An unexpected electrocardiogram sign of subacute left ventricular free wall rupture: Its early awareness may be lifesaving / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: Post-infarct left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is not always an immediately catastrophic complication. The rupture can be subacute, allowing time for diagnosis and intervention. Accordingly, early recognition of the entity may be lifesaving. METHODS: We present an electrocardiogram (ECG) change pattern in two cases, which was erroneously attributed to ischemia. Two women in their 80s were admitted to our institute after experiencing the sudden onset of chest pain. They were managed as anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction without reperfusion treatment. Unfortunately, they experienced a recurrence of severe chest pain with cardiogenic shock during hospitalisation. The ECG recorded at that time showed a ST-segment re-elevation in infract-related leads. RESULTS: The two cases were regrettably received a misjudgement of reinfarction at first, and one of the patients even was administrated with tirofi ban. Afterwards the diagnosis of subacute LVFWR was made through antemortem echocardiography. CONCLUSION: New ST-segment elevation (STE) in infarct-associated leads, coupled with recurrence of chest pain and new-onset hypotension, may constitute the premonitory signs of a subacute LVFWR.

Analysis of coronary intramural hematomas after coronary artery stent implantation / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

Objective To analyze the rates of occurrence,presentations and treatment of coronary intramural hematomas(IMH)after coronary artery stent implantation.Methods Retrospective analysis was carried out in non-chronic total occlusion patients who developed coronary intramural hematomas after coronary artery stent implantation between January 1,2011 to December 31,2016.Statistical analysis was made in the fields clinical data,coronary angiography features,treatment provided,and postoperative follow-up date of the patients.Results Among the 26 IMH patients,the male gender(15/26,57.7％)and existiing hypertension(17/26,65.4％)were more common risk factors for IMH after coronary artery stent implantation.Fourteen patients developed coronary dissection.The coronary intramural hematomas presented as new non-spasm and non-thrombus coronary stenosis.The coronary intramural hematomas were found to have involved the distal segment to the stents in 16 patients.Two patients received balloon dilation,five patients had stents implantation after balloon dilation,13 patients(50.0％)were treated with direct stent implantation and the other 6 patients did not have further intervention.The follow up period after hospital discharge was(2.39±1.68)years.No adverse cardiovascular event occurred.Five patients received follow-up angiography examination.Two patients and another one patient were found to have coronary intramural hematomas fully resolved at three months and one year with coronary angiographic follow up,respectively.Two patients had IMH on angiography at 1 year follow up.Conclusions Coronary intramural hematomas after coronary artery stent implantation often involved the distal segment to the stent in hypertensive patients presenting as new non-spasm and non-thrombus coronary stenosis.Patients at low risk of acute coronary occlusion could receive conservative treatment.Patients with extentsive length of intramural hematomas should consider stent implantation for treatment.

Establishment of a Novel Mouse Model of Coronary Microembolization / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Coronary microembolization (CME) has been frequently seen in acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary intervention. Small animal models are required for further studies of CME related to severe prognosis. This study aimed to explore a new mouse model of CME.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The mouse model of CME was established by injecting polystyrene microspheres into the left ventricular chamber during 15-s occlusion of the ascending aorta. Based on the average diameter and dosage used, 30 C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6 in each): 9 μm/500,000, 9 μm/800,000, 17 μm/200,000, 17 μm/500,000, and sham groups. The postoperative survival and performance of the mice were recorded. The mice were sacrificed 3 or 10 days after the surgery. The heart tissues were harvested for hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining to compare the extent of inflammatory cellular infiltration and fibrin deposition among groups and for scanning transmission electron microscopic examinations to see the ultrastructural changes after CME.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Survival analysis demonstrated that the cumulative survival rate of the 17 μm/500,000 group was significantly lower than that of the sham group (0/6 vs. 6/6, P = 0.001). The cumulative survival rate of the 17 μm/200,000 group was lower than those of the sham and 9 μm groups with no statistical difference (cumulative survival rate of the 17 μm/200,000, 9 μm/800,000, 9 μm/500,000, and sham groups was 4/6, 5/6, 6/6, and 6/6, respectively). The pathological alterations were similar between the 9 μm/500,000 and 9 μm/800,000 groups. The extent of inflammatory cellular infiltration and fibrin deposition was more severe in the 17 μm/200,000 group than in the 9 μm/500,000 and 9 μm/800,000 groups 3 and 10 days after the surgery. Scanning transmission electron microscopic examinations revealed platelet aggregation and adhesion, microthrombi formation, and changes in cardiomyocytes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The injection of 500,000 polystyrene microspheres at an average diameter of 9 μm is proved to be appropriate for the mouse model of CME based on the general conditions, postoperative survival rates, and pathological changes.</p>

