ECENT CLINICAL TRIALS SUGgest that bone marrowderived cell preparations, including mononuclear cells 1-5 and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), [6][7][8] can ameliorate left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with acute 1,3,8 and chronic 2,4,6,9 ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). An important issue in this new field is whether a certain cellular constituent Author Affiliations are listed at the end of this article.

Rationale Transcatheter, intramyocardial injections of bone marrow derived cell therapy produces reverse remodeling in large animal models of ischemic cardiomyopathy. Objective We used cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in patients with LV dysfunction related to remote myocardial infarction (MI) to test the hypothesis that bone marrow progenitor cell injection cause functional recovery of scarred myocardium and reverse remodeling. Methods and Results Eight patients (age 57.2±13.3) received transendocardial, intramyocardial injection of autologous bone marrow progenitor cells (mononuclear or mesenchymal stem cells) in LV scar and border zone. All patients tolerated the procedure with no serious adverse events. CMR at 1-year demonstrated a decrease in end-diastolic volume (208.7±20.4 vs. 167.4±7.32mL; p=0.03), a trend towards decreased end-systolic volume (142.4±16.5 vs. 107.6±7.4mL; p=0.06), decreased infarct size (p<0.05), and improved regional LV function by peak Ecc in the treated infarct zone (-8.1±1.0 vs. -11.4±1.3; p=0.04). Improvements in regional function were evident at 3 months, while the changes in chamber dimensions were not significant until 6 months. Improved regional function in the infarct zone strongly correlated with reduction of EDV (r2=0.69, p=0.04) and ESV (r2=0.83, p=0.01). Conclusions These data suggest that transcatheter, intramyocardial injections of autologous bone marrow progenitor cells improve regional contractility of a chronic myocardial scar and these changes predict subsequent reverse remodeling. The findings support the potential clinical benefits of this new treatment strategy and ongoing randomized clinical trials.

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Rationale Transendocardial Stem Cell Injection (TESI) with mesenchymal stem cells improves remodeling in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy, but the impact of the injection site remains unknown. Objective To address whether TESI exerts its effects at the site of injection only or also in remote areas, we hypothesized that segmental myocardial scar and segmental ejection fraction improve to a greater extent in injected than in non-injected segments. Methods and Results Biplane ventriculographic and endocardial tracings were recorded. TESI was guided to 10 sites in infarct-border zones. Sites were mapped according to the 17-myocardial segment model. As a result, 510 segments were analyzed in 30 patients before and 13-months after TESI. Segmental early enhancement defect (SEED, a measure of scar size) was reduced by TESI in both injected (−43.7±4.4%, n=95, p<0.01) and non-injected segments (−25.1±7.8%, n=148, p<0.001; between group comparison p<0.05). Conversely, segmental ejection fraction (SEF, a measure of contractility) improved in injected scar segments (19.9±3.3 to 26.3±3.5%, p=0.003) but not in non-injected scar segments (21.3±2.6 to 23.5±3.2%, p=0.20, between group comparison p<0.05). In the subgroup of scar segments with baseline SEF<20%, the SEF improvement was even greater in injected segments (12.1±1.2% to 19.9±2.7%, n=18, p=0.003) vs. non-injected segments (13.3±1.3% to 16.1±2.1%, n=15, p=0.05; between group comparison p<0.05). Conclusions These findings illustrate a dichotomy in regional responses to TESI. Although scar reduction was evident at the site of TESI and remotely, ventricular functional responses occurred preferentially at the sites of TESI. Furthermore, improvement was greatest when segmental left ventricular dysfunction was severe.

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Objective While patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices could benefit from magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the presence of such devices has been designated as an absolute contraindication to MR. Although scanning algorithms are proposed for cardiac implantable electronic devices, their safety remains uncertain. To address this issue, the safety of serial cardiac MR scans was evaluated in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Methods Three serial cardiac MR scans were prospectively performed at 1.5 T on 10 patients (9 men) of median age 56 years (range 51–68) with ICDs. ICD interrogation was performed before and after the MR scan and at a follow-up of median 370 days (range 274–723). Image quality was also assessed. Results In all patients MR scanning occurred without complications. There were no differences between preand post-MR pacing capture threshold, pacing lead or high voltage lead impedance, or battery voltage values. During follow-up there were no occurrences of ICD dysfunction. Although most patients had image artifacts, the studies were generally diagnostic regarding left ventricular function and wall motion. Delayed enhancement imaging was of good quality for inferior wall and inferolateral infarcts, but ICD artifacts often affected the imaging of anterior wall infarcts. Conclusion Serial MR scans at 1.5 T in patients with ICDs, when carefully performed in a monitored setting, have no adverse effects on either patient or device. When required, single or multiple MR scans at 1.5 T may therefore be considered for clinical diagnostic purposes in these patients.

Classic galactosemia is caused by impaired galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT EC 2.7.712). If discovered and treated within the first days of life, the acute problems of hepatocellular damage, sepsis, and death are prevented. However, chronic problems such as ataxia, tremor, dyspraxic speech, and ovarian failure may occur. To determine whether screening newborns before discharge from the nursery for GALT deficiency is feasible and whether acute and chronic signs could be prevented by earlier intervention, we developed a simplified "breath test." We quantitated total body oxidation of 13 C-D-galactose to 13 CO 2 in expired air by normal newborns between 2 h and 2 mo of age and compared their results to older children with GALT deficiency. We found no differences in total body galactose oxidation (TBGO) among normal newborns up to 48 h of age, but a 2-fold rise in TBGO developed during their first 2 wk of life. Older children with galactosemia had significantly less oxidative capacity than normal newborns. We conclude that newborn breath testing for total body galactose oxidation is feasible before discharge from nursery. It has potential utility for both preventing acute neonatal toxicity and determining the mechanisms producing long-term complications such as ovarian failure, dyspraxia, ataxia, and tremors. C lassic galactosemia is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT EC 2.7.7.12). The biochemical phenotype is characterized by accumulation of galactose, galactose-1-phosphate, and galactitol in cells, and of excess excretion of galactitol and galactose (1-4). The disease incidence is approximately 1:30,000 live births in the United States (2). If untreated in the first 2 wk of life, poor feeding, jaundice, hepatic failure, Escherichia coli sepsis, and death may occur. We have personal experience with families whose newborns had died (http://www.savebabies.org/diseasedescriptions/galactosemia. php, formally known as, "Tyler for Life Foundation" and personal experience).Despite population-based newborn screening and dietary intervention within 2-3 wk of life, the clinical outcome of patients with classic galactosemia is variable. Long-term complications include premature ovarian failure, dyspraxic speech, short stature, learning disabilities, and cataracts (5-7). In one ex post facto study, outcome was not related to time of treatment (5).Most states in the United States screen for galactosemia by the Beutler Method, which measures GALT in dried blood on filter paper through enzyme-linked fluorescence of NADPH production from glucose-1-phosphate. Some states use total galactose quantization (8,9). The median time for results to be received by a referring physician from public health laboratories is poorly documented nationally but from personal experience varies between 4 and 30 d (9).It is not clear whether this prolonged exposure to excess galactose-1-phosphate produces the chronic effects of galactosemia during fetal developm...

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