Trasplante cardíaco

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2022 Dec 29. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.122.318333. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Ischemic heart disease including myocardial infarction is still the leading cause of death worldwide. Although the survival early after myocardial infarction has been significantly improved by the introduction of percutaneous coronary intervention, long-term morbidity and mortality remain high. The elevated long-term mortality is mainly driven by cardiac remodeling processes triggering ischemic heart failure and electric instability. Despite the new developments in pharmaco-therapy of heart failure, we still lack targeted therapies for cardiac remodeling and fibrosis. Single-cell and genomic technologies allow us to map the human heart at unprecedented resolution and allow to gain insights into cellular and molecular heterogeneity. However, these technologies rely on digested tissue and isolated cells or nuclei and thus lack spatial information. Spatial information is critical to understand tissue homeostasis and disease and can be utilized to identify disease-driving cell populations and mechanisms including cellular cross-talk. Here, we discuss recent advances in single-cell and spatial genomic technologies that give insights into cellular and molecular mechanisms of cardiac remodeling after injury and can be utilized to identify novel therapeutic targets and pave the way toward new therapies in heart failure.

PMID:36579644 | DOI:10.1161/ATVBAHA.122.318333

J Pers Med. 2022 Oct 31;12(11):1797. doi: 10.3390/jpm12111797.

ABSTRACT

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment for many patients suffering from hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, inborn errors of metabolism or genetic disorders. Despite decades of successful HSCT, clinical outcomes are still far from satisfactory due to treatment-related complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and cardiovascular complications (CVC). CVC may affect patients in the acute period post-HSCT; however, the occurrence is far higher among long-term survivors. Induction treatment using cardiotoxic treatments, e.g., anthracyclines and radiotherapy, conditioning regimens containing cyclophosphamide, and post-HSCT comorbidities, including GvHD, are factors contributing to CVC. Cardiac function evaluation prior to and post-transplantation is an important strategy for choosing the proper conditioning regimen, HSCT protocol and post-HSCT supportive care. Cardiac systolic function evaluation by echocardiography, in addition to serum cardiac biomarkers, such as troponins and brain natriuretic peptides, is recommended as a routine follow-up for HSCT patients. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-II-receptor blockers, and beta-blockers, which are mostly used for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, might be used as treatments for HSCT-related CVC. In summary, the present review reveals the urgent need for further investigations concerning HSCT-related CVC both at the preclinical and clinical levels due to the lack of knowledge about CVC and its underlying mechanisms.

PMID:36579521 | DOI:10.3390/jpm12111797

Pulm Circ. 2022 Oct 1;12(4):e12178. doi: 10.1002/pul2.12178. eCollection 2022 Oct.

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an attractive target for clinical trials of PH medications. There are many factors that need to be considered to prime such studies for success. The patient phenotype most likely to respond to the intervention requires weighing the extent of the parenchymal lung disease against the severity of the hemodynamic impairment. The inclusion criteria should not be too restrictive, thus enabling recruitment. The trial should be of sufficient duration to meet the chosen endpoint which should reflect how the patient feels, functions, or survives. This paper summarizes prior studies in PH-ILD and provides a framework of the type of studies to be considered. Inclusion criteria, clinical trial endpoints, and pharmacovigilance in the context of PH-ILD trials are also addressed. Through lessons learnt from prior studies, suggestions and guidance for future clinical trials in PH-ILD are also provided.

PMID:36578976 | PMC:PMC9780699 | DOI:10.1002/pul2.12178

Pharm Res. 2022 Dec 28. doi: 10.1007/s11095-022-03463-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cardiac diseases such as myocardial infarction and heart failure have been the leading cause of death worldwide for more than 20 years, and new treatments continue to be investigated. Heart transplantation, a curative treatment for severe cardiac dysfunction, is available to only a small number of patients due to the rarity of donors and high costs. Cardiac regenerative medicine using embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells is expected to be a new alternative to heart transplantation, but it has problems such as induction of immune response, tumor formation, and low survival rate of transplanted cells. On the other hand, there has been a focus on cell-free therapy using extracellular vesicles (EVs) due to their high biocompatibility and target specificity. Exosomes, one type of EV, play a role in the molecular transport system in vivo and can be considered a drug delivery system (DDS) innate to all living things. Exosomes contain nucleic acids and proteins, which are transported from secretory cells to recipient cells. Molecules in exosomes are encapsulated in a lipid bilayer, which allows them to exist stably in body fluids without being affected by nuclease degradation enzymes. Therefore, the therapeutic use of exosomes as DDSs has been widely explored and is being used in clinical trials and other clinical settings. This review summarizes the current topics of EVs as DDSs in cardiac disease.

