Negative Remodeling Research Articles

Hematoporphyrin- mediated focused ultrasound sonodynamic therapy combined with catheter- based rhenium-186 brachytherapy after B- mode ultrasound- guided balloon angioplasty of occluded artery

Background and Aims : Three mechanisms are responsible for the development of restenosis: elastic recoil, intimal hyperplasia and late vascular constriction, all grouped under the catch phrase “negative remodeling”. Neointimal hyperplasia is usually defined in an artery as thickening of the intimal layer after an injury such as balloon angioplasty methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined ultrasound sonodynamic therapy and catheter- based 186Re-mediated beta radiation (β-) brachytherapy on restenosis reduction after balloon angioplasty.

Heart Failure in Cardiac Rehabilitation: A REVIEW AND PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS.

Exercise cardiac rehabilitation (CR) represents an evidence-based therapy for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and this article provides a concise review of the relevant exercise testing and CR literature, including aspects unique to their care. A hallmark feature of HFrEF is exercise intolerance (eg, early-onset fatigue). Drug therapies for HFrEF target neurohormonal pathways to blunt negative remodeling of the cardiac architecture and restore favorable loading conditions. Guideline drug therapy includes β-adrenergic blocking agents; blockade of the renin-angiotensin system; aldosterone antagonism; sodium-glucose cotransport inhibition; and diuretics, as needed. Various assessments are used to quantify exercise capacity in patients with HFrEF, including peak oxygen uptake measured during an exercise test and 6-min walk distance. The mechanisms responsible for the exercise intolerance include abnormalities in ( a ) central transport (chronotropic response, stroke volume) and ( b ) the diffusion/utilization of oxygen in skeletal muscles. Cardiac rehabilitation improves exercise capacity, intermediate physiologic measures (eg, endothelial function and sympathetic nervous system activity), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and likely clinical outcomes. The prescription of exercise in patients with HFrEF is generally similar to that for other patients with cardiovascular disease; however, patients having undergone an advanced surgical therapy do present with features that require attention. Few patients with HFrEF enroll in CR and as such, many miss the derived benefits, including improved exercise capacity, a likely reduction in risk for subsequent clinical events (eg, rehospitalization), improved HRQoL, and adoption of disease management strategies.

Influence of Supraphysiologic Biomaterial Stiffness on Ventricular Mechanics and Myocardial Infarct Reinforcement

Injectable intramyocardial biomaterials have promise to limit adverse ventricular remodeling through mechanical and biologic mechanisms. While some success has been observed by injecting materials to regenerate new tissue, optimal biomaterial stiffness to thicken and stiffen infarcted myocardium to limit adverse remodeling has not been determined. In this work, we present an in-vivo study of the impact of biomaterial stiffness over a wide range of stiffness moduli on ventricular mechanics. We utilized injectable methacrylated polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels fabricated at 3 different mechanical moduli: 5 kPa (low), 25 kPa (medium/myocardium), and 250 kPa (high/supraphysiologic). We demonstrate that the supraphysiological high stiffness favorably alters post-infarct ventricular mechanics and prevents negative tissue remodeling. Lower stiffness materials do not alter mechanics and thus to be effective, must instead target biological reparative mechanisms. These results may influence rationale design criteria for biomaterials developed for infarct reinforcement therapy. Statement of significanceAcellular biomaterials for cardiac application can provide benefit via mechanical and biological mechanisms post myocardial infarction. We study the role of biomaterial mechanical characteristics on ventricular mechanics in myocardial infarcts. Previous studies have not measured the influence of injected biomaterials on ventricular mechanics, and consequently rational design criteria is unknown. By utilizing an in-vivo assessment of ventricular mechanics, we demonstrate that low stiffness biomaterial do not alter pathologic ventricular mechanics. Thus, to be effective, low stiffness biomaterials must target biological reparative mechanisms. Physiologic and supra-physiologic biomaterials favorably alter post-infarct mechanics and prevents adverse ventricular remodeling.

