Cardiac resynchronisation therapy after percutaneous trans-coronary-venous mitral annuloplasty.

We present a case of a 45-year-old man with symptomatic heart failure and ischaemic functional mitral regurgitation (FMR), who underwent a successful percutaneous trans-coronary venous mitral annuloplasty with the Carillon system. The procedure resulted in clinical improvement as well as in a decrease in the degree of MR as assessed by echocardiography. Fifteen months later, the patient underwent cardiac resynchronisation (CRT) device implantation, resulting in a further improvement in echocardiographic measures of FMR.

The effect of stent coating on stent deliverability: direct randomised comparison of drug eluting and bare metal stents using the same stent platform.

Background: There is certain experimental and clinical evidence indicating that the covering of bare metal stents (BMS) with drug eluting polymers to produce drug eluting stents (DES) results in increased stent stiffness and modifies the mechanical properties of the stent platform. In addition, it has been speculated that the mechanical performance of DES, compared to BMS, may be related to the type of polymer used to cover stents.

Aim: We aimed at evaluating the deliverability of DES with a lactate based biodegradable polymer and BMS in patients with stable coronary artery disease in a prospective randomised study.

Functional assessment of patients after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty with Carillon™ device: a preliminary report.

Background: Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) due to dilated cardiomyopathy or coronary artery disease remains a significant clinical problem. These clinical entities lead to left ventricular enlargement, which results in annular dilation and MR. Surgical valvuloplasty is associated with a high perioperative risk.

Are elevated levels of IGF-1 caused by coronary arteriesoclerosis?: Molecular and clinical analysis.

The importance of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in coronary artery disease (CAD) due to wide range of its biological effects and its therapeutic potential, has already been described. Our aim was to evaluate possible influence of IGF-1 serum level changes on coronary atherosclerosis. In case of existence of such association our further aim was to verify and explain this phenomenon by examination of promoter P1 of IGF-1gene and receptor gene for IGF-1.

Presence of irregularity in region between -1115 and -784 nt in P1 promoter of insulin-like growth factor-1 gene may indicate beneficial effect on coronary arteries in a group of patients with stable angina: preliminary data.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays an important role in arterial homeostasis. Its properties seem to depend on circulating IGF-1 level changes. The various IGF-1 levels are caused by varied expression of IGF-1 gene, due to the polymorphic structure of IGF-1 gene or its regulatory sequences.

Percutaneous valve repair for mitral regurgitation using the Carillon Mitral Contour System. Description of the method and case report.

Mitral regurgitation may result from left ventricular dilatation and cause progression of heart failure. Percutaneous techniques for mitral valve repair are under development. Techniques utilizing a trans-coronary venous approach exploit the anatomical relationship between the mitral annulus and the venous system of the heart.