Myocardial injury after orbital atherectomy and its association with coronary lesion length.

Background: Limited data are available regarding myocardial injury and its risk factors in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of severe calcified lesions using orbital atherectomy (OA).

Methods: Patients who underwent OA at our institution were retrospectively enrolled into the present registry. High-sensitive Troponin I (hsTroponin I), EKG and echocardiography were used to assess myocardial injury after the procedure.

Impact of Routine Invasive Physiology at Time of Angiography in Patients With Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease on Reclassification of Revascularization Strategy: Results From the DEFINE REAL Study.

Objectives: This study sought to prospectively assess the impact of routine invasive physiology at the time of angiography on reclassification of therapeutic management of multivessel disease (MVD) patients, and to assess how implementation of instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) alters the process.

Background: Routine invasive physiology in intermediate coronary lesions at the time of diagnostic angiography, primarily in patients with single-vessel disease and using fractional flow reserve (FFR), reclassifies coronary revascularization management in 26% to 44% of patients. The role of invasive physiology in patients with MVD is unclear.

REduction of THRomboembolic EVents during Ablation using the laserballoon: The RETHREVA registry.

Introduction: Cerebral events (CEs), including silent (SCEs), are a known complication of left atrial catheter ablation (LACA) in patients with atrial fibrillation. The aim of this prospective registry was to gain more information about CEs during laserballoon LACA and to reduce the risk of their occurrence.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 74 patients (age 61 ± 11 years; 74% male; CHA DS -VASc 1.

[German ophthalmology in developing countries : Partnerships with eye clinics in developing countries - an initiative of the German Ophthalmological Society].

In 1999 the global initiative "Vision 2020 - The Right to Sight" was established by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the goal of reducing avoidable blindness. Based on this initiative, the working group "International Ophthalmology" of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG), which was established in 1994, was converted into a DOG section with the same name in 2004 and represents one of the core components of the DOG; however, even before there were a number of established partnerships of German and African eye hospitals. The first cooperation of this kind was the partnership between the Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich and the University of Nairobi, Kenya, which was founded in 1978.

First generation versus second generation drug-eluting stents for the treatment of bifurcations: 5-year follow-up of the LEADERS all-comers randomized trial.

Background: Historically, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of bifurcation lesions was associated with worse procedural and clinical outcomes when compared with PCI of non-bifurcation lesions. Newer generation drug-eluting stents (DES) might improve long-term clinical outcomes after bifurcation PCI.

Methods And Results: The LEADERS trial was a 10-center, assessor-blind, non-inferiority, all-comers trial, randomizing 1,707 patients to treatment with a biolimus A9(TM) -eluting stent (BES) with an abluminal biodegradable polymer or a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) with a durable polymer (ClinicalTrials.

[Tropical ophthalmology : Intraocular inflammation caused by "new" infectious pathogens and travel-related infections].

A number of "new" (emerging) infections that can also cause inflammatory eye changes are appearing and becoming increasingly important. In the past, diseases such as chikungunya, dengue fever or West Nile virus infections were endemic in tropical regions, but are now expanding worldwide and causing significant morbidity and even mortality. "Globalization" and human migration are important factors leading to the import of these infections.

[International ophthalmology and travel medicine].

Medical eye care in developing countries is very different from the situation in industrialized nations. In order to prevent rising numbers of blind people worldwide due to increased life expectancy and population growth, the global initiative Vision 2020 "The Right to Sight" was established in 1999. Coordinated initiatives are important as most causes of blindness are either preventable or curable (e.

Fractional flow reserve versus angiography for guidance of PCI in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (FAME): 5-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: In the Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Angiography for Multivessel Evaluation (FAME) study, fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improved outcome compared with angiography-guided PCI for up to 2 years of follow-up. The aim in this study was to investigate whether the favourable clinical outcome with the FFR-guided PCI in the FAME study persisted over a 5-year follow-up.

Methods: The FAME study was a multicentre trial done in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK, and the USA.

[Staying and working at home or considering migrating: Survey-based study of African ophthalmologists].

