Follow-up of intramyocardial bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation beyond 10 years

Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) have been evaluated for their ability to improve cardiac repair and benefit patients with severe ischemic heart disease and heart failure. In our single-center trial in 2006-2011 we demonstrated the safety and efficacy of BMMCs injected intramyocardially in conjunction with coronary artery bypass surgery. The effect persisted in the follow-up study 5 years later. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of BMMC therapy beyond 10 years. A total of 18 patients (46%) died during over 10-years follow-up and 21 were contacted for participation. Late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) and clinical evaluation were performed on 14 patients, seven from each group. CMRIs from the study baseline, 1-year and 5-years follow-ups were re-analyzed to enable comparison. The CMRI demonstrated a 2.1-fold larger reduction in the mass of late gadolinium enhancement values between the preoperative and the over 10-years follow-up, suggesting less scar or fibrosis after BMMC treatment (- 15.1%; 95% CI - 23 to - 6.7% vs. - 7.3%; 95% CI - 16 to 4.5%, p = 0.039), compared to placebo. No differences in mortality or morbidity were observed. Intramyocardially injected BMMCs may exert long-term benefits in patients with ischemic heart failure. This deserves further evaluation in patients who have received BMMCs in international clinical studies over two decades.

Ability to remotely monitor atrial high-rate episodes using a single-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillator with a floating atrial sensing dipole

AIMS

To allow timely initiation of anticoagulation therapy for the prevention of stroke, the European guidelines on atrial fibrillation (AF) recommend remote monitoring (RM) of device-detected atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) and progression of arrhythmia duration along pre-specified strata (6 min…<1 h, 1 h…<24 h, ≥ 24 h). We used the MATRIX registry data to assess the capability of a single-lead implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) with atrial sensing dipole (DX ICD system) to follow this recommendation in patients with standard indication for single-chamber ICD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 1841 DX ICD patients with daily automatic RM transmissions, electrograms of first device-detected AHREs per patient in each duration stratum were adjudicated, and the corresponding positive predictive values (PPVs) for the detections to be true atrial arrhythmia were calculated. Moreover, the incidence and progression of new-onset AF was assessed in 1451 patients with no AF history. A total of 610 AHREs ≥6 min were adjudicated. The PPV was 95.1% (271 of 285) for episodes 6min…<1 h, 99.6% (253/254) for episodes 1 h…<24 h, 100% (71/71) for episodes ≥24 h, or 97.5% for all episodes (595/610). The incidence of new-onset AF was 8.2% (119/1451), and in 31.1% of them (37/119), new-onset AF progressed to a higher duration stratum. Nearly 80% of new-onset AF patients had high CHA2DS2-VASc stroke risk, and 70% were not on anticoagulation therapy. Age was the only significant predictor of new-onset AF.

CONCLUSION

A 99.7% detection accuracy for AHRE ≥1 h in patients with DX ICD systems in combination with daily RM allows a reliable guideline-recommended screening for subclinical AF and monitoring of AF-duration progression.

Routine revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation - the third nordic aortic valve intervention trial - NOTION-3

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease (CAD) frequently coexists with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) in patients planned for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). How to manage CAD in this patient population is still an unresolved question. In particular, it is still not known whether fractional flow reserve (FFR) guided revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is superior to medical treatment for CAD in terms of clinical outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

The third Nordic Aortic Valve Intervention (NOTION-3) Trial is an open-label investigator-initiated, multicenter multinational trial planned to randomize 452 patients with severe AS and significant CAD to either FFR-guided PCI or medical treatment, in addition to TAVI. Patients are eligible for the study in the presence of at least 1 significant PCI-eligible coronary stenosis. A significant stenosis is defined as either FFR ≤0.80 and/or diameter stenosis >90%. The primary end point is a composite of first occurring all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or urgent revascularization (PCI or coronary artery bypass graft performed during unplanned hospital admission) until the last included patient have been followed for 1 year after the TAVI.

SUMMARY

NOTION-3 is a multicenter, multinational randomized trial aiming at comparing FFR-guided revascularization vs medical treatment of CAD in patients with severe AS planned for TAVI.

