Effects of deferred versus immediate stenting on left ventricular function in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Previous studies have shown conflicting results on the benefits of deferred stenting (DS) in infarct size and the incidence of microvascular obstruction in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, effect of DS on left ventricular (LV) function was not known. We aimed to evaluate whether DS improve LV function and relevant clinical outcomes after STEMI, using follow-up data from the INNOVATION study (NCT02324348).

Physiological and clinical relevance of anomalous right coronary artery originating from left sinus of Valsalva in adults.

Objective: To examine physiological and clinical relevance of an anomalous right coronary artery originating from left sinus of Valsalva (right ACAOS) with interarterial course in adults.

Methods And Results: For physiological assessment, fractional flow reserve (FFR) during dobutamine challenge was measured in 37 consecutive adult patients with lone right ACAOS with interarterial course. At baseline, mean FFR was 0.

Benefit of complete revascularization in patients with multivessel coronary disease in the drug-eluting stent era.

Background: The benefit of complete (CR) vs. incomplete revascularization (IR) with drug-eluting stent (DES), unlike with bypass grafting, is not well established in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD).

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients from a single center DES registry who were newly diagnosed as having MVD and who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention between March 2003 and December 2009 were traced for the occurrence of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and repeat revascularization.

Effects of the aging process on left ventricular systolic and diastolic synchronicity indexes: insights from 160 "completely" healthy volunteers.

Background: Growing attempt to use left ventricular (LV) systolic (LVSIsys) and diastolic (LVSIdia) synchronicity indexes in the process of selecting potential responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy has created a need for normative reference values.

Hypothesis: This study sought: (1) to determine normal reference ranges for LVSIsys and LVSIdia, and (2) to assess their relationships to age and conventional parameters reflecting LV systolic and diastolic functions.

Methods: We recruited 160 healthy volunteers (104 men) free of any systemic or cardiovascular disease.

Long-term outcome of adjunctive celecoxib treatment after paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation for the complex coronary lesions: two-year clinical follow-up of COREA-TAXUS trial.

Background: In the COREA-TAXUS trial ("Effect of Celecoxib On REstenosis after coronary Angioplasty with a TAXUS stent"), celecoxib reduced late luminal loss and adverse cardiac events at follow-up around 6 months. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term outcome of short-term adjunctive celecoxib treatment after paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation.

Methods And Results: This is a 2-year clinical follow-up of the COREA-TAXUS trial, an open-label randomized controlled study.

'Real world' comparison of drug-eluting stents vs bare metal stents in the treatment of unselected patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Concerns exist regarding the long-term efficacy and safety of drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The study aimed to compare the mid- to long-term outcomes of DES vs bare metal stents (BMS) in patients with STEMI in a real-world setting.

Methods And Results: Six hundred and eighty four consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention from January 2003 to December 2006 were analyzed; 539 patients (78.

Renal dysfunction and high levels of hsCRP are additively associated with hard endpoints after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug eluting stents.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and high C-reactive protein (CRP) are known risk factors of cardiovascular disease. In the drug eluting stent (DES) era, the relationship among CKD, CRP, and long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not yet been demonstrated. We investigated the combined effects of renal dysfunction and CRP on outcomes in patients who underwent PCI using DES.

Comparison of triple antiplatelet therapy including triflusal and conventional dual therapy in patients who underwent drug-eluting stent implantation.

Triflusal is a derivative of acetylsalicylic acid but it exhibits different pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties. The object of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of additional use of triflusal in patients who underwent drug-eluting stent implantation. First, we prospectively tested platelet function with a rapid platelet function analyzer (VerifyNow-Aspirin) in patients with stable angina (male, age, 61.

Determinants of surgical outcome in patients with isolated tricuspid regurgitation.

Background: We sought to identify preoperative predictors of clinical outcomes after surgery in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation.

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled 61 consecutive patients (54 women, aged 57+/-9 years) with isolated severe tricuspid regurgitation undergoing corrective surgery. Twenty-one patients (34%) were in New York Heart Association functional class II, 35 (57%) in class III, and 5 (9%) in class IV.

Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 gene polymorphism is associated with atherothrombotic complication after drug-eluting stent implantation: 2-Center prospective cohort study.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms of vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) was reported to have association with arterial vascular disease. We investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphism of VKORC1 +2255 is associated with clinical outcomes among patients who underwent drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

Methods: We prospectively collected genomic DNA in patients who underwent DES deployment from September 2003 to December 2006 and compared clinical outcomes according to their VKORC1 genotype at the locus + 2255 (rs 2359612).

The incidence and predictors of postprocedural incomplete stent apposition after angiographically successful drug-eluting stent implantation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of postprocedural incomplete stent apposition (ISA) after angiographically successful drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

Background: The deployed stents are usually evaluated by angiography alone; however, there are possibilities of postprocedural ISA despite the angiographically successful implantation.

Methods: A total of 339 lesions in which poststent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed after successful DES implantation was included.

N-acetylcysteine versus AScorbic acid for preventing contrast-Induced nephropathy in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing coronary angiography NASPI study-a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a leading cause of hospital-acquired renal failure and affects mortality and morbidity. There has been no study comparing the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and ascorbic acid that have potential for CIN prevention in patients with renal insufficiency.

Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Development of tricuspid regurgitation late after left-sided valve surgery: a single-center experience with long-term echocardiographic examinations.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the incidence and identify the predictors of significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) development long after left-sided valve surgery.

Methods: Of 615 patients who underwent surgery for left-sided valve disease between 1992 and 1995, 335 patients without significant TR who completed at least 5 years of clinical and echocardiographic follow-up were enrolled. Late significant TR development was assessed by echocardiography with a mean follow-up duration of 11.

