Covid-19 positive donor utilization for heart transplantation: The new frontier for donor pool expansion.

Background: Hearts from COVID-19 positive donors (CPD) are being utilized for heart transplantation by some centers; however, this is in the setting of the lack of guidelines or robust evidence. The paucity of evidence is reflected in the recent Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) communication describing CPD utilization as an "unknown risk."

Methods And Results: We analyzed the UNOS database for adult heart transplants performed between January 2021 to December 2022, and CPD comprised of a significant percentage of donors, being used in >10% of recipients in some UNOS regions.

A stepwise external cardioversion protocol for atrial fibrillation to maximize acute success rate.

Aims: Cardioversion is a very commonly performed procedure for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there is no well-defined protocol to address failed external electrical direct current cardioversion. The aim of the study is to test the efficacy of a pre-defined stepwise cardioversion protocol for patients with persistent AF of ≤12 months.

Patterns and outcomes of COVID-19 donor utilization for heart transplant.

Background: The outcomes following COVID-19 positive donor (CPD) utilization for heart transplant are unknown.

Methods: UNOS database was analyzed for heart transplants performed from the declaration of COVID-19 pandemic until September 30, 2022.

Result: Since the onset of pandemic, there were 9876 heart transplants reported.

Cardiac fibroblast sub-types reflect pathological cardiac remodeling .

Many heart diseases are associated with fibrosis, but it is unclear whether different types of heart disease correlate with different subtypes of activated fibroblasts and to which extent such diversity is modeled during activation of primary cardiac fibroblasts. Analyzing the expression of 82 fibrosis related genes in 65 heart failure (HF) patients, we identified a panel of 12 genes clearly distinguishing HF patients better from healthy controls than measurement of the collagen-related hydroxyproline content. A subcluster enriched in ischemic HF was recognized, but not for diabetes, high BMI, or gender.