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Rationale: Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) Global spirometry reference equations were recently derived to offer a "race-neutral" interpretation option. The impact of transitioning from the race-specific GLI-2012 to the GLI Global reference equations is unknown. Objectives: Describe the direction and magnitude of changes in predicted lung function measurements in a population of diverse race and ethnicity using GLI Global in place of GLI-2012 reference equations. Methods: In this multicenter cross-sectional study using a large pulmonary function laboratory database, 109,447 spirometry tests were reanalyzed using GLI Global reference equations and compared with the existing GLI-2012 standard, stratified by self-reported race and ethnicity. Measurements and Main Results: Mean FEV 1 and FVC percent predicted increased in the White and Northeast Asian groups and decreased in the Black, Southeast Asian, and mixed/other race groups. The prevalence of obstruction increased by 9.7% in the White group, and prevalences of possible restriction increased by 51.1% and 37.1% in the Black and Southeast Asian groups, respectively. Using GLI Global in a population with equal representation of all five race and ethnicity groups altered the interpretation category for 10.2% of spirometry tests. Subjects who self-identified as Black were the only group with a relative increase in the frequency of abnormal spirometry test results (32.9%). Conclusions: The use of GLI Global reference equations will significantly impact spirometry interpretation. Although GLI Global offers an innovative approach to transition from race-specific reference equations, it is important to recognize the continued need to place these data within an appropriate clinical context.

Anticoagulant treatment of pediatric cerebral venous thrombosis has not been evaluated in randomized trials. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of rivaroxaban and standard anticoagulants in the predefined subgroup of children with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) who participated in the EINSTEIN-Jr trial. Children with CVT were randomized (2:1), after initial heparinization, to treatment with rivaroxaban or standard anticoagulants (continued on heparin or switched to vitamin K antagonist). The main treatment period was 3 months. The primary efficacy outcome, symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), and principal safety outcome, major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding,were centrally evaluated by blinded investigators. Sinus recanalization on repeat brain imaging was a secondary outcome. Statistical analyses were exploratory. In total, 114 children with confirmed CVT were randomized. All children completed the follow-up. None of the 73 rivaroxaban recipients and 1 (2.4%; CVT) of the 41 standard anticoagulant recipients had symptomatic, recurrent VTE after 3 months (absolute difference, 2.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.6% to 13.5%). Clinically relevant bleeding occurred in 5 (6.8%; all nonmajor and noncerebral) rivaroxaban recipients and in 1 (2.5%; major [subdural] bleeding) standard anticoagulant recipient (absolute difference, 4.4%; 95% CI, -6.7% to 13.4%). Complete or partial sinus recanalization occurred in 18 (25%) and 39 (53%) rivaroxaban recipients and in 6 (15%) and 24 (59%) standard anticoagulant recipients, respectively. In summary, in this substudy of a randomized trial with a limited sample size, children with CVT treated with rivaroxaban or standard anticoagulation had a low risk of recurrent VTE and clinically relevant bleeding. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02234843., (© 2020 by The American Society of Hematology.)

Anticoagulant treatment of pediatric central venous catheter-related venous thromboembolism (CVC-VTE) has not been specifically evaluated. In EINSTEIN-Jr, 500 children with any VTE received rivaroxaban or standard anticoagulants. A predefined analysis of the CVC-VTE cohort was performed. Children with CVC-VTE (age, birth to 17 years) were administered rivaroxaban or standard anticoagulants during the 1-month (children <2 years) or 3-month (all other children) study period. Predefined outcomes were recurrent VTE, change in thrombotic burden on repeat imaging, and bleeding. Predictors for continuation of anticoagulant therapy beyond the study period were evaluated. One hundred twenty-six children with symptomatic (n = 76, 60%) or asymptomatic (n = 50, 40%) CVC-VTE received either rivaroxaban (n = 90) or standard anticoagulants (n = 36). There was no recurrent VTE (0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0%-2.8%). Three children had the principal safety outcome: none had major bleeding and 3 children had clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (2.4%; 95% CI, 0.7%-6.5%), all in the rivaroxaban arm. Complete or partial vein recanalization occurred in 57 (55%) and 38 (37%) of 103 evaluable children, respectively. Results were similar for symptomatic and asymptomatic CVC-VTE. Continuation of anticoagulant therapy beyond the study period occurred in 61 (48%) of children and was associated with residual VTE but only in children <2 years (odds ratio [OR], 20.9; P = .003) and continued CVC use (OR, 6.7; P = .002). Anticoagulant therapy appeared safe and efficacious and was associated with reduced clot burden in most children with symptomatic or asymptomatic CVC-VTE. Residual VTE and continued CVC use were associated with extended anticoagulation. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02234843., (© 2020 by The American Society of Hematology.)