Research Advances of Injectable Functional Hydrogel Materials in the Treatment of Myocardial Infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) has become one of the serious diseases threatening human life and health. However, traditional treatment methods for MI have some limitations, such as irreversible myocardial necrosis and cardiac dysfunction. Fortunately, recent endeavors have shown that hydrogel materials can effectively prevent negative remodeling of the heart and improve the heart function and long-term prognosis of patients with MI due to their good biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the research progress of injectable hydrogel in the treatment of MI in recent years and to introduce the rational design of injectable hydrogels in myocardial repair. Finally, the potential challenges and perspectives of injectable hydrogel in this field will be discussed, in order to provide theoretical guidance for the development of new and effective treatment strategies for MI.

INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND SUBTYPES OF UNIFOCAL RENAL ARTERY FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA

Objective: A binary angiographic classification of renal artery FMD lesions into multifocal or unifocal is well established. The multifocal type, with the ‘string-of-beads’ appearance, is related to medial FMD. While the unifocal type (focal or tubular type), is not clearly related to specific histological lesions. IVUS is a useful tool, in addition to the angiography for evaluation of the anatomical changes of structures of the vessel wall. The purpose of this study was to reveal the different subtypes of unifocal renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) based on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and assess the clinical characteristics. Design and method: Thirty-six hypertensive patients (mean age 24 ± 7 years, 13–39 years) with computer tomography angiography (CTA) scan suggestive of unifocal renal artery FMD underwent renal angiography, IVUS and angioplasty, with both immediate and long-term blood pressure (BP) response assessment. Results: Of the total 36 patients, renal angiography revealed focal type in 22 (66.1%) and tubular stenoses in 14 (38.9%) patients. On IVUS, two subtypes of unifocal renal artery FMD were identified include intima-media thickening (IMT, n = 21, 58.3%) and negative remodeling of the whole vessel (NR, n = 15, 41.7%). In the 22 patients with focal type on angiography, 18 (81.8%) showed IMT and 4 (18.2%) showed NR on IVUS. 14 patients with tubular type on angiography, IVUS showed IMT in 3 (21.4%) and NR in 11 (78.6%) patients. No difference in age of onset, gender, BMI, initial BP levels were found between two IVUS subtypes. However, the proportion of BP returning to normal in the immediate term (48 hours after angioplasty procedure) (76.2% vs 26.7%, p = 0.004) and the long-term (1–5years) cure rate of hypertension (90.5% vs 20.0%, p < 0.001) were much higher in the IMT subtype than those in the NR subtype. Conclusions: In this study, we describe a new classification into IMT or NR of unifocal renal artery FMD based on IVUS. Patients with IMT renal FMD were more likely to achieve cure of hypertension.

Aortic remodeling, reintervention, and survival after zone 0 arch repair with frozen elephant trunks for acute type A aortic dissection: Midterm results.

ObjectivesTo investigate the midterm results after zone 0 arch repair with frozen elephant trunks for acute type A aortic dissection.MethodsBetween October 2014 and April 2021, 196 patients underwent zone 0 arch repair with frozen elephant trunks for acute type A aortic dissection. The true lumen area, aortic lumen area, and false lumen status were assessed at four aortic levels, the proximal and distal descending thoracic aorta (level A and level B, respectively), celiac artery branching (level C), and terminal aorta (level D). Aortic remodeling (postoperative area as a percentage of the preoperative area) was classified into 3 groups, positive (true lumen area ≥120% with aortic lumen <120% or true lumen area ≥80% with aortic lumen <80%), minimal (80% ≤ true lumen area and aortic lumen area <120%), and negative remodeling (all other changes).ResultsIn-hospital mortality was 13 (6.6%) patients. The overall survival rate was 85.1% at 5 years. The freedom from distal aortic reintervention was 89.9% at 5 years. The prevalence of completely thrombosed or obliterated false lumen at 2 years was 96.8% at level A, 88.4% at level B, 47.2% at level C, and 27.6% at level D. The prevalence of positive aortic remodeling at 2 years was 84.7% at level A, 75.0% at level B, 29.2% at level C, and 16.7% at level D.ConclusionsZone 0 arch repair with frozen elephant trunks for acute type A aortic dissection can avoid invasive aortic arch resection and facilitate aortic remodeling of the descending thoracic aorta. The FET effect on aortic remodeling is limited at the aortic level below the FET stent end.

