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Background: There are limited data on differences in angiographic distribution of peripheral artery disease and endovascular revascularization strategies in patients presenting with intermittent claudication (IC) and critical limb ischemia (CLI). We aimed to compare anatomic features, treatment strategies, and clinical outcomes between patients with IC and CLI undergoing endovascular revascularization. Methods: We examined 3326 patients enrolled in the Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease registry from 2006 to 2019 who were referred for endovascular intervention for IC (n=1983) or CLI (n=1343). The primary outcome was 1-year major adverse limb events, which included death, repeat target limb revascularization, or target limb amputation. Results: Patients with CLI were older and more likely to have diabetes and chronic kidney disease and less likely to receive optimal medical therapy compared with IC. Patients with IC had higher femoropopliteal artery interventions (IC 87% versus CLI 65%; P P P P P P =0.014). Major adverse limb event rates for patients with IC and CLI were 16% and 26%, respectively ( P Conclusions: Patients with IC and CLI have significant anatomic, lesion, and treatment differences with significantly higher mortality and adverse limb outcomes in CLI. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01904851. Graphic Abstract: A graphic abstract is available for this article.

Background: NHLBI supported Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist trial (TOPCAT) (NCT00094302) investigated whether treatment with spironolactone reduces hospitalization due to heart failure (hHF) in 3,445 adults with prior heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction over 45%. We reused publicly available individual patient-level data from NHLBI Data Repository (BioLINCC) to perform hypothesis-generating secondary analyses by machine learning (ML) on the American TOPCAT cohort (n=1767) to identify gender and age groups specific baseline (bl) predictors of hHF. Methods: The subjects were stratified into subgroups based on gender (male and female) and age (50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-90). Random Survival Forest (RSF), a non-parametric ML approach, evaluated 172 bl variables as predictors of hHF. Top 10 predictors were subsequently included in a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The top 10 predictors of hHF are shown in Figure 1. Overall, renal and hematological biomarkers appeared prominently in the top 10 predictors for these patients. While liver markers were among top predictors for hHF in males, diabetes treatment and diabetic complications were top predictors for females. Also, diabetic treatment was a top predictor among age group 50-59, diabetic complications were top predictors among age groups 50-59 and 70-79, liver markers were top predictors among age groups 70-79, and race and years of smoking were top predictors among age group 60-69. Importantly, the use of potassium sparing diuretic at bl was the top predictor among age group 80-90. Conclusion: Using ML, we uncovered in an unbiased fashion, otherwise overlooked bl predictors of hHF in a large, international, multi-center trial like TOPCAT. Thus, ML can help to identify similarities and differences of disease and treatment outcomes among gender, race, ethnicity, and age specific subgroups and advance precision medicine.

Introduction: The NHLBI supported Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) Intervention Trial (SPRINT) (NCT01206062) aimed to identify an SBP target to reduce incidence of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in hypertensive, non-diabetic patients of age ≥ 50 at increased CV risk. It found that intensive treatment (SBP target Methods: RSF was performed on 30 bl variables from 9361 patients in age group specific cohorts (50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-90). The identified top 10 predictors from each cohort were included in a multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The top 10 predictors of ACM for age specific subgroups are shown in Figure 1. As expected, cardiovascular disease (CVD) predictors were selected, yet RSF distinctively identified renal biomarkers as important predictors, consistent with our previous analyses. Smoking status and history of CVD ranked as top predictors among age groups 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79. RSF also identified social factors, including race among age groups 60-69 and 80-90 and female gender among age groups 50-59 and 80-90 as important predictors for ACM. Lipid markers and medications used also showed up as top predictors. Specifically, polypharmacy emerged as a top predictor in age groups 60-69, 70-79, and 80-90, notably ranking higher in the 80-90 age group. Conclusions: Using ML, we uncovered in an unbiased fashion, unanticipated age specific top predictors for ACM in SPRINT trial. This highlights the value of ML for analyzing disease and therapeutic intervention outcomes and age specific prognostic factors to advance precision medicine.

