Impact of myocardial bridging on coronary artery plaque formation and long-term mortality after heart transplantation.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the impact of myocardial bridging (MB) on early development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and long-term graft survival after heart transplantation.

Background: MB has been reported to be associated with acceleration of proximal plaque development and endothelial dysfunction in native coronary atherosclerosis. However, its clinical significance in heart transplantation remains unclear.

Heterogeneous vascular response after implantation of bare nitinol self-expanding stents in the swine femoropopliteal artery.

Background: Mechanism of femoropopliteal in-stent restenosis has been underappreciated.

Aim: The aim of this animal study was to elucidate vascular response after femoropopliteal bare nitinol self-expanding stents (SESs) implantation.

Methods: Misago, Smart Flex, or Innova stent was randomly implanted in 36 swine femoropopliteal arteries.

Impact of Diastolic Vessel Restriction on Quality of Life in Symptomatic Myocardial Bridging Patients Treated With Surgical Unroofing: Preoperative Assessments With Intravascular Ultrasound and Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography.

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Head-to-head comparison of quantitative measurements between intravascular imaging systems: An in vitro phantom study.

Introduction: The present study aimed to compare the accuracy of quantitative measurements by contemporary intravascular imaging systems including optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI), frequency domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT), and 6 intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) systems.

Methods: We imaged five cylindrical phantom models made from an acrylic resin with known lumen diameters (1.51, 2.

Intravascular ultrasound predictors of long-term outcomes following ABSORB bioresorbable scaffold implantation: A pooled analysis of the ABSORB III and ABSORB Japan trials.

Background: The long-term prognostic impact of IVUS findings following Absorb BVS implantation remains uncertain. This study aimed to identify the IVUS predictors of long-term clinical outcomes following ABSORB bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) implantation from the pooled IVUS substudy cohorts of the ABSORB III and Japan trials.

Methods: A total of 298 lesions in 286 patients were enrolled with 2:1 randomization to ABSORB BVS vs.

Deep learning-based intravascular ultrasound segmentation for the assessment of coronary artery disease.

Background: Accurate segmentation of the coronary arteries with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is important to optimize coronary stent implantation. Recently, deep learning (DL) methods have been proposed to develop automatic IVUS segmentation. However, most of those have been limited to segmenting the lumen and vessel (i.

Scaffold underexpansion and late lumen loss after bioresorbable scaffold implantation: Insights from ABSORB JAPAN trial.

Background: Device underexpansion is associated with late adverse outcomes after bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) implantation. This study, representing official IVUS results of the ABSORB Japan trial, aimed to characterize IVUS findings, focusing specifically on acute device expansion, and to investigate its impact on late lumen loss (LLL) with Absorb-BVS compared with cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (CoCr-EES).

Methods: ABSORB Japan enrolled 148 patients (2:1 randomization) in the IVUS cohort.

Association between abdominal fat distribution and coronary plaque instability in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background And Aims: This study aimed to assess possible association of detailed abdominal fat profiles with coronary plaque characteristics in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods And Results: In 60 patients with ACS, culprit arteries were evaluated at 1-mm intervals (length analyzed: 66 ± 28 mm) by grayscale and integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) before percutaneous coronary intervention. Standard IVUS indexes (as a volume index: volume/length), plaque components (as percent tissue volume) and fibrous cap thickness (FCT) were assessed by IB-IVUS.

Randomized Comparison Between Everolimus-Eluting Bioresorbable Scaffold and Metallic Stent: Multimodality Imaging Through 3 Years.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the vascular responses and fates of the scaffold after bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) implantation using multimodality imaging.

Background: Serial comprehensive image assessments after BVS implantation in the context of a randomized trial have not yet been reported.

Methods: In the ABSORB Japan trial, 400 patients were randomized to a BVS (n = 266) or a cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent (n = 134).

Early invasive assessment of the coronary microcirculation predicts subsequent acute rejection after heart transplantation.

