Citations

Objective To prepare a dermatologic addendum to the 2012 revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides ( CHCC 2012) to address vasculitides affecting the skin (D‐ CHCC ). The goal was to standardize the names and definitions for cutaneous vasculitis. Methods A nominal group technique with a facilitator was used to reach consensus on the D‐ CHCC nomenclature, using multiple face‐to‐face meetings, e‐mail discussions, and teleconferences. Results Standardized names, definitions, and descriptions were adopted for cutaneous components of systemic vasculitides (e.g., cutaneous IgA vasculitis as a component of systemic IgA vasculitis), skin‐limited variants of systemic vasculitides (e.g., skin‐limited IgA vasculitis, drug‐induced skin‐limited antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis), and cutaneous single‐organ vasculitides that have no systemic counterparts (e.g., nodular vasculitis). Cutaneous vasculitides that were not included in the CHCC 2012 nomenclature were introduced. Conclusion Standardized names and definitions are a prerequisite for developing validated classification and diagnostic criteria for cutaneous vasculitis. Accurate identification of specifically defined variants of systemic and skin‐limited vasculitides requires knowledgeable integration of data from clinical, laboratory, and pathologic studies. This proposed nomenclature of vasculitides affecting the skin, the D‐ CHCC , provides a standard framework both for clinicians and for investigators.

Abstract Photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) uses a photon counting detector to count individual photons and allocate them to specific energy bins by comparing photon energy to preset thresholds. This enables simultaneous multi-energy CT with a single source and detector. Phantom studies were performed to assess the spectral performance of a research PCCT scanner by assessing the accuracy of derived images sets. Specifically, we assessed the accuracy of iodine quantification in iodine map images and of CT number accuracy in virtual monoenergetic images (VMI). Vials containing iodine with five known concentrations were scanned on the PCCT scanner after being placed in phantoms representing the attenuation of different size patients. For comparison, the same vials and phantoms were also scanned on 2nd and 3rd generation dual-source, dual-energy scanners. After material decomposition, iodine maps were generated, from which iodine concentration was measured for each vial and phantom size and compared with the known concentration. Additionally, VMIs were generated and CT number accuracy was compared to the reference standard, which was calculated based on known iodine concentration and attenuation coefficients at each keV obtained from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Results showed accurate iodine quantification (root mean square error of 0.5 mgI/cc) and accurate CT number of VMIs (percentage error of 8.9%) using the PCCT scanner. The overall performance of the PCCT scanner, in terms of iodine quantification and VMI CT number accuracy, was comparable to that of EID-based dual-source, dual-energy scanners.

ObjectiveTo confirm prior findings that the larger the maximum monthly increase in solar insolation in springtime, the younger the age of onset of bipolar disorder.MethodData were collected from 5536 patients at 50 sites in 32 countries on six continents. Onset occurred at 456 locations in 57 countries. Variables included solar insolation, birth‐cohort, family history, polarity of first episode and country physician density.ResultsThere was a significant, inverse association between the maximum monthly increase in solar insolation at the onset location, and the age of onset. This effect was reduced in those without a family history of mood disorders and with a first episode of mania rather than depression. The maximum monthly increase occurred in springtime. The youngest birth‐cohort had the youngest age of onset. All prior relationships were confirmed using both the entire sample, and only the youngest birth‐cohort (all estimated coefficientsP< 0.001).ConclusionA large increase in springtime solar insolation may impact the onset of bipolar disorder, especially with a family history of mood disorders. Recent societal changes that affect light exposure (LEDlighting, mobile devices backlit withLEDs) may influence adaptability to a springtime circadian challenge.

Abstract This joint position paper illustrates the role and the correct use of echocardiography, radionuclide imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation and management of patients with known or suspected cardiac sarcoidosis. This position paper will aid in standardizing imaging for cardiac sarcoidosis and may facilitate clinical trials and pooling of multi-centre data on cardiac sarcoidosis. Proposed flow charts for the work up and management of cardiac sarcoidosis are included.

