Renal denervation and blood pressure reduction in resistant hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of renal denervation in patients with resistant hypertension.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies that evaluated the use of catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation compared to a control group and reported blood pressure results at follow-up. Data was extracted from relevant studies and pooled estimates for blood pressure were determined using the inverse variance method for meta-analysis with mean difference.

Major bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention and risk of subsequent mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between periprocedural bleeding complications and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and mortality outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and study differences in the prognostic impact of different bleeding definitions.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of PCI studies that evaluated periprocedural bleeding complications and their impact on MACEs and mortality outcomes. A systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE was conducted to identify relevant studies.

Thrombus capture by withdrawal of an open filter device: a useful treatment for large non-occlusive coronary thrombus.

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of manual removal of a non-occlusive coronary thrombus using an open filter device. Between April 2006 and December 2011, 1,102 patients were treated percutaneously for acute coronary syndrome at our institution. Of these, nine (1%) had a large "cannon-ball" non-occlusive intracoronary thrombus, which did not improve with standard thrombectomy aspiration catheters.

Baseline bleeding risk and arterial access site practice in relation to procedural outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Transradial access (TRA) has been associated with reduced access site-related bleeding complications and mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It is unclear, however, whether these observed benefits are influenced by baseline bleeding risk.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between baseline bleeding risk, TRA utilization, and procedure-related outcomes in patients undergoing PCI enrolled in the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society database.

Impact of left ventricular function in relation to procedural outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society.

Aim: Between 10 and 30% of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. We investigate the association between LV function on early and late mortality outcomes in a national 'real-world' cohort undergoing PCI in the elective and acute coronary syndrome setting through analysis of the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) data set.

Methods And Results: The relationship between LV function and 30-day mortality in patients undergoing PCI for elective, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) indications was studied in 230 464 patients in the UK between 2006 and 2011.

Vegetarian diet, Seventh Day Adventists and risk of cardiovascular mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Dietary interventions are an important component of cardiovascular risk factor management although their impact on cardiovascular risk and mortality remains uncertain. We have studied influence of a vegetarian diet on cardiovascular risk and mortality.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for comparative studies that evaluated clinical outcomes associated with vegetarian diet as compared to non-vegetarian controls or the general population.

Arterial access site utilization in cardiogenic shock in the United Kingdom: is radial access feasible?

Background: Cardiogenic shock (CS) remains the leading cause of mortality in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The transradial access site (TRA) has become increasingly adopted as a default access site for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, even in experienced centers that favor the radial artery as the primary access site during PCI, patients presenting in CS are often treated via the transfemoral access site (TFA); and commentators have suggested that CS remains the final frontier that has given even experienced radial operators pause. We studied the use of TRA in patients presenting in CS in a nonselected high-risk cohort from the British Cardiovascular Intervention database over a 7-year period (2006-2012).

Bariatric surgery and its impact on cardiovascular disease and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve cardiovascular risk factors but long term benefits for survival and cardiovascular events are still uncertain.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for parallel group studies that evaluated the clinical outcomes associated with bariatric surgery as compared to non-surgical treatment. Relevant studies were pooled using random effects meta-analysis for risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular events and mortality.

Outcomes in patients with acute and stable coronary syndromes; insights from the prospective NOBORI-2 study.

Background: Contemporary data remains limited regarding mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) outcomes in patients undergoing PCI for different manifestations of coronary artery disease.

Objectives: We evaluated mortality and MACE outcomes in patients treated with PCI for STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction), NSTEMI (non ST-elevation myocardial infarction) and stable angina through analysis of data derived from the Nobori-2 study.

Methods: Clinical endpoints were cardiac mortality and MACE (a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization).

Stent fracture: Insights on mechanisms, treatments, and outcomes from the food and drug administration manufacturer and user facility device experience database.

Objectives: Stent fracture (SF) is an uncommon complication following percutaneous coronary intervention. Previous studies of SF have either been small single-center studies or have reported data mainly from first generation platforms. The FDA MAUDE database was used to identify cases of SF to gain mechanistic insight into procedural and anatomical factors predisposing to this complication, to define treatment and associated clinical outcomes in contemporary and first generation stent platforms.

Minimising radial injury: prevention is better than cure.

