Current Treatment Strategies for Heart Failure: Role of Device Therapy and LV Reconstruction

Anemia in Heart Failure: A Perspective from 20-Year Bibliometric Analysis

Background & Objective

Anemia in patients with heart failure (HF) is a growing concern. However, there has no bibliometric analysis in this area up to now. The aim of this study is to explore the status and trends in the field of anemia in HF through the bibliometric analysis, and to provide an outlook on future research.

Methods

We retrieved publications from the Web of Science Core Collection database, and the following data analysis and visualization tools were utilized to perform data processing, statistical computing and graphics generation: VOSviewer (v.1.6.18), CiteSpace (v.6.2 R5), Scimago Graphica (v.1.0.36), Biblimatrix and Microsoft Excel.

Results

We identified a total of 3490 publications from 2004 to 2023. The publications in the field of anemia in HF are growing steadily. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy were the leading countries in this area. Stefan D Anker, as the most influential author, held the most total citations and publications. Harvard University was the most productive institution in this area. The European Journal of Heart Failure had published the most papers. Through the analysis of co-citations, 14 major clusters based on cluster labels were identified. Keyword analysis showed that mortality, outcome, prevalence, and risk were the most frequent keywords, and the potential research hotspots in the future will be intravenous iron and iron deficiency.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of countries, authors, institutions, journals, co-cited references, and keywords in the field of anemia in HF through bibliometric analysis and data visualization. The status, hotspots and future trends in this field offer a reference for in-depth research. Further studies are necessary in the future to broaden the spectrum of research in this field, to evaluate comprehensive approaches to treating anemia in patients with HF, and to find rational targets for the management of anemia.

Healing the Broken Heart; The Immunomodulatory Effects of Stem Cell Therapy

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality within the United States. Current treatments being administered to patients who suffered a myocardial infarction (MI) have increased patient survival, but do not facilitate the replacement of damaged myocardium. Recent studies demonstrate that stem cell-based therapies promote myocardial repair; however, the poor engraftment of the transferred stem cell populations within the infarcted myocardium is a major limitation, regardless of the cell type. One explanation for poor cell retention is attributed to the harsh inflammatory response mounted following MI. The inflammatory response coupled to cardiac repair processes is divided into two distinct phases. The first phase is initiated during ischemic injury when necrosed myocardium releases Danger Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) and chemokines/cytokines to induce the activation and recruitment of neutrophils and pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages (MΦs); in turn, facilitating necrotic tissue clearance. During the second phase, a shift from the M1 inflammatory functional phenotype to the M2 anti-inflammatory and pro-reparative functional phenotype, permits the resolution of inflammation and the establishment of tissue repair. T-regulatory cells (Tregs) are also influential in mediating the establishment of the pro-reparative phase by directly regulating M1 to M2 MΦ differentiation. Current studies suggest CD4+ T-lymphocyte populations become activated when presented with autoantigens released from the injured myocardium. The identity of the cardiac autoantigens or paracrine signaling molecules released from the ischemic tissue that directly mediate the phenotypic plasticity of T-lymphocyte populations in the post-MI heart are just beginning to be elucidated. Stem cells are enriched centers that contain a diverse paracrine secretome that can directly regulate responses within neighboring cell populations. Previous studies identify that stem cell mediated paracrine signaling can influence the phenotype and function of immune cell populations in vitro, but how stem cells directly mediate the inflammatory microenvironment of the ischemic heart is poorly characterized and is a topic of extensive investigation. In this review, we summarize the complex literature that details the inflammatory microenvironment of the ischemic heart and provide novel insights regarding how paracrine mediated signaling produced by stem cell-based therapies can regulate immune cell subsets to facilitate pro-reparative myocardial wound healing.

Impact of Alexithymia on Organ Transplant Candidates' Quality of Life: The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms

Solid organ transplant candidates who display alexithymia tend to report psychological distress with some displaying symptoms associated with depression which in turn has a negative impact on their quality of life. This study sought to examine the mediating role of depression on the relationship between alexithymia and physical and psychological quality of life. The sample comprised 707 patients who were under consideration for solid organ transplantation. Mediation models were used to examine the proposed hypotheses, specifically that alexithymia would predict quality of life, and that depression would mediate the relationship between alexithymia and physical and psychological quality of life. Findings revealed that alexithymia predicted both physical and psychological quality of life. Depression scores partially mediated the relationship between alexithymia and both physical and psychological quality of life. Transplant candidates with higher levels of alexithymia who report poor physical and psychological quality of life may be at increased risk for depression. Results highlight the need to assess alexithymia within this unique patient population, who may understate symptoms of depression due to attempts at positive impression management.

