First Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty in a Pregnant Patient in Tanzania.

Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) is a safe alternative to management of a pregnant woman with mitral stenosis. We report the first successful PBMV in a 27-year-old pregnant patient in Tanzania at 32 weeks gestation with NYHA functional class III symptoms. PBMV yielded excellent results.

Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes and Diabetes: Results from ACS QUIK Trial in India.

Background: Despite cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death in India, limited data exist regarding the factors associated with outcomes in patients with diabetes who suffer acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: We examined 21,374 patients with AMI enrolled in the ACS QUIK trial. We compared in-hospital and 30-day major adverse cardiac events including death, re-infarction, stroke, or major bleeding in those with and without diabetes.

Outcomes of atherectomy in patients undergoing lower extremity revascularisation.

Background: There is a paucity of real-world data on the in-hospital (IH) and post-discharge outcomes in patients undergoing lower extremity peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) with adjunctive atherectomy.

Aims: In this retrospective, registry-based study, we evaluated IH and post-discharge outcomes among patients undergoing PVI, treated with or without atherectomy, in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry PVI Registry.

Methods: The IH composite endpoint included procedural complications, bleeding or thrombosis.

Structural Valve Deterioration in Transcatheter Aortic Bioprostheses: Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, and Treatment.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has emerged as the preferred treatment modality in most patients with severe aortic stenosis. With its global adoption and broader application in younger and healthier patients, the issue of transcatheter bioprosthetic valve degeneration and its impact on valve durability continues to earn clinical relevance. Differences in the pathophysiologic processes that separate native from transcatheter heart valve deterioration remain poorly understood.

Characteristics and immediate outcomes of patients who underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, Tanzania.

Background: For rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS), a multidisciplinary evaluation is mandatory to determine the optimal treatment: medical, percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) or valve surgery. Clinical and imaging evaluations are essential for procedural risk assessment and outcomes. PBMV interventions are increasingly available in Africa and are feasible options for selected candidates.

Clinical characteristics and cardiovascular outcomes among young patients with acute myocardial infarction in Kerala, India: A secondary analysis of ACS QUIK trial.

Background: Limited data exist on the risk profile and outcomes among young patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs). This study explored differences in the clinical characteristics, medical care, and outcomes of AMI in young adults in India with a subanalysis focusing on sex disparities amongst the young.

Methods: Using the Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement in Kerala trial database, we compared baseline characteristics, management, and outcomes amongst the young patients(≤50 years) and their older counterparts.

Association of ACEI/ARB and statin prescribing patterns with mortality after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): Findings from real-world claims data.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the standard of care for most patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), but the impact of medical therapy prescribing patterns on post-TAVR patients has not been thoroughly investigated.

Methods: We analyzed Optum claims data from 9,012 adults who received TAVR for AS (January 2014-December 2018). Pharmacy claims data were used to identify patients who filled ACEI/ARB and/or statin prescriptions during the study's 90-day landmark period post-TAVR.

Climate change and cardiovascular disease: implications for global health.

Climate change is the greatest existential challenge to planetary and human health and is dictated by a shift in the Earth's weather and air conditions owing to anthropogenic activity. Climate change has resulted not only in extreme temperatures, but also in an increase in the frequency of droughts, wildfires, dust storms, coastal flooding, storm surges and hurricanes, as well as multiple compound and cascading events. The interactions between climate change and health outcomes are diverse and complex and include several exposure pathways that might promote the development of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease.

Diverging levels of COVID-19 governmental response satisfaction across middle eastern Arab countries: a multinational study.

Background: Public acceptance of governmental measures are key to controlling the spread of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant burden on healthcare systems for high-income countries as well as low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The ability of LMICs to respond to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic has been limited and may have affected the impact of governmental strategies to control the spread of COVID-19.

Trends in Transcatheter vs Surgical Mitral Valve Repair Among Medicare Beneficiaries, 2012 to 2019.

This cross-sectional study of Medicare data from 2012 to 2019 assesses national trends in the use of mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair relative to surgical mitral valve repair.

Intravascular Fluorescence Molecular Imaging of Atherosclerosis.

Optical molecular imaging using near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) light is an emerging high-resolution imaging approach to image a wide range of molecular and cellular species in vivo. Imaging using NIR wavelengths (650-900 nm) enables deeper photon penetration into tissue and reduced tissue autofluorescence, resulting in higher sensitivity to detect exogenously administered NIR fluorophores (injectable molecular imaging agents). Greater imaging depth of several centimeters is further achievable in the NIR window as blood absorption is as an order of magnitude lower than in the visible range.

Structural and Functional Analysis of Female Sex Hormones against SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry.

