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BACKGROUND: Finding patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) whom revascularization could benefit, is complicated. Myocardial flow reserve (MFR), a measurement of myocardial perfusion, has proven prognostic value on survival and risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). We investigated if MFR identifies who may benefit from revascularization. METHODS: Among 7462 patients from Danish hospitals examined with 82Rb PET between January 2018 and August 2020, patients with ≥5% reversible perfusion defects were followed for MACE and all-cause mortality. Associations between revascularisation (within 90 days) and outcomes according to MFR (< and ≥ 2) was assessed by Cox regression adjusted by inverse probability weighting for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, and 82Rb PET variables. RESULTS: Of 1806 patients with ≥5% reversible perfusion defect, 893 (49%) had MFR < 2 and 491 underwent revascularisation (36.6% in MFR < 2 versus 17.9% MFR ≥ 2, p < 0.001). During a median follow-up of 37.0 [31.0-45.8 IQR] months, 251 experienced a MACE and 173 died. Revascularisation was associated with lower adjusted risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.51 [95% CI, 0.30-0.88], p = 0.015) and MACE (HR, 0.54 [0.33-0.87], p = 0.012) in patients with MFR < 2 but not MFR ≥ 2 for all-cause mortality (HR 1.33 [0.52-3.40], p = 0.542) and MACE (HR 1.50 [0.79-2.84], p = 0.211). MFR significantly modified the association between revascularisation and MACE, but not all-cause mortality (interaction p-value 0.021 and 0.094, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Revascularization was associated with improved prognosis among patients with impaired MFR. No association was seen in patients with normal MFR. In patients with regional ischemia, MFR may identify patients with a prognostic benefit from revascularization.

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BACKGROUND: Dynamic 15O-water PET may provide information about cardiopulmonary circulation complementary to MRI and CT in complex cyanotic heart disease. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case in which a 15O-water PET scan was used for the first time to map the complex circulation in a univentricular heart patient with dual pulmonary blood supply. The pulmonary blood supply consisted of partially oxygenated blood led from the univentricle to the lungs by the pulmonary artery, plus of venous blood from the upper body lead by a bidirectional Glenn anastomosis to the right pulmonary artery. Despite the bidirectional Glenn anastomosis, the patient developed increasing cyanosis and was considered for heart transplantation. Pulmonary perfusion measurements using MRI were inconclusive due to metal artifacts, and the patient was referred for a 15O-water PET scan. The scan showed significant venovenous collaterals bypassing the lungs. Only the left upper lung lobe was properly perfused. The mean transit time from the superior vena cava to the left ventricle was approximately four times longer than would be expected from a healthy person. CONCLUSION: The case illustrates that 15O-water PET can complement CT and MRI for quantitative characterization of cardiopulmonary circulation in complex cyanotic heart disease.

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PURPOSE: The role of cysteinyl containing leukotriene C4, D4 and E4, and eosinophil protein X in interstitial cystitis is unknown. Leukotriene E4, the end product of cysteinyl containing leukotrienes, and eosinophil protein X are markers of the activation of mast cells and eosinophils, respectively. Cysteinyl containing leukotrienes are potent and specific chemoattractants for eosinophils. We compared the urinary excretion of leukotriene E4 and eosinophil protein X in patients with interstitial cystitis and in healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Morning spot urine samples from nine patients with interstitial cystitis who fulfilled National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases criteria were collected on the day of cystoscopy with biopsies. Aliquots of urine specimens were immediately centrifuged and the supernatants were stored at -80C until use. Urine samples from 9 healthy women served as controls. Urinary leukotriene E4 and eosinophil protein X were measured by enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay, respectively. All determinations were performed in duplicate and normalized to urine creatinine. RESULTS: Leukotriene E4 and eosinophil protein X were significantly increased in the morning urine of patients with interstitial cystitis compared with controls. The mean urinary excretion of leukotriene E4 plus or minus standard deviation was 148.8 +/- 62.5 and 62.2 +/- 17.5 ng./mmol. creatinine in patients and controls (p = 0.003), while the mean urinary excretion of eosinophil protein X was 109.7 +/- 70.4 and 43.7 +/- 22.0 microg./mmol. creatinine, respectively (p = 0.01). All urine cultures were negative. The mean mast cell count in detrusor biopsies in the interstitial cystitis group was 41 cells per mm.2 (range 5 to 84). Eosinophilic granulocytes were occasionally observed in the submucosa but not in the detrusor. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that patients with interstitial cystitis and detrusor mastocytosis have increased urinary leukotriene E4 and eosinophil protein X. It is possible that cysteinyl containing leukotrienes and eosinophil protein X are involved in the pathogenesis of interstitial cystitis. Urinary leukotriene E4 and eosinophil protein X may be useful markers for assessing the grade of activation of mast cells and eosinophils in patients with interstitial cystitis and/or for confirming the diagnosis. However, it remains to be investigated whether the increase in urinary leukotriene E4 and eosinophil protein X correlates with interstitial cystitis symptoms.