Introduction: The NHLBI supported Prevention of Events with Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Therapy trial (PEACE) (NCT00000558) found that the addition of ACE inhibitor trandolapril to conventional therapy in 8290 patients with stable coronary artery disease and preserved ejection fraction provided no benefit against MACE (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or the need for coronary revascularization), the composite primary endpoint. We reused publicly available individual patient-level PEACE data from NHLBI Data Repository (BioLINCC) to perform hypothesis-generating secondary analyses by machine learning (ML) using random survival forest (RSF) to identify gender and age group specific predictors for MACE. Methods: RSF was performed on 50 baseline variables for the MACE outcome in male and female and in age group (69) cohorts. The top ten predictors identified in each cohort were included in a multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model with a multiple regression approach. Results: The top 10 predictors for the MACE selected by RSF are shown in Figure 1. Expected cardiovascular (CV) risk predictors like blood pressure, Canadian CV Society angina classification (CCS), age, and a history of various CV procedures consistently emerge amongst the top ten predictors of the primary MACE outcome across all gender and age specific subgroups. Interestingly, RSF also identified renal function biomarkers like serum potassium and glomerular filtration rate as common top ten predictors. Conclusion: Using ML, we uncovered in an unbiased fashion, gender and age groups specific unanticipated top predictors for MACE in PEACE trial. This underscores the value of gender and age specific predictors to examine the efficacy and outcomes of therapeutic interventions in advancing precision and personalized medicine.

Introduction: NHLBI supported Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation in Type 2 Diabetes trial (BARI2D) (NCT00006305) evaluated patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. Primary trial analysis found no significant differences in rates of all-cause mortality (ACM) among patients who underwent 1) prompt revascularization with medical therapy versus aggressive medical therapy alone and 2) insulin-sensitization medical strategies versus insulin-provision. We reused publicly available individual patient-level data from NHLBI Data Repository (BioLINCC) to perform hypothesis-generating secondary analysis by machine learning (ML), using random survival forest (RSF) to identify gender, race, and age specific baseline predictors for ACM. Methods: The total 2368 trial participants was separated into several subgroups based on gender (female and male), age (40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-80), and race (Non-Hispanic White, Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Non-White, and Hispanic Non-White). RSF was performed on 84 baseline variables to identify predictors of the primary outcome, ACM. The top 10 predictors for each subgroup were tested in a Cox proportional hazards model Results: Top 10 predictors of ACM are shown in Table 1. Although anticipated cardiovascular (CV) and diabetic predictors appeared among the top predictors, at the same time, renal function biomarkers like serum creatinine, urine albumin/creatinine ratio, and serum potassium uniquely showed among the top 5 predictors across the gender, age, and race specific subgroups. Conclusions: Using ML, we uncovered in an unbiased fashion, gender, race and age groups specific unanticipated top baseline predictors of ACM in BARI2D trial. This highlights the value of gender, race and age groups specific predictors of outcomes for determining the efficacy of therapeutic interventions and help advance precision medicine.

Introduction: NHLBI supported STICHES trial (The Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure Extended Study) (NCT00023595) was conducted to test whether blood flow restoration by coronary revascularization recovers chronic left ventricular dysfunction and improves survival, as compared to medical therapy alone in patients with congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease amenable to surgical revascularization. We reused publicly available individual patient-level STICHES trial data from NHLBI Data Repository (BioLINCC) to perform hypothesis-generating secondary analyses by machine learning (ML) using random survival forest (RSF) to identify gender, race and ethnicity, and age specific predictors for all-cause mortality (ACM). Methods: The population was sub-grouped by gender (male vs. female), race (white vs. Hispanic/Latinos/non-white), and age (< 55, 55-60, 61-69, and ≥70). RSF was performed on 48 baseline variables from 1212 patients to identify predictors of ACM. Top 10 RSF predictors for each subgroup were included in a multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Top 10 predictors of ACM are shown in Table 1. While known cardiometabolic and vascular predictors were among the top predictors, RSF uniquely identified renal function related biomarkers and plasma sodium among important top predictors across the subgroups. Age was an important predictor for male and female, Hispanics/Latinos/non-whites, and patient groups ≥70 years old. Also, top predictors of ACM were current smoking status among age groups of Conclusions: Using ML, we uncovered in an unbiased fashion, gender, age, race and ethnicity specific, unanticipated top predictors of ACM in STICHES trial. This highlights the value of ML for analyzing disease and therapeutic intervention outcomes to help implement precision medicine.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is expected to affect operations and lifestyles of interventional cardiologists around the world in unprecedented ways. Timely gathering of information on this topic can provide valuable insight and improve the handling of the ongoing and future pandemic outbreaks. Methods and Results A survey instrument developed by the authors was disseminated via e‐mail, text messaging, WhatsApp, and social media to interventional cardiologists between April 6, 2020, and April 11, 2020. A total of 509 responses were collected from 18 countries, mainly from the United States (51%) and Italy (36%). Operators reported significant decline in coronary, structural heart, and endovascular procedure volumes. Personal protective equipment was available to 95% of respondents; however FIT‐tested N95 or equivalent masks were available to only 70%, and 74% indicated absence of coronavirus disease 2019 pretesting. Most (83%) operators expressed concern when asked to perform cardiac catheterization on a suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 patient, primarily because of fear of viral transmission (88%). Although the survey demonstrated significant compliance with social distancing, high use of telemedicine (69%), and online education platforms (80%), there was concern over impending financial loss. Conclusions Our survey indicates significant reduction in invasive procedure volumes and concern for viral transmission. There is near universal adoption of personal protective equipment; however, coronavirus disease 2019 pretesting and access to FIT‐tested N95 masks is suboptimal. Although there is concern over impending financial loss, substantial engagement in telemedicine and online education is reported.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an established predictor of more advanced peripheral artery disease (PAD) and vascular calcification. However, clinical outcome data for these patients remains inadequately defined. Using the ongoing multicenter Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease (XLPAD)