PMID:36577860 | DOI:10.1007/s11095-022-03463-z

Transplant Proc. 2022 Dec 27:S0041-1345(22)00771-0. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2022.09.038. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We investigated if the occurrence of preoperative right ventricular dysfunction is capable of influencing heart transplant results in terms of in-hospital mortality, incidence of primary graft dysfunction, and follow-up mortality.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 517 patients who underwent heart transplant between January 2000 and December 2020. We defined right ventricular dysfunction (RVD), as central venous pressure (CVP) > 15 mm Hg and CVP/pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ratio > 0.63. We identified 2 subgroups in our population: 33 patients with preoperative RVD and 484 patients without RVD.

RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 7.9%. Severe early graft failure occurred in 6.6% of patients, with 26 patients (5.1%) needing intra-aortic balloon pump and 17 patients (3.3%) needing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Clinical variables that significantly influenced in-hospital mortality were age, peripheral artery disease, and bilirubin > 1.5 mg/dL, while hemodynamic variables influencing in-hospital mortality were CVP (odds ratio [OR], 1.09 [confidence interval {CI}, 1.03-1.15], P = .004], pulmonary artery systolic pressure (OR, 1.02 [CI, 1.00-1.04], P = .05), CVP/pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ratio (OR, 2.78 [CI, 1.14-6.80], P = .025), pulmonary vascular resistance (OR, 1.15 [CI, 1.01-1.32], P = .042), transpulmonary gradient (TPG) (OR, 1.11 [CI, 1.03-1.18], P = .003) , diastolic transpulmonary gradient (OR, 1.10 [CI, 1.02-1.20], P = .015], together with right ventricular dysfunction (OR, 3.56 [CI, 1.44-8.80], P = .011). On the other hand, clinical variables influencing the incidence of early graft failure were body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) > 30, peripheral artery disease, bilirubin > 1.5 mg/dL, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score excluding international normalized ratio before transplant, and preoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, while hemodynamic variables were pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (OR, 1.03 [CI, 1.00-1.05], P = .016), TPG (OR, 1.08 [1.01-1.17], P = .03), and right ventricular dysfunction (OR, 3.00 [CI, 1.07-8.40] P = .046). On the multivariable analysis, RVD and TPG were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality, while only TPG was a predictor of early graft failure. Follow-up mortality was 38.7% and was influenced by recipient age, recipient body mass index, and preoperative diabetes. Moreover, 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival of patients with preoperative RVD was significantly worse than patients without RVD (log-rank = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: In our population, RVD influenced both in-hospital and long-term results after heart transplant. For these reasons, it appears crucially important to optimize preoperative right ventricular function to improve these patients' outcomes.

PMID:36577636 | DOI:10.1016/j.transproceed.2022.09.038

JAMA Surg. 2022 Dec 28. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2022.6697. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Clear indications on how to select retreatments for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still lacking.

OBJECTIVE: To create a machine learning predictive model of survival after HCC recurrence to allocate patients to their best potential treatment.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Real-life data were obtained from an Italian registry of hepatocellular carcinoma between January 2008 and December 2019 after a median (IQR) follow-up of 27 (12-51) months. External validation was made on data derived by another Italian cohort and a Japanese cohort. Patients who experienced a recurrent HCC after a first surgical approach were included. Patients were profiled, and factors predicting survival after recurrence under different treatments that acted also as treatment effect modifiers were assessed. The model was then fitted individually to identify the best potential treatment. Analysis took place between January and April 2021.

EXPOSURES: Patients were enrolled if treated by reoperative hepatectomy or thermoablation, chemoembolization, or sorafenib.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Survival after recurrence was the end point.

