Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness Is Related to Plaque Composition in Coronary Artery Disease.

(1) Background: Currently, limited data are available regarding the relationship between epicardial fat and plaque composition. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between visceral fat surrounding the heart and the lipid core burden in patients with coronary artery diseases; (2) Methods: Overall, 331 patients undergoing coronary angiography with combined near-infrared spectroscopy and intravascular ultrasound imaging were evaluated for epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness using transthoracic echocardiography. Patients were divided into thick EAT and thin EAT groups according to the median value; (3) Results: There was a positive correlation between EAT thickness and maxLCBI4mm, and maxLCBI4mm was significantly higher in the thick EAT group compared to the thin EAT group (437 vs.

Efficacy and Safety of 3 Versus 6 Months of Dual-Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients Implanted With a Coroflex ISAR Stents: A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: The optimal duration of dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after implantation of a drug-eluting stent (DES), especially recently developed polymer-free DESs, is unknown. This study examined the efficacy and safety of 3- versus 6-month DAPT in patients implanted with Coroflex ISAR polymer-free DESs.

Methods: Between May 2015 and August 2020, 488 patients who underwent Coroflex ISAR stent implantation were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to the 3-month (n=244) or 6-month (n=244) DAPT group.

Translesional Fractional Flow Reserve is Related to Plaque Components in Coronary Artery Disease: A Study Combining Pressure Wire and NIRS-IVUS Analysis.

Objectives: It remains unclear whether atherosclerotic plaque structure or composition is related to translesional biomechanical stresses in coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between translesional pressure parameters (using a pressure wire) and plaque characteristics (using a combined near-infrared spectroscopy [NIRS] and intravascular ultrasound [IVUS] imaging catheter).

Methods: Fractional flow reserve (FFR), delta (Δ) FFR, and Δ pressure were obtained during adenosine-induced maximum hyperemic status.

Comparison of three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound for detecting functionally significant coronary lesions.

Background: Three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography (3D-QCA) can provide more accurate measurement of true vessel size and may be comparable to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in identifying functionally significant coronary stenosis, as determined by fractional flow reserve (FFR). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 3D-QCA for predicting FFR <0.8.

Managing Nonagenarians with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Invasive versus Conservative Treatment.

Background: Limited data are available to support an invasive treatment strategy in nonagenarians with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to investigate whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is beneficial in this frail population.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 41 nonagenarians with AMI (both ST-segment-elevation and non-ST-segment-elevation MI) between 2006 and 2015 in a single center.

Impact of new-onset diabetes on clinical outcomes after ST segment-elevated myocardial infarction.

Patients with diabetes have higher mortality rate than patients without diabetes after ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). Prognosis of patients with new onset diabetes (NOD) after STEMI remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognosis of patients with NOD compared to that of patients without NOD after STEMI.

Lipid-Core Plaque Assessed by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Procedure Related Microvascular Injury.

Background And Objectives: Microvascular damage due to distal embolization during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an important cause of periprocedural myocardial infarction. We assessed the lipid-core plaque using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and microvascular dysfunction invasively with the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and evaluated their relationship.

Methods: This study is pilot retrospective observational study.

Usefulness of the trans-stent fractional flow reserve gradient for predicting clinical outcomes.

Objectives: We evaluated the usefulness of a fractional flow reserve (FFR) gradient across the stent (ΔFFR ) for long-term clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a drug-eluting stent (DES).

Background: The clinical meaning of a trans-stent pressure gradient after DES implantation has not been estimated adequately.

Methods: FFR pull-back and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were performed after successful PCI in 135 left anterior descending artery lesions.

Visit-to-visit systolic blood pressure variability in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction predicts long-term cardiovascular outcomes.

Elevated visit-to-visit blood pressure variability (BPV), independent of mean BP, has been associated with cardiovascular events. However, its impact after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has not been established. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of BPV on patients after STEMI.

Importance of prognostic value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

The ratio between the absolute number of neutrophils and the number of lymphocytes (NLR) has recently emerged as a potential new biomarker predicting worse clinical conditions ranging from infectious disease to cardiovascular disease. Prognostic significance of NLR in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not established. This study aimed to investigate prognostic impact of NLR in patients with STEMI.

Intravascular ultrasound characteristics in patients with intermediate coronary lesions and borderline fractional flow reserve measurements.

Revascularization of borderline fractional flow reserve (FFR) is controversial and the morphologic characteristics of borderline FFR lesions are not well known. The objective of this study was to determine the intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) characteristics in intermediate coronary lesions with borderline FFR in patients with intermediate coronary artery stenosis (40%-70% diameter stenosis).Both IVUS and FFR were performed in a total of 228 left anterior descending arteries.