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PURPOSE: The presence of leukotriene D4 receptors in human detrusor myocytes and increased urinary leukotriene E4 in patients with interstitial cystitis and detrusor mastocytosis imply a role for cysteinyl containing leukotrienes as proinflammatory mediators in this disease. We examined the efficacy of the cysteinyl leukotriene 1 receptor antagonist montelukast for treating patients with interstitial cystitis and detrusor mastocytosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten women in whom interstitial cystitis was diagnosed according to National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases criteria and who also had detrusor mastocytosis with a minimum of 28 mast cells per mm.2 muscle tissue were included in this study. Patients received a single dose of montelukast daily for 3 months. The efficacy of treatment was determined by 24-hour urinary frequency, nocturia and pain using visual analog scales. RESULTS: After 1 month of montelukast treatment there was a statistically significant decrease in 24-hour urinary frequency, nocturia and pain which persisted during the 3 months of treatment. After 3 months 24-hour urinary frequency had decreased from 17.4 to 12 voidings (p = 0.009), nocturia had decreased from 4.5 to 2.8 (p = 0.019) and pain had decreased from 46.8 to 19.6 mm. on a visual analog scale (p = 0.006). No side effects were observed during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Montelukast treatment resulted in significant improvement in urinary frequency and pain. Its efficacy for decreasing urinary frequency and pain imply a role of leukotriene receptor antagonists for managing interstitial cystitis but further placebo controlled clinical studies are needed.

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WF10 is a stabilized chlorite matrix with immunosuppressive effects. In vitro studies have demonstrated its ability to suppress T cells and delay or abolish antigen presentation. Hence, WF10 may prove useful to prolong graft survival after transplantation. In this study, we evaluated the use of high dose WF10 as a single drug regimen in the hamster-to-rat xenotransplantation model and searched for possible cardiotoxic side effects. WF10 prolonged cardiac xenograft survival, but did not induce tolerence or inhibit pathological signs of acute rejection. Hamsters from the donor population, receiving high dose WF10 for 5 days, were compared with a matched control group. Ultrastructural examination of cardiac tissue as well as biochemical analysis of the cardiac enzymes troponin I, myoglobin and MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase showed no signs of damage. Thus, while prolonging graft survival, high dose WF10 seems to be non-cardiotoxic and as such should not contribute to the differential diagnosis of acute graft failure.

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of leukotriene D4 receptors in fura-2-loaded human detrusor smooth muscle cells (DSMCs) by examining the ability of leukotriene D4 to raise intracellular-free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), to determine the origin of the leukotriene D4-mediated rise in [Ca2+]i and to investigate whether the specific leukotriene D4 receptor antagonist montelukast inhibits the Ca2+ response induced by leukotriene D4. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Detrusor muscle biopsies were obtained from patients with benign noninvasive bladder diseases undergoing cystoscopy. DSMCs were isolated using an explant technique and maintained in culture. Only primary cultures or cells passaged up to three times were used for experiments. DSMCs were characterized with immunohistochemical staining and their identity confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. [Ca2+]i was measured in single DSMCs using the Ca2+ probe fura-2 and fluorescence-ratio microscopy. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining showed that 80-99% of the cells were positive for smooth muscle alpha-actin. The ultrastructural features of the cultured cells were those of smooth muscle cells and showed no differentiation in a fibroblastic or myofibroblastic direction. Leukotriene D4 increased the level of [Ca2+]i in a dose-dependent manner. Calcium was mobilized almost exclusively from intracellular Ca2+ stores. There was a dose-dependent inhibition of the increase in [Ca2+]i by montelukast. CONCLUSION: The present study is the first to show the presence of specific leukotriene D4 receptors in human detrusor myocytes. This may have implications for a potential pathophysiological role of leukotriene D4 in patients with interstitial cystitis and other functional or inflammatory bladder disorders.

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To date, immunosuppressive therapy for allograft rejection is based on a generalized inhibition of the recipient's T cells, rendering the individual less resistant to infections and malignancies. In order to change this therapeutic approach towards the induction of specific transplant tolerance, it is essential to identify the cells and molecular pathways involved in direct allorecognition. An in vitro model with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-stimulated human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-L) as targets and allogenic T cells as responders was used to identify donor cells for recipient cellular immunorecognition. HMVEC-L activated purified allogenic T cells in cocultures. This activation was partly mediated by lymphocyte function antigen-3 (LFA-3), but not CD86, as shown by monoclonal antibody (mAb) inhibition. This finding was supported by the expression of LFA-3 antigen, but not CD86, on IFN-gamma-stimulated HMVEC-L. Surprisingly, even in the absence of T-cell proliferation, T cells were capable of enhancing LFA-3 antigen, but not CD86 expression on HMVEC-L. In conclusion, HMVEC-L are capable of direct allostimulation of human T cells, partly through an LFA-3-dependent costimulatory pathway. Since ICAM-1 expression on HMVEC is greatly enhanced by IFN-gamma and T cell coculturing, this molecule may serve as an additional costimulator. A reciprocal HMVEC-L stimulation by allogenic T-cells occurs, even without T-cell proliferation, possibly representing a preproliferative phase. Since this study included a single target as well as responder cell donor, further studies with multiple donors are needed to evaluate possible variations.

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