REACTED - Reducing Acute Chest pain Time in the ED: A prospective pre-/post-interventional cohort study, stratifying risk using early cardiac multi-markers, probably increases discharges safely.

Objective: ED chest pain assessments can be challenging, lengthy and contribute to overcrowding. Rapid accurate risk stratification strategies should improve ED length of stay (EDLOS). Emergency, Biochemistry and Cardiology implemented new guidelines using paired (<3 h) multiple cardiac markers to stratify patients.

The MitraClip Asia-Pacific registry: Differences in outcomes between functional and degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe and compare the use of the MitraClip therapy in mitral regurgitation (MR) patients with degenerative MR (DMR) and functional MR (FMR).

Introduction: Percutaneous edge-to-edge repair of severe MR using the MitraClip device is approved for use in the USA for high risk DMR while European guidelines include its use in FMR patients as well.

Methods: The MitraClip in the Asia-Pacific Registry (MARS) is a multicenter retrospective registry, involving eight sites in five Asia-Pacific countries.

Percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip: early results from the MitraClip Asia-Pacific Registry (MARS).

Aims: Percutaneous MitraClip therapy has been shown to be safe and efficacious in mitral regurgitation (MR). Our aim was to describe early outcomes in patients from the Asia- Pacific region.

Methods And Results: The MitraClip Asia-Pacific Registry (MARS) includes data from eight different centres in five countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Use of a low-profile, compliant balloon for percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty.

Objectives: To determine the safety and immediate efficacy after balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) with a new, low-profile balloon.

Background: BAV has a continuing role in the management of high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). BAV with traditional noncompliant balloons requires a large femoral arteriotomy and is associated with high rates of access site complications.

Pleiotropic roles of S100A12 in coronary atherosclerotic plaque formation and rupture.

Macrophages, cytokines, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play important roles in atherogenesis. The Ca(2+)-binding protein S100A12 regulates monocyte migration and may contribute to atherosclerosis by inducing proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages. We found significantly higher S100A12 levels in sera from patients with coronary artery disease than controls and levels correlated positively with C-reactive protein.

Serum amyloid A induction of cytokines in monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes.

Objectives: Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a biomarker of inflammation. Elevated blood levels in cardiovascular disease and local deposition in atheroma implies a role of SAA as a mediator rather than just a marker of inflammation. This study explored SAA-induced cytokine production and secretion by mononuclear cells.

Serum amyloid A may potentiate prothrombotic and proinflammatory events in acute coronary syndromes.

Aims: Elevated serum amyloid A (SAA) levels, like C-reactive protein (CRP), predict coronary events. Both induce monocyte tissue factor (TF), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) express higher TF in response to CRP. This study examined SAA induction of TF and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in PBMC from patients with CAD and in monocytoid THP-1 cells.

Complex coronary sinus fistula in a 58-year-old female.

Coronary artery aneurysms and arterio-venous fistulae are uncommon malformations. We report the case of a 58-year-old woman with a large aneurysmal fistula arising from the left coronary tree and involving the entire coronary sinus venous system, resulting in significant left-to-right shunt. We discuss the management of aneurysmal fistulae of the coronary arteries, and the merits of prophylaxis for thrombotic complications of large aneurysms.