Background: Recently, the randomized EINSTEIN-Jr study showed similar efficacy and safety for rivaroxaban and standard anticoagulation for treatment of pediatric venous thromboembolism (VTE). The rivaroxaban dosing strategy was established based on phase 1 and 2 data in children and through pharmacokinetic (PK) modeling., Methods: Rivaroxaban treatment with tablets or the newly developed granules-for-oral suspension formulation was bodyweight-adjusted and administered once-daily, twice-daily, or thrice-daily for children with bodyweights of ≥30, ≥12 to <30, and <12 kg, respectively. Previously, these regimens were confirmed for children weighing ≥20 kg but only predicted in those <20 kg. Based on sparse blood sampling, the daily area under the plasma concentration-time curve [AUC (0-24)ss ] and trough [C trough,ss ] and maximum [C max,ss ] steady-state plasma concentrations were derived using population PK modeling. Exposure-response graphs were generated to evaluate the potential relationship of individual PK parameters with recurrent VTE, repeat imaging outcomes, and bleeding or adverse events. A taste-and-texture questionnaire was collected for suspension-recipients., Results: Of the 335 children (aged 0-17 years) allocated to rivaroxaban, 316 (94.3%) were evaluable for PK analyses. Rivaroxaban exposures were within the adult exposure range. No clustering was observed for any of the PK parameters with efficacy, bleeding, or adverse event outcomes. Results were similar for the tablet and suspension formulation. Acceptability and palatability of the suspension were favorable., Discussion: Based on this analysis and the recently documented similar efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban compared with standard anticoagulation, we conclude that bodyweight-adjusted pediatric rivaroxaban regimens with either tablets or suspension are validated and provide for appropriate treatment of children with VTE., (© 2020 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.)

