Abstract: The present disclosure provides a novel recombinant unidirectional asparagine racemase for the conversion of L-asparagine to D-asparagine. Such unidirectional asparagine racemase could be used in treating cancers (e.g., leukemias or lymphomas) that require exogenous L-asparagine. This innovative design offers a promising new approach to reduce detrimental side effects caused by current therapies.

Abstract: A partial valve prosthesis includes a framework configured for following a shape of a portion of the native valve annulus when implanted into the native valve annulus, the framework including securement features for anchoring the framework to an inner periphery of the native valve annulus and retaining at least one leaflet configured to replace a corresponding one of the plurality of native leaflets; and at least one leaflet secured to the framework. Additional embodiments and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein determine metrics of cardiac performance via a mechanical circulatory support device and use the cardiac performance to calibrate, control and deliver mechanical circulatory support for the heart. The systems include a controller configured to operate the device, receive inputs indicative of device operating conditions and hemodynamic parameters, and determine vascular performance, including vascular resistance and compliance, and native cardiac output. The systems and methods operate by using the mechanical circulatory support device (e.g., a heart pump) to introduce controlled perturbations of the vascular system and, in response, determine heart parameters such as stroke volume, vascular resistance and compliance, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and ultimately determine native cardiac output.

Abstract: A replacement heart valve device is disclosed. In some embodiments, the device includes a frame coupled to one or more leaflets that are moveable between open and closed configurations. In some embodiments, the frame comprises at least two frame sections that join at a pair of commissural posts. In some embodiments, the device may be geometrically accommodating to adapt to different vasculature shapes and sizes and/or to be able to change size while implanted within a growing patient.

Abstract: Drug-eluting devices and methods for the treatment of tumors of the pancreas, biliary system, gallbladder, liver, small bowel, or colon, are provided. Methods include deploying a drug-eluting device having a film which includes a mixture of a degradable polymer and a chemotherapeutic drug, wherein the film has a thickness from about 2 ?m to about 1000 ?m, into a tissue site and releasing a therapeutically effective amount of the chemotherapeutic drug from the film to treat the tumor, wherein the release of the therapeutically effective amount of the drug from the film is controlled by in vivo degradation of the polymer at the tissue site.

Abstract: A replacement heart valve device is disclosed. In some embodiments, the device includes a frame coupled to one or more leaflets that are moveable between open and closed configurations. In some embodiments, the frame comprises at least two frame sections that join at a pair of commissural posts. In some embodiments, the device may be geometrically accommodating to adapt to different vasculature shapes and sizes and/or to be able to change size while implanted within a growing patient.

Abstract: A method for determining material properties of a plurality of tissues in a subject includes receiving a first sequence of cardiovascular images of a region of interest of the subject and a first set of pressure data associated with the first sequence of cardiovascular images and receiving a second sequence of cardiovascular images of the region of interest of the subject and a second set of pressure data associated with the second sequence of cardiovascular images. The method can further include transforming, using a processor, the first sequence of cardiovascular images to a first three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) mesh with heterogeneous material distribution, transforming, using the processor, the second sequence of cardiovascular images to a second 3D FE mesh with heterogeneous material distribution, and performing, using the processor, an iterative optimization process on the first and second 3D FE meshes to determine one or more material properties of at least one of the plurality of tissues.

Abstract: Provided herein are, in various embodiments, methods and compositions of inducing M2-like macrophage morphology. In certain embodiments, a composition comprising a polynucleotide encoding a ring finger protein 41 (RNF41) is contemplated. The disclosure also provides a method of preventing, treating, managing, and/or ameliorating tissue damage in a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the subject has chronic liver disease, chronic liver inflammation, chronic hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, or a combination thereof. In still further embodiments, the subject has undergone liver resection or liver transplantation.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein determine metrics of cardiac or vascular performance, such as cardiac output, and can use the metrics to determine appropriate levels of mechanical circulatory support to be provided to the patient. The systems and methods described determine cardiac performance by determining aortic pressure measurements (or other physiologic measurements) within a single heartbeat or across multiple heartbeats and using such measurements in conjunction with flow estimations or flow measurements made during the single heartbeat or multiple heartbeats to determine the cardiac performance, including determining the cardiac output. By utilizing a mechanical circulatory support system placed within the vasculature, the need to place a separate measurement device within a patient is reduced or eliminated. The system and methods described herein may characterize cardiac performance without altering the operation of the heart pump (e.g., without increasing or decreasing pump speed).

Abstract: A method includes determining, by a computer processor coupled to memory, data associated with a patient, the data comprising a heart rate value, a peak velocity through aortic valve value, and a stroke volume value; generating a flow waveform for the patient using the data; determining a set of candidate vascular impedance (VI) values for the patient based at least in part on the flow waveform, the set of candidate VI values comprising first and second VI values; determining a first pressure waveform using the flow waveform and the first VI value; determining a second pressure waveform using the flow waveform and the second VI value; determining a blood pressure value for the patient; determining that the first pressure waveform is a closer match to the blood pressure value than the second pressure waveform; and determining that the patient has a vascular impedance of the first VI value.

