Holographic mixed reality for planning transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Using three-dimensional (3D) modalities for optimal pre-procedure planning in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is critical for procedural success. However, current methods rely on visualizing images on a two-dimensional screen, using shading and colors to create the illusion of 3D, potentially impeding the accurate comprehension of the actual anatomy structures. In contrast, a new Mixed Reality (MxR) based software enables accurate 3D visualization, imaging manipulation, and quantification of measurements. AIMS: The study aims to evaluate the feasibility, reproducibility, and accuracy of dimensions of the aortic valve complex as measured with a new holographic MxR software (ARTICOR®, Artiness srl, Milano, Italy) compared to a widely used software for pre-operative sizing and planning (3mensio Medical Imaging BV, Bilthoven, The Netherlands). METHODS: This retrospective, observational, double-center study enrolled 100 patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent cardiac computed tomography (CCT) before TAVR. The CCT datasets of volumetric aortic valve images were analyzed using 3Mensio and newly introduced MxR-based software. RESULTS: Ninety-eight percent of the CCT datasets were successfully converted into holographic models. A higher level of agreement between the two software systems was observed for linear metrics (short, long, and average diameter). In comparison, agreement was lower for area, perimeter, and annulus-to-coronary ostia distance measurements. Notably, the annulus area, annular perimeter, left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) area, and LVOT perimeter were significantly and consistently smaller with the MxR-based software compared to the 3Mensio. Excellent interobserver reliability was demonstrated for most measurements, especially for direct linear measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Linear measurements of the aortic valve complex using MxR-based software are reproducible compared to the standard CCT dataset analyzed with 3Mensio. MxR-based software could represent an accurate tool for the pre-procedural planning of TAVR.

Treatment with gentamicin-impregnated collagen sponges in reducing infection of implantable cardiac devices: 10-year analysis with propensity score matching.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The incidence of device infection has increased over time and is associated with increased mortality in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Gentamicin-impregnated collagen sponges (GICSs) are useful in preventing surgical site infection (SSI) in cardiac surgery. Nevertheless, to date, there is no evidence concerning their use in CIED procedures. Our study aims to determine the effectiveness of treatment with GICSs in preventing CIED infection. METHODS: A total of 2986 adult patients who received CIEDs between 2010 and 2020 were included. Before device implantation, all patients received routine periprocedural systemic antibiotic prophylaxis. The study endpoints were the CIED infection rate at one year and the effectiveness of the use of GICSs in reducing CIED infection. RESULTS: Among 1524 pacemaker, 942 ICD and 520 CRT implantations, CIED infection occurred in 36 patients (1.2%). Early reintervention (OR 9 [95% CI 3.180-25.837], p<0.001), pocket hematoma (OR 11 [95% CI 4.195-28.961], p<0.001), diabetes (OR 2.9 [95% CI 1.465-5.799], p=0.002) and prolonged procedural time (OR 1.02 [95% CI 1.008-1.034], p=0.001) were independent risk factors for CIED infection. Treatment with GICSs reduced CIED infections significantly ([95% CI -0.031 to -0.001], p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of GICSs may help in reducing infections associated with CIED implantation.

Acute myocardial infarction in a patient with MELAS syndrome: a possible link?

The mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke (MELAS) syndrome is a mitochondrial disorder, commonly caused by m.3243A>G mutation in the MT-TL1 gene. It encodes for the mitochondrial leucine transfer RNA (tRNA Leu [UUR]), implicated in the translation of proteins involved in the assembly and function of mitochondrial complexes in the electron transport chain. The m.3243A>G mutation determines complex I (CI) deficiency, ultimately leading to NADH accumulation, higher rates of glycolysis in order to compensate for the reduced ATP production and increase in lactates, the end-product of glycolysis. Disruption of the oxidative phosphorylation function with an inability to produce sufficient energy results in multi-organ dysfunction, with high energy demanding cells, such as myocytes and neurons, being the most affected ones. Therefore, MELAS syndrome is characterized by a heterogeneous clinical spectrum. Here we report on a case of a 55-year-old man affected by MELA syndrome with no cardiovascular risk factors. He was admitted to our department because of a non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). A coronary angioplasty of the posterior descending artery and of the left anterior descending artery was realized. Transthoracic echocardiography showed inferior and anterior left ventricular wall hypokinesis together with a moderate left ventricle hypertrophy. Cardiac involvement is reported in about a third of the patients and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the most common phenotype, with possible dilated cardiomyopathy in end-stage disease; brady- arrhythmias and tachy-arrhythmias are also frequently reported as well as Wolff- Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Organ impairment and clinical manifestations depend on the heteroplasmy level of mutant DNA in cells that can differ among individuals, explaining why some patients present a more severe disease. A clear relationship between MELAS syndrome and atherosclerosis has never been established, however recently advocated. In vitro studies in MELAS patients have shown that higher mitochondrial ROS levels and increased expression of oxidative stress-related genes, as a consequence of complex I deficiency and disrupted electron transport, allow circulating LDL to be promptly oxidized into ox-LDL, contributing to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis plaque formation. In light of the recent evidence suggesting a possible link between mitochondrial disorders and atherosclerosis, we speculate that MELAS syndrome may have played a role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease in our patient. Further investigations are needed to confirm a pathogenetic link.

