Abbreviated or Standard Antiplatelet Therapy in HBR Patients: Final 15-Month Results of the MASTER-DAPT Trial.

Background: Clinical outcomes and treatment selection after completing the randomized phase of modern trials, investigating antiplatelet therapy (APT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), are unknown.

Objectives: The authors sought to investigate cumulative 15-month and 12-to-15-month outcomes after PCI during routine care in the MASTER DAPT trial.

Methods: The MASTER DAPT trial randomized 4,579 high bleeding risk patients to abbreviated (n = 2,295) or standard (n = 2,284) APT regimens.

Vascular Complications Among Patients Undergoing Trans-femoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Prostar ProGlide Parallel Technique.

Reliable femoral artery closure devices are essential for the success of trans-femoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedures. Accordingly, device choice might affect vascular complications and bleeding rates. This was a retrospective analysis, comparing vascular complication rates among patients who underwent trans-femoral TAVI with vascular access closure using either the ProGlide parallel suture or Prostar closure devices.

The CORolla device for energy transfer from systole to diastole: a novel treatment for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

It is estimated that 30 to 50% of heart failure patients have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Mortality is high in this patient population, and morbidity and rate of hospitalization are similar to those of heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The management of patients with HFpEF is essentially empirical, limited, and disappointing.

Strategies to overcome challenges of transradial coronary angiography and intervention.

The transradial approach has become the preferred route for performing coronary angiography and interventions. Several studies reported that radial access is associated with significant reduction in vascular complications compared with the femoral access. This technique allows also early ambulation, improves the patient's well-being, and is less expensive.

Early Feasibility of Automated Artificial Intelligence Angiography Based Fractional Flow Reserve Estimation.

Despite the evidence of improved patients' outcome, fractional flow reserve (FFR) is underused in current everyday practice. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a novel automated artificial intelligence angiography-based FFR software (AutocathFFR) as a decision supporting tool for interventional cardiologists. AutocathFFR was performed on angiographic images of patients who underwent coronary angiography with a pressure wire FFR measurement.

Novel Technique for the Treatment of Coronary Artery Perforation.

Coronary artery perforation is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); its rate is estimated at 0.4- 0.7% of all PCIs.

First-in-man Safety and Efficacy of the ClearRing Implant for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Background: Although effective for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) can be associated with side effects including prolonged recovery, storage and voiding symptoms, and a risk of acute urinary retention.

Objective: To test a new minimally invasive device for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to BPH, involving implantation of a C-shaped nitinol ring (ClearRing) in a circular incision in the prostatic tissue using an electrocuting blade over a dilatation balloon.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This was a multicenter single-arm clinical trial involving 29 men with severe symptomatic BPH.

Assessing the Safety and Efficacy of the ClearRing™ Implant for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in a Canine Model.

Background: Transurethral resection of the prostate is the most common procedure for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Although effective, transurethral resection of the prostate can be associated with side effects including prolonged recovery, storage and voiding symptoms, risk of acute urinary retention.

Objectives: In this study, we describe a new minimally invasive device for the treatment of lower urinary track symptoms due to BPH, implanting a nitinol C shape ring in a circular incision in the prostatic tissue, surrounding the urethra, done by electrocuting blade over a dilatation balloon.

A Novel Intra-aortic Device Designed for Coronary Blood Flow Amplification in Unrevascularizable Patients.

Patients with unrevascularizable coronary artery disease represent a substantial number of all patients with coronary disease. However, their therapeutic options are limited; they endure recurrent hospitalizations, a poor quality of life and prognosis. We aim to investigate a novel alternative approach to the treatment of this common medical condition by using a specialized intra-aortic device with coiling properties capable of enhancing diastolic coronary flow.

Effects of fibroblast transplantation into the internal pallidum on levodopa-induced dyskinesias in parkinsonian non-human primates.

Recent studies have shown that fibroblast transplantation can modify the activity of basal ganglia networks in models of Parkinson's disease. To determine its effects on parkinsonian motor symptoms, we performed autologous dermal fibroblast transplantation into the internal pallidum (GPi) in two parkinsonian rhesus monkeys with stable levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LIDs). Levodopa responses were assessed every week after transplantation for three months.

Energy transfer from systole to diastole: a novel device-based approach for the treatment of diastolic heart failure.

Unlabelled: We hypothesized that attachment of elastic coil to the left ventricular (LV) wall, capable of exerting outward forces may allow the transfer of energy from systole to diastole and improve diastolic function.

Methods And Results: An extra-ventricular-device, composed of a series of elastic elements interposed between spiral screws attached to the epimyocardium of the LV free-wall was developed. The hemodynamic and mechanical effects of the device were tested using a computerized model, an in vitro model utilizing a computerized-controlled fluid pump, eight healthy sheep and 10 mini-pigs induced with diastolic dysfunction by renal wrapping.

Modulation of excessive neuronal activity by fibroblasts: potential use in treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Purpose: A number of neurological disorders are marked by increased or aberrant frequency of neuronal discharge in specific parts of the brain. Administration of drugs such as antiepileptic compounds results in the depression of neuronal activity in the whole brain, with the potential for serious side-effects. In the search for additional therapies to reduce the unphysiological electrical activity of over-active brain foci, we have examined the effect of fibroblasts transplanted to areas responsible for motor dysfunction in hemi-parkinsonian rats, since bursting synchronous discharges in internal segment of globus pallidus (GPi) are thought to be partially responsible for the movement disorders of PD.

Cell therapy for modification of the myocardial electrophysiological substrate.

Background: Traditional antiarrhythmic pharmacological therapies are limited by their global cardiac action, low efficacy, and significant proarrhythmic effects. We present a novel approach for the modification of the myocardial electrophysiological substrate using cell grafts genetically engineered to express specific ionic channels.

Methods And Results: To test the aforementioned concept, we performed ex vivo, in vivo, and computer simulation studies to determine the ability of fibroblasts transfected to express the voltage-sensitive potassium channel Kv1.

Future strategies for the treatment of diastolic heart failure.

It is estimated that 30% to 50% of heart failure patients have preserved systolic left ventricular (LV) function, often referred to as diastolic heart failure (DHF). Mortality is high in this patient population, and morbidity and rate of hospitalization are similar to those of patients with systolic heart failure. The management of patients with diastolic heart failure is essentially empirical, limited, and disappointing.

Electrophysiological modulation of cardiomyocytic tissue by transfected fibroblasts expressing potassium channels: a novel strategy to manipulate excitability.

Background: Traditional pharmacological therapies aiming to modify the abnormal electrophysiological substrate underlying cardiac arrhythmias may be limited by their relatively low efficacy, global cardiac activity, and significant proarrhythmic effects. We suggest a new approach, in which transfected cellular grafts expressing various ionic channels may be used to manipulate the local electrophysiological properties of cardiac tissue. To examine the feasibility of this concept, we tested the hypothesis that transfected fibroblasts expressing the voltage-sensitive potassium channel Kv1.