Epitranscriptomics of Ischemic Heart Disease-The IHD-EPITRAN Study Design and Objectives

Epitranscriptomic modifications in RNA can dramatically alter the way our genetic code is deciphered. Cells utilize these modifications not only to maintain physiological processes, but also to respond to extracellular cues and various stressors. Most often, adenosine residues in RNA are targeted, and result in modifications including methylation and deamination. Such modified residues as N-6-methyl-adenosine (m6A) and inosine, respectively, have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, and contribute to disease pathologies. The Ischemic Heart Disease Epitranscriptomics and Biomarkers (IHD-EPITRAN) study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding to their nature and role in cardiovascular pathology. The study hypothesis is that pathological features of IHD are mirrored in the blood epitranscriptome. The IHD-EPITRAN study focuses on m6A and A-to-I modifications of RNA. Patients are recruited from four cohorts: (I) patients with IHD and myocardial infarction undergoing urgent revascularization; (II) patients with stable IHD undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting; (III) controls without coronary obstructions undergoing valve replacement due to aortic stenosis and (IV) controls with healthy coronaries verified by computed tomography. The abundance and distribution of m6A and A-to-I modifications in blood RNA are charted by quantitative and qualitative methods. Selected other modified nucleosides as well as IHD candidate protein and metabolic biomarkers are measured for reference. The results of the IHD-EPITRAN study can be expected to enable identification of epitranscriptomic IHD biomarker candidates and potential drug targets.

Hydroxychloroquine reduces interleukin-6 levels after myocardial infarction: The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled OXI pilot trial

OBJECTIVES

To determine the anti-inflammatory effect and safety of hydroxychloroquine after acute myocardial infarction.

METHOD

In this multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled OXI trial, 125 myocardial infarction patients were randomized at a median of 43 h after hospitalization to receive hydroxychloroquine 300 mg (n = 64) or placebo (n = 61) once daily for 6 months and, followed for an average of 32 months. Laboratory values were measured at baseline, 1, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) were comparable at baseline between study groups (p = 0.18). At six months, the IL-6 levels were lower in the hydroxychloroquine group (p = 0.042, between groups), and in the on-treatment analysis, the difference at this time point was even more pronounced (p = 0.019, respectively). The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels did not differ significantly between study groups at any time points. Eleven patients in the hydroxychloroquine group and four in the placebo group had adverse events leading to interruption or withdrawal of study medication, none of which was serious (p = 0.10, between groups).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with myocardial infarction, hydroxychloroquine reduced IL-6 levels significantly more than did placebo without causing any clinically significant adverse events. A larger randomized clinical trial is warranted to prove the potential ability of hydroxychloroquine to reduce cardiovascular endpoints after myocardial infarction.

Composite mesh design for delivery of autologous mesenchymal stem cells influences mesh integration, exposure and biocompatibility in an ovine model of pelvic organ prolapse

The widespread use of synthetic transvaginal polypropylene mesh for treating Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) has been curtailed due to serious adverse effects highlighted in 2008 and 2011 FDA warnings and subsequent legal action. We are developing new synthetic mesh to deliver endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSC) to improve mesh biocompatibility and restore strength to prolapsed vaginal tissue. Here we evaluated knitted polyamide (PA) mesh in an ovine multiparous model using transvaginal implantation and matched for the degree of POP. Polyamide mesh dip-coated in gelatin and stabilised with 0.5% glutaraldehyde (PA/G) were used either alone or seeded with autologous ovine eMSC (eMSC/PA/G), which resulted in substantial mesh folding, poor tissue integration and 42% mesh exposure in the ovine model. In contrast, a two-step insertion protocol, whereby the uncoated PA mesh was inserted transvaginally followed by application of autologous eMSC in a gelatin hydrogel onto the mesh and crosslinked with blue light (PA + eMSC/G), integrated well with little folding and no mesh exposure. The autologous ovine eMSC survived 30 days in vivo but had no effect on mesh integration. The stiff PA/G constructs provoked greater myofibroblast and inflammatory responses in the vaginal wall, disrupted the muscularis layer and reduced elastin fibres compared to PA + eMSC/G constructs. This study identified the superiority of a two-step protocol for implanting synthetic mesh in cellular compatible composite constructs and simpler surgical application, providing additional translational value.

