Coronary Plaque Characteristics Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography and Plasma Lipoprotein(a) Levels in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, but its influence on plaque characteristics at optical coherence tomography (OCT) evaluation is not fully understood.

Aims: This study seeks to explore the impact of Lp(a) levels on plaque morphology as assessed by OCT in a very high-risk subset of patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and undergoing OCT-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at a large tertiary care center between 2019 and 2022 were deemed eligible for the current analysis.

The Use of Pressure Recording Analytical Method in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: The Impact on Clinical Decisions for the Appropriate Postoperative Setting and Cost-effective Analysis.

Objective: To analyze the use of the Pressure Recording Analytical Method (PRAM), an hemodynamic monitoring system, in evaluating intraoperative and postoperative hemodynamic instability in patients undergoing endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm, and to evaluate if the decision to refer patients to a ordinary ward or to a Cardiac Step-Down Unit (CSDU) after the intervention on the basis of intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring could be more cost-effective.

Materials And Methods: After preoperative clinical evaluation, 44 patients were divided in this non-randomised study into two groups according to their postoperative destination: Group 1-ward (N=22) and Group 2-CSDU (N=22). All patients underwent monitoring with PRAM during the intervention and in the 24 postoperative hours, measuring several indices of myocardial contractility and other hemodynamic variables.

Comparison of the Clinical and Metabolic Characteristics of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes Between the Pre- and Post-lockdown Periods.

Introduction: In 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic outbreak required restrictive measures to limit the spread of the virus. This study aimed to assess how changes in dietary habits and lifestyle associated with such measures have affected the characteristics of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the post-lockdown period. In particular, we evaluated if the incidence of ACS was higher in younger patients, who were more negatively affected by lockdown measures.