RESULTS: A total of 701 patients with recurrent HCC were enrolled (mean [SD] age, 71 [9] years; 151 [21.5%] female). Of those, 293 patients (41.8%) received reoperative hepatectomy or thermoablation, 188 (26.8%) received sorafenib, and 220 (31.4%) received chemoembolization. Treatment, age, cirrhosis, number, size, and lobar localization of the recurrent nodules, extrahepatic spread, and time to recurrence were all treatment effect modifiers and survival after recurrence predictors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the predictive model was 78.5% (95% CI, 71.7%-85.3%) at 5 years after recurrence. According to the model, 611 patients (87.2%) would have benefited from reoperative hepatectomy or thermoablation, 37 (5.2%) from sorafenib, and 53 (7.6%) from chemoembolization in terms of potential survival after recurrence. Compared with patients for which the best potential treatment was reoperative hepatectomy or thermoablation, sorafenib and chemoembolization would be the best potential treatment for older patients (median [IQR] age, 78.5 [75.2-83.4] years, 77.02 [73.89-80.46] years, and 71.59 [64.76-76.06] years for sorafenib, chemoembolization, and reoperative hepatectomy or thermoablation, respectively), with a lower median (IQR) number of multiple recurrent nodules (1.00 [1.00-2.00] for sorafenib, 1.00 [1.00-2.00] for chemoembolization, and 2.00 [1.00-3.00] for reoperative hepatectomy or thermoablation). Extrahepatic recurrence was observed in 43.2% (n = 16) for sorafenib as the best potential treatment vs 14.6% (n = 89) for reoperative hepatectomy or thermoablation as the best potential treatment and 0% for chemoembolization as the best potential treatment. Those profiles were used to constitute a patient-tailored algorithm for the best potential treatment allocation.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The herein presented algorithm should help in allocating patients with recurrent HCC to the best potential treatment according to their specific characteristics in a treatment hierarchy fashion.

PMID:36576813 | DOI:10.1001/jamasurg.2022.6697

ERJ Open Res. 2022 Dec 27;8(4):00303-2022. doi: 10.1183/23120541.00303-2022. eCollection 2022 Oct.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Post mortem examination of lung and heart tissue has been vital to developing an understanding of COVID-19 pathophysiology; however studies to date have almost uniformly used tissue obtained from hospital-based deaths where individuals have been exposed to major medical and pharmacological interventions.

METHODS: In this study we investigated patterns of lung and heart injury from 46 community-based, pre-hospital COVID-19-attributable deaths who underwent autopsy.

RESULTS: The cohort comprised 22 females and 24 males, median age 64 years (range 19-91) at time of death with illness duration range 0-23 days. Comorbidities associated with poor outcomes in COVID-19 included obesity (body mass index >30 kg·m-2) in 19 out of 46 cases (41.3%). Diffuse alveolar damage in its early exudative phase was the most common pattern of lung injury; however significant heterogeneity was identified with bronchopneumonia, pulmonary oedema consistent with acute cardiac failure, pulmonary thromboembolism and microthrombosis also identified and often in overlapping patterns. Review of clinical records and next of kin accounts suggested a combination of unexpectedly low symptom burden, rapidly progressive disease and psychosocial factors may have contributed to a failure of hospital presentation prior to death.

CONCLUSIONS: Identifying such advanced acute lung injury in community-based deaths is extremely unusual and raises the question why some with severe COVID-19 pneumonitis were not hospitalised. Multiple factors including low symptom burden, rapidly progressive disease trajectories and psychosocial factors provide possible explanations.

PMID:36575708 | PMC:PMC9571221 | DOI:10.1183/23120541.00303-2022

Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2022 Dec 23:100025. doi: 10.1016/j.rpth.2022.100025. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Conflicting results have been reported on platelet activity ex vivo and responsiveness in vitro among COVID-19 patients with or without thromboembolic complications.

OBJECTIVES: To assess platelet reactivity in moderate disease at early stages of COVID-19.

PATIENTS/METHODS: We performed a prospective, descriptive analysis on 100 consecutive patients presenting with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection at the University Medical Center Freiburg during the first or second pandemic wave. Following PCR testing and compliance with study inclusion criteria, 20 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 55 SARS-CoV-2 negative patients (serving as patient controls) were enrolled. In addition, 15 healthy subjects were included. Platelet reactivity was assessed using whole blood impedance aggregometry and flow cytometry in response to various agonists.