Background— Afterload reduction is a cornerstone in the management of patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction. However, arterial load and the effect of HF therapies on afterload might vary between individuals. Tailoring vasoactive medicines to patients with HF based upon better understanding of arterial afterload may enable better individualization of therapy. Methods and Results— Subjects with HF and reduced ejection fraction underwent aggressive titration of vasoactive HF therapies with assessment of central aortic waveforms analyzed using pulse wave, wave separation, and arterial reservoir models. Clinical response to treatment was assessed using the 6-minute walk test distance, which increased in 25 subjects and decreased or remained unchanged in 13. Subjects with improvement on therapy displayed higher aortic pressure wave pulsatility (central pulse pressure [PP], reflected pressure wave, and reservoir pressure) at study entry compared with subjects without improvement (all P <0.05). Parameters derived by the arterial analysis methods were strongly correlated with one another and displayed similar ability to predict improvement. Aortic pressure pulsatility significantly decreased in subjects with functional improvement, whereas no change was observed in patients without functional improvement ( P for interaction <0.05). These differences in arterial load at baseline and on therapy were not apparent from conventional brachial artery cuff pressure assessments. Conclusions— Increased aortic pressure wave pulsatility and greater decrease in pulsatility on treatment are associated with functional improvement in patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction receiving aggressive vasodilator titration. These differences are not identifiable using brachial cuff pressures. Central aortic waveform analysis may enable better individualization of vasoactive therapies in chronic HF and reduced ejection fraction. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT00588692.

Background: Mitral valve (MV) repair is preferred over replacement in clinical guidelines and is an important determinant of the indication for surgery in degenerative mitral regurgitation. However, the level of evidence supporting current recommendations is low, and recent data cast doubts on its validity in the current era. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to analyze very long-term outcome after MV repair and replacement for degenerative mitral regurgitation with a flail leaflet. Methods: MIDA (Mitral Regurgitation International Database) is a multicenter registry enrolling patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation with a flail leaflet in 6 tertiary European and US centers. We analyzed the outcome after MV repair (n=1709) and replacement (n=213) overall, by propensity score matching, and by inverse probability-of-treatment weighting. Results: At baseline, patients undergoing MV repair were younger, had more comorbidities, and were more likely to present with a posterior leaflet prolapse than those undergoing MV replacement. After propensity score matching and inverse probability-of-treatment weighting, the 2 treatments groups were balanced, and absolute standardized differences were usually <10%, indicating adequate match. Operative mortality (defined as a death occurring within 30 days from surgery or during the same hospitalization) was lower after MV repair than after replacement in both the entire population (1.3% versus 4.7%; P <0.001) and the propensity-matched population (0.2% versus 4.4%; P <0.001). During a mean follow-up of 9.2 years, 552 deaths were observed, of which 207 were of cardiovascular origin. Twenty-year survival was better after MV repair than after MV replacement in both the entire population (46% versus 23%; P <0.001) and the matched population (41% versus 24%; P <0.001). Similar superiority of MV repair was obtained in patient subsets on the basis of age, sex, or any stratification criteria (all P <0.001). MV repair was also associated with reduced incidence of reoperations and valve-related complications. Conclusions: Among patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation with a flail leaflet referred to mitral surgery, MV repair was associated with lower operative mortality, better long-term survival, and fewer valve-related complications compared with MV replacement.

Objective The effects of ticagrelor in the subpopulation of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were consistent with those observed in the overall Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes (PLATO) study. However, this subgroup included patients initially or ultimately treated conservatively. The aim of this study is to compare treatment using ticagrelor with treatment using clopidogrel in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods This post-hoc subgroup analysis compared ticagrelor with clopidogrel in 4949 PLATO patients with STEMI that were treated with primary PCI within 12 h of admission. The primary endpoint was cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke. The safety endpoint consisted of any major bleeding. Secondary endpoints included stent thrombosis. The analysis was not adequately powered to establish significance of any treatment effects. Results During a median of 286 days, the primary endpoint occurred in 7.9% of ticagrelor-treated patients versus 8.6% of clopidogrel-treated patients (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.12, p=0.38). Major bleeding occurred in 6.7% in ticagrelor-treated patients versus 6.8% of clopidogrel-treated patients (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.22, p=0.79). No interactions were observed for the treatment effect of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel on the primary efficacy (p=0.40) and primary safety endpoints (p=0.15) as compared with the full PLATO population. Treatment with ticagrelor versus clopidogrel reduced the occurrence of definite stent thrombosis (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.89, p=0.013). Conclusions In the subset of patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI, ticagrelor compared with clopidogrel was safe, and efficacy outcomes were consistent with the overall PLATO trial. Trial registration number NCT00391872; Results.