Establishment of healing profile and neointimal transformation in the new polymer-free biolimus A9-coated coronary stent by longitudinal sequential optical coherence tomography assessments: the EGO-BIOFREEDOM study.

Aims: This study aimed to establish the early healing and neointimal transformation profile of the new polymer-free BioFreedom stent through sequential optical coherence tomography (OCT) within the first nine months following stent implantation.

Methods And Results: We randomly assigned 104 BFS recipients to one of five groups with angiography and OCT follow-up at 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 months, together with another follow-up for all at nine months. The primary endpoint was the degree of OCT-detected strut coverage at nine months.

Long-term clinical outcomes after deployment of femoral vascular closure devices in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention: an observational single-centre registry follow-up.

Objectives: There are few data evaluating the long-term effect of femoral vascular closure devices (FCDs) on patients' clinical outcome. We aim to evaluate the incidence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in patients who received FCD following its deployment in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures.

Design And Setting: Observational study of a single-centre registry.

Virtual histology findings and effects of varying doses of atorvastatin on coronary plaque volume and composition in statin-naive patients: the VENUS study.

Background: While statin induces plaque regression, its effects, particularly with different doses on plaque virtual histology composition, remain unknown.

Methods And Results: In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study, 40 consecutive statin-naive patients with stable angina requiring percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were randomized to 2 arms (20 patients each) receiving 6 months of atorvastatin 10 mg or 40 mg daily. The primary end-point was (VH-IVUS) changes from baseline to 6 months, as assessed by a core laboratory.

Acute and 16-month outcomes of a new stent: the first-in-man evaluation of the Medtronic S9 (integrity) stent.

Objective: A first-in-man evaluation of the safety, feasibility, deliverability, and efficacy of the new Medtronic S9 (Integrity) bare metal stent (BMS) in complex coronary diseases.

Background: Excellent deliverability remains an unmet clinical need among stents especially in complex lesions. The S9 (Integrity) BMS utilizes a new, continuous sinusoidal manufacturing technology to enhance stent flexibility and deliverability, without sacrificing radial strength.

Side differences of carotid intima-media thickness in predicting cardiovascular events among patients with coronary artery disease.

Population-based studies have demonstrated differences in intima-media thickness (IMT) measured from the left and right common carotid arteries (CCAs). However, its prognostic implications among patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) remain unknown. Correlations between the left and right CCAs and the composite end point of cardiac death or nonfatal acute coronary syndrome among 149 patients with angiographically confirmed stable CAD were studied.

Long term clinical outcomes after deployment of femoral vascular closure devices in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: We evaluated the long term clinical outcomes of femoral vascular closure devices following its deployment in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures.

Methods: From June 2000 to September 2004, 265 patients who received femoral vascular closure devices after coronary angiography and PCIs were enrolled into the study. Patients' medical records were reviewed and vascular complications within 1 year of follow-up period were recorded.

Angiographic and clinical implications of combined ST-segment elevation in anterior and inferior leads in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The clinical and angiographic findings of patients suffered from acute myocardial infarction (MI) and presented with combined ST elevation in both anterior and inferior leads remain unclear.

Hypothesis: These patients might have >/= 1 coronary arteries occluded.

Methods: From January 2002 to December 2006, 49 consecutive patients were found to have ST elevation in both anterior and inferior leads during myocardial infarction.

Electrocardiographic characteristics of patients with inferior myocardial infarction but angiographically normal coronary arteries.

Normal coronary arteries were found in 22 (5.8%) of 379 patients presented with acute inferior myocardial infarction. These patients were significantly younger, had less cardiovascular risk factors, better systolic heart function, and lower cardiac enzymes level.

Clinical implications of precordial ST-segment elevation in acute inferoposterior myocardial infarction caused by proximal right coronary artery occlusion.

Background: The clinical significance of inferior wall acute myocardial infarction (MI) with combined ST-segment elevation in both anterior and inferior leads, compared with inferior leads alone, is unknown.

Hypothesis: Despite having more leads with precordial ST-segment elevation, these patients may have a better outcome due to less posterior involvement, which tends to drag down the precordial ST-segment.

Methods: A total of 158 postinferior MI patients with documented proximal right coronary artery occlusion were retrospectively studied.

Comparison of intensive and low-dose atorvastatin therapy in the reduction of carotid intimal-medial thickness in patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: Intensive statin therapy has been shown to improve prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). It is unknown whether such benefit is mediated through the reduction of atherosclerotic plaque burden.

Aim: To examine the efficacy of high-dose atorvastatin in the reduction of carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT) and inflammatory markers in patients with CHD.

Value of ST-segment depression in lead V4R in predicting proximal against distal left circumflex artery occlusion in acute inferoposterior myocardial infarction.

Background: Lead V(4R) faces the right ventricular free wall; it also reflects ischemia in the posterolateral wall lying opposite and manifests as ST-segment depression.

Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of V(4R) ST-segment depression in distinguishing proximal from distal left circumflex artery occlusion in acute inferoposterior wall myocardial infarction.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 239 patients who had first acute inferoposterior myocardial infarction, were admitted within 6 h from onset of symptom, and had coronary angiography performed within 4 weeks.

Prognostic implications of PR-segment depression in inferior leads in acute inferior myocardial infarction.

Background: Concurrent atrial ischemia is usually overlooked in acute myocardial infarction (MI) due to its subtle electrocardiographic (ECG) changes, lack of clear-cut clinical picture, and prognostic significance. PR-segment depression in the inferior leads is a simplified ECG sign for detecting possible underlying atrial ischemia.

Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to document the incidence, clinical characteristics, and prognostic implications of this ECG sign in the setting of acute inferior MI.

Relation of aspirin resistance to coronary flow reserve in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Previous studies have shown that more complete platelet inhibition improves the coronary flow reserve (CFR), a measure of microvascular integrity, in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We hypothesized that patients with aspirin resistance would have impaired CFR after elective PCI. We used VerifyNow Aspirin to determine the response to aspirin in 117 consecutive patients who underwent elective single-lesion PCI.

Anomalous origin of right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus: incidence, characteristics, and a systematic approach for rapid diagnosis.

Twenty-three patients were found to have anomalous origin of right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus (LCS) from January 2000 to October 2003. The mean age was 58.6+/-14.

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus is associated with early development of coronary artery disease.

Background: Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left coronary sinus can cause sudden cardiac death. Whether this unique anatomical defect also predisposes to early development of coronary artery disease (CAD) remains uncertain.

Methods: Demography, cardiovascular risk factor profiles and coronary angiograms were reviewed in 1,532 consecutive patients over the past 3 years.

Transient giant R-wave, right axis deviation, and intraventricular conduction delay during exercise treadmill testing: a case report.

A 53 year old man complained of chest pain during an exercise treadmill test. Electrocardiogram revealed transient giant R-wave, right-axis deviation, intraventricular conduction delay, and ST-segment elevation in the inferolateral leads. Subsequent coronary angiography showed an 80% lesion in mid part of a nondominant left circumflex artery, whereas the other coronary arteries had mild atherosclerosis only.

Localized bronchiectasis is a definite association of coronaro-bronchial artery fistula.

An 81-year-old smoker presented with acute coronary syndrome. Coronary angiography revealed severe double-vessel disease, as well as the incidental finding of a coronaro-bronchial artery fistula that arose from the left circumflex artery. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed on the culprit lesion in the left anterior descending artery.