Are glycoprotein inhibitors safe during percutaneous coronary intervention in patients on chronic warfarin treatment?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients on chronic warfarin therapy due to atrial fibrillation (AF).We analysed all consecutive AF patients (N = 377, mean age 70 years, male 71%) on warfarin therapy referred for PCI in seven centres. Major bleeding, access site complications and major adverse cardiovascular events were recorded during hospitalisation. A total of 111 patients (29%) received periprocedural GPIs with a wide inter-hospital variation in their use (range 3–68%).The use of GPIs increased with the severity of the disease presentation and 49% of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction received GPIs. Mean periprocedural international normalised ratio (INR) of patients who received GPIs was 1.89 (range 1.1–3.3). Major bleeding was more common in the patients treated with GPIs (9.0% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.001) than in those without GPIs, but there was no difference in major adverse cardiovascular events between the groups. In multivariable analysis, use of GPIs (odds ratio [OR]???????????5.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]???????????1.3–20.6, p = 0.02) and old age (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.3, p = 0.02) remained as the only independent predictors of major bleeding. Also after adjusting for propensity score, GPIs remained as a significant predictor of major bleeding (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.03–14.1, p = 0.045). In the GPI group, major bleeding was not predicted by INR level or warfarin pause. GPIs increase the risk of major bleeding events irrespective of periprocedural INR levels and should be used with caution in this fragile patient group.

Focused echocardiography and lung ultrasound protocol for guiding treatment in acute heart failure

Aims

There is little evidence‐based therapy existing for acute heart failure (AHF), hospitalizations are lengthy and expensive, and optimal monitoring of AHF patients during in‐hospital treatment is poorly defined. We evaluated a rapid cardiothoracic ultrasound (CaTUS) protocol, combining focused echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac filling pressures, that is, medial E/e′ and inferior vena cava index, with lung ultrasound (LUS) for guiding treatment in hospitalized AHF patients.

Methods and results

We enrolled 20 consecutive patients hospitalized for AHF, whose in‐hospital treatment was guided using the CaTUS protocol according to a pre‐specified treatment protocol targeting resolution of pulmonary congestion on LUS and lowering cardiac filling pressures. Treatment results of these 20 patients were compared with those of a standard care sample of 100 patients, enrolled previously for follow‐up purposes. The standard care sample had CaTUS performed daily for follow‐up and received standard in‐hospital treatment without ultrasound guidance. All CaTUS exams were performed by a single experienced sonographer. The CaTUS‐guided therapy resulted in significantly larger decongestion as defined by reduction in symptoms, cardiac filling pressures, natriuretic peptides, cumulative fluid loss, and resolution of pulmonary congestion (P < 0.05 for all) despite a shorter mean length of hospitalization. Congestion parameters were significantly lower also at discharge (P < 0.05 for all), without any significant difference in these parameters on admission. The treatment arm displayed better survival regarding the combined endpoint of 6 month all‐cause death or AHF re‐hospitalization (log rank P = 0.017). No significant difference in adverse events occurred between the groups.

Conclusions

The CaTUS‐guided therapy for AHF resulted in greater decongestion during shorter hospitalization without increased adverse events in this small pilot study and might be associated with a better post‐discharge prognosis.

Optical coherence tomography follow-up 18 months after titanium-nitride-oxide-coated versus everolimus-eluting stent implantation in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background Inadequate neointimal coverage of stent struts is associated with late stent thrombosis. Purpose To demonstrate the extent of neointimal coverage and strut malapposition in titanium-nitride-oxide-coated bioactive stents (BAS) versus everolimus-eluting stents (EES) by optical coherence tomography (OCT) performed at 18-month follow-up. Material and Methods In the BASE-ACS trial, 827 patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome were randomized to receive either BAS or EES. Forty patients (20 BAS, 20 EES) underwent OCT at 18-month follow-up for evaluation of stent strut coverage, malapposition, and neointimal hyperplasia (NIH). Primary endpoint was binary stent strut coverage (ratio of covered struts to all analyzed struts multiplied by 100). Co-primary endpoint was the percentage of malapposed struts. Results We analyzed 3465 struts in 330 cross-sections of BAS and 3327 struts in 316 cross-sections of EES. Binary stent strut coverage, based on strut-level analysis, was higher with BAS versus EES (99.5% versus 94.2%, respectively; P < 0.001), the strut-level percentage of malapposed struts was lower with BAS (0.6% versus 2.5%, respectively; P < 0.001). Yet, the mean NIH thickness was greater with BAS (237 ± 125 versus 108 ± 62 µm, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusion In the current post-hoc analysis with OCT performed at 18 months, binary strut coverage, based on strut-level analysis, was higher with BAS versus EES; strut-level malapposed struts were fewer with BAS; yet, BAS induced thicker NIH.