Background: Treatment of venous thromboembolism in children is based on data obtained in adults with little direct documentation of its efficacy and safety in children. The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban versus standard anticoagulants in children with venous thromboembolism., Methods: In a multicentre, parallel-group, open-label, randomised study, children (aged 0-17 years) attending 107 paediatric hospitals in 28 countries with documented acute venous thromboembolism who had started heparinisation were assigned (2:1) to bodyweight-adjusted rivaroxaban (tablets or suspension) in a 20-mg equivalent dose or standard anticoagulants (heparin or switched to vitamin K antagonist). Randomisation was stratified by age and venous thromboembolism site. The main treatment period was 3 months (1 month in children <2 years of age with catheter-related venous thromboembolism). The primary efficacy outcome, symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism (assessed by intention-to-treat), and the principal safety outcome, major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding (assessed in participants who received ≥1 dose), were centrally assessed by investigators who were unaware of treatment assignment. Repeat imaging was obtained at the end of the main treatment period and compared with baseline imaging tests. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02234843 and has been completed., Findings: From Nov 14, 2014, to Sept 28, 2018, 500 (96%) of the 520 children screened for eligibility were enrolled. After a median follow-up of 91 days (IQR 87-95) in children who had a study treatment period of 3 months (n=463) and 31 days (IQR 29-35) in children who had a study treatment period of 1 month (n=37), symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism occurred in four (1%) of 335 children receiving rivaroxaban and five (3%) of 165 receiving standard anticoagulants (hazard ratio [HR] 0·40, 95% CI 0·11-1·41). Repeat imaging showed an improved effect of rivaroxaban on thrombotic burden as compared with standard anticoagulants (p=0·012). Major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding in participants who received ≥1 dose occurred in ten (3%) of 329 children (all non-major) receiving rivaroxaban and in three (2%) of 162 children (two major and one non-major) receiving standard anticoagulants (HR 1·58, 95% CI 0·51-6·27). Absolute and relative efficacy and safety estimates of rivaroxaban versus standard anticoagulation estimates were similar to those in rivaroxaban studies in adults. There were no treatment-related deaths., Interpretation: In children with acute venous thromboembolism, treatment with rivaroxaban resulted in a similarly low recurrence risk and reduced thrombotic burden without increased bleeding, as compared with standard anticoagulants., Funding: Bayer AG and Janssen Research & Development., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) exhibit anemia, chronic kidney disease‒mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD), and cardiovascular disease. The REN-001 and REN-002 phase II, multicenter, randomized studies examined safety, tolerability, and effects of sotatercept, an ActRIIA-IgG1 fusion protein trap, on hemoglobin concentration; REN-001 also explored effects on bone mineral density (BMD) and abdominal aortic vascular calcification., Methods: Forty-three patients were treated in REN-001 (dose range: sotatercept 0.3‒0.7 mg/kg or placebo subcutaneously [s.c.] for 200 days) and 50 in REN-002 (dose range: 0.1‒0.4 mg/kg i.v. and 0.13‒0.5 mg/kg s.c. for 99 days)., Results: In REN-001, frequency of achieving target hemoglobin response (>10 g/dl [6.21 mmol/l]) with sotatercept was dose-related and greater than placebo (0.3 mg/kg: 33.3%; 0.5 mg/kg: 62.5%; 0.7 mg/kg: 77.8%; 0.7 mg/kg [doses 1 and 2]/0.4 mg/kg [doses 3‒15]: 33.3%; placebo: 27.3%). REN-002 hemoglobin findings were similar (i.v.: 16.7%-57.1%; s.c.: 11.1%‒42.9%). Dose-related achievement of ≥2% increase in femoral neck cortical BMD was seen among only REN-001 patients receiving sotatercept (0.3‒0.7 mg/kg: 20.0%‒57.1%; placebo: 0.0%). Abdominal aortic vascular calcification was slowed in a dose-related manner, with a ≤15% increase in Agatston score achieved by more REN-001 sotatercept versus placebo patients (60%‒100% vs. 16.7%). The most common adverse events during treatment were hypertension, muscle spasm, headache, arteriovenous fistula site complication, and influenza observed in both treatment and placebo groups., Conclusion: In patients with ESKD, sotatercept exhibited a favorable safety profile and was associated with trends in dose-related slowing of vascular calcification. Less-consistent trends in improved hemoglobin concentration and BMD were observed., (© 2019 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a relatively rare condition in childhood with treatment mainly based on extrapolation from studies in adults. Therefore, clinical trials of anticoagulation in children require novel approaches to deal with numerous challenges. The EINSTEIN-Jr program identified pediatric rivaroxaban regimens commencing with in vitro dose finding studies followed by evaluation of children of different ages through phase I and II studies using extensive modeling to determine bodyweight-related doses. Use of this approach resulted in drug exposure similar to that observed in young adults treated with rivaroxaban 20 mg once-daily., Methods: EINSTEIN-Jr phase III is a randomized, open-label, study comparing the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban 20 mg-equivalent dose regimens with those of standard anticoagulation for the treatment of any types of acute VTE in children aged 0-18 years.A total of approximately 500 children are expected to be included during the 4-year study window. Flexibility of treatment duration is allowed with study treatment to be given for 3 months with the option to continue treatment in 3-month increments, up to a total of 12 months. However, based on most common current practice, children younger than 2 years with catheter-related thrombosis will have a main treatment period of 1 month with the option to prolong treatment