Functional biology of the Steel syndrome founder allele and evidence for clan genomics derivation of COL27A1 pathogenic alleles worldwide.

Previously we reported the identification of a homozygous COL27A1 (c.2089G>C; p.Gly697Arg) missense variant and proposed it as a founder allele in Puerto Rico segregating with Steel syndrome (STLS, MIM #615155); a rare osteochondrodysplasia characterized by short stature, congenital bilateral hip dysplasia, carpal coalitions, and scoliosis. We now report segregation of this variant in five probands from the initial clinical report defining the syndrome and an additional family of Puerto Rican descent with multiple affected adult individuals. We modeled the orthologous variant in murine Col27a1 and found it recapitulates some of the major Steel syndrome associated skeletal features including reduced body length, scoliosis, and a more rounded skull shape. Characterization of the in vivo murine model shows abnormal collagen deposition in the extracellular matrix and disorganization of the proliferative zone of the growth plate. We report additional COL27A1 pathogenic variant alleles identified in unrelated consanguineous Turkish kindreds suggesting Clan Genomics and identity-by-descent homozygosity contributing to disease in this population. The hypothesis that carrier states for this autosomal recessive osteochondrodysplasia may contribute to common complex traits is further explored in a large clinical population cohort. Our findings augment our understanding of COL27A1 biology and its role in skeletal development; and expand the functional allelic architecture in this gene underlying both rare and common disease phenotypes.

Achieving sustainable first door-to-balloon times of 90 minutes for regional transfer ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: A network approach to transfer ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients can achieve durable first door-to-balloon times (1st D2B) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 90 min. BACKGROUND: Nationally, a minority of STEMI patients from referral centers obtain 1st D2B in <2 h and even fewer in <90 min. METHODS: Included were transfer STEMI patients from 9 network hospitals treated in 2007 compared with 2008 to 2011 after installing the following initiatives: 1) established hospital referral system; 2) goal-oriented performance protocols; 3) expedited transport by ground or air; 4) first hospital activation of the PCI hospital catheterization laboratory; and 5) outreach coordinator and patient-level web-based feedback to the referring hospital. RESULTS: A total of 101 STEMI patients transported in 2007 were compared with 442 STEMI patients transferred after starting these initiatives for STEMI from 2008 to 2011, with the median door-in to door-out time decreased from 44 to 35 min (p < 0.0001), the median 1st D2B decreasing from 109.5 to 88.0 min (p < 0.0001), and the percentage under 90 min increased from 22.8% to 55.9% (p < 0.0001). Overall, throughout the study period (2007 to 2011), the transport times remained consistent (median 36.5 vs. 36.0 min, p = 0.98), whereas the PCI hospital D2B decreased from 20.0 to 16.0 min (p < 0.0001). Length of stay and in-hospital mortality remained low at 3.0 days and under 4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A system-wide network program can achieve sustained (over 4 years) 1st D2B times of <90 min.

Core competencies for hair restoration surgeons recommended by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Because hair restoration surgery has changed so significantly, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) recently developed and published a Core Curriculum for Hair Restoration Surgery (CCHRS). The ISHRS organized a task force to develop training programs that would not only present the CCHRS but also provide the practical experience necessary to allow a physician to practice safe, aesthetically sound hair restoration surgery. The task force recognized early on that identification of core competencies for hair restoration surgeons was essential to guiding the development of these training experiences. This article presents the competencies that have been identified. OBJECTIVE: The intent of the Core Competencies for Hair Restoration Surgery is to outline the knowledge and skills that are essential to accurately diagnose and treat hair loss, to ensure patient safety, and to optimize aesthetic results. The ISHRS hopes that all existing surgery and dermatology training programs teaching hair restoration surgery procedures will find the Core Competencies useful in developing their curriculums. METHODS: The Core Competencies were developed through an organized review of the CCHRS by a team of experienced hair restoration surgeons and educators and reviewed and approved by the ISHRS Board of Governors. RESULTS: The diversity of these competencies demonstrate that contemporary hair restoration surgery is a specialty requiring knowledge of several medical disciplines, including genetics, endocrinology, dermatology, tissue preservation, and surgery. CONCLUSION: The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery believes identification of these Core Competencies is an important contribution to physician education in hair restoration surgery, and physicians who demonstrate competency in these skills will satisfy patients with contemporary results in a safe environment.