Exenatide Reduces Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-induced Apoptosis in Cardiomyocytes by Alleviating Mitochondrial Dysfunction / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays an important role in progressive contractile dysfunction in several cardiac diseases. The cytotoxic effects of TNF-α are suggested to be partly mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS)- and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) or its analogue exhibits protective effects on the cardiovascular system. The objective of the study was to assess the effects of exenatide, a GLP-1 analogue, on oxidative stress, and apoptosis in TNF-α-treated cardiomyocytes in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Isolated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were divided into three groups: Control group, with cells cultured in normal conditions without intervention; TNF-α group, with cells incubated with TNF-α (40 ng/ml) for 6, 12, or 24 h without pretreatment with exenatide; and exenatide group, with cells pretreated with exenatide (100 nmol/L) 30 mins before TNF-α (40 ng/ml) stimulation. We evaluated apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometry, measured ROS production and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) by specific the fluorescent probes, and assessed the levels of proteins by Western blotting for all the groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Exenatide pretreatment significantly reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis as measured by flow cytometry and TUNEL assay at 12 h and 24 h. Also, exenatide inhibited excessive ROS production and maintained MMP. Furthermore, declined cytochrome-c release and cleaved caspase-3 expression and increased bcl-2 expression with concomitantly decreased Bax activation were observed in exenatide-pretreated cultures.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results suggested that exenatide exerts a protective effect on cardiomyocytes, preventing TNF-α-induced apoptosis; the anti-apoptotic effects may be associated with protection of mitochondrial function.</p>

Nine-month angiographic and two-year clinical follow-up of novel biodegradable-polymer arsenic trioxide-eluting stent versus durable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent for coronary artery disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Despite great reduction of in-stent restenosis, first-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) have increased the risk of late stent thrombosis due to delayed endothelialization. Arsenic trioxide, a natural substance that could inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis, seems to be a promising surrogate of sirolimus to improve DES performance. This randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel arsenic trioxide-eluting stent (AES), compared with traditional sirolimus-eluting stent (SES).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with symptoms of angina pectoris were enrolled and randomized to AES or SES group. The primary endpoint was target vessel failure (TVF), and the second endpoint includes rates of all-cause death, cardiac death or myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization (TLR) by telephone visit and late luminal loss (LLL) at 9-month by angiographic follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From July 2007 to 2009, 212 patients were enrolled and randomized 1:1 to receive either AES or SES. At 2 years of follow-up, TVF rate was similar between AES and SES group (6.67% vs. 5.83%, P = 0.980). Frequency of all-cause death was significantly lower in AES group (0 vs. 4.85%, P = 0.028). There was no significant difference between AES and SES in frequency of TLR and in-stent restenosis, but greater in-stent LLL was observed for AES group (0.29 ± 0.52 mm vs. 0.10 ± 0.25 mm, P = 0.008).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>After 2 years of follow-up, AES demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety to SES for the treatment of de novo coronary artery lesions.</p>

Retrograde approach for the recanalization of coronary chronic total occlusion: collateral selection and collateral related complication / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The retrograde approach through collaterals has been applied in the treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions during percutaneous recanalization of coronary arteries. This study was to investigate the success rate of recanalization and collateral related complications in patients when using the retrograde approach.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-four cases subjected to retrograde approach identified from July 2005 to July 2012 were included in this study. Patient characteristics, procedural outcomes and in-hospital clinical events were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean age of the patient was (59.6 ± 11.2) years old and 91.7% were men. The target CTO lesions were distributed among the left anterior descending artery in 45 cases (53.5%), left circumflex artery in one case (1.2%), right coronary artery in 34 cases (40.5%), and left main in four cases (4.8%). The overall success rate of recanalization was 79.8%. The septal collateral was three times more frequently used for retrograde access than the epicardial collateral, 68/84 (81%) vs. 16/84 (19%). Successful wire passage through the collateral channel was achieved in 58 (72.6%) patients. The success rate of recanalization was 93.1% (54/58) in patients with and 50% (13/26) in patients without successful retrograde wire passage of the collateral channel (P < 0.01). Successful retrograde wire passage through the collaterals was achieved in 49 of 68 septal collaterals (72.1%) and in 9 of 16 epicardial collaterals (56.3%) (P = NS). There was no significant difference between the septal collateral group and the epicardial group in the success rate of recanalization after retrograde wire crossing the collaterals (91.8% vs. 100%, P > 0.05). CART or reverse CART technique was used in 15 patients, and 14 patients (93.3%) were recanalized successfully. Collateral related perforation occurred in three (18.8%) cases with the epicardial collateral as the first choice (compared with the septal collateral group (0), P < 0.01). There were 17 (20.2%) patients failure of recanalize the CTO lesions, among which 13 (15.5%) were due to the failure of retrograde wire crossing the collaterals.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The retrograde approach is an effective technique to recanalize CTO lesions, the septal collateral was preferable. When the epicardial collateral is selected, careful manipulation of devices and wires is essential due to the potential risk of perforation of collateral channels.</p>

