Preparation and Compression Resistance of Lightweight Concrete Filled with Lightweight Calcium Carbonate Reinforced Expanded Polystyrene Foam.

Lightweight concrete is widely used in the construction industry due to its low density and high strength. In this paper, lightweight concrete was prepared by a simple two-step method. Firstly, the light calcium carbonate reinforced epoxy macrospheres (LCR-EMS) material was obtained by adhering calcium lighter carbonate powder to the expanded polystyrene foam spheres (EPS) material using the "balling method".

Intravascular Sono-Ablation for In-Stent Restenosis Relief: Transducer Development and the In-Vitro Demonstration.

Objective: This study aimed to propose a new clinical modality for the relief of in-stent restenosis (ISR) using focused ultrasound (FUS) ablation. In the first research stage, a miniaturized FUS device was developed for the sonification of the remaining plaque after stenting, known as one of the causes of ISR.

Methods: This study presents a miniaturized (<2.

North American COVID-19 Myocardial Infarction (NACMI) Risk Score for Prediction of In-Hospital Mortality.

Background: In-hospital mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is higher in those with COVID-19 than in those without COVID-19. The factors that predispose to this mortality rate and their relative contribution are poorly understood. This study developed a risk score inclusive of clinical variables to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 and STEMI.

A machine learning model in predicting hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) costs healthcare billions of dollars annually and is the leading cause of death despite available noninvasive diagnostic tools.

Objective: This study aims to examine the usefulness of machine learning in predicting hemodynamically significant CAD using routine demographics, clinical factors, and laboratory data.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing cardiac catheterization between March 17, 2015, and July 15, 2016, at UNC Chapel Hill were screened for comorbidities and CAD risk factors.

Spatio-temporal hybrid neural networks reduce erroneous human "judgement calls" in the diagnosis of Takotsubo syndrome.

Background: We investigate whether deep learning (DL) neural networks can reduce erroneous human "judgment calls" on bedside echocardiograms and help distinguish Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) from anterior wall ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: We developed a single-channel (DCNN[2D SCI]), a multi-channel (DCNN[2D MCI]), and a 3-dimensional (DCNN[2D+]) deep convolution neural network, and a recurrent neural network (RNN) based on 17,280 still-frame images and 540 videos from 2-dimensional echocardiograms in 10 years (1 January 2008 to 1 January 2018) retrospective cohort in University of Iowa (UI) and eight other medical centers. Echocardiograms from 450 UI patients were randomly divided into training and testing sets for internal training, testing, and model construction.

Delayed Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction With Ventricular Septal Rupture Due to Patient Fear During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandmic, more patients are presenting with complications late after acute myocardial infarction. We report the case of a 71-year-old man who delayed seeking medical care for 2 weeks, despite progressive shortness of breath, cough, and tactile fever, for fear of contracting COVID-19 in the hospital. Clinical and echocardiographic evaluation revealed a ventricular septal rupture secondary to acute myocardial infarction.

Prognostic value of shock index in patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: the ARIC study community surveillance.

Aims: Shock index (SI), defined as the ratio of heart rate (HR) to systolic blood pressure (SBP), is easily obtained and predictive of mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. However, large-scale evaluations of SI in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are lacking.

Methods And Results: Hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction were sampled from four US areas by the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and classified by physician review.

Fibrinogen Levels and Bleeding Risk in Patients Undergoing Ultrasound-Assisted Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Submassive Pulmonary Embolism.

Objectives: We sought to test the hypothesis that patients undergoing ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis (USAT) with standard alteplase and heparin dosing would not develop significant depletion of systemic fibrinogen, which may account for the lower risk of bleeding seen in contemporary trials. We also sought to compare the relative outcomes of individuals with submassive pulmonary embolism (PE) undergoing USAT and anticoagulation alone.

Methods: Utilizing a single-center prospective registry, we identified 102 consecutive adult patients with submassive PE who were considered for USAT based on a standardized treatment algorithm between November 2016 and May 2019.

Recent Advances in Transducers for Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) Imaging.

As a well-known medical imaging methodology, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging plays a critical role in diagnosis, treatment guidance and post-treatment assessment of coronary artery diseases. By cannulating a miniature ultrasound transducer mounted catheter into an artery, the vessel lumen opening, vessel wall morphology and other associated blood and vessel properties can be precisely assessed in IVUS imaging. Ultrasound transducer, as the key component of an IVUS system, is critical in determining the IVUS imaging performance.

Initial Findings From the North American COVID-19 Myocardial Infarction Registry.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted many aspects of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care, including timely access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Objectives: The goal of the NACMI (North American COVID-19 and STEMI) registry is to describe demographic characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with STEMI.

Methods: A prospective, ongoing observational registry was created under the guidance of 3 cardiology societies.

A Systematic Approach to Evaluate Patients Presenting With ST-Segment Elevation in Lead aVR: A Case Series.

