Integrated Assessment of Coronary Physiology Based on Coronary Angiography in Heart Transplant Patients.

Background: Early detection of cardiac allograft vasculopathy after heart transplant (HTx) with invasive coronary angiography is challenging.

Aims: The study aimed to determine if computational techniques able to assess epicardial lesions, by means of Murray's law-based quantitative flow ratio (μFR), and microvascular physiology, by means of angiography microvascular resistance (AMR), enhance risk stratification in HTx patients with nonsignificant coronary artery disease.

Methods: The cohort consisted of 86 consecutive HTx patients (200 epicardial vessels) with stenosis < 50% at baseline.

Proposed framework regarding management of patients with breast cancer and anti-cancer treatment-related elevation in cardiac troponin.

Cardiac biomarkers are a vital component within the first edition of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines in Cardio-Oncology. Specifically, they are mentioned in the definition of mild asymptomatic cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction, where left ventricular systolic function is ≥50 % with two outcomes; either a new decrease in global longitudinal strain >15 % from baseline and/or a new rise in cardiac biomarkers above the defined 99th percentile cut off values. Cardiac troponin is one such biomarker.

Features and Limitations of Robotically Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (R-PCI): A Systematic Review of R-PCI.

Ischaemic heart disease is one of the major drivers of cardiovascular death in Europe. Since the first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 1977, developments and innovations in cardiology have made PCI the treatment of choice for stenotic coronary artery disease. To address the occupational hazards related to chronic exposure to radiation and wear and tear from heavy lead-based radioprotective aprons, the concept of robotically assisted PCI (R-PCI) was introduced in 2005.

Optical coherence tomography predictors of clinical outcomes after stent implantation: the ILUMIEN IV trial.

Background And Aims: Observational registries have suggested that optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging-derived parameters may predict adverse events after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. The present analysis sought to determine the OCT predictors of clinical outcomes from the large-scale ILUMIEN IV trial.

Methods: ILUMIEN IV was a prospective, single-blind trial of 2487 patients with diabetes or high-risk lesions randomized to OCT-guided versus angiography-guided DES implantation.

Angiography-derived physiological patterns of coronary artery disease: implications with post-stenting physiology and long-term clinical outcomes.

Background: Physiological patterns of coronary artery disease (CAD) have emerged as potential determinants of functional results of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and of vessel-oriented clinical outcomes (VOCE).

Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the impact of angiography-derived physiological patterns of CAD on post-PCI functional results and long-term clinical outcomes.

Methods: Pre-PCI angiography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) virtual pullbacks were quantitatively interpreted and used to determine the physiological patterns of CAD.

Understanding cardiac events in breast cancer (UCARE): pilot cardio-oncology assessment and surveillance pathway for breast cancer patients.

Purpose: In Ireland, over 3000 patients are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, and 1 in 9 Irish women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. There is evidence that female breast cancer survivors are more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than their age-matched counterparts. Specific services for cancer patients suffering from cancer therapy related cardiovascular toxicity have led to a higher incidence of safe anti-cancer treatment completion.

Risk Prediction, Diagnosis and Management of a Breast Cancer Patient with Treatment-Related Cardiovascular Toxicity: An Essential Overview.

Breast cancer is amongst the most common invasive cancers in adults. There are established relationships between anti-cancer treatments for breast cancer and cardiovascular side effects. In recent years, novel anti-cancer treatments have been established, as well as the availability of multi-modal cardiac imaging and the sophistication of treatment for cardiac disease.

OCT-Guided vs Angiography-Guided Coronary Stent Implantation in Complex Lesions: An ILUMIEN IV Substudy.

Background: ILUMIEN IV was the first large-scale, multicenter, randomized trial comparing optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided vs angiography-guided stent implantation in patients with high-risk clinical characteristics and/or complex angiographic lesions.

Objectives: The authors aimed to specifically examine outcomes in the complex angiographic lesions subgroup.

Methods: From the original trial population (N = 2,487), high-risk patients without complex angiographic lesions were excluded (n = 514).

Three-Year Clinical Impact of Murray Law-Based Quantitative Flow Ratio and OCT- or FFR-Guidance in Angiographically Intermediate Coronary Lesions.

