Long-Term Kawasaki Disease Complication: Thrombotic Coronary Aneurysm Leading to Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction caused by coronary artery aneurysms typically occurs within 1 to 2 years after Kawasaki disease onset. We report a rare case of sudden death from acute myocardial infarction caused by thrombotic occlusion in a coronary artery aneurysm in a 41-year-old patient diagnosed Kawasaki disease at age 5 years.

Mechanisms of Medial Wall Thinning in Chronic Total Occlusion.

Background: The success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) is lower and the risk for complications higher compared with other non-CTO PCI. Although interventionalists focus on intimal plaque characteristics, the coronary media is an important (especially for techniques involving antegrade dissection and re-entry) but poorly understood structure in CTO PCI.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate coronary medial wall thinning in CTO lesions and determine how this thinning might affect CTO PCI.

Challenges and advances in device-related thrombus in left atrial appendage occlusion.

Oral anticoagulation therapy (OAC) is a mainstay for mitigating stroke and other embolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Despite the demonstrated efficacy of OAC in reducing events, many patients are unable to tolerate OAC due to bleeding risks. Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) devices were developed as implantable technologies to moderate stroke risk in patients with intolerance to OAC.

CD163 Macrophages Induce Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Atheroma.

Background: Cell phenotype switching is increasingly being recognized in atherosclerosis. However, our understanding of the exact stimuli for such cellular transformations and their significance for human atherosclerosis is still evolving. Intraplaque hemorrhage is thought to be a major contributor to plaque progression in part by stimulating the influx of CD163 macrophages.

Effect of EDTA with porous balloon on calcified lesion: An atherosclerotic cadaver study.

Background: Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) is a chelating agent used to dissolve calcium deposits but evidence in decalcifying atherosclerotic lesions is limited.

Aims: We assessed the feasibility and efficacy of EDTA delivered via porous balloon to target calcified lesions in cadaveric below-the-knee (BTK) arteries.

Methods: Using porcine carotid arteries, EDTA concentration was measured in the arterial wall and outside the artery at the 0-, 0.