidant therapy has been considered a promising treatment modality for atherosclerosis, since reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We developed ROS-scavenging antioxidant nanoparticles (NPs) that can serve as an effective therapy for atherosclerosis.

Does augmentation of intramedullary nails by a buttress plate effectively restore lateral wall integrity in intertrochanteric fractures.

Background: Recent studies have proved the importance of intact lateral trochanteric wall, thus buttressing/fixing the broken lateral trochanteric wall irrespective of the implant, is likely to improve the alignment and outcome. We compared the outcome of lateral wall buttressing by trochanteric buttress plate (TBP) supplemented to proximal femoral nailing versus proximal femoral nailing alone in patients of broken lateral wall intertrochanteric fractures.

Material And Method: Sixty patients of intertrochanteric factures (IT) of femur with broken lateral wall were randomized into group A or B and were treated with either proximal femoral nail (PFN) alone or proximal femoral nail augmented with trochanteric buttress plate (PFN + TBP), respectively.

Combination of [Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE Targeted Radionuclide Therapy and Photothermal Therapy as a Promising Approach for Cancer Treatment: In Vivo Studies in a Human Xenograft Mouse Model.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) relies on α- and β-emitting radionuclides bound to a peptide that commonly targets somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) for the localized killing of tumors through ionizing radiation. A Lutetium-177 (Lu)-based probe linked to the somatostatin analog octreotate ([Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE) is approved for the treatment of certain SSTR-expressing tumors and has been shown to improve survival. However, a limiting factor of PRRT is the potential toxicity derived from the high doses needed to kill the tumor.

In vivo detection of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression in arterial atherogenesis using [Cu]Cu-DOTA-AE105 positron emission tomography (PET).

Background And Aims: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and cancer aggressiveness. Its role in arterial atherogenesis as a molecular imaging target is not well-established. The aim of this study was to non-invasively visualize uPAR expression in atherosclerosis by a novel uPAR-targeting positron emission tomography (PET) tracer [Cu]Cu-DOTA-AE105.

Simultaneous Cross-Linking and Cross-Polymerization of Enzyme Responsive Polyethylene Glycol Nanogels in Confined Aqueous Droplets for Reduction of Low-Density Lipoprotein Oxidation.

A key initiating step in atherosclerosis is the accumulation and retention of apolipoprotein B complexing lipoproteins within the artery walls. In this work, we address this exact initiating mechanism of atherosclerosis, which results from the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) using therapeutic nanogels. We present the development of biocompatible polyethylene glycol (PEG) cross-linked nanogels formed from a single simultaneous cross-linking and co-polymerization step in water without the requirement for an organic solvent, high temperature, or shear stress.

Nanotribological Printing: A Nanoscale Additive Manufacturing Method.

Additive manufacturing methods are transforming the way components and devices are fabricated, which in turn is opening up completely new vistas for conceiving and designing products and engineered systems. Small-scale (submicrometer) additive manufacturing methods are largely in their infancy. While a number of methods exist, a particular challenge lies in finding methods that can produce a range of materials while obtaining sufficiently robust mechanical properties.

Nanoscale Generation of Robust Solid Films from Liquid-Dispersed Nanoparticles via in Situ Atomic Force Microscopy: Growth Kinetics and Nanomechanical Properties.

Inorganic metal-oxide nanoparticles have been identified as candidate materials for replacing zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) antiwear additives in automotive lubricants due to their ability to form protective antiwear tribofilms. However, the nanoscale mechanisms that control the growth and properties of these tribofilms remain unknown. Here, we present the results of an in situ study of the kinetics of nanoparticle tribofilm growth using colloidal-probe atomic force microscopy (AFM).

l-Dopa and dopamine conjugated naphthalenediimides modulate amyloid β toxicity.

The process of protein misfolding and aggregation to form neurotoxic species is strongly implicated in most of the neurodegenerative disorders. In particular, amyloid beta (Aβ) misfolding and aggregation is central to pathophysiological processes of Alzheimer's disease. The development of aggregation modulators has enormous implications in the discovery of effective therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease.

Conformational heterogeneity in tails of DNA-binding proteins is augmented by proline containing repeats.

A cationic terminal extension or tail is a common feature of many DNA-binding proteins. We show that a particular type of tail rich in proline, alanine and lysine belongs to the class of 'flexible disorder' and consists of characteristic pentapeptide repeats. Our designed peptides, (AAKKA) and (PAKKA), represent the tails of several bacterial DNA-binding proteins.

Crystallographic insight-guided nanoarchitectonics and conductivity modulation of an n-type organic semiconductor through peptide conjugation.

Crystallographic insight-guided nanoarchitectonics of peptide-conjugated naphthalene diimide (NDI) is described. In a bio-inspired approach, non-proteinogenic α-amino isobutyric acid (Aib)- and alanine (Ala)-derived peptides orchestrated the 1D achiral and 2D chiral molecular ordering of NDI, respectively, which resulted in modulation of nanoscale morphology, chiroptical and conductivity properties.

The extended wedge method: atomic force microscope friction calibration for improved tolerance to instrument misalignments, tip offset, and blunt probes.

One of the major challenges in understanding and controlling friction is the difficulty in bridging the length and time scales of macroscale contacts and those of the single asperity interactions they comprise. While the atomic force microscope (AFM) offers a unique ability to probe tribological surfaces in a wear-free single-asperity contact, instrument calibration challenges have limited the usefulness of this technique for quantitative nanotribological studies. A number of lateral force calibration techniques have been proposed and used, but none has gained universal acceptance due to practical considerations, configuration limitations, or sensitivities to unknowable error sources.

Prediction of protein-mannose binding sites using random forest.

Mannose is an abundant cell surface monosaccharide and has an important role in many biochemical processes. It binds to a great diversity of receptor proteins. In this study we have employed Random Forest for prediction of mannose binding sites.

Comparison of Static and Dynamic Cardiac Perfusion Thallium-201 SPECT.

Cardiac SPECT is typically performed clinically with static imaging protocols and visually assessed for perfusion defects based upon the relative intensity of myocardial regions. Dynamic imaging, however, has the potential to provide quantitative measures of flow, possibly improving diagnosis. The objective of this study was to compare the information content of dynamic and static thallium SPECT imaging as measures of myocardial perfusion.

Compartmental modeling of technetium-99m-labeled teboroxime with dynamic single-photon emission computed tomography: comparison with static thallium-201 in a canine model.

Unlabelled: Di Bella EVR, Ross SG, Kadrmas DJ, et al. Compartmental modeling of technetium-99m-labeled teboroxime with dynamic single-photon emission computed tomography: Comparison with static thallium-201 in a canine model. Invest Radiol 2001;36:178-185.

SPECT Imaging of Teboroxime during Myocardial Blood Flow Changes.

Kinetic parameters and static images from dynamic SPECT imaging of (99m)Tc-teboroxime have been shown to reflect blood flow in dogs and in humans at rest and during adenosine stress. When compartment modeling is used, steady-state physiological conditions are assumed. With standard adenosine stress protocols, imaging of teboroxime would likely involve significant changes in flow, even if performed only for five minutes.

Static Versus Dynamic Teboroxime Myocardial Perfusion SPECT in Canines.

Tc-99m-teboroxime is a perfusion tracer with high myocardial extraction, fast washin and washout kinetics, and excellent imaging properties. The fast kinetics pose some problems for static imaging, but they also allow for back-to-back stress / rest studies to be performed very quickly. Furthermore, such fast kinetics are ideally suited for dynamic imaging.