Aortic remodeling in aortic dissection after frozen elephant trunk: overcoming the challenges

The introduction of the single-step hybrid frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure expanded the surgeon's armamentarium in managing aortic dissection (AD). This is evident by the reduction in mortality and complication rates associated with conventional techniques used to repair ADs. Although FET still carries a risk of certain complications, it has been associated with excellent aortic remodeling following the procedure. The main scope of this review is to evaluate aortic remodeling in aortic dissection after FET as well as to highlight the challenges that may arise and ways to overcome them. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on multiple electronic databases including PubMed, Ovid, Scopus and Embase to highlight the evidence in the literature on aortic remodeling in aortic dissection after FET. The FET procedure promotes excellent long-term remodeling, this is seen in the substantial increase in the size of the true lumen along with the decrease in that of the false lumen (FL), in addition to significant FL thrombosis. However, this occurs to a lesser extent more distally at the level of the abdominal aorta. Negative remodeling may present a major challenge to the process of aortic remodeling, nevertheless, this can be overcome with endovascular reintervention which has demonstrated highly favorable results. Additionally, the choice of FET graft, in terms of type and length, seems to influence outcomes. Namely, the Thoraflex™ Hybrid graft can be considered the superior graft on the global market. On the other hand, there seems to be a debate in the literature on the optimal FET graft length. The FET procedure has revolutionized the field of aortovascular surgery and promotes excellent long-term aortic remodeling. Negative remodeling can occur but can also be favorably overcome with endovascular reintervention. Finally, the choice of FET graft may also influence results, thus, should be taken with great care.

Endovascular reintervention after frozen elephant trunk: where is the evidence?

The introduction of the single-step hybrid frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure for total arch replacement has revolutionized the field of aortovascular surgery. FET has proven to achieve excellent results in the repair of complex thoracic aorta pathologies. However, there remains a risk of reintervention post-FET for a variety of causes. This secondary intervention can either be performed endovascular, with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), or via open surgery. Multiple FET hybrid prosthesis are commercially available, each requiring different rates of endovascular reintervention. The current review will focus on providing an overview of the reintervention rates for main causes in relation to the FET grafts on the market. In addition, strategies to prevent reintervention will be highlighted. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on multiple electronic databases including PubMed, Ovid, Scopus and Embase to highlight the evidence in the literature on endovascular reintervention after FET. The main causes for secondary intervention are distal stent graft-induced new entry (dSINE), endoleak and negative aortic remodeling, and to a much lesser extent, graft kinking and aorto-esophageal fistulae. In addition, it is clear that the Thoraflex Hybrid (Terumo Aortic, Inchinnan, UK) is the superior FET device, showing excellent reintervention rates for all the above causes. Interestingly, the choice of FET device as well as its size and length can help prevent the need for reintervention. The FET procedure is indeed associated with excellent clinical outcomes, however, the need for reintervention may still arise. Importantly, the Thoraflex Hybrid prosthesis has shown excellent results when it comes to endovascular reintervention. Finally, several strategies exist that can prevent reintervention.