Emerging evidence suggests that males are more susceptible to severe infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus than females. A variety of mechanisms may underlie the observed gender-related disparities including differences in sex hormones. However, the precise mechanisms by which female sex hormones may provide protection against SARS-CoV-2 infectivity remains unknown.

Intravascular molecular-structural imaging with a miniaturized integrated near-infrared fluorescence and ultrasound catheter.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of mortality and warrants new imaging approaches to better guide clinical care. We report on a miniaturized, hybrid intravascular catheter and imaging system for comprehensive coronary artery imaging in vivo. Our catheter exhibits a total diameter of 1.

Kirigami-inspired stents for sustained local delivery of therapeutics.

Implantable drug depots have the capacity to locally meet therapeutic requirements by maximizing local drug efficacy and minimizing potential systemic side effects. Tubular organs including the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and vasculature all manifest with endoluminal disease. The anatomic distribution of localized drug delivery for these organs using existing therapeutic modalities is limited.

Near-Infrared Autofluorescence in Atherosclerosis Associates With Ceroid and Is Generated by Oxidized Lipid-Induced Oxidative Stress.

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Clinical practice patterns and ascertainment bias for cardiovascular events in a randomized trial: A survey of investigators in the BEST-CLI trial.

Ascertainment bias is a well-recognized source of bias in research, but few studies have systematically analyzed sources of ascertainment bias in randomized trials in which blinding is not possible and endpoint assessment is not protocolized. In the current study, we sought to evaluate differences in the clinical practice patterns of trial investigators with respect to bias in the ascertainment of pre-revascularization patient risk and the incidence of secondary endpoints post-revascularization. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of active investigators ( = 936) from the Best Endovascular Versus Best Surgical Therapy for Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia (BEST-CLI) trial.

Sex disparities in the presentation, management and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome: insights from the ACS QUIK trial.

Aims: Our aim was to explore sex differences and inequalities in terms of medical management and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in a low/middle-income country (LMIC), where reports are scarce.

Methods: We examined sex differences in presentation, management and clinical outcomes in 21 374 patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Kerala, India enrolled in the Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement in Kerala trial. The main outcomes were the rates of in-hospital and 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) defined as composite of death, reinfarction, stroke and major bleeding.

Health Care Utilization Following Inpatient Femoropopliteal Revascularization With Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty: A Nationwide Cohort Analysis.

Purpose: To examine nationwide variations in inpatient use of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for treating femoropopliteal segment occlusive disease and whether DCBs are associated with reduced early out-of-hospital health care utilization.

Materials And Methods: The study included 24,022 patients who survived hospitalization for femoropopliteal revascularization using DCB angioplasty (n=7850) or uncoated balloon angioplasty (n=16,172) in the 2016-2017 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Differences in patient, hospitalization, and institutional characteristics were compared between treatment strategies.

Patient and Provider Risk in Managing ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Decision Analysis.

Background: The optimal treatment strategy for treating ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is unclear given the potential risk of occupational exposure during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). We quantified the impact of different STEMI treatment strategies on patient outcomes and provider risk in context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Using a decision-analytic framework, we evaluated the effect of PPCI versus the pharmaco-invasive strategy for managing STEMI on 30-day patient mortality and individual provider infection risk based on presence of cardiogenic shock, suspected coronary territory, and presence of known or presumptive COVID-19 infection.

Comparative Effectiveness of Reperfusion Strategies in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Secondary Analysis of the Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement in Kerala (ACS QUIK) Trial.

Introduction: Substantial heterogeneity exists in reperfusion strategies for patients with ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We sought to compare outcomes associated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and non-primary percutaneous coronary intervention (nPPCI) reperfusion strategies in patients with STEMI in Kerala, India.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with STEMI (n = 8665) from the Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement in Kerala (ACS QUIK) randomized trial receiving either PPCI (n = 6623) or nPPCI (n = 2042).

Detection of Leak From Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Using Dielectric Imaging.

Background: Peri-device leak (PDL) following left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) may lead to an increased risk of thrombosis. However, current modalities for PDL detection, such as trans-esophageal echo (TEE) and cardiac CT do not provide quantitative measures of PDL.

Objective: to use dielectric imaging (DI) to measure PDL from a Watchman (WM) LAAO device.

Balloon-based drug coating delivery to the artery wall is dictated by coating micro-morphology and angioplasty pressure gradients.

Paclitaxel coated balloon catheters (PCB) were developed as a polymer-free non-implantable alternative to drug eluting stents, delivering similar drug payloads in a matter of minutes. While PCB have shown efficacy in treating peripheral arterial disease in certain patient groups, restenosis rates remain high and there is no class effect. To help further optimize these devices, we developed a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging technique and computational modeling approach that provide insights into the coating micromorphology dependence of in vivo drug transfer and retention.