The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)-concentration-dependent association between anti-inflammatory capacity and sepsis: A single-center cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Known to have pleiotropic functions, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) helps to regulate systemic inflammation during sepsis. As preserving HDL-C level is a promising therapeutic strategy for sepsis, the interaction between HDL and sepsis worth further investigation. This study aimed to determine the impact of sepsis on HDL's anti-inflammatory capacity and explore its correlations with disease severity and laboratory parameters.

Opportunistic screening for coronary artery calcium deposition using chest radiographs - a multi-objective models with multi-modal data fusion.

Background: To create an opportunistic screening strategy by multitask deep learning methods to stratify prediction for coronary artery calcium (CAC) and associated cardiovascular risk with frontal chest x-rays (CXR) and minimal data from electronic health records (EHR).

Methods: In this retrospective study, 2,121 patients with available computed tomography (CT) scans and corresponding CXR images were collected internally (Mayo Enterprise) with calculated CAC scores binned into 3 categories (0, 1-99, and 100+) as ground truths for model training. Results from the internal training were tested on multiple external datasets (domestic (EUH) and foreign (VGHTPE)) with significant racial and ethnic differences and classification performance was compared.

Impacts of the SYNTAX score I, II and SYNTAX score II 2020 on left main revascularization.

Patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) with a high SYNTAX score (SS) were excluded from randomized studies that comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We sought to compare PCI and CABG in the real-world practice and investigate the impact of SS I, SS II, and SS II 2020 on clinical outcomes. In total, 292 Patients with LMCAD (173 PCI, 119 CABG) treated between 2017 and 2021 were enrolled.

Artificial intelligence evaluation of coronary computed tomography angiography for coronary stenosis classification and diagnosis.

Background: Ruling out obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is time-consuming and challenging. This study developed a deep learning (DL) model to assist in detecting obstructive CAD on CCTA to streamline workflows.

Methods: In total, 2929 DICOM files and 7945 labels were extracted from curved planar reformatted CCTA images.

Improving detection of obstructive coronary artery disease with an artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiogram algorithm.

Background And Aims: To evaluate the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), the traditional approach involves assessing the patient's symptoms, traditional cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), and a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). However, currently, there are no established criteria for interpreting an ECG to diagnose CAD. Therefore, we sought to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled ECG model to assist in identifying patients with CAD.

Clinical assessment of resting full-cycle ratio and fractional flow reserve for coronary artery disease in a real-world cohort.

Background: There are few reports published on the comparison of the resting full-cycle ratio (RFR) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) on the assessment of the severity of coronary stenosis. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of RFR for detection of functionally significant coronary lesions.

Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, single-center study.

Sex difference in the association between pathological albuminuria and subclinical atherosclerosis: insights from the I-Lan longitudinal aging study.

Background: Pathological albuminuria (PAU) (urinary albumin creatinine ratio [UACR] ≥30 mg/g) is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease. PAU is more prevalent in men than women. We aimed to compare the association of PAU and the early phase of subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) between sexes.

Prompt diagnosis of a wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis: Role of multimodality imaging.

Amyloidosis cardiomyopathy is a rare and underdiagnosed disease characterized by amyloid fibril deposition in the myocardium. The diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis is often delayed due to a lack of awareness and the necessity of biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Recent advances in cardiovascular imaging modalities have enhanced earlier recognition of this disease.

Association of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitor Use With Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients With Stabilized Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Propensity Score Matching Study.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), who are at a greater risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and sudden cardiac death. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been shown to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality in T2DM patients with a risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SGLT2 inhibitor use on the adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes in T2DM patients with AMI.

Bioabsorbable polymer drug-eluting stents with 4-month dual antiplatelet therapy versus durable polymer drug-eluting stents with 12-month dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with left main coronary artery disease: the IDEAL-LM randomised trial.

Background: Improvements in drug-eluting stent design have led to a reduced frequency of repeat revascularisation and new biodegradable polymer coatings may allow a shorter duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Aims: The Improved Drug-Eluting stent for All-comers Left Main (IDEAL-LM) study aims to investigate long-term clinical outcomes after implantation of a biodegradable polymer platinum-chromium everolimus-eluting stent (BP-PtCr-EES) followed by 4 months DAPT compared to a durable polymer cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent (DP-CoCr-EES) followed by 12 months DAPT in patients undergoing PCI of unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease.

Methods: This is a multicentre randomised clinical trial study in patients with an indication for coronary artery revascularisation who have been accepted for PCI for LMCA disease after Heart Team consultation.