Assessment of early treatment response by rapid cardiothoracic ultrasound in acute heart failure: Cardiac filling pressures, pulmonary congestion and mortality

Background:

It is unclear how to optimally monitor acute heart failure (AHF) patients. We evaluated the timely interplay of cardiac filling pressures, brain natriuretic peptides (BNPs), lung ultrasound (LUS) and symptoms during AHF treatment.

Methods:

We enrolled 60 patients who had been hospitalised for AHF. Patients were examined with a rapid cardiothoracic ultrasound (CaTUS) protocol, combining LUS and focused echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac filling pressures (i.e. medial E/e’ and inferior vena cava index [IVCi]). CaTUS was done at 0, 12, 24 and 48 hours (±3 hours) and on the day of discharge, alongside clinical evaluation and laboratory samples. Patients free of congestion (B lines or pleural fluid) on LUS at discharge were categorised as responders, whereas the rest were categorised as non-responders. Improvement in congestion parameters was evaluated separately in these groups. The effect of congestion parameters on prognosis was also analysed.

Results:

Responders experienced a significantly larger decline in E/e’ (2.58 vs. 0.38, p = 0.037) and dyspnoea visual analogue scale (1–10) score (7.68 vs. 3.57, p = 0.007) during the first 12 hours of treatment, while IVCi and BNPs declined later without no such rapid initial decline. Among patients experiencing a >3 U decline in E/e’ during the first 12 hours of treatment, 18/21 were to become responders ( p < 0.001). LUS response was the only congestion parameter independently predicting both 6-month survival regarding all-cause mortality and the composite endpoint of all-cause mortality or rehospitalisation for AHF.

Conclusion:

E/e’ seemed like the most useful congestion parameter for monitoring early treatment response, predicting prognostically beneficial resolution of pulmonary congestion.

Neointimal Healing Evaluated by Optical Coherence Tomography after Drug-Eluting Absorbable Metal Scaffold Implantation in de novo Native Coronary Lesions: Rationale and Design of the Magmaris-OCT Study

Objectives: We sought to explore neointimal healing assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) following implantation of the Magmaris sirolimus-eluting absorbable metal scaffold. Methods: The Magmaris-OCT is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm observational clinical study, intended to enrol 60 consecutive patients with up to 2 de novo native coronary lesions, each located in different major epicardial vessels, with a reference vessel diameter of 2.5-3.5 mm, and a maximum lesion length of 20 mm. Patients will undergo Magmaris scaffold implantation in the target lesion, according to the standard practice. Clinical follow-up will take place at 30 days, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. For invasive-imaging follow-up, patients will be classified into 3 groups: cohort A will be scheduled for follow-up at 3 months, cohort B at 6 months, and cohort C at 12 months. Invasive imaging will include quantitative coronary angiography, OCT evaluation, and coronary flow reserve measurement. The primary end point will be the percentage of uncovered scaffold struts assessed by OCT at the prespecified follow-up. Conclusions: This study will provide insight into the short- and mid-term healing properties following Magmaris scaffold implantation, with special emphasis on the neointimal coverage of scaffold struts.

[Nonlinear Parameters of the Surface Electromyogram for the Diagnostics of Neuromuscular Disorders and Normal Conditions of the Motor System in Human]

The article presents data on new approaches to the application of the surface electromyogram based on the nonlinear dynamics of complex systems. Special focus is placed on applicability of nonlinear parameters for early and differential diagnostics of Parkinson's disease, various kinds of tremor, schizophrenia, as well as for the estimation of normal processes in the motor system, such as musle development, fatigue and ageing.

Dynamic tension EMG to characterize the effects of DBS treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment method for motor symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease. DBS-electrode is implanted to subthalamic nucleus to give precisely allocated electrical stimuli to brain. The optimal stimulus type has to be adjusted individually. Disease severity, main symptoms and biological factors play a role in correctly setting up the device. Currently there are no objective methods to assess the efficacy of DBS, hence the adjustment is based solely on clinical assessment. In optimal case an objectively measurable feature would point the right settings of DBS. Surface electromyographic and kinematic measurements have been used in Parkinson's disease research. As Parkinson's disease symptoms are known to change the EMG signal properties, these methods could be helpful aid in the clinical adjustment of DBS. In this study, 13 patients with advanced Parkinson's disease who received DBS treatment were measured. The patients were measured with seven different settings of the DBS in clinical range including changes in stimulation amplitude, frequency and pulse width. The EMG analysis was based on parameters that characterize EMG signal morphology. Correlation dimension and recurrence rate made the most significant difference in relation to optimal settings. In conclusion, EMG analysis is able to detect differences between the DBS setups, and can help in finding the correct parameters.