Background: The FORZA trial (FFR or OCT Guidance to Revascularize Intermediate Coronary Stenosis Using Angioplasty) prospectively compared the use of fractional flow reserve (FFR) or optical coherence tomography (OCT) for treatment decisions and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) optimization in patients with angiographically intermediate coronary lesions. Murray law-based quantitative-flow-ratio (μQFR) is a novel noninvasive method for the computation of FFR. In the present study, we evaluated the clinical impact of μQFR, FFR, or OCT guidance in FORZA trial lesions at 3-year follow-up.

Systematic review of cardiovascular neurocristopathy-contemporary insights and future perspectives.

Introduction: Neural crest cells (NCCs) are multipotent and are attributed to the combination of complex multimodal gene regulatory mechanisms. Cardiac neural crest (CNC) cells, originating from the dorsal neural tube, are pivotal architects of the cardio-neuro-vascular domain, which orchestrates the embryogenesis of critical cardiac and vascular structures. Remarkably, while the scientific community compiled a comprehensive inventory of neural crest derivatives by the early 1980s, our understanding of the CNC's role in various cardiovascular disease processes still needs to be explored.

Redefining postoperative hypertension management in carotid surgery: a comprehensive analysis of blood pressure homeostasis and hyperperfusion syndrome in unilateral vs. bilateral carotid surgeries and implications for clinical practice.

Background: This study evaluates the implications of blood pressure homeostasis in bilateral vs. unilateral carotid surgeries, focusing on the incidence of postoperative hypertension, hyperperfusion syndrome, and stroke as primary outcomes. It further delves into the secondary outcomes encompassing major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

Optimal diagnostic approach for using CT-derived quantitative flow ratio in patients with stenosis on coronary computed tomography angiography.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-derived quantitative flow ratio (CT-QFR) is an on-site non-invasive technique estimating invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR). This study assesses the diagnostic performance of using most distal CT-QFR versus lesion-specific CT-QFR approach for identifying hemodynamically obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Prospectively enrolled de novo chest pain patients (n ​= ​445) with ≥50 ​% visual diameter stenosis on CCTA were referred for invasive evaluation.

Open-source controller for dynamic cardiovascular models.

Cardiovascular pressure sensors require dedicated, reliable, and customisable performance testing equipment. Devices available on the market, such as pulsatile pumps and pulse multipliers, offer limited adaptability to the needs of pressure sensor testing or are highly complex tools designed for other purposes. Therefore, there is a strong need to provide an adaptable and versatile device for characterisation during prototype development, prior to animal model testing.

Performance of wearable watch-type home blood pressure measurement devices in a real-world clinical sample.

Background: Independent testing of home blood pressure (BP) measurement (HBPM) devices is often lacking, particularly among older and multi-morbid patients.

Methods: We studied the Bpro G2 (using tonometry), Omron HeartGuide (using occlusive oscillometric technology), and Heartisans (using photoplethysmography) wrist watch HBPM devices against a gold standard brachial sphygmomanometer. To test device performance, we used the ISO81060-2 protocol (though this protocol cannot formally validate cuffless devices).

Cell Therapy Improves Quality-of-Life in Heart Failure: Outcomes From a Phase III Clinical Trial.

Patients with heart failure experience limitations in daily activity and poor quality-of-life. Prospective surveillance of health-related quality-of-life supplemented traditional death and hospitalization outcomes in the multinational, randomized, double-blinded CHART-1 clinical trial that assessed cardiopoiesis-guided cell therapy in ischemic heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), a Food and Drug Administration qualified instrument for evaluating therapeutic effectiveness, was applied through the 1-year follow-up.

Murray law-based quantitative flow ratio to assess left main bifurcation stenosis: selecting the angiographic projection matters.

Murray law-based quantitative flow ratio (µQFR) assesses fractional flow reserve (FFR) in bifurcation lesions using a single angiographic view, enhancing the feasibility of analysis; however, accuracy may be compromised in suboptimal angiographic projections. FFR is a well-validated non-invasive method measuring FFR from coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). We evaluated the feasibility of µQFR in left main (LM) bifurcations, the impact of the optimal/suboptimal fluoroscopic view with respect to CCTA, and its diagnostic concordance with FFR.