Publications by authors named "Frank Kolodgie"

We evaluated a novel dual active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) drug-coated balloon (DCB), which consists of a coating of nanoparticles encapsulating low-dose paclitaxel (PTX) in combination with sirolimus in a synergistic ratio. Compared to the PTX DCB, the dual API DCB demonstrated similar inhibition of cell proliferation in vitro but at a significantly lower total drug dose (over 13 times lower than sirolimus nanoparticles). Animal experiments demonstrated that the dual API DCB is more effective in inhibiting intimal cell proliferation with insignificant downstream embolic effects and myocardial damage compared to the PTX DCB.

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Background: Cell phenotype switching is increasingly being recognized in atherosclerosis. However, our understanding of the exact stimuli for such cellular transformations and their significance for human atherosclerosis is still evolving. Intraplaque hemorrhage is thought to be a major contributor to plaque progression in part by stimulating the influx of CD163 macrophages.

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Background: During the transition from dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT), previous studies have raised concerns about a rebound effect. We compared platelet and inflammatory cell adhesion on different types of stents in the setting of clopidogrel presence and withdrawal.

Methods: In Experiment 1, three pigs were administered with DAPT, that is, clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), for 7 days.

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  • Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) can enhance predictions of coronary artery disease (CAD) risk, and this study investigates their link to histopathologic features of CAD based on autopsy data from 4327 sudden death cases.
  • The analysis involved 954 participants, revealing that those with the highest PRS quintile exhibited significantly worse atherosclerosis characteristics, such as higher %stenosis and greater calcification rates, even when accounting for traditional risk factors.
  • The study concludes that individuals in the highest PRS quintile are at a markedly increased risk of severe atherosclerosis and CAD-related death, especially in those aged 50 and below.
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  • A study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between polygenic risk scores (PRS) for coronary artery disease (CAD) and the severity of atherosclerosis in subjects who died suddenly.
  • From over 4,300 subjects, 954 cases were analyzed, revealing that those in the highest PRS quintile exhibited more severe atherosclerosis and higher rates of critical plaque features compared to those in the lowest quintile.
  • The findings suggest that higher PRS is linked to increased odds of severe atherosclerosis and CAD-related deaths, particularly in younger individuals, marking a significant advancement in understanding CAD risk factors.
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Purpose: To evaluate the incidence of distal embolism and local vascular responses after treatment with the Kanshas drug-coated balloon (DCB) in a preclinical model.

Materials And Methods: A total of 90 femoral arteries from 35 healthy swine were treated with a single-dose (×1) or triple-dose (×3) Kanshas DCB that applies the Unicoat technology with 3.2 μg/mm of paclitaxel.

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  • Researchers discovered that CD163+ macrophages, which respond to hemorrhages in plaques, have an inverse relationship with VC, suggesting they may help inhibit calcification.
  • The study highlighted that these macrophages regulate VC via NF-κB signaling and enhance the production of hyaluronan, an important component of the extracellular matrix, impacting plaque stability and development.
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Background: Neighborhood disadvantage is associated with a higher risk of sudden cardiac death. However, autopsy findings have never been investigated in this context. Here, we sought to explore associations between neighborhood disadvantage and cardiovascular findings at autopsy in cases of sudden death in the State of Maryland.

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Background/purpose: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in the presence of metallic permanent stents may be challenging. We explored the feasibility of performing CABG in 1-year Magmaris resorbable scaffold implants in healthy Yucatan pigs.

Methods/materials: One animal received Magmaris 3.

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Purpose Of Review: The importance of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women has long been underestimated. Therefore, we need to understand the impact of sex differences on CVD.

Recent Findings: Traditional risk factors contribute to coronary artery disease (CAD) differently in women and men.

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MI is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Coronary artery thrombosis is the final pathologic feature of the most cases of acute MI primarily caused by atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The concept of vulnerable plaque has evolved over the years but originated from early pioneering work unveiling the crucial role of plaque rupture and subsequent coronary thrombosis as the dominant cause of MI.

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Introduction: Late stent thrombosis caused by delayed vascular healing and prolonged local inflammation were major drawbacks of 1 generation drug-eluting stents (DES). Strut design, biocompatibility of polymer, and drug-release profiles were improved in 2 and 3rdgeneration DES. Accordingly, the indications for percutaneous coronary intervention with DES have been expanded to more complex patients and lesions.