Prognosis and disease progression in patients under 50 years old undergoing PCI: the CRAGS (Coronary aRtery diseAse in younG adultS) study

OBJECTIVE

Young patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are generally considered at low procedural risk, but the potentially aggressive nature of coronary artery disease and long expectancy of life expose them to a high risk of recurrent coronary events. The extent and determinants of disease progression in this patient subset remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate general risk factors for late outcomes among patients ≤50 years old who underwent PCI.

METHODS

Coronary aRtery diseAse in younG adults (CRAGS) is a multicenter European retrospective registry that enrolled 1617 patients (age ≤50 years) who underwent PCI over the years 2002-2012. The median follow-up was 3.0 years.

RESULTS

The majority of patients were smokers who were nevertheless prescribed adequate secondary prevention medication, including statins, aspirin, beta blockers and/or ACE inhibitors/AT blockers. At 5 years, survival was 97.8%, while freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was 74.1%, from repeat revascularization 77.8% and from myocardial infarction 89.9%. Altogether 13.5% of patients exhibited disease progression that indicated a need for repeat revascularization. Other indications for repeat revascularization were restenosis (7.1%) and stent thrombosis (2.1%) at the 5-year follow-up. Independent post-PCI predictors of disease progression were multivessel disease, diabetes and hypertension.

CONCLUSION

PCI is associated with excellent survival in patients ≤50 years old. Nevertheless, despite guideline-adherent medication, every eighth patient underwent repeat revascularization due to disease progression diagnosed at the median follow-up of three years, underscoring the need for more effective secondary prevention than currently available.

Performance of bleeding risk-prediction scores in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

The hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, and drugs/alcohol (HAS-BLED); anticoagulation and risk factors in atrial fibrillation (ATRIA); modified Outpatient Bleeding Risk Index (mOBRI); and reduction of atherothrombosis for continued health (REACH) schemes are validated bleeding risk-prediction tools, but their predictive performance in patients with AF receiving multiple antithrombotic drugs after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unknown. We sought to compare the predictive performance of bleeding risk-estimation tools in a cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing PCI. Management of patients with AF undergoing coronary artery stenting is a multicenter European prospective registry enrolling patients with AF undergoing PCI. We calculated HAS-BLED, ATRIA, mOBRI, and REACH bleeding risk-prediction scores and assessed the rate of bleeding complications as defined by Bleeding Academic Research Consortium at 12 months follow-up in 929 consecutive patients undergoing PCI. Increasing age, femoral access site, and previous peptic ulcer were independent determinants of bleeding. Low bleeding risk scores as determined by HAS-BLED 0 to 2, ATRIA 0 to 3, mOBRI 0, and REACH 0 to 10 were detected in 23.7%, 73.0%, 7.8%, and 5.7% of patients of the cohort, respectively. No significant differences were detected in the rates of any bleeding or major bleeding events for low versus intermediate/high scores with each risk-prediction tool. In conclusion, the performance of ATRIA, HAS-BLED, mOBRI, and REACH scores in predicting bleeding complications in this high-risk patient subset was useless.

Impact of anaemia on clinical outcome in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from the AFCAS registry

OBJECTIVES

Anaemia has an adverse impact on the outcome in the general patient population undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of anaemia on the 12-month clinical outcome of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing PCI and therefore requiring intense antithrombotic treatment. We hypothesised that anaemia might be associated with a worse outcome and more bleeding in these anticoagulated patients.

SETTING

Data were collected from 17 secondary care centres in Europe.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive patients with AF undergoing PCI were enrolled in the prospective, multicenter AFCAS (Atrial Fibrillation undergoing Coronary Artery Stenting) registry. Altogether, 929 patients participated in the study. Preprocedural haemoglobin concentration was available for 861 (92.7%; 30% women). The only exclusion criteria were inability or unwillingness to give informed consent. Anaemia was defined as a haemoglobin concentration of <12 g/dL for women and <13 g/dL for men.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary endpoint was occurrence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) or bleeding events.

