In-Stent Restenosis.

In-stent restenosis (ISR) remains a potential complication after percutaneous coronary intervention, even in the era of drug-eluting stents, and its treatment remains suboptimal. Neoatherosclerosis is an important component of the pathology of ISR and is accelerated in drug-eluting stents compared with bare-metal stents. Coronary angiography is the gold standard for evaluating the morphology of ISR, although computed tomography angiography is emerging as an alternative noninvasive modality to evaluate the presence of ISR.

Poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA) improves the thromboresistance of FRED flow diverters: a thrombogenic evaluation of flow diverters with human blood under flow conditions.

Background: Surface modification of flow-diverting stents has been explored to reduce thrombus-related complications that may arise under clinical use. This study investigated the thromboresistant properties of the flow redirection endoluminal device (FRED) X, a flow diverter treated with a copolymer of poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA; X Technology).

Methods: The performance of FRED, FRED X, and Pipeline Flex with Shield Technology (sPED) was evaluated in an in vitro blood loop model.

Clinical, Pathological, and Genetic Characteristics in Patients with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.

Background: Approximately 30% of children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) have causative monogenic variants. SRNS represents glomerular disease resulting from various etiologies, which lead to similar patterns of glomerular damage. Patients with SRNS mainly exhibit focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

Brazilian green propolis improves gut microbiota dysbiosis and protects against sarcopenic obesity.

Introduction: Brazilian green propolis is an important honeybee product that is considered beneficial for health. Here, we examined the therapeutic potential of dietary supplementation with propolis against sarcopenic obesity using Db/Db mice.

Methods: Db/m mice fed a normal diet alone and Db/Db mice fed normal diet alone, or supplemented with different amounts of propolis (0.

Brigatinib in Japanese patients with tyrosine kinase inhibitor-naive ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer: first results from the phase 2 J-ALTA study.

Background: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) brigatinib in Japanese patients with TKI-naive ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from the phase 2, open-label, single-arm, multicenter J-ALTA study.

Methods: In the TKI-naive cohort of J-ALTA, the primary end point was independent review committee (IRC)-assessed 12-month progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included objective response rate (ORR), intracranial response, overall survival (OS), and safety.

Deferiprone for transfusional iron overload in sickle cell disease and other anemias: open-label study of up to 3 years.

Long-term safety and efficacy data on the iron chelator deferiprone in sickle cell disease (SCD) and other anemias are limited. FIRST-EXT was a 2-year extension study of FIRST (Ferriprox in Patients With Iron Overload in Sickle Cell Disease Trial), a 1-year, randomized noninferiority study of deferiprone vs deferoxamine in these populations. Patients who entered FIRST-EXT continued to receive, or were switched to, deferiprone.

Ticagrelor with and without aspirin in patients with a prior coronary artery bypass graft undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: the TWILIGHT-CABG study.

Background: Prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are often older and present with multiple comorbidities. Ticagrelor monotherapy after a short course of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has emerged as an effective bleeding-avoidance strategy among high-risk patients.

Aims: We aimed to examine the effects of ticagrelor with or without aspirin in prior CABG patients undergoing PCI within the TWILIGHT trial.

Ambulatory haemodynamic-guided management reduces heart failure hospitalizations in a multicentre European heart failure cohort.

Aims: To investigate the outcomes and associated costs of haemodynamic-guided heart failure (HF) management with a pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) sensor in a multicentre European cohort.

Methods And Results: Data from all consecutive patients receiving a PAP sensor in Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, University Hospital Zurich and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust before January 2021 were collected. Medication changes, total number of HF hospitalizations and HF related health care costs (composed of HF hospitalizations, outpatient cardiology visits and monitoring costs) were compared between the pre-implantation and post-implantation period at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Relationship between serum creatinine to cystatin C ratio and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Sarcopenia index (SI), calculated by (serum creatinine/cystatin C)×100, is reported to be associated with sarcopenia. Few studies reported the association between SI and subclinical atherosclerosis. We evaluated the association between SI and subclinical atherosclerosis, assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).

Dietary Fiber Intake Is Related to Skeletal Muscle Mass, Body Fat Mass, and Muscle-to-Fat Ratio Among People With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between dietary fiber intake and skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, and muscle-to-fat ratio (MFR) among men and women with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 260 men and 200 women with T2D. Percent skeletal muscle mass (%) or percent body fat mass (%) was calculated as (appendicular muscle mass [kg] or body fat mass [kg]/body weight [kg]) × 100.

A first-in-human phase 1/2 study of FGF401 and combination of FGF401 with spartalizumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or biomarker-selected solid tumors.

Background: Deregulation of FGF19-FGFR4 signaling is found in several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), nominating it for therapeutic targeting. FGF401 is a potent, selective FGFR4 inhibitor with antitumor activity in preclinical models. This study was designed to determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), characterize PK/PD, and evaluate the safety and efficacy of FGF401 alone and combined with the anti-PD-1 antibody, spartalizumab.

