Association between lipid-rich plaques and thrombus formation after excimer laser coronary angioplasty in in-stent restenosis and de novo lesions.

Excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is safe and effective. However, thrombotic complications after ELCA occasionally occur. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of lipid-rich plaque in both in-stent restenosis (ISR) and de novo lesions on thrombus formation and transient no-reflow after ELCA.

Relationship between the Selvester QRS Score and Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction Assessed by the Index of Microcirculatory Resistance.

Objective The index of microvascular resistance (IMR) is an invasive method for quantifying the coronary microvasculature independent of the presence and degree of epicardial stenosis during cardiac catheterization, whereas the Selvester QRS score, which is related to myocardial damage, is a relatively simple and non-invasive measurement procedure. We investigated the relationship between the QRS score and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) assessed via IMR. Methods Data from 74 patients who underwent invasive coronary physiological measurements were retrospectively reviewed.

Left-atrial volume reduction reflects improvement of cardiac sympathetic nervous function in patients with severe aortic stenosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an excellent alternative intervention for surgical aortic valve replacement. Cardiac sympathetic nervous (CSN) function and left atrial (LA) volume are both important prognostic factors in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) after TAVR. The relationship between the two clinical factors is unknown, however.

Relationship Between Attenuated Plaque Identified by Intravascular Ultrasound and Thrombus Formation After Excimer Laser Coronary Angioplasty.

Background: Excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) has been reported to be a safe and effective atherectomy device in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, thrombotic complications after ELCA have been occasionally observed. In this study, we evaluated the impact of attenuated plaque on thrombus formation and transient no-reflow after ELCA.

P-Wave Terminal Force V1 Is Associated with Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Patients with No Significant Perfusion Abnormality.

P-wave terminal force in lead V1 (PTFV1) is a marker of increased left atrial (LA) overload. Whether PTFV1 is associated with left ventricular (LV) diastolic function remains undetermined. We tested the hypothesis that PTFV1 is associated with LV diastolic parameters derived from gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with no significant perfusion abnormalities.

Visit-to-visit Blood Pressure Variability and Arterial Stiffness: Which Came First: The Chicken or the Egg?

Earlier studies have shown that visit-to-visit blood pressure (BP) variability (VVV) served as a significant independent risk factor of stroke, specifically, in the high-risk elderly of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although the mechanism is not clearly understood, arterial remodeling such as carotid artery, coronary artery and large aortic artery would be a strong moderator in the relationship between VVV and CVD incidence. Recent studies have provided evidence that VVV predicted the progression of arterial stiffness.

Visit-to-Visit Blood Pressure Variability and Alzheimer's Disease: Links and Risks.

While hypertension has been shown to be a risk factor for vascular dementia, several studies have also demonstrated that hypertension also increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the relationship between visit-to-visit blood pressure variability (VVV) and cognitive impairment, including AD, have been provided, the mechanisms remain poorly understood. This review paper focuses on the relationship of VVV with AD and summarizes the pathophysiology underlying that relationship, which appears to be mediated by arterial stiffness.

The Insular Cortex and Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

Transient left ventricular dysfunction in patients under emotional stress, also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, has been recognized as a distinct clinical entity. Recent studies have supported the concept notion that the cardiovascular system is regulated by cortical modulation. A network consisting of the insular cortex (Ic), anterior cingulate gyrus, and amygdala plays a crucial role in the regulation of the central autonomic nervous system in relation to emotional stress such as anxiety, fear and sadness.

Intravascular ultrasound for morphological assessment of napkin-ring sign detected on multidetector computed tomography.

Background: Although napkin-ring sign (NRS) plaques assessed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is identified as a high-risk feature, the detailed morphological features are still unknown. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the morphological features of the MDCT-assessed NRS using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Methods: We evaluated 204 plaques in 193 patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome who were diagnosed using 128-slice MDCT and were assessed using IVUS prior to coronary intervention.

Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability and classes of antihypertensive agents; associations with artery remodeling and the risk of stroke.

Recent studies have shown that visit-to-visit blood pressure (BP) variability was emerging as an independent risk factor for stroke. Although the mechanism is not fully understood, artery remodeling would be closely associated with the relationship between visit-to-visit BP variability and stroke. In addition, the class of antihypertensive agents is suggested to be an important determinant of visit-to-visit BP variability.

Endovascular Therapy Is Effective for Leriche Syndrome with Deep Vein Thrombosis.

A 65-year-old man presented to our hospital due to intermittent claudication and swelling in his left leg. He had Leriche syndrome and deep vein thrombosis. We performed endovascular therapy (EVT) for Leriche syndrome, and a temporary filter was inserted in the inferior vena cava.

Comparison of everolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting stents in dialysis patients.

Background: We previously reported that the incidence of 1-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients treated with paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) was lower than that in the sirolimus-eluting stents in dialysis patients. However, it remains unclear whether there are differences in clinical outcomes between everolimus-eluting stents (EES) and PES.

Methods: Between February 2010 and September 2013, 102 maintenance dialysis patients with 135 lesions treated with EES were compared to 107 maintenance dialysis patients with 147 lesions treated with PES.