RESULTS

258/861 (30%) patients had anaemia. Anaemic patients were older, more often had diabetes, higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores, prior history of heart failure, chronic renal impairment and acute coronary syndrome. Anaemic patients had more MACCE than non-anaemic (29.1% vs 19.4%, respectively, p=0.002), and minor bleeding events (7.0% vs 3.3%, respectively, p=0.028), with a trend towards more total bleeding events (25.2% vs 21.7%, respectively, p=0.059). No difference was observed in antithrombotic regimens at discharge. In multivariate analysis, anaemia was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality at 12-month follow-up (hazard ratio 1.62, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.51, p=0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

Anaemia was a frequent finding in patients with AF referred for PCI. Anaemic patients had a higher all-cause mortality, more thrombotic events and minor bleeding events. Anaemia seems to be an identification of patients at risk for cardiovascular events and death.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00596570.

Predictors of pocket hematoma in patients on antithrombotic therapy undergoing cardiac rhythm device implantation: insights from the FinPAC trial

BACKGROUND

The FinPAC trial showed that the strategy of uninterrupted oral anticoagulation (OAC) was non-inferior to interrupted OAC for the primary outcome of bleeding and thromboembolic complications in patients undergoing cardiac rhythm management device (CRMD) implantation.

METHODS

We conducted a post hoc analysis of the FinPAC data to explore the incidence and predictors of significant (> 100 cm(2)) pocket hematoma after CRMD implantation among the study population (n = 447). A total of 213 patients were on OAC, 128 were on aspirin, and 106 on no antithrombotic therapy.

RESULTS

The incidence of significant pocket hematoma during hospital stay was significantly higher among patients using OAC (5.6%) and aspirin (5.5%) than in those with no antithrombotic medications (0.9%), but only one patient (0.8%) in the aspirin group needed revision of hematoma. Two patients (0.9%) in the OAC group and one (0.8%) in the aspirin group needed blood products. In multivariable regression analysis, no pre- procedural features predicted the significant hematoma in any of the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically significant pocket hematoma is a rare complication after CRMD implantation in patients with ongoing therapeutic OAC. The incidence of significant pocket hematoma formation is similar in patients using OAC and those using aspirin.

Thrombocytopenia in patients with atrial fibrillation on oral anticoagulation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Thrombocytopenia is often regarded as a risk factor for bleeding complications in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The risk of mild to moderate baseline and acquired thrombocytopenia on bleeding and thrombotic or thromboembolic complications in patients with atrial fibrillation on oral anticoagulation therapy undergoing PCI, however, remains largely unknown. Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation undergoing Coronary Artery Stenting is a multicenter European prospective registry enrolling patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing PCI. We assessed the rate of bleeding complications as defined by Bleeding Academic Research Consortium and a composite of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) including all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack or stroke, stent thrombosis, systemic arterial embolism, or revascularization; and a composite of any harmful event (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium and MACCE) at 12-month follow-up in 861 consecutive patients undergoing PCI. Patients were divided into those with mild to moderate baseline thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150 × 10⁹/L; n = 99) and control group (platelet count >150 × 10⁹/L; n = 762). At hospital discharge, thrombocytopenia had no effect on prescribed antithrombotic treatment, and triple therapy (vitamin K antagonist + aspirin + clopidogrel) was the most common combination in both patient groups (69% vs 73%, p = 0.40). No differences in all-cause mortality (12% vs 11%, p = 0.79), MACCE (23% vs 22%, p = 0.87), or bleeding complications (23% vs 19%, p = 0.26) were detected. Acquired in-hospital thrombocytopenia occurred in 9.7% of patients, and it was associated with similar risk of adverse outcomes compared with control group. In conclusion, mild to moderate baseline thrombocytopenia does not seem to have a clinically significant effect on bleeding or thrombotic or thromboembolic complications after PCI in these frail patients receiving multiple antithrombotic drugs.

Prolonged-release Oxycodone/Naloxone in Postoperative Pain Management: From a Randomized Clinical Trial to Usual Clinical Practice

Objective:

These studies evaluated the feasibility of using oral prolonged-release oxycodone/naloxone (OXN PR) for the management of acute postoperative pain.

Methods:

Three studies were undertaken: (i) the analgesic efficacy of OXN PR was compared with prolonged-release oxycodone (OXY PR) in patients with knee arthroplasty in an immediate postoperative period (IPOP) study; (ii) OXN PR treatment was compared with other opioids during rehabilitation after knee arthroplasty in a noninterventional study (NIS); and (iii) surgical patients on other opioids were switched to OXN PR postoperatively during a quality improvement programme (QIP).

