Prevalence, correlates, and impact of coronary calcification on adverse events following PCI with newer-generation DES: Findings from a large multiethnic registry.

Objectives: We sought to determine the prevalence, predictors, and clinical impact of target lesion calcification in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with newer generation drug-eluting stents (DES) and devices.

Background: Coronary calcification is independently associated with adverse outcomes following PCI. While newer DES and contemporary devices are considered safer and more efficacious, their influence on outcomes following PCI of heavily calcified lesions is unknown.

Impact of Catheterization Lab Computer Software Settings on Hemodynamic Assessment of Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Accurate assessment of Cardiac Output (CO) is a critical measurement in the calculation of aortic valve area (AVA). Due to the known inaccuracy of estimated Fick calculations, many measure thermodilution (TD) CO as well due to previous studies showing better correlation with the gold standard direct CO. Previous studies showed suboptimal correlation between both methods.

Cardiac output determination using a widely available direct continuous oxygen consumption measuring device: a practical way to get back to the gold standard.

Background: Accurate assessment of cardiac output (CO) is essential for the hemodynamic assessment of valvular heart disease. Estimation of oxygen consumption (VO2) and thermodilution (TD) are employed in many cardiac catheterization laboratories (CCL) given the historically cumbersome nature of direct continuous VO2 measurement, the "gold standard" for this technique. A portable facemask device simplifies the direct continuous measurement of VO2, allowing for relatively rapid and continuous assessment of CO.

Histopathological Evidence of Adventitial or Medial Injury Is a Strong Predictor of Restenosis During Directional Atherectomy for Peripheral Artery Disease.

Purpose: To investigate the impact on restenosis rates of deep injury to the adventitial layer during directional atherectomy.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2010, 116 consecutive patients (mean age 69.6 years; 56 men) with symptomatic femoropopliteal stenoses were treated with directional atherectomy at a single center.

Optical coherence tomography assessment of the mechanistic effects of rotational and orbital atherectomy in severely calcified coronary lesions.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the mechanistic effect of rotational atherectomy (RA) and orbital atherectomy (OA) on heavily calcified coronary lesions and subsequent stent placement using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Background: RA and OA are two main approaches to ablate coronary calcium. While small case reports have described the mechanistic effect of RA in calcified coronary lesions, there has been no imaging study to assess the effect of OA on coronary artery architecture and/or compare the effects of two atherectomy devices.

History and Physical Examination in Diagnosis of Peripheral Artery Disease.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) may be silent or present with an assortment of symptoms and signs suggesting peripheral artery ischemia. Peripheral vascular disease includes PAD and disorders of the peripheral venous system and lymphatic system. Generally, PAD is synonymous with arteries of the limbs and pelvis, but it can be expanded to include the renal arteries, carotid arteries, mesenteric arteries, and the aorta.

Impact of severe mitral regurgitation on postoperative outcomes after noncardiac surgery.

Objective: Preoperative cardiac risk assessment scoring systems traditionally do not include valvular regurgitation as a criterion for adverse outcome prediction. We sought to determine the impact of significant mitral regurgitation on postoperative outcomes after planned noncardiac surgeries.

Methods: Patients with significant mitral regurgitation (moderate-severe or severe) undergoing noncardiac surgery were identified using surgical and echocardiographic databases at the Cleveland Clinic.

Impact of aortic stenosis on postoperative outcomes after noncardiac surgeries.

Background: Preoperative management of patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who need noncardiac surgery (NCS) remains controversial. We sought to determine the impact of AS on the postoperative outcomes after NCS.

Methods And Results: Patients undergoing NCS with moderate AS (valve area: 1.

Thiazolidinediones and risk of heart failure in patients with or at high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis of placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials.

Background: Recent meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) demonstrated a higher risk of heart failure (HF) with the use of thiazolidinediones (TZDs). However, this effect may have been diluted by including active controls. Also, it is uncertain whether the risk of HF is similar with rosiglitazone and pioglitazone.

Chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain: pin the pinworm.

Enterobius vermicularis is the most common helminthic infection in the US. It is usually considered an innocuous parasite that at the most causes perianal itching. We report a case of an 84-year-old female patient from an assisted living facility who presented with symptoms of colitis for 2 months.