Impact of body fat distribution on long-term clinical outcomes after drug-eluting stent implantation.

Background And Objective: The distribution of body fat is closely related to cardiovascular disease and outcomes, although its impact on patient prognosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES) has not been evaluated. We investigated the impact of truncal fat distribution on long-term clinical outcomes after DES treatment.

Methods: In 441 DES-treated patients, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was performed to assess total and regional body fat distribution after index PCI.

Prognostic impact of left ventricular mass change in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Prognostic significance between progression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is uncertain. The objective of this study was to investigate prognostic impact of progression of LV mass index (LVMI) in patients with STEMI.We analyzed the data and clinical outcomes of patients with STEMI who received successful coronary intervention.

Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes of the First Korean-made Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent with Abluminal Bioresorbable Polymer.

Background And Objectives: This trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of the Genoss drug-eluting coronary stent.

Methods: This study was a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial with a 1:1 ratio of Genoss drug-eluting stent (DES)™ and Promus Element™. Inclusion criteria were the presence of stable angina, unstable angina, or silent ischemia.

Myocardial Mass Contributes to the Discrepancy Between Anatomic Stenosis Severity Assessed by Intravascular Ultrasound and Fractional Flow Reserve in Intermediate Lesions of the Coronary Artery.

Objectives: The present study investigated the major contributors to the discrepancy between the minimal lumen area (MLA) and fractional flow reserve (FFR).

Background: There was considerable discrepancy between MLA or diameter stenosis (DS) and FFR.

Methods: We enrolled 744 patients with intermediate stenoses of the left anterior descending artery (LAD).

The impact of microvascular resistance on the discordance between anatomical and functional evaluations of intermediate coronary disease.

Aims: In intermediate coronary artery disease, discordance between anatomical and functional assessments persists and the diagnostic accuracy of an anatomical evaluation is not satisfactory for determining functional significance. We aimed to evaluate the impact of microvascular resistance on "anatomical-functional discordance".

Methods And Results: In 97 intermediate coronary lesions of 83 patients, minimum lumen area (MLA), fractional flow reserve (FFR), Δ(Pd/Pa-FFR), and hyperaemic microvascular resistance index (hMVRI) were measured using intravascular ultrasound and an intracoronary dual pressure and Doppler sensor-tipped guidewire.

Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness is a predictor for target vessel revascularization in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: The amount of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been demonstrated to correlate with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the CAD activity. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of EAT on long term clinical outcomes in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We analyzed the data and clinical outcomes of 761 patients (614 males, 57 ± 12 year-old) with STEMI who underwent successful primary PCI from 2003 to 2009.

Impact of Age on the Functional Significance of Intermediate Epicardial Artery Disease.

Background: The functional significance of an intermediate coronary lesion is crucial for determining the treatment strategy, but age-related changes in cardiovascular function could affect the functional significance of an epicardial stenosis. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the impact of age on fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements in patients with intermediate coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods and results: Intracoronary pressure measurements and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were performed in 178 left anterior descending coronary arteries with intermediate stenosis.

The relationship between coronary atherosclerosis and body fat distribution measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Objective: Body fat distribution is closely related to cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between truncal fat distribution and the extent of coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods: Total body fat and regional body fat distributions were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 746 Korean patients who underwent coronary angiography.

Various Echocardiographic Patterns of Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction Induced by Carbon Monoxide Intoxication.

Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication could cause significant cardiac injury. Although cardiac dysfunction after CO intoxication can be presented, the echocardiographic findings after CO intoxication are poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical patterns of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction using echocardiography.

Left ventricular hypertrophy on long-term cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) had been associated with increased adverse cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. Prognostic significance of LVH in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not established. This study aimed to investigate prognostic impact of LVH on the patients with STEMI.

β-Blocker Therapy in the Era of Primary Percutaneous Intervention for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Objectives: With the present therapeutic advances in the era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the role of β-blockers in ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) has remained contentious.

Methods: We analyzed the data and clinical outcomes of 901 STEMI patients who had undergone primary PCI. We classified the patients into β-blocker (n = 598) and non-β-blocker groups (n = 303).

Three dimensional quantitative coronary angiography can detect reliably ischemic coronary lesions based on fractional flow reserve.

Conventional coronary angiography (CAG) has limitations in evaluating lesions producing ischemia. Three dimensional quantitative coronary angiography (3D-QCA) shows reconstructed images of CAG using computer based algorithm, the Cardio-op B system (Paieon Medical, Rosh Ha'ayin, Israel). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether 3D-QCA can reliably predict ischemia assessed by myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFR) < 0.