RESULTS: Platelet aggregation was significantly impaired in COVID-19 patients as compared to patient controls or healthy subjects. The reduced platelet responsiveness in COVID-19 patients was associated with impaired activation of GPIIb/IIIa (αIIbβ3). By contrast, low P-selectin expression at baseline and intact secretion upon stimulation in vitro suggest that no pre-activation in vivo leading to "exhausted" platelets had occurred. The proportion of circulating platelet-neutrophil complexes was significantly higher in COVID-19 patients (mean±SD, 41±13%) than in patient controls (18±7%; 95% CI:11.1-34.1; P=0.0002) or healthy subjects (17±4%; 95% CI:13.8-33.8; P<0.0001). Analysis of neutrophil adhesion receptors revealed up-regulation of CD11b (α-subunit of αMβ2) and CD66b (CEACAM8) but not of CD162 (PSGL-1) in COVID-19 patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite reduced platelet responsiveness, platelet-neutrophil complexes are increased at early stages of moderate disease. Thus, this cellular interaction may occur in COVID-19 without preceding platelet activation.

PMID:36575689 | PMC:PMC9783187 | DOI:10.1016/j.rpth.2022.100025

J Nucl Cardiol. 2022 Dec 27. doi: 10.1007/s12350-022-03167-2. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36575283 | DOI:10.1007/s12350-022-03167-2

J Clin Epidemiol. 2022 Nov 26:S0895-4356(22)00298-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.11.012. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To identify reporting guidelines related to surgical technique and propose recommendations for areas that require improvement.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A protocol-guided scoping review was conducted. A literature search of MEDLINE, the EQUATOR Network Library, Google Scholar, and Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations was conducted to identify surgical technique reporting guidelines published up to December 31, 2021.

RESULTS: We finally included 55 surgical technique reporting guidelines, vascular surgery (n=18, 32.7%) was most common among the clinical specialties covered. The included guidelines generally showed a low degree of international and multidisciplinary cooperation. Few guidelines provided a detailed development process (n=14, 25.5%), conducted a systematic literature review (n=13, 23.6%), used the Delphi method (n=4, 7.3%), or described post-publication strategy (n=6, 10.9%). The vast majority guidelines focused on the reporting of intraoperative period (n=50, 90.9%). However, of the guidelines requiring detailed descriptions of surgical technique methodology (n=43, 78.2%), most failed to provide guidance on what constitutes an adequate description.

CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates significant deficiencies in the development methodology and practicality of reporting guidelines for surgical technique. A standardized reporting guideline that is developed rigorously and focuses on details of surgical technique may serve as a necessary impetus for change.

PMID:36574532 | DOI:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.11.012

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023 Feb 1;35(2):159-166. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002467. Epub 2022 Nov 8.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Bowel preparation is crucial for colonoscopy completeness and lesions detection. Today, several cleansing products are equally recommended by guidelines, irrespective of patients' characteristics. Identification of preparation-specific risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation may lead to a personalized prescription of cleansing products to refine patients' tolerance and improve endoscopic outcomes.

METHODS: We prospectively enrolled consecutive outpatients referred for colonoscopy using either a high-volume [HV: 4 l polyethylene glycol (PEG)] or a low-volume (LV: 2 l PEG + bisacodyl) preparation. Day-before regimen or split-dose regimen was used for morning or afternoon colonoscopies, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify risk factors related to inadequate bowel preparation, according to the Boston bowel preparation scale for HV and LV preparations.

RESULTS: We enrolled 2040 patients, of which 1815 were included in the final analysis (average age 60.6 years, 50.2% men). Half of them (52%) used LV preparation. Adequate preparation was achieved by 87.6% without differences between the HV and LV groups (89.2% vs. 86.6%; P = 0.098). The use of day-before regimen and incomplete assumption of PEG were independent predictors of poor visibility for either HV or LV preparation. However, different specific risk factors for HV [diabetes: odds ratio (OR), 3.81; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91-7.58; low level of instruction: OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.11-3.44; and previous abdominal surgery: OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.20-4.30] and for LV (heart disease: OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.09-3.88; age > 65 years: OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.01-2.27) preparations were identified.

CONCLUSION: Day-before preparation and incomplete assumption of the purgative agents affect bowel visibility irrespective of the preparation volume. LV should be preferred to HV preparations in patients with diabetes, low level of instruction, and previous abdominal surgery, whereas an HV preparation should be preferred in patients with heart disease and in older patients.

