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A matched cohort study was conducted comparing patients with first-time acute coronary syndromes infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to non-HIV-infected patients with and without diabetes matched for smoking, gender, and type of acute coronary syndrome who underwent first-time coronary angiography. A total of 48 HIV-infected patients were identified from a national database. Coronary angiography showed that the HIV-infected patients had significantly fewer lesions with classification B2/C than the 2 control groups (p <0.001) but the same extent of multivessel disease. The HIV-infected patients were a decade younger than the non-HIV-infected controls and had significantly higher concentrations of total cholesterol (6.3 vs 4.8 and 4.5 mmol/L, p <0.0001), low-density lipoprotein (4.0 vs 2.9 and 2.5 mmol/L, p <0.001), and triglycerides (2.8 vs 1.0 and 1.4 mmol/ L, p <0.01) compared to the nondiabetic and diabetic non-HIV-infected groups, respectively. In conclusion, HIV-infected patients with first-time acute coronary syndromes have fewer complex lesions than non-HIV-infected patients. This finding supports the idea that the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic disease in HIV patients is different from that in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the paper "Myocardium Area at Risk Measured With Delayed Enhancement After Scar Remodelling Compared With T2-Weighted Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging," by Niels Vejlstrup and colleagues is presented.

Background. Platelet lysates (PL) represent a promising replacement for xenogenic growth supplement for adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) expansions. However, fresh platelets from human blood donors are not clinically feasible for large-scale cell expansion based on their limited supply. Therefore, we tested PLs prepared via three methods from outdated buffy coat-derived platelet concentrates (PCs) to establish an efficient and feasible expansion of ASCs for clinical use. Methods. PLs were prepared by the freeze-thaw method from freshly drawn platelets or from outdated buffy coat-derived PCs stored in the platelet additive solution, InterSol. Three types of PLs were prepared from outdated PCs with platelets suspended in either (1) InterSol (not manipulated), (2) InterSol + supplemented with plasma or (3) plasma alone (InterSol removed). Using these PLs, we compared ASC population doubling time, cell yield, differentiation potential and cell surface markers. Gene expression profiles were analyzed using microarray assays, and growth factor concentrations in the cell culture medium were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. Of the three PL compositions produced from outdated PCs, removal of Intersol and resuspension in plasma prior to the first freezing process was overall the best. This specific outdated PL induced ASC growth kinetics, surface markers, plastic adherence and differentiation potentials comparable with PL from fresh platelets. ASCs expanded in PL from fresh versus outdated PCs exhibited different expressions of 17 overlapping genes, of which 10 were involved in cellular proliferation, although not significantly reflected by cell growth. Only minor differences in growth factor turnover were observed. Conclusion. PLs from outdated platelets may be an efficient and reliable source of human growth supplement allowing for large-scale ASC expansion for clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Aim was to compare absolute myocardial perfusion using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) based on Tikhonov's procedure of deconvolution and rubidium-82 positron emission tomography (Rb-82 PET). Materials and methods: Fourteen patients with coronary artery stenosis underwent rest and adenosine stress imaging by 1.5-Tesla MR Scanner and a mCT/PET 64-slice Scanner. CMRI were analyzed based on Tikhonov's procedure of deconvolution without specifying an explicit compartment model using our own software. PET images were analyzed using standard clinical software. CMRI and PET data was compared with Spearman's rho and Bland–Altman analysis. Results: CMRI results were strongly and significantly correlated with PET results for the absolute global myocardial perfusion differences (r =0.805, p =0.001) and for global myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) (r =0.886, p <0.001). At vessel territorial level, CMRI results were also significantly correlated with absolute PET myocardial perfusion differences (r =0.737, p <0.001) and MPR (r =0.818, p <0.001). Each vessel territory had similar strong correlation for absolute myocardial perfusion differences (right coronary artery (RCA): r =0.787, p =0.001; left anterior descending artery (LAD): r =0.796, p =0.001; left circumflex artery (LCX): r =0.880, p <0.001) and for MPR (RCA: r =0.895, p <0.001; LAD: r =0.886, p <0.001; LCX: r =0.886, p <0.001). Conclusion: On a global and vessel territorial basis, CMRI-measured absolute myocardial perfusion differences and MPR were strongly and significantly correlated with the Rb-82 PET findings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]