Safety and efficacy of cobalt chromium alloy based sirolimus-eluting stent with bioabsorbable polymer in porcine model / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>First generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) were based on 316L stainless steel and coated with a permanent polymer. The vessel wall of these DESs was inflammatory and late in-stent thrombosis was reported. Hence, cobalt chromium based DES coated with a bioabsorbable polymer was an alternate choice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cobalt chromium based DES with bioabsorbable polymer (Simrex stent) as well as control stents (Polymer stent and EXCEL(TM) stent) were implanted into porcine arteries. At a designated time, angiography, quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) analysis, histomorphometry, and electron-microscopical follow-up were performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 98 stents of all the three groups were harvested. At week 24, percent diameter stenosis (%DS), late loss (LL), and percent area stenosis (%AS) of Simrex was (12.9 ± 0.4)%, (0.35 ± 0.02) mm, and (24.5 ± 4.2)%, respectively, without significant difference in comparison to commercialized EXCEL(TM) stent. Slight inflammatory reaction was seen around the stent strut of Simrex, just as in the other two groups. Electron-microscopical follow-up suggested that it might take 4 - 12 weeks for Simrex to complete its re-endothelialization process.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Cobalt chromium based, bioabsorbable polymer coated sirolimus-eluting stent showed excellent biocompatibility. During 24 weeks observation in porcine model, it was proved that this novel DES system successfully inhibited neointima hyperplasia and decreased in-stent stenosis. It is feasible to launch a clinical evaluation to improve the current prognosis of DES implantation.</p>

Clinical and angiographic outcomes of coronary drug-eluting stenting in treating vasospastic angina patients with severe organic stenosis / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical and angiographic outcomes of vasospastic angina patients with severe organic stenosis treated by drug-eluting stents.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between January 2006 and December 2010, severe organic stenosis (diameter stenosis more than 70%) was evidenced in 7 out of 46 vasospastic angina patients and treated with drug-eluting stents. Coronary angiography was repeated at 6 - 18 months after percutaneous coronary intervention and the patients were clinically followed up. The clinical and angiographic outcomes were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nine drug-eluting stents [mean diameter 2.75 - 3.50 (3.08 ± 0.24) mm, length 24 - 33 (27.3 ± 3.6) mm] were successfully implanted in these 7 patients. Stents were implanted into left anterior descending artery (LAD) in 5 patients (71.4%), right coronary artery (RCA) in 1 patient (14.3%), both LAD and RCA in 1 patient (14.3%). Transient RCA spasm and distal LAD spasm were observed during percutaneous coronary intervention of LAD in 2 patients. Anginal attack at rest with transient ST segment elevation at V(1)-V(3) leads occurred 24 hours after LAD stenting in 1 patient. Follow-up coronary angiography showed significant in-stent restenosis or focal edge restenosis (diameter stenosis more than 50%) in 3 patients (42.9%), mild neointimal proliferation but without significant restenosis in 2 patients (28.6%), and no neointimal proliferation in 2 patients (28.6%). During clinical follow-up of 17 to 50 months after percutaneous coronary intervention, 2 patients (28.6%) remained asymptomatic, while effort angina and/or rest angina was documented in the remaining 5 patients (71.4%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our results from this small patient cohort suggest that drug eluting stent implantation for severe organic stenosis in patients with vasospastic angina is linked with high incidence of restenosis and recurrent chest pain. Further observation in larger patient cohort is warranted to clarify the efficacy of this strategy for treating vasospastic angina patients with severe organic stenosis.</p>

