A Prospective Multicenter Study Using a Virtual 3 Fr Percutaneous Coronary Intervention System: The V3 Registry.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of virtual 3 Fr (V3), sheathless 5 Fr percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: A small-diameter guiding catheter (GC) makes less-invasive PCI possible. The V3 is an extremely slender PCI system; however, the outcome of using this system has not yet been determined.

Life- and limb-saving endovascular therapy in a patient with acute abdominal aortic occlusion.

A 79-year-old man developed severe bilateral ischemic symptoms in the lower limbs. Chest-abdominal-pelvic contrast computed tomography (CT) showed acute occlusion involving the abdominal aorta, and endovascular therapy (EVT) was used as emergency treatment. Two self-expandable stents placed in the thrombus area resulted in restoration of blood flow to the lower limbs, despite limited stent expansion, and movement of these limbs.

High-sensitivity troponin T is a prognostic marker for patients with aortic stenosis after valve replacement surgery.

Background: Aortic stenosis (AS) is recognized as a cause of sudden cardiac death. Recently, the measurement of high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT) has become possible. Several studies have clarified that hs-TnT is a marker to indicate mortality of cardiovascular diseases.

S100A12 as a marker to predict cardiovascular events in patients with chronic coronary artery disease.

Background: S100A12, a calgranulin family protein released from white blood cells, is involved in inflammatory cardiovascular disease. It was hypothesized that the plasma level of S100A12 can be used to predict outcome in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of S100A12 in patients with stable CAD.

Prediction of progression of coronary artery disease and clinical outcomes using vascular profiling of endothelial shear stress and arterial plaque characteristics: the PREDICTION Study.

Background: Atherosclerotic plaques progress in a highly individual manner. The purposes of the Prediction of Progression of Coronary Artery Disease and Clinical Outcome Using Vascular Profiling of Shear Stress and Wall Morphology (PREDICTION) Study were to determine the role of local hemodynamic and vascular characteristics in coronary plaque progression and to relate plaque changes to clinical events.

Methods And Results: Vascular profiling, using coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound, was used to reconstruct each artery and calculate endothelial shear stress and plaque/remodeling characteristics in vivo.

Sirolimus eluting coronary stent implantation in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: the OUCH study (outcome of cypher stent inhemodialysis patients).

Background: Pivotal studies on drug-eluting stents have excluded hemodialysis (HD) patients. No quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) analysis has been reported.

Methods And Results: The OUtcome of Cypher stent in Hemodialysis patients (OUCH) Study is a prospective non-randomized single-arm registry designed to assess the results of sirolimus-eluting stents in HD patients, with follow-up QCA in an independent core laboratory.

A case of Takayasu arteritis with repeated coronary artery restenosis after drug-eluting stent implantation successfully treated with a combination of steroids.

A 52-year-old woman with Takayasu arteritis developed acute coronary syndrome and received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The patient experienced restenosis three times even with drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. We started steroid administration after the fourth PCI to reduce inflammation due to autoimmunity.

Lack of association between serum paraoxonase-1 activity and residual platelet aggregation during dual anti-platelet therapy.

High residual platelet aggregability during thienopyridine treatment occurs because of low levels of the active drug metabolite, and is associated with an increased rate of major adverse cardiovascular events. Recent findings suggest that paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is a major determinant for clopidogrel efficacy. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of serum PON1 activity on platelet aggregability in thienopyridine-treated patients.

Plasma endoglin as a marker to predict cardiovascular events in patients with chronic coronary artery diseases.

Recent clinical studies have revealed that the expression of endoglin, an accessory protein for the TGF-β receptor, is increased in patients with atherosclerotic diseases. The plasma endoglin level is thought to represent endothelial activation, inflammation, and senescence. To clarify the significance of plasma endoglin in chronic coronary artery disease.

A prospective multicenter registry of 0.010-inch guidewire and compatible system for chronic total occlusion: the PIKACHU registry.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a 0.010-inch guidewire and a balloon catheter for treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO).

