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With great pleasure, we read the well-conducted study by Schrage et al[1] in which they showed a favorable effect of left ventricular (LV) unloading via Impella as an adjunct to venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on mortality. Second, it seems as if the clinical benefit of LV unloading might be different in patients who exhibit signs of pulmonary edema versus those who do not. Cohort Study". [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: As chemokines are considered instrumental in thrombotic plaque rupture and erosion as well as in ischemia-reperfusion injury processes, we aimed to identify previously unknown chemokines associated with acute coronary syndromes. Plasma of 44 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 22 controls were profiled for a panel of chemokines by multiplex analysis. Levels of CCL3 were prospectively verified in 54 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). An AMI mouse model was used to assess the relationship between differentially expressed chemokines and myocardial ischemia. CCL3 levels were significantly elevated in AMI vs. controls (P =0.02) albeit, that adjustment for confounding factors attenuated this association. In support of a direct association with cardiac ischemia CCL3 levels were also seen to be elevated in patients with UAP at baseline and significantly down-regulated after 180 days (P <0.001). Importantly, baseline upper quartile levels were strongly correlated with future acute coronary syndromes (Likelihood Ratio 11.5; P <0.01). Furthermore circulating levels of CCL3 were significantly enhanced after AMI in mice (P =0.02), while CCR5+ T-cell numbers were increased as well, suggestive of CCL3 driven T-cell homing towards the ischemic area. CCL3 levels are elevated during ACS and released upon ischemia. Since CCL3 specifically predicts future cardiovascular events, it may serve as a predictive biomarker. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rupture of the “device landing zone” is a rare but severe complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Recently, the small segment of muscular left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) located between the left–right commissure and left fibrous trigone was identified as the most vulnerable region at risk of external rupture. We here provide the first pictures of a rupture adjacent to this vulnerable area, inducing a connection between the LVOT and the left atrium. We also report a case of supra-annular rupture, a less usual location of rupture. These illustrations may help pathologists and clinicians to get familiar with early rare complications of TAVI, an important new field of interest of autopsy in cardiovascular pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Our study aimed to gain insights into patient characteristics, outcomes and treatment strategies in CS patients. Patients with CS who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between 2017 and 2021 were identified in a nationwide registry. Data on medical history, laboratory values, angiographic features and outcomes were retrospectively assessed. A total of 2328 patients with a mean age of 66 years and of whom 73% were male, were included. Mortality at 30 days was 39% for the entire cohort. Non-survivors presented with a lower mean blood pressure and increased heart rate, blood lactate and blood glucose levels (p-value for all <0.001). Also, an increased prevalence of diabetes, multivessel coronary artery disease and a prior coronary event were found. Of all patients, 24% received mechanical circulatory support, of which the majority was via intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs). Furthermore, 79% of patients were treated with at least one vasoactive agent, and multivessel PCI was performed in 28%. In conclusion, a large set of hemodynamic, biochemical and patient-related characteristics was identified to be associated with mortality. Interestingly, multivessel PCI and IABPs were frequently applied despite a lack of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess clinical outcomes of Amphilimus Sirolimus-Eluting Stents (A-SES) as compared to Zotarolimus-Eluting Stents (ZES) in complex real-world diabetic patients.Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus represent one of the most challenging scenarios with high rates of restenosis and stent thrombosis in the current era of drug-eluting stents. Hence, we assessed the safety of A-SES versus ZES in complex diabetic patients.Methods: In this observational study, we analyzed all consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus referred to our center from November 2012 to November 2014. The primary outcome was target-lesion failure at 1-year follow-up.Results: A total of 165 consecutive diabetic patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with A-SES or ZES for stable coronary artery disease in our tertiary center. Using the Kaplan Meier method the cumulative incidence of target-lesion failure was 6.7% (5.9% A-SES versus 7.5% ZES, p=0.19) at 1-year follow-up. Event-free survival at 1year follow-up was similar (89.4% A-SES vs. 83.3% ZES, p=0.29). Interestingly, we did not find any cases of definite-, and only one case of probable stent thrombosis in this high risk cohort.Conclusion: In this real-world registry, A-SES and ZES seems to be associated with promising 1-year clinical safety outcomes following PCI in a contemporary cohort of high-risk diabetic patients. Our results should be considered hypothesis generating, as the clinical safety of A-SES has to be confirmed in a large trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periprocedural stroke during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a highly feared adverse event. The TriGUARD 3 cerebral embolic protection device (CEPD) may have the potential benefit of reduction of embolic events, but it still remains unclear whether it reduces the incidence of periprocedural stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). We aimed to investigate whether the latest TriGUARD 3 CEPD reduces the incidence of clinically overt stroke within 72 h or at discharge after TAVR. In this prospective single-center study 117 patients (mean age 80.3 years, 53.8 % male) were included