Automatic vein measurement by ultrasonography to prevent peripheral intravenous catheter failure for clinical practice using artificial intelligence: development and evaluation study of an automatic detection method based on deep learning.

Objectives: Complications due to peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC) can be assessed using ultrasound imaging; however, it is not routinely conducted due to the need for training in image reading techniques. This study aimed to develop and validate a system that automatically measures blood vessel diameters on ultrasound images using artificial intelligence (AI) and provide recommendations for selecting an implantation site.

Design: Pilot study.

The need for increased pragmatism in cardiovascular clinical trials.

The majority of cardiovascular randomized controlled trials (RCTs) test interventions in selected patient populations under explicitly protocol-defined settings. Although these 'explanatory' trial designs optimize conditions to test the efficacy and safety of an intervention, they limit the generalizability of trial findings in broader clinical settings. The concept of 'pragmatism' in RCTs addresses this concern by providing counterbalance to the more idealized situation underpinning explanatory RCTs and optimizing effectiveness over efficacy.

Does a small-diameter rod-type tunneler reduce postoperative swelling? An evaluation using a canine arteriovenous graft model.

Purpose: Sheath-type tunnelers are frequently used to create vascular access using vascular grafts. However, during vascular access creation, tunnelers damage the surrounding tissues, consequently causing problems, such as swelling, failure to heal, and infection. This study evaluated a novel rod-type tunneler that was designed to prevent tunneler-related tissue damage and its sequelae.

Burden of disease, treatment utilization, and the impact on education and employment in patients with sickle cell disease: A comparative analysis of high- and low- to middle-income countries for the international Sickle Cell World Assessment Survey.

The international Sickle Cell World Assessment Survey (SWAY) reported a high impact of sickle cell disease (SCD) on patients' daily lives globally. In this study, we analyzed whether the reported burden differed between patients from the USA (n = 384) and other high-income (HI; n = 820) or low- to middle-income (LMI; n = 941) countries. We assessed symptoms and complications, incidence/management of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), treatment utilization/satisfaction, and the impact of SCD on education/employment.

Protein Kinase C (Pkc)-δ Mediates Arginine-Induced Glucagon Secretion in Pancreatic α-Cells.

The pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes involves insulin and glucagon. Protein kinase C (Pkc)-δ, a serine-threonine kinase, is ubiquitously expressed and involved in regulating cell death and proliferation. However, the role of Pkcδ in regulating glucagon secretion in pancreatic α-cells remains unclear.

Updated efficacy and safety of KEYNOTE-224: a phase II study of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma previously treated with sorafenib.

Objective: Pembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, demonstrated anti-tumour activity and tolerability in patients treated with sorafenib and with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in KEYNOTE-224. Longer-term efficacy and safety after ∼2.5 years of additional follow-up are reported.

Coronary Artery Bypass at a Drug-Eluting Resorbable Magnesium Scaffold Site in a Porcine Model.

Background/purpose: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in the presence of metallic permanent stents may be challenging. We explored the feasibility of performing CABG in 1-year Magmaris resorbable scaffold implants in healthy Yucatan pigs.

Methods/materials: One animal received Magmaris 3.

Does Surgical Treatment Affect the Degree of Anxiety or Depression in Patients With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy?

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Preoperative mental state has been reported as one of the factors affecting the surgical outcomes of spine surgery, but few studies have examined in detail how patients' mental state is affected by spine surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) whether surgery improves preoperative depression and anxiety in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy.

Diagnosis of acute heart failure in CT pulmonary angiography: feasibility and accuracy.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of diagnosing acute heart failure (HF) with CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in emergency department patients.

Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, we evaluated 150 emergency department patients (mean age 65 ± 17 years) undergoing CTPA with a fixed scan (100 kVp) and contrast media protocol (60 mL, 4 mL/s) who had no pulmonary embolism (PE). Patients were subdivided into training cohort (n = 100) and test cohort (n = 50).

Epigenetic remodeling in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Purpose Of Review: In this review, we critically address the role of epigenetic processing and its therapeutic modulation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Recent Findings: HFpEF associates with a poor prognosis and the identification of novel molecular targets and therapeutic approaches are in high demand. Emerging evidence indicates a key involvement of epigenetic signals in the regulation of transcriptional programs underpinning features of HFpEF.

Changes in Exercise Capacity and Ventricular Function in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: The Impact of Sports Restriction during Follow-Up.

(1) Background: Physical exercise has been suggested to promote disease progression in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). We aimed to investigate the exercise performance and ventricular function of ARVC patients during follow-up, while taking into account their adherence to exercise restriction recommendations. (2) Methods: This retrospective study included 49 patients (33 male, 67%) who had an exercise test at baseline and after 4.