PMID:36574306 | DOI:10.1097/MEG.0000000000002467

AJOB Empir Bioeth. 2022 Dec 27:1-12. doi: 10.1080/23294515.2022.2160513. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nonanonymized direct contact between organ recipients and donor families is a topic of international interest in the adult context. However, there is limited discussion about whether direct contact should be extended to pediatric settings due to clinician and researcher concerns of the potential harms to pediatric patients.

METHODS: We interviewed pediatric organ recipients, their families, and donorfamilies in British Columbia, Canada, to determine their views on direct contact. Interviews were conducted in two stages, with those who were further removed from the transplant process informing the approach to interviews with those who more recently went throughthe transplant process.

RESULTS: Twenty-nine individuals participated in twenty in-depth interviews. The study included participants from three major organ systems: kidney, heart, and liver. Only five participants expressed that direct contact might cause harm or discomfort, while twenty-three indicated they saw significant potential for benefits. Nearly half focused on the harms to others rather than themselves, and nearly two-thirds focused on the benefits for others rather than themselves.

CONCLUSION: There appears to be a community desire for direct contact in pediatric organ transplant programs among those living in British Columbia, Canada. These results suggest a need to revisit the medical community's assumptions around protection and paternalism in our practice as clinicians and researchers.

PMID:36574227 | DOI:10.1080/23294515.2022.2160513

Int J Hematol. 2022 Dec 27. doi: 10.1007/s12185-022-03525-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Characteristics of AL amyloidosis across Asia are not well-described in the literature. Thus, we overviewed the incidence and disease characteristics of AL amyloidosis in Korea.

METHODS: We collected medical records of 302 AL amyloidosis patients and compared survival outcomes by predominant treatment strategy and at four time points: 1995-2003, 2004-2008, 2009-2013, and 2014-2018.

RESULTS: The median age was 62 years (36-83). One hundred forty-one patients were classified as stage III (26.3%) or IV (47.9%). The patients diagnosed between 2014 and 2018 survived longer than those diagnosed at other time points due to the introduction of bortezomib (p < 0.01). In addition, patients who received upfront ASCT survived longer than those who received salvage ASCT or chemotherapy alone (p < 0.01). However, most of the 85 patients who experienced early death within 6 months were older than 75 years, had BMI less than 20, and had a high disease burden.

CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of AL amyloid has increased and survival outcomes have improved gradually, most likely due to introduction of novel agents and upfront ASCT. However, not all patients are suitable for these potent treatment modalities, and avoiding early death within 6 months remains a challenge.

PMID:36574171 | DOI:10.1007/s12185-022-03525-3

J Pers Med. 2022 Oct 24;12(11):1760. doi: 10.3390/jpm12111760.

ABSTRACT

The landscape of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemiology and treatment is ever-changing, with the widespread and evolving use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). With timely ART, people living with HIV (PLWH) are nearing the life expectancies and the functionality of the general population; nevertheless, the effects of HIV and ART on cardiovascular health remain under investigation. The pathophysiology of HIV-related cardiomyopathy and heart failure (HF) have historically been attributed to systemic inflammation and changes in cardiometabolic function and cardiovascular architecture. Importantly, newer evidence suggests that ART also plays a role in modulating the process of HIV-related cardiomyopathy and HF. In the short term, newer highly active ART (HAART) seems to have cardioprotective effects; however, emerging data on the long-term cardiovascular outcomes of certain HAART medications, i.e., protease inhibitors, raise concerns about the potential adverse effects of these drugs in the clinical course of HIV-related HF. As such, the traditional phenotypes of dilated cardiomyopathy and left ventricular systolic failure that are associated with HIV-related heart disease are incrementally being replaced with increasing rates of diastolic dysfunction and ischemic heart disease. Moreover, recent studies have found important links between HIV-related HF and other clinical and biochemical entities, including depression, which further complicate cardiac care for PLWH. Considering these trends in the era of ART, the traditional paradigms of HIV-related cardiomyopathy and HF are being called into question, as is the therapeutic role of interventions such as ventricular assist devices and heart transplantation. In all, the mechanisms of HIV-related myocardial damage and the optimal approaches to the prevention and the treatment of cardiomyopathy and HF in PLWH remain under investigation.

PMID:36573732 | PMC:PMC9695202 | DOI:10.3390/jpm12111760

Kardiol Pol. 2022 Dec 27. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36573607

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2022 Dec 26. doi: 10.1002/jmri.28568. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Manually segmenting cardiac structures is time-consuming and produces variability in MRI assessments. Automated segmentation could solve this. However, current software is developed for adults without congenital heart defects (CHD).