Systemic inflammation in the acute myocardial infarction can predict early negative left ventricular remodeling assessed by myocardial work analysis

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): UEFISCDI Background. Left ventricular (LV) remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is an important predictor of heart failure (HF). Systemic inflammatory response in the acute phase of AMI is of particular interest, while the relation to the remodeling process is still under debate. New imaging techniques derived from speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), such as myocardial work (MW), are attractive tools since they can detect myocardial remodeling before decrease of global LVEF. However, there is insufficient data regarding MW in AMI patients, and its relation to the inflammatory process. Methods. We assessed 57 patients (53 ± 9 years, 45 men, 64% smokers, 59% hypertensive, 54% with type 2 diabetes) with AMI, by clinical, 2D echo, and STE. Biomarkers panel was evaluated within the first 24 hours from admission: hsTpI and CRP. A second visit with clinical and echo assessment was performed at 6-8 weeks from the baseline visit. Exclusion criteria were unstable patients, non-sinus rhythm, significant valvular disease (&amp;gt;grade 2), other significant pathologies leading to decreased life expectancy, and low quality 2DE. At both visits, global longitudinal stain (GLS) and MW by 2DSTE were measured, on top of conventional echo parameters: global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), global work efficiency (GWE) (Figure 1: upper panel - an example of a patient with increase of GWE from baseline to visit 2 ; lower panel - an example of a patient with decrease of the GWE from baseline to visit 2). Results. At baseline, myocardial necrosis by hsTpI significantly corelated with GLS (r = 0.44, p = 0.001) and MW (GWI: r=-0.44, p = 0.001; GCW: r=-0.40, p = 0.002), but not with LVEF. However, systemic inflammation by CRP did not correlate with LVEF or any of the STE parameters. Interestingly, systemic inflammation by CRP significantly correlated with changes of MW between the two visits: for GWE r=-0.53, p &amp;lt; 0.001; and for GWW r = 0.48, p &amp;lt; 0.001 (Figure 2). A CRP level &amp;gt;28 mg/l was able to predict decrease of GWE from baseline to visit 2. Conclusions. Magnitude of necrosis, expressed by hsTpI, corelates only with GLS and MW parameters, but not with LVEF. CRP level in the acute phase of AMI correlates with myocardial work changes, as an early marker of negative LV remodeling. Abstract Figure 1 Abstract Figure 2

Negative Remodeling of Carotid Canal during Spontaneous Disease Progression in Moyamoya Disease

This study was designed to observe the changes in the carotid canal over time by measuring the carotid canal diameter longitudinally in adult patients with moyamoya disease in whom disease stage progressed spontaneously. Of 70 adult patients with moyamoya disease, 10 adult patients on 15 sides with spontaneous progression of the disease stage during conservative follow-up were included in this study. Another 10 moyamoya cases on 15 sides were selected as the controls without disease progression. All patients were followed up for at least 60 months after the progression of disease stage was confirmed. In addition, 5 patients who underwent microvascular decompression were included as healthy controls. The carotid canal diameter was measured with bone window computed tomography (CT) and source images of time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography at initial presentation, and then were serially monitored with the latter. There was a significant correlation between the values obtained from CT and magnetic resonance imaging (R2= 0.992, P < 0.001). The carotid canal diameter in moyamoya disease at initial presentation was 4.29 ± 0.61 mm, being smaller than 5.20 ± 0.51 mm in healthy controls (P < 0.01). In response to disease progression, the carotid canal diameter started to decrease at 6 months after disease progression was confirmed, and reduced to about 85% of the original level during 60 months (P < 0.01). The phenomenon was not observed in patients without disease progression. The carotid canal diameter can decrease in response to disease progression even in adult moyamoya disease. "Negative" bone remodeling may play a key role in this unique phenomenon.

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure: A Role for Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Mitochondrial Dysfunction?