in 1-month increments, up to a total of 3 months., Conclusions: EINSTEIN-Jr will compare previously established 20 mg-equivalent rivaroxaban dosing regimens with standard anticoagulation for the treatment of VTE in children. Demonstration of similarity of disease, as well as equivalent rivaroxaban exposure and exposure-response will enable extrapolation of efficacy from adult trials, which is critical given the challenges of enrollment in pediatric anticoagulation trials., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02234843, registered on 9 September 2014., Competing Interests: Study sponsors and investigators agreed to abide by Good Clinical Practice guidelines and under the guiding principles detailed in the Declaration of Helsinki, and in accordance with any applicable local law(s) and regulation(s). Documented approval from appropriate Independent Ethics Committees/Institutional Review Boards was obtained for all participating centers/countries prior to the start of the study, according to Good Clinical Practice, local laws, regulations and organizations. As a requirement for participation, informed consent will be asked from the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and, if appropriate as determined by local regulation, age and individual child capability, child assent will be sought, according to country-specific regulations.Not applicable.AWAL, DK, AFP, IA, WTS, AM, and KT are employees of Bayer AG. CM has received consulting fees from Bayer and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and lecture fees from Bayer. GK has received research funding from Pfizer and receives consulting and lecture fees from Daichi Sankyo. MPM has received consulting fees from Bayer. AC has received consulting fees from Bayer, Daiichi Sankyo, and Pfizer/Bristol-Myers Squibb. ACM has received consulting fees from Bayer, CSL Behring, Kedrion, NovoNordisk, Pfizer, Shire, and SOBI. UNG has received consulting fees from Bayer, Boehringer, Octapharma, LFB, and SOBI. MG has received consulting fees from Bayer, Shionogi, Octapharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, and Daiichi Sankyo, and lecture fees from Pfizer, Alexion, and CSL Behring. SS has received consulting fees from Bayer. MHP has received consulting fees from Bayer, Pfizer, and Daiichi Sankyo. GY, VP, and PM declare no competing financial interests.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in young children is not well documented., Methods: Clinicians from 12 institutions retrospectively evaluated the presentation, therapeutic management, and outcome of VTE in children younger than 2 years seen in 2011-2016. Feasibility of recruiting these children in EINSTEIN-Jr. phase III, a randomized trial evaluating rivaroxaban versus standard anticoagulation for VTE, was assessed., Results: We identified 346 children with VTE, of whom 227 (65.6%) had central venous catheter-related thrombosis (CVC-VTE), 119 (34.4%) had non-CVC-VTE, and 156 (45.1%) were younger than 1 month. Of the 309 children who received anticoagulant therapy, 86 (27.8%) had a short duration of therapy (i.e. < 6 weeks for CVC-VTE and < 3 months for non-CVC-VTE) and 17 (5.5%) had recurrent VTE during anticoagulation ( n  = 8, 2.6%) or shortly after its discontinuation ( n  = 9, 2.9%). A total of 37 (10.7%) children did not receive anticoagulant therapy and 4 (10.5%) had recurrent VTE.The average number of children aged < 0.5 years and 0.5-2 years who would have been considered for enrolment in EINSTEIN-Jr is approximately 1.0 and 0.9 per year per site, respectively., Conclusions: Young children with VTE most commonly have CVC-VTE and approximately one-tenth and one-fourth received no or only short durations of anticoagulant therapy, respectively. Recurrent VTE rates without anticoagulation, during anticoagulation or shortly after its discontinuation seem comparable to those observed in adults. Short and flexible treatment durations could potentially increase recruitment in EINSTEIN-Jr. phase III., Competing Interests: The protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board or Ethics Committee of each participating center, if required, and de-identified data was retrieved.See above.A.C. has received consulting fees from Bayer, Daiichi Sankyo and Pfizer/BMS. A.W.A.L., D.K., K.T., W.T.S., A.M., I.A., and S.D.B. are employees of Bayer AG. G.B., E.H., and J.K. are employees of. CDDI. D.E., M.Y., J.H., S.G., G.K., D.B., A.S., P.S. T.B.,F.C., P.C., J.P., G.Y. and P.M. declare they have no competing interests.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Introduction: PVI is an effective, guideline-based treatment for drug refractory symptomatic AF. Balloon cryoablation has been shown to be a safe and effective method for PVI. In the STOP-AF trial, data was produced from practitioners performing PVI with significant experience at high volume centers. This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of treating symptomatic, drug refractory AF with PVI via cryoablation after implementation in a regional medical center., Method: This represents a retrospective analysis of outcomes after cryoablation treatment for AF in 71 patients over 354.7 +/- 164.4 days. Reported and recorded episodes of AF were categorized into a representative percent of AF "burden" for each 90 day period. Primary effectiveness and safety end points paralleled those of the STOP-AF trial., Results: Patients undergoing cryoablation had a 91% reduction of AF burden at 6 months following the procedure with an event-free survival rate of 45.5 % at a mean follow up of 12 months. The mean burden reduction was 3.21% per quarter. Anti-arrhythmic and anticoagulant medication use was reduced by 14.3% and 26.8% respectively. Significant complications included one report of pulmonary vein stenosis, one report of pseudoaneurysm and 5.5% of patients had transient pericarditis or pericardial effusion following the procedure., Conclusion: The results of this study were comparable to those of the high volume multi-center STOP-AF trial. PVI via cryoablation is a safe and effective alternative treatment of drug refractory symptomatic AF in the setting of a regional medical center.

