Citations

Abstract Background Choosing the appropriate animal model for development of novel technologies requires an understanding of anatomy and physiology of these different models. There are little data about the characteristics of different animal models for the study of technologies used for epicardial ablation. We aimed to compare the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias during epicardial radiofrequency ablation between swine and canine models using novel epicardial ablation catheters. Methods We conducted a retrospective study using data obtained from epicardial ablation experiments performed on swine ( Sus Scrofa ) and canine ( Canis familiaris ) models. We compared the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias during ablation between swine and canine using multivariate regression analysis. Six swine and six canine animals underwent successful epicardial radiofrequency ablation. A total of 103 ablation applications were recorded. Results Ventricular arrhythmias requiring cardioversion occurred in 13.11% of radiofrequency ablation applications in swine and 9.75% in canine (relative risk: 117.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 83.97‐164.69, animal‐based odds ratio [OR]: .55, 95% CI: .23‐61.33; P = .184). When adjusting for application position, duration of ablation and power, the odds of developing potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmia in swine increased significantly compared to canine (OR: 3.60, 95% CI: 1.35‐9.55; P = .010). Conclusions The swine myocardium is more susceptible to developing ventricular arrhythmias compared to canine model during epicardial ablation. This issue should be carefully considered in future studies.

Abstract Background and Aims Inflammation of the pouch after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) can significantly impact quality of life and be difficult to treat. We assessed the effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab in Crohn’s disease (CD) of the pouch and chronic antibiotic-dependent or antibiotic-refractory pouchitis. Methods This was a retrospective, multicenter cohort study at 5 academic referral centers in the United States. Adult patients with endoscopic inflammation of the pouch who received vedolizumab were included. The primary outcome was clinical response at any time point. Secondary outcomes included clinical remission, endoscopic response, and remission. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed for the effect of the following variables on clinical response: fistula, onset of pouchitis less than 1 year after IPAA, younger than 35 years old, gender, previous tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-alpha use, and BMI >30. Results Eighty-three patients were treated with vedolizumab for inflammation of the pouch between January 2014 and October 2017. Median follow-up was 1.3 years (interquartile range 0.7–2.1). The proportion of patients that achieved at least a clinical response was 71.1%, with 19.3% achieving clinical remission. Of the 74 patients with a follow-up pouchoscopy, the proportion of patients with endoscopic response and mucosal healing was 54.1% and 17.6%, respectively. Patients who developed pouchitis symptoms less than 1 year after undergoing IPAA were less likely to respond to vedolizumab, even after controlling for other risk factors. Conclusions Vedolizumab is safe and effective in the management of CD of the pouch and chronic pouchitis. Further studies are needed to compare vedolizumab with other biologic therapies for pouchitis and CD of the pouch.

Abstract Background This study evaluated the association between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and cognition in patients receiving memantine for prevention of cognitive dysfunction during whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Methods Adult patients with brain metastases received WBRT and were randomized to receive placebo or memantine, 20 mg per day, within 3 days of initiating radiotherapy, for 24 weeks. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain module (FACT-Br) and Medical Outcomes Scale-Cognitive Functioning Scale (MOS-C) were completed in coordination with serial standardized tests of cognitive function. Results Of the 508 eligible patients, 442 (87%) consented to participate in the HRQOL portion and contributed to baseline analyses. Evaluable patients at 24 weeks (n = 246) included surviving patients completing FACT-Br, MOS-C, and objective cognitive assessments (n = 146, 59%) and patients alive at time of missed assessment (n = 100, 41%). Baseline cognitive function correlated significantly with FACT-Br and MOS-C self-reports. All domains of objective cognitive function showed declines over time. Neither FACT-Br nor MOS-C differed between the treatment arms. Emotional and functional well-being subscales of the FACT improved over time while the remainder of the FACT-Br domains remained stable. MOS-C scores declined over time. Conclusion Baseline cognitive function correlated significantly with FACT-Br and MOS-C scores. No by-arm differences in HRQOL were observed despite differences in objective cognitive function. Patient attrition and poor testing compliance remain significant problems in studies of cognitive function of brain metastases patients and further effort is needed to improve compliance with testing and sensitivity of patient-reported measures.

AbstractBackgroundImplantable loop recorders (ILRs) are effective in achieving symptom‐rhythm correlation. However, diagnostic yield in routine clinical practice is not well established.MethodsPatients undergoing ILR implantation between April 2010 and May 2015 were included. All devices were enrolled in remote monitoring with automatic arrhythmia detection and P sense algorithms switched “ON.” Symptom‐rhythm correlation was assessed and changes in management were recorded.ResultsA total of 312 patients (57% male, age 53 ± 22 years; median CHADS2VaSc score = 1) were included in this study. ILRs were implanted for evaluation of syncope in 206 (66.0%), presyncope in 23 (7.4%), unexplained palpitations in 51 (16.3%), and cryptogenic stroke in 27 (8.7%) patients. ILR monitoring yielded a diagnosis that changed management strategy in 146 (46.8%) patients over a median of 12 (1‐42) months. Out of 163 (52.2%) patients with symptoms during the monitoring period, 100 (61.3%) had an arrhythmia. ILR was useful in ruling out an arrhythmic cause for symptoms in 63 (38.7%) patients. ILR results led to pacemaker implantation in 23 patients (7.4% overall and 11.2% of those with syncope) after median follow‐up of 3 months. A new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation was made in 38 (12.2%) patients, 11 of whom were initiated on oral anticoagulants. ILR results led to pacemaker implantation in 31 patients (9.9% overall and 19.0% of those with syncope) after median follow‐up of 3 months. A new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation was made in 38 (12.2%) patients, nine of whom were initiated on oral anticoagulants. Overall, ILR led to a change in management in 47% patients with a number needed to implant of 2.1 to change management.ConclusionILR monitoring is effective in achieving symptom‐rhythm correlation and results in changes in management in nearly half of implanted patients. Additional studies are needed to evaluate cost efficacy of ILR and the optimal monitoring duration.

The optimal antithrombotic treatment regimen for patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation represents a challenge in clinical practice. In 2016, an updated opinion of selected experts from the United States and Canada on the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention was reported. After the 2016 North American consensus statement on the management of antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, results of pivotal clinical trials assessing the type of oral anticoagulant agent and the duration of antiplatelet treatment have been published. On the basis of these results, this focused update on the antithrombotic management of patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention recommends that a non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant be preferred over a vitamin K antagonist as the oral anticoagulant of choice. Moreover, a double-therapy regimen (oral anticoagulant plus single antiplatelet therapy with a P2Y 12 inhibitor) by the time of hospital discharge should be considered for most patients, whereas extending the use of aspirin beyond hospital discharge (ie, triple therapy) should be considered only for selected patients at high ischemic/thrombotic and low bleeding risks and for a limited period of time. The present document provides a focused updated on the rationale for the new expert consensus–derived recommendations on the antithrombotic management of patients with atrial fibrillation treated with oral anticoagulation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.