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of hospitalization in patients aged more than 65 years and is associated with high mortality rates. A better comprehension of its physiopathology is still needed, and, in addition to neurohormonal systems and sodium glucose co-transporter 2 modulations, recent studies focus on the mitochondrial respiration of peripheral blood circulating cells (PBMCs). Thus, cardiovascular metabolic risk factors and cellular switch with an increased neutrophil/lymphocytes ratio might favor the decreased PBMC mitochondrial respiration observed in relation with HF severity. PBMCs are implicated in the immune system function and mitochondrial dysfunction of PBMC, potentially induced by their passage through a damaged heart and by circulating mitoDAMPs, which can lead to a vicious circle, thus sustaining negative cardiac remodeling during HF. This new approach of HF complex pathophysiology appears to be a promising field of research, and further studies on acute and chronic HF with reduced or preserved LVEF are warranted to better understand whether circulating PBMC mitochondrial function and mitoDAMPs follow-ups in HF patients might show diagnosis, prognosis or therapeutic usefulness.

Vessel Wall Changes on Serial High-Resolution MRI and the Use of Cilostazol in Patients With Adult-Onset Moyamoya Disease.

The natural course of adult-onset moyamoya disease (MMD) is unknown, and there is no medical treatment that halts its progression. We hypothesized that progressive shrinkage of large intracranial arteries occurs in adult-onset MMD, and that cilostazol inhibits this process. Serial high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) was performed on 66 patients with MMD: 30 patients received cilostazol, 21 received other antiplatelets, and 15 received no antiplatelets or had poor compliance to them. Serial HR-MRI was performed (interval between MRI scans: 29.67±18.02 months, mean±SD), and changes in outer diameter, luminal stenosis, and vascular enhancement were measured. Factors affecting HR-MRI changes were evaluated, including vascular risk factors and the ring finger protein 213 gene variant. The progression of stenosis to occlusion, recurrent ischemic stroke, and the development of new stenotic segments were observed in seven, seven, and three patients, respectively. Serial HR-MRI indicated that the degree of stenosis increased with negative remodeling (outer diameter shrinkage). Patients who received cilostazol presented significantly larger outer diameters and lower degrees of stenosis compared with other groups (p=0.005 and p=0.031, respectively). After adjusting for clinical and genetic factors, only cilostazol use was independently associated with negative remodeling (odds ratio=0.29, 95% confidence interval=0.10-0.84, p=0.023). While vascular enhancement was observed in most patients (61 patients), the progression of enhancement or the occurrence of new vascular enhancement was rarely observed on follow-up HR-MRI (6 and 1 patients, respectively). Adult-onset MMD induces progressive shrinkage of large intracranial arteries, which cilostazol treatment may prevent. Further randomized clinical trials are warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02074111.

Remodeling of abdominal aortic aneurysm sac following endovascular aortic repair: association with clinical, surgical, and genetic factors

After successful endovascular aortic repair (EVAR), abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) sac will undergo negative remodeling (i.e., shrinkage) as a measure of successful exclusion. Determinants of shrinkage after EVAR are not fully known.In 84 post-EVAR patients, time course of AAA diameter after repair and occurrence of endoleaks (ELs) have been correlated with clinical history, medications, anthropometric data, vascular anatomy, and matrix metalloprotease (MMP) genetic variants (namely MMP-1 rs1799750, MMP-3 rs35068180, MMP-9 rs2234681, rs917576, rs917577, MMP-12 rs652438, and TIMP1 rs4898).During follow-up, 41 ELs were detected in 37 patients (44%, 10.4 events/100 pt./y), accounting for AAA dilation or reduced shrinkage (P < .001). High-flow ELs (type 1 and/or 3) occurrence was associated with warfarin use, MMP9 rs17577 polymorphism, and unfavorable anatomy, while low-flow type 2 ELs occurred more often in TIMP1 rs4898 non-T carriers. In EL-free patients, AAA diameter decreased for the first three years, (-4, -3 and - 2 mm/year respectively) and remained stable thereafter. Shrinkage between two measurements (n = 120) was associated with smaller AAA diameter at the baseline, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), patients’ older age at intervention, and G-/G- genotype in MMP1 rs1799750 (binary logistic regression, P = .0001).Aneurysmal sac shrinking occurs for few years after EVAR, only in patients without EL, and is related to older age, PAD, smaller aneurysm size and putative lower MMP1 expression while EL occurrence prevents such a remodeling and is mainly related to local-acting factors like unfavorable anatomy, anticoagulation, and MMP9 and TIMP1 genetic polymorphisms.