Background: Acute allograft rejection (AAR) plays an important role in patient and graft survival; therefore, more emphasis should be placed on its prediction. This study aimed to investigate baseline clinical and diagnostic variables associated with subsequent AAR during the first year post-transplant, especially focusing on early physiologic and anatomic measures.

Methods: This study enrolled 88 heart transplant patients who underwent fractional flow reserve (FFR), coronary flow reserve (CFR), the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in the left anterior descending artery at baseline (within 8 weeks post-transplant).

Cardiac function response to stenting in atherosclerotic renal artery disease with and without heart failure: results from the Carmel study.

Aims: Consensus-derived guidelines recommend renal stenting for patients with atherosclerotic renal artery disease (ARAD) and heart failure (HF). The aim of this prospective multi-centre observational study was to verify our hypothesis that changes in E/e', an echocardiographic correlate of left ventricular (LV) filling pressure, following renal stenting may differ between ARAD patients with and without HF.

Methods And Results: This study enrolled de novo ARAD patients undergoing renal stenting at 14 institutions.

Comparison between instantaneous wave-free ratio versus morphometric assessments by intracoronary imaging.

Anatomical measurements obtained by intracoronary imaging devices are reported to correlate significantly with fractional flow reserve (FFR). Instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) is a nonhyperemic index of stenosis severity with discordant reports regarding its accuracy in relation to FFR. There is no information on the correlation of iFR with measurements derived from intracoronary imaging devices.

Bioresorbable Scaffold for Treatment of Coronary Artery Lesions: Intravascular Ultrasound Results From the ABSORB Japan Trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize post-procedural intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) findings in the ABSORB Japan trial, specifically stratified by the size of target coronary arteries.

Background: Despite overall noninferiority confirmed in recent randomized trials comparing bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) (Absorb BVS) and cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting metallic stents (CoCr-EES), higher event rates of Absorb BVS have been reported with suboptimal deployment, especially in small coronary arteries.

Methods: In the ABSORB Japan trial, 150 patients (2:1 randomization) were scheduled in the IVUS cohort.

Impact of Stent Size Selection on Acute and Long-Term Outcomes After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation in De Novo Coronary Lesions.

Background: Although significant undersizing often results in incomplete stent apposition or underexpansion, the possible impact of oversized stent implantation on arterial wall injury has not been systematically investigated with drug-eluting stents. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of stent oversizing on acute and long-term outcomes after drug-eluting stents implantation in de novo coronary lesions.

Methods And Results: Serial (baseline and 6-12 months) coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound were performed in 2931 lesions treated with drug-eluting stents (355 sirolimus, 846 paclitaxel, 1387 zotarolimus, and 343 everolimus).

Assessment of bioresorbable scaffold with a novel high-definition 60 MHz IVUS imaging system: Comparison with 40-MHz IVUS referenced to optical coherence tomography.

Background: In vivo assessment of bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) is of growing clinical interest. The novel 60MHz high-definition intravascular ultrasound (HD-IVUS) has been developed to overcome the limitations of conventional 40 MHz IVUS. This study aimed to evaluate the performance and limitations of 60 MHz HD-IVUS compared with 40 MHz IVUS with respect to polymeric-strut visualization, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and feasibility of high-speed pullback in the assessment of BRS.

The effect of negative remodeling on fractional flow reserve after cardiac transplantation.

Background: Negative remodeling is a common occurrence early after cardiac transplantation. Its impact on the development of myocardial ischemia is not well documented. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of negative remodeling on fractional flow reserve after cardiac transplantation.

Impact of attenuated-signal plaque observed by intravascular ultrasound on vessel response after drug-eluting stent implantation.

Background And Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of attenuated-signal plaque (ASP) observed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) on vessel response after drug-eluting stent implantation.

