The Role of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in the Diagnosis, Risk Stratification, and Management of Patients with Diabetes and Chest Pain.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) affects over 200 million individuals globally, accounting for approximately 9 million deaths annually. Patients living with diabetes mellitus exhibit an up to fourfold increased risk of developing CAD compared to individuals without diabetes. Furthermore, CAD is responsible for 40 to 80 percent of the observed mortality rates among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Clinicopathological significance of MMP-2 and its specific inhibitor TIMP-2 in gastric cancer.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can degrade type IV collagen of extracellular matrices and basal membranes and thus play a key role in the migration of malignant cells. In vivo, MMPs are inhibited by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Since in a previous study we showed that the expression of MMP-2 correlates with clinicopathological parameters in gastric cancer, we have now investigated a possible correlation of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 expression with survival in gastric cancer, as well as the possible association of TIMP-2 with clinicopathological parameters.

Expression of MMP-2 is associated with progression and lymph node metastasis of gastric carcinoma.

Aims: One important step in tumour invasion is the penetration of the basement membrane. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a key role in the migration of normal and malignant cells through the basement membrane. The aim of this study was to investigate correlations between matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) immunoreactivity and currently used classification systems and possible relationships between lymph node metastasis and MMP-2 expression.

Angiographic and procedural outcome after coronary angioplasty in high-risk subsets using a decremental diameter (tapered) balloon catheter. Tapered Balloon Registry Investigators.

The angiographic and clinical outcomes of 115 patients (129 lesions) treated at 11 clinical centers using a decremental diameter (tapered) balloon catheter were evaluated. The presence of marked tapering of the reference vessel, lesion location involving a bifurcation or anastomosis of a saphenous vein graft, or total coronary occlusion where estimation of the distal vessel size was difficult were indications for this device. The tapered balloon was used as the initial dilatation device in 62 patients (73 narrowings), and as a secondary device in 53 patients (56 narrowings).

Alpha-adrenergic regulation of splanchnic volume and cardiac output in the dog.

The present study examined whether alpha-adrenergic stimulation causes a change in splanchnic intravascular volume in the anaesthetized animal with an intact circulation, which region(s) mediate the volume change, and whether the splanchnic volume change influences cardiac output. In order to ascertain that a radionuclide imaging technique could be used to assess total splanchnic volume changes, drugs known to increase or decrease splanchnic volume were infused on 21 occasions in eight dogs studied under conditions of selective perfusion and drainage of the splanchnic vasculature with erythrocytes labelled with 99Tcm and a gamma camera placed over the abdomen. For these 21 infusions, volume and radionuclide count changes were related: r greater than or equal to 0.

Predictors of success in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of chronic total occlusions.

Earlier studies have indicated that percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of chronic total occlusions has a low success rate. To determine success rate and assess clinical and angiographic variables associated with success and complications, 57 total occlusions in 56 patients undergoing PTCA were analyzed. The clinical duration of occlusion was 51 +/- 86 days.