Peak Procedural ACT Is Associated With All-Cause Mortality After Femoral Access PCI.

Background: A minimum threshold activated clotting time (ACT) to guide heparin dosing during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with lower ischemic complications. However, data are variable regarding the risk of high ACT levels. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of peak procedural ACT on complications and mortality for transfemoral and transradial access PCI.

Improved dielectric performance of graphene oxide reinforced plasticized starch.

High dielectric constants with less dielectric loss composites is highly demandable for technological advancements across various fields, including energy storage, sensing, and telecommunications. Their significance lies in their ability to enhance the performance and efficiency of a wide range of devices and systems. In this work, the dielectric performance of graphene oxide (GO) reinforced plasticized starch (PS) nanocomposites (PS/GO) for different concentrations of GO nanofiller was studied.

Randomized Comparison of Novel Low-Dose Sirolimus-Eluting Biodegradable Polymer Stent vs Second-Generation DES: TARGET-IV NA Trial.

Background: Drug-eluting stents (DESs) with controlled antiproliferative drug release reduce restenosis risk, but durable polymers can delay healing and inhibit reendothelialization. The Firehawk biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) has a fully biodegradable sirolimus-containing polymer coating localized to recessed abluminal grooves on the stent surface and delivers roughly one-third the drug dose of other DESs.

Objectives: We report the primary results of the TARGET-IV NA (Firehawk Rapamycin Target Eluting Coronary Stent North American Trial) randomized controlled trial comparing clinical outcomes with BP-SES vs currently used second-generation DESs.

Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to pulmonary artery systolic pressure ratio in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension improves with balloon pulmonary angioplasty.

Right ventricle (RV)-to-pulmonary artery (PA) coupling measured by the ratio of echocardiography-derived tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) is a meaningful prognostic marker in pulmonary hypertension (PH). It's unclear if balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) alters RV-PA coupling measured by TAPSE/PASP. We reviewed CTEPH patients treated with BPA at our institution who had a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) before BPA and a follow-up TTE at any point during BPA.

Status and Future Directions for Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Disease With and Without Pulmonary Hypertension: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty continues to gain traction as a treatment option for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease with and without pulmonary hypertension. Recent European Society of Cardiology guidelines on pulmonary hypertension now give balloon pulmonary angioplasty a Class 1 recommendation for inoperable and residual chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Not surprisingly, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension centers are rapidly initiating balloon pulmonary angioplasty programs.

MoS nanoflower decorated bio-derived chitosan nanocomposites for sustainable energy storage: Structural, optical and electrochemical studies.

Bio-derived chitosan-molybdenum di sulfide (Cs-MoS) nanocomposites are prepared by a simple and economical aqueous casting method with varying concentrations of MoS. The structural, surface morphological, optical, and electrochemical properties of the nanocomposites were studied. FTIR analysis reveals the strong interaction between Cs and MoS.

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty in the current era of CTEPH treatment: How did we get here?

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is caused by persistent organized thromboembolic obstruction of the pulmonary arteries from incompletely resolved pulmonary embolism. The treatment of choice is pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) surgery and all patients should be evaluated for operability candidacy. Despite advancements in PTE technique allowing more segmental-subsegmental surgeries, up to a third of patients with CTEPH may still be considered inoperable.

Improved electrochemical performance of bio-derived plasticized starch/ reduced graphene oxide/ molybdenum disulfide ternary nanocomposite for flexible energy storage applications.

A ternary nanocomposite of plasticized starch (PS), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS) was prepared via a solution casting process, with MoS concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 1.00 wt%.

Development of a Novel Score to Predict Urgent Mechanical Circulatory Support in Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Estimating the likelihood of urgent mechanical circulatory support (MCS) can facilitate procedural planning and clinical decision-making in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We analyzed 2,784 CTO PCIs performed between 2012 and 2021 at 12 centers. The variable importance was estimated by a bootstrap applying a random forest algorithm to a propensity-matched sample (a ratio of 1:5 matching cases with controls on center).

Distal Target Vessel Quality and Outcomes of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Distal vessel quality is a key parameter in the global chronic total occlusion (CTO) crossing algorithm.

Objectives: The study sought to evaluate the association of distal vessel quality with the outcomes of CTO percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 10,028 CTO percutaneous coronary interventions performed at 39 U.

Percutaneous Interventional Therapy for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is a form of precapillary pulmonary hypertension resulting from the incomplete resolution of pulmonary thromboemboli and formation of chronic, fibrotic, flow-limiting obstructions within the pulmonary vasculature. The progression of chronic thromboembolic disease is associated with the development of pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, and diminished patient function. Surgical pulmonary thromboendarterectomy to extract thromboembolic disease is curative and the primary treatment option for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Interaction of COVID-19 With Common Cardiovascular Disorders.

The onset and widespread dissemination of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 in late 2019 impacted the world in a way not seen since the 1918 H1N1 pandemic, colloquially known as the Spanish Flu. Much like the Spanish Flu, which was observed to disproportionately impact young adults, it became clear in the early days of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that certain groups appeared to be at higher risk for severe illness once infected. One such group that immediately came to the forefront and garnered international attention was patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Evaluation and Management of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a treatable form of pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. CTEPH (group 4 pulmonary hypertension) is caused by persistent organized thromboembolic obstruction of the pulmonary arteries from incompletely resolved acute pulmonary embolism. CTEPH also may present without prior VTE history, which can contribute to its underrecognition.

Left Atrial to Coronary Sinus Shunting for Treatment of Symptomatic Heart Failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is associated with both mortality and a significant decline in health status. Interatrial shunting is increasingly being investigated as a novel therapeutic option.

Objectives: The ALT FLOW Early Feasibility Study was designed to evaluate the safety of the Edwards left atrial to coronary sinus APTURE Transcatheter Shunt System in patients with symptomatic HF.