Randomized comparison of a Gladius first versus standard antegrade wiring strategy for crossing coronary chronic total occlusions: the Gladius first trial.

Objectives: Antegrade wiring (AW) is the most common coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) crossing strategy and usually relies upon stepwise guidewire escalation starting from the low tip-load polymer-jacketed wire (standard guidewire escalation). The authors aimed to investigate whether the upfront use of intermediate tip-load polymer-jacketed guidewire translates into improved procedural outcomes of CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: The Gladius First trial was a single-center, investigator-initiated, randomized, prospective trial.

The impact of left circumflex coronary artery ostium stenosis on outcomes for patients after percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main disease.

Background: The impact of left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) ostium atherosclerosis in left main coronary artery (LM) bifurcation disease is not well-known.

Aim: The study aimed to assess whether the involvement of LCX ostium carries prognostic implications in patients undergoing unprotected LM percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Consecutive 564 patients with unprotected LM (ULMCA) disease who underwent LM PCI between January 2015 and February 2021, with at least 1 year of available follow-up were included in the study.

Peri-Procedural Troponin Elevation after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Left Main Coronary Artery Disease.

Left main (LM) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are challenging and highly invasive procedures. Periprocedural myocardial injury (Troponin (Tn) elevation > 99th percentile) is frequently detected after LM PCI, being identified even in up to 67% of patients. However, the prognostic implications of periprocedural Tn elevation after LM PCI remain controversial.

The Role and Place of Antioxidants in the Treatment of Male Infertility Caused by Varicocele.

The inability to become pregnant for at least 1 year despite regular unprotected intercourse may indicate infertility of one or both partners. This problem affects approximately 10-20% of couples worldwide, regardless of race, with male infertility reported to account for 25-60% of cases. Among the most common pathological causes of male infertility is the presence of varicocele and chronic infections of the male reproductive system.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Left Main Coronary Artery Stenting in Patients Disqualified from Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

The study aims to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of left main percutaneous coronary interventions (LM PCI) in patients disqualified from coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We included 459 patients (mean age: 68.4 ± 9.

Coronary Stent Thrombosis in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review of Cases Reported Worldwide.

Approximately 5 million percutaneous coronary interventions are performed worldwide annually. Therefore, stent-related complications pose a serious public health concern. Stent thrombosis, although rare, is usually catastrophic, often associated with extensive myocardial infarction or death.

A Personalized Approach to Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in the Left Main Coronary Artery-Is the Female Gender Associated with Worse Outcomes?

There is still controversy whether the female gender is associated with worse outcomes after the percutaneous coronary intervention within the left main (LM PCI). This study aimed to examine gender-based differences in real-life LM PCI patients and present a gender-personalized LM PCI approach. Consecutively, 613 patients underwent LM PCI in our department from January 2015 to June 2019.

The impact of right coronary artery support on outcomes of patients with unprotected left main disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Many operators are discouraged from performing left main (LM) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in the absence of right coronary artery (RCA) support due to the increased procedure risk.

Aims: We aimed at assessing the impact of absent functional RCA on prognostic implications in patients undergoing unprotected LM PCI.

Methods: 613 patients underwent LM PCI in our department between 2015 and 2019.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Endocarditis in a Patient With Severe Unicuspid Aortic Valve Damage Complicated With Acquired Ventricular Septal Defect.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, is an important animal pathogen, but rarely reported in humans. To date, only fa ew cases of infective E rhusiopathiae endocarditis of the aortic valve have been described. We introduce the first reported case of severe damage of the native unicuspid aortic valve complicated with acquired ventricular septal defect caused by E rhusiopathiae endocarditis.