Rationale and design of the sirolimus eluting balloon utilization for treatment of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction: the SUASION Registry.

BACKGROUND: Conventional angioplasty balloon catheter, drug coated balloon (DCB), or angioplasty with drug eluting stent (DES) have been used on the percutaneous treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Currently available DCBs are paclitaxel eluting balloon (PEB), very recently, sirolimus eluting balloon (SEB). Although endovascular revascularization with balloon resulted in improvement of ED, there have been no prior reports on the feasibility of SEB treatment for ED. METHODS: We present an observational, retrospective-prospective multicentre registry in patients evaluating the use of SEB for the treatment of de novo stenosis in native internal pudendal arteries. We will include 100 patients affected by vasculogenic ED non responder to PDE5i with up to two lesions requiring treatment. ED patients should present a IIEF-5 Score<15, positive dynamic doppler (PSV <25 cm/s) and/or evidence at basal CT angiography. At 30 days, 180, 240, and 365 days following the index procedure, IIEF-5 score will be assessed, and medication regimen and adverse event monitoring will be assessed. At 8 months a dynamic Doppler will be performed. Patients will be followed up for 2 years. The primary endpoints are the Delta IIEF-5 Score and a Delta PSV between basal and 8 months follow-up. The secondary endpoint is the incidence of major adverse event (MAE), binary restenosis and late loss in patients who will repeat control angiography if clinically indicated. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the limitations and safety concerns of PEB, POBA and DES used so far in ED clinical investigations, we hypothesize that sirolimus nanocarriers-coated balloon can potentially be an improved next-generation treatment for ED patients.

CMV seroprevalence and coronary CMV-DNA detection in immunocompetent patients with heart diseases.

BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. As cytomegalovirus (CMV) may contribute to cardio-vascular (CV) manifestations, we sought to provide a proof-of-concept for the involvement of coronary and/or systemic CMV-reactivation as a possible ACS trigger. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients undergoing a coronary angiography for ACS (acute-cases, N.=136), or non-ACS reasons (chronic-cases, N.=57). Matched coronary and peripheral blood-samples were processed for quantification of CMV-DNAemia (RT-PCR), CMV-IgG/IgM, and CMV-IgG avidity (ELISA). Peripheral-blood samples from 17 healthy subjects were included as controls. RESULTS: Out of the 193 cases included, 18.1% were aged ≤55 years, 92.5% were Central-European, and 100% immunocompetent. CMV-IgG seroprevalence was 91.7% (95%CI: 87.8-95.6), significantly higher than in healthy-controls (52.9% [95%CI: 29.2-76.5]; P<0.001), yet consistent across age-groups (P=0.602), male/females (P=0.765), and acute/chronic-cases (P=0.157). Median (IQR) IgG titers were 110 (84-163) AU/mL, with 0.62 (0.52-0.72) avidity, supporting a long history of infection. No acute CMV infections were found. In 22.6% (n/N.=40/177) of the IgG-positive cases low-level coronary and/or systemic CMV-DNAemia (always <40 copies/mL) was detected. While no differences in peripheral CMV-DNAemia prevalence were observed nor among cases nor controls, coronary CMV-DNAemia was more frequent in acute-cases without modifiable CV risk-factors (n/N.=4/10; 40.0%), than in chronic-cases (n/N.=6/55, 10.9%; P=0.029), or acute-cases with risk-factors (n/N.=16/112, 14.3%; P=0.058). CONCLUSIONS: CMV-IgG seroprevalence was high in patients with heart diseases. CMV-DNAemia can be found, although uncommonly, in coronary circulation during an ACS, with increased prevalence in older subjects and in absence of CV risk-factors, identifying possible areas for novel interventions.

Clinical Features and Management of COVID-19-Associated Hypercoagulability.

