Feasibility of distal transradial access for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention: an observational and prospective study in a Latin-American Centre.

BACKGROUND: Distal transradial access (dTRA) as a refinement of the conventional transradial access (TRA) has advantages in terms of risk of radial artery occlusion (RAO). In order to evaluate the real-world feasibility and safety of dTRA as the default access site for routine coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a Latin-American centre, this prospective observational registry was conducted. METHODS: Consecutive patients with a prior assessment for CAG and/or PCI were enrolled in this single-centre prospective registry from October 2018 to March 2019. The primary endpoints were the success rate of CAG and PCI. Secondary endpoints included the success rate of puncture of the distal radial artery, complications at the puncture site and puncture time. RESULTS: The success rates of CAG and PCI were 100% (155/155) and 97% (69/71), respectively. Puncture time and fluoroscopic time were 52 ± 19 seconds and 16.3 ± 35.4 minutes, respectively. Haemostasis time was 142 ± 45 min. A total of 19 (12.5%) puncture site complications occurred, including 18 (11.6%) minor haematomas and one (0.6%) arterial perforation, in which the artery was patent at the one-month follow-up. Five patients complained of left thumb numbness at a one-month follow-up. No distal radial artery occlusion, pseudoaneurysm, or arteriovenous fistula occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The success and complication rates of ldTRA support the feasibility and safety of this procedure using the appropriate materials in previously selected patients.

Preoperative Use of Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Support Reduced 30-Day Mortality in a Population with LVEF >35% and High Surgical Risk after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is used to prevent complications after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, although some results are controversial and basal ventricular function may play a role. This study assessed the benefit of preoperative use of IABP, as stratified by the ventricular function, in a population submitted to high-surgical-risk CABG. METHODS: Patients >18 years old, with multiple coronary artery disease and thus candidates for CABG, were included. Cardiogenic shock, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), acute ventricle mechanical dysfunction, severe aortic regurgitation, tachyarrhythmia, massive pulmonary embolism, coagulopathy, or low life expectancy were exclusion criteria. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-nine patients aged 65 years old with hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 46% constituted the study population. No difference was observed at 30-day mortality endpoint (IABP vs. no IABP, 17 vs. 24%, OR 0.63, p = 0.20; AMI 25 vs. 31%, OR 0.75, p = 0.29). After LVEF stratification, the subgroup of 48 (75%) patients under IABP support and LVEF >35% had a reduced 30-day mortality risk (LVEF ≤35% vs. LVEF >35%, 37.5 vs. 10.4%, OR 0.3, p = 0.03), independently from potential confounders and showing an interaction with European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation-II (EuroSCORE-II). At secondary endpoints, IABP use was associated with a lower prevalence of acute renal failure and renal replacement therapy, but with a longer stay in the intensive care unit and longer hospitalization time. CONCLUSION: The preoperative use of IABP was associated with an independent reduction of 30-day mortality risk in cases with LVEF >35% in a population submitted to high-surgical-risk CABG. Likewise, the use of IABP was associated with a lower risk of postoperative renal complications.

TAVI in Intermediate-risk patients: a review in purpose of a case / TAVI en pacientes de riesgo intermedio: una revisión a propósito de un caso

Abstract: Background: Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular heart disease worldwide. The prognosis is adverse without a valve replacement. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has proven to be an effective treatment in high-surgical risk patients. Recent trials have highlighted the non-inferiority of TAVI compared with open surgery in patients with intermediate surgical risk. Case report: A 76-year-old man with severe aortic stenosis and intermediate surgical risk (STS-PROM 4.8%) who underwent TAVI with no complications. Results: Hospital discharge was decided five days after the procedure and continued outpatient follow-up. After two years remains in NYHA functional class I with a normofunctional percutaneous prosthesis. Conclusion: As this clinical case shows, TAVI has proven to be an effective treatment in patients with aortic stenosis and intermediate surgical risk. This is the first experience in this type of patients reported in our country.(AU)

Resumen: Antecedentes: La estenosis aórtica es la valvulopatía más común en todo el mundo. El pronóstico es sombrío sin reemplazo valvular. La implantación valvular aórtica transcatéter (TAVI) ha demostrado ser un tratamiento eficaz en pacientes de alto riesgo quirúrgico. Ensayos muy recientes destacaron la no-inferioridad de TAVI en comparación con la cirugía abierta en pacientes con riesgo quirúrgico intermedio. Caso clínico: Se presenta un hombre de 76 años de edad con estenosis aórtica severa y riesgo quirúrgico intermedio (STS-PROM 4.8%), al que se realiza TAVI sin complicaciones. Resultados: El alta hospitalaria se decide cinco días después del procedimiento para continuar el seguimiento ambulatorio. Después de dos años, el seguimiento permanece en la clase funcional I de la NYHA con una prótesis percutánea normofuncional. Conclusión: Como muestra este caso clínico, TAVI ha demostrado ser un tratamiento eficaz en pacientes de riesgo quirúrgico intermedio. Ésta es la primera experiencia en el uso de esta tecnología en este tipo de pacientes reportada en nuestro país.(AU)

Synthesis and evaluation of xylopyranoside derivatives as "decoy acceptors" of human ß-1,4-galactosyltransferase 7.

Proteoglycans (PGs), including heparan sulfate forms, are important regulators of tumor progression. In the PGs biosynthetic process, the core protein is synthesized on a ribosomal template and the sugar chains are assembled post-translationally, one sugar at a time, starting with the linkage of xylose to a serine residue of the core protein and followed by galactosidation of the xylosylprotein. Hydrophobic xylopyranosides have been previously shown to prime heparan sulfate synthesis, a property that was required to cause growth inhibition of tumor cells. To know if the antiproliferative activity of synthetic xylopyranosides is related to their ability to act as "decoy acceptors" of xylosylprotein 4-ß-galactosyltransferase, we have heterologously expressed the catalytic domain of the human ß-1,4-GalT 7 and studied the ability of a variety of synthetic xylopyranoside derivatives to act as substrates or inhibitors of the recombinant enzyme.

Multienzyme system for dihydroxyacetone phosphate-dependent aldolase catalyzed C-C bond formation from dihydroxyacetone.

A multienzyme system composed by recombinant dihydroxyacetone kinase from Citrobacter freundii, fuculose-1-phosphate aldolase and acetate kinase, allows a practical one-pot C-C bond formation catalysed by dihydroxyacetone phosphate-dependent aldolases from dihydroxyacetone and an aldehyde.

Enzymes in the synthesis of bioactive compounds: the prodigious decades.

The growing demand for enantiomerically pure pharmaceuticals has impelled research on enzymes as catalysts for asymmetric synthetic transformations. However, the use of enzymes for this purpose was rather limited until the discovery that enzymes can work in organic solvents. Since the advent of the PCR the number of available enzymes has been growing rapidly and the tailor-made biocatalysts are becoming a reality. Thus, it has been possible the use of enzymes for the synthesis of new innovative medicines such as carbohydrates and their incorporation to modern methods for drug development, such as combinatorial chemistry. Finally, the genomic research is allowing the manipulation of whole genomes opening the door to the combinatorial biosynthesis of compounds. In this review, our intention is to highlight the main landmarks that have led to transfer the chemical efficiency shown by the enzymes in the cell to the synthesis of bioactive molecules in the lab during the last 20 years.