from July 2020 to December 2021. The primary efficacy endpoint of this study, periprocedural clinically overt stroke or TIA, within 72 h or at discharge after TAVR with the TriGUARD 3 CEPD occurred in 1/117 pts (0.8 %). Secondary endpoints (device related issues such as life-threatening or disabling bleeding, acute kidney injury, major vascular complications) were reported in 4/117 pts (3.4 %). This study suggests that the use of the latest TriGUARD 3™ CEPD in transfemoral TAVR seems to be associated with a low rate of clinically overt stroke and a low rate of device related adverse events, reflecting "real world" TAVR practice. However these results should be hypothesis generating and confirmed in a large RCT. • The use of the latest TriGUARD 3™ CEPD in transfemoral TAVR is associated with a low rate of clinically overt stroke • A low rate of device related adverse events occurred post-TAVR with the TriGUARD 3™ CEPD within 72 hours or at discharge • Complete coverage of all the three cerebral arteries with the latest TriGUARD 3™ CEPD was achieved in all patients [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of the SCIENCE trial was to investigate whether a single treatment with direct intramyocardial injections of adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells (CSCC_ASCs) was safe and improved cardiac function in patients with chronic ischaemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods and results: The study was a European multicentre, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled phase II trial using allogeneic CSCC_ASCs from healthy donors or placebo (2:1 randomization). Main inclusion criteria were New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II–III, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45%, and N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) levels >300 pg/ml. CSCC_ASCs or placebo (isotonic saline) were injected directly into viable myocardium. The primary endpoint was change in left ventricular end‐systolic volume (LVESV) at 6‐month follow‐up measured by echocardiography. A total of 133 symptomatic HFrEF patients were included. The treatment was safe without any drug‐related severe adverse events or difference in cardiac‐related adverse events during a 3‐year follow‐up period. There were no significant differences between groups during follow‐up in LVESV (0.3 ± 5.0 ml, p = 0.945), nor in secondary endpoints of left ventricular end‐diastolic volume (−2.0 ± 6.0 ml, p = 0.736) and LVEF (−1.6 ± 1.0%, p = 0.119). The NYHA class improved slightly within the first year in both groups without any difference between groups. There were no changes in 6‐min walk test, NT‐proBNP, C‐reactive protein or quality of life the first year in any groups. Conclusion: The SCIENCE trial demonstrated safety of intramyocardial allogeneic CSCC_ASC therapy in patients with chronic HFrEF. However, it was not possible to improve the pre‐defined endpoints and induce restoration of cardiac function or clinical symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fitting this theory, patients in the delayed group died considerably more often as a consequence of cardiogenic shock, whereas at the same time, Impella support duration and length of ICU stay were considerably shorter. To the Editor: With great interest, we read a study by Chatzis et al ([1]) published in a recent issue of I Critical Care Medicine i reporting improved survival after receiving an Impella before versus after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction. Although hemodynamics commonly improve after conventional treatment ([2]) causing Impella support to be redundant in several patients, the studies' comparator arm only involved the first type of patients. [Extracted from the article]

This study aims to identify sex-specific transcriptional differences and signaling pathways in circulating monocytes contributing to cardiovascular disease. We generated sex-biased gene expression signatures by comparing male versus female monocytes of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients (n = 450) from the Center for Translational Molecular Medicine–Circulating Cells Cohort. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated that monocytes from female CAD patients carry stronger chemotaxis and migratory signature than those from males. We then inferred cytokine signaling activities based on CytoSig database of 51 cytokine and growth factor regulation profiles. Monocytes from females feature a higher activation level of EGF, IFN1, VEGF, GM-CSF, and CD40L pathways, whereas IL-4, INS, and HMGB1 signaling was seen to be more activated in males. These sex differences were not observed in healthy subjects, as shown for an independent monocyte cohort of healthy subjects (GSE56034, n = 485). More pronounced GM-CSF signaling in monocytes of female CAD patients was confirmed by the significant enrichment of GM–CSF–activated monocyte signature in females. As we show these effects were not due to increased plasma levels of the corresponding ligands, sex-intrinsic differences in monocyte signaling regulation are suggested. Consistently, regulatory network analysis revealed jun-B as a shared transcription factor activated in all female-specific pathways except IFN1 but suppressed in male-activated IL-4. We observed overt CAD-specific sex differences in monocyte transcriptional profiles and cytokine- or growth factor-induced responses, which provide insights into underlying mechanisms of sex differences in CVD. [Display omitted] • Sex differences in transcriptomes and signaling exist in CAD patients' monocytes. • Female CAD patients' monocytes harbor a stronger migration signature than males. • IL-4, INS, and HMGB1 signaling is augmented in male patient monocytes. • EGF, IFN1, VEGF, GM-CSF, and CD40L signaling is up in female patients' monocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polymer-free amphilimus-eluting stents (PF-AES) represent a novel elution technology in the current era of drug-eluting stents. The clinical safety and efficacy of PF-AES as compared with latest-generation permanent-polymer zotarolimus-eluting stents (PP-ZES) have not yet been investigated in a large randomized trial.Methods: In this physician-initiated, prospective, multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial, an