OUTpatient intravenous LASix Trial in reducing hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure (OUTLAST).

Background: Hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) remains a major source of morbidity and mortality. The current study aimed to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of outpatient furosemide intravenous (IV) infusion following hospitalization for ADHF.

Methods: In a single center, prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 100 patients were randomized to receive standard of care (Group 1), IV placebo infusion (Group 2), or IV furosemide infusion (Group 3) over 3h, biweekly for a one-month period following ADHF hospitalization.

Physiologic Guidance of Infrainguinal Vascular Interventions Using the Pressure Wire.

Objectives: To assess the relationship between the resting (RG) and hyperemic (HG) translesional peripheral gradients, with the functional and anatomic parameters before and after an infrainguinal endovascular procedure.

Background: RGs and HGs are objective tools in defining the hemodynamic significance of an arterial stenosis.

Methods: In 25 subjects with infrainguinal arterial stenosis, RG and HG were measured via a pressure wire before and after angioplasty.

Quality of anticoagulation with warfarin in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in the community setting.

Background: The benefit of oral anticoagulation therapy with warfarin for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) is directly dependent on the quality of anticoagulation (QoA), which in the US is provided predominantly in the community setting. With the emergence of new oral anticoagulation agents, the current QoA needs to be assessed.

Objectives: The purpose of our study is to define the QoA with warfarin in patients with nonvalvular AF who are managed exclusively in community practices, and to compare the quality in the community setting with the quality demonstrated in the recent large randomized control trials.

Recurrent coronary artery thrombosis after anomalous right coronary artery re-implantation to the aorta.

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the pulmonary artery is a rare entity. The current recommendation is corrective operation even in asymptomatic patients when this cardiac malformation is found. We report a case of a 21-year-old male who initially presented with ST elevations.

Endoluminal treatment of peripheral chronic total occlusions using the Crosser® recanalization catheter.

Purpose: Revascularization of lower extremity chronic total occlusions (CTOs) is technically challenging. The Crosser® recanalization catheter was designed to facilitate distal vessel intraluminal entry that is both rapid and safe. We present our experience with the Crosser device as primary therapy for peripheral CTOs.

Orbital atherectomy for symptomatic lower extremity disease.

Background: Plaque-debulking technologies have been proposed as alternative treatment options for peripheral arterial disease. Orbital atherectomy (OA), using the DiamondBack360 device, has emerged as one promising modality.

Methods: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of OA in the first 200 lesions treated at our institution.

Endogenously expressed nef uncouples cytokine and chemokine production from membrane phenotypic maturation in dendritic cells.

Immature dendritic cells (DCs), unlike mature DCs, require the viral determinant nef to drive immunodeficiency virus (SIV and HIV) replication in coculture with CD4(+) T cells. Since immature DCs may capture and get infected by virus during mucosal transmission, we hypothesized that Nef associated with the virus or produced during early replication might modulate DCs to augment virus dissemination. Adenovirus vectors expressing nef were used to introduce nef into DCs in the absence of other immunodeficiency virus determinants to examine Nef-induced changes that might activate immature DCs to acquire properties of mature DCs and drive virus replication.