Baseline Left Ventricle Longitudinal Strain as a Predictor for Clinical Improvement Following Coronary Sinus Reducer Implantation.

Coronary sinus narrowing device (reducer) implantation has emerged as an effective treatment to improve the quality of life and functional capacity in patients suffering from disabling refractory angina. Left ventricle global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) is a useful tool for early diagnosis of subclinical cardiac injury and an independent predictor for coronary artery disease. We aimed to investigate whether LV-GLS could help predict clinical improvement after coronary sinus reducer implantation.

Long-term outcomes of patients undergoing coronary sinus reducer implantation - A multicenter study.

Background: Coronary sinus (CS) narrowing by reducer implantation has emerged as a safe and effective therapy for patients suffering from refractory angina. However, data regarding the clinical benefit of this treatment over time is lacking.

Methods: Patients undergoing successful reducer implantation were enrolled prospectively to clinical registries at three medical centers.

The impact of coronary sinus narrowing on diastolic function in patients with refractory angina.

Objective: Evaluating the impact of Coronary sinus (CS) narrowing on diastolic function.

Background: Narrowing of the CS is an emerging therapy for refractory angina pectoris, improving perfusion to the ischemic subendocardium and relieving ischemia and angina. It was speculated that increased CS pressure might cause interstitial myocardial edema and diastolic dysfunction.

Coronary Sinus Reducer implantation improves symptoms, ischaemia and physical capacity in patients with refractory angina unsuitable for myocardial revascularisation: a single-centre experience.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Coronary Sinus Reducer implantation in alleviating angina symptoms and improving objective ischaemia parameters and indices of physical capacity.

Methods And Results: Patients with refractory angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society [CCS] class 3-4) were treated with the Reducer. Baseline and follow-up evaluation consisted of clinical assessment including completion of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) and CCS class evaluation, and objective assessment by treadmill exercise test, dobutamine echocardiography and six-minute walk test (6MWT).

Variance in Biomarker Usefulness as Indicators for Carotid and Coronary Atherosclerosis.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease. Nevertheless, the role of specific biomarkers as indicators for both coronary and carotid diseases is debatable.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of biomarkers with coronary and carotid disease.

HbA1c Levels and Long-Term Mortality in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography.

Objectives: Previous studies investigating the prognostic value of HbA1c in patients undergoing coronary angiography reported a mixed pattern of results. Therefore, we aimed to better define the prognostic power of HbA1c among coronary catheterized patients.

Methods: Patients undergoing coronary angiography (n = 3,749) were divided into four groups according to HbA1c levels (<5, 5-6, 6-7 and >7%).

High red blood cell distribution width and preclinical carotid atherosclerosis.

Background: Preclinical carotid atherosclerosis is associated with future risk of stroke. Data regarding the correlation between carotid atherosclerosis and biomarkers, which might predict the risk for the disease has been inconsistent and conflicting. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is also related to adverse clinical outcomes.

High red blood cell distribution width is associated with the metabolic syndrome.

Objectives: High values of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW) have been associated with adverse outcome in various clinical settings. The mechanism behind this association is not clear. The Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and death.

Anemia in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients with Markers of Inadequate Bone Marrow Response.

Background: Anemia confers an adverse prognosis in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Several mechanisms have been implicated in the etiology of anemia in this setting, including inflammation, blood loss, and the presence of comorbidities such as renal failure.

Objectives: To evaluate the adequacy of bone marrow response as potentially reflected by elevation in blood and reticulocyte counts.

Relation of metabolic syndrome with long-term mortality in acute and stable coronary disease.

Past studies examining the effects of the metabolic syndrome (MS) on prognosis in postangiography patients were limited in size or were controversial in results. The aim of the study was to examine the association of the MS and the risk for long-term mortality in a large cohort of patients undergoing coronary angiography for various clinical indications. Medical history, physical examination, and laboratory values were used to diagnose patients with the MS.

Polymer-free drug-eluting stent in unselected patient population: a single center experience.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical performance of the Cre8™ polymer-free drug-eluting-stent in unselected real-life population.