Background: The shortage of ophthalmologists is a major obstacle in the struggle of fighting preventable blindness in sub-Saharan Africa. However, to date reasons affecting migration of ophthalmologists have not been completely understood.

Objectives: Evaluation of reasons reported by ophthalmologists for staying in their current work setting/country, of potential reasons for migration as well as of effects of German-African partnerships.

Influence of epicardial stenosis severity and central venous pressure on the index of microcirculatory resistance in a follow-up study.

Aims: This study sought to evaluate the reproducibility of the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) in a follow-up model and the role of epicardial artery stenosis and central venous pressure (Pv) on IMR.

Methods And Results: Twenty-two patients with stable coronary artery disease underwent coronary catheterisation at baseline and after seven weeks. The IMR was calculated at baseline and follow-up in several ways: as IMRuncorrected=Pd·Tmn (Pd: intracoronary pressure distal to the stenosis; Tmn: transit mean time); IMRcorrected=Pa·Tmn·(Pd - Pw)/(Pa-Pw), (Pw: coronary wedge pressure; Pa: aortic pressure); and as IMRcentral venous pressure (IMRcvp)=(Pa-Pv)·Tmn·(Pd-Pw)/(Pa-Pw).

Reasons reported by African ophthalmologists for staying in Africa and for considering migrating.

In sub-Sahara Africa, the shortage of ophthalmologists is a major obstacle in the struggle of fighting preventable blindness. Migration of well-trained ophthalmologists has an additional negative effect on the low number of caregivers. However, to date, the reasons affecting migration of ophthalmologists have not been completely understood.

Improved safety and reduction in stent thrombosis associated with biodegradable polymer-based biolimus-eluting stents versus durable polymer-based sirolimus-eluting stents in patients with coronary artery disease: final 5-year report of the LEADERS (Limus Eluted From A Durable Versus ERodable Stent Coating) randomized, noninferiority trial.

Objectives: This study sought to report the final 5 years follow-up of the landmark LEADERS (Limus Eluted From A Durable Versus ERodable Stent Coating) trial.

Background: The LEADERS trial is the first randomized study to evaluate biodegradable polymer-based drug-eluting stents (DES) against durable polymer DES.

Methods: The LEADERS trial was a 10-center, assessor-blind, noninferiority, "all-comers" trial (N = 1,707).

Low-dose transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) as a potential single treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in Malawi?

Purpose: To investigate if low-dose 810 nm transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) can be used as single treatment in Malawian glaucoma patients.

Methods: Forty-seven eyes of 28 patients with primary open-angle and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma were treated with TSCPC using 12 spots with 900 mW, 2,000 ms (1.8 J per spot); six spots in the upper half, six in the lower by sparing the 3 and 9 o'clock positions ±20°.

11 Years of experience in vitreoretinal surgery training in Nairobi, Kenya, from 2000 to 2010.

Objective: We aim to demonstrate that vitreoretinal surgery can be established in Nairobi, Kenya, by intermittent short visits of experienced surgeons combined with clinical/surgical observerships over a longer period of cooperation. This strategy might be a model for other developing countries.

Design: Time series over 11 years.

Magnetic resonance perfusion of the myocardium: semiquantitative and quantitative evaluation in comparison with coronary angiography and fractional flow reserve.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate if a quantitative evaluation of a magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion examination of the myocardium can achieve a comparable diagnostic accuracy as a semiquantitative evaluation.

Methods: A total of 31 patients with suspected coronary artery disease underwent MR imaging and conventional coronary angiography. Stenoses with a diameter reduction between 50% and 75% were evaluated by an intracoronary pressure wire examination (fractional flow reserve) for assessment of their hemodynamic relevance.

Five-year results of the Multicenter Randomized Controlled Open-Label Study of the CYPHER Sirolimus-Eluting Stent in the Treatment of Diabetic Patients with De Novo Native Coronary Artery Lesions (SCORPIUS) study: a German multicenter investigation on the effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stents in diabetic patients.

