Bioresorbable Scaffolds versus Metallic Stents in Routine PCI.

Background: Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds were developed to overcome the shortcomings of drug-eluting stents in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We performed an investigator-initiated, randomized trial to compare an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffold with an everolimus-eluting metallic stent in the context of routine clinical practice.

Methods: We randomly assigned 1845 patients undergoing PCI to receive either a bioresorbable vascular scaffold (924 patients) or a metallic stent (921 patients).

Combined optical coherence tomography morphologic and fractional flow reserve hemodynamic assessment of non- culprit lesions to better predict adverse event outcomes in diabetes mellitus patients: COMBINE (OCT-FFR) prospective study. Rationale and design.

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a widely used tool for the identification of ischaemia-generating stenoses and to guide decisions on coronary revascularisation. However, the safety of FFR-based decisions in high-risk subsets, such as patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) or vulnerable stenoses presenting thin-cap fibro-atheroma (TCFA), is unknown. This study will examine the impact of optical coherence tomography (OCT) plaque morphological assessment and the identification of TCFA, in combination with FFR to better predict clinical outcomes in DM patients.

Rationale and design of the ARCUS: Effects of trAnsRadial perCUtaneouS coronary intervention on upper extremity function.

Objective: The aim of this study is to provide a complete insight in the access-site morbidity and upper extremity function after Transradial Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (TR-PCI).

Background: In percutaneous coronary intervention the Transradial Approach (TRA) is gaining popularity as a default technique. It is a very promising technique with respect to post-procedure complications, but the exact effects of TRA on upper extremity function are unknown.

Final results of a self-apposing paclitaxel-eluting stent fOr the PErcutaNeous treatment of de novo lesions in native bifurcated coronary arteries study.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of the STENTYS self-apposing paclitaxeleluting stent (STENTYS-PES) in bifurcation lesions in routine clinical practice.

Methods And Results: The primary endpoint of the study was the composite major adverse cardiac events (MACE: cardiac death, myocardial infarction, clinically driven target lesion revascularisation, or emergent bypass surgery) assessed at six months after enrolment. This was reported in 21 patients (10.

First-in-man evaluation of the novel balloon delivery system STENTYS Xposition S for the self-apposing coronary artery stent: impact on longitudinal geographic miss during stenting.

Aims: A novel balloon delivery system (BDS) for the self-apposing STENTYS sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) has been developed for highly precise longitudinal stent positioning and deployment. The aim of this first-in-man study is to report the quantitative coronary analysis (QCA) angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) results as well as the 30-day clinical outcomes of the STENTYS Xposition S SES.

Methods And Results: We included 25 patients (mean age 66.

One-year clinical outcomes of the STENTYS Self-Apposing¨ coronary stent in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: results from the APPOSITION III registry.

Aims: The aim of APPOSITION III was to evaluate the feasibility and performance of the STENTYS Self-Apposing¨ stent (STENTYS S.A., Paris, France) in the setting of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Lack of long-term clinical benefit of thrombus aspiration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention with paclitaxel-eluting stents or bare-metal stents: post-hoc analysis of the PASSION-trial.

Background: Although current clinical guidelines recommend the use of thrombus aspiration (TA) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), previous studies evaluating TA demonstrated contradictory results. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term clinical outcome after TA in adjunct to PPCI for acute ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI), as compared with conventional treatment, with the use of paclitaxel-eluting stents or bare-metal stents.

Methods: We analyzed data of the PASSION trial, in which 619 patients with STEMI were randomly assigned to a paclitaxel-eluting stent or a bare-metal stent.

A randomized comparison of manual versus mechanical thrombus removal in primary percutaneous coronary intervention in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (TREAT-MI).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and long-term clinical outcome of manual thrombus aspiration with the Export catheter (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) versus mechanical thrombus cutting/aspiration with the X-sizer system (eV3, White Bear Lake, MN) in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Background: In PPCI for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), markers of myocardial reperfusion are improved with adjunctive thrombectomy. Previous studies of different devices showed a variability in performance, suitability, and short-term clinical outcome.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention by magnetic navigation compared with conventional wire technique.

Aims Comparison of magnetic guidewire navigation in percutaneous coronary intervention (MPCI) vs. conventional percutaneous coronary intervention (CPCI) for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Methods and results We compared 65 sequential patients (mean age 61 ± 15 years) undergoing primary MPCI with those of 405 patients undergoing CPCI (mean age 61 ± 13 years).

Magnetically navigated percutaneous coronary intervention in distal and/or complex lesions may improve procedural outcome and material consumption.

Aims: Comparison of magnetic guidewire navigation in percutaneous coronary intervention (magnetic PCI) across distal and/or complex lesions versus conventional navigation (conventional PCI).

Methods And Results: Forty-seven consecutive patients (age 61 +/- 10 yr) undergoing elective single vessel magnetic PCI for distal and/or complex lesions were matched by age and lesion location with 45 patients undergoing conventional PCI (age 63 +/- 10 yr). Technical success rate was defined as an intraluminal wire position distal to the stenosis.

Circulating white blood cells and platelets amplify oxidative stress in heart failure.

Background: Mitochondria of circulating white blood cells (WBC) and platelets sense oxidative stress during capillary passage and react by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although evidence indicates that congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with oxidative stress, the role of WBC and platelets as mediators in CHF has not been investigated.

Methods: Patients with CHF (n = 15) and healthy volunteers (n = 9) were enrolled between 2006 and 2007 into this observational study.

Diastolic stiffness of the failing diabetic heart: importance of fibrosis, advanced glycation end products, and myocyte resting tension.

Background: Excessive diastolic left ventricular stiffness is an important contributor to heart failure in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is presumed to increase stiffness through myocardial deposition of collagen and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Cardiomyocyte resting tension also elevates stiffness, especially in heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Complete versus culprit vessel percutaneous coronary intervention in multivessel disease: a randomized comparison.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the safety, efficacy, and costs of complete versus "culprit" vessel revascularization in multivessel coronary artery disease treated with percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

Methods: Patients with multivessel disease and an identified culprit vessel were randomly assigned to complete revascularization of vessels > or =50% stenoses (n = 108) versus revascularization limited to the culprit vessel (n = 111). The primary end point, major adverse cardiac events (MACE), were defined as cardiac or noncardiac death, myocardial infarction, need for coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and repeat PCI up to 1 year.

Safe and effective direct implantation of a new stent through 5 F. guiding catheters with delivery from the radial artery: initial results of a prospective registry.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the direct implantation of a new stent via the radial artery through a 5 F. guiding catheter. Background advances in the design of stents and stent delivery systems have facilitated the performance of direct stenting and the use of thinner guiding catheters.