Prognostic Value of Advanced Echocardiographic Analysis for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is the main treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and older age. Improved imaging techniques have enabled better patient selection, and the main role is played by echocardiography. Methods more sensitive than LVEF in assessing cardiac function, such as global longitudinal strain (GLS) and myocardial work (MW), have become widespread, and other methods, like hemodynamic forces (HDFs), might be promising.

Prognostic role of pre- and postinterventional myocardial injury in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Chronic pre-procedural and acute post-procedural myocardial injury are frequently observed in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of our study was to investigate the prognostic role of high sensitivity cardiac troponins (hs-cTns) elevation before and after TAVI.

Methods: 106 patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI were enrolled.

The Role of Ranolazine for the Treatment of Residual Angina beyond the Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization.

Introduction: Despite a successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), several studies reported that the recurrence of angina after revascularization, even complete, is a particularly frequent occurrence in the first year after PCI.

Methods: The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with ranolazine in addition to conventional anti-ischemic therapy in patients who underwent coronary angiography for persistent/recurrent angina after PCI and residual ischemia only due to small branches not suitable for further revascularization. Forty-nine consecutive patients were included in our registry, adding the ranolazine (375 mg b.

Polymer-free amphilimus-eluting stent versus biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stent in patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: This study sought to compare clinical outcome of polymer-free amphilimus-eluting stent (PF-AES) versus biodegradable-polymer biolimus-eluting stent (BD-BES) in "all-comer" diabetes mellitus (DM) and non-DM patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: The PF-AES has shown promising preliminary results in patients with DM.

Methods: Data from 2 multicentre-national registries (the ASTUTE and the INSPIRE-1) were used to analyse 1776 patients stratified in non-DM and DM.

Neuroradiology of human prion diseases, diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases, are invariably fatal conditions associated with a range of clinical presentations. TSEs are classified as sporadic [e.g.

[Percutaneous intervention therapy for vascular erectile dysfunction].

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to get and maintain a sufficient erection to ensure an acceptable sexual activity for the subject and the partner. Although ED does not represent per se a serious disease, it carries a notable and severe influence on quality of life, with significant implications on familiar and social relationship; DE may cause depression, shame, impairment of personal esteem and relational problems. Among many possible etiologies of ED, atherosclerotic disease of penile arteries represents one of the most frequent causes, so it should always be looked for in patients with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease or an established coronary or peripheral artery disease.

One-year clinical outcome of amphilimus polymer-free drug-eluting stent in diabetes mellitus patients: Insight from the ASTUTE registry (AmphilimuS iTalian mUlticenTre rEgistry).

Background: Despite several improvements in drug-eluting stent (DES) technology, patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are affected by higher rate of adverse events after PCI with DES, mainly in terms of target lesion revascularization (TLR). The Cre8 stent, a polymer-free amphilimus-eluting stent (AES), has shown promising preliminary results in DM patients. The ASTUTE registry was conceived to assess clinical performance of this polymer-free AES in DM in a "real-world" multicenter-independent cohort of patients.

Postoperative MR Imaging of Spontaneous Transdural Spinal Cord Herniation: Expected Findings and Complications.

Background And Purpose: Spontaneous transdural spinal cord herniation is no longer a rare cause of myelopathy. The high frequency of diagnoses has led to an increase in the number of surgical procedures. The purpose of this study was to describe the spectrum of postoperative MR imaging findings concerning spontaneous transdural spinal cord herniation and to provide a practical imaging approach for differentiating expected changes and complications after an operation.

A systematic approach to vertebral hemangioma.

Vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) are a frequent and often incidental finding on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the spine. When their imaging appearance is "typical" (coarsened vertical trabeculae on radiographic and CT images, hyperintensity on T1- and T2-weighted MR images), the radiological diagnosis is straightforward. Nonetheless, VHs might also display an "atypical" appearance on MR imaging because of their histological features (amount of fat, vessels, and interstitial edema).

Potential additive effects of ticagrelor, ivabradine, and carvedilol on sinus node.

A 51-year-old male patient presented to the emergency room with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. After a loading dose of both ticagrelor and aspirin, the patient underwent primary-PCI on the left anterior descending coronary artery with stent implantation. After successful revascularization, medical therapy included beta-blockers, statins, and angiotensin II receptor antagonists.

Incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury associated with diagnostic or interventional coronary angiography.

Background: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) represents an important cause of hospital-acquired AKI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of CI-AKI after coronary angiography (CA) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and the role of patient-/procedure-related risk factors.

Methods: For 11 months, patients undergoing CA or PCI were prospectively evaluated for CI-AKI, and factors possibly affecting CI-AKI were analyzed.

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy during novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

A novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus was recently identified in Mexico. Some cases of infection with neurological complications have been reported to date. We report a case of acute necrotizing encephalopathy associated with the novel H1N1 virus in a 2-year-old European girl who suddenly developed fever, seizures, and altered mental status.

A multicenter randomized study to evaluate intracoronary abciximab with the ClearWay catheter to improve outcomes with Lysis (IC ClearLy): trial study design and rationale.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a highly effective therapy for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Adjunctive therapy with platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitor can result in increased vessel patency and improved outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing PCI. The investigation of novel dosing and delivery strategies of this therapy may help to further improve outcomes.

Comparison between balloon angioplasty and additional coronary stent implantation for the treatment of drug-eluting stent restenosis: 18-month clinical outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term outcomes after different modalities of treatment of drug-eluting stent (DES) in-stent restenosis (ISR) in a 'real world' setting.

Methods: Actually, few and conflicting data are available about the management of in-stent restenosis (ISR) after DES implantation. In our 'real world' registry 1082 consecutive patients who received a DES implantation were included.

Percutaneous treatment of a popliteal bifurcation--the value of coronary devices and strategies.

In this case report, we describe the use of coronary techniques and devices in the treatment of a complex popliteal artery bifurcation. In particular, we demonstrate that the Venture wire control catheter is a useful tool not only in coronary lesions but also in wiring angulated peripheral lesions.