Results:

In the IPOP study, the pain intensity at rest score decreased by a similar amount in the OXN PR and OXY PR groups, indicating similar analgesic efficacies. In the NIS, patient assessments indicated enhanced efficacy and tolerability for OXN PR compared with other opioids. The QIP indicated significant improvements in bowel function and less difficulty passing urine at the end of OXN PR treatment compared with baseline. No safety concerns were raised.

Conclusions:

The analgesic efficacies of OXN PR and OXY PR were similar in postoperative pain settings. OXN PR reduced the degree of restriction in relation to patients carrying out physio - therapy compared with other opioids, and improved bowel and bladder function.

Comparison of additional versus no additional heparin during therapeutic oral anticoagulation in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Uninterrupted oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy can be the preferred strategy in patients with atrial fibrillation at moderate to high risk of thromboembolism undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). To evaluate the need for additional heparins in addition to therapeutic peri-PCI OAC, we assessed bleeding complications and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in 414 consecutive patients undergoing PCI during therapeutic (international normalized ratio 2 to 3.5) periprocedural OAC. Patients were divided into those with no (n = 196) and with (n = 218) additional use of periprocedural heparins. No differences in major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (4.1% vs 3.2%, p = 0.79) or major bleeding (1.0% vs 3.7%, p = 0.11) were detected, but access site complications (5.1% vs 11.0%, p = 0.032) were less frequent in those without additional heparins. When adjusted for propensity score, patients with additional heparins had a higher risk of access site complications (odds ratio 2.6, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 6.1, p = 0.022) without any increased risk of any other adverse event. Analysis of 1-to-1 propensity-matched pairs showed a significantly higher risk of access site complication in patients receiving additional AC (13.1% vs 5.7%, p = 0.049). In conclusion, therapeutic warfarin treatment seems to provide sufficient AC for PCI. Additional heparins are not needed and may increase access site complications.

Cerebral cortex and sub-cortex lateralization in cardiovascular regulation: correlations of BOLD fMRI and heart rate variability

The role of cerebral cortex in cardiovascular regulation has not yet been mapped in detail. Especially the lateralization of different regions that are connected to cardiovascular modulation is still unknown. In this study we used simultaneously measured electrocardiography (ECG) and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) fMRI to examine the correlation of cerebral cortex and sub-cortex activation and heart rate variability parameters. Correlations were calculated for 11 subjects. Regions of interest (ROIs) were predefined from observations made in previous studies. Lateralization was studied by forming ratios of left and right hemisphere activations in ROIs and calculating correlations of these to heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. Statistically significant correlations were found in every ROI.

Titanium-nitride-oxide-coated Titan-2 bioactive coronary stent: a new breakthrough in interventional cardiology

The introduction of drug-eluting stents (DES) has revolutionized the field of interventional cardiology, since it has reduced the incidence of restenosis by 50% to 70%. However, recent worrisome data from registries and meta-analyses emphasized higher rates of late and very late stent thrombosis associated with DES. The recently introduced titanium-nitride-oxide-coated stent bioactive stent (Titan-2) was manufactured by a proprietary process to coat titanium-nitride-oxide on the surface of the stainless steel stent, based on a plasma technology using the nano-synthesis of gas and metal. This late-breaking stent has demonstrated an excellent biocompatibility, as reflected by lower rates of platelet aggregation and fibrin deposition, and better endothelialization. Preclinical and clinical trials and registries involving real-life unselected populations have shown a low rate of major adverse cardiac events at long-term follow-up. Restenosis rates were comparable with those of DES, with very rare stent thrombosis. Equally favorable results have been obtained in patients at high-risk of in-stent restenosis, such as diabetics and those with small coronary arteries. Results in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome have been again comparable to those of DES, with tendency to lower rates of myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis. Comparisons with second generation drug-eluting stents have also been promising.

