tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Abstract 2247: Feasibility of Long Ventricular Transmural Linear Lesions Created with a New Novel Saline-Injection Needle Catheter: Utility for Ablating Scar Related VT
Authors: Benhur Henz, Yasuo Okumura, Michael G Curley, Susan B Johnson, Douglas L Packer
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Introduction: Unstable scar related ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a common problem after myocardial infarction. Aggressive ablation may be limited, however, by incomplete scar penetration with available RF energy delivery technologies. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of full thickness linear ablation of infarcted ventricular substrate with a high penetration virtual electrode needle based electrode system. Methods: Chronic infarcted (&gt; 2months) mongrel dogs (35–40 kg) underwent percutaneous catheter ablation of the LV with a saline-injection needle catheter employing an 8 mm 20-GA tip. Constant power at 40W was delivered for 90 sec via the virtual electrode needle during infusion of saline 10 ml/h at 50°C. The lines were created under electroanatomic map guidance and intracardiac ultrasound (ICE). The ejection fraction was monitored immediately before and after the ablation. One week after ablation, the dogs where restudied using CARTO epicardial and endocardial voltage mapping and hemodynamic testing. Results: The ablation lines created by a virtual electrode energy delivery made in the antero-lateral wall showed mean length of 4.4±1.4 cm. The mean area of ablation per lesion in the endocardium, mid myocardium and epicardium was 1.1±1.0, 2.6±1.3 and 1.9±1.3 cm 2 (p&lt;0.05) respectively, with a mean ablation depth of 1.5±0.5 cm. Sixty-four percent of the length of lesions were transmural and in non-transmural areas had an average depth of 90±16% of wall thickness. The mean number of gaps/line was 0.5±0.7 with a length of 0.6 cm. Ejection fraction was 50±14, 52±17 and 52±13% before, after and 1 week post ablation respectively. At one week the epicardial and endocardial areas of low bipolar voltage &lt; 1.5mV and dense scar &lt; 0.5mV in the Carto map were 11.4±1.2 and 7.9±6.1cm 2 respectively which measurements were confirmed at necropsy by macroscopic scar in the epicardium and endocardium of 11.8±4.3 and 6.6±4.1 cm 2 respectively. Conclusion: This new novel saline-injection needle catheter effectively creates continuous long transmural lines in the infarcted LV. These data also confirm that the macroscopic ablation lesions can be consistently and accurately monitored by 3D electroanatomical mapping in both endocardium and epicardium.
Abstract 4379: Patients With Heart Failure and High Pulmonary Resistance Show Normal Transpulmonary BNP Uptake but Attenuation of cGMP Release, Responsive to Sildenafil
Authors: Vojtech Melenovsky, Hikmet Al-Hiti, Ludmila Kazdova, Antonin Jabor, Petr Syrovatka, Ivan Malek, Jiri Kettner, Josef Kautzner
Journal: Circulation (2008)
A positive view on e-cigarettes
Authors: Jamie Brown
Journal: BMJ (2015)

Gornall’s representation of the evidence on e-cigarettes is fairly one sided and negative.1 For example, he cites a “recent meta-analysis” on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes, which was posted on a blog and has not been peer-reviewed2 but fails to cite the Cochrane review on the same topic, which was published just three months earlier.3 While noting that the quality of evidence is low, the Cochrane review came to different conclusions: e-cigarettes help smokers to stop long term compared with …
Abstract 3341: The Use of Mechanical Circulatory Support as a Bridge to Transplantation in Pediatric Patients: Excellent Long-Term Survival with Ventricular Assist Devices
Authors: Ryan R Davies, Mark Russo, Kimberly Hong, Michael L O'Byrne, David P Cork, Seema Mital, Ralph S Mosca, Jonathan M Chen
Journal: Circulation (2006)