Noninvasive stress testing provides prognostic information in patients who have suspected coronary artery disease, but limited data are available on the incremental value of myocardial perfusion testing in high-risk patients. We studied 3,275 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization and single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) perfusion imaging. Median follow-up was 3.1 years for death, cardiovascular death, and a composite of cardiovascular death or nonfatal myocardial infarction. Using Cox's proportional hazards regression models, we examined the relation of SPECT summed stress score (SSS) to each outcome. A 1-unit change in SSS was associated with increased risks of 4%, 7%, and 5% for death, cardiovascular death, and death or nonfatal myocardial infarction, respectively (all p <0.0001). To examine the prognostic utility of SPECT, after baseline adjustments, SSS and angiographic results provided incremental prognostic information for each outcome. Thus, SPECT SSS provides information beyond clinical and angiographic data in patients who have known or suspected coronary artery disease. This information may be useful for stratifying patients into multiple risk categories for future cardiovascular events and potentially guiding therapy.

Unlabelled: Radionuclide exercise testing provides prognostic information in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). The relative contribution of 3 noninvasive tests--the Duke treadmill score (DTS), first-pass radionuclide angiography with calculation of the ejection fraction (RNA-EF), and perfusion SPECT--has not been comparatively assessed in a high-risk population undergoing all 3 tests., Methods: We identified 997 patients (75% male; median age, 60 y) who underwent exercise treadmill testing with RNA-EF and SPECT perfusion imaging as a single test. The relative prognostic power of each test was evaluated in both an unadjusted manner and after adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics using Cox proportional hazards models., Results: During a median follow-up of 4.1 y, 175 patients experienced outcome events. Without adjustment for baseline patient characteristics, each of the modalities proved highly predictive of the composite endpoint of cardiovascular death or nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) (DTS chi(2) = 18.9, P = 0.0001; RNA-EF chi(2) = 34, P = 0.0001; SPECT chi(2) = 11.5, P = 0.0007). In clinically risk-adjusted models, RNA-EF was the most powerful predictor of cardiovascular death compared with the DTS and SPECT (chi(2) = 40.5, 27.6, and 19.8, respectively). Conversely, exercise SPECT perfusion was a stronger predictor of nonfatal MI than the DTS or RNA-EF (chi(2) = 26.7, 15.7, and 16.7, respectively)., Conclusion: The DTS, perfusion SPECT, and RNA-EF are each significant predictors of cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. The optimal risk stratification of patients for CAD may include all 3 modalities.

A case of pregnancy in a 27-year-old woman on peritoneal dialysis is presented. The case report is a detailed description of her course including changes in her peritoneal dialysis regimen and the use of continuous cycling to maximize dialysis adequacy while addressing the patient's recurrent abdominal pain and fullness. Also described is the management of complications including hypertension, gestational diabetes, and premature rupture of membranes. The discussion reviews the diagnosis of pregnancy, factors that may relate to outcome, and a detailed comparison of pregnancy outcomes in patients on dialysis to the general population.

Objectives: This study utilizes Markov decision analysis to assess the relative benefits of prophylactic aortic valve replacement (AVR) at the time of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Multiple sensitivity analyses were also performed to determine the variables that most profoundly affect outcome., Background: The decision to perform CABG or concomitant CABG and AVR (CABG/AVR) in asymptomatic patients who need CABG surgery but have mild to moderate aortic stenosis (AS) is not clear-cut., Methods: We performed Markov decision analysis comparing long-term, quality-adjusted life outcomes of patients with mild to moderate AS undergoing CABG versus CABG/AVR. Age-specific morbidity and mortality risks with CABG, CABG/AVR, and AVR after a prior CABG were based on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons national database (n = 1,344,100). Probabilities of progression to symptomatic AS, valve-related morbidity, and age-adjusted mortality rates were obtained from available published reports., Results: For average AS progression, the decision to replace the aortic valve at the time of elective CABG should be based on patient age and severity of AS measured by echocardiography. For patients under age 70 years, an AVR for mild AS is preferred if the peak valve gradient is >25 to 30 mm Hg. For older patients, the threshold increases by 1 to 2 mm Hg/year, so that an 85-year-old patient undergoing CABG should have AVR only if the gradient exceeds 50 mm Hg. The AS progression rate also influences outcomes. With slow progression (<3 mm Hg/year), CABG is favored for all patients with AS gradients <50 mm Hg; with rapid progression (>10 mm Hg/year), CABG/AVR is favored except for patients >80 years old with a valve gradient <25 mm Hg., Conclusions: This study provides a decision aid for treating patients with mild to moderate AS requiring CABG surgery. Predictors of AS progression in individual patients need to be better defined.