Group-level variations in motor representation areas of thenar and anterior tibial muscles: Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Study

Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be used to stimulate functional cortical areas at precise anatomical location to induce measurable responses. The stimulation has commonly been focused on anatomically predefined motor areas: TMS of that area elicits a measurable muscle response, the motor evoked potential. In clinical pathologies, however, the well-known homunculus somatotopy theory may not be straightforward, and the representation area of the muscle is not fixed. Traditionally, the anatomical locations of TMS stimulations have not been reported at the group level in standard space. This study describes a methodology for group-level analysis by investigating the normal representation areas of thenar and anterior tibial muscle in the primary motor cortex. The optimal representation area for these muscles was mapped in 59 healthy right-handed subjects using navigated TMS. The coordinates of the optimal stimulation sites were then normalized into standard space to determine the representation areas of these muscles at the group-level in healthy subjects. Furthermore, 95% confidence interval ellipsoids were fitted into the optimal stimulation site clusters to define the variation between subjects in optimal stimulation sites. The variation was found to be highest in the anteroposterior direction along the superior margin of the precentral gyrus. These results provide important normative information for clinical studies assessing changes in the functional cortical areas because of plasticity of the brain. Furthermore, it is proposed that the presented methodology to study TMS locations at the group level on standard space will be a suitable tool for research purposes in population studies.

Screening for postoperative pulmonary embolism on the basis of clinical symptomatology, routine electrocardiography and plain chest radiography

The incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and the usefulness of various screening methods for its detection were studied in 108 patients undergoing elective hip surgery. Twenty patients had PE as shown by perfusion-ventilation lung scintigraphy. Six of them had symptoms of embolism. Clinical symptoms of PE, highly suggestive electrocardiographic (ECG) signs and signs in chest radiographs showed high specificity but low sensitivity with regard to PE. If the non-specific ECG signs and the symptoms and signs of deep vein thrombosis in the calves had also been taken into account, it would have been possible to identify 95% of the patients with PE. The use of all these screening tests revealed a suspicion of PE in two thirds of the patients. The simplest way to screen for postoperative PE seems to be to use a combination of the symptoms and signs of both PE and deep vein thrombosis, and to identify any tachycardia. This method gave a sensitivity of 85%.

Treatment of osteoporosis with 1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol and calcium

A double-blind comparative study of 1 alpha-OHD3 and placebo was performed on 37 patients with osteoporotic hip fracture without clinical osteomalacia. 1 alpha-OHD3, in a dose of 1 microgram/day together with 2.5 g CaCO3, did not heal osteoporosis as judged from determinations of bone mineral density and histomorphometric analyses during four months of treatment. However, 1 alpha-OHD3 seemed to have an effect on fracture healing as concluded from the posttreatment alkaline phosphatase level. Hypercalcemia was common, occurring in six out of 19 patients treated with 1 alpha-OHD3. It is concluded that treatment of osteoporosis with 1 alpha-OHD3 and calcium is ineffective and potentially dangerous because it frequently causes hypercalcemia.

The Relationship Between Spectral Changes in Heart Rate Variability and Fatigue

Fatigue is a prevalent problem in the workplace and a common symptom of many diseases. However, its relationship with the autonomic nervous system, specifically with sympathetic arousal, needs clarification. The objective of this study was to determine the association between fatigue and heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is regarded as an indicator of the autonomic regulation activity of heart rate, specifically sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Spectral changes in low-frequency (LF; 0.04–0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF; 0.15–0.4 Hz) components of HRV have been reported to be associated with distressing conditions such as hemorrhagic shock, acute myocardial infarction, elevated anxiety, and depressed mood. While HRV changes have been found in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome, its association with fatigue in healthy individuals still needs clarification. HRV was assessed in a total of 50 participants who were asked to perform a task until becoming fatigued. Low-frequency HRV activity increased, while indices of parasympathetic modulation such as RMSSD and pNN50 remained stable as participants experienced fatigue, suggesting that fatigue in healthy individuals may be associated with increased sympathetic arousal. In addition, employing multiple regression analyses, we could positively associate the change in LF/HF HRV ratio from baseline to fatigue with factors such as emotional stability, warmth and tension and negatively associate it with social boldness and self-reported levels of vigor.

Perceived mental stress and reactions in heart rate variability--a pilot study among employees of an electronics company

In this study perceived mental stress during occupational work was compared to heart rate variability (HRV) using a traditional questionnaire and a novel wristop heart rate monitor with related software. The aim was to find HRV parameters useful for mental stress detection. We found the highest correlation between perceived mental stress with the differences between the values of triangular interpolation of rhythm-to-rhythm (RR) interval histogram (TINN) and the root mean square of differences of successive RR intervals (RMSSD) obtained in the morning and during the workday (r=-.73 and r=-.60, respectively). The analysis shows that as the RMSSD and TINN value differences increase from night to morning, the stress decreases.