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. The patients were classified according to the median values of pre-PCI FFR (0.71) and post-PCI FFR (0.88). The primary outcome was target vessel failure (TVF) at 2 years. @*Results@#The risk of TVF was higher in the low pre-PCI FFR group than in the high pre-PCI FFR group (hazard ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–2.87; p=0.011). In 4 group comparisons, the cumulative incidences of TVF at 2 years were 3.8%, 4.1%, 4.8%, and 10.2% in the high pre-/high post-, low pre-/high post-, high pre-/low post-, and low pre-/low post-PCI FFR groups, respectively. The risk of TVF was the highest in the low pre-/low post-PCI FFR group among the groups (p values for comparisons 0.05). When the prognostic value of the post-PCI FFR was evaluated according to the pre-PCI FFR, the risk of TVF significantly decreased with an increase in postPCI FFR in the low pre-PCI FFR group, but not in the high pre-PCI FFR group. @*Conclusions@#Pre-PCI FFR was associated with clinical outcomes after PCI, and the prognostic value of post-PCI FFR differed according to the pre-PCI FFR.

Epidemiological characteristics and trend analysis of influenza-like cases in Xuhui District of Shanghai from 2010 to 2019 / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics and incidence trend of influenza-like illness in Xuhui District from 2010 to 2019， in order to understand the patterns of influenza epidemic of Xuhui District，and to provide evidence for the prevention and control of influenza in the future. MethodsSurveillance data of influenza-like illness （ILI） in Xuhui District from 2010 to 2019 were collected from the National Influenza Surveillance System for statistical description and trend analysis. ResultsFrom 2010 to 2019， the overall proportion of influenza-like illness was 0.54%. The annual proportions of ILI were between 0.35%~1.14%．The majority of cases were reported in age group of 25~59， accounted for 54.50% of the total ILI. A total of 9 053 throat swab specimens from ILI patients were collected and tested， from which 2 137 specimens were positive， with a positive rate of 23.61%. The most frequent subtype of influenza virus detected was influenza A virus （accounting for 67.62%）. The proportion of ILI and the positive rate of influenza virus nucleic acid detection reached the peak in summer and winter over time. There was a positive correlation between the proportion of ILI and the positive rate of influenza （r=0.666， P<0.01）. From 2010 to 2019， both ILI% and nucleic acid positive rate of influenza virus showed a downward trend. ConclusionThe incidence of influenza shows a downward trend in Xuhui District， with two peaks in summer and winter. The most susceptible individuals are in 25~59 age group. The dominant strains of influenza virus alternate regularly， influenza A（H3N2） dominate the summer epidemic peak while the epidemic peak in winter is dominated by influenza A（H1N1） and influenza B.

Epidemiological characteristics and trend analysis of influenza-like cases in Xuhui District of Shanghai from 2010 to 2019 / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics and incidence trend of influenza-like illness in Xuhui District from 2010 to 2019， in order to understand the patterns of influenza epidemic of Xuhui District，and to provide evidence for the prevention and control of influenza in the future. MethodsSurveillance data of influenza-like illness （ILI） in Xuhui District from 2010 to 2019 were collected from the National Influenza Surveillance System for statistical description and trend analysis. ResultsFrom 2010 to 2019， the overall proportion of influenza-like illness was 0.54%. The annual proportions of ILI were between 0.35%~1.14%．The majority of cases were reported in age group of 25~59， accounted for 54.50% of the total ILI. A total of 9 053 throat swab specimens from ILI patients were collected and tested， from which 2 137 specimens were positive， with a positive rate of 23.61%. The most frequent subtype of influenza virus detected was influenza A virus （accounting for 67.62%）. The proportion of ILI and the positive rate of influenza virus nucleic acid detection reached the peak in summer and winter over time. There was a positive correlation between the proportion of ILI and the positive rate of influenza （r=0.666， P<0.01）. From 2010 to 2019， both ILI% and nucleic acid positive rate of influenza virus showed a downward trend. ConclusionThe incidence of influenza shows a downward trend in Xuhui District， with two peaks in summer and winter. The most susceptible individuals are in 25~59 age group. The dominant strains of influenza virus alternate regularly， influenza A（H3N2） dominate the summer epidemic peak while the epidemic peak in winter is dominated by influenza A（H1N1） and influenza B.

