[Long-term outcome of patients undergoing recanalization procedures for chronic total coronary occlusion].

Objective: To compare the long-term outcomes of patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), or medical therapy for treatment of chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO).

Methods: The patients with CTO were selected from a consecutive cohort of patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) between 2008 and 2009. The patients with multiple CAG were excluded.

Calculation of Coronary Angiographic Total Blush in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and its Prognostic Implication.

Background: Myocardial perfusion grade (MPG) is an accepted method of evaluating myocardial perfusion. However, it does not take into the account, the extent of the perfusion. We hypothesized that myocardial blush area times MPG (total blush) would be more accurate than simple MPG, and yield better prognostic information.

[Impact of coronary computed tomography angiography on patient triage strategies].

Objective: To investigate the triaging pathways of patients after coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods: The patients undergoing CCTA were enrolled consecutively during the period from March 3, 2008 to June 23, 2009. The rate of coronary angiography (CAG) examinations after CCTA was calculated.

Neovascularization in the carotid atherosclerotic plaque is not associated with inflammatory cell aggregation.

Background: Monocytes and macrophages in atherosclerotic plaque lead to plaque instability. The aim of the study was to determine if plaque neovascularization led to inflammation.

Methods: Patients were consecutively enrolled if their carotid intimal media thickness was > 2 mm, as revealed by duplex ultrasound.

Correlation between major adverse cardiac events and coronary plaque characteristics.

Background: Unstable plaque is believed to be responsible for major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

Objective: To determine whether coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) could be used to predict future MACE.

Methods: Patients undergoing CCTA between January 2008 and February 2010 were consecutively enrolled in the study.

Four-year clinical outcome in asymptomatic patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is indicated for angina with coronary stenosis. However, PCI for asymptomatic coronary stenosis remains controversial. We prospectively followed a group of patients for four years who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

Comparison of coronary angiography-assisted and computed coronary tomography angiography-assisted recanalisation of coronary chronic total occlusion.

Background: Computed coronary tomography angiography (CCTA) provides an alternative to coronary angiography (CAG) and a complementary way of imaging.

Objective: To determine whether CT assistance might help increase the recanalisation rate of coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO).

Method: Two experienced physicians took part in the study-one specialised in both CCTA and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and the other had PCI experience only and no knowledge of CCTA.

[Coronary plaques identified by coronary computed tomography angiography and the risk factors for major adverse cardiac events: a correlation analysis].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the findings by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and the risk factors for major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

Methods: This cohort study involved 706 out-patients who received examination with CCTA between June, 2008 and April, 2011. The severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) was graded to normal, mild, moderate, severe, and revascularization.

[Evaluation of carotid artery plaque stability with ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography].

Objective: To assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) in evaluating the stability of carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: Seventeen patients with 21 carotid artery plaques received examinations with CEUS. According to the nature of the plaques, the patients were divided into soft and mixed plaque group and hard and calcified plaque group.

Correlation between acute coronary syndrome classification and multi-detector CT characterization of plaque.

Objective: To determine if multi-detector CT (MDCT) characterization of plaque is correlated with the classification of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: Altogether 1900 patients were examined by MDCT from December 2007 to May 2009, of whom 95 patients fulfilled the criteria of ACS. Those patients were divided into the discrete plaque group ( n=61) and diffuse plaque group ( n=34) based on the findings in MDCT.

The combination of 64 multislice CT angiography and optical coherence tomography optimally characterizes coronary plaques.

Objective: The European Society of Cardiology designated 2008 as the year of imaging. However, despite the intense focus on the many types of imaging and the relative benefits of each one, the optimal modalityfor the diagnosis of coronary artery disease remains controversial. Among the currently available techniques, coronary angiography (CA) is the most widely used.

[Correlation of heart and kidney biomarkers to the pathogenesis of cardiorenal syndrome].

Objective: The analyze the correlation of heart and kidney biomarkers to different heart and kidney diseases and explore the pathogenesis and classification of cardiorenal syndrome.

Methods: This study involved 841 consecutive patients (600 males and 241 females) admitted between January, 2008 and May, 2008, who underwent NT-ProBNP and creatinine tests during hospitalization. The patients were classified according to the clinical diagnosis at the admission and to the status of the heart and kidney biomarkers.