Background: Pathological studies have shown that 60-70% of CTO lesions have microchannels of sizes equal to or less than 0.

Roles of ghrelin in left-ventricular remodelling after acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of ghrelin after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in left ventricular (LV) remodelling.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Jichi Medical University Hospital.

Plasma granzyme B as a predicting factor of coronary artery disease--clinical significance in patients with chronic renal failure.

Objectives: To elucidate the role of granzyme B in coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We hypothesized that granzyme B plays an important role in the formation of coronary artery lesions in patients with CKD.

Patients And Methods: We studied 141 patients (116 men and 25 women; mean age, 64.

Upfront thrombus aspiration in primary coronary intervention for patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction: report of the VAMPIRE (VAcuuM asPIration thrombus REmoval) trial.

Objectives: This study evaluated safety and efficacy of upfront thrombus aspiration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Background: Distal embolization during primary PCI results in reduced myocardial perfusion and poor clinical outcomes.

Methods: The VAMPIRE (VAcuuM asPIration thrombus REmoval) study was a prospective, randomized, controlled multicenter trial conducted in 23 institutions.

A new 0.010-inch guidewire and compatible balloon catheter system: the IKATEN registry.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a new 0.010-inch guidewire and a specialized balloon catheter for the 0.010-inch guidewire in routine percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Elevation of plasma granzyme B levels after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Apoptosis is reported to play an important role in left ventricular (LV) remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Granzyme B is a member of the serine esterase family, which has an important role in cellular apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation.

Methods And Results: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 33 patients with a first-onset AMI treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (mean age: 61.

Can ischemic stroke be caused by acute reduction of blood pressure in the acute phase of cardiovascular disease?

Acute-phase cardiovascular disease (CVD) frequently presents with markedly elevated blood pressure (BP) levels and often requires fairly rapid lowering of BP. On the other hand, aggressive lowering of systemic BP to the point that the cerebral BP decreases below a certain threshold may result in ischemic stroke. The authors retrospectively studied 192 consecutive patients with CVD who had markedly elevated BP and end-organ damage.

Determinants of thrombin generation, fibrinolytic activity, and endothelial dysfunction in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy: involvement of factors other than platelet aggregability in Virchow's triad.

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess mechanisms and clinical backgrounds in order to determine residual platelet aggregability in dual antiplatelet therapy and to ascertain whether platelet aggregability is involved in systemic thrombogenicity.

Methods And Results: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 85 consecutive patients who underwent dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and thienopyridine/cilostazol) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Although serum thromboxane B(2) and dephosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein were significantly abolished, the platelet aggregation tests showed inter-individual differences that could be partly explained by plasma glucose levels.

Systemic lupus erythematosus initially manifesting as acute pericarditis complicating with cardiac tamponade : a case report.

A 23-year-old woman was admitted with progressive shortness of breath. Echocardiography showed a large volume of pericardial effusion, which indicated cardiac tamponade. Yellowish and puriform fluid with increased white blood cell count (neutrophil dominant) was aspirated, but antibiotics were ineffective.

Redox imbalance in patients with coronary artery disease showing progression of atherosclerotic lesions.

Objectives: To clarify the relationship between changes in redox balance and the development of new coronary lesions in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We studied 82 CAD patients (70 males and 12 females, mean age 61.8 +/- 9.

[Relationship between redox state of whole arterial blood glutathione and left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction].

Objectives: To investigate the role of oxidative stress in left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: We studied 41 patients with acute myocardial infarction (30 men and 11 women, mean age 61.7 +/- 11.

Long-term prognosis of fulminant myocarditis rescued by percutaneous cardiopulmonary support device.

Background: The long-term prognosis and cardiac function of fulminant myocarditis treated with percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) was compared with the outcome of those not treated with PCPS.

Methods And Results: From 1991 to 2000, 14 patients with fulminant myocarditis (left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) < or =40%) were admitted to hospital. PCPS was necessary for treatment of shock in 8 (PCPS group), but not for the remaining 6 patients (non-PCPS group).