Long-term outcomes of intravascular ultrasound-guided drug-eluting stent implantation in patients with chronic kidney disease: ULTIMATE CKD subgroup analysis / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To explore the long-term effect of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance on patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Methods: Data used in this study derived from ULTIMATE trial, which was a prospective, multicenter, randomized study. From August 2014 to May 2017, 1 448 patients with coronary heart disease undergoing DES implantation were selected from 8 domestic centers and randomly divided into two groups in the ratio of 1∶1 (IVUS or coronary angiography guided stent implantation). A total of 1 443 patients with the baseline serum creatine available were enrolled. The patients were divided into CKD group and non CKD group. CKD was defined as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) derived from Cockcroft Gault (CG) formula< 60 ml·min-1·1.73 m-2 for at least 3 months. Primary endpoint of this study was target vessel failure (TVF) at 3 years, including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and clinically-driven target vessel revascularization. Kaplan Meier method was used for survival analysis, and log rank test was used to compare the occurrence of end-point events in each group. Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate HR and 95%CI, and interaction was tested. Multivariate Cox regression was used to analyze the independent influencing factors of TVF. Results: A total of 1 443 patients with coronary heart disease were enrolled in this study, including 349 (24.2%) patients in CKD group and 1 094 patients in non CKD group. In CKD group, IVUS was used to guide stent implantation in 180 cases and angiography was used in 169 cases; in non CKD group, IVUS was used to guide stent implantation in 543 cases and angiography was used in 551 cases. Three-year clinical follow-up was available in 1 418 patients (98.3%). The incidence of TVF in CKD group was 12.0% (42/349), which was higher than that in non CKD group (7.4% (81/1 094) (P = 0.01). The difference was mainly due to the higher cardiac mortality in CKD group (4.6% (16/349) vs. 1.5% (16/1094), P<0.001). In CKD group, the incidence of TVF in patients who underwent IVUS guided stent implantation was lower than that in angiography guided stent implantation (8.3% (15/180) vs. 16.0% (27/169), P = 0.03). There was no significant difference in the incidence of TVF between IVUS guided stent implantation and angiography guided stent implantation in non CKD group (5.9% (32/543) vs. 8.9% (49/551), P = 0.06), and there was no interaction (P = 0.47). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that IVUS guidance (HR = 0.56, 95%CI 0.39-0.81, P = 0.002), CKD (HR = 1.83, 95%CI 1.17-2.87, P = 0.010) and stent length (every 10 mm increase) (HR = 1.11, 95%CI 1.04-1.19, P = 0.002) were independent risk factors for TVF within 3 years after DES implantation. Conclusions: CKD patients undergoing DES implantation are associated with a higher risk of 3-year TVF. More importantly, the risk of TVF could be significantly decreased through IVUS guidance in comparison with angiography guidance in patients with CKD.

Post-stroke hand spasm treated with penetrating acupuncture combined with kinesiotherapy: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the differences in the clinical effect on post-stroke hand spasm among the combined treatment of penetrating acupuncture and kinesiotherapy, the simple application of penetrating acupuncture and the simple application of kinesiotherapy.@*METHODS@#A total of 105 patients with post-stroke hand spasm were randomized into a penetrating acupuncture group, a kinesiotherapy group and a combined treatment group, 35 cases in each one, of which, 2 cases were dropped out in either the combined treatment group and the penetrating acupuncture group, and 1 case dropped out in the kinesiotherapy group. The routine rehabilitation training, e.g. occupational therapy and Bobath exercise and medication were adopted in all of the three groups. In the penetrating acupuncture group, the penetrating needling technique was exerted from Hegu (LI 4) to Houxi (SI 3) and from Waiguan (TE 5) to Sidu (TE 9) on the affected side. In the kinesiotherapy group, the persistent movement or passive movement was exerted on the wrist joint, the metacarpophalangeal joints and the interphalangeal joints. In the combined treatment group, the penetrating acupuncture (the same as the penetrating acupuncture group) was exerted combined with kinesiotherapy (the same as the kinesiotherapy group). In each group, the treatment was given once a day, 30 min in each time, 6 treatments a week in total, with the interval of 1 day between the courses. The treatment for 2 weeks was as one course and 2 courses were required totally. Before and after treatment, the scores of hand spasm index, hand-wrist motor function and the activity of daily living (ADL) were compared in each group.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the scores of hand spasm index were reduced as compared with those before treatment in each group (0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Compared with the simple application of either penetrating acupuncture or kinesiotherapy, the combined treatment of them achieves the significant improvements in hand spasm degree, hand wrist motor function and ADL in patients with stroke.

