Does Extended Use of Clopidogrel-Based Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy Increase the Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding?

Background: Clopidogrel-based dual anti-platelet therapy (CDAPT) has shown significant benefits in the management of coronary artery disease (CAD), up to 1-year duration. Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is one of the limiting factors for prolonged use of CDAPT.

Methods: We identified all patients taking CDAPT from our ambulatory clinics.

Recurrent intrathoracic dedifferentiated liposarcoma: A case report and literature review.

Background: Liposarcoma (LPS) is the second most common type of soft tissue sarcoma, accounting for approximately 15-20% of all the sarcomas. Primary intrathoracic LPS, however, is quite rare. LPS is a malignant mesenchymal tumor, comprised of lipogenic tissue with varying degrees of atypia.

A comparative study of odontogenic keratocyst and orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst using Ki67 and α smooth muscle actin.

Aim: This study aimed to demonstrate and evaluate the expression of stromal myofibroblasts (MFs) and epithelial cell proliferation using α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Ki67 markers, respectively, in odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) and orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst (OOC) to correlate their aggressive behavior.

Materials And Methods: Twenty cases of OKC and twenty cases of OOC were stained with α-SMA and Ki67 markers for demonstration of stromal MFs and epithelial cell proliferation, respectively, and ten cases of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma were used as positive control. Assessment of the number of α-SMA-positive stromal cells and Ki67-positive epithelial cells determined by MFs and proliferative epithelial cell frequency in 10 high-power fields (×400) was presented as the mean number of positive cells per field.

Prevalence, correlates, and impact of coronary calcification on adverse events following PCI with newer-generation DES: Findings from a large multiethnic registry.

Objectives: We sought to determine the prevalence, predictors, and clinical impact of target lesion calcification in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with newer generation drug-eluting stents (DES) and devices.

Background: Coronary calcification is independently associated with adverse outcomes following PCI. While newer DES and contemporary devices are considered safer and more efficacious, their influence on outcomes following PCI of heavily calcified lesions is unknown.

Intracoronary brachytherapy for in-stent restenosis of drug-eluting stents.

Purpose: Given the limited salvage options for in-stent restenosis (ISR) of drug-eluting stents (DES), our high-volume cardiac catheterization laboratory has been performing intracoronary brachytherapy (ICBT) in patients with recurrent ISR of DES. This study analyzes their baseline characteristics and assesses the safety/toxicity of ICBT in this high-risk population.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective analysis of patients treated with ICBT between September 2012 and December 2014 was performed.

Dedicated two-stent technique in complex bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention with use of everolimus-eluting stents: the EES-bifurcation study.

Objectives: To compare the outcomes of initial one-stent (1S) versus dedicated two-stent (2S) strategies in complex bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using everolimus-eluting stents (EES).

Background: PCI of true bifurcation lesions is technically challenging and historically associated with reduced procedural success and increased restenosis. Prior studies comparing initial one-stent (1S) versus dedicated two-stent (2S) strategies using first-generation drug-eluting stents have shown no reduction in ischemic events and more complications with a 2S strategy.

GuideLiner mother-and-child guide catheter extension: a simple adjunctive tool in PCI for balloon uncrossable chronic total occlusions.

Objectives: To investigate the use of the GuideLiner "mother-and-child" guide catheter extension system as a simple solution to facilitate initial device delivery in balloon uncrossable chronic total occlusions (CTOs) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: During PCIs for CTO lesions, an important reason for procedural failure is the inability to deliver a balloon or microcatheter across the lesion.

Methods: We retrospectively accessed our interventional registry for 07/01/2010 to 03/21/2012 and extracted data on all CTO lesions involving GuideLiner catheter use.

Comparison of six risk scores in patients with triple vessel coronary artery disease undergoing PCI: competing factors influence mortality, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization.

Objectives: To compare the discriminatory value of differing risk scores for predicting clinical outcomes following PCI in routine practice.

Background: Various risk scores predict outcomes after PCI. However, these scores consider markedly different factors, from purely anatomical (SYNTAX risk score [SRS]) to purely clinical (ACEF, modified ACEF [ACEFmod], NCDR), while other scores combine both elements (Clinical SYNTAX score [CSS], NY State Risk Score [NYSRS]).

Combined and independent impact of diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease on residual platelet reactivity.

Patients with both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk for thrombotic events compared to those with one abnormality alone. Whether this can be attributed to changes in platelet reactivity among those with both CKD and DM is unknown. We prospectively studied 438 clopidogrel-naïve patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).