PAD is a spectrum of disease ranging from intermittent claudication (IC) to critical limb ischemia (CLI). Recent data suggest that the underlying pathophysiology of these two diseases may differ. We sought to characterize patient and lesion level differences between IC and CLI patients undergoing

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are at high risk of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity/mortality. The ACCORD trial (NCT00000620) tested intensive glycemic, lipid and blood pressure interventions on major CV events in 10,251 T2D patients with baseline HbA1c concentration >7.5%. Despite its landmark findings, a data-driven systematic evaluation of predictors for major cardiovascular events among hundreds of ACCORD variables has not been conducted. Methods: Random Survival Forest (RSF), a machine-learning method for survival analysis, identified important predictors for total mortality (TM), CV death (CVd), hospitalization/death due to heart failure (hdHF), fatal/non-fatal stroke (CVA), non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and MACE (composite of CVd, MI and CVA). Among 378 risk factors, including some highly correlated features, the top-ranked predictors (collected at baseline or derived from repeated measures prior to events) were selected, resulting in a hierarchy of predictive variables. Effects of RSF-selected predictors were then evaluated by multivariate Cox Proportional Hazards Models. Results: Table 1 presented the top ten predictors for six major events. Variables associated with changes in renal function predicted TM, CVd, and hdHF with ~90% accuracy. Insulin use was an important predictor along with predefined composite renal microvascular events for MI, CVA and MACE (74-79% accuracy). The Cox regression models based on RSF variable selection yielded similar findings for these important predictors of events. Conclusions: RSF approach revealed that insulin use and overt renal microvascular events were predictors for the occurrence of MI, stroke, and MACE in T2D patients. Moreover, dynamic changes in urinary renal function biomarkers had additional predictive values for fatal events. These results provide important clinical insights for reducing CV events in Type 2 diabetes patients.

Introduction: An objective of the Meta-AnalyTical Interagency Group (MATIG) is to conduct patient-level meta-analyses of cardiovascular outcomes using data from publicly available repositories. We describe challenges with data re-use from a seminal trial, provide a systematic approach to identify and curate data elements for hypothesis generation, and establish stackable trials to support these analyses. Methods: We used data from the ACCORD trial to assess risk factors and their gender specific differences for the event of hospitalization or death due to heart failure (hdHF), in patients with type 2 diabetes*. We identified the data elements needed to answer the research questions, reviewed the trial protocol to verify definitions, extracted patient-level data, performed quality assessment and statistical analysis. The results showed a gender difference in the effect of intensive vs. standard glucose-lowering therapy on hdHF. To validate the findings, we sought additional trials in BioLINCC to develop a compendium for meta-analysis, and repeated these steps for each trial. Results: Challenges for reusing the ACCORD trial included access to complete patient-level data and metadata. The compendium, developed to evaluate the stackability** of data across trials, identified differences in trial designs, patient populations, study interventions, and data elements that may impact the feasibility and interpretation of meta-analysis. An example of compendium components is shown in Table 1. Conclusion: High-quality metadata facilitate re-use of trial repository data. This compendium standardizes common data elements for gender, racial and age-group specific outcome assessment in major clinical trials. It provides the framework to assess the fitness of trials for patient-level meta-analyses. Efforts are underway by MATIG to expand the compendium to include risk factors and major cardiovascular outcomes across multiple large trials for meta-analysis.

