Variable histological and ultrasonic characteristics of restenosis after drug-eluting stents.

Bare-metal stents have undergone intense pathological and clinical examination, but histological characterization of drug-eluting stent (DES) restenosis (ISR) remains unknown. We report a series of cases (n=6) with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and pathological examinations over 8 months after DES deployment. Tissue samples were obtained using atherectomy devices in 5 cases and a thrombectomy catheter in 1 case.

Attenuation of autoimmune myocarditis in rats by mesenchymal stem cell transplantation through enhanced expression of hepatocyte growth factor.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have various effects, including angiogenic, myogenic, and paracrine actions. In this study, we determined whether MSC transplantation attenuates experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). The mechanisms involved were also investigated.

Diagnostic accuracy of quantitative cardiac MRI evaluation compared to stress single-photon-emission computed tomography.

Background: Cardiac MRI (cMRI) perfusion is a promising non-invasive tool to assess myocardial ischemia. The accuracy of quantitative cMRI perfusion has been recently demonstrated, but to date no previous study has compared this technique with stress single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) based on cMRI compared with SPECT.

Quantitative magnetic resonance perfusion imaging detects anatomic and physiologic coronary artery disease as measured by coronary angiography and fractional flow reserve.

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of quantitative perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to assess the hemodynamic significance of coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with well-established anatomic and physiologic techniques.

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is considered by many investigators to be a reliable stenosis-specific method to determine hemodynamically significant CAD. Quantitative perfusion CMR is a promising noninvasive approach to detect CAD but has yet to be validated against FFR.

Evaluation of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging parameters to detect anatomically and hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance (cMR) perfusion imaging is a promising technique to assess coronary artery disease (CAD). Our objective was to evaluate accuracy of various cMR imaging parameters to detect significant CAD as compared with angiography or fractional flow reserve (FFR).

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 37 patients who underwent coronary angiography, FFR, and cMR perfusion imaging.

Angiographic and 3D intravascular ultrasound assessment of overlapping bare metal stent and three different formulations of drug-eluting stents in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of overlapping bare-metal stent (BMS) and three different formulations of drug-eluting stent (DES) on intimal hyperplasia (IH) response of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: Forty-nine DM patients treated with overlapping BMS (19 lesions), sirolimus-eluting stent (SES 12 lesions), paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES 8 lesions) or tacrolimus-eluting stent (TES 10 lesions) were studied. Baseline and 9-month follow-up volumetric intravascular vascular ultrasound (IVUS) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) analysis were performed in the entire stented segment and in the overlapped (OL) and non-overlapped (non-OL) subsegments.

Characterization of plaque prolapse after drug-eluting stent implantation in diabetic patients: a three-dimensional volumetric intravascular ultrasound outcome study.

Objectives: The aim of this research was to evaluate the plaque prolapse (PP) phenomenon after bare-metal (BMS) and drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with diabetes mellitus using 3-dimensional volumetric intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Background: Plaque prolapse has been observed in up to 22% of patients treated with BMS. Diabetic patients have a larger atherothrombotic burden and may be more prone to have PP.

Quantitative contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of peripheral arterial disease: a comparative study versus standard digital angiography.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of semiautomated analysis of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in patients who have undergone standard angiographic evaluation for peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

Background: Magnetic resonance angiography is an important tool for evaluating PVD. Although this technique is both safe and noninvasive, the accuracy and reproducibility of quantitative measurements of disease severity using MRA in the clinical setting have not been fully investigated.

Hepatocyte growth factor: Effects on immune-mediated heart diseases.

There is growing evidence of the potential role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in various cardiovascular diseases. In addition to the beneficial effects of HGF in myocardial infarction, heart failure, and occlusive peripheral arterial disease, administration of HGF effectively suppresses acute and chronic cardiac allograft rejection and autoimmune myocarditis. The present review summarizes recent advances in the utility of HGF for heart diseases, especially immune-mediated heart diseases.

Tea catechins improve left ventricular dysfunction, suppress myocardial inflammation and fibrosis, and alter cytokine expression in rat autoimmune myocarditis.

