Defining Key Features of Complex Coronary Lesions: An Evidence Based Review of Clinical Practice. Part II: Chronic Total Occlusions, Graft Interventions, In-Stent Restenosis, and Antithrombotic Strategies.

Clinicians have long recognized that certain features of coronary artery lesions increase the complexity of intervention. Complex lesions are associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes and a higher risk of subsequent ischemic events. These lesions are categorized by their angiographic features.

Antiplatelet Therapy in High-Bleeding Risk Patients Undergoing PCI: Walking a Tightrope.

Historically, prevention from ischemic events with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) took precedence over protection from bleeding. However, increasing data suggest that major bleeding complications are as detrimental as ischemic events. Awareness about the prognostic impact of bleeding prompted the search for new strategies aimed at maximizing both ischemic and bleeding protection.

Imaging in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Intracoronary imaging (ICI) use during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to effectively improve cardiovascular outcomes, particularly for high-risk subgroups. However, data from randomized controlled trials are limited and the overall utilization rate of ICI remains variable between different countries and centers. Potential benefits of ICI include identification of appropriate lesions for PCI, improved characterization of lesions, and optimization of stent placement.

Defining Key Features of Complex Coronary Lesions: An Evidence Based Review of Clinical Practice. Part I: Bifurcations, Left Main Disease, and Calcifications.

Clinicians have long recognized that certain features of coronary artery lesions increase the complexity of intervention. Complex lesions are associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes and a higher risk of subsequent ischemic events. These lesions are categorized by their angiographic features.

Prognostic Value of Baseline Inflammation in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: There is a paucity of data on the prognostic value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in diabetic and nondiabetic patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: All patients with known baseline hsCRP undergoing PCI at a single tertiary care centre from 2010 to 2017 were included. High hsCRP was defined as > 3 mg/L.

SGLT-2 inhibitors and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with and without a history of heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have cardiovascular (CV) benefits in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Whether these medications improve CV outcomes irrespective of heart failure history or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in HFrEF remains unknown.

Methods And Results: All randomized, placebo-controlled trials of SGLT-2 inhibitors reporting similar CV outcomes were searched in PubMed from 1 January 2010 to 1 October 2021.

An Investigation of Levetiracetam in Alzheimer's Disease (ILiAD): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised crossover proof of concept study.

Background: Although Alzheimer's disease affects around 800,000 people in the UK and costs almost £23 billion per year, currently licenced treatments only offer modest benefit at best. Seizures, which are more common in patients with Alzheimer's disease than age matched controls, may contribute to the loss of nerve cells and abnormal brain discharges can disrupt cognition. This aberrant electrical activity may therefore present potentially important drug targets.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of perampanel in people with epilepsy who have previously undergone resective surgery and/or implantation of a vagal nerve stimulator.

About 30% of people with epilepsy (PWE) are drug-resistant. Those with focal seizures may be suitable for epilepsy surgery. Those not amenable to resective surgery can be considered for vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

A Head-to Head Comparison of Machine Learning Algorithms for Identification of Implanted Cardiac Devices.

Application of artificial intelligence techniques in medicine has rapidly expanded in recent years. Two algorithms for identification of cardiac implantable electronic devices using chest radiography were recently developed: The PacemakerID algorithm, available as a mobile phone application (PIDa) and a web platform (PIDw) and The Pacemaker Identification with Neural Networks (PPMnn), available via web platform. In this study, we assessed the relative accuracy of these algorithms.

Early experience with arterial thromboembolic complications in patients with COVID-19.

Background: Little is known about the arterial complications and hypercoagulability associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We sought to characterize our experience with arterial thromboembolic complications in patients with hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: All patients admitted from March 1 to April 20, 2020, and who underwent carotid, upper, lower and aortoiliac arterial duplex, computed tomography angiogram or magnetic resonance angiography for suspected arterial thrombosis were included.

Clinical characteristics of acute lower extremity deep venous thrombosis diagnosed by duplex in patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019.

Objective: Little is known about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated hypercoagulability. We sought to characterize patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) identified after admission for COVID-19.

Methods: All adult patients admitted to Montefiore Medical Center from March 1, 2020, to April 10, 2020, and undergoing lower extremity venous duplex for DVT evaluation were included.

Development of EpiRisk: An online clinical tool for estimating the risk of major congenital malformations in pregnant women treated for epilepsy.

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are known to associate with an increased risk of major congenital malformations (MCMs) in children born to women who become pregnant while taking them. As the indications for AEDs continue to diversify, novel AEDs emerge, and polytherapy becomes more prevalent, the volume and complexity of the information relating to teratogenic risk can become unmanageable for the clinician. This in turn makes accurate education of pregnant women treated with AEDs regarding the risk of MCMs challenging.