COVID-19 is an acute respiratory disease of viral origin caused by SARS-CoV-2. This disease is associated with a hypercoagulable state resulting in arterial and venous thrombotic events. The latter are more frequent, especially in patients who develop a severe form of the disease and are associated with an increased mortality rate. It is therefore essential to identify patients at higher risk to initiate antithrombotic therapy. Hospitalized patients treated with treatment dose of anticoagulants had better outcomes than those treated with prophylactic dose. However, several trials are ongoing to better define the therapeutic and prevention strategies for this insidious complication.

A thymic hyperplasia-related reversible complete atrioventricular block: When compression is more important than compressor.

A 19-year-old patient presented for syncope with third-degree AV block (TDAVB) at ECG. A chest-CT showed a thymic mass that could be responsible for TDAVB due to extrinsic vagal nerve compression. Thymectomy led to complete AV block resolution. An extrinsic vagal compression mechanism should be considered among causes of complete atrioventricular block.

Endovascular Bariatric Surgery as Novel Minimally Invasive Technique for Weight Management in the Morbidly Obese: Review of the Literature.

Nowadays, obesity represents one of the most unresolved global pandemics, posing a critical health issue in developed countries. According to the World Health Organization, its prevalence has tripled since 1975, reaching a prevalence of 13% of the world population in 2016. Indeed, as obesity increases worldwide, novel strategies to fight this condition are of the utmost importance to reduce obese-related morbidity and overall mortality related to its complications. Early experimental and initial clinical data have suggested that endovascular bariatric surgery (EBS) may be a promising technique to reduce weight and hormonal imbalance in the obese population. Compared to open bariatric surgery and minimally invasive surgery (MIS), EBS is much less invasive, well tolerated, with a shorter recovery time, and is probably cost-saving. However, there are still several technical aspects to investigate before EBS can be routinely offered to all obese patients. Further prospective studies and eventually a randomized trial comparing open bariatric surgery vs. EBS are needed, powered for clinically relevant outcomes, and with adequate follow-up. Yet, EBS may already appear as an appealing alternative treatment for weight management and cardiovascular prevention in morbidly obese patients at high surgical risk.

Efficacy and Effect of Inhaled Adenosine Treatment in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

Lack of specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19 has resulted in long hospitalizations and high mortality rate. By harnessing the regulatory effects of adenosine on inflammatory mediators, we have instituted a new therapeutic treatment with inhaled adenosine in COVID-19 patients, with the aim of reducing inflammation, the onset of cytokine storm, and therefore to improve prognosis. The use of inhaled adenosine in COVID19 patients has allowed reduction of length of stay, on average 6 days. This result is strengthened by the decrease in SARS-CoV-2 positive days. In treated patients compared to control, a clear improvement in PaO2/FiO2 was observed together with a reduction in inflammation parameters, such as the decrease of CRP level. Furthermore, the efficacy of inhaled exogenous adenosine led to an improvement of the prognosis indices, NLR and PLR. The treatment seems to be safe and modulates the immune system, allowing an effective response against the viral infection progression, reducing length of stay and inflammation parameters.

Anatomy, Pathophysiology, Molecular Mechanisms, and Clinical Management of Erectile Dysfunction in Patients Affected by Coronary Artery Disease: A Review.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been defined as the inability to attain or maintain penile erection sufficient for successful sexual intercourse. ED carries a notable influence on life quality, with significant implications for family and social relationships. Because atherosclerosis of penile arteries represents one of the most frequent ED causes, patients presenting with it should always be investigated for potential coexistent coronary or peripheral disease. Up to 75% of ED patients have a stenosis of the iliac-pudendal-penile arteries, supplying the male genital organ's perfusion. Recently, pathophysiology and molecular basis of male erection have been elucidated, giving the ground to pharmacological and mechanical revascularization treatment of this condition. This review will focus on the normal anatomy and physiology of erection, the pathophysiology of ED, the relation between ED and cardiovascular diseases, and, lastly, on the molecular basis of erectile dysfunction.

Potential Effects of a Modified Mediterranean Diet on Body Composition in Lipoedema.