Background: Myocarditis is a clinically serious disease. Tea catechins have been shown to reduce inflammation; however the effects of catechins on the development of myocarditis have not been well studied.

Aims: To clarify the role of catechins, using an experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) model.

Utility of gallium-67 scintigraphy for evaluation of cardiac sarcoidosis with ventricular tachycardia.

Background: The outcome of cardiac sarcoidosis is sometimes very poor. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) associated with cardiac sarcoidosis is the most common cause of sudden death among most patients. However, there is no established method for potential VT in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.

A CCR1 antagonist prevents the development of experimental autoimmune myocarditis in association with T cell inactivation.

Chemokines play an important role in induction of chemotaxis of immune cells. CCR1 is a chemokine receptor expressed on neutrophils, monocytes, and T lymphocytes. The role of CCR1 in immunity is not well examined.

"Head-to-head comparison between sirolimus-eluting and paclitaxel-eluting stents in patients with complex coronary artery disease: an intravascular ultrasound study".

Background: The aim of this study was to assess neointimal hyperplasia following sirolimus-eluting (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) implantation in a patients with complex coronary disease.

Method: Between January to December 2004, 70 patients were enrolled in this study (SES = 37; PES = 33. The primary objective was to assess the efficacy of SES and PES on neointimal proliferation inhibition in patients with complex coronary lesions by volumetric 3D intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) assessment at six-month follow-up.

A cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor alters Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and suppresses autoimmune myocarditis in rats.

Acute myocarditis is a clinically serious disease; however, no effective treatment has been elucidated. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is a key factor for progression of inflammation. Although inflammation is an essential pathological feature of acute myocarditis, the role of COX-2 in this process remains unclear.

Hepatocyte growth factor ameliorates the progression of experimental autoimmune myocarditis: a potential role for induction of T helper 2 cytokines.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays a role in cell protection, antiapoptosis, antifibrosis, and angiogenesis. However, the role of HGF in the immune system is not well defined. We examined the influence of HGF on T cells and the effects of HGF therapy in acute myocarditis.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor attenuates experimental autoimmune myocarditis through inhibition of T cell activation.

Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor affects T cell-mediated autoimmunity through inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB) and reduces the severity of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM).

Methods: EAM was induced in Lewis rats by immunization with myosin. High-dose or low-dose fluvastatin or vehicle was administered orally for 3 weeks to rats with EAM.

Blockade of the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1 accelerates graft arterial disease in cardiac allografts.

Background: Programmed death-1 (PD-1), a member of the CD28 family, has been identified. PD-1 is involved in the negative regulation of some immune responses. We evaluated the role of PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in graft arterial disease (GAD) of cardiac allografts and in smooth muscle cells (SMCs).

Gene therapy for heart transplantation-associated acute rejection, ischemia/reperfusion injury and coronary arteriosclerosis.

Acute cardiac allograft rejection is still a major complication after heart transplantation. Acute rejection usually responds to conventional immunosuppressants, however, the nonspecific nature of the immunosuppression and the toxicities of the drugs can be life threatening and may compromise the recipient's quality of life. In addition, cardiac allograft arteriosclerosis or chronic rejection limits the long-term survival of recipients.

Attenuation of graft arterial disease by manipulation of the LIGHT pathway.

Objective: The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily member LIGHT, which binds herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) and lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTbetaR), plays important roles in regulating the immune response. To clarify the mechanism underlying graft arterial disease (GAD), we investigated the role of the LIGHT pathway in the progression of GAD.

Methods And Results: Hearts from Bm12 mice were transplanted into C57BL/6 (B/6) mice (class II mismatch).

Attenuation of experimental autoimmune myocarditis by blocking activated T cells through inducible costimulatory molecule pathway.

Objective: Inducible costimulator (ICOS) is a member of the CD28 family. Although inflammation is an essential pathological feature of myocarditis, the role of ICOS in myocarditis remains unclear.

Methods And Results: Lewis rats were immunized on day 0 with purified porcine cardiac myosin to establish experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM).