Primary carcinoma of gallbladder in Yazd, Iran: A 14-year study (1992–2006)

Aim: To investigate the clinico‐pathological profile and stage of disease at presentation of patients with carcinoma of the gallbladder diagnosed during 1992–2006 in Iran. Methods: During this study period 34 consecutive patients with gallbladder carcinoma were identified using a pathology‐based tumor database. The data extracted for each study patient included their gender, age at diagnosis, signs and symptoms, presence of gallstones and histopathological pattern of the gallbladder carcinoma and the UICC/AJCC TNM staging system was used for labeling the stages of the disease. Results: The median age of the 34 patients studied was 69.50 with most between 61 and 70 years of age. The age range of the men was between 53 and 80 years with a median age of 71.50 years and that of the women was between 33 and 79 years with a median age of 68.50 years. The most common symptom was pain in the right hypochondrium. More women had gallstones (15/34) than men (3/10). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histopathological type (91.18%) with the commonest subtype being papillary (47.06%). Eighteen patients had stage IB and stage IIA (52.94%) carcinomas whereas stages IIB and III were observed in six (17.6%) and seven cases (20.6%), respectively. Only three cases (8.82%) were seen in stage IV. The follow up of gall bladder carcinoma (GBC) patients in this study ranged from 6 to 60 months. However, there was a progressive reduction of patients attending follow‐up oncology clinic, particularly by those who had stages III and IV of the disease. Conclusion: Most patients (52.94%) presented with early disease (stage IB and IIA) which carries a good prognosis. Early detection of GBC and a national consensus for the evidence‐based management of GBC in Iran should be the major components of a strategy aimed at improving therapeutic outcome.     

Ventricular Tachycardia/Ventricular Fibrillation Ablation in the Setting of Ischemic Heart Disease

Recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) in the setting of coronary artery disease is frequently a life-threatening electrophysiologic emergency. Even in patients with an implantable defibrillator, recurrent VT is frequently accompanied by repeated and disabling shock therapy. Catheter ablative therapy offers the ability to provide immediate control of recurrent VT. Long-term elimination of VT should be anticipated in most patients. This article reviews the strategies, tools, techniques, and expected outcome for catheter ablation of stable and unstable ventricular arrhythmias in the setting ischemic heart disease.     

Integration of Merged Delayed‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Multidetector Computed Tomography for the Guidance of Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation: A Pilot Study

MDCT/MRI Fusion for the Guidance of VT Ablation . Background: Delayed enhancement (DE) MRI can assess the fibrotic substrate of scar‐related VT. MDCT has the advantage of inframillimetric spatial resolution and better 3D reconstructions. We sought to evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of integrating merged MDCT/MRI data in 3D‐mapping systems for structure–function assessment and multimodal guidance of VT mapping and ablation. Methods: Nine patients, including 3 ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), 3 nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), 2 myocarditis, and 1 redo procedure for idiopathic VT, underwent MRI and MDCT before VT ablation. Merged MRI/MDCT data were integrated in 3D‐mapping systems and registered to high‐density endocardial and epicardial maps. Low‐voltage areas (<1.5 mV) and local abnormal ventricular activities (LAVA) during sinus rhythm were correlated to DE at MRI, and wall‐thinning (WT) at MDCT. Results: Endocardium and epicardium were mapped with 391 ± 388 and 1098 ± 734 points per map, respectively. Registration of MDCT allowed visualization of coronary arteries during epicardial mapping/ablation. In the idiopathic patient, integration of MRI data identified previously ablated regions. In ICM patients, both DE at MRI and WT at MDCT matched areas of low voltage (overlap 94 ± 6% and 79 ± 5%, respectively). In NICM patients, wall‐thinning areas matched areas of low voltage (overlap 63 ± 21%). In patients with myocarditis, subepicardial DE matched areas of epicardial low voltage (overlap 92 ± 12%). A total number of 266 LAVA sites were found in 7/9 patients. All LAVA sites were associated to structural substrate at imaging (90% inside, 100% within 18 mm). Conclusion: The integration of merged MDCT and DEMRI data is feasible and allows combining substrate assessment with high‐spatial resolution to better define structure–function relationship in scar‐related VT. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 24, pp. 419‐426, April 2013)     

Beyond the Coronary Angiogram: Further Evaluation of the Coronary Vasculature and Endothelial Function