ST-segment elevation (STE) in the lead aVR indicates global ischemia of the myocardium and is often associated with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). We report a serial of cases presenting with STE in aVR and diffuse ST depressions in more than six other leads as a common feature, but of different etiologies, i.e.

Trends, Management, and Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarction Hospitalizations With In-Hospital-Onset Versus Out-of-Hospital Onset: The ARIC Study.

Background Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with in-hospital onset (AMI-IHO) has poor prognosis but is clinically underappreciated. Whether its occurrence has changed over time is uncertain. Methods and Results Since 1987, the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study has conducted adjudicated surveillance of AMI hospitalizations in 4 US communities.

Mortality differences among patients with in-hospital ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: In-hospital ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with a higher mortality rate than out-of-hospital STEMI. Quality measures and universal protocols for treatment of in-hospital STEMI do not exist, likely contributing to delays in recognition and treatment.

Hypothesis: To analyze differences in mortality among three subsets of patients who develop in-hospital STEMI.

Intra-procedural arrhythmia during cardiac catheterization: A systematic review of literature.

Background: Cardiac catheterization is among the most performed medical procedures in the modern era. There were sporadic reports indicating that cardiac arrhythmias are common during cardiac catheterization, and there are risks of developing serious and potentially life-threatening arrhythmias, such as sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF) and high-grade conduction disturbances such as complete heart block (CHB), requiring immediate interventions. However, there is lack of systematic overview of these conditions.

Plaque herniation after stenting the culprit lesion with myocardial bridging in ST elevation myocardial infarction: A case report.

Background: Myocardial bridging (MB) is increasingly recognized to stimulate atherogenesis, which may contribute to an acute coronary syndrome. Stenting the coronary segment with MB has been recognized to have an increased risk of in-stent restenosis, stent fracture and coronary perforation. The safety and efficacy of stenting the culprit lesion with overlaying MB in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as primary reperfusion therapy has not been established.

Elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure is associated with increased risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aims: To study the correlation between intra-procedural left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and the development of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: A single center retrospective observational study compared clinical and hemodynamic characteristics of patients who developed post-PCI CI-AKI with those did not. CI-AKI was defined as an absolute increase in serum creatinine ≥0.

Mechanisms of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients Hospitalized for Noncardiac Conditions.

ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurring in patients hospitalized for a noncardiac condition is associated with a high mortality rate and thus we sought to determine the mechanisms underlying STEMI in this patient population. This is a single center retrospective study of 70 patients who had STEMI while hospitalized on a noncardiac service and underwent coronary angiography. Thrombotic in-hospital STEMI was defined by angiographic or intravascular imaging evidence of intracoronary thrombus, plaque rupture, or stent thrombosis.

Cardiac implications of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a multisystem disorder that essentially can affect any organ in the human body. The hallmark of the pathogenesis in TTP is the large von Willebrand factor multimers on platelet-mediated micro-thrombi formation, leading to microvascular thrombosis. Autopsy studies showed that cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction are the most common immediate causes of death in these patients.

MicroRNA-21 mediates high phosphate-induced endothelial cell apoptosis.

Hyperphosphatemia, the elevated level of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in serum, is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidities and mortality. The effects of high Pi on endothelial cells are not well studied. This study investigated high Pi-induced endothelial cell apoptosis and the role of microRNA-21.

Correlation of infarct size with invasive hemodynamics in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: To identify invasive hemodynamic parameters that correlate with infarction size in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Background: Invasive hemodynamics obtained during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) are predictive of mortality in STEMI, but which parameters correlate best with the size of the infarction are unknown.

Methods: This is a single-center study of 405 adult patients with STEMI who had left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) measured during PPCI.

In-Hospital ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Improving Diagnosis, Triage, and Treatment.

Importance: In-hospital ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a unique clinical entity with epidemiology, incidence, and outcomes distinct from that of out-of-hospital STEMI and has only within the past 10 years begun to receive increased attention and research. Patients with in-hospital STEMI are older, have more comorbidities, and more frequently have coagulopathies and contraindications for anticoagulation and fibrinolytic therapy. A standardized clinical definition of in-hospital STEMI is lacking.

Clinical Evidence Supports a Protective Role for CXCL5 in Coronary Artery Disease.

Our goal was to measure the association of CXCL5 and molecular phenotypes associated with coronary atherosclerosis severity in patients at least 65 years old. CXCL5 is classically defined as a proinflammatory chemokine, but its role in chronic inflammatory diseases, such as coronary atherosclerosis, is not well defined. We enrolled individuals who were at least 65 years old and undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization.

Obstructive coronary artery disease in patient with acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) affects essentially all organ systems. Myocardial injury in TTP is often attributed to microthrombi formation. We present the first case report in the literature of an acute TTP patient with concomitant obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute myocardial infarction who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).