Background: Because a delayed arterial healing response after drug-eluting stent implantation has raised concerns about safety in diabetic patients, long-term effects of treatment with sirolimus-eluting stent (SES), as compared with bare-metal stent (BMS), have to be established. The aim of the 5-year follow-up of the randomized, controlled, open-label multicenter SCORPIUS study was to assess long-term safety and efficacy of the CYPHER (Cordis, Johnson & Johnson, Bridgewater, NJ) SES in percutaneous coronary intervention of diabetic patients.

Methods: A total of 190 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized to receive either a SES (n = 95) or a BMS (n = 95).

Long-term clinical outcomes of biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stents versus durable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents in patients with coronary artery disease (LEADERS): 4 year follow-up of a randomised non-inferiority trial.

Background: The effectiveness of durable polymer drug-eluting stents comes at the expense of delayed arterial healing and subsequent late adverse events such as stent thrombosis (ST). We report the 4 year follow-up of an assessment of biodegradable polymer-based drug-eluting stents, which aim to improve safety by avoiding the persistent inflammatory stimulus of durable polymers.

Methods: We did a multicentre, assessor-masked, non-inferiority trial.

The three year follow-up of the randomised "all-comers" trial of a biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stent versus permanent polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (LEADERS).

Aims: The current study reports clinical outcomes at three year follow-up of the LEADERS clinical trial which was the first all-comers trial comparing a new generation biodegradable polymer biolimus drug-eluting stent (BES) with the first generation permanent polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (SES).

Methods And Results: One thousand seven hundred and seven patients were randomised to unrestricted use of BES (n=857) or SES (n=850) in an all-comers population. Three year follow-up was available in 95% of the patients, 812 treated with BES and 809 treated with SES.

Implantation of the biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stent in patients with high SYNTAX score is associated with decreased cardiac mortality compared to a permanent polymer sirolimus-eluting stent: two year follow-up results from the "all-comers" LEADERS trial.

Background: The SYNTAX score (SXscore) has been shown to be an effective predictor of clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: The SXscore was prospectively collected in 1,397 of the 1,707 patients enrolled in the "all-comers" LEADERS trial (patients post-surgical revascularisation were excluded). Post hoc analysis was performed by stratifying clinical outcomes at two-year follow-up, according to one of three SXscore tertiles: SXlow ≤8 (n=464), 816 (n=461).

2-year clinical follow-up from the randomized comparison of biolimus-eluting stents with biodegradable polymer and sirolimus-eluting stents with durable polymer in routine clinical practice.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate safety and efficacy of biolimus-eluting stents (BES) with biodegradable polymer as compared with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) with durable polymer through 2 years of follow-up.

Background: BES with a biodegradable polymer provide similar efficacy and safety as SES with a durable polymer at 9 months. Clinical outcomes beyond the period of biodegradation of the polymer used for drug release and after discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy are of particular interest.

[Intravascular ultrasound for recognition of atherosclerotic plaques and plaque composition. Current state of the diagnostic value].

Coronary atherosclerosis including acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause of death in the western world and in the majority of patients is caused by plaque rupture in flow-limiting and non-flow-limiting angiographically intermediate stenoses. Histopathologic analyses have shown the relationship of plaque composition to acute clinical events and therefore to the vulnerability of coronary lesions. Knowledge of remodeling processes of the coronary artery has focused interest on non-flow-limiting lesions of the coronary tree.

The impact of patient and lesion complexity on clinical and angiographic outcomes after revascularization with zotarolimus- and everolimus-eluting stents: a substudy of the RESOLUTE All Comers Trial (a randomized comparison of a zotarolimus-eluting stent with an everolimus-eluting stent for percutaneous coronary intervention).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of patient and lesion complexity on outcomes with newer-generation zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) and everolimus-eluting stents (EES).

Background: Clinical and angiographic outcomes of newer-generation stents have not been described among complex patients.

Methods: Patients enrolled in the RESOLUTE All Comers trial (A Randomized Comparison of a Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent With an Everolimus-Eluting Stent for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) were stratified into "complex" and "simple.