PURPOSE: To evaluate automated segmentation of left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) for pediatric MRI studies.

STUDY TYPE: Retrospective comparative study.

POPULATION: Twenty children per group of: healthy children, LV-CHD, tetralogy of Fallot (ToF), and univentricular CHD, aged 11.7 [8.9-16.0], 14.2 [10.6-15.7], 14.6 [11.6-16.4], and 12.2 [10.2-14.9] years, respectively.

SEQUENCE/FIELD STRENGTH: Balanced steady-state free precession at 1.5 T.

ASSESSMENT: Biventricular volumes and masses were calculated from a short-axis stack of images, which were segmented manually and using two fully automated software suites (Medis Suite 3.2, Medis, Leiden, the Netherlands and SuiteHeart 5.0, Neosoft LLC, Pewaukee, USA). Fully automated segmentations were manually adjusted to provide two further sets of segmentations. Fully automated and adjusted automated segmentation were compared to manual segmentation. Segmentation times and reproducibility for each method were assessed.

STATISTICAL TESTS: Bland Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to compare volumes and masses between methods. Postprocessing times were compared by paired t-tests.

RESULTS: Fully automated methods provided good segmentation (ICC > 0.90 compared to manual segmentation) for the LV in the healthy and left-sided CHD groups (eg LV-EDV difference for healthy children 1.4 ± 11.5 mL, ICC: 0.97, for Medis and 3.0 ± 12.2 mL, ICC: 0.96 for SuiteHeart). Both automated methods gave larger errors (ICC: 0.62-0.94) for the RV in these populations, and for all structures in the ToF and univentricular CHD groups. Adjusted automated segmentation agreed well with manual segmentation (ICC: 0.71-1.00), improved reproducibility and reduced segmentation time in all patient groups, compared to manual segmentation.

DATA CONCLUSION: Fully automated segmentation eliminates observer variability but may produce large errors compared to manual segmentation. Manual adjustments reduce these errors, improve reproducibility, and reduce postprocessing times compared to manual segmentation. Adjusted automated segmentation is reasonable in children with and without CHD.

EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3.

TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

PMID:36573004 | DOI:10.1002/jmri.28568

Qual Life Res. 2022 Dec 26. doi: 10.1007/s11136-022-03331-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Little is known about the impact of co-morbidities on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We aimed to investigate the relative contribution of co-morbidities to HRQoL of people with IPF.

METHODS: N = 157 participants were recruited from the Australian IPF Registry (AIPFR). Health state utilities (HSUs), and the super-dimensions of physical and psychosocial scores were measured using the Assessment of Quality of Life-8-Dimensions (AQoL-8D). The impact of co-morbidities on HRQoL was investigated using linear regression and general dominance analyses.

RESULTS: A higher number of co-morbidities was associated with lower HSUs (p trend = 0.002). Co-morbidities explained 9.1% of the variance of HSUs, 16.0% of physical super-dimensional scores, and 4.2% of psychosocial super-dimensional scores. Arthritis was associated with a significant reduction on HSUs (β = - 0.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.16 to - 0.02), largely driven by reduced scores on the physical super-dimension (β = - 0.13, 95% CI - 0.20 to - 0.06). Heart diseases were associated with a significant reduction on HSUs (β = - 0.09, 95% CI - 0.16 to - 0.02), driven by reduced scores on physical (β = - 0.09, 95% CI - 0.16 to - 0.02) and psychosocial (β = -0.10, 95% CI - 0.17 to - 0.02) super-dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS: Co-morbidities significantly impact HRQoL of people with IPF, with markedly negative impacts on their HSUs and physical health. A more holistic approach to the care of people with IPF is important as better management of these co-morbidities could lead to improved HRQoL in people with IPF.

