Serial Assessment of Coronary Artery Healing of a Biodegradable Polymer Drug-Eluting Stent at 1, 2, and 3 Months by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)-The REPAIR Trial.

Background: Although first-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) devices have effectively achieved their main goal of reducing restenosis, their safety has been limited by suboptimal polymer biocompatibility, delayed stent endothelialization, and local drug toxicity, which ultimately prompted the development of new-generation DES options carrying biocompatible or even biodegradable polymers.

Aims: We sought to assess the vessel-healing pattern of the novel sirolimus-eluting Inspiron DES (Scitech Medical) using serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) and assuming the hypothesis that this thin-strut (75-μm), biodegradable-polymer DES promotes a faster healing, with very early strut coverage.

Methods: This is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study enrolling 68 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention guided by OCT.

Mid- to long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement with a new-generation, self-expandable system.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate mid- to late clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with Acurate neo™ (Boston Scientific, Boston, MA).

Background: TAVR is an established treatment for aortic stenosis (AS). Few data exist on mid- to long-term outcomes and durability after new-generation valves.

Association between left atrial strain and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Left ventricular diastolic function is an important prognostic marker in acute coronary syndrome. However, classification of the dysfunction grade using isolated echocardiographic parameters remains difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to combine multiple data in diagnostic algorithms.

Prospective comparison between three TAVR devices: ACURATE neo vs. CoreValve vs. SAPIEN XT. A single heart team experience in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Objective: We sought to compare the new transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device ACURATE neo (ACT) with the already established CoreValve (MCV) and SAPIEN XT (SXT) for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Background: Very few data on TAVR devices are available beyond MCV and SAPIEN and there is no previous study comparing ACT with MCV and SXT.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated consecutive patients who underwent transfemoral TAVR for the treatment of severe AS.

ABCC3 Polymorphisms and mRNA Expression Influence the Concentration of a Carboxylic Acid Metabolite in Patients on Clopidogrel and Aspirin Therapy.

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and clopidogrel combined therapy has been reported to be beneficial in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Antiplatelet drug resistance, especially to clopidogrel, is a multifactorial phenomenon that affects a large number of ACS patients. The genetic contribution to this drug response is not fully elucidated.

Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of the Novel Svelte Acrobat Integrated Delivery System via Radial Approach With 5 Fr Catheters.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Svelte Acrobat integrated delivery system (IDS) via radial approach with 5 Fr catheters. The direct stenting (DS) system enables easy delivery, deployment, and postdilatation of a cobalt-chromium stent.

Methods: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were prospectively enrolled at three centers to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention with DS via radial approach using 5 Fr catheters.

6-Month Outcomes in Patients With Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators Undergoing Renal Sympathetic Denervation for the Treatment of Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess 6-month outcomes in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) undergoing renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) for refractory ventricular arrhythmias (VAs).

Background: ICDs are generally indicated for patients at high risk of malignant VAs. Sympathetic hyperactivity plays a critical role in the development, maintenance, and aggravation of VAs.

A Randomized Trial of Creatine-kinase Leak After Rosuvastatin in Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (CLEAR-PCI).

Objectives: To determine the impact of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performed at the same time of the peak concentration of rosuvastatin to reduce periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI).

Background: Prior studies suggest that a high dose of statin before PCI reduce periprocedural myocardial infarction. However, there is no information regarding the elective PCI performed at the time of the peak of statin concentration to reduce PMI.

Early improvement in left atrial remodeling and function after mitral valve repair or replacement in organic symptomatic mitral regurgitation assessed by three-dimensional echocardiography.

Background: Left atrial (LA) dilation is associated with worse prognosis in various clinical situations including chronic mitral regurgitation (MR). Real time three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) has allowed a better assessment of LA volumes and function. Little is known about LA size and function in early postoperative period in symptomatic patients with chronic organic MR.

Randomized comparison of distal and proximal cerebral protection during carotid artery stenting.

Objectives: This study sought to randomly compare cerebral protection with ANGIOGUARD (Cordis Corporation, Bridgewater, New Jersey) with Mo.Ma (Invatec/Medtronic Vascular Inc, Santa Rosa, California) during carotid artery stenting (CAS), using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) to detect new ischemic cerebral lesions. The number, size, and location of lesions were analyzed.

Analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of noninvasive imaging tests for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis.

Background: Aging and atherosclerosis are related to renovascular hypertension in elderly individuals. Regardless of comorbidities, renal artery stenosis is itself an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To define the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of noninvasive imaging tests used in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis.

Mechanical dyssynchrony is similar in different patterns of left bundle-branch block.