BACKGROUND: While successful in adults, the use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) to bridge pediatric patients to transplantation presents unique challenges due to the difficult anatomic and ...
Abstract 15508: Development of a Small Peptide-Based Molecular Imaging Probe Targeting LOX-1 for Noninvasive Identification of Atherosclerotic Plaque
Authors: Loren P Budge, Elizabeth E Sweeney, Salma S Mohamed, Michael J Lipinski, An H Bui, Alexander L Klibanov, Christopher M Kramer, Craig H Meyer, David K Glover, Kimberly A Kelly
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Objective: The oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) receptor, LOX-1, mediates the initiation, progression, and destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques, and may be an ideal target for molecu...
Abstract 3063: Impaired Mitochondrial Dynamics: A Novel Mechanism for Lipotoxic Heart Disease
Authors: Heiko Bugger, Chintan K Kikani, William L Holland, Garrett Locketz, Genevieve Sparagna, Scott A Summers, Jared Rutter, Jean E Schaffer, E. Dale Abel
Journal: Circulation (2009)

To assess the contribution of increased fatty acid uptake and utilization to mitochondrial dysfunction and proliferation in diabetic hearts, we investigated mice with cardiomyocyte-restricted overe...
Abstract 14680: Correlation Between Intracoronary Thrombus Burden And Residual Platelet Inhibition After Clopidogrel Loading in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Unexpectedly-Delayed Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Manolis Vavuranakis, Dimitrios A Vrachatis, Theodore G Papaioannou, Stefanos Archontakis, Konstantinos I Kalogeras, Maria Kariori, Anthi Gafou, Carmen Moldovan, Panagiotis Tzamalis, Christodoulos Stefanadis
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background: Residual Platelet Reactivity (RPR) after clopidogrel loading, measured by the VerifyNow assay, has been shown to predict 12-month clinical events in patients with acute coronary syndrom...
Abstract 20041: Fully Automated Wall Motion and Thickening Scoring System for Myocardial Perfusion SPECT: Development and Validation in Large Population
Authors: Piotr J Slomka, Daniel S Berman, Yuan Xu, Sean Hayes, Sharmila Dorbala, Matthews Fish, Guido Germano
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Aim:  Objective assessment of wall motion (M) and thickening (T) will aid in diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) from Myocardial Perfusion SPECT (MPS). We aimed to develop and validate a fully automated M /T segmental scoring system for MPS.   Methods:  100 normal gated stress/rest Tc-99m sestamibi MPS scans from patients with low-likelihood of CAD (Llk) were used to derive the regional normal M/T ranges, which were found to be linearly dependent on ventricular volumes. A new automatic scoring algorithm incorporated these relationships locally in polar map coordinates and automatically derived 17-segment M (scale 0–5) and T (scale 0–3) scores. We validated this new method in 630 consecutive Tc-99m stress MPS studies in patients with suspected CAD and available correlating angiography [including 111 triple vessel disease (3VD) cases], and 341 LLk studies. Two independent observers with 12 and 30 years of experience in nuclear cardiology, blinded to clinical and angiographic data, scored M /T in 17-segments for all 971 studies.   Results:  Computation time was    Conclusions:  Fully automated scoring of MPS regional ventricular function is highly correlated with expert visual scoring, can outperform individual experienced observers in the detection of 3VD by wall thickening from MPS and avoids inter-observer variability.
Naturalistic treatment study of depression in general practice
Authors: P. L Cornwall, J. Moncrieff, U. F. Malt
Journal: BMJ (1999)

Editor—The striking finding of Malt et al’s study in patients with depression is not the superiority of combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy but the 47% complete response rate to placebo and psychological support, which was present from about 12 weeks onwards.1 Unfortunately, little information is given about the quantity and quality of the psychological support provided, although reference is made to the clinical management protocol used in the National Institute of Mental Health’s treatment of depression study, in which patients were seen regularly for 20-30 minute sessions of supportive therapy.2,3 In that study, at 16 weeks 42% of patients in the imipramine-clinical management group had recovered compared with 21% in the placebo-clinical management group.3

The difference between the studies is unlikely to be due to severity of illness as in both studies the initial rating indicated illnesses of moderate severity (Malt et al’s study, mean initial Montgomery Åsberg depression rating scale=26.7; National Institute of Mental Health study, mean initial Hamilton rating scale for depression=19.5). However, the recovery criteria in Malt et al’s study were less stringent—namely, a 50% reduction in the score on the Montgomery Åsberg depression rating scale and improvement to at least only mild illness remaining. To compare the results usefully with those of other studies, data needed to be presented on the proportion of patients achieving full remission (a score ⩽ 6).