AngioJet experience from the multi-center STENT Registry.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the utilization and clinical outcomes of AngioJet Rheolytic thrombectomy from the Strategic Transcatheter Evaluation of New Therapies (STENT) multi-center prospective registry from May 2003 through December 2005. METHODS: Prospective consent was sought for all consecutive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients at all institutions and achieved in 84% of all patients. Of these, clinical follow-up at 9 months was achieved in 94% of eligible patients at all institutions. RESULTS: Of a total of 9,707 patients, AngioJet was utilized in 3-4% of all procedures, including 12-14% of all procedures with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade 3 thrombus or greater and 10-12% of acute evolving MI patients. Nine-month clinical outcomes showed similar mortality rates for patients treated with AngioJet (5.0%) versus those with no thrombectomy (6.5%) for patients with thrombus grade 3 or greater, despite the higher clinical risk profile of the AngioJet patient population due to a higher percentage of cardiogenic shock and larger thrombus. CONCLUSION: The results of this larger, multi-center registry indicate that AngioJet thrombectomy, when selected in general clinical practice for high risk patients with thrombus, results in non-significant numerically lower rate of mortality with no indication of safety issues.

Six-month outcomes after percutaneous intervention for lesions in aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts using distal protection devices: results from the FIRE trial.

BACKGROUND: The filter-based FilterWire EX (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) embolic protection system and the GuardWire (Medtronic, Santa Rosa, CA) balloon occlusion and aspiration device have been previously shown to reduce periprocedural complication rates of percutaneous coronary intervention for saphenous vein graft (SVG) disease and are considered the standard of care in this setting. The late clinical course after treatment with these devices has not been reported. METHODS: In the FIRE trial, 651 patients undergoing SVG intervention were randomized to either the FilterWire EX or GuardWire. Six-month rates of the primary end point (composite major adverse cardiac events [MACE]) and its components (death, myocardial infarction [MI], or target vessel revascularization) were studied. RESULTS: MACE at 30 days occurred in 9.9% of patients randomized to the FilterWire EX compared with 11.6% with the GuardWire, P = .53. By 6 months, MACE had increased to 19.3% and 21.9% in FilterWire EX and GuardWire groups, respectively, (relative risk 0.88, 95% CI 0.65-1.19; P = .44). All-cause 6-month mortality in the entire population was 3.5% (3.0% with FilterWire EX vs 4.1% with GuardWire, P = .53, with all deaths occurring after hospital discharge). MI occurred in 12.0% of patients at 6 months (12.1% vs 11.9% with the FilterWire EX and GuardWire, respectively, P = .99), and target vessel revascularization was required in 9.1% (8.2% vs 10.0%, respectively, P = .42). CONCLUSIONS: SVG intervention with the FilterWire EX and GuardWire distal protection devices resulted in similar outcomes at 6 months, although the clinical course after hospital discharge was not benign, with significant rates of death, MI, and repeat intervention.

Psychological effect, pathophysiology, and management of androgenetic alopecia in men.

Androgenetic alopecia In men, or male pattern baldness, is recognized increasingly as a physically and psychologically harmful medical condition that can be managed effectively by generalist clinicians. This article discusses the clinical manifestations, epidemiology, physical and psychosocial importance, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of androgenetic alopecia in men. Androgenetic alopecia affects at least half of white men by the age of 50 years. Although androgenetic alopecia does not appear to cause direct physical harm, hair loss can result in physical harm because hair protects against sunburn, cold, mechanical injury, and ultraviolet light. Hair loss also can psychologically affect the balding individual and can Influence others' perceptions of him. A progressive condition, male pattern baldness is known to depend on the presence of the androgen dihydrotestosterone and on a genetic predisposition for this condition, but its pathophysiology has not been elucidated fully. Pharmacotherapy, hair transplantation, and cosmetic aids have been used to manage male pattern baldness. Two US Food and Drug Administration-approved hair-loss pharmacotherapies-the potassium channel opener minoxidil and the dihydrotestosterone synthesis inhibitor finasteride--are safe and effective for controlling male pattern baldness with long-term daily use. Regardless of which treatment modality is chosen for male pattern baldness, defining and addressing the patient's expectations regarding therapy are paramount in determining outcome.

Influence of vessel diameter on the efficacy of distal protection devices during saphenous vein graft intervention.

We sought to determine the influence of vessel diameter on the efficacy of distal protection devices during saphenous vein graft intervention. From the Filterwire EX Randomized Evaluation trial, in which patients who underwent saphenous vein graft stenting were randomized to distal protection with the GuardWire or FilterWire EX, outcomes in 572 patients were examined in vessel size tertiles. The 30-day composite incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) increased with vessel size and was 6.9%, 9.7%, and 14.9% in the smallest, middle, and largest tertiles, respectively (p = 0.04). MACE rates were relatively vessel size independent for the GuardWire but increased steadily with vessel size with the FilterWire EX. In the smallest tertile, MACEs were reduced by 71% with the FilterWire EX compared with the GuardWire (p = 0.05), with the devices showing similar event rates in the other tertiles.