Background: Left bundle-branch block (LBBB) and the presence of systolic dysfunction are the major indications for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Mechanical ventricular dyssynchrony on echocardiography can help identify patients responsive to CRT. Left bundle-branch block can have different morphologic patterns.

Pharmacogenomics of anti-platelet therapy focused on peripheral blood cells of coronary arterial disease patients.

Background: To investigate genes differentially expressed in peripheral blood cells (PBCs) from patients with coronary arterial disease (CAD) under double anti-platelet therapy.

Methods: Twenty-six CAD patients that were submitted to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were selected to participate in this study. These patients took 100mg/day of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and 75mg/day of clopidogrel.

Correlation between plaque composition as assessed by virtual histology and C-reactive protein.

Background: Previous studies have shown that coronary plaque composition plays a pivotal role in plaque instability, and imaging modalities and serum biomarkers have been investigated to identify vulnerable plaque. Virtual histology IVUS (VH-IVUS) characterizes plaque components as calcified, fibrotic, fibrofatty, or necrotic core. C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is an independent risk factor and a powerful predictor of future coronary events.

Novel genes detected by transcriptional profiling from whole-blood cells in patients with early onset of acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Genome-wide expression analysis using microarrays has been used as a research strategy to discovery new biomarkers and candidate genes for a number of diseases. We aim to find new biomarkers for the prediction of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with a differentially expressed mRNA profiling approach using whole genomic expression analysis in a peripheral blood cell model from patients with early ACS.

Methods And Results: This study was carried out in two phases.

Very long-term follow-up of strut apposition and tissue coverage with Biolimus A9 stents analyzed by optical coherence tomography.

First generation drug-eluting stents (DES) are associated with reduced in-stent restenosis but significant increased risk of very late stent thrombosis (VLST). The absence of polymer in DES systems may reduce the occurrence of VLST. Optic coherence tomography (OCT) has been used for stent analysis as a surrogate safety endpoint.

Comparison of electrophysiological parameters of septal and apical endocardial cardiac stimulation.

Background: The conventional right ventricle (RV) endocardial pacing leads QRS widening and desynchronization myocardial compromising ventricular function. With the need for stimulation less deleterious, RV septal pacing has been used more. Eventually have been reported higher thresholds and smaller R waves in the septal stimulation.

Improvement of atherosclerotic markers in non-diabetic patients after bariatric surgery.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of bariatric surgery performed in extremely obese non-diabetic subjects on the following parameters: endothelial function, inflammatory processes (assessed by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]), carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), and glucose and lipid profiles.

Methods: Forty-seven obese individuals with body mass index >40 kg/m(2) underwent bariatric surgery and returned for post-procedure assessment between 6 and 19 months after surgery. Ninety-three percent of patients were female.

Increased clopidogrel response is associated with ABCC3 expression: a pilot study.

Background: The aim of this study was investigate the relationship between ABCB1 and ABCC3 gene expressions in peripheral blood cells (PBC) and the response to clopidogrel in patients with coronary arterial disease (CAD).

Methods: Twenty-six male CAD patients (50-70 years) under treatment with clopidogrel (75 mg/day) for at least 5 days were selected. Blood samples were obtained to evaluate platelet reactivity and ABCB1 and ABCC3 mRNA expression.

Serial angiographic and intravascular ultrasound evaluation to interrogate the presence of late "catch-up" phenomenon after Cypher® sirolimus-eluting stent implantation.

Despite the expressive reduction in the intimal hyperplasia (IH) formation after DES implantation at the mid-term, late restenosis has been recently noticed. Our objective was to determine, by means of serial angiography (QCA) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) at two different time points, whether the occurrence of the "late catch-up" phenomenon occurs after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation. Thirty-eight non-complex patients treated with a single 18-mm SES who had systematic serial QCA and IVUS analyses at mean 8 and 20 months were enrolled.

Serial angiography and intravascular ultrasound: results of the SISC Registry (Stents In Small Coronaries).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the novel CardioMind Sparrow (CMS) stent (CardioMind, Inc., Sunnyvale, California) against the Multi-Link Pixel (MLP) stent (Guidant Corp., Santa Clara, California) for small vessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Comparison of the very long term (>1 year) outcomes of drug-eluting stents for the treatment of bare-metal and drug-eluting stent restenosis.

Aims: Drug-eluting stents (DES) have become the first choice to treat BMS restenosis (ISR), replacing brachytherapy and all other available percutaneous approaches. Although markedly reduced, DES ISR still occurs and has been frequently treated with another DES, despite the lack of robust data supporting the safety and efficacy of this approach. We sought to compare the long term clinical outcomes of patients with BMS and DES ISR treated with another DES deployment.