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Introduction: Cerebrovascular events are one of the most serious consequences after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). More than half of the cerebrovascular events following TAVR are due to procedure-related emboli. Embolic protection devices (EPDs) have the potential to decrease cerebrovascular events during TAVR procedure.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Recent studies indicate the potential benefits of 1-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for patients using drug-eluting stents (DES), focusing on the thromboresistance of different stent types under single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT).
  • - The study compared the thrombogenicity of fluoropolymer-coated everolimus-eluting stent (FP-EES), BioLinx polymer zotarolimus-eluting stent (BL-ZES), and biodegradable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (BP-EES) using swine models and confocal microscopy techniques.
  • - Findings showed that FP-EES had significantly lower platelet and inflammatory cell adhesion than the other stents, suggesting
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OBJECTIVE: Healing processes, particularly reendothelialization, are essential for vascular homeostasis after plain old balloon angioplasty and stent implantation. Drug-eluting stents (DES) are commonly used for percutaneous coronary intervention because restenosis rates are reduced as compared with bare metal stents (BMS). However, in addition to understanding the nature of regenerated endothelial cells, concerns over incomplete stent healing persist, and the molecular effects of antiproliferative drug coatings on endothelium remain poorly understood.

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  • Sudden cardiac death (SCD) without an explanation is linked to genetic factors, but the relationship between specific genetic variants and unexplained SCD in White and African American adults has not been thoroughly studied before.
  • A study involving 683 participants (413 with sequenced DNA) examined the frequency of pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in genes related to inherited cardiomyopathies and arrhythmia syndromes among those who died from unexplained SCD.
  • The results revealed that 18.4% of participants carried P/LP variants; predominantly, these were linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and long QT syndrome, highlighting a significant connection between genetic risk factors and unexpl
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Background: In peripheral artery disease, two different types of calcification are frequently observed, i.e., medial and intimal calcification.

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Catheter-based renal denervation is a novel treatment approach for patients with hypertension and initial unblinded trials have shown promising results. The Paradise™ Ultrasound Renal Denervation System (ReCor Medical, CA, USA) is an ultrasound-based catheter with a distal balloon that acts as a coolant to protect the renal arterial wall. This device received CE-mark in 2012.

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Background: Calcified nodule (CN) has a unique plaque morphology, in which an area of nodular calcification causes disruption of the fibrous cap with overlying luminal thrombus. CN is reported to be the least frequent cause of acute coronary thrombosis, and the pathogenesis of CN has not been well studied.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive morphologic assessment of the CN in addition to providing an evolutionary perspective as to how CN causes acute coronary thrombosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

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Purpose: To compare the long-term vascular healing responses of healthy swine iliofemoral arteries treated with a polymer-free paclitaxel-eluting stent (Z-PES, Zilver PTX) or a fluoropolymer-based paclitaxel-eluting stent (FP-PES, Eluvia).

Materials And Methods: Bilateral iliofemoral arteries in 20 swine were treated with a Z-PES (n = 16) or a FP-PES (n = 24) and were examined histologically at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.

Results: Morphometric analysis revealed larger external and internal elastic lamina, stent expansion, and lumen area in the FP-PES than in the Z-PES at all timepoints.

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  • The study aimed to investigate the distribution of nerves around human accessory renal arteries (ARAs) to better understand their anatomy, which is important for blood pressure control via renal denervation.
  • Researchers evaluated tissues from human autopsies and found that ARAs had significantly fewer nerves compared to dominant renal arteries (DRAs), with numbers varying based on the size of the ARA.
  • The findings suggest that targeting larger ARAs during ablation could enhance nerve removal, potentially leading to better blood pressure management.
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: In-stent restenosis (ISR) has been one of the biggest limitations to the success of percutaneous coronary intervention for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). The introduction of drug-eluting stent (DES) was a revolution in the treatment of CAD because these devices drastically reduced ISR to very low levels (<5%). Subsequently, newer generation DES treatments have overcome the drawbacks of first-generation DES, i.

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Background: Short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is a suitable strategy after stent implantation especially in patients at high risk for bleeding. The thromboresistant characteristics and the healing profile permanent polymer stents such as the Resolute Onyx- drug-eluting stent (DES) has never been tested against the current approved stents for short-term DAPT, the polymer free (PF) biolimus-eluting stent (PF-BES) and bare metal stents (BMS) in dedicated preclinical models.

Methods: An ex-vivo porcine arteriovenous shunt and in-vivo flow loop model were used to evaluate thromboresistance.

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Background: Chronic activation of the innate immune system drives inflammation and contributes directly to atherosclerosis. We previously showed that macrophages in the atherogenic plaque undergo RIPK3 (receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3)-MLKL (mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein)-dependent programmed necroptosis in response to sterile ligands such as oxidized low-density lipoprotein and damage-associated molecular patterns and that necroptosis is active in advanced atherosclerotic plaques. Upstream of the RIPK3-MLKL necroptotic machinery lies RIPK1 (receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1), which acts as a master switch that controls whether the cell undergoes NF-κB (nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells)-dependent inflammation, caspase-dependent apoptosis, or necroptosis in response to extracellular stimuli.

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