Associations between galectin-1, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Galectin-1 is a glycan-binding protein with broad anti-inflammatory properties. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DD) is associated with heart failure and mortality. The pathophysiology of DD is complex and our study aimed to investigate the associations between serum galectin-1 level, DD, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Gender difference in the association between TyG index and subclinical atherosclerosis: results from the I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in non-diabetic patients through the association of hyperglycemia or associated metabolic factors. The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, which was defined by incorporating serum glucose and insulin concentrations, was developed as a surrogate marker of insulin resistance. We aimed to investigate the association between the TyG index and the early phase of subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) between the sexes.

Vessel fractional flow reserve in assessment of non-culprit lesions in ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the physiology of non-culprit lesions by using vessel fractional flow reserve (vFFR) among patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD).

Methods: From January 2017 to December 2019, 354 patients with STEMI in the Taipei Veterans General Hospital Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry were screened. Patients who underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for culprit lesions, with at least one non-culprit lesion with stenosis of ≥50%, were eligible.

Chronic haemodynamic performance of a biorestorative transcatheter heart valve in an ovine model.

Background: The Xeltis biorestorative transcatheter heart valve (BTHV) leaflets are made from an electrospun bioabsorbable supramolecular polycarbonate-urethane and are mounted on a self-expanding nitinol frame. The acute haemodynamic performance of this BTHV was favourable.

Aims: We sought to demonstrate the preclinical feasibility of a novel BTHV by evaluating the haemodynamic performances of five pilot valve designs up to 12 months in a chronic ovine model.

Agreement Between Invasive Wire-Based and Angiography-Based Vessel Fractional Flow Reserve Assessment on Intermediate Coronary Stenoses.

Angiography-based functional assessment of coronary stenoses emerges as a novel approach to assess coronary physiology. We sought to investigate the agreement between invasive coronary wire-based fractional flow reserve (FFR), resting full-cycle ratio (RFR), and angiography-based vessel FFR (vFFR) for the functional assessment of coronary stenoses in patients with coronary artery disease. Between Jan 01, 2018, and Dec 31, 2020, 298 patients with 385 intermediate lesions received invasive coronary wire-based functional assessment (FFR, RFR or both) at a single tertiary medical center.

Validation of Prosthetic Mitral Regurgitation Quantification Using Novel Angiographic Platform by Mock Circulation.

Objectives: This study aimed to validate a dedicated software for quantitative videodensitometric angiographic assessment of mitral regurgitation (QMR).

Background: Quantitative videodensitometric aortography of aortic regurgitation using the time-density principle is a well-documented technique, but the angiographic assessment of mitral regurgitation (MR) remains at best semi-quantitative and operator dependent.

Methods: Fourteen sheep underwent surgical mitral valve replacement using 2 different prostheses.

Serum creatinine to cystatin C ratio is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease.

Background & Aims: Sarcopenia is a clinical syndrome that features muscle atrophy and weakness, and has been associated with cardiovascular events and poor clinical outcomes. Recently, the sarcopenia index (SI) was developed as a simple screening tool based upon the serum creatinine to cystatin C (CysC) ratio. We investigated the association between SI and the prevalence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with obstructive CAD.

Predicting 2-year all-cause mortality after contemporary PCI: Updating the logistic clinical SYNTAX score.

Aims: We aimed to update the logistic clinical SYNTAX score to predict 2 year all-cause mortality after contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: We analyzed 15,883 patients in the GLOBAL LEADERS study who underwent PCI. The logistic clinical SYNTAX model was updated after imputing missing values by refitting the original model (refitted original model) and fitting an extended new model (new model, with, selection based on the Akaike Information Criterion).

Galectin-1 is associated with the severity of coronary artery disease and adverse cardiovascular events in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Galectin-1, a β-galactoside-binding lectin mediating inflammation and neovascularization, is reported to attenuate ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. But its role in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to identify the relationship between the circulating galectin-1 level and the severity of CAD in patients with suspected CAD.

Risk of ischemic stroke in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving peritoneal dialysis with new-onset atrial fibrillation.

Background: The clinical effect of atrial fibrillation (AF)-related ischemic cardiovascular events in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the risk of ischemic events in patients undergoing PD with new-onset AF compared with that in patients without AF and ascertain the association between the CHA2DS2-VASc score and risk of ischemic stroke.

Methods: This nationwide, population-based cohort study used data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 1998 to 2011 for patients receiving PD with or without new-onset AF.

Quantitative Assessment of Acute Regurgitation Following TAVR: A Multicenter Pooled Analysis of 2,258 Valves.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess acute regurgitation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement, comparing different implanted transcatheter heart valves.

Background: Regurgitation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement influences all-cause mortality. Thus far, no quantitative comparison of regurgitation among multiple commercially available transcatheter heart valves has been performed.