The rapid technological developments of the past decade and the changes in echocardiographic practice brought about by these developments have resulted in the need for updated recommendations to the previously published guidelines for cardiac chamber quantification, which was the goal of the joint writing group assembled by the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging. This document provides updated normal values for all four cardiac chambers, including three-dimensional echocardiography and myocardial deformation, when possible, on the basis of considerably larger numbers of normal subjects, compiled from multiple databases. In addition, this document attempts to eliminate several minor discrepancies that existed between previously published guidelines.

https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/5953422/file/5953443.pdf

Recommendations for cardiac chamber quantification by echocardiography in adults: an update from the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging.

Randomised trial of cholesterol lowering in 4444 patients with coronary heart disease: the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S)

ContextAbout 5% of the US population is morbidly obese. This disease remains
largely refractory to diet and drug therapy, but generally responds well to
bariatric surgery.ObjectiveTo determine the impact of bariatric surgery on weight loss, operative
mortality outcome, and 4 obesity comorbidities (diabetes, hyperlipidemia,
hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea).Data Sources and Study SelectionElectronic literature search of MEDLINE, Current Contents, and the Cochrane
Library databases plus manual reference checks of all articles on bariatric
surgery published in the English language between 1990 and 2003. Two levels
of screening were used on 2738 citations.Data ExtractionA total of 136 fully extracted studies, which included 91 overlapping
patient populations (kin studies), were included for a total of 22 094
patients. Nineteen percent of the patients were men and 72.6% were women,
with a mean age of 39 years (range, 16-64 years). Sex was not reported for
1537 patients (8%). The baseline mean body mass index for 16 944 patients
was 46.9 (range, 32.3-68.8).Data SynthesisA random effects model was used in the meta-analysis. The mean (95%
confidence interval) percentage of excess weight loss was 61.2% (58.1%-64.4%)
for all patients; 47.5% (40.7%-54.2%) for patients who underwent gastric banding;
61.6% (56.7%-66.5%), gastric bypass; 68.2% (61.5%-74.8%), gastroplasty; and
70.1% (66.3%-73.9%), biliopancreatic diversion or duodenal switch. Operative
mortality (≤30 days) in the extracted studies was 0.1% for the purely restrictive
procedures, 0.5% for gastric bypass, and 1.1% for biliopancreatic diversion
or duodenal switch. Diabetes was completely resolved in 76.8% of patients
and resolved or improved in 86.0%. Hyperlipidemia improved in 70% or more
of patients. Hypertension was resolved in 61.7% of patients and resolved or
improved in 78.5%. Obstructive sleep apnea was resolved in 85.7% of patients
and was resolved or improved in 83.6% of patients.ConclusionsEffective weight loss was achieved in morbidly obese patients after
undergoing bariatric surgery. A substantial majority of patients with diabetes,
hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea experienced complete
resolution or improvement.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/articlepdf/199587/JRV40082.pdf

Bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Context.—Observational studies have found lower rates of coronary heart disease
(CHD) in postmenopausal women who take estrogen than in women who do not,
but this potential benefit has not been confirmed in clinical trials.Objective.—To determine if estrogen plus progestin therapy alters the risk for
CHD events in postmenopausal women with established coronary disease.Design.—Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled secondary prevention trial.Setting.—Outpatient and community settings at 20 US clinical centers.Participants.—A total of 2763 women with coronary disease, younger than 80 years,
and postmenopausal with an intact uterus. Mean age was 66.7 years.Intervention.—Either 0.625 mg of conjugated equine estrogens plus 2.5 mg of medroxyprogesterone
acetate in 1 tablet daily (n=1380) or a placebo of identical appearance (n=1383).
Follow-up averaged 4.1 years; 82% of those assigned to hormone treatment were
taking it at the end of 1 year, and 75% at the end of 3 years.Main Outcome Measures.—The primary outcome was the occurrence of nonfatal myocardial infarction
(MI) or CHD death. Secondary cardiovascular outcomes included coronary revascularization,
unstable angina, congestive heart failure, resuscitated cardiac arrest, stroke
or transient ischemic attack, and peripheral arterial disease. All-cause mortality
was also considered.Results.—Overall, there were no significant differences between groups in the
primary outcome or in any of the secondary cardiovascular outcomes: 172 women
in the hormone group and 176 women in the placebo group had MI or CHD death
(relative hazard [RH], 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-1.22). The
lack of an overall effect occurred despite a net 11% lower low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol level and 10% higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level
in the hormone group compared with the placebo group (each P<.001). Within the overall null effect, there was a statistically
significant time trend, with more CHD events in the hormone group than in
the placebo group in year 1 and fewer in years 4 and 5. More women in the
hormone group than in the placebo group experienced venous thromboembolic
events (34 vs 12; RH, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.50-5.58) and gallbladder disease (84
vs 62; RH, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.00-1.92). There were no significant differences
in several other end points for which power was limited, including fracture,
cancer, and total mortality (131 vs 123 deaths; RH, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.84-1.38).Conclusions.—During an average follow-up of 4.1 years, treatment with oral conjugated
equine estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone acetate did not reduce the overall
rate of CHD events in postmenopausal women with established coronary disease.
The treatment did increase the rate of thromboembolic events and gallbladder
disease. Based on the finding of no overall cardiovascular benefit and a pattern
of early increase in risk of CHD events, we do not recommend starting this
treatment for the purpose of secondary prevention of CHD. However, given the
favorable pattern of CHD events after several years of therapy, it could be
appropriate for women already receiving this treatment to continue.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/articlepdf/187879/JOC80678.pdf

