Clinical outcomes and predictors of transapical transcatheter mitral valve replacement: the Tendyne Expanded Clinical Study.

Background: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a therapeutic option for patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) who are ineligible for conventional surgery. There are limited data on the outcomes of large patient cohorts treated with TMVR.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the outcomes and predictors of mortality for patients treated with transapical TMVR.

Anatomic suitability for transapical transcatheter mitral valve implantation using a tether-based device.

Background: Transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI) is a novel therapeutic option for treating symptomatic mitral valve disease. Evaluating patient anatomical suitability is a critical step in the TMVI screening process, but currently requires specialized software and computerized device models.

Aims: This analysis sought to assess the effectiveness of simple and standardized multislice computed tomography (MSCT) anatomic measurements for their ability to discriminate between patients who passed anatomical screening for Tendyne™ TMVI.

Distribution, Determinants and Normal Reference Values of Aortic Arch Width: Thoracic Aortic Geometry in the Framingham Heart Study.

Study Objective: Aortic arch geometry changes with age, including an increase in aortic arch width (AAW). High AAW is a predictor of incident adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, but its distribution and determinants are unknown. We hypothesized that traditional CVD risk factors, in addition to age, are associated with increased AAW in community-dwelling adults.

Continuous mechanical aspiration thrombectomy performs equally well in main versus branch pulmonary emboli: A subgroup analysis of the EXTRACT-PE trial.

Introduction: The EXTRACT-PE trial evaluated the safety and performance of the Indigo Aspiration System (Penumbra Inc.) with an 8F continuous mechanical aspiration thrombectomy system for the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE). This subgroup analysis evaluates performance outcomes of patients with main pulmonary artery (PA) emboli versus discrete unilateral or bilateral PA emboli without main PA involvement.

Prevalence and distribution of aortic plaque by sex and age group among community-dwelling adults.

Rationale And Objectives: Atherosclerosis of the aorta is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and vascular events. We aim to describe the prevalence and distribution of non-calcified atherosclerotic plaque in the descending aorta as quantified by noncontrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in a community-dwelling cohort of adults.

Materials And Methods: We used CMR to quantify noncalcified aortic plaque in 1726 participants (aged 65 ± 9 years, 46.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Thromboprophylaxis with Heparins Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background:  The efficacy and safety of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains unclear.

Methods:  A literature search was performed to collect studies comparing the effect of thromboprophylaxis in patients with ICH. The primary endpoints were deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and hematoma expansion or rebleeding.

Relation of MRI Aortic Wall Area and Plaque to Incident Cardiovascular Events: The Framingham Heart Study.

Background Arterial arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis reflect vascular disease, the subclinical detection of which allows opportunity for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Larger cohort studies simultaneously quantifying anatomic thoracic and abdominal aortic pathologic abnormalities are lacking in the literature. Purpose To investigate the association of aortic wall area (AWA) and atherosclerotic plaque presence and burden as measured on MRI scans with incident CVD in a community sample.

2-Year Outcomes of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement in Patients With Severe Symptomatic Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is feasible for selected patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) who are poor candidates for valve surgery. Intermediate-term to long-term TMVR outcomes have not been reported.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness through 2-year follow-up of TMVR in high-surgical-risk patients with severe MR.

Computed Tomography-Derived 3D Modeling to Guide Sizing and Planning of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Interventions.

A plethora of catheter-based strategies have been developed to treat mitral valve disease. Evolving 3-dimensional (3D) multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) technology can accurately reconstruct the mitral valve by means of 3-dimensional computational modeling (3DCM) to allow virtual implantation of catheter-based devices. 3D printing complements computational modeling and offers implanting physician teams the opportunity to evaluate devices in life-size replicas of patient-specific cardiac anatomy.

Indigo Aspiration System for Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism: Results of the EXTRACT-PE Trial.

Objectives: This study sought to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Indigo aspiration system in submassive acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Background: PE treatment with thrombolytics has bleeding risks. Aspiration thrombectomy can remove thrombus without thrombolytics, but data are lacking.

Association between red blood cell distribution width and mortality and severity among patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Emerging evidence has underscored the potential usefulness of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) measurement in predicting the mortality and disease severity of COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the association of the plasma RDW levels with adverse prognosis in COVID-19 patients. A comprehensive literature search from inception to September 2020 was performed to harvest original studies reporting RDW on admission and clinical outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Initial Feasibility Study of a New Transcatheter Mitral Prosthesis: The First 100 Patients.

Background: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a rapidly evolving therapy. Follow-up of TMVR patients remains limited in duration and number treated.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes with expanded follow-up for the first 100 patients who underwent TMVR with the prosthesis.

Effect of isolated left bundle-branch block on biventricular volumes and ejection fraction: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance assessment.

Background: Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is associated with abnormal left ventricular (LV) contraction, and is frequently associated with co-morbid cardiovascular disease, but the effect of an isolated (i.e. in the absence of cardiovascular dissease) LBBB on biventricular volumes and ejection fraction (EF) is not well characterized.

Aortic Arch Width and Cardiovascular Disease in Men and Women in the Community.

Background: We sought to determine whether increased aortic arch width (AAW) adds to standard Framingham risk factors and coronary artery calcium (CAC) for prediction of incident adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in community-dwelling adults.

Methods And Results: A total of 3026 Framingham Heart Study Offspring and Third Generation cohort participants underwent noncontrast multidetector computed tomography from 2002 to 2005 to quantify CAC. We measured AAW as the distance between the centroids of the ascending and descending thoracic aorta, at the level of main pulmonary artery bifurcation or the right pulmonary artery.

Increased Aortic Diameters on Multidetector Computed Tomographic Scan Are Independent Predictors of Incident Adverse Cardiovascular Events: The Framingham Heart Study.

Background: Adverse aortic remodeling, such as dilation, is associated with multiple cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. We sought to determine whether measures of enlarged aortic diameters improve prediction of incident adverse CVD events above standard CVD risk factors in a community-dwelling cohort.

Methods And Results: Participants from the Framingham Offspring and Third Generation Cohorts (n=3318; aged 48.

Relation of Risk Factors and Abdominal Aortic Calcium to Progression of Coronary Artery Calcium (from the Framingham Heart Study).

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) and abdominal aortic calcium (AAC) on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) permit assessment of the presence and burden of coronary and systemic atherosclerosis. Risk factors for progression of CAC and AAC and the association of AAC with CAC progression have not been well characterized in a community-dwelling cohort. We studied 1,959 asymptomatic participants from the Framingham Heart Study who underwent serial MDCT scans with a median interval of 6.

Clinical associations of total kidney volume: the Framingham Heart Study.

Background: Total kidney volume (TKV) is an imaging biomarker that may have diagnostic and prognostic utility. The relationships between kidney volume, renal function and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have not been characterized in a large community-dwelling population. This information is needed to advance the clinical application of TKV.

Right Ventricular Volumes and Systolic Function by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and the Impact of Sex, Age, and Obesity in a Longitudinally Followed Cohort Free of Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Disease: The Framingham Heart Study.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance is uniquely well suited for noninvasive imaging of the right ventricle. We sought to define normal cardiac magnetic resonance reference values and to identify the main determinants of right ventricular (RV) volumes and systolic function using a modern imaging sequence in a community-dwelling, longitudinally followed cohort free of clinical cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.

Methods And Results: The Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort has been followed since 1971.