The authors state that the findings challenge current guidelines that claim equality of effect between drug and psychological treatment in mild to moderate depression. These guidelines, however, have been based on controlled trials of formal psychotherapies rather than clinical management. In the National Institute of Mental Health study, cognitive therapy and interpersonal therapy were both superior to placebo-clinical management.3 What the findings do indirectly confirm is the crucial importance of good clinical management in enhancing the effectiveness of drug treatment. This has been shown in controlled trials showing the superiority of treatment based on guidelines compared with usual treatment of depression in primary care.4,5
Abstract 17989: Generator Exchange is Associated with an Increased Rate of Sprint Fidelis Lead Failure
Authors: Josh Lovelock, Andenet Mengistu, Michael Hoskins, Mikhael El Chami, David De Lurgio, Jonathan Langberg
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background: The Medtronic Sprint Fidelis defibrillator lead is at an increased risk for failure and was recalled in October 2007. Approximately 268,000 leads were implanted and more than 100,000 patients still have active Sprint Fidelis leads. A number of studies have examined the rate and clinical predictors of lead failure, but none have addressed the effect of ICD generator exchange on subsequent lead failure. Although the manufacture claims that “Sprint Fidelis performance after device change-out is similar to lead performance without device change-out,” published data is lacking. Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of ICD generator exchange on the rate of Sprint Fidelis lead failure. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in all patients who underwent implantation of a Sprint Fidelis lead at one academic medical center. All patients who had a normally functioning Sprint Fidelis lead at the time of generator exchange and elected to retain the lead were compared to controls with leads implanted for a comparable amount of time who did not undergo ICD replacement. Results: 668 patients received a Sprint Fidelis lead prior to the recall. 42 patients with a functioning lead underwent generator exchange without lead replacement. Following generator replacement, 4 leads failed within 3 months and an additional 4 within 1 year (19%). In comparison, 41 of 626 control leads malfunctioned during the study period, a total of 6.5%. Generator exchange significantly increased the rate of lead failure (19% vs. 6.5%, p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Generator exchange is associated with a higher than expected rate of Fidelis lead failure, often within 3 months. These data suggest that the benefit-risk ratio of Fidelis lead replacement at the time of ICD generator exchange may be greater than previously appreciated and that increased frequency of monitoring may be appropriate when the lead is retained.
Abstract 2742: The Comparison Of Direct Measurement Of Central Blood Pressure And Noninvasive Evaluation By Radial Artery Tonometry.
Authors: Kenji Takazawa, hiroshi kobayashi, mineko kino, akira aizawa
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background and objectives: New devices including radial applanation tonometer have been developed for central blood pressure measurement. The devices can noninvasively calculate the central blood pressure. To investigate the accuracy of estimated central blood pressure, this study demonstrates the comparison of catheter based central blood pressure and radial applatnation tonometer based central blood pressure. Materials and Methods: Seventy two patients (64 ± 10 years old) underwent cardiac catheterization were recruited for this study. Ascending aortic pressure was measured using a pressure guide wire (RADI Medical Systems), and recorded on a laptop personal computer through a SEIREG polygraph (Siemens). Radial arterial pulse waves were simultaneously measured noninvasively using applanation tonometry technique by HEM-9000AI (Omron Healthcare Co.,Ltd.) and SphygmoCor (AtCor Medical Pty Ltd.). The measurements were performed before and after administration of vasodilator (nicorandil or glycerol trinitrate) or antihypertensive (nicardipine hydrochloride) drugs. The central blood pressure calculated by HEM-9000AI (cSBP) and SphygmoCor (aSBP Sphy) was compared respectively with that by catheter (aSBP). Results: cSBP and aSBP Sphy indicated significant correlation with aSBP (r=0.94, 0.93, respectively, p=0.001). The regression line slope of cSBP to aSBP was 0.92 and that of aSBP Sphy to aSBP was 0.76. A significant difference was observed between aSBP and aSBP Sphy, but was not observed between aSBP and cSBP. Bland-Altman test showed that the difference of cSBP to aSBP was - 0.4 ± 9.6 mmHg and that of aSBP Sphy to aSBP was -9.0 ± 10.3 mmHg. It shows significant difference between cSBP to aSBP error and aSBP Sphy to aSBP error (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The central blood pressure measured by HEM-9000AI is very close to that by catheter. These findings indicate that noninvasive central blood pressure measurement by radial applanation tonometry is accurate enough for clinical applications.
Abstract 5939: Inhomogenous Regulation Of Matrix Metalloproteinases And Their Endogenous Inhibitors Intensifies Cardiac Fibrosis In Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats
Authors: Tobias Graf, Karoline Hanke, Hendrik Sager, Sabine Fredersdorf, Christof Burgdorf, Heribert Schunkert, Joachim Weil
Journal: Circulation (2008)