Prevention of radiocontrast medium-induced nephropathy using short-term high-dose simvastatin in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing coronary angiography (PROMISS) trial--a randomized controlled study.

Background: Contrast media cause oxidative stress, which has been suggested as one possible mechanism responsible for contrast-induced nephropathy. Statins appear to have pleiotropic effects, including antioxidant properties. We investigated to determine whether simvastatin pretreatment reduces the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy in a high-risk population of patients with renal insufficiency undergoing coronary angiography.

Pneumatic lower extremity compression during dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Background: Afterload is expected to increase with pneumatic compression of the lower extremities. There are left ventricular (LV) wall stress, which is the most important factor determining myocardial oxygen demand, will also increase, leading to an increase in the sensitivity of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) or a shortened time to a positive response.

Methods And Results: In 40 patients who underwent DSE and were anticipating undergoing coronary angiography (CAG), the imaging was repeated with pneumatic compression (100 mmHg) of the lower extremities (DSEcomp) prior to CAG.

Clinical validity of longitudinal pre-ejectional myocardial velocity for identifying the transmural extent of viable myocardium: early after reperfusion of an infarct-related coronary artery.

Background: Positive longitudinal pre-ejectional velocity (+PEVL) was recently reported to be a reliable index of myocardial recovery early after successful revascularization in myocardial infarction (MI); that is, it recognizes the transmural extent of viable myocardium. The applicability of PEVL in the real-world clinical setting for identifying the transmural extent of viable myocardium in reperfused recent MI was assessed.

Methods And Results: Using tissue Doppler imaging, the resting basal and mid myocardial PEVLs were determined within 3 days after revascularization in 41 consecutive patients with recent MI.

Hemodynamic and prognostic implications of net atrioventricular compliance in patients with mitral stenosis.

Background: On the basis of the close association of left atrial compliance with pulmonary hypertension in patients with mitral stenosis, we hypothesized that: (1) Doppler-derived net atrioventricular compliance (C(n)) can be used for predicting the occurrence of mitral valve (MV) replacement or percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC); and (2) determinants of exercise capacity are variable depending on C(n).

Methods: We consecutively enrolled 26 patients (22 women; mean age, 47.0 +/- 6.

Echocardiographic and hemodynamic findings in patients with mitral stenosis undergoing percutaneous mitral commissurotomy comparing those with chronic atrial fibrillation versus those with normal sinus rhythm.

Chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in patients with mitral stenosis (MS). Because AF induces electrical and mechanical remodeling of the left atrium, left atrial (LA) compliance is likely to be changed in its presence. This study was performed to investigate the influence of AF on LA compliance in patients with moderate to severe MS.

Effect of celecoxib on restenosis after coronary angioplasty with a Taxus stent (COREA-TAXUS trial): an open-label randomised controlled study.

Background: In-vitro and animal experiments have shown that the cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitor celecoxib can reduce formation of neointima within stents. We aimed to test whether celecoxib has similar effects in a clinical setting.

Methods: In a randomised two-centre trial, we enrolled 274 patients who had angina pectoris or a positive stress test and who had native coronary artery lesions for which implantation of paclitaxel-eluting stents was feasible.

Sirolimus-eluting stent showed better one-year outcomes than paclitaxel-eluting stent in a real life setting of coronary intervention in Koreans.

Objective: The drug-eluting stent (DES) has been proven its efficacy in randomized trials. But the difference of efficacy between sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) in unselected patients is in controversy. Therefore, we investigated the clinical and angiographic outcomes of these two types of the DES.

Hemodynamic effects of tachycardia in patients with relaxation abnormality: abnormal stroke volume response as an overlooked mechanism of dyspnea associated with tachycardia in diastolic heart failure.

Background: Prevention of tachycardia is an important therapeutic strategy in patients with relaxation abnormality.

Methods: Eleven patients with stable relaxation abnormality (group 1) and 8 healthy individuals (group 2) were enrolled. Left ventricular (LV) mean diastolic pressure, LV dimensions, stroke volume (SV), and LV ejection, filling, and isovolumic times between right atrial pacing rates of 80 and 120/min were compared.

Assessment of left ventricular rotation and torsion with two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background: Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) has a unique feature of angle independence and, thus, may provide a powerful means of assessing left ventricular (LV) torsion (LVtor). The aims of this study were to assess: (1) the feasibility of 2-dimensional STE in the measurement of LVtor; and (2) the relationship of LVtor with age and conventional echocardiographic parameters.

Methods: We consecutively recruited 160 healthy volunteers.

Renal toxicity evaluation and comparison between visipaque (iodixanol) and hexabrix (ioxaglate) in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing coronary angiography: the RECOVER study: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: This study sought to compare the nephrotoxicity of iodixanol and ioxaglate in patients with renal impairment undergoing coronary angiography.

Background: Iodixanol, a nonionic, dimeric, iso-osmolar contrast medium (IOCM), may be less nephrotoxic than low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM) in high-risk patients.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized trial in 300 adults with creatinine clearance (CrCl) < or =60 ml/min, patients received either iodixanol or ioxaglate and underwent coronary angiography with or without percutaneous coronary intervention.

Prediction of outcome in patients undergoing surgery for severe tricuspid regurgitation following mitral valve surgery and role of tricuspid annular systolic velocity.

This study was performed to identify echocardiographic parameters related to postoperative clinical outcome in patients who undergo surgery for severe tricuspid regurgitation after mitral valve surgery. Eighteen patients (2 men, 16 women; mean age 58 years) were prospectively enrolled. Echocardiographic examinations were performed before and 15 +/- 7 months after surgery.