Utility of illness symptoms for predicting COVID-19 infections in children.

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that symptomatic children remain home and get tested to identify potential coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. As the pandemic moves into a new phase, approaches to differentiate symptoms of COVID-19 versus other childhood infections can inform exclusion policies and potentially prevent future unnecessary missed school days.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of standardized symptom and exposure screens in symptomatic children 0-18 years tested for SARS-CoV-2 at three outpatient sites April to November 2020.

Intraoperative Cardiac Arrest During Adult Liver Transplantation: Incidence and Risk Factor Analysis From 7 Academic Centers in the United States.

Background: Intraoperative cardiac arrest (ICA) has a reported frequency of 1 in 10,000 anesthetics but has a much higher estimated incidence in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Single-center studies of ICA in OLT are limited by small sample size that prohibits multivariable regression analysis of risks.

Methods: Utilizing data from 7 academic medical centers, we performed a retrospective, observational study of 5296 adult liver transplant recipients (18-80 years old) between 2000 and 2017 to identify the rate of ICA, associated risk factors, and outcomes.

The Lipid-Rich Plaque Study of vulnerable plaques and vulnerable patients: Study design and rationale.

Background: It has been hypothesized that the outcome post-PCI could be improved by the detection and subsequent treatment of vulnerable patients and lipid-rich vulnerable coronary plaques (LRP). A near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) catheter capable of detecting LRP is being evaluated in The Lipid-Rich Plaque Study.

Study Design: The LRP Study is an international, multicenter, prospective cohort study conducted in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent cardiac catheterization with possible ad hoc PCI for an index event.

Polymer-free Biolimus A9-coated stents in the treatment of de novo coronary lesions with short DAPT: 9-month angiographic and clinical follow-up of the prospective, multicenter BioFreedom USA clinical trial.

Background: BioFreedom is a polymer- and carrier-free drug-coated stent that delivers Biolimus A9 to the vessel wall. Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this DCS in patients with short-duration dual antiplatelet therapy.

Methods: The BioFreedom US IDE feasibility trial was a single-arm, open-label, prospective study of patients requiring stenting of de novo lesions.

The influence of lipid-containing plaque composition assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy on coronary lesion remodelling.

Aims: Vessel remodelling is commonly observed in coronary atherosclerosis, but factors influencing remodelling, such as plaque lipid content, remain poorly described.

Methods And Results: Remodelling index (RI) was calculated as the ratio of lesion to proximal and distal references external membrane area and was categorized as follows: positive (PR; RI > 1.05), intermediate (IR; RI 0.

Role of near-infrared spectroscopy in intravascular coronary imaging.

Near-infrared spectroscopy is an intracoronary imaging modality that has been validated in preclinical and clinical studies to help quantify the lipid content of the coronary plaque and provide information regarding its vulnerability. It has the potential to develop into a valuable tool for the risk stratification of a vulnerable plaque and, furthermore, a vulnerable patient. In addition, in the future this technology may help in the development of novel therapies that impact vascular biology.