Patient satisfaction and feasibility with a novel drug-injectable urethral catheter set for hyaluronic acid administration: a multicenter randomized trial.

Reducing the risk of urethral strictures after transurethral surgery for patients with bladder cancer requires effective strategies. We compared the clinical outcomes of a novel drug-injectable urethral catheter set (NIUS) with hyaluronic acid (HA) with those of the conventional intraurethral HA injection method. This six-center, prospective, randomized, single-blind trial included 192 male patients aged ≥ 20 years scheduled to undergo transurethral surgery.

Trans-Coronary Sinus Intra-Septal Radiofrequency Ablation (TIRA) for Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: First-in-Human Results.

Background: Current treatments for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), including medication, surgery, and alcohol septal ablation (ASA), have limitations in terms of efficacy and safety. To address these challenges, we developed the trans-coronary intra-septal radiofrequency ablation (TIRA) device.

Methods: This first-in-human trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of the TIRA device.

Association of coronary inflammation with plaque vulnerability and fractional flow reserve in coronary artery disease.

Background: The fat attenuation index (FAI) measured using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) enables the direct evaluation of pericoronary adipose tissue composition and vascular inflammation. We aimed to investigate the association of fractional flow reserve (FFR) and plaque vulnerability with coronary inflammation.

Methods: Patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent CCTA and invasive FFR measurements within 90-day were included.

Black Bone Disease: Ochronotic Arthritis Detected during Knee Arthroplasty.

Alkaptonuria is an extremely rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder characterized by dark urine, ochronosis, and arthritis of the spine and major joints. We report a case of ochronotic arthritis observed during total knee replacement surgery in a 65-year-old male patient with no relevant medical history. Based on a literature review, this is the first case of ochronotic arthritis reported in Korea.

Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy with single gastropexy using balloon-assisted tract dilatation: comparison with peel-away sheath.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG) with balloon-assisted tract dilatation (BATD) using a single gastropexy.

Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. From August 2018 to October 2022, 61 patients (53 male and 8 female, mean age 67 years, age range 27-90 years) underwent PRG with balloon-retained tubes for enteral nutrition.

Differences in Plaque Characteristics and Myocardial Mass: Implications for Physiological Significance.

Background: The mechanism of the fractional flow reserve (FFR) difference according to sex has not been clearly understood.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate sex differences in coronary stenosis, plaque characteristics, and left ventricular (LV) mass and their implications for physiological significance.

Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of a pooled population of multicenter, international prospective cohorts.

Prediction of functional results of percutaneous coronary interventions with virtual stenting and quantitative flow ratio.

Background: The clinical value of residual quantitative flow ratio (rQFR), a novel function of QFR technique, is unknown.

Aim: We investigated the clinical value of rQFR, aimed to predict residual ischemia after virtual percutaneous coronary intervention (vPCI).

Methods: This is a substudy of the COE-PERSPECTIVE registry, which investigated the prognostic value of post-PCI fractional flow reserve (FFR).

Outcomes of non-ischaemic coronary lesions with high-risk plaque characteristics on coronary CT angiography.

Background: The integrative implications of quantitative and qualitative plaque characteristics on clinical outcomes and therapeutic guidance have not been fully investigated.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the combined prognostic value of quantitative and qualitative plaque measures and their interactions with treatment modalities and physiological lesion severity.

Methods: Among 697 vessels from 458 patients who underwent fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided treatment, quantitative high-risk plaque (qn-HRP; plaque burden ≥70% and minimum lumen area <3.

Prognostic Implications of Fractional Flow Reserve After Coronary Stenting: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is generally considered to reflect residual disease. Yet the clinical relevance of post-PCI FFR after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation remains unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical relevance of post-PCI FFR measurement after DES implantation.

Relationship of Plaque Features at Coronary CT to Coronary Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Events.

Background Plaque assessments with coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and coronary flow indexes have prognostic implications. Purpose To investigate the association and additive prognostic value of plaque burden and characteristics at CCTA with coronary pressure and flow. Materials and Methods Data of patients with coronary artery disease who underwent CCTA within 90 days before physiologic assessments at tertiary cardiovascular centers between January 2011 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, which included fractional flow reserve (FFR), resting distal coronary artery pressure (Pd)-to-aortic pressure (Pa) ratio (hereafter, Pd/Pa), coronary flow reserve (CFR), hyperemic flow (1/hyperemic mean transit time [Tmn]), resting flow (1/resting Tmn), and index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR).

Differential Prognostic Implications of Pre- and Post-Stent Fractional Flow Reserve in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background And Objectives: The influence of pre-intervention coronary physiologic status on outcomes post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not well known. We sought to investigate the prognostic implications of pre-PCI fractional flow reserve (FFR) combined with post-PCI FFR.

Methods: A total of 1,479 PCI patients with pre-and post-PCI FFR data were analyzed.

Association Among Local Hemodynamic Parameters Derived From CT Angiography and Their Comparable Implications in Development of Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Association among local hemodynamic parameters and their implications in development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have not been fully investigated. A total of 216 lesions in ACS patients undergoing coronary CT angiography (CCTA) before 1-24 months from ACS event were analyzed. High-risk plaque on CCTA was defined as a plaque with ≥2 of low-attenuation plaque, positive remodeling, spotty calcification, and napkin-ring sign.

