Sitagliptin on carotid intima-media thickness in type 2 diabetes patients receiving primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: A subgroup analysis of the PROLOGUE study.

Background: Whether a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor can attenuate atherosclerosis is still controversial. Some clinical trials reported that DPP-4 inhibitors in diabetes patients without a previous history of cardiovascular (CV) events could reduce carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). However, in the PROLOGUE study, which enrolled diabetes patients both with and without previous CV events, sitagliptin failed to slow the progression of carotid IMT relative to conventional therapy.

[Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for In-stent Restenosis Probably Caused by Allergic Response;Report of a Case].

A 58-year-old female presented to our hospital with recurrence of chest pain. She had undergone coronary intervention using biolimus-eluting-stent for total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery(LAD) 3 years before. Since then in-stent restenosis had repeated 4 times in 3 years.

High HDL cholesterol level after treatment with pitavastatin is an important factor for regression in carotid intima-media thickness.

This study is a prospective multicenter study designed to investigate the effects of lipid-lowering therapy with pitavastatin on atherosclerotic plaque in patients with coronary heart disease, and to determine which factor is more closely associated with plaque regression. Participants (n = 63) were treated with pitavastatin for 12 months, and the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by ultrasound before and after treatment. Mean IMT slightly but significantly decreased (from 0.

Impact of sirolimus-eluting stent fracture on 4-year clinical outcomes.

Background: Although stent fracture (SF) after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation has been recognized as one of the predisposing factors of in-stent restenosis, it remains uncertain whether SF can increase the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), especially beyond 1 year after SES implantation. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of SF relative to non-SF on 4-year clinical outcomes after treatment with SES of comparable unselected lesions.

Methods And Results: A total of 874 lesions in 793 patients undergoing SES implantation and subsequent angiography 6 to 9 months after index procedure were analyzed.

Subtle myocardial damage associated with diagnostic coronary angiography alone.

Aims: To evaluate the frequency, predictors and prognostic significance of elevation in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) after coronary angiography (CAG).

Methods And Results: A series of 296 consecutive patients with normal pre-procedural cTnI levels and undergoing elective CAG at our centre were prospectively analysed. Positive cTnI elevation was defined as >0.

Relationship between severity of renal impairment and 2-year outcomes after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation.

Background: The presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of restenosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) after coronary interventions, especially in patients on hemodialysis (HD). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of varying degrees of renal impairment on angiographic and 2-year clinical outcomes after treatment with sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs).

Methods: A total of 675 lesions of 593 patients treated with SES were analyzed.

Safety and efficacy of 2.5-mm sirolimus-eluting stent implantation at lower deployment pressures in very small vessels (<2.5 mm).

Objectives: Percutaneous coronary interventions for very small vessels are common in clinical practice despite an unavailability of the 2.25-mm sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) in some countries. We sought to evaluate the clinical and angiographic outcomes of 2.

Frequency, predictors and outcome of stent fracture after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation.

Background: Recently, stent fracture (SF) of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of in-stent restenosis. We sought to evaluate the incidence, predictors and clinical outcome of SF after SES implantation in comparable unselected lesions.

Methods: A total of 430 lesions of 382 patients treated with SES were analyzed.

Is it possible to predict which patients need distal protection during primary angioplasty?

Background: Although the benefit of distal protection (DP) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains questionable, there appears to be efficacy in some clinical situations. We sought to identify in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) which clinical and angiographic characteristics might indicate the patient who will benefit from the use of a DP device.

Methods: A series of 103 consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI using DP were compared with 98 consecutive patients treated by primary PCI alone.

Growth hormone-releasing peptide can improve left ventricular dysfunction and attenuate dilation in dilated cardiomyopathic hamsters.

Objective: The mammalian heart contains specific growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) binding sites whose physiological significance is unknown. We sought to compare the effects of GHRP and GH on progressive left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in the TO-2 hamster model of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Methods: TO-2 hamsters (8 weeks old) were injected with GHRP-6 (100 microg/kg day), GH (2 mg/kg day), or saline for 4 weeks; F1B hamsters served as controls.

Promising efficacy of primary gradual and prolonged balloon angioplasty in small coronary arteries: a randomized comparison with cutting balloon angioplasty and conventional balloon angioplasty.

Background: Small vessel size represents a critical risk factor for an adverse outcome after both conventional balloon angioplasty (POBA) and stenting. Gradual and prolonged balloon angioplasty (GPBA) has been shown to cause less arterial trauma, which results in higher procedural success rates and fewer in-hospital complications than POBA. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and angiographic benefits of primary GPBA with a perfusion balloon in small coronary arteries, as compared with cutting balloon angioplasty (CBA) and POBA.

Developmental changes of Ca(2+) handling in mouse ventricular cells from early embryo to adulthood.

Transplant of immature cardiomyocytes is recently attracting a great deal of interest as a new experimental strategy for the treatment of failing hearts. Full understanding of normal cardiomyogenesis is essential to make this regenerative therapy feasible. We analyzed the molecular and functional changes of Ca(2+) handling proteins during development of the mouse heart from early embryo at 9.