Burden of Modifiable Risk Factors in Young-Onset Cryptogenic Ischemic Stroke by High-Risk Patent Foramen Ovale.

Background: The incidence of young-onset ischemic stroke is rising, driven by cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) and patients without vascular risk factors. This study examines the burden and associations of modifiable traditional, nontraditional, and female sex-specific risk factors with young-onset CIS, stratified by clinically relevant patent foramen ovale (PFO), defined by high-risk features of atrial septal aneurysm or large right-to-left shunt.

Methods: We enrolled consecutive patients aged 18 to 49 years with recent CIS and frequency-matched stroke-free controls of the same age and sex from 19 European sites.

Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated target selection for accurate characterization of copy number variants in the LDLR gene.

Introduction: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) affects around 1 in 250 people. Most FH cases are caused by pathogenic LDLR variants, with copy number variations (CNVs) accounting for about 10 %. However, short-read gene panel sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) are limited in the specification of CNV breakpoints and the identification of complex structural variants (SVs).

Association of Left Atrial Stiffness With Risk of Cryptogenic Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults.

Background: Incidence of cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) in young adults is increasing. Early left atrial (LA) myopathy might be 1 of the underlying mechanisms, but this has only been scarcely explored.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between increased LA stiffness and CIS in young adults.

Predicting the In Vivo Performance of Cardiovascular Biomaterials: Current Approaches In Vitro Evaluation of Blood-Biomaterial Interactions.

The therapeutic efficacy of a cardiovascular device after implantation is highly dependent on the host-initiated complement and coagulation cascade. Both can eventually trigger thrombosis and inflammation. Therefore, understanding these initial responses of the body is of great importance for newly developed biomaterials.

The Role of Biodegradable Poly-(L-lactide)-Based Polymers in Blood Cell Activation and Platelet-Monocyte Interaction.

The main purpose of new stent technologies is to overcome unfavorable material-related incompatibilities by producing bio- and hemo-compatible polymers with anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic properties. In this context, wettability is an important surface property, which has a major impact on the biological response of blood cells. However, the influence of local hemodynamic changes also influences blood cell activation.

Methodology for comprehensive cell-level analysis of wound healing experiments using deep learning in MATLAB.

Background: Endothelial healing after deployment of cardiovascular devices is particularly important in the context of clinical outcome. It is therefore of great interest to develop tools for a precise prediction of endothelial growth after injury in the process of implant deployment. For experimental investigation of re-endothelialization in vitro cell migration assays are routinely used.

Platelet apelin receptor expression is reduced in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The G-protein-coupled apelin receptor and its apelin ligand are an emerging regulatory system of the vascular homeostasis. To date, the implications of the apelin/apelin receptor system in athero-thrombosis are not completely clarified yet. This study determines the expression of the apelin receptor on human platelets, the effect of different apelin isoforms on platelet aggregation and the potential role of the apelin/apelin receptor system in acute myocardial infarction.

Acupuncture for Relief of Gag Reflex in Patients Undergoing Transoesophageal Echocardiography-A Protocol for a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Gagging during transesophageal echocardiography examination (TEE) can be distressing and even dangerous for patients. The needling of acupuncture point CV24 was described to be effective in reducing the gag reflex during TEE in patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. We describe a proposal for a prospective, randomized, patient, practitioner and assessor-blinded, single-center trial with two arms/groups; real acupuncture will be compared to placebo acupuncture.

The apelin receptor influences biomechanical and morphological properties of endothelial cells.

The adaption of endothelial cells to local flow conditions is a multifunctional process which leads to distinct alterations in cell shape, the subcellular distribution of structural proteins, and cellular function. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been identified to be fundamentally involved in such processes. Recently, we and others have shown that the expression of the endothelial GPCR apelin receptor (APJ) is regulated by fluid flow and that activation of APJ participates in signaling pathways which are related to processes of mechanotransduction.

Statins are related to impaired exercise capacity in males but not females.

Background: Exercise and statins reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD). Exercise capacity may be assessed using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Whether statin medication is associated with CPET parameters is unclear.

Impact of atrial fibrillation detected by extended monitoring-A population-based cohort study.

Background: The clinical relevance of extended monitoring of AF in the general population is unclear. The study evaluated the detection of AF using transtelephonic electrocardiography and the clinical relevance of additional AF findings, especially with regard to stroke risk and mortality.

Methods: The data of 1678 volunteers participating in the tele-ECG-subproject of the Study of Health in Pomerania was evaluated.

Biodegradable Polymers Influence the Effect of Atorvastatin on Human Coronary Artery Cells.

Drug-eluting stents (DES) have reduced in-stent-restenosis drastically. Yet, the stent surface material directly interacts with cascades of biological processes leading to an activation of cellular defense mechanisms. To prevent adverse clinical implications, to date almost every patient with a coronary artery disease is treated with statins.

The soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat and the soluble guanylate cyclase activator cinaciguat exert no direct effects on contractility and relaxation of cardiac myocytes from normal rats.

In cardiovascular diseases, reduced responsiveness of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) to nitric oxide (NO) upon long-term application has led to the development of NO-independent sGC stimulators (heme-dependent) and sGC activators (heme-independent). Any direct inotropic or lusitropic effects of these compounds on isolated cardiac myocytes, however, remain to be elucidated. Here, we analyzed the dose-dependent effects of clinical relevant concentrations (10(-10)-10(-5) M) of the sGC activator cinaciguat and the sGC stimulator riociguat on the contraction, relaxation, and calcium transients of isolated field-stimulated cardiac myocytes from healthy rats.

Regulation of the endothelial apelin/APJ system by hemodynamic fluid flow.

Although the apelin/APJ system is abundantly expressed in vascular endothelial cells (EC), it has not yet been considered to be regulated by fluid flow. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of shear stress on the expression of apelin/APJ in human EC. Therefore, gene and protein expression were assessed after flow exposure; cell supernatants were collected for measurements of NO and apelin; APJ or apelin knockdown were performed using siRNA.

New stent surface materials: the impact of polymer-dependent interactions of human endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and platelets.

Despite the development of new coronary stent technologies, in-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis are still clinically relevant. Interactions of blood and tissue cells with the implanted material may represent an important cause of these side effects. We hypothesize material-dependent interaction of blood and tissue cells.

Site-selective immobilization of anti-CD34 antibodies to poly(l-lactide) for endovascular implant surfaces.

Aiming at a speed up of the re-endothelialization process of biodegradable endovascular implants, novel approaches for the functionalization of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) with anti-CD34 antibodies were established. We propose a three-step process involving PLLA surface activation with functional amino groups, attachment of a protein repelling peptide spacer, and covalent random or site-selective immobilization of the antibodies. Obtainable antibody surface densities and antigen binding capacities were thoroughly evaluated by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Evaluation of transmitral pressure gradients in the intraoperative echocardiographic diagnosis of mitral stenosis after mitral valve repair.

Objective: Acute mitral stenosis (MS) following mitral valve (MV) repair is a rare but severe complication. We hypothesize that intraoperative echocardiography can be utilized to diagnose iatrogenic MS immediately after MV repair.

Methods: The medical records of 552 consecutive patients undergoing MV repair at a single institution were reviewed.