Randomized Trial of Estrogen Plus Progestin for Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Postmenopausal Women

BackgroundEvolocumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by approximately 60%. Whether it prevents cardiovascular events is uncertain. MethodsWe conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 27,564 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and LDL cholesterol levels of 70 mg per deciliter (1.8 mmol per liter) or higher who were receiving statin therapy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive evolocumab (either 140 mg every 2 weeks or 420 mg monthly) or matching placebo as subcutaneous injections. The primary efficacy end point was the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, or coronary revascularization. The key secondary efficacy end point was the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. The median duration of follow-up was 2.2 years. ResultsAt 48 weeks, the ...

/pdf/evolocumab-and-clinical-outcomes-in-patients-with-288ao7yhy6.pdf

Evolocumab and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

An objective method to quantitate thrombogenicity of various artificial surfaces is described. A flow cell is connected to the arterial system of an animal, and blood is withdrawn at a predetermined rate. Deposition of formed elements and production of fibrin can be observed by a microscope or dark-field cinephotomicrography. Materials tested were glass (uncoated), silicone, paraffin, benzalkonium-heparin (BH), and stearic acid coated glass. The BH complex showed marked nonthrombogenic properties but stearic acid appeared somewhat superior and did not significantly leach.

Flow cell evaluation of nonthrombogenic materials.

In an experimental angioplasty study in dogs, we evaluated the characteristics of dilatation and deformation, as well as the pressure requirements, bursting points, and types of bursting of four different balloon dilatation catheters. The balloons, which were selected 0%, 30%, and 80-100% larger than the arterial lumen, measured 4, 6, and 8 mm in diameter and were inflated with an automated pump which simultaneously recorded balloon pressure and volume. Changes to the vessel wall were assessed radiographically and by histology. In vivo, balloon dilatation catheters demonstrated a markedly different behaviour than in vitro. Significantly higher pressures were tolerated due to the support of the arterial sleeve. Non-compliant oversized balloons caused more damage to the arterial wall than compliant ones. Oversized balloons attained their required diameters only with high inflation pressures of 10 to 12 atm or after rupture of the artery.

[Expansion, deformation and bursting characteristics of frequently used balloon dilatation catheters. In vivo studies on canine vessels (2)].

Spring coils for vessel occlusion were modified to include a screw-on attachment for delivery wire, which permitted safe and accurate placement of the coils. We successfully implanted coils in a dog and a lamb. They were easily retrieved from within the delivery catheters and the vessels, which is not possible with conventional coils. Coil design is described.

Detachable steel spring coils for vessel occlusion.

Percutaneous decompression of the biliary system is a useful and well established procedure which can be carried out with negligible risk and may be of great benefit to the patient. The main indications are pre-operative decompression and primarily decompression of patients with inoperable obstructive neoplastic disease. In order to provide drainage, the catheter should be advanced under fluoroscopic control into one of the major radicles ore preferably into the distal common duct beyond the point of obstruction. This ideal internal drainage into the duodenum was accomplished in the reported patient with sclerosing cholangitis who was markedly improved by this procedure.

Percutaneous transhepatic drainage catheter: a valuable therapeutic aid in obstructive jaundice.

Ten children with surgically corrected transposition were studied angiographically in order to delineate anatomical details of the altered atrial anatomy The surgically created V-shaped tunnel from the superior vena cava to the mitral valve was clearly delineated and found to be invariably narrowed at its superior limb In spite of the angiographic appearance of notable stenosis, a significant pressure difference was recorded in only one patient Both atrial appendages attach to the venous atrium; obstruction on the pulmonary venous side was never seen

Kurt Amplatz

Papers

Flow cell evaluation of nonthrombogenic materials.

[Expansion, deformation and bursting characteristics of frequently used balloon dilatation catheters. In vivo studies on canine vessels (2)].

Detachable steel spring coils for vessel occlusion.

Percutaneous transhepatic drainage catheter: a valuable therapeutic aid in obstructive jaundice.

The angiographic appearance of the heart following the Mustard procedure.