Methods: Data were derived from the IVUS cohort of the J-DESsERT trial comparing paclitaxel- and sirolimus-eluting stents. Serial IVUS analysis (pre- and post-intervention, and 8-month follow-up) was performed in 136 non-AMI lesions.

Impact of stent diameter on vascular response after self-expanding paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation in the superficial femoral artery.

Background: The optimal sizing of self-expanding paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) in the treatment for superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions is unclear. This study sought to investigate the influence of PES diameter on stent patency in SFA lesions using optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI).

Methods: A total of 20 de novo SFA lesions were randomized 1:1 to receive either self-expanding PES with a nominal diameter of 6mm or 8mm.

Comparing the vascular response in implantation of self-expanding, bare metal nitinol stents or paclitaxel-eluting nitinol stents in superficial femoral artery lesions: a serial optical frequency domain imaging study.

Aims: This study sought to investigate differences in vascular response between self-expanding bare metal nitinol stents (BMS) and paclitaxel-eluting nitinol stents (PES), in superficial femoral artery (SFA) disease, using optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI).

Methods And Results: Six months after stent implantation, follow-up quantitative vascular angiography (QVA) and OFDI assessment were scheduled to evaluate vascular response. Volume index (VI) was defined as volume divided by stent length.

Impact of analysis interval size on the quality of optical frequency domain imaging assessments of stent implantation for lesions of the superficial femoral artery.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the influence of analysis interval size on optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) assessment of stent therapy for lesions of the superficial femoral artery (SFA).

Background: No consensus or validating data are available with respect to the methodology of intravascular imaging analysis for the peripheral arteries.

Methods: OFDI was performed for 30 SFA lesions, during endovascular therapy and at the 6-month follow-up.

Attenuated-Signal Plaque Progression Predicts Long-Term Mortality After Heart Transplantation: IVUS Assessment of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy.

Background: Although cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is typically characterized by diffuse coronary intimal thickening with pathological vessel remodeling, plaque instability may also play an important role in CAV. Previous studies of native coronary atherosclerosis have demonstrated associations between attenuated-signal plaque (ASP), plaque instability, and adverse clinical events.

Objectives: This study's aim was to characterize the association between ASP and long-term mortality post-heart transplantation.

Acute stent recoil and optimal balloon inflation strategy: an experimental study using real-time optical coherence tomography.

Aims: Our aim was to evaluate stent expansion and acute recoil at deployment and post-dilatation, and the impact of post-dilatation strategies on final stent dimensions.

Methods And Results: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed on eight bare metal platforms of drug-eluting stents (3.0 mm diameter, n=6 for each) during and after balloon inflation in a silicone mock vessel.

Functional Versus Anatomic Assessment of Myocardial Bridging by Intravascular Ultrasound: Impact of Arterial Compression on Proximal Atherosclerotic Plaque.

Background: The presence of a myocardial bridge (MB) has been shown to promote atherosclerotic plaque formation proximal to the MB, presumably because of hemodynamic disturbances provoked by retrograde blood flow toward this segment in cardiac systole. We aimed to determine the anatomic and functional properties of an MB related to the extent of atherosclerosis assessed by intravascular ultrasound.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 100 patients with angina but no significant obstructive coronary artery disease who had an intravascular ultrasound-detected MB in the left anterior descending artery (median age 54 years, 36% male).

Association of periarterial neovascularization with progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and long-term clinical outcomes in heart transplant recipients.

Background: This study investigated the relationship between periarterial neovascularization, development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), and long-term clinical outcomes after heart transplantation. Proliferation of the vasa vasorum is associated with arterial inflammation. The contribution of angiogenesis to the development of CAV has been suggested.

Intravascular Ultrasound-Derived Stent Dimensions as Predictors of Angiographic Restenosis Following Nitinol Stent Implantation in the Superficial Femoral Artery.

Purpose: To identify intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) measurements that can predict angiographic in-stent restenosis (ISR) following nitinol stent implantation in superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 97 patients (mean age 72.9±8.