Influence of PD-L1 gene polymorphism on the survival of colorectal cancer patients undergoing capecitabine-based adjuvant chemotherapy / 医学研究生学报

Objective Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is essential in the immune escape of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. In this study, we investigated the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of CRC patients receiving capecitabine-based adjuvant chemotherapy after RO resection. Methods This retrospective study included 265 CRC patients treated by RO resection and postoperative capecitabine-based adjuvant chemotherapy in Zhengzhou People′s Hospital between January 1, 2010 and December 12, 2017. We analyzed the clinical data, performed genotyping of the genetic variants and determined the expression of PD-L1 mRNA in the CRC tissue. We also analyzed the correlation between the genetic polymorphisms and other baseline characteristics by chi-square test, the expression of PD-L1 mRNA in different genotypes by non-parametric test, and the prognosis using the Kaplan-Meier method, followed by multivariate Cox regression analysis for adjustment. Results The median DFS and OS of the 265 CRC patients were 4.6 and 6.5 years, respectively. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms of the PD-L1 gene, 901T>C, -1813G>C and -1457T>A, were identified in the NCBI database with the minor allele frequency >10% in the Chinese population, of which, only 901T>C was of clinical significance in the outcome analysis. 901T>C was located in the intron region of the PD-L1 gene, with the genotypes of TT in 185 cases (69.81%), TC in 72 (27.17%) and CC in 8 (3.02%). The minor allele frequency was 0.17 and the distribution frequencies of all the three genotypes conformed to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P = 0.758). The median DFS was significantly longer in the CRC patients with the TT genotype than in those with the TC or CC genotype (4.8 vs 3.5 years, P = 0.001), and so was the median OS (6.7 vs 4.7 years, P < 0.001). The adjustment of OS by multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the TC and CC genotypes were an independent factor for OS (OR = 1.89, P = 0.006). The analysis of 89 of the CRC tissue specimens revealed a markedly higher expression of PD-L1 mRNA in the patients with the TC or CC genotype than in those with the TT genotype (P < 0.001). Conclusion The 901T>C polymorphism of the PD-L1 gene may influence the clinical outcomes of the CRC patients receiving capecitabine-based adjuvant chemotherapy by mediating the expression of PD-L1 mRNA.

Comparison of flower buds and leaves of Tussilago farfara L. by UHPLC-Q Extractive Hybrid Quadrupole Orbitrap MS / 药学学报