Coronary artery disease is a progressive and diffuse process. The focus in the past decade was on the late stage of coronary atherosclerosis, with efforts being devoted to the development of thrombolytic drugs and sophisticated interventional devices. However, in spite of the success in decreasing morbidity and mortality from coronary atherosclerosis, the disease process continues. Early diagnosis and treatment of patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease, may prevent the development of unstable angina and myocardial infarction. It has become apparent that the endothelium is the primary target and/or participant in the early stages of coronary atherosclerosis. The endothelium is as an active paracrine organ capable of regulating coronary vascular tone as well as the atherosclerotic and restenosis process by releasing vasorelaxing factors with antiproliferative activity and vasoconstricting and growth factors. During the evolution of coronary atherosclerosis endothelial dysfunction occurs, which is characterized by attenuated release and activity of endothelium derived vasorelaxing factors and enhanced release of vasoconstricting factors. The goal of cardiology is to develop diagnostic methods and treatment for these patients who present to us with cardiac symptoms and nonobstructive coronary artery disease. This article will review the current knowledge of endothelial function as it applies to coronary circulation and describe a clinical approach to the patient with suspected coronary disease and a normal coronary angiogram. (J Interven Cardiol 1996;9:153–161)     

The Influence of Sodium Channel Blockade on the Defibrillation Energy Requirements of Diphasic Versus Monophasic Shocks

The sodium channel-blocking actions of some Class I antiarrhythmic agents can increase the defibrillation energy requirements (DER) of monophasic shock waveforms. The influence of sodium channel blockade on biphasic shocks is less certain. The purpose of this study was to compare, in a randomized, placebo controlled study, the influence of lidocaine on the DER of biphasic and monophasic shock waveforms in a canine model of transvenous internal defibrillation. The DER was determined by the iterative increment-decrement protocol. Monophasic and biphasic shock DERs were tested at baseline and during lidocaine infusion (group A) or saline control (group B). Group A biphasic shock DERs increased significantly from a baseline of 12.1 ± 3.6 J to 19.1 ± 9.3 J when compared to group B (P = 0.005). In group A, the mean DER during lidocaine was significantly higher with monophasic shocks than biphasic shocks (29.6 ± 11.8 f vs 19.1 ± 9.3), respectively: P < 0.003), but the magnitude of change in biphasic versus monophasic shock DERs was not significantly different (F = 1.78; p = 0.193). There was a linear relationship between the baseline DER and the DER during lidocaine (r²= 0.63, P < 0.0001). Sodium channel blockade with lidocaine increases the DER of both monophasic and biphasic shocks. However, the DER of biphasic shocks during lidocaine are significantly lower than monophasic shock DERs, a finding that can be explained by the linear relationship between the baseline DER and the DER during lidocaine. These results may have favorable implications for the use of Class I antiarrhythmics with biphasic shock defibrillators.     

One‐Year Follow‐Up of Nonrandomized Comparison between Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery and Drug‐Eluting Stent for the Treatment of Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease in Elderly Patients (Aged ≥75 Years)

Purpose: The present observational study compares in‐hospital and 12‐month clinical outcomes in elderly patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease treated either with coronary artery bypass grafting or drug‐eluting stent. Methods: From January 2004 to December 2007, 211 patients (pts) with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis, aged 75 or older, underwent coronary revascularization either with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (106 pts) or drug‐eluting stent (DES) (105 pts). The decision to treat with CABG or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was dependent on the patient's and the physician's choice. The occurrence of major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE: death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or stroke) and revascularizations was recorded after 1 year of follow‐up. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using a propensity score method to take potential baseline differences between groups into account. Results: In‐hospital MACCE rates were 5.7% and 3.8% in the CABG and PCI groups, respectively (P = 0.748). After 1 year of follow‐up, these rates were, respectively, 13.9% and 14.9% (P = 0.841), and rates for target vessel revascularization at 12 months were 1.0% and 13.9% (P < 0.001). The PCI group was significantly associated with older age, dyslipidemia, history of cancer, high Euroscore, elevated creatininemia, single‐vessel disease, fewer chronic occlusions of the left anterior descending artery, and more LMCA stenosis ≥70%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was adjusted for age, diabetes, left ventricular ejection fraction, Euroscore, and plasma creatininemia and stratified on the score of propensity to be treated with PCI. In the subgroup below median propensity score, the adjusted odds ratio for 1‐year MACCE was OR = 0.91 (95% confidence interval: 0.14 to 5.98; P = 0.924) whereas OR was 0.16 (0.04–0.69; P = 0.013) in the subgroup above median propensity score. Conclusions: In patients with a high probability of being treated with PCI (older age, high Euroscore, high creatininemia, single‐vessel disease, …), the 1‐year risk of MACCE was significantly lower in PCI‐ than in CABG‐treated subjects. No significant difference was found in other cases.