International journal of cardiology
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Catheter ablation of hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT) is possible with mechanical circulatory support (MCS), little is known regarding the relative safety and efficacy of different supporting devices for such procedures. ⋯ Our data suggest that peripheral CPB and implantable LVAD provide adequate hemodynamic support for successful ablation of unstable VT. Impella® 2.5, on the other hand, was associated with increased risk of complications, and may not provide sufficient hemodynamic support in some cases.
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Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is among the most commonly performed heart surgical procedures. Saphenous vein graft failure due to stenosis impedes the longer-term success of CABG. A key cellular event in the process of vein graft stenosis is smooth muscle cell hyperplasia. In this study, we evaluated the effect of a DNAzyme (Dz13) targeting the transcription factor c-Jun in a rabbit model of vein graft stenosis in a cationic liposomal formulation containing 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP)/1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE). Dz13 in DOTAP/DOPE has undergone preclinical toxicological testing, and a Phase I clinical trial we recently conducted in basal cell carcinoma cancer patients demonstrates that it is safe and well tolerated after local administration. ⋯ This formulation applied to veins prior to transplantation may potentially be useful in efforts to reduce graft failure.
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The two hemodynamic profiles in left heart disease (LHD) with pulmonary hypertension (PH), passive PH with increased pulmonary venous pressure and reactive PH with increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR > 3 Wood units, WU), are difficult to distinguish non-invasively. We hypothesized that echocardiographic signs of pressure reflection (PR) in the pulmonary circulation can be used to diagnose reactive PH. ⋯ Echocardiographic assessment of PR in patients with LHD can be used to identify or exclude reactive PH.