The flower bud of Tussilago farfara L. has been commonly used in the treatment of cough, bronchitis and asthmatic disorders in the Traditional Chinese Medicine. In Europe, the leaves were also used as herbal drugs with similar pharmacological activities. In order to utilize the leaves, it is important to conduct the chemical comparison between the flower buds and the leaves. In this study, ultra high liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with Q Exactive high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) was used to compare the chemical composition of the flower buds and leaves of T. farfara L. forty three metabolites were identified by the combination of targeted and untargeted approach. The results suggest that the sesquiterpenes, such as tussilagone and 7β-(3'-ethyl-cis-crotonoyloxy)-1α-(2'-methylbutyryloxy)-3(14)-dehydro-Z-notonipetranone were higher in the flower buds. While the phenylpropanoids, such as cholorgenic acid and isochlorogenic acid were higher in the leaves. The flavonoids, such as hyperin and quercetin exhibited no difference between the flower buds and leaves, while the rutin and kaempferol were higher in the flower buds. The leaves and flower buds had similar chemical components, and the phenylpropanoids, which were closely related with the antitussive and expectorant activities, were found at higher concentrations in the leaves. The results presented here laid the basis for the rational utilization of the leaves of T. farfara L.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Affecting Platelet Reactivity in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and platelet reactivity in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been defined. The present prospective, single-center study explored the relationship between platelet reactivity and OSA in patients with PCI.</p><p><b>Methods</b>A total of 242 patients were finally included in the study. OSA was screened overnight by polysomnography. Platelet reactivity was assessed with a sequential platelet counting method, and the platelet maximum aggregation ratio (MAR) and average aggregation ratio were calculated. All patients were assigned per apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) to non-OSA (n = 128) and OSA (n = 114) groups. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the accuracy of AHI for high platelet reactivity (HPR) on aspirin and clopidogrel, and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of HPR on aspirin and clopidogrel.</p><p><b>Results</b>Median AHI was significantly higher in the OSA group than in the non-OSA group (34.5 events/h vs. 8.1 events/h, Z = -13.422, P < 0.001). Likewise, median arachidonic acid- and adenosine diphosphate-induced maximum aggregation rate (MAR) in the OSA group was significantly higher than those in the non-OSA group (21.1% vs. 17.7%, Z = -3.525, P < 0.001 and 45.8% vs. 32.2%, Z = -5.708, P < 0.001, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression showed that OSA was the only independent predictor for HPR on aspirin (odds ratio [OR]: 1.055, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.033-1.077, P < 0.001) and clopidogrel (OR: 1.036, 95% CI: 1.017-1.056, P < 0.001). The cutoff value of AHI for HPR on aspirin was 45.2 events/h (sensitivity 47.1% and specificity 91.3%), whereas cutoff value of AHI for HPR on clopidogrel was 21.3 events/h (sensitivity 68.3% and specificity 67.7%).</p><p><b>Conclusion</b>Platelet reactivity appeared to be higher in OSA patients with PCI despite having received a loading dose of aspirin and clopidogrel, and OSA might be an independent predictor of HPR on aspirin and clopidogrel.</p>

Screening and identification of apolipoprotein A-I as a potential marker for hepatoblastoma in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen and identify serum biomarkers for childhood hepatoblastoma (HB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The serum samples from 30 children with hepatoblastoma (HB), 20 children with systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and 20 normal children were treated with magnetic bead-based weak cation exchange chromatography. The platform of surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) was used to eliminate the interference of inflammatory factors and to screen out the differentially expressed proteins in serum between tumor group and normal group. After the purification and separation of target proteins were performed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry was used to determine their amino acid sequences. The SwissProt database was searched for matched proteins. Finally, real-time PCR and ELISA were used to verify and measure the expression of target proteins.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After SELDI-TOF-MS was used for screening and elimination of the interference of inflammatory factors, a differentially expression protein with a mass-to-charge ratio of 9 348 Da was found in serum between HB group and normal group, and the HB group had significantly lower expression of this protein than the normal group (p<0.05). This protein was identified as apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-I). Real-time PCR and ELISA verified the low mRNA and protein expression of Apo A-I in serum in the HB group and high expression in serum in the normal group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Apo A-I can be used as a non-inflammatory protein marker for HB and has a certain value in the early diagnosis of HB.</p>

Coronary bifurcation lesions treated with double kissing crush technique compared to classical crush technique: serial intravascular ultrasound analysis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The double kissing (DK) crush technique is a modified version of the crush technique. It is specifically designed to increase the success rate of the final kissing balloon post-dilatation, but its efficacy and safety remain unclear.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data were obtained from the DKCRUSH-I trial, a prospective, randomized, multi-center study to evaluate safety and efficacy. Post-procedural and eight-month follow-up intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis was available in 61 cases. Volumetric analysis using Simpson's method within the Taxus stent, and cross-sectional analysis at the five sites of the main vessel (MV) and three sites of the side branch (SB) were performed. Impact of the bifurcation angle on stent expansion at the carina was also evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Stent expansion in the SB ostium was significantly less in the classical crush group ((53.81 ± 13.51)%) than in the DK crush group ((72.27 ± 11.46)%) (P = 0.04). For the MV, the incidence of incomplete crush was 41.9% in the DK group and 70.0% in the classical group (P = 0.03). The percentage of neointimal area at the ostium had a tendency to be smaller in the DK group compared with the classical group ((16.4 ± 19.2)% vs. (22.8 ± 27.1)%, P = 0.06). The optimal threshold of post-procedural minimum stent area (MSA) to predict follow-up minimum lumen area (MLA) < 4.0 mm(2) at the SB ostium was 4.55 mm(2), yielding an area under the curve of 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.61 to 0.92).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data suggest that the DK crush technique is associated with improved quality of the final kissing balloon inflation (FKBI) and had smaller optimal cutoff value of post-procedural MSA at the SB ostium.</p>

