Increased CD3+, CD8+, or FoxP3+ T Lymphocyte Infiltrations Are Associated with the Pathogenesis of Colorectal Cancer but Not with the Overall Survival of Patients.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes include heterogeneous populations of T lymphocytes that play crucial roles in the tumor immune response; importantly, their presence in the tumor tissue may predict clinical outcomes. Therefore, we herein studied the prognostic significance of the presence and location of CD3+, CD8+, and FoxP3+ T lymphocytes in colorectal cancer samples. In the intratumor analysis, our data did not reveal any association between lymphocyte infiltrations with clinical or pathological data. However, in the tumor margins, we found that the presence of high infiltrations of CD3+, CD8+, or FoxP3+ T lymphocytes were associated with TNM stages I-II (p = 0.021, p = 0.022, and p = 0.012, respectively) and absence of lymph node metastases (p = 0.010, p = 0.003, and p = 0.004, respectively). Despite these associations with good prognostic indicators, we were not able to find any statistically significant alterations in the overall survival of the patients, even though high infiltrations of FoxP3+ T lymphocytes in the tumor margins resulted in an increased overall survival of 14 months. Taken together, these data show that the presence of CD3+, CD8+, or FoxP3+T lymphocyte infiltrates in the tumor margins are associated with the pathogenesis of CRC, but only high Foxp3+ T lymphocyte infiltrations in the tumor invasive margins are inclined to indicate favorable prognosis.

Efficacy and safety of drug-eluting stents in chronic total coronary occlusion recanalization: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting stent (DES) and bare-metal stent (BMS) use in chronic total occlusion (CTO) recanalization. BACKGROUND: The long-term effectiveness and safety of DES use in CTO recanalization are unclear, and performance of randomized clinical trials in the field is complex. METHODS: Major electronic information sources were explored for articles comparing outcomes with DES and BMS use among patients with CTO. Assessed clinical outcomes were death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, major adverse cardiac events, and stent thrombosis; angiographic outcomes were stent restenosis and stent reocclusion. RESULTS: Fourteen comparative studies were identified (a total of 4,394 patients). When compared with BMS, DES significantly reduced risk of major adverse cardiac events (relative risk [RR]: 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34 to 0.60, p < 0.001) and TVR (RR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.58, p < 0.001) without increasing death (RR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.66 to 1.16, p = 0.88) or myocardial infarction (RR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.54 to 1.46, p = 0.80). This benefit was sustained at >/=3 years of follow-up. Lower RRs for restenosis (RR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.41, p < 0.001) and stent reocclusion (RR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.49, p < 0.001) were also observed in the DES group. A strong trend toward a higher rate of stent thrombosis was documented in DES-treated patients (RR: 2.79, 95% CI: 0.98 to 7.97, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: DES use in CTO recanalization is associated with significantly fewer major adverse cardiac events and fewer occurrences of target vessel revascularization, restenosis, and stent reocclusion than with BMS. Although a statistical trend toward a higher risk of stent thrombosis was observed, the use of DES in this context seems to be safe, with an overall benefit sustained in the long term.

La ablación de taquicardia intranodal con sistema de navegación remota Stereotaxis® precisa menores parámetros de temperatura y potencia por mejoría del contacto tisular / Ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia using remote magnetic guidance (Stereotaxis®) requires lower temperature and power settings because of improved local contact