Lipoedema is a subcutaneous adipose tissue disease characterized by the increase in the amount and structure of fat mass (FM) in specific areas, causing pain and discomfort. 95% of patients fail to lose weight in the lipoedema areas. The study was conducted to evaluate body composition and general health status modification in a group of lipoedema patients (LIPPY) and a control group (CTRL) after four weeks of a modified Mediterranean diet therapy (mMeD). A total of 29 subjects were included in the data analysis, divided in two groups: 14 LIPPY and 15 CTRL. After the mMeD, both groups significantly decreased their weight and body mass index; the CTRL also showed a reduction of all the circumferences and all FM's compartments. LIPPY showed a decrease of FM in upper and lower limbs. No significant differences in Δ% between the groups were observed for the lean mass (LM). In LIPPY, an increase in the patients' ability to perform various daily physical activities related to the loss of arms' and legs' fat was observed. According to the European Quality of Life scale, the possibility for LIPPY subjects to perform simple daily activities with less fatigue, pain and anxiety is highlighted. Further long-term studies are recommended to confirm the mMeD as a good strategy for Lipoedema treatment.

Endovascular therapy for erectile dysfunction: current knowledge and future perspectives.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to attain or maintain penile erection sufficient for successful sexual intercourse. ED carries a notable influence on quality of life, with significant implications for family and social relationships. Because atherosclerosis of penile arteries represents one of the most frequent causes of ED, patients presenting with it should always be investigated for potential coexistent coronary or peripheral disease. Up to 75% of patients with ED have a stenosis of the iliac-pudendal-penile arteries, supplying perfusion of the male genital organ. Recently the potential treatment of this pathological condition by percutaneous approaches has emerged with good angiographic results and with a significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life. This review will focus on the normal anatomy and physiology of erection, the pathophysiology of ED, the relation between ED and cardiovascular diseases and, lastly, on new treatment modalities aimed at restoration of normal erectile function.

Challenges and Open Issues in Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation: Smooth Seas Do Not Make Skillful Sailors.

According to the European and American guidelines, surgery represents the treatment of choice for mitral valve (MV) disease. However, a number of patients are deemed unsuitable for surgery due to a prohibitive/high operative risk. In such cases, transcatheter therapies aiming at MV repair have been proven to be a valuable alternative and have been recently introduced in the latest American guidelines on valvular heart disease. Indeed, percutaneous repair techniques, particularly transcatheter edge-to-edge, have gained a broad experience and demonstrated to be safe and effective. However, given the complexity and heterogeneity of MV anatomy and pathology, transcatheter MV implantation (TMVI) has grown as a possible alternative to percutaneous MV repair. Current data about TMVI are still limited and come from different settings: valve-in-native MV, valve-in-valve (ViV), valve-in-ring (ViR), and valve-in-mitral annular calcification. Preliminary data are promising although several open issues still need to be addressed. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the available devices in the different clinical settings, to discuss potentialities, limitations, and future directions for TMVI.

Provisional stenting or not provisional stenting: seven critical points for bifurcations treatment with a glimpse on left main bifurcation stenting.

Stenting of coronary bifurcation lesions represents a challenge for the interventional cardiologist. A bifurcation lesion could be treated with several techniques. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to decide the strategical approach at the beginning of the procedure evaluating the patient's bifurcation anatomy, the angle between main and side branch, plaque burden at the level of the carina, and size of the side branch. Although it is clear that all bifurcation's treatment techniques have each one their advantages and disadvantages, provisional stenting remains the gold-standard technique, because it leaves the possibility to switch to other technical solutions with optimal angiographic and long-term clinical results. In this review, different tips and tricks for left main and bifurcation stenting are debated.

Mediterranean Personalized Diet Combined with Physical Activity Therapy for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in Italian Women.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and inflammatory risk indexes are used to calculate the exposure to morbidity. Most of them are suggested by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association to predict the risk of CVDs diagnosis in primary prevention, instead of treating the ongoing pathology. Prevention starts from habit changes with the prescription of diet and physical activity (PA). The aim of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of a personalized Mediterranean Diet (MD) and a PA intervention, on the risk indexes Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP) and Fatty Liver Index (FLI) in a population of women at risk of CVDs with different pathological conditions. After treatment, patients achieved the best results in body composition (BC) and laboratory tests. The BC analysis showed a significant reduction of total body Fat Mass (FM). CVDs risk indexes significantly decreased, except for Neutrophil/Lymphocyte (NLR) and Platelet/Lymphocyte Ratios (PLR). The reduction of the CVDs indexes associated with lipid profile was linked to both weight and FM decrease. AIP and LAP were significantly reduced when losing fat mass and body weight, respectively. A personalized MD therapy plus a PA program led to body weight loss, BC remodelling and risk indexes reduction.