Surgical management of intrahepatic vessels in children with stage III/IV hepatoblastoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hepatoblastoma (HB) is a rare childhood tumor. We investigated the effect of intraoperative management of the intrahepatic major vessels in children with HB.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between April 2005 and August 2012, surgical resection was performed on 50 children with hepatoblastoma. These children were divided into a vessel-ligation group (n = 20) and a vessel-repair group (n = 30). In the vessel-ligation group, the intrahepatic major vessels were ligated and removed together with the tumor and the affected liver lobe/liver parenchyma. In the vessel-repair group, the affected intrahepatic major vessels were dissected and preserved as much as possible and the normal liver lobe/liver parenchyma and blood supply from these vessels were also preserved. The outcomes were analyzed by postoperative follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the vessel-ligation group, two patients gave up surgery, six patients underwent palliative resection, and 12 patients underwent en bloc resection; four patients died of liver failure and eight patients fully recovered and were discharged. In the vessel-repair group, all 30 patients underwent en bloc resection and were discharged after satisfactory healing. After a follow-up time of 5 - 36 months (median: 20 months), two patient in the vessel-ligation group survived and 22 patients in the vessel-repair group survived.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Patients with HB can be successfully treated by tumor resection with vascular repair. This method prevents postoperative liver failure, ensures patient safety during the perioperative period, and allows for early chemotherapy.</p>

Risk factors and clinical outcome of coronary artery aneurysms developed after drug-eluting stent implantation / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate risk factors and clinical outcome of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) developed after drug-eluting stent implantation evidenced by coronary angiographic follow-up.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study analyzed 4500 consecutive patient with de novo coronary artery stenosis receiving drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation from January 2004 to May 2009. Seven hundred and sixty patients with angiographic follow-ups at 6 - 8 months and 28 - 48 months after the index procedure were enrolled. CAA was defined as a localized dilatation exceeding 1.5 times the diameter of the adjacent artery. The independent risk factors and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target-vessel revascularization (TVR) and in-stent thrombosis were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CAA was detected in 70 patients with 70 lesions (9.2%, 70/760). Logistic analysis showed that lesion in an infarct-related artery (OR: 5.9, P < 0.01), lesion in the left anterior descending artery (OR: 4.5, P < 0.01), lesion with chronic total occlusion (OR: 3.4, P < 0.05), and lesion length > 33 mm (OR: 2.9, P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for CAA. Follow-up duration was (1131 ± 478) days. MACE was found in 19 patients and all received TVR. There were 11 patients with myocardial infarction and 8 patients with evidence of in-stent thrombosis. Mortality was zero during follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The risk factors for the development of CAA after DES are lesions in an infarct-related artery, in the left anterior descending artery, with chronic total occlusion, and with lesion length > 33 mm. MACE is not uncommon in patients with CAA and long-ferm clinical follow-up is warranted for patients with CAA.</p>