Purpose: To determine if there was any difference in the ability of physicians to predict prognosis with technetium 99m ((99m)Tc) sestamibi or (99m)Tc tetrofosmin in a large consecutive series of patients at high risk for coronary artery disease who underwent coronary angiography., Materials and Methods: This study included 1,818 consecutive patients who underwent a rest and stress single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) examination with either (99m)Tc sestamibi (n = 915) or (99m)Tc tetrofosmin (n = 903) and cardiac catheterization. A clinical index was generated and consisted of clinical and demographic variables. Information concerning death, cardiovascular death, and nonfatal myocardial infarction was 93% complete during the 1.5-year study period. Cox proportional hazards models were generated to help determine the incremental contribution of SPECT sum stress score (SSS) and the imaging agent variable to the clinical index., Results: Exercise was used for stress testing in 473 (52%) patients who received (99m)Tc tetrofosmin and 519 (57%) patients who received (99m)Tc sestamibi (P =.06). Cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction occurred in 130 patients. Resulting P values for chi(2) differences between models for the end points of (a) death from any cause, (b) cardiovascular death, and (c) cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction showed that SSS combined with clinical index was a significantly better model than adjusting for only baseline characteristics (P =.001, P <.001, P =.004, respectively). Incremental addition of either (99m)Tc tetrofosmin or (99m)Tc sestamibi to those models containing SSS and the clinical index did not show further significant improvement (P =.87, P =.88, and P =.26 for death from any cause, cardiovascular death, and cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction, respectively)., Conclusion: This study shows that the type of clinically available (99m)Tc-labeled myocardial perfusion agents should not affect interpretation of results for risk stratification and prognostic assessment., (Copyright RSNA, 2004)

In 107 patients with coronary disease and severe left ventricular dysfunction, we examined the prognostic power of viability identified by dobutamine stress echocardiography. At a mean follow-up of 27 months, patients with viable myocardium who underwent revascularization had a significant survival advantage over all other patients (2-year survival 83.5% vs 57.2%, p = 0.0037).

Echocardiograms of 290 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction < or =35%) were reviewed for the presence of left ventricular (LV) apical abnormalities; outcomes of stroke and death were then correlated with the presence of LV thrombus. During a follow-up of 31 months, 15 patients had a stroke or transient ischemic attack after the index echocardiogram (5.2%). Patients with LV thrombus on echocardiography had a significantly higher rate of stroke (adjusted odds ratio 3.4, p = 0.027) than those without echocardiographic evidence of thrombi. There was no difference in mortality between patients with and without thrombus (20.9% vs 21.1%, p = 0.726).

Ischemia-induced reperfusion injury seems to play an important role in the pathophysiology of "idiopathic" carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The common final pathway in this developmental sequence is thought to be an intermittent increase in interstitial pressure, leading to degenerative changes in the flexor tenosynovium and fibrotic changes in the perineural tissue. We hypothesize that this concurrently leads to alteration in the physical properties of the synovium, leading to its rapid and persistent swelling. A prospective study was conducted on synovial tissue obtained from 27 CTS patients. The in vitro synovial absorption rate of CTS patients was significantly higher in the first hour compared to controls (n = 7). This difference was maintained up to 5-6 h, albeit at a slower rate. Rapid absorption and retention of fluid by the synovium led to increased interstitial pressure and nerve compression, resulting in early and persistent manifestation of symptoms in sensitized patients., (Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 22:316-319 2002)