Prognostic Implications of Comprehensive Whole Vessel Plaque Quantification Using Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography.

Background: The prognostic value of whole vessel plaque quantification has not been fully understood.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the clinical relevance of whole vessel plaque quantification on coronary computed tomography angiography.

Methods: In a total of 1,013 vessels with fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement and available coronary computed tomography angiography, high-risk plaque characteristics (HRPC) included minimum lumen area <4 mm, plaque burden ≥70%, low attenuation plaque, positive remodeling, spotty calcification, and napkin-ring sign; and high-risk vessel characteristics (HRVC) included total plaque volume ≥306.

High-Risk Morphological and Physiological Coronary Disease Attributes as Outcome Markers After Medical Treatment and Revascularization.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the prognostic impact of plaque morphology and coronary physiology on outcomes after medical treatment or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: Although fractional flow reserve (FFR) is currently best practice, morphological characteristics of coronary artery disease also contribute to outcomes.

Methods: A total of 872 vessels in 538 patients were evaluated by invasive FFR and coronary computed tomography angiography.

Characteristic findings of microvascular dysfunction on coronary computed tomography angiography in patients with intermediate coronary stenosis.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the prevalence of coexistence of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in patients with intermediate epicardial stenosis and to explore coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-derived lesion-, vessel-, and cardiac fat-related characteristic findings associated with CMD.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional single-center study included a total of 177 patients with intermediate stenosis in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) who underwent CCTA and invasive physiological measurements. The 320-slice CCTA analysis included qualitative and quantitative assessments of plaque, vessel, epicardial fat volume (ECFV) and epicardial fat attenuation (ECFA), and pericoronary fat attenuation (FAI).

Predictors of Favorable Angiographic Outcomes After Drug-Coated Balloon Use for de novo Small Vessel Coronary Disease (DCB-ONLY).

We evaluated the angiographic parameter and clinical outcomes of drug-coated balloon (DCB) to assess the optimal angiographic criteria in de novo small vessel disease (SVD). Patients (n = 424, mean age: 64.4 ± 11.

Sex-related impact on clinical outcomes of patients treated with drug-eluting stents according to clinical presentation: Patient-level pooled analysis from the GRAND-DES registry.

Background: The contribution of sex and initial clinical presentation to the long-term outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still debated.

Methods: Individual patient data from 5 Korean-multicenter drug-eluting stent (DES) registries (The GRAND-DES) were pooled. A total of 17,286 patients completed 3-year follow-up (5216 women and 12,070 men).

CT Angiographic and Plaque Predictors of Functionally Significant Coronary Disease and Outcome Using Machine Learning.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the association of stenosis and plaque features with myocardial ischemia and their prognostic implications.

Background: Various anatomic, functional, and morphological attributes of coronary artery disease (CAD) have been independently explored to define ischemia and prognosis.

Methods: A total of 1,013 vessels with fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement and available coronary computed tomography angiography were analyzed.

The East Asian Paradox: An Updated Position Statement on the Challenges to the Current Antithrombotic Strategy in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease.

East Asian patients have reduced anti-ischemic benefits and increased bleeding risk during antithrombotic therapies compared with Caucasian patients. As potent P2Y receptor inhibitors (e.g.

Septal Reduction Using Transvenous Intramyocardial Cerclage Radiofrequency Ablation: Preclinical Feasibility.

Debulking of left ventricular septal mass is typically accomplished using surgical myectomy, which is morbid, or using transcoronary alcohol septal ablation, which can result in geographic miss and occasional catastrophic nontarget coronary injury. The authors developed and tested operational parameters in vitro and vivo for a device to accomplish transvenous intraseptal radiofrequency ablation to reduce ventricular septal mass using a technique derived from mitral cerclage, which the authors call . Cerclage ablation appeared feasible in vitro and safe and effective in vivo.

Effect of Ticagrelor on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (HEALING-AMI).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel on left ventricular (LV) remodeling after reperfusion of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in humans.

Background: Animal studies have demonstrated that ticagrelor compared with clopidogrel better protects myocardium against reperfusion injury and improves remodeling after myocardial infarction.

Methods: In this investigator-initiated, randomized, open-label, assessor-blinded trial performed at 10 centers in Korea, patients were enrolled if they had naive STEMI successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and at least 6-month planned duration of dual-antiplatelet treatment.

Prognostic Impact of Residual Anatomic Disease Burden After Functionally Complete Revascularization.

Background: Prognostic impact of residual anatomic disease burden after functionally complete percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), defined by post-PCI fractional flow reserve (FFR) >0.80 would be a clinically relevant question. The current study evaluated clinical outcomes at 2 years according to residual Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (RSS) in patients who underwent functionally complete revascularization.

Influence of Anatomical and Clinical Characteristics on Long-Term Prognosis of FFR-Guided Deferred Coronary Lesions.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and anatomical features to predict the long-term outcomes in patients with fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided deferred lesions, verified by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Background: Deferral of nonsignificant lesion by FFR is associated with a low risk of clinical events. However, the impact of combined information on clinical and anatomical factors is not well known.