Background: Inflammation plays a key role in the multi-factorial process eventually leading to target vessel failure (TVF) after drug-eluting-stent (DES) implantation. The local chronic inflammatory reaction in the vessel wall at the site of stent implantation is, at least in part, attributed to interaction between the polymer coating of DES and vessel wall components.

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and long-term survival in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Introduction: High RDW values are associated with adverse prognosis in many clinical conditions including short and medium term outcome of patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between RDW and long term mortality in STEMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty (PPCI).

Material And Methods: A cohort of 535 STEMI patients undergoing PPCI were divided into two groups (RDW > 14%, RDW ≤ 14%) using CHAID and CART methods.

Higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio is related to lower ejection fraction and higher long-term all-cause mortality in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients.

Background: Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a novel biomarker that can single out individuals at risk for vascular events. We assessed whether NLR provides additive prognostic value in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: NLR was computed from the absolute values of neutrophils and lymphocytes from the complete blood count of patients who underwent primary coronary angioplasty for STEMI.

Decline in serum cholinesterase activities predicts 2-year major adverse cardiac events.

Parasympathetic activity influences long-term outcome in patients with cardiovascular disease, but the underlying mechanism(s) linking parasympathetic activity and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) are incompletely understood. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the association between serum cholinesterase activities as parasympathetic biomarkers and the risk for the occurrence of MACEs. Cholinergic status was determined by measuring the cumulative capacity of serum acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) to hydrolyze the AChE substrate acetylthiocholine.

Red blood cell distribution width and 3-year outcome in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), which is routinely reported in complete blood counts, is a measure of the variability in size of circulating erythrocytes. RDW is a novel, independent predictor of prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the significance of this biomarker in a relatively large cohort of patients, and to assess its association with a more severe underlying cardiovascular disease.

Impact of estimated glomerular filtration rate on vascular disease extent and adverse cardiovascular events in patients without chronic kidney disease.

Background: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) predicts major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), though the effect of eGFR on MACE and vascular disease extent among individuals with normal or mildly impaired renal function requires definition. Our aim was to examine the prognostic implications of eGFR and its effect on atherosclerosis burden in individuals without CKD undergoing vascular imaging studies.

Methods: The study enrolled 2746 consecutive patients undergoing clinically-driven coronary angiography who had an eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.

Erythrocyte aggregation portends worse outcomes in unstable angina patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions.

Objective: The positive correlation between the time from symptom onset to the appearance of an inflammatory response and erythrocyte aggregation (EA) in the peripheral blood of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) patients had been previously reported by us. We now analyze the added prognostic value of EA in ACS patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

Methods: We performed an analysis on prospectively collected data at a tertiary hospital catheterization laboratory between 2006-2011.

Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio is related to the severity of coronary artery disease and clinical outcome in patients undergoing angiography.

Background: White blood cell count is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a biomarker that can single out individuals at risk for vascular events.

Objective: To evaluate whether NLR adds additional information beyond that provided by conventional risk factors and biomarkers for coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and adverse outcome, in a large cohort of consecutive patients referred for coronary angiography.

The prevalence rate and anatomic location of colorectal adenoma and cancer detected by colonoscopy in average-risk individuals aged 40-80 years.

Background: The role of screening colonoscopy for colorectal (CR) neoplasia in average-risk population, remains to be determined.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence and anatomic location of CR adenoma and carcinoma and the morbidity of colonoscopy in individuals at average risk for CR cancer (CRC).

Methods: A retrospective prevalence study of subjects aged 40-80 yr, with no cancer-related symptoms, personal or family history of CR neoplasia, who underwent a colonoscopy.

Initial experience of videocapsule endoscopy for diagnosing small-bowel tumors in patients with GI polyposis syndromes.

Background: Small-bowel tumors frequently occur in familial adenomatous polyposis and other GI polyposis syndromes. These tumors are difficult to detect with conventional techniques. Our aim was to assess the utility of videocapsule endoscopy in the detection of small-bowel tumors in this setting.