Successful treatment of chronic venous in-stent restenosis using a Phoenix atherectomy device.

Background: Although endovascular treatment of venous obstruction with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stenting is a safe and effective alternative to conservative treatment, the overall prevalence of in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains high in this patient population. This study reports a novel treatment option for patients with chronic ISR (C-ISR).

Methods: At our center, all patients with ISR were treated based on the time since the initial intervention.

Stand-Alone Rotational Atherectomy Versus Combination With Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty for the Endovascular Treatment of Heavily-Calcified Femoropopliteal and Popliteal Lesions.

Background: Despite major technical advances in the endovascular treatment for peripheral artery disease (PAD), heavy calcification still represents a major obstacle to overcome both due to the high number of periprocedural complications (dissections, embolization, etc) and the limited long-term durability. A promising tool to overcome these obstacles is debulking calcified lesions with atherectomy. Since vessel preparation with atherectomy might even improve the diffusion of antiproliferative substances, we wanted to evaluate the impact of atherectomy±DCB in lower extremity PAD.

Identification of Specific Coronary Artery Disease Phenotypes Implicating Differential Pathophysiologies.

Background And Aims: The roles of multiple risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD) are well established. Commonly, CAD is considered as a single disease entity. We wish to examine whether coronary angiography allows to identify distinct CAD phenotypes associated with major risk factors and differences in prognosis.

Systematic RNA-interference in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages: A high-throughput platform to study foam cell formation.

Macrophage-derived foam cells are key regulators of atherogenesis. They accumulate in atherosclerotic plaques and support inflammatory processes by producing cytokines and chemokines. Identifying factors that regulate macrophage lipid uptake may reveal therapeutic targets for coronary artery disease (CAD).

Galectin-3 binding protein, coronary artery disease and cardiovascular mortality: Insights from the LURIC study.

Background And Aims: Galectin-3 binding protein (Gal-3BP) has been associated with inflammation and cancer, however, its role in coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular outcome remains unclear.

Methods: Gal-3BP plasma levels were measured by ELISA in 2922 individuals from the LURIC study (62.7 ± 10.

Galectin-3 binding protein plasma levels are associated with long-term mortality in coronary artery disease independent of plaque morphology.

Background And Aims: Galectin-3 binding protein (Gal-3BP) is a secreted protein associated with inflammation and carotid atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that high Gal-3BP levels may indicate unfavorable plaque morphology and outcome in coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Gal-3BP plasma levels were measured by ELISA in 233 patients (63 ± 10 years, 50.

Differential regulation of aldose reductase expression during macrophage polarization depends on hyperglycemia.

Aldose reductase (AR; gene AKR1B1) is the rate-limiting enzyme of the polyol pathway and has been associated with diabetes and atherosclerosis. Here, we sought to identify the mechanisms underlying differential AR expression in human atherosclerotic plaque macrophages. In vitro, M1-polarized human monocyte-derived macrophages expressed significantly higher levels of AKR1B1 mRNA and AR protein compared with M2-polarized macrophages.

CXCL4 Plasma Levels Are Not Associated with the Extent of Coronary Artery Disease or with Coronary Plaque Morphology.

Background: CXCL4 is a platelet chemokine released at micromolar concentrations upon platelet activation. CXCL4 has been shown to promote atherogenesis by various mechanisms. However, data on CXCL4 plasma levels in patients with coronary artery disease are largely inconclusive.

Prevalence of M4 macrophages within human coronary atherosclerotic plaques is associated with features of plaque instability.

Background: The platelet chemokine CXCL4 induces monocyte differentiation resulting in a macrophage phenotype called "M4", which co-expresses CD68, MMP7, and S100A8. We hypothesized that M4 macrophages are associated with plaque destabilization.

Methods: Atherosclerotic arteries were obtained from explanted hearts of patients with severe coronary artery disease (CAD, n = 32) and of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and no or mild CAD (controls, n = 19).

Inflammatory therapeutic targets in coronary atherosclerosis-from molecular biology to clinical application.

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death worldwide. Over the past two decades, it has been clearly recognized that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the arterial wall. Accumulating data from animal experiments have supported this hypothesis, however, clinical applications making use of this knowledge remain scarce.

Low levels of natural IgM antibodies against phosphorylcholine are independently associated with vascular remodeling in patients with coronary artery disease.

Low anti-phosphorylcholine (PC) IgM plasma levels have been associated with increased incidence of adverse events in coronary artery disease (CAD). The underlying mechanisms are unclear. We hypothesized that atheroprotection mediated by anti-PC IgM antibodies is associated with reduced vascular remodeling and therefore tested whether anti-PC IgM plasma levels independently predict vascular remodeling.

CXCL4-induced plaque macrophages can be specifically identified by co-expression of MMP7+S100A8+ in vitro and in vivo.

Macrophage heterogeneity in human atherosclerotic plaques has been recognized; however, markers for unequivocal identification of some subtypes are lacking. We found that the platelet chemokine CXCL4 induces a unique macrophage phenotype, which we proposed to call 'M4'. Here, we sought to identify suitable markers that identify M4 macrophages in vitro and in vivo.

An in vitro model to study heterogeneity of human macrophage differentiation and polarization.

Monocyte-derived macrophages represent an important cell type of the innate immune system. Mouse models studying macrophage biology suffer from the phenotypic and functional differences between murine and human monocyte-derived macrophages. Therefore, we here describe an in vitro model to generate and study primary human macrophages.