all-comers population requiring percutaneous coronary intervention was enrolled across 3 European sites. Randomization (1:1 ratio) to PP-ZES or PF-AES was performed after stratification for troponin status and diabetes mellitus. In both treatment arms, troponin-positive patients were planned for 12-month dual antiplatelet therapy, whereas troponin-negative patients were planned for 1-month dual antiplatelet therapy. Outcome assessors were blinded to the allocated treatment. The device-oriented primary end point of target-lesion failure was defined as cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, or target-lesion revascularization at 12-months as analyzed by modified intention-to-treat (80% power, and a 3.5% noninferiority margin).Results: In total, 1502 patients were randomized and 1491 treated with the assigned stent and available for follow-up. The primary end point occurred in 42 (5.6%) of the 744 patients receiving PP-ZES versus 46 (6.2%) of the 747 patients receiving PF-AES. PF-AES were clinically noninferior to PP-ZES (risk difference, 0.5%; upper limit 1-sided 95% confidence interval, 2.6%; Pnoninferiority=0.0086). Cardiac death occurred in 10 (1.3%) versus 10 patients (1.3%; P value for difference, 1.00), target-vessel myocardial infarction occurred in 18 (2.4%) versus 17 patients (2.3%; P value for difference, 0.87), and target-lesion revascularization occurred in 22 (2.9%) versus 20 patients (2.6%; P value for difference, 0.75) for PF-AES as compared with PP-ZES. Overall, definite or probable stent thrombosis occurred in 1.0%.Conclusions: PF-AES were noninferior to PP-ZES regarding target-lesion failure at 12 months. Findings regarding the secondary end point and prespecified subgroups were generally consistent with that of the primary end point.Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02328898. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokines play an important role in ischemic injury and repair. However, little is known about their prognostic value in cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic importance of chemokines CCL3/MIP-1a, CCL5/RANTES and CCL18/PARC for the risk of future cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Baseline levels of CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL5/RANTES and CCL18/PARC were determined in ACS patients from the Bad Nauheim ACS II registry (n = 609). During the following 200 days, patients were monitored for the occurrence of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events. Patients with CCL3/MIP1α, CCL5/RANTES and CCL18/PARC concentrations in the highest tertile were associated with an increased risk of a fatal event during follow-up (HR: 2.19, 95%CI: 1.04-4.61 for CCL3/MIP1α, HR: 3.45, 95%CI: 1.54-7.72 for CCL5/RANTES and HR: 3.14, 95%CI: 1.33-7.46 for CCL18/PARC). This risk was highest for patients with all three biomarkers concentrations in the upper tertile (HR: 2.52, 95%CI: 1.11-5.65). Together with known risk predictors of cardiovascular events, CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL5/RANTES and CCL18/PARC combined improved the c-statistics from 0.74 to 0.81 (p = 0.007). In conclusion, CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL5/RANTES and CCL18/PARC are independently associated with the risk of short-term mortality in ACS patients. Combining all three biomarkers further increased their prognostic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to gain more insight into the cardiogenic shock (CS) population, as currently, little is known on how to improve outcomes. Therefore, we assessed clinical outcome in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with and without CS at admission. Furthermore, the incidence of CS and predictors for mortality in CS patients were evaluated. The Netherlands Heart Registration (NHR) is a nationwide registry on all cardiac interventions. We used NHR data of ACS patients treated with PCI between 2015 and 2019. Among 75,407 ACS patients treated with PCI, 3028 patients (4.1%) were identified with CS, respectively 4.3%, 3.9%, 3.5%, and 4.3% per year. Factors associated with mortality in CS were age (HR 1.02, 95%CI 1.02–1.03), eGFR (HR 0.98, 95%CI 0.98–0.99), diabetes mellitus (DM) (HR 1.25, 95%CI 1.08–1.45), multivessel disease (HR 1.22, 95%CI 1.06–1.39), prior myocardial infarction (MI) (HR 1.24, 95%CI 1.06–1.45), and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) (HR 1.71, 95%CI 1.50–1.94). In conclusion, in this Dutch nationwide registry-based study of ACS patients treated by PCI, the incidence of CS was 4.1% over the 4-year study period. Predictors for mortality in CS were higher age, renal insufficiency, presence of DM, multivessel disease, prior MI, and OHCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis is the underlying pathology in a major part of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of mortality in developed countries. The infiltration of monocytes into the vessel walls of large arteries is a key denominator of atherogenesis, making monocytes accountable for the development of atherosclerosis. With the development of high-throughput transcriptome profiling platforms and cytometric methods for circulating cells, it is now feasible to study in-depth the predicted functional change of circulating monocytes reflected by changes of gene expression in certain pathways and correlate the changes to disease outcome. Neuroimmune guidance cues comprise a group of circulating- and cell membrane-associated signaling proteins that are progressively involved in monocyte functions. Here, we employed the CIRCULATING CELLS study cohort to classify cardiovascular disease patients and healthy individuals in relation to their expression of neuroimmune guidance cues in circulating monocytes. To cope with the complexity of human datasets featured by noisy data, nonlinearity and multidimensionality, we assessed various machine-learning methods. Of these, the linear discriminant analysis, Naïve Bayesian model and stochastic gradient boost model yielded perfect or near-perfect sensibility and specificity and revealed that expression levels of the neuroimmune guidance cues SEMA6B, SEMA6D and EPHA2 in circulating monocytes were of predictive values for cardiovascular disease outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]