Comparison of short- and long-term outcome after percutaneous transluminal interventional therapy in octogenarians with coronary artery disease from radial or femoral approach / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the short-term and long-term outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between transradial intervention (TRI) and transfemoral intervention (TFI) in elderly patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2005 to December 2010, 488 consecutive elderly patients ( ≥ 80 years old) were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into TRI group (n = 235, PCIs were performed trans-radial approach) and TFI group (n = 253, PCIs were performed trans-femoral approach). Efficacy and safety data were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no differences in success rate of stenting, procedure time, contrast amount, rates of contrast-induced nephropathy, major adverse cardiovascular events during hospitalization, at one year follow up and at two years follow up. Lower vascular complications were associated with TRI approach[ 17.9% (42/253) vs. 26.9% (68/253) , P < 0.05], especially in TIMI major bleeding ratio [1.3% (3/235) vs. 4.7% (12/253) , P < 0.05], TIMI minor bleeding [5.1% (12/235) vs. 15.8% (40/253) , P < 0.01], and time lying in bed [3.6 (2.8-4.2)h vs. 24.4 (24.0-25.1)h, P < 0.01] and hospitalization [3.0 (3.0-4.0)d vs. 5.0 (5.0-6.0)d, P < 0.01], and higher rates of crossover approach were associated with TRI [11.5% (27/235) vs. 2.0(5/253) , P < 0.01].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TRI is as feasible, safe and effective as TFI in elderly patients during short-term and long-term follow up, and TRI is associated with higher rates of crossover approach.</p>

Optimized quantitative angiographic and intravascular ultrasound parameters predicting the functional significance of single de novo lesions in the left anterior descending artery / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The correlation between angiographic or intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) variables and fractional flow reserve (FFR) in patients with single left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesion has not been studied. The current study aimed at determining the best cutoff value of angiographic and IVUS parameters for defining FFR < 0.80 in patients with LAD lesion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Quantitative coronary analysis, IVUS and FFR measurements were undergone in 169 patients with single LAD lesion. The best angiographic and IVUS cutoff value and their predictive value for FFR < 0.80 were compared using area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUC) in overall patients or in subgroups stratified by lesion sites.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>FFR < 0.80 was found in 99 lesions (58.6%). Minimal lumen area (MLA), and plaque burden (PB) were two predictors of FFR < 0.80. Lesion length had less value in predicting FFR < 0.80. The cutoff value of PB and MLA for FFR < 0.80 was 75.4% and 3.03 mm(2). MLA and PB had similar high diagnostic value for proximal (cutoff value 3.04 mm(2) and 76.5%) and distal LAD lesion (2.82 mm(2) and 80.6%). Combination of MLA (2.82 mm(2)) and PB (80.6%) had increased diagnostic value for distal LAD lesion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MLA and plaque burden had equivalent diagnostic value for FFR < 0.80 when lesion localized in LAD. The predictive value of combination of MLA and plaque burden for distal LAD lesion was strengthened.</p>

Clinical outcomes after recanalization of a chronic total occluded vessel with bifurcation lesions: results from single-center, prospective, chronic total occlusion registry study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Stenting strategies and clinical outcomes of bifurcation lesions in a chronic total occlusion (CTO) vessel after successful recanalization remain to be unknown.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between January 2001 and December 2009, 195 (41.1%) patients with 254 (47.0%) bifurcation lesions in CTO vessels from a pool of 564 patients with 659 CTO lesions were included and divided into proximal (n = 134) and distal (n = 120) groups, according to the location of the bifurcation lesions. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at the end of clinical follow-up, including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization (TVR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Collaterals with Rentrop class 3 were seen more in distal group (100% and 68.3%), compared to proximal group (76.9% and 45.6%). Two-stent technique for proximal bifurcation lesions was used in 24.6%, significantly different from the distal group (6.7%, P < 0.001), without significant difference in composite MACE between proximal and distal groups, or between one- and two-stent subgroups in proximal group. The composite MACE after 1-year in complete revascularization subgroup was 17.9% relative to 29.6% in the incomplete revascularization group (P = 0.044). Stents in long false lumen in main vessel were mainly attributive to decreased TIMI grade flow, with resultant increased in-stent restenosis, total occlusion, TVR and coronary aneurysms. Imcomplete revasculzarization (HR 2.028, P = 0.049, 95%CI 1.002 - 4.105) and post-stenting TIMI flow (HR 6.122, P = 0.020, 95%CI 1.334 - 28.092) were two independent predictors of composite MACE at the 1-year follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Two-stent was more used for proximal bifurcation lesions. No significant difference was observed in MACE between proximal and distal, or between one- and two-stent subgroups in the proximal group. Placement of a safety wire was critical for proximal bifurcation lesions. Complete revascularization was mandatory to improve clinical outcomes.</p>