Target-lesion revascularization (TLR) and loss of patency remain high following treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) of the femoropopliteal (FP) artery. Excimer laser atherectomy (ELA) is effective in reducing TLR and improves patency at 6-month and 1-year follow-up when compared with balloon angioplasty (PTA). The long-term sustainability of these early results is unknown. We present a retrospective analysis from our center on the 5-year outcomes of ELA in the treatment of ISR of the FP arteries.Patients who underwent ELA for FP-ISR from February 2005 to April 2010 at a single medical center were included. Demographics, angiographic and procedural variables were included. Major adverse events and 5-year TLR and target-vessel revascularization were obtained from medical records. Descriptive analysis was performed on all variables. Kaplan-Meier survival curves for TLR were plotted censored for death among patients who died before the occurrence of a TLR.Forty consecutive patients (mean age, 67.2 ± 9.0 years; 57.5% males) were included. Angiographic variables included: lesion length, 210.4 ± 104.0 mm; lesion severity, 93.9 ± 8.9%; and number of vessel runoffs, 1.7 ± 1.0. All patients were treated with adjunctive PTA. Acute procedural success was achieved in 92.5% of vessels. Distal embolization requiring treatment was 2.5%. No unplanned amputation occurred. Total deaths occurred in 8/40 (20%). At 5-year follow-up, TLR occurred in 62.5% with the steepest decline in freedom from TLR occurred in the first year followed by a less decline in the subsequent 2 to 3 years.ELA for FP-ISR continues to show progressive increase in TLR up to 5-year follow-up, but mostly occurs in the first 3 years after index procedure. These data suggest that a minimum follow-up of 3 years is needed to determine stability of treatment of FP-ISR with laser.

Aortocoronary dissection can complicate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTOs).We retrospectively examined the frequency and outcomes of aortocoronary dissection among 336 consecutive CTO PCIs performed at our institution between 2005 and 2012 and performed a systematic review of the published literature.Aortocoronary dissection occurred in six patients (1.8%, 95% confidence intervals 0.7%, 3.8%). All aortocoronary dissections occurred in the right coronary artery (CTO target vessel in five patients and donor vessel in one patient). The baseline clinical characteristics of patients with and without aortocoronary dissection were similar. Compared to patients without, those with aortocoronary dissection were more likely to undergo crossing attempts using the retrograde approach (25% vs. 67%, P = 0.036) and experience a major complication (2.4% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.008). Technical and procedural success rates were similar in both groups. Of the six patients with aortocoronary dissection one underwent emergency coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG), four were treated with ostial stenting, and one was treated conservatively without subsequent adverse clinical outcomes. Systematic literature review provided 107 published cases of aortocoronary dissection during PCI, that occurred mainly in the right coronary artery (74.8%) and were treated with stenting (49.5%), emergency CABG (29%), or conservatively (21.5%).Aortocoronary dissection is an infrequent complication of CTO PCI and although it can be treated with stents in most patients, it may infrequently require emergency CABG.

The risk of distal embolization (DE) during infrainguinal peripheral artery interventions (PAI) is often mitigated by the use of embolic protection devices. There are limited data on the use of filters with the Jetstream (JS) atherectomy device, a rotational cutter with aspiration capacity. The Nav-6 filter is uniquely suited for use with the JS due to its wire compatibility and detachment from the filter; however, data on the off-label use of this combination have not been reported.Consecutive patients between October 2008 and April 2015 undergoing endovascular infrainguinal PAI with JS were analyzed as part of the Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease (XL-PAD) registry (NCT01904851). Patients were divided into two subgroups with Nav-6 filter use vs no filter use. Descriptive and univariate analyses were performed.Among 141 patients (mean age, 67.8 ± 10.8 years; 169 lesions) included in this study, the Nav-6 filter was used in 82 (59%). Use of a filter was more frequent in longer lesions (146 ± 106 mm vs 91 ± 72 mm; P=.01), in more severe stenoses (95% vs 87%; P=.04), and in chronic total occlusions (33% vs 8.3%; P=.01). Patients receiving filters had longer procedure duration (102 ± 51 min vs 66 ± 41 min; P=.01) and longer fluoroscopy times (31 ± 16 min vs 21 ± 10 min; P.001). Use of the Nav-6 filter with the JS during PAI was associated with numerically lower rates of DE (1.8% vs 8%; P=.10) and similar rates of death and amputation. At 12 months, the target-lesion revascularization rate was higher in the filter group (22% vs 2.7%; P=.02), likely secondary to use of the filter in more complex lesions.Nav-6 filter during JS atherectomy was predominantly used during complex infrainguinal PAI and was associated with less occurrence of DE.