Plasticity of the bony carotid canal and its clinical use for assessing negative remodeling of the internal carotid artery.

Background and objectiveIt has long been believed that the bony carotid canal has no plasticity and that a small canal represents a hypoplastic internal carotid artery. We aimed to show whether the carotid canal can narrow according to morphological changes in the internal carotid artery.Materials and methodsThe carotid canal diameter was longitudinally measured in seven individuals who underwent carotid artery ligation. As moyamoya disease is known to be associated with negative remodeling of the internal carotid artery, the carotid canal diameter was measured in 106 patients with moyamoya disease, and an association with the outer diameter of the internal carotid artery or a correlation with the disease stage was investigated. The carotid canal was measured by computed tomography (106 patients), and the outer diameter of the artery was measured by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (63 patients). The carotid canal area was calculated by the product of the maximum axial diameter and its perpendicular diameter.ResultsAll seven patients who underwent carotid artery ligation showed narrowing of the carotid canal, and the carotid canal area decreased by 12.2%–28.9% during a mean follow-up period of 4.2 years. In patients with moyamoya disease, the carotid canal area showed a linear correlation with the outer area of the internal carotid artery (r = 0.657, p < 0.001), and a negative correlation with the disease stage (ρ = −0.283, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe bony carotid canal has plasticity, and its area reflects the outer area of the internal carotid artery, therefore, it can be used to assess the remodeling of the carotid artery. A narrow carotid canal may not necessarily indicate hypoplastic internal carotid artery.

302 Impact of right ventricular pacing in patients with TAVI underwent permanent pacemaker implantation: the Pace-TAVI International Multicentre Study

Abstract Aims Permanent pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a relevant issue, being more frequent than after surgery and the progressive shift towards low-risk patients stressed the importance to reduce the risk of complications that could impact patient’s long-term prognosis. Long-term right ventricular pacing has been related to an increased risk of electromechanical asynchrony, negative left-ventricular remodelling, atrial fibrillation and heart failure, but there is a lack of evidence regarding the prognostic impact on TAVI patients. The aim of this international multicentre study is to assess the impact of right ventricular pacing on prognosis of TAVI patients undergone pacemaker implantation after the procedure due to conduction disorders. Methods and results All the consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis treated with TAVI and subsequently underwent pacemaker implantation in each participating centre were enrolled. Patients were divided into two subgroups according to the percentage of ventricular pacing (VP cut-off: 40%) at pacemaker interrogation. The primary endpoint was the composite of cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for heart failure in subgroups based on the percentage of ventricular stimulation. All cause and cardiovascular mortality in the subgroups according to the percentage of ventricular pacing were the secondary endpoints. In total, 427 patients were enrolled, 153 patients with VP &amp;lt; 40% and 274 with a with VP ≥ 40%. Patients with VP ≥ 40% were older (81.16 ± 6.4 years vs. 80.51 ± 6.8 years), with higher NYHA class, a lower EF (55.26 ± 12.2 vs. 57.99 ± 11.3 P = 0.03), an increased end diastolic ventricular volume (112.11 ± 47.6 vs. 96.60 ± 40.4, P = 0.005) and diameter (48.89 ± 9.7 vs. 45.84 ± 7.5 P = 0.01). A higher incidence of moderate post-procedural paravalvular leak was observed in patients with VP ≥ 40% (37.5% vs. 26.85%, P = 0.03). Ventricular pacing ≥40% was associated with a higher incidence of the composite primary endpoint of CV mortality and HF hospitalization (p at log rank test = 0.006, adjusted HR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.03–5.6; P = 0.04). Patients with ventricular pacing ≥ 40% had also a higher risk of all-cause (p at log rank test = 0.03, adjusted HR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.03–2.38; P = 0.03) and cardiovascular (p at log ank test =0.008, adjusted HR: 3.77; CI: 1.32–10.78; P = 0.006) mortality compared to patients with a VP &amp;lt; 40%. Conclusions TAVI Patients underwent permanent pacemaker implantation after the procedure due to conduction disorders and with a VP ≥ 40% at follow-up are at increased risk of cardiovascular death and HF hospitalizations and of all-cause mortality compared to patients with a VP &amp;lt; 40%. It is mandatory to reduce the percentage of ventricular pacing at follow-up when possible or consider left ventricular branch pacing and biventricular pacing in TAVI patients.