AIM: Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous inhibitors (TIMPs) are upregulated in dilated failing hearts and involved in the development and progression of myocardial remodelling. However, changes in MMP and TIMP protein levels or activity in the diabetic heart has not yet been described. METHODS: Untreated male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) and Zucker lean (ZL) rats were sacrificed at the age of 6 (prediabetic), 22 (diabetic) and 42 (late diabetes) weeks (wks) and body weight, total heart weight and plasma glucose were measured (n=7, each group). MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were quantified by Western blot analysis of total protein isolated from left ventricular tissue. Expression of MMP/TIMP mRNA was determined by quantitative PCR (Taqman ® ). Additionally paraffin sections of the left ventricular myocardium were stained with Sirius Red to quantify cardiac fibrosis in percent of visual field. RESULTS: (see table1 ) In summary, expression of myocardial MMP-2 and MMP-9 increased, whereas TIMP-1 decreased throughout life in diabetic and non-diabetic animals. However, expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was significantly diminished in ZDF compared to ZL rats during various stages of diabetes. TIMP-1 expression was lower in diabetic animals only in the prediabetic stage. Similar results were found in quantitative RT-PCR. The relative amount of fibrosis in left ventricular myocardium was markedly enhanced in late stage of diabetes (ZDF 41% fibrosis/visual field vs. ZL 18%). CONCLUSION: The observed results may play a distinctive role in the remodelling processes in late stages of disease. The regulation of expression of MMPs may, therefore, be a useful therapeutic strategy to manage diabetic cardiomyopathy. Table 1 )
Anti-thymocyte globulin could improve the outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with highly aggressive T-cell tumors
Authors: J Yang, Y Cai, J L Jiang, L P Wan, S K Yan, C Wang
Journal: Blood Cancer Journal (2015)