Pharmacologic management of pattern hair loss.

Pharmacologic management of pattern hair loss is an active area of research, and clinicians should be aware of new data and treatment modalities. Under-standing the proper role of pharmacology as it relates to surgical hair restoration and nonmedical options is crucial to provide patients with the best clinical,aesthetic, and psychological benefits.

Randomized comparison of distal protection with a filter-based catheter and a balloon occlusion and aspiration system during percutaneous intervention of diseased saphenous vein aorto-coronary bypass grafts.

BACKGROUND: The high rate of periprocedural complications resulting from atherothrombotic embolization after percutaneous intervention in diseased saphenous vein grafts is reduced by distal microcirculatory protection using a balloon occlusion and aspiration system. Whether filter-based catheters, which offer the inherent advantages of maintained perfusion and ease of use, are as effective for this purpose has not been established. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 651 patients undergoing percutaneous intervention of 682 saphenous vein graft lesions were prospectively randomized to distal protection with the filter-based FilterWire EX versus the GuardWire balloon occlusion and aspiration system. Device success was 95.5% and 97.2% with the FilterWire EX and GuardWire, respectively (P=0.25). Postprocedural measures of epicardial flow and angiographic complications were similar between the 2 groups, although bailout IIb/IIIa inhibitors were required slightly less frequently in the FilterWire EX group (0% versus 1.5%, P=0.03). The primary end point, the composite incidence of death, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization at 30 days, occurred in 9.9% of FilterWire EX patients and 11.6% of GuardWire patients (difference [95% CI]=-1.7% [-6.4%, 3.1%]; P for superiority=0.53, P for noninferiority=0.0008). CONCLUSIONS: Distal protection with the FilterWire EX may be safely used as an adjunct to percutaneous intervention of diseased saphenous vein grafts and, compared with distal protection with the GuardWire balloon occlusion and aspiration system, results in similar rates of major adverse cardiac events at 30 days.

The potential role of minoxidil in the hair transplantation setting.

BACKGROUND: Over the last decade surgical management of hair loss has become an increasingly popular and satisfying procedure for both men and women, as innovations in donor harvesting, graft size, and hairline design have resulted in consistently natural-appearing hair restoration. OBJECTIVE: In addition, a better understanding of the regulation of the hair-growth cycle has led to advances in the pharmacologic treatment of androgenetic alopecia. METHODS: Currently there are two U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved agents that promote hair regrowth: over-the-counter topical minoxidil solution for men and women and prescription oral finasteride tablets for men. In October 2001, a group of 11 international experts on hair loss and hair transplantation convened to review the physiology and effects of pharmacologic treatments of hair loss and to discuss the value of administering topical minoxidil therapy as an adjunct to hair transplantation. RESULTS: This article presents the key findings and consensus points among the participants, including their current use of pharmacologic treatments, strategies for optimal results both pre- and postsurgery, and the importance of realistic patient expectations and compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the surgeons' clinical experience, the use of approved hair regrowth agents in hair transplant patients with viable but suboptimally functioning follicles in the region to be transplanted can increase hair density, speed regrowth in transplanted follicles, and complement the surgical result by slowing down or stopping further hair loss.

The pathophysiologic profile of congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) evolves either from an excessive workload or in response to loss of myocardium, both of which cause cardiac hypertrophy, increased cardiac pressure, and loss of functional reserve. Nearly 60% of patients in heart failure present with ischemic cardiomyopathy, which in its chronic form exhibits biventricular dilatation, elevated left ventricular mass, and extensive large-vessel atherosclerosis. The hypertrophy is proportional to the loss of myocardium, although animal studies suggest this varies with the infarct size. However, recent studies indicate that early afterload reduction may relieve the hypertrophic stimulus and prevent degeneration. Some 30% to 40% of patients in heart failure present with an idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, with a patchy but diffuse loss of tissue on microscopy, reactive hypertrophy in the surviving cells, and interstitial fibrosis and replacement scarring. The ultrastructural changes still await clarification. The role of pharmacologic intervention still remains unclear. However, any reduction in mortality will necessitate the identification of those cellular changes that inevitably lead to secondary degeneration of the remaining viable myocardium.