Kinetic and Mechanistic Release Studies on Hyaluronan Hydrogels for Their Potential Use as a pH-Responsive Drug Delivery Device.

Hyaluronic acid, a biocompatible polymer, holds significant potential for drug delivery applications. Its variable degree of protonation, which entails tunable physical properties, makes it an ideal candidate for developing pH-sensitive hydrogels. Like other smart drug delivery systems, pH-responsive hydrogels can enhance medical treatment and expedite the healing process.

The Effect of Everolimus Versus Calcineurin Inhibitors on Quality of Life 10-12 Years After Heart Transplantation: The Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial (SCHEDULE Trial).

Background: Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are associated with long-term complications after heart transplantation (HTx). Everolimus (EVR)-based immunosuppression allows for CNI withdrawal. We used data from The Scandinavian heart transplant everolimus de novo study with early CNI avoidance (SCHEDULE) trial to assess whether health-related quality of life (HRQoL) differed between patients on long-term treatment with EVR versus a CNI-based regimen.

Histopathological Evaluation of Somatostatin Receptor 2 Expression in Myocarditis-Rationale for the Diagnostic Use of Somatostatin Receptor Imaging.

Background/objectives: Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium and remains to this day a challenging diagnosis. A promising novel imaging method uses the expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) on inflammatory cells to visualize myocardial inflammation. However, little is known about the histopathological correlate of SSTR imaging in different forms of myocarditis.

Super-Resolved Protein Imaging Using Bifunctional Light-Up Aptamers.

Efficient labeling methods for protein visualization with minimal tag size and appropriate photophysical properties are required for single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), providing insights into the organization and interactions of biomolecules in cells at the molecular level. Among the fluorescent light-up aptamers (FLAPs) originally developed for RNA imaging, RhoBAST stands out due to its remarkable brightness, photostability, fluorogenicity, and rapid exchange kinetics, enabling super-resolved imaging with high localization precision. Here, we expand the applicability of RhoBAST to protein imaging by fusing it to protein-binding aptamers.

Severe heart failure in a unique case of cobalamin-C-deficiency resolved with LVAD implantation and subsequent heart transplantation.

Introduction Cobalamin c deficiency (cblC), an inborn error of vitamin B12 metabolism, is caused by mutations of the MMACHC gene. It usually leads to a multisystemic disease; 50% of all patients with cblC have various structural heart defects. Severe congestive heart failure (HF) may also occur and its prognosis is poorly documented.

Waiting list and post-transplant outcome in Sweden after national centralization of heart transplant surgery.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated an association between transplantation rate per center and postoperative mortality after heart transplantation. In 2011, Sweden centralized heart transplants and waiting lists, reducing the number of centers from 3 to 2. We aimed to assess the active waiting time and pre- and post-transplant mortality before and after centralization.

Hospitalized patients' attitudes towards participating in a randomized control trial in case of a cardiac arrest.

Background: No previous study has evaluated patients attitudes towards inclusion in an ongoing cardiac arrest clinical trial. The aim of this study was to assess patientś willingness and motives to participate in the ongoing randomized controlled drug trial "Vasopressin and Steroids in addition to Adrenaline in cardiac arrest" (VAST-A trial) in case of an in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA).

Objectives: Hospitalized patients, men ≥ 18 and women ≥ 50 years, were asked for informed consent for inclusion in the VAST-A trial in case of an IHCA, the reason for approving or declining inclusion in the trial and baseline characteristics.

The oxylipin analog CS585 prevents platelet activation and thrombosis through activation of the prostacyclin receptor.

Cardiovascular disease remains the primary cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Platelet activation is critical for maintaining hemostasis and preventing the leakage of blood cells from the vessel. There has been a paucity in the development of new drugs to target platelet reactivity.

Clinical Outcomes and Predictors of Long-Term Survival in Patients With and Without Previously Known Extracardiac Sarcoidosis Using Machine Learning: A Swedish Multicenter Study.

Background Cardiac involvement can be an initial manifestation in sarcoidosis. However, little is known about the association between various clinical phenotypes of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and outcomes. We aimed to analyze the relation of different clinical manifestations with outcomes of CS and to investigate the relative importance of clinical features influencing overall survival.

Rationale and design of ENDEAVOR: A sequential phase 2b-3 randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effect of myeloperoxidase inhibition on symptoms and exercise capacity in heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: Mitiperstat (formerly AZD4831) is a novel selective myeloperoxidase inhibitor. Currently, no effective therapies target comorbidity-induced systemic inflammation, which may be a key mechanism underlying heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF/HFmrEF). Circulating neutrophils secrete myeloperoxidase, causing oxidative stress, microvascular endothelial dysfunction, interstitial fibrosis, cardiomyocyte remodelling and diastolic dysfunction.