Adiponectin isoforms are not associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis but with undiagnosed diabetes in patients affected by stable CAD.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Total adiponectin is emerging as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but the role of adiponectin isoforms in coronary artery disease (CAD) is still unknown. We investigated the role of adiponectin isoforms with respect to the severity of coronary disease and to the presence of undiagnosed diabetes in patients with CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: We recruited 205 CAD patients, all living in the central area of Italy, with a history of a previous myocardial infarction but apparently not affected by type 2 diabetes (DM2). We compared the CAD patients to a control population (n=100) matched for age, sex, BMI and cardiovascular risk factors, but without overt diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In all patients we measured Total Adiponectin (Tot-Ad) and its isoforms, metabolic, pro- and anti-inflammatory markers and we performed an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). CAD patients underwent a coronary angiography and/or coronary multi-slice computed tomography. Based on the severity of CAD they were divided into mono-vessel versus multi-vessel patients. Tot-Ad levels and its isoforms were comparable in patients with mono-vessel versus multi-vessel CAD. After the OGTT, in CAD patients, the results showed that 19% of patients were affected by unknown DM2, 36.1% by unknown impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and only 43.9% were truly normoglycemic (NGT). Low levels of high molecular weight-adiponectin (HMW-Ad) were significantly associated with undiagnosed IGT or DM2 status (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of CAD patients, Tot-Ad and its isoforms do not correlate with severity of CAD, but with undiagnosed defects of glucose metabolism.

Revascularization strategy in patients with multivessel disease and a major vessel chronically occluded; data from the CABRI trial.

OBJECTIVE: In patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and total occlusion of major epicardial vessel, completeness of revascularization has not been investigated in specific trials comparing the surgical and the percutaneous revascularization strategy. Analyzing the database of the CABRI study, which randomized a substantial number of these patients, we investigated the long-term effects of a successful or unsuccessful revascularization of the occluded vessel and completeness of the revascularization. METHODS AND RESULTS: The CABRI study randomized 1054 patients with multivessel coronary disease to coronary bypass or to coronary angioplasty. From the database of this trial, we selected patients with a major vessel chronically occluded (103 in the bypass group and 120 in the angioplasty group). At a median follow-up of 30 months, the incidence of death or Q-wave myocardial infarction (combined end point) was significantly lower in the bypass group than in the angioplasty group (6.8% vs 17.5%, respectively; hazard ratio [HR], 0.42 [95% CI 0.17-0.98]; p=0.047). On univariate analysis, age, proximal occlusion, complete revascularization, revascularization of the occluded vessel and revascularization procedure were identified as significant predictors of combined end points. On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of combined end points resulted in completeness of revascularization (HR 0.26; 95% CI 0.09-0.76; p=0.01) and age (HR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02-1.12; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: In patients with multivessel coronary disease and chronic occlusion of a major epicardial vessel, achieving of a complete revascularization by reopening or bypassing the occluded vessel is associated with a significantly better long-term prognosis.

Coronary spasm: a case of transient ST elevation and syncopal ventricular tachycardia without angina.

We report the case of a 60-year-old male with recurrent pre-syncope, referred with a provisional diagnosis of carotid sinus syndrome on the basis of a 4 s asystolic pause following carotid sinus massage. On repeat Holter monitoring there was ST-segment elevation followed by episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia during a mild episode of pre-syncope. Coronary angiography showed mild right coronary artery irregularity without significant stenosis. An automatic cardioverter defibrillator was implanted and high dose combined vasodilator therapy was commenced. At follow-up 18 months after implantation, the device has recorded no episode of tachycardia and the patient reports no recurrence of symptoms.

Multislice computed tomography in an asymptomatic high-risk population.

Approximately 50% of all acute coronary syndromes occur in previously asymptomatic patients. This study evaluated the value of multislice computed tomography for early detection of significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in high-risk asymptomatic subjects. One hundred sixty-eight asymptomatic subjects with >or=1 major risk factor (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, family history, or smoking) and an inconclusive or unfeasible noninvasive stress test result (stress electrocardiography, echocardiography, or nuclear scintigraphy) were evaluated in an outpatient setting. After clinical examination and laboratory risk analysis, all patients underwent multislice computed tomographic (MSCT) coronary angiography within 1 week. In all subjects, conventional coronary angiography was also carried out. Multislice computed tomography displayed single-vessel CAD in 16% of patients, 2-vessel CAD in 7%, and 3-vessel CAD in 4%. Selective coronary angiography confirmed the results of multislice computed tomography in 99% of all patients. Sensitivity and specificity of MSCT coronary angiography were 100% and 98%, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 95% and a negative predictive value of 100%. In conclusion, MSCT coronary angiography is an excellent noninvasive technique for early identification of significant CAD in high-risk asymptomatic patients with inconclusive or unfeasible noninvasive stress test results.