Measurement of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure improves the prognostic utility of the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events score in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of measuring left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods And Results: We retrospectively analysed clinical data from 277 patients with STEMI between October 2006 and June 2014. LVEDP and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were perioperatively measured during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Plaque characteristics and slow flow during percutaneous coronary intervention of irregular protrusion by optical coherence tomography.

Irregular protrusion on optical coherence tomography (OCT) is associated with clinical events and target lesion revascularization. We investigated clinical and procedure characteristics, plaque characteristics, slow flow after stent implantation, and clinical outcomes with irregular protrusion using OCT. Eighty-four lesions in 76 patients undergoing OCT before percutaneous coronary intervention were evaluated.

Prognostic Significance of Serum Indoxyl Sulfate and Albumin for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease.

The progression of renal dysfunction reduces serum albumin and deteriorates the binding capacity of protein-bound uremic toxins. We evaluated the prognostic implications of serum indoxyl sulfate (IS) and albumin levels in patients with cardiovascular disease.We prospectively enrolled 351 consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous revascularization for coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease.

Prognostic Utility of Indoxyl Sulfate for Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Aim: We investigated whether indoxyl sulfate (IS), a protein-bound uremic toxin, predicts prognosis after acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: Serum IS level was determined prospectively in 98 patients who underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ACS. Patients on hemodialysis were excluded.

Combined assessment of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and ejection fraction by left ventriculography predicts long-term outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), it is unclear if combined assessment of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improves prediction of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). We analyzed data from 266 STEMI patients who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention and subsequent left ventriculography (LVG). Patients were divided into 4 groups, as follows: Group 1, LVEDP < 21 mmHg and LVEF ≥ 55%; Group 2, LVEDP < 21 mmHg and LVEF < 55%; Group 3, LVEDP ≥ 21 mmHg and LVEF ≥ 55%; and Group 4, LVEDP ≥ 21 mmHg and LVEF < 55%.

Efficacy and Safety of Triple Therapy and Dual Therapy With Direct Oral Anticoagulants Compared to Warfarin.

The efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) with antiplatelet therapy compared to warfarin are unclear. The subjects were 280 patients who received antiplatelet therapy with oral anticoagulation (OAC) for the treatment of or protection from thromboembolism between January 2012 and September 2015. Among the 280 subjects, 79 (28.

Comparison of Coronary Intimal Plaques by Optical Coherence Tomography in Arteries With Versus Without Internal Running Vasa Vasorum.

It has been reported that the internal running vasa vasorum (VV) was associated with plaque vulnerability, and microchannels in optical coherence tomography (OCT) are consistent pathologically with VV. We investigated plaque vulnerability and incidence of slow flow during percutaneous coronary intervention of the internal longitudinal running VV. Subjects were 71 lesions that underwent OCT before percutaneous coronary intervention.

Pericoronary adipose tissue ratio is a stronger associated factor of plaque vulnerability than epicardial adipose tissue on coronary computed tomography angiography.

This study was designed to clarify the influence of pericoronary adipose tissue (PAT) on plaque vulnerability using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). A total of 103 consecutive patients who underwent CCTA and subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for coronary artery disease were enrolled. The PAT ratio was calculated as the sum of the perpendicular thickness of the visceral layer between the coronary artery and the pericardium, or the coronary artery and the surface of the heart at the PCI site, divided by the PAT thickness without a plaque in the same vessel.

Clinical outcome of treatment with or without a final kissing balloon technique for bifurcation in-stent restenosis lesions.

Background: The treatment strategy for in-stent restenosis (ISR) with bifurcation lesions has not been well explored. We examined the clinical outcomes between final kissing balloon technique (FKBT) after stent implantation and single-stent implantation without FKBT for bifurcation ISR lesions.

Methods: We identified 115 consecutive ISR with bifurcation lesions among 108 patients who underwent drug-eluting stent implantation.

Same or Different Drug-Eluting Stent Re-Implantation for Drug-Eluting Stent Restenosis: An Assessment Including Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents.

Objectives: We examined the long-term outcomes of implanting a different type of drug-eluting stent (DES), including second-generation DES, for treatment of DES-in stent restenosis (ISR).

Background: Treatment for DES-ISR has not been standardized.

Methods: The subjects were 80 patients with 89 lesions underwent DES implantation for DES-ISR.

Plaque Composition and No-Reflow Phenomenon During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Low-Echoic Structures in Grayscale Intravascular Ultrasound.

It has been reported that coronary vasa vasorum is associated with plaque vulnerability, and low-echoic structures in grayscale intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) are consistent pathologically with vasa vasorum. However, the association of low-echoic structures with plaque composition and no-reflow phenomenon during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear. We investigated plaque composition in virtual histology IVUS (VH-IVUS) and no-reflow phenomenon during PCI of low-echoic structures.

Assessment of angiographic coronary calcification and plaque composition in virtual histology intravascular ultrasound.

Objectives: We assessed the relation between coronary plaque composition and angiographic calcification by using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS).

Background: The plaque vulnerability according to angiographic calcification is unclear.

Methods: Subjects were 140 consecutive patients (145 lesions) undergoing VH-IVUS before percutaneous coronary intervention.