Temporal trends of case-fatality in patients undergoing dual-injection coronary chronic total occlusion recanalization.

Aims: Recently, interventional techniques and material to treat chronic total occlusion (CTO) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have evolved significantly. Nevertheless, it is still unknown whether this progress improved treatment success and patients' outcome. In a nationwide sample, we sought to analyze trends of patients' characteristics, complications and in-hospital case-fatality of patients undergoing CTO revascularization in Germany.

Evaluation of right-ventricular function by two-dimensional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with successful RCA CTO recanalization.

Objectives: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the right coronary artery (RCA) is common in patients with coronary artery disease. Although revascularization techniques and success rates have improved significantly in recent years, there are still no studies investigating possible effects of successful recanalization of RCA CTO on the right-ventricular (RV) function. With this study, we aimed to evaluate RV function after recanalization of the RCA by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DE) and additional two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE).

Evaluation of right atrial function by two-dimensional echocardiography and strain imaging in patients with RCA CTO recanalization.

Objectives: The right heart is mainly supplied with blood by the right coronary artery (RCA). The impact of RCA chronic total occlusion (CTO) on the function of the right heart [right atrium (RA) and ventricle (RV)] and whether successful recanalization of a RCA CTO improves the function of the right heart is not clearly understood yet. We aimed to evaluate right atrial function after recanalization of the RCA using transthoracic echocardiography with additional strain imaging.

Aircraft noise exposure induces pro-inflammatory vascular conditioning and amplifies vascular dysfunction and impairment of cardiac function after myocardial infarction.

Aims: Traffic noise may play an important role in the development and deterioration of ischaemic heart disease. Thus, we sought to determine the mechanisms of cardiovascular dysfunction and inflammation induced by aircraft noise in a mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI) and in humans with incident MI.

Methods And Results: C57BL/6J mice were exposed to noise alone (average sound pressure level 72 dB; peak level 85 dB) for up to 4 days, resulting in pro-inflammatory aortic gene expression in the myeloid cell adhesion/diapedesis pathways.

[Treat calcified stenoses correctly].

Due to the demographic changes with an increasing aging process of the population and the increasing incidence of comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and chronic kidney disease, older patients with high-risk profiles and calcified coronary lesions are being treated more often in interventional cardiology. Despite advances in technical possibilities and materials, the treatment of severely calcified stenoses continues to be associated with an increased periprocedural risk of complications and poor long-term clinical outcomes. The purpose of this article is to discuss the various treatment approaches and summarize them in an algorithm for the treatment of severely calcified stenoses.