Abstract: A system for completing a medical image having at least one obscured region includes an input for receiving a first classification map generated using an acquired optical coherence tomography (OCT) image having at least one obscured region, the acquired OCT image acquired using an imaging system and a pre-processing module coupled to the input and configured to create an obscured region mask. The pre-processing module also generates a second classification map that has the at least one obscured region filled in. The system also includes a generative network coupled to the pre-processing module and configured to generate a synthetic OCT image based on the second classification map and a post-processing module coupled to the generative network. The post-processing module is configured to receive the synthetic OCT image and the acquired OCT image and to generate a completed image based on the synthetic OCT image and the acquired OCT image.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein determine metrics of cardiac or vascular performance, such as cardiac output, and can use the metrics to determine appropriate levels of mechanical circulatory support to be provided to the patient. The systems and methods described determine cardiac performance by determining aortic pressure measurements (or other physiologic measurements) within a single heartbeat or across multiple heartbeats and using such measurements in conjunction with flow estimations or flow measurements made during the single heartbeat or multiple heartbeats to determine the cardiac performance, including determining the cardiac output. By utilizing a mechanical circulatory support system placed within the vasculature, the need to place a separate measurement device within a patient is reduced or eliminated. The system and methods described herein may characterize cardiac performance without altering the operation of the heart pump (e.g., without increasing or decreasing pump speed).

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein determine metrics of cardiac performance via a mechanical circulatory support device and use the cardiac performance to calibrate, control and deliver mechanical circulatory support for the heart. The systems include a controller configured to operate the device, receive inputs indicative of device operating conditions and hemodynamic parameters, and determine vascular performance, including vascular resistance and compliance, and native cardiac output. The systems and methods operate by using the mechanical circulatory support device (e.g., a heart pump) to introduce controlled perturbations of the vascular system and, in response, determine heart parameters such as stroke volume, vascular resistance and compliance, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and ultimately determine native cardiac output.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein determine metrics of cardiac performance via a mechanical circulatory support device and use the cardiac performance to calibrate, control and deliver mechanical circulatory support for the heart. The systems include a controller configured to operate the device, receive inputs indicative of device operating conditions and hemodynamic parameters, and determine vascular performance, including vascular resistance and compliance, and native cardiac output. The systems and methods operate by using the mechanical circulatory support device (e.g., a heart pump) to introduce controlled perturbations of the vascular system and, in response, determine heart parameters such as stroke volume, vascular resistance and compliance, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and ultimately determine native cardiac output.

Abstract: Drug-eluting devices and methods for the treatment of tumors of the pancreas, biliary system, gallbladder, liver, small bowel, or colon, are provided. Methods include deploying a drug-eluting device having a film which includes a mixture of a degradable polymer and a chemotherapeutic drug, wherein the film has a thickness from about 2 ?m to about 1000 ?m, into a tissue site and releasing a therapeutically effective amount of the chemotherapeutic drug from the film to treat the tumor, wherein the release of the therapeutically effective amount of the drug from the film is controlled by in vivo degradation of the polymer at the tissue site.

Abstract: Drug-eluting devices and methods for the treatment of tumors of the pancreas, biliary system, gallbladder, liver, small bowel, or colon, are provided. Methods include deploying a drug-eluting device having a film which includes a mixture of a degradable polymer and a chemotherapeutic drug, wherein the film has a thickness from about 2 ?m to about 1000 ?m, into a tissue site and releasing a therapeutically effective amount of the chemotherapeutic drug from the film to treat the tumor, wherein the release of the therapeutically effective amount of the drug from the film is controlled by in vivo degradation of the polymer at the tissue site.

Abstract: A method, including: obtaining, by a processor, imaging data from a vessel; detecting, using the processor, an inner wall of the vessel based on the imaging data; identifying, using the processor, a plurality of visible edge portions of an outer wall of the vessel based on the imaging data; fitting, using the processor, a continuous surface model to the plurality of identified visible edge portions of the outer wall; and detecting, using the processor, the outer wall of the vessel based on fitting the continuous surface model to the plurality of identified visible edge portions of the outer wall such that the imaging data has defined therein a wall area between the inner wall and the outer wall of the vessel.

Abstract: A replacement heart valve device is disclosed. In some embodiments, the device includes a frame coupled to one or more leaflets that are moveable between open and closed configurations. In some embodiments, the frame comprises at least two frame sections that join at a pair of commissural posts. In some embodiments, the device may be geometrically accommodating to adapt to different vasculature shapes and sizes and/or to be able to change size while implanted within a growing patient.

Abstract: A replacement heart valve device is disclosed. In some embodiments, the device includes a frame coupled to one or more leaflets that are moveable between open and closed configurations. In some embodiments, the frame comprises at least two frame sections that join at a pair of commissural posts. In some embodiments, the device may be geometrically accommodating to adapt to different vasculature shapes and sizes and/or to be able to change size while implanted within a growing patient.

Abstract: A replacement heart valve device is disclosed. In some embodiments, the device includes a frame coupled to one or more leaflets that are moveable between open and closed configurations. In some embodiments, the frame comprises at least two frame sections that join at a pair of commissural posts. In some embodiments, the device may be geometrically accommodating to adapt to different vasculature shapes and sizes and/or to be able to change size while implanted within a growing patient.