Abstract The early experiment result in our hospital showed that anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) inhibited the proliferation of lymphoid tumor cells in the T-cell tumors. We used the ATG as the part of the conditioning regimen and to evaluate the long-term anti-leukemia effect, the safety and complication in the patients with highly aggressive T-cell lymphomas. Twenty-three patients were enrolled into this study. At the time of transplant, six patients reached first or subsequent complete response, three patients had a partial remission and 14 patients had relapsed or primary refractory disease. The conditioning regimen consisted of ATG, total body irradiation, toposide and cyclophosphamide. The complete remission rate after transplant was 95.7%. At a median follow-up time of 25 months, 16 (69.6%) patients are alive and free from diseases, including nine patients in refractory and progressive disease. Seven patients died after transplant, five from relapse and two from treatment-related complications. The incidence of grades II–IV acute graft-vs-host disease (GvHD) was 39.1%. The maximum cumulative incidence of chronic GvHD was 30%. The most frequent and severe conditioning-related toxicities observed in 8 out of 23 patients were grades III/IV infections during cytopenia. Thus, ATG-based conditioning is a feasible and effective alternative for patients with highly aggressive T-cell tumors.
Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (Haplo-SCT) with Pre-Transplant Immunosuppression (PTIS) and Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide (Post-Cy) in Severe Thalassemia: Safe Approach and Excellent Disease Control
Authors: Suradej Hongeng, Samart Pakakasama, Usanarat Anurathapan, Borje Andersson
Journal: Blood (2014)
Abstract 814: CRP and Risk of Vascular Events in PROSPER
Authors: Naveed Sattar, Heather Murray, Gerard Blauw, Edward Bollen, Brendan Buckley, Stuart Cobbe, Ian Ford, Allan Gaw, Michael Hyland, Wouter Jukema, Adriaan Kamper, Peter Macfarlane, Michael Murphy, Chris Packard, Ivan Perry, David Stott, Brian Sweeney, Cillian Twomey, Rudi Westendorp, James Shepherd
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Background: The role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in predicting global vascular events and response to statin therapy remains uncertain and thus additional large prospective studies are required. Me...
Abstract 4305: Long-term Follow-up Of Left Ventricular Function After Acute Myocardial Infarction Treated With Intracoronary Injection Of Autologous Bone Marrow Cells. The ASTAMI Study
Authors: Jan Otto Beitnes, Einar Hopp, Ketil Lunde, Hans-Jørgen Smith, Svein Solheim, Harald Arnesen, Kolbjørn Forfang, Jan E Brinchmann, Svend Aakhus
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Background: Long-term effects of cardiac autologous cell therapy are not well known. We performed a 3 year follow-up of the ASTAMI study. Patients with acute ST-elevation anterior wall myocardial infarctions were initially randomized to either intracoronary injection of autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells (mBMCs) (n=50) or control (n=50). At 6 months, LV ejection fraction improved in both groups, with no significant difference between groups. Methods: All eligible patients underwent MRI with a 1,5 T scanner (Siemens) 2–3 weeks, 6 months and mean(SD) 3,2 (0,2) years after myocardial infarction and stem cell injection. Infarct size was determined from gadolinium late-enhancement MR images. All images were analyzed by experienced observers blinded for treatment assignment. Left ventricular volumes were calculated by the area-length method. Results: There was no significant difference in EDV, ESV or LVEF between baseline and 3 years in neither group. Infarction volume was reduced at 3 years in both groups (p&lt;0,001). No significant effects of mBMC treatment could be identified on LV volumes, LVEF or infarct size. Thus intracoronary injection of mBMCs in acute myocardial infarction does not improve global LV function over a 3 year follow-up. Left ventricular function after mBMC-treatment
Vote of no confidence tabled in health policies of the Welsh Assembly
Authors: Roger Dobson
Journal: BMJ (2004)

A vote of no confidence in the health polices of the Welsh Assembly has been tabled by the Welsh nationalist party, Plaid Cymru.

The move, which comes in the wake of concern about waiting lists and two critical reports, could be debated within the next few weeks.

“We must now have a change in policy to tackle the high waiting lists compared to the situation in England and Scotland, and the problems of the GP out of hours service,” said Plaid Cymru's shadow health minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas.

The opposition leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said, “Patients and health professionals deserve …
Abstract 17599: Obesity-related Perivascular Adipose Tissue Damage is Not Reversed by Diet-induced Weight Loss
Authors: Charlotte E Bussey, Sarah B Withers, Lucy J Murfitt, Gillian Edwards, Anthony M Heagerty
Journal: Circulation (2013)

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) exerts an anticontractile effect in health that is lost in obesity. A recent study reported that this obesity-induced PVAT damage was reversed within 6-months of bariatric surgery with accompanying reduction in systolic blood pressure. However, PVAT function has not previously been characterised following weight loss induced by caloric restriction, often the first line treatment for obesity. This study investigated the role of PVAT in the control of vascular function in animal models of obesity and diet-induced weight loss. Male SD rats were fed a 45% fat diet ad libitum for 16 weeks to induce obesity, they were then split into 2 groups; obese rats maintained on the diet and weight loss rats subjected to 50% caloric restriction for a further 4 weeks. Animals that did not gain weight on the 45% fat diet were classified as obesity resistant. A control group was also provided with a 10% fat diet ad libitum for the 20-week period. The effect of PVAT on the contractility of i...