[Usefulness, timing and modality of ECG stress testing after myocardial revascularization].

Myocardial revascularization in patients with stable ischemic heart disease aims at eliminating myocardial ischemia, in order to (i) relieve anginal symptoms; (ii) improve functional capacity; and, possibly, (iii) improve prognosis. Given that ischemic recurrences are relatively common in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization, an appropriate follow-up is needed as part of a secondary prevention program. Stress testing can be here useful to: (i) detect residual or recurrent ischemia/angina; (ii) define functional capacity in order to establish physical aerobic training individualized programs; (iii) stratify prognosis.

The value of imaging in subclinical coronary artery disease.

Although the treatment of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) has advanced considerably, the ability to detect, predict, and prevent complications of atherosclerotic plaques, considered the main cause of ACS, remains elusive. Several imaging tools have therefore been developed to characterize morphological determinants of plaque vulnerability, defined as the propensity or probability of plaques to complicate with coronary thrombosis, able to predict patients at risk. By utilizing both intravascular and noninvasive imaging tools, indeed prospective longitudinal studies have recently provided considerable knowledge, increasing our understanding of determinants of plaque formation, progression, and instabilization.

Reduction of atherothrombotic burden before stent deployment in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes: Reduction of myocardial necrosis achieved with nose-dive manual thrombus aspiration (REMNANT) trial. A volumetric intravascular ultrasound study.

Objectives: To test whether thrombus aspiration (TA) reduces the atherosclerotic burden in culprit lesions and "facilitate" percutaneous coronary intervention with stent (S-PCI) among patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS).

Background: Evidence on the effects of TA adjunctive to S-PCI in NSTE-ACS is limited and controversial.

Methods: TA was defined "aggressive" when using 7F devices or a catheter/artery ratio >0.