Infected chronic sinus secondary to a retained fragment of radial artery introducer sheath following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are frequently performed procedures in the UK and the developed world, with the radial artery becoming the preferred route of access. A chronically retained macroscopic fragment of radial artery introducer sheath is a very rare complication that has not, to our knowledge, been reported. We report the case of a 62-year-old woman who underwent PCI and developed a persisting infected sinus and abscess at the cannulation site despite multiple courses of antibiotics.

A kit formulation for the preparation of 188Re-lipiodol: preclinical studies and preliminary therapeutic evaluation in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

A lyophilized kit formulation for the efficient labelling of lipiodol with generator-produced rhenium-188 is described. The preliminary preparation of the lipophilic complex bis-(diethyldithiocarbamato)nitrido rhenium-188 (188ReN-DEDC) was carried out using a two-vial kit containing S-methyl-N-methyl-dithiocarbazate, SnCl2 and sodium oxalate in the first vial, and diethyldithiocarbamate and a carbonate buffer in the second vial. After mixing of the reaction solution with lipiodol, the complex 188ReN-DEDC was quantitatively extracted and retained by this hydrophobic substance, thus allowing the stable incorporation of the beta-emitting radionuclide.

Optimal suppression of thromboxane A(2) formation by aspirin during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: no additional effect of a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor.

Objectives: We examined the contribution of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 to the generation of prostacyclin, thromboxane (Tx) A(2), and 8-epi prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

Background: Both TxA(2) and 8-epi PGF(2alpha) activate platelets and are mitogenic, whereas prostacyclin is a platelet inhibitor, and therefore may influence the outcome of PTCA.

Methods: Twenty-one patients undergoing PTCA while receiving aspirin 300 mg daily or aspirin plus the selective COX-2 inhibitor nimesulide were compared with 13 patients treated only with fradafiban, a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist.

Value of C-reactive protein in patients with stable angina pectoris, coronary narrowing (30% to 70%), and normal fractional flow reserve.

This study is the first that combines a serum marker of inflammation (C-reactive protein) and intracoronary-derived fractional flow reserve. A low C-reactive protein level was strongly associated with uncomplicated follow-up in patients with hemodynamic nonsignificant coronary lesions. These results show that C-reactive protein provides additional information relevant for clinical decision-making in patients with intermediate (30% to 70%) coronary lesions.