Phenotyping of giant cell myocarditis versus cardiac sarcoidosis using cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Background: Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) and cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are rare inflammatory diseases of the myocardium with poor prognosis. Little is known about the cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) appearance of GCM and the methods ability to distinguish the two rare entities from one another.

Methods: We assessed a total of 40 patients with endomyocardial biopsy-proven GCM (n = 14) and CS (n = 26) concerning their clinical and CMR appearance in a blinded manner.

Heart transplantation in patients bridged with mechanical circulatory support: outcome comparison with matched controls.

Aims: Due to the shortage of heart donors, increasing numbers of heart transplantation (HTx) candidates are receiving long-term mechanical circulatory support (MCS) as bridge-to-transplantation. Treatment with MCS is associated with increased formation of anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies (allosensitization), but whether this affects post-HTx outcomes is unclear.

Methods And Results: We included all adult patients who received long-term MCS as bridge-to-transplantation and underwent subsequent HTx at our centre between 2008 and 2018.

Echocardiography in inflammatory heart disease: A comparison of giant cell myocarditis, cardiac sarcoidosis, and acute non-fulminant myocarditis.

Background: Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) and cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are, in contrast to acute non-fulminant myocarditis (ANFM), rare inflammatory diseases of the myocardium with poor prognosis. Although echocardiography is the first-line diagnostic tool in these patients, their echocardiographic appearance has so far not been systematically studied.

Methods: We assessed a total of 71 patients with endomyocardial biopsy-proven GCM (n = 21), and CS (n = 25), as well as magnetic resonance-verified ANFM (n = 25).

Pulmonary Hypertension Phenotype Can Be Identified in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction Using Echocardiographic Assessment of Pulmonary Artery Pressure With Supportive Use of Pressure Reflection Variables.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is frequent in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with 2 different phenotypes: isolated postcapillary PH (IpcPH) and, with the worst prognosis, combined pre- and postcapillary PH (CpcPH). The aims of the present echocardiography study were to investigate (1) the ability to identify PH phenotype in patients with HFrEF using the newly adopted definition of PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure >20 mm Hg) and (2) the relationship between PH phenotype and right ventricular (RV) function.

Methods: One hundred twenty-four patients with HFrEF consecutively referred for heart transplant or heart failure workup were included with echocardiography and right heart catheterization within 48 hours.

Prehospital monitoring of cerebral circulation during out of hospital cardiac arrest ? A feasibility study.

Background: About two-thirds of the in-hospital deaths after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) are a consequence of anoxic brain injuries, which are due to hypoperfusion of the brain during the cardiac arrests. Being able to monitor cerebral perfusion during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is desirable to evaluate the effectiveness of the CPR and to guide further decision making and prognostication.

Methods: Two different devices were used to measure regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2): INVOS™ 5100 (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) and Root® O3 (Masimo Corporation, Irvine, CA, USA).

Case report of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis presenting as acute myocarditis.

This case presents a challenging diagnosis of EGPA presenting as eosinophilic myocarditis. It is a condition that can mimic many other diseases and where prompt diagnosis and early treatment is essential for recovery. The diagnosis was made after an endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and showed the importance of EMB in the diagnostic work-up.

The association between signs of medical distress preceding in-hospital cardiac arrest and 30-day survival - A register-based cohort study.

Background: Identifying signs of medical distress prior to in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is important to prevent IHCA and improve survival. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the association between signs of medical distress present within 60 minutes prior to cardiac arrest and survival after cardiac arrest.

Methods: The register-based cohort study included adult patients (≥18 years) with IHCA in the Swedish Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (SRCR) from 2017-01-01 to 2020-07-15.

Cardiac sarcoidosis and giant cell myocarditis after COVID-19 infection.

Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 have varying manifestations of cardiac involvement. We report four patients presenting with symptomatic cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) or giant cell myocarditis (GCM) 1-8 months after mild COVID-19. All patients received immunosuppressive therapy and improved gradually within the following months.

Association between central haemodynamics and renal function in advanced heart failure: a nationwide study from Sweden.

Aims: Renal dysfunction in patients with heart failure (HF) has traditionally been attributed to declining cardiac output and renal hypoperfusion. However, other central haemodynamic aberrations may contribute to impaired kidney function. This study assessed the relationship between invasive central haemodynamic measurements from right-heart catheterizations and measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) in advanced HF.

Diagnosis, management, and outcome of cardiac sarcoidosis and giant cell myocarditis: a Swedish single center experience.

Background: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and giant cell myocarditis (GCM) are rare diseases that share some similarities, but also display different clinical and histopathological features. We aimed to compare the demographics, clinical presentation, and outcome of patients diagnosed with CS or GCM.

Method: We compared the clinical data and outcome of all adult patients with CS (n = 71) or GCM (n = 21) diagnosed at our center between 1991 and 2020.