Coronary bifurcation angle from 3-D predicts clinical outcomes after stenting bifurcation lesions / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The predictive value of bifurcation angle (BA) for worse events after stenting bifurcation lesions remains to be unknown. The present study was to investigate the dynamic change of BA and clinical relevance for patients with coronary bifurcation lesions treated by drug-eluting stent (DES).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BA was calculated by 3-D quantitative coronary analysis from 347 patients in DKCRUSH-II study. Primary endpoint was the occurrence of composite major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 12-month, including cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI) and target vessel revascularization (TVR). Secondary end points were the rate of binary restenosis and stent thrombosis at 12-month.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Stenting was associated with the reduction of distal BA. The cut-off value of distal BA for predicting MACE was 60°. Distal BA in < 60° group had less reduction after stenting ((-1.96 ± 13.58)° vs. (-12.12 ± 23.58)°, P < 0.001); two-stent technique was associated with significant reduction of distal BA (Δ(-4.05 ± 14.20)°), compared to single stent group (Δ + 1.55 ± 11.73, P = 0.003); the target lesion revascularization (TLR), TVR and MACE rate was higher in one-stent group (16.5%, 19.0% and 21.5%), compared to two-stent group (3.8%, P = 0.002; 7.5%, P = 0.016; and 9.8%, P = 0.024), respectively. Among patients in ≥ 60° group, there were no significant differences in distal BA, stent thrombosis (ST), MI, MACE, death, TLR, TVR between one- and two-stent groups; after stenting procedure, there was only slight change of distal BA in left anterior descending (LAD)-left circumflex (LCX) subgroup (from (88.54 ± 21.33)° at baseline to (82.44 ± 31.72)° post-stenting), compared to either LAD-diagonal branch (Di), or LCX-obtuse marginal branch (OM), or RCA distal (RCAd) (all P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Two-stent technique was associated with significant reduction of distal BA. DK crush stenting had reduced rate of MACE in patients in < 60° group, compared to one-stent technique.</p>

Hemodynamic changes of fractional flow reserve after double kissing crush and provisional stenting technique for true bifurcation lesions / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with fewer unfavorable events. However, the hemodynamic change in FFR after different stenting approaches for bifurcation lesions is still not fully studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the hemodynamic changes in FFR after double kissing (DK) crush and provisional side branch (SB) stenting (PS) for true coronary bifurcation lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-five patients with true bifurcated lesions were randomly divided into DK (n = 38) and PS (n = 37) groups. Additional SB stenting in the PS group was required if there was any pinched SB ostium > 70% stenosis, or ≥ type B dissection, or TIMI flow < grade 3. FFR at hyperemia in the main vessel (MV) and SB was measured prior- and post-stenting, and at 8 months follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Baseline clinical, angiographic and lesion characteristics were matched well between the two groups, with the exception of the final kissing balloon inflation (FKBI, 100.0% in the DK vs. 83.8% in the PS group, P < 0.001). Baseline FFR was comparable between the DK and the PS groups, however, the acute gain and late loss of SB FFR at 8-month follow-up in the DK group were 0.18 ± 0.15 and -0.06 ± 0.11, compared to 0.12 ± 0.18 (P = 0.044) and -0.002 ± 0.07 (P = 0.037) in the PS group, respectively. MV FFR post-stenting > 0.94 was seen in about 40% of patients. There was no significant difference in the clinical events at 1-year follow-up between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DK crush was associated with improved acute gain and late loss of SB FFR. The lower rate of FFR > 0.94 after stenting underscored the further improvement of stenting quality.</p>

