A call to consider an aortic stenosis screening program.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common age-related valvular condition with a prevalence of 13.1% in patients older than 75 years of age. Based on the severity of AS and symptoms, current guidelines recommend interval monitoring with transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE).

Prognostic Value of Coronary Artery Calcification Identified by the Semi-quantitative Weston Method in the Emergency Room or Other Hospitalized Patients.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) may provide insight to the patients' coronary artery disease (CAD) risks and influence early intervention. With increasing use of non-gated CT scans in clinical practice, the visual coronary artery scoring system (Weston Method) could quickly provide clinicians with important information of CAC for patient triage and management. We retrospectively studied the available CT imaging data and estimated CAC burden using the Weston method in 493 emergency room or other hospitalized patients.

Ascending Aortic Stenting for Acute Supraaortic Stenosis From Graft Collapse.

A 78-year-old man with remote type-A dissection presented with acute-onset dyspnea. Twenty-two years prior, treatment for his aortic disease required replacement of ascending and arch aneurysms with a polyester graft (Dacron) using the graft inclusion technique. He presented currently in cardiogenic shock.

Physiologic Guidance of Infrainguinal Vascular Interventions Using the Pressure Wire.

Objectives: To assess the relationship between the resting (RG) and hyperemic (HG) translesional peripheral gradients, with the functional and anatomic parameters before and after an infrainguinal endovascular procedure.

Background: RGs and HGs are objective tools in defining the hemodynamic significance of an arterial stenosis.

Methods: In 25 subjects with infrainguinal arterial stenosis, RG and HG were measured via a pressure wire before and after angioplasty.

Aortic dissection presenting as acute subtotal left main coronary artery occlusion: a case approach and review of the literature.

Aortic dissection is the most common fatal condition of the aorta, yet it is often missed on initial clinical presentation. Aortic dissection associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is relatively rare, but if it occurs, it can be diagnostically challenging, and the condition can be fatal. Here we describe a case of aortic dissection presenting as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) managed via the transradial approach.

Tips and tricks for antegrade recanalization of chronic total occlusions using the CrossBoss catheter.

Objectives: To provide new strategies and techniques for the successful recanalization of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) with the sole use of the CrossBoss catheter. In addition, some common CTO scenarios are illustrated in detail.

Background: CTOs are one of the most challenging complex coronary lesion subsets to intervene upon.

Outcomes of patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary interventions in the ambulatory versus in-hospital setting.

Objectives: To compare outcomes of elective percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in same-day discharge and overnight hospital stays.

Background: Advances in PCI techniques and equipment have allowed same-day discharge after elective PCI. In this study, we investigated the safety of same-day discharge ambulatory PCI in patients according to age, creatinine, and ejection fraction (ACEF) scores.

Low-density lipoprotein levels in patients with acute heart failure.

Statins do not appear to have a significant benefit in heart failure (HF) as they do in coronary artery disease (CAD). Significant evidence exists that low serum cholesterol levels may be harmful in HF. This study sought to determine the optimal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level in patients hospitalized with acute HF.

Current diagnosis and management of left main coronary disease.

Left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease remains an important risk factor for increased mortality and morbidity at all stages of diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease. Left main stem pathology is often silent, with unpredictable presentation: as such it poses diagnostic and management challenges. This article reviews the anatomy, epidemiology and diagnosis of left main stem disease, as well as advances in multidisciplinary concepts of diagnosis and management, and summarises the outcomes of recent prospective studies comparing percutaneous and surgical revascularisation in LMCA disease.

Accuracy of low-dose prospectively gated axial coronary CT angiography for the assessment of coronary artery stenosis in patients with stable heart rate.

Background: Desirable methods for cardiac CT angiography would both reduce radiation exposure from cardiac CT angiography and preserve accuracy.

Objectives: We assessed image quality, radiation dose, and diagnostic accuracy of a low-dose, prospectively gated axial cardiac CT angiography protocol for the evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients referred for diagnostic invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and with a stable heart rate < 60 beats/min after beta-blocker administration were prospectively enrolled in a single center study.

Initial experience of removal of 10-French sheaths using the 8-French Angio-Seal vascular closure device.

Objectives: We studied the use of 8 Fr Angio-Seal in closure of access sites up to 10 Fr.

Background: The use of larger French catheters for procedures such as valvuloplasty and percutaneous valve replacement has required the use of better methods for arterial closure. The use of 6 and 8 Fr Angio-Seal hemostatic devices (St.

Structural model of the amino propeptide of collagen XI alpha1 chain with similarity to the LNS domains.

Fibrillar collagens are the principal structural molecules of connective tissues. The assembly of collagen fibrils is regulated by quantitatively minor fibrillar collagens, types V and XI. A unique amino-terminal propeptide domain of these collagens has been attributed this regulatory role.