PMID:36572788 | DOI:10.1007/s11136-022-03331-8

Br J Haematol. 2022 Dec 26. doi: 10.1111/bjh.18613. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Since the early 1970s, the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) has undergone a major transformation. Initially based on only two drugs, an anthracycline and cytosine arabinoside, the aim of therapy was to achieve a haematological response allowing patients to recover and go home. Back in those early days, cure was not a realistic expectation. Treatment was analogous to a heart attack; upon recovery and a short respite, recurrence and death inevitably followed. Over the subsequent decades, slow but remarkable progress was made such that a subgroup of young adults could become long-term survivors. This astonishing feat was achieved initially without the use of new drugs. Supportive care played a major role with the widespread availability of platelet transfusions and improved antimicrobial therapy, particularly antifungal. No less important was the better use of existing drugs and the development of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation. While initially the focus was on maximal tolerated therapy, an understanding of the immunologic role of allogeneic transplantation, better genetic characterization of the biology of the disease, advanced tools for detection of minimal disease as well as the recent development of new drugs changed the focus to a more refined approach targeting patients who are more likely to respond. Clearly, the historical paradigm where the term AML was generic and applicable to all patients requires a rethinking from the traditional therapeutic demarcations of therapy into phases of induction, consolidation and maintenance. These evolving new concepts and paradigm will be herein considered.

PMID:36572392 | DOI:10.1111/bjh.18613

Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2022 Dec 26. doi: 10.1111/apt.17368. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and its management in cirrhosis can be challenging due to the altered hepatic metabolism of medications and increased risk of bleeding.

AIMS: To provide a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis, pathophysiology and management of AF in patients with cirrhosis from both a cardiology and a hepatology perspective.

METHODS: An extensive literature search was performed using the terms 'atrial fibrillation' and 'cirrhosis'. Guideline documents and consensus statements were explored.

RESULTS: The prevalence of AF in patients with cirrhosis ranges between 6.6% and 14.2%, while the incidence of new-onset AF in the post-operative period after liver transplant ranged between 6.8% and 10.2%. AF in patients with cirrhosis is associated with adverse outcomes in both pre-transplant and post-transplant settings, including an increased risk of stroke when compared to the general population. We review the pathogenesis of AF in general and in cirrhosis. This review also provides guidance on the management of AF, including the use of anticoagulation and rate versus rhythm control. In the absence of strict contraindications, all patients with cirrhosis and AF should be anticoagulated. The use of DOACs is preferred over vitamin K antagonists. In patients with a high bleeding risk, a DOAC with an approved antidote may be preferred.

CONCLUSIONS: Atrial fibrillation is increased in patients with cirrhosis. AF management requires careful consideration of treatment options. Since patients with cirrhosis were excluded from all major randomised clinical trials, dedicated research on the pathophysiology and management of AF in cirrhosis is needed.

PMID:36571829 | DOI:10.1111/apt.17368

Eur Radiol. 2022 Dec 26. doi: 10.1007/s00330-022-09358-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To describe the dynamic changes in cardiac deformation and tissue characteristics using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in asymptomatic patients during 12 months after heart transplantation (HT).

METHODS: From April 2020 to January 2021, 21 consecutive HT patients without clinical symptoms were included in this prospective study. Multiparametric CMR was performed at 3, 6, and 12 months after HT. Twenty-five healthy volunteers served as controls.

RESULTS: During follow-up, a decline in left ventricular (LV) global radial strain (GRS) (p = 0.020) and right ventricular (RV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) (p < 0.001) and an increase in post-contrast T1 (p = 0.024) and T2 (p < 0.001) in asymptomatic HT patients occurred at 3 months, which normalized at 6 months postoperatively, compared with those in healthy controls. A decline in LVGLS (p < 0.001) and LV global circumferential strain (GCS) (p < 0.001) and an increase in native T1 (p < 0.001), T2 (p < 0.001), and extracellular volume (ECV) (p < 0.001) occurred at 3 months. Although most parameters improved gradually, LVGLS, native T1, and ECV remained abnormal compared with those in healthy controls at 12 months; only T2 and LVGCS were normalized at 6 months and 12 months, respectively. ECV was significantly correlated with LVGLS, LVGCS, and LVGRS.

CONCLUSION: Cardiac deformation and tissue characteristics were abnormal early after HT, although the patients were clinically asymptomatic. The dynamic changes in CMR characteristics demonstrate a gradual recovery of myocardial injury associated with transplantation during the first 12 months after HT.

KEY POINTS: • Multiparametric CMR can detect the dynamic changes of transplantation-associated myocardial injury. • Post-contrast T1, T2, LVGRS, and RVGLS values are normalized at 6 months after HT. • Native T1, ECV, and LVGLS values remain abnormal compared with those in healthy controls at 12 months after HT.

PMID:36571606 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-022-09358-2