Transradial (TR) coronary intervention is associated with fewer access-site-related bleeding complications and is independently associated with a lower risk of mortality following PCI compared to procedures undertaken through the femoral route. However, recent studies that have undertaken imaging of the radial artery through the use of IVUS and OCT, as well as histological studies, suggest that TR cardiac catheterisation is associated with significant injury to the radial artery wall resulting in significant endothelial cell dysfunction. The vascular endothelium plays a central role in the regulation of vascular tone, angiogenesis and vascular remodelling through the release of vasoactive mediators in response to a variety of stimuli.

Transradial intervention via large-bore guide catheters: a study of coronary bifurcation disease treatment using the crush technique.

Transradial access for coronary intervention significantly reduces vascular complications and may be associated with a reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. However, the small caliber of the radial artery has been considered a limitation to performing complex coronary intervention. Fifty-three patients with true bifurcation disease, in whom a two-stent strategy was felt to be indicated, were scheduled to undergo crush stenting via the transradial approach.

Atrial fibrillation in heart failure: The sword of Damocles revisited.

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently coexist and have emerged as major cardiovascular epidemics. There is growing evidence that AF is an independent prognostic marker in HF and affects patients with both reduced as well as preserved LV systolic function. There has been a general move in clinical practice from a rhythm control to a rate control strategy in HF patients with AF, although recent data suggests that rhythm control strategies may provide better outcomes in selected subgroups of HF patients.

Activation of sphingosine-1-phosphate signalling as a potential underlying mechanism of the pleiotropic effects of statin therapy.

The mechanisms by which statins are beneficial are incompletely understood. While the lowering of low-density lipoprotein concentration is associated with regression of atherosclerosis, the observed benefit of statin therapy begins within months after its initiation, making regression an unlikely cause. Although LDL-C lowering is the main mechanism by which statin therapy reduces cardiovascular events, evidence suggests that at least some of the beneficial actions of statins may be mediated by their pleiotropic effects.

Serum sphingolipids level as a novel potential marker for early detection of human myocardial ischaemic injury.

Background: Ventricular tachyarrhythmias are the most common and often the first manifestation of coronary heart disease and lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Early detection/identification of acute myocardial ischaemic injury at risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias in patients remains an unmet medical need. In the present study, we examined the sphingolipids level after transient cardiac ischaemia following temporary coronary artery occlusion during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients and determined the role of sphingolipids level as a novel marker for early detection of human myocardial ischaemic injury.

Influence of arterial access site selection on outcomes in primary percutaneous coronary intervention: are the results of randomized trials achievable in clinical practice?

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the influence of access site utilization on mortality, major adverse cardiac and cardiovascular events (MACCE), bleeding, and vascular complications in a large number of patients treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in the United Kingdom over a 5-year period, through analysis of the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society database.

Background: Despite advances in antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy, bleeding complications remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing PPCI. A significant proportion of such bleeding complications are related to the access site, and adoption of radial access may reduce these complications.

HDL quality or cholesterol cargo: what really matters--spotlight on sphingosine-1-phosphate-rich HDL.

Purpose Of Review: The absolute level of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) may not be the only criterion contributing to their antiatherothrombotic effects. This review focuses on evidence in support of the concept that HDL-bound sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) plays a role in different HDL atheroprotective properties and may represent a potential target for therapeutic interventions.

Recent Findings: Recent large randomized clinical trials testing the hypothesis of raising HDL-C with niacin and dalcetrapib in statin-treated patients failed to improve cardiovascular outcomes.

Galectin-3 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

In the last decades it has been appreciated that many patients with heart failure (HF) suffer from HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The diagnosis and treatment of HFpEF is difficult, as we lack specific markers of the disease and no specific treatments have been identified. Galectin-3 has a strong relationship to several aspects of the pathophysiology of HF, especially myocardial fibrosis, the transition from compensated to decompensated HF, and co-morbidities such as renal disease and diabetes.

The cardiovascular manifestations of influenza: a systematic review.

Influenza accounts for 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness and up to 300,000 deaths annually, presenting a considerable burden to healthcare services. A spectrum of cardiovascular complications has been reported in association with influenza infection. This can occur through direct effects of the virus on the myocardium or through exacerbation of existing cardiovascular disease.

Influence of access site choice on incidence of neurologic complications after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Neurologic complications (NCs) are a rare but potentially devastating complication that may follow percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In recent years, there has been an increase in use of transradial access, driven by a developing body of evidence that favors its use over femoral access. Concerns have been raised, however, that transradial access may increase the risk of NC compared with transfemoral access.