Intravenous injection of nicardipine changed the distribution of coronary artery endothelial shear stress and fluid dynamics in patients with unstable angina / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Coronary endothelial shear stress (ESS) triggered the development of atherosclerosis. However, the effect of calcium channel antagonist on the distribution of ESS remained unclear.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) 48 hours after maximal medication with single left anterior descending artery stenosis < 50% were studied. Nicardipine was intravenously injected at 1 µg/kg after a bolus of 10 mg in order to achieve mean blood pressure (MBP) reduced by 10% or more, or the heart rate increased by 10 - 15 beats/min. Hemodynamic variables and angiogram at baseline and during injection of nicardipine were recorded, respectively. Coronary artery 3-D reconstruction was used for the analysis of ESS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Distal reference-vessel-diameter and minimal lumen diameter decreased significantly from (2.42 ± 0.41) mm and (1.47 ± 0.49) mm at baseline to (2.22 ± 0.35) mm and (1.35 ± 0.49) mm at maximal drug-dosage (P = 0.018 and 0.020, respectively). Nicardipine did not change blood velocity. Lowest mean shear stress at segments 2-mm distal to plaque increased significantly from (0.034 ± 0.519) Pa at baseline to (0.603 ± 0.728) Pa (P = 0.013) at peak effect of drug.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Nicardipine was associated with the constriction of diseased vessel segment that adapted to the reduction of blood pressure, without dynamic change of blood velocity at each stage of whole cardiac cycle. Increased ESS value at segments distal to plaque reflected the cardioprotection by nicardipine (ChiCTR-TRC-10000964).</p>

Comparison of paclitaxal vs. sirolimus eluting stents with bio-degradable polymer for the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions: subgroup analysis from DKCRUSH-I and DKCRUSH-II studies / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The difference in clinical outcome between paclitaxal-eluting stents (PES) and sirolimus-eluting stents with bio-degradable polymer (SES-BDP) for bifurcation lesions remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the one-year clinical outcome after DK crush stenting using PES (Taxus(TM)) vs. SES-BDP (Excel(TM)) from our database.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 275 patients (90 from the DKCRUSH-I and 185 from the DKCRUSH-II study) were studied. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 12 months; including cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), or target vessel revascularization (TVR). The rate of binary restenosis and stent thrombosis served as secondary endpoints.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At follow-up, minimal luminal diameter (MLD) in the Taxus group was (2.11 ± 0.66) mm, with resultant increased target lesion revascularization (TLR) 12.2% and TVR 14.4%, significantly different from the Excel group; (2.47 ± 0.56) mm, P < 0.001, 3.2%, P = 0.006, 4.9%, P = 0.019, respectively. As a result there was a significant difference in MACE between the Taxus (20.0%) and Excel (10.3%, P = 0.038) groups. Overall stent thrombosis was monitored in 11 patients (4.0%), with five in the Excel group (2.7%) and six in the Taxus group (6.7%). All stent thrombosis in the Excel group was classified as early, and all were defined as late in the Taxus group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Excel stent had lower rate of stent thrombosis, TLR, TVR, and composite MACE at 12-month after an indexed stenting procedure, compared to the Taxus stent.</p>

Comparison of a five-year clinical outcome between Chinese women and men with de novo coronary disease treated with implantation of a drug-eluting stent: a three-center, prospective, registry study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The gender-based differences in adverse events after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation between Chinese women and men have not been fully studied. The present study aimed to compare the 5-year clinical outcome after DES implantation in Chinese women and men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Chinese women (n = 298) and men (n = 698) with newly diagnosed de novo coronary lesions were studied after DES implantation. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) over a 5-year follow-up, including myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac death, and target vessel revascularization (TVR). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare the adjusted MACE rates between sexes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Women differed in body habitus and had increased fasting cholesterol. Fewer women presented with MI, and they had better cardiac function with less complex disease. The unadjusted rate of MI at 3 years (2.1%) and 5 years (5.0%) and MACE (25.2%) at 5 years in men was significantly higher than that of women (0.3%, 1.0% and 17.8%, P = 0.050, P = 0.032, and P = 0.011, respectively). After PSM, the adjusted adverse events between sexes were similar. The stent thrombosis rate rapidly increased after 2 years in men.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There were significant gender-based differences in baseline characteristics. Chinese men had equivalent outcomes to women after DES after adjustment by PSM. The increased rate of MI in men was attributed to an increased unadjusted rate of MACE.</p>