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in Type 2 diabetes patients (T2D) with lipid abnormalities. Fibrates have emerged as second-line agents to reduce circulating triglycerides and elevate HDL-C. The ACCORD Lipid study, a subset of the ACCORD trial([NCT00000620][1]), investigated

Distal embolization during endovascular infrainguinal interventions is frequently encountered and requires additional therapy in 2-3% of cases. There are no uniform recommendations to the use of embolic protection devices (EPD) when treating the lower extremity arteries. It is unclear whether a

Background: Metformin is associated with improved skeletal muscle glucose uptake and improves skeletal muscle energetics. There is limited data of the impact of metformin us on need for repeat revascularization in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) treated with endovascular revascularization. Methods: We compared need for vessel revascularization (TLR) rates in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) treated with metformin and without, to non-DM enrolled in the Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease (XLPAD) registry (NCT01904851) between 2006 and 2015. Results: In the study cohort of 2140 interventional procedures, 57.4% were performed in DM (n=268 on metformin and n=961 not on metformin). Frequency of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and chronic kidney disease was higher in DM not on metformin compared to DM on metformin (p Conclusions: Metformin therapy in symptomatic PAD patients with DM following endovascular revascularization is associated with improved survival and lower need for repeat revascularization compared to diabetics not treated with metformin.

The risk of distal embolization (DE) during infrainguinal peripheral artery interventions (PAI) is often mitigated with the use of embolic protection devices. There is limited data on the use of filters with the Jetstream (JS) atherectomy device, a rotational cutter with aspiration capacity. The Nav

The longitudinal and the transverse beam shifts, namely, the Goos-H\"anchen (GH) and the Spin-Hall (SH) shifts are usually observed at planar interfaces. It has recently been shown that the transverse SH shift may also arise due to scattering of plane waves. Here, we show that analogous in-plane (longitudinal) shift also exist in scattering of plane waves from micro/nano systems. We study both the GH and the SH shifts in plasmonic metal nanoparticles/ nanostructures and dielectric micro-particles employing a unified framework that utilizes the transverse components of the Poynting vector of the scattered wave. The results demonstrate that interference of neighboring resonance modes in plasmonic nanostructures (e.g., electric dipolar and quadrupolar modes in metal spheres) leads to giant enhancement of GH shift in scattering from such systems. We also unravel interesting correlations between these shifts with the polarimetry parameters, diattenuation and retardance., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

To identify clinical, angiographic, and procedural factors associated with increased risk of periprocedural complications during chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Successful CTO PCI can provide significant clinical benefit; however, procedural risks have received limited study. We sought to identify factors associated with increased CTO PCI periprocedural risk that could be utilized to guide patient and lesion selection.The clinical, angiographic, and procedural records of 336 consecutive CTO PCI procedures performed at a single center from May 2005 through 2012 were reviewed, and data on periprocedural complications were recorded. Logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of periprocedural complications during CTO PCI.The incidence of major and minor complications was 3.9% and 10.4%, respectively. Minor bleeding and vascular events were the most common complications (4.8%), followed by perforation (2.4%), contrast-induced nephropathy (1.8%), and transient hypotension (0.6%). Major complications were uncommon: death (0.3%); emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (0.6%); stroke (0.3%); tamponade (0.3%); clinical myocardial infarction (0.9%); donor vessel injury (0.6%); and major bleeding or vascular events (0.9%). Patients who experienced any complication had higher preprocedure troponin levels and were more likely to undergo treatment using the retrograde approach. In multivariable analysis, use of the retrograde approach was independently associated with increased risk of periprocedural complications (odds ratio, 2.057; 95% confidence interval, 1.045-4.051; P=.04).Major complications of CTO PCI are infrequent, but are more common with use of the retrograde approach.

Successful crossing of superficial femoral artery (SFA) and below the knee (BTK) chronic total occlusions (CTO) often involves careful selection of a primary crossing strategy. We compared CTO crossing success rates with a primary wire-catheter or crossing device use. We analyzed a total of 439 SFA

Given lower durability of endovascular superficial femoral artery (SFA) revascularization in diabetics (DM) with claudication, we performed a comparative assessment of their angiographic disease in the SFA. We conducted a blinded angiographic analysis of SFA disease in 112 consecutive patients (76