Direct Targeting of the mTOR (Mammalian Target of Rapamycin) Kinase Improves Endothelial Permeability in Drug-Eluting Stents-Brief Report.

Objective- Drug-eluting stents eluting canonical mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitors are widely used to treat coronary artery disease but accelerate the development of atherosclerosis within the stent (neoatherosclerosis)-a leading cause of late stent failure. We recently showed that canonical mTOR inhibitors bind FKBP12.6 (12.

Pathology of Human Coronary and Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis and Vascular Calcification in Diabetes Mellitus.

The continuing increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the general population is predicted to result in a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease. Although the mechanisms of diabetes mellitus-associated progression of atherosclerosis are not fully understood, at clinical and pathological levels, there is an appreciation of increased disease burden and higher levels of arterial calcification in these subjects. Plaques within the coronary arteries of patients with diabetes mellitus generally exhibit larger necrotic cores and significantly greater inflammation consisting mainly of macrophages and T lymphocytes relative to patients without diabetes mellitus.

Thrombogenicity and early vascular healing response in metallic biodegradable polymer-based and fully bioabsorbable drug-eluting stents.

Background: Acute thrombogenicity and re-endothelialization represent clinically relevant end points pertaining to the safety of coronary stents, which have not been compared among biodegradable polymer-based drug-eluting metallic stents and fully bioabsorbable scaffolds to date.

Methods And Results: We investigated comparative outcomes with respect to acute thrombogenicity and re-endothelialization among thin-strut biodegradable polymer metallic everolimus eluting stents (EES), thick-strut fully bioabsorbable EES, thick-strut biodegradable polymer metallic biolimus-eluting stents and control bare metal stents. An ex-vivo porcine arterio-venous shunt model was used to assess platelet aggregation, whereas a healthy rabbit model of iliofemoral stent implantation was used to assess re-endothelialization and inflammation.

Comparison of histopathologic analysis following renal sympathetic denervation over multiple time points.

Background: The pathology of radiofrequency-derived sympathetic renal denervation has not been studied over time and may provide important understanding of the mechanisms resulting in sustained blood pressure reduction. The purpose of this study was to investigate chronological changes after radiofrequency-renal denervation in the swine model.

Methods And Results: A total of 49 renal arteries from 28 animals with 4 different time points (7, 30, 60, and 180 days) were examined.

Comparison of renal artery, soft tissue, and nerve damage after irrigated versus nonirrigated radiofrequency ablation.

Background: The long-term efficacy of radiofrequency ablation of renal autonomic nerves has been proven in nonrandomized studies. However, long-term safety of the renal artery (RA) is of concern. The aim of our study was to determine if cooling during radiofrequency ablation preserved the RA while allowing equivalent nerve damage.

Long-term safety of an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold and the cobalt-chromium XIENCE V stent in a porcine coronary artery model.

Background: The Absorb everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (Absorb) has shown promising clinical results; however, only limited preclinical data have been published. We sought to investigate detailed pathological responses to the Absorb versus XIENCE V (XV) in a porcine coronary model with duration of implant extending from 1 to 42 months.

Methods And Results: A total of 335 devices (263 Absorb and 72 XV) were implanted in 2 or 3 main coronary arteries of 136 nonatherosclerotic swine and examined by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, pharmacokinetics, and gel permeation chromatography analyses at various time points.