Introducción y objetivos. La navegación magnética remota con sistema Stereotaxis® supone una nueva forma de ablación que podría aumentar la estabilidad del catéter. Quisimos evaluar si la posible mejoría del contacto tisular obliga a modificar los parámetros convencionales de radiofrecuencia. Métodos. Se comparó a 19 pacientes sometidos a ablación de taquicardia intranodal con catéter remoto de 4 mm con 18 pacientes con procedimiento convencional (4 mm, 60-65 °C, 50 W). Evaluamos la energía de radiofrecuencia necesaria para conseguir la no inducibilidad de más de un eco nodal. Resultados. El primer catéter remoto presentó carbonización tras las primeras aplicaciones con parámetros habituales. Así, redujimos la energía (50 °C, 40 W) en el resto. No hubo diferencias en número de aplicaciones entre grupo remoto y control (mediana, 6 [rango intercuartílico, 11] frente a 8,5 [9]). Aplicaciones ≤ 5 s suelen deberse a desplazamiento del catéter. Sólo 4 pacientes del grupo remoto tuvieron aplicaciones ≤ 5 s frente a 11 controles (p = 0,041). La ablación remota fue igual de efectiva, y se realizó con menores temperaturas y potencias medias (media ± DE, 46 ± 2 frente a 50 ± 4 °C; p < 0,001; y 29 [14] frente a 50 [7] W; p < 0,001), pero sin diferencias en energía total aplicada. Con el catéter remoto se registró menor amplitud de impedancias entre aplicaciones (media ± DE, 10,4 ± 7,6 frente a 19,3 ± 15,4 Ω; p = 0,035) y una tendencia a menor amplitud de temperaturas, lo que indica más estabilidad entre aplicaciones. No se produjeron complicaciones. Conclusiones. En nuestra serie inicial, el uso de navegación remota en la ablación de taquicardia intranodal fue efectiva y segura. La mejoría del contacto tisular disminuye desplazamientos involuntarios del catéter y parece que se necesita disminuir la potencia de radiofrecuencia para evitar la carbonización del catéter (AU)

Introduction and objectives. The Stereotaxis® remote magnetic navigation system provides a new approach to ablation that could increase catheter stability. The aim was to determine whether improved tissue contact necessitates a change in traditional radiofrequency ablation parameters. Methods. The study compared ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) using remote navigation (4-mm catheter) in 19 patients with conventional ablation in 18 patients (4-mm catheter, temperature 60-65oC, power 50 W). The radiofrequency energy needed to ensure that no more than a single nodal echo beat could be induced was measured. Results. Charring was observed with traditional parameters on the first applications of the remotely navigated catheter. Hence, the energy was subsequently reduced (to 50oC and 40 W). There was no difference in the number of applications between remote navigation and conventional groups (median: 6 vs 8.5; interquartile range [IQR]: 11 vs 9). Applications lasting ≤5 s were usually due to catheter dislodgment. Only 4 patients in the remote group had applications ≤5 s compared with 11 in the conventional group (P=.041). Ablation using remote navigation was equally effective and required lower temperatures and powers (mean [SD] temperature: 46 oC (2oC) vs 50oC (4oC), P < .001; median [IQR] power: 29 [14] W vs 50 [7] W, P < .001), with no difference in total energy delivered. With remote navigation, the range of impedance values between applications was less (mean [SD]: 10.4 [7.6] ¿ vs 19.3 [15.4] ¿; P=.035) and the temperature variation tended to be less, suggesting greater stability between applications. There were no complications. Conclusions. In this initial series, remote magnetic navigation was safe and effective in AVNRT ablation. Improved tissue contact reduced catheter dislodgment and necessitated a reduction in radiofrequency energy to avoid charring (AU)

Ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia using remote magnetic guidance (stereotaxis) requires lower temperature and power settings because of improved local contact.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The Stereotaxis(R) remote magnetic navigation system provides a new approach to ablation that could increase catheter stability. The aim was to determine whether improved tissue contact necessitates a change in traditional radiofrequency ablation parameters. METHODS: The study compared ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) using remote navigation (4-mm catheter) in 19 patients with conventional ablation in 18 patients (4-mm catheter, temperature 60-65 degrees C, power 50 W). The radiofrequency energy needed to ensure that no more than a single nodal echo beat could be induced was measured. RESULTS: Charring was observed with traditional parameters on the first applications of the remotely navigated catheter. Hence, the energy was subsequently reduced (to 50 degrees C and 40 W). There was no difference in the number of applications between remote navigation and conventional groups (median: 6 vs. 8.5; interquartile range [IQR]: 11 vs. 9). Applications lasting