Cardiac Inotropic Effect of Long-Term Administration of Oral Thymoquinone

BACK GROUND

Long-term administration of Nigella sativa showed cardiac hypertrophic and positive inotropic effects. Thymoquinone (TQ) is an active ingredient in Nigella sativa. Therefore, we aimed to test the cardiac effects of long-term TQ administration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty adult Wistar rats weighing (150-250 g) were divided into two groups: control and TQ. A TQ-olive oil solution was administered orally to the TQ group (dose 10 mg/kg) for two months. An equivalent volume of olive oil was given to the control group. Langendorff isolated hearts were studied. Peak tension, time to peak tension, half relaxation time, and myocardial flow rate were determined. Heart and left ventricle weights and ratios were recorded.

RESULTS

The TQ group exhibited significantly higher peak tension than the control group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in time to peak tension, half relaxation time, and myocardial flow rate. Likewise, there were no signs of cardiac hypertrophy.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term administration of oral TQ induced a positive inotropic effect in the form of an increase in peak tension. TQ administration did not result in cardiac hypertrophy or an increased cardiac metabolic demand at the studied dose. TQ may be a promising inotropic agent.

Left Ventricular Reconstruction Surgery in Candidates for Heart Transplantation

Objective

To report our center’s experience in the surgical treatment of ventricular reconstruction, an effective and efficient technique that allows patients with end-stage heart failure of ischemic etiology to have clinical improvement and increased survival.

Methods

Observational, clinical-surgical, sequential, retrospective study. Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular aneurysm were attended at the Heart Failure, Ventricular Dysfunction and Cardiac Transplant outpatient clinic of the Dante Pazzanese Cardiology Institute, from January 2010 to December 2016. Data from 34 patients were collected, including systemic arterial hypertension, ejection fraction, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification (FC), European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) II value, Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score, ventricular reconstruction technique, and survival.

Results

Overall mortality of 14.7%, with hospital admission being 8.82% and late death being 5.88%. Total survival rate at five years of 85.3%. In the preoperative phase, NYHA FC was Class I in five patients, II in 18, III in eight, and IV in three vs. NYHA FC Class I in 17 patients, II in eight, III in six, and IV in three, in the postoperative period. EuroSCORE II mean value was 6.29, P≤0.01; hazard ratio (HR) 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.31). STS mortality/morbidity score mean value was 18.14, P≤0.004; HR 1.19 (95% CI 1.05-1.33). Surgical techniques showed no difference in survival among Dor 81% vs. Jatene 91.7%.

Conclusion

Surgical treatment of left ventricular reconstruction in candidates for heart transplantation is effective, efficient, and safe, providing adequate survival.

Soft robotic ventricular assist device with septal bracing for therapy of heart failure

Previous soft robotic ventricular assist devices have generally targeted biventricular heart failure and have not engaged the interventricular septum that plays a critical role in blood ejection from the ventricle. We propose implantable soft robotic devices to augment cardiac function in isolated left or right heart failure by applying rhythmic loading to either ventricle. Our devices anchor to the interventricular septum and apply forces to the free wall of the ventricle to cause approximation of the septum and free wall in systole and assist with recoil in diastole. Physiological sensing of the native hemodynamics enables organ-in-the-loop control of these robotic implants for fully autonomous augmentation of heart function. The devices are implanted on the beating heart under echocardiography guidance. We demonstrate the concept on both the right and the left ventricles through in vivo studies in a porcine model. Different heart failure models were used to demonstrate device function across a spectrum of hemodynamic conditions associated with right and left heart failure. These acute in vivo studies demonstrate recovery of blood flow and pressure from the baseline heart failure conditions. Significant reductions in diastolic ventricle pressure were also observed, demonstrating improved filling of the ventricles during diastole, which enables sustainable cardiac output.

The adaptive immune response to cardiac injury-the true roadblock to effective regenerative therapies?

The regenerative capacity of adult human tissues and organs is limited, but recent developments have seen the advent of promising new technologies for regenerative therapy. The human heart is of particular interest for regenerative medicine, as cardiac tissue damage is repaired by the formation of rigid scar tissue, which causes inevitable structural changes and progressive functional decline leading to heart failure. Cardiac regenerative medicine aims to prevent scar formation or replace existing scars to halt or reverse adverse remodeling and therapeutic approaches include the use of biomaterials, gene therapies, delivery of growth factors, and (stem) cell therapies. Regenerative therapies, however, face significant obstacles in a hostile microenvironment. While the early immune response to a myocardial infarct is essential to ensure tissue integrity and to avoid fatal cardiac rupture, excessive activation of endogenous repair mechanisms may lead to ongoing inflammation, fibrosis, and sustained autoimmune-mediated tissue damage. Anti-cardiac autoreactivity of the adaptive immune system has been suggested to be involved in structural remodeling, functional decline, and the development of heart failure. It is, therefore, crucial to first understand the endogenous response to cardiac tissue damage and how to restore immune tolerance to cardiac tissue, before additional regenerative therapies can achieve their full potential.