Acute myocardial infarction with left main coronary artery ostial negative remodelling as the first manifestation of Takayasu arteritis: a case report

BackgroundTakayasu arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease involving the aorta and its major branches. Acute myocardial infarction rarely but not so much presents in patients with Takayasu arteritis, and the preferable revascularization strategy is still under debate.Case presentationA 22-year-old female with Takayasu arteritis presented with acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography and intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) showed that the right coronary artery (RCA) was occluded and that there was severe negative remodelling at the ostium of the left main coronary artery (LMCA). The patient was treated by primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with a scoring balloon in the LMCA, without stent implantation. After 3 months of immunosuppressive medication, the patient received RCA revascularization by stenting. There was progressive external elastic membrane (EEM) enlargement of the LMCA ostium demonstrated by IVUS at 3 and 15 months post-initial PTCA.ConclusionHere, we report a case of Takayasu arteritis with involvement of the coronary artery ostium. Through PTCA and long-term immunosuppressive medication, we found that coronary negative remodelling might be reversible in patients with Takayasu arteritis.

False lumen thrombosis after frozen elephant trunk procedure in acute and chronic aortic dissection.

The clinical significance of the false lumen (FL) thrombosis after the thoracic aortic surgery consists in the correlation with aortic remodeling. The aim of the study was to analyze the incidence of the FL thrombosis of the thoracoabdominal aorta after the frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure in acute and chronic aortic dissection. A total of 57 consecutive patients with type A and B aortic dissection (AD) underwent the FET procedure between March 2012 and December 2020 were included in a retrospective study. All of the patients were divided in two groups: acute (N.=18) and chronic (N.=39) AD. Early and 2-year outcomes were evaluated in both groups. Computed tomography scans were obtained along the entire aorta for the aortic status assessment. There were no statistically significant differences in early mortality and postoperative outcomes in both groups. The 2-year survival rate in acute and chronic AD was 74.7±10% vs. 71.4±7% (P=0.573), respectively. In the follow-up, the FL thrombosis rate, changes of the true lumen and total aortic diameters did not differ significantly between the analyzed groups of patients. The freedom from negative aortic remodeling was 62.2±26% in acute AD versus 76.2±11% in chronic AD (P=0.853). One (5.6%) and 4 (10.3%) distal aortic reinterventions were performed in acute and chronic AD, respectively. False lumen thrombosis rate after the FET procedure did not differ significantly in acute and chronic AD.

Chronic thoracoabdominal aortic dissection: endovascular options to obliterate the false lumen.

Persistent false lumen patency in chronic thoracoabdominal aortic dissections after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) contributes to negative aortic remodeling. We have previously described the evolution of various endovascular techniques to treat persistent false lumen perfusion including false lumen embolization. Objectives of this study are to describe endovascular techniques to obliterate the false lumen and present updated outcomes in a recent series of patients undergoing false lumen embolization for chronic aortic dissection. From January 2018 to May 2021, 17 patients with chronic dissection underwent false lumen embolization with coils, iliac plugs, and nitinol plugs. This was often in conjunction with or following TEVAR and balloon fracture fenestration. Mean follow-up 354±324 days. After false lumen embolization there was no mortality, stroke, spinal cord ischemia, or visceral and limb ischemia. No patients required dialysis, though 1 (5.9%) did experience acute kidney injury. There was 1 (5.9%) patient that required endovascular re-intervention on the thoracoabdominal aorta. No patients underwent subsequent open surgical repair. TEVAR with adjunctive false lumen embolization and balloon fracture fenestration are techniques to obliterate retrograde flow into the false lumen of chronic thoracoabdominal aortic dissections in appropriately selected patients.

The Relationship between Patterns of Remodeling and Degree of Enhancement in Patients with Atherosclerotic Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis: A High-Resolution MRI Study.

The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between remodeling patterns and degree of enhancement in patients with atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI). From August 2015 to May 2016, 38 consecutive patients with unilateral MCA stenosis on time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography were prospectively enrolled. The routine MR scan and cross-sectional images of the stenotic MCA vessel wall on HR-MRI were performed in all patients. Among them, 17 patients displayed positive remodeling (PR) and the other 21 patients displayed negative remodeling or non-remodeling (non-PR). The patients displaying hyperintense on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the territory of ipsilateral stenotic MCA were considered to have had acute stroke. Subsequently, the differences in the degree of enhancement and the number of acute stroke patients between the PR group and the non-PR group were compared. The Spearman rank correlation analysis of the enhancement degree (ED) and the remodeling index (RI) was calculated. Then, receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to evaluate diagnostic efficiency of RI and ED for acute infarction. The PR group had more obvious enhancement plaques than the non-PR group (10 versus 3, P = 0.006). The PR group also had a larger number of acute stroke patients than the non-PR group (15 versus 4, P = 0.000). The spear-man rank correlation analysis showed that the degree of enhancement had a weak positive correlation with the remodeling index (r = 0.379, P = 0.019). The area under the curve (AUC) of RI and ED was higher than that of RI (0.924: 0.842). The PR, obvious enhancement predicted vulnerable plaques that were more prone to causing acute stroke. RI and ED had valuable diagnostic efficiency for acute infarction.

B- mode ultrasound- guided balloon angioplasty of occluded artery accompanied by combined focused ultrasound sonodynamic therapy and catheter- based 192Ir- mediated brachytherapy

Abstract Background and aims Three mechanisms are responsible for the development of restenosis: elastic recoil, intimal hyperplasia and late vascular constriction, all grouped under the catch phrase “negative remodeling”. Neointimal hyperplasia is usually defined in an artery as thickening of the intimal layer after an injury such as balloon angioplasty methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined ultrasound sonodynamic therapy and catheter- based 192Ir-mediated β-brachytherapy on restenosis reduction after balloon angioplasty. Methods Briefly, golden Syrian hamsters were submitted to common carotid artery advanced atherosclerotic occlusion by primary perivascular Co2 laser-mediated far-infrared injury followed by a 2% cholesterol-rich diet for six weeks. Histopathology results showed the formation of a thick-cap fibroatheromatic plaque, resulted to occlusion in all of the hamsters' arteries. Then treatment group (n=10) underwent B-mode ultrasound-guided balloon angioplasty followed by combined pulsed low level focused ultrasound (F=750 KHz, I=1.5 W/cm2, PD=120 ms)-mediated sonosensitizer protoporphyrin-IX-loaded PESDA (Perfluorocarbon Exposed Sonicated Dextrose Albumin) microbubbles (100ml/kg, 2–5×105 bubbles/ml) sonodynamic therapy and catheter- based β-brachytherapy (125I−, 18 Gy). Results Results from ultrasonography and histopathology showed a significant reduction in the mean value for macrophages and smooth muscle hyperplasia cells density after balloon angioplasty in the treated group compared with the other groups (p&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusions Enhanced anti-inflammatory effect of sonodynamic therapy, induced by collapsed microbubbles accompanied by apoptotic effect of β-brachytherapy, can cause to reduce the inflammation and smooth muscle hyperplasia cells in the intimal layer. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Mehrad Research Lab