Intravascular ultrasound assessment of chitosan/heparin layer-by-layer self assembly coating stent on late stent malapposition and vessel remodeling in porcine model / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate late stent malapposition or vessel remodeling post chitosan/heparin layer-by-layer self assembly coating stent (LBL) implantation in porcine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 32 stents [bare metal stent (BMS, n = 9), sirolimus-eluting stent (SES, n = 11) and LBL (n = 12)] were implanted into coronary arteries of 16 porcine. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed immediately after stenting and at 1 month after stenting to measure vessel area (VA), stent area (SA) and lumen area (LA). Neointima area (NA) was measured at 1 month post stenting by IVUS to detect signs of stent malapposition and to determine remodeling index (RI). Histopathology was performed at 1 month post stenting to observe vessel wall structure and stent malapposition status.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No sign of stent malapposition was detected, VA and SA/LA were similar among groups immediately after stent implantation. At 1 month follow-up, none of three groups showed stent malapposition. VA, SA, NA and LA were (7.30 ± 0.77), (6.83 ± 0.76), (1.40 ± 0.96) and (5.43 ± 0.88) mm(2) in LBL group, (7.13 ± 0.69), (6.63 ± 0.71), (0.28 ± 0.35) and (6.34 ± 0.89) mm(2) in SES group, (7.48 ± 0.70), (7.00 ± 0.52), (2.69 ± 1.58) and (4.31 ± 1.28) mm(2) in BMS group. VA and SA were similar among groups (all P > 0.05). LA in LBL group was smaller than SES group (P < 0.01) and significantly larger than in BMS group (P < 0.05).NA in LBL group was larger than SES group (P < 0.01) and significantly smaller than in BMS group (P < 0.05).RI in LBL, SES and BMS groups was 0.95 ± 0.07, 1.02 ± 0.04 and 0.98 ± 0.04 (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There is no late stent malapposition or abnormal remodeling post LBL, SES and BMS implantation up to 1 month in this porcine model. LA in LBL group is smaller than SES group and larger than BMS group at 1 month after implantation in this porcine model.</p>

Determinants of success percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with chronic total coronary artery occlusion / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the in-hospital outcome and determinants relating to success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) using contemporary techniques.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1485 patients with total occluded coronary artery were identified from January 2004 to December 2008 in Zhongshan hospital. Of them, 638 patients were affirmed as CTO and 447 patients underwent PCI. The clinical data and the in-hospital outcome of patients underwent PCI were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Procedure success was achieved in 382 patients (85.5%). Coronary perforation (C-F type dissection or coronary perforation) occurred in 27 patients (6.0%), cardiac tamponade developed in 6 out of the 27 patients, 2 patients (0.4%) received in-hospital repeat revascularization. Two patients (0.4%) died post PCI: one died of acute stent thrombosis and the other one died of refractory heart and respiratory failure.Compared with patients of successful recanalization, patients failure to recanalization were more aged [(62.9 ± 10.4)years vs. (65.9 ± 9.9) years, P < 0.05] and excessive tortuosity (16.2% vs. 38.5%, P < 0.01), absence stump (47.1% vs. 80.0%, P < 0.01) and excessive calcification (36.9% vs. 72.3%, P < 0.01) were more common. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that excessive calcification (OR: 3.866, P < 0.01), absence stump (OR: 3.346, P < 0.05) and excessive tortuosity (OR: 3.055, P < 0.01) were independent predictors for the procedural failure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PCI for patients with CTO is safe and effective. Apart from progress on the equipment development, procedural success rates are closely related with the clinical and angiographic features of CTO.</p>

Clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients with slow coronary flow / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients with slow coronary flow (SCF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this retrospective study, 140 patients with SCF and 140 control subjects without SCF were included. SCF were diagnosed by the combination of TIMI flow grade method and TIMI frame count method. All subjects had angiographically normal coronary arteries. The clinical and laboratory data were obtained from medical records at admission.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to control group, patients with SCF were younger [(57.8 +/- 10.7) years vs. (59.8 +/- 8.2) years], rate of smokers (59.3% vs. 46.4%) and diabetes mellitus (49.3% vs. 30.7%), fasting blood glucose (FBG) level [(7.8 +/- 2.8) mmol/L vs. (6.2 +/- 2.0) mmol/L, P < 0.05] and triglyceride (TG) level [(2.11 +/- 1.93) mmol/L vs. (1.67 +/- 1.01) mmol/L, P < 0.05] were higher, while high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level [(1.05 +/- 0.35) mmol/L vs. (1.42 +/- 0.74) mmol/L, P < 0.01] and apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) level [(1.10 +/- 0.19) mmol/L vs. (1.31 +/- 0.31) mmol/L, P < 0.01] were lower. Among the 140 SCF patients, left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX) and right coronary artery (RCA) were involved at the same time in 92 patients. Among the three vessels, RCA is the most frequent involved vessel (n = 119). After adjusting for other risk factors, current smoking (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.04 - 3.57, P < 0.05), DM history (OR = 2.44, 95% CI:1.32-4.76, P < 0.01), FBG (OR = 2.13, 95% CI:1.16-3.98, P < 0.05), TG (OR = 1.47, 95% CI:1.03-2.13, P < 0.05), HDL-C (OR = 0.47, 95% CI:0.24-0.85, P < 0.05) and apoA1 (OR = 0.55, 95% CI:0.40 - 0.75, P < 0.01) were independent factors for SCF (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our results demonstrated that patients with SCF were prone to have a significant metabolic disorder compared to the control group. Patients with high levels of FBG, TG and low levels of HDL-C were more likely to suffer from SCF, which maybe explained by the development of coronary endothelium and microvascular dysfunction.</p>

Imaging feature of computed tomography angiography in patients with coronary artery fistulas / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyzed the computed tomography angiography (CTA) features of the coronary artery fistulas.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-six coronary artery fistulas were diagnosed out of 12 717 patients underwent the coronary artery multiple detector CTA examination. The origin and drainage site of the coronary artery fistulas and the plaque and stenosis of the coronary artery were observed by post-processing analysis on various images. Coronary artery angiography was performed in 14 out of 66 coronary artery fistulas patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Coronary artery fistulas arose from bilateral coronary artery system in 21 cases, from left coronary artery in 26 cases and from right coronary artery in 19 cases. The majority of coronary artery fistulas entered into pulmonary artery (41 cases). The rest drainage sites included left atrium (10 cases), right atrium (8 cases), left ventricle (4 cases), coronary sinus (2 cases) and right ventricle (1 case). The findings of CTA and coronary artery angiography were consistent in 14 patients with DSA examination. Coronary artery plagues were evidenced in 31 cases and stenosis was greater than 50% in 7 coronary artery fistulas patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Multiple coronary artery fistulas are not rare, and pulmonary artery is the most frequent drainage site. When suspecting the coronary artery fistulas, coronary artery CTA can be the first choice of diagnose. CTA can supply adequate information for therapy.</p>

Six-month clinical outcomes of Firebird 2TM sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in real-world patients with coronary artery diseases / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The Firebird 2(TM) sirolimus-eluting stent (Firebird 2 stent) is a second-generation sirolimus-eluting stent which has a cobalt-chromium alloy stent platform, a brand new bracket structure, and two layers of styrene-butylenes-styrene polymer coatings with better biocompatibility. The Firebird 2(TM) cObalt-Chromium alloy sirolimus-elUting Stent registry (FOCUS registry) aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Firebird 2 stent in patients with coronary artery disease in daily practice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The FOCUS registry is a prospective, non-randomized, international multi-center, single-arm clinical registry. Between March 2009 and February 2010, 5084 patients receiving at least 1 Firebird 2 stent during daily clinical practice at 83 medical centers were enrolled.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 5084 patients enrolled in the registry, 5077 and 5058 were respectively available for 30 days and 6 months follow-up. The 30-day rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was 1.20%, including 13 cardiac deaths, 46 non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and 6 target vessel revascularization (TVR). At 6 months follow-up, the rate of MACE was 1.80%. There were 32 cardiac deaths, 48 non-fatal MI, and 15 TVR. According to the Academic Research Consortium definition, definite/probable stent thrombosis (ST) occurred in 0.43% (22/5058) of patients, including 8 cases of acute ST, 11 subacute ST, and 3 late ST.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Firebird 2 stent showed the promising efficacy and safety at 30 days and 6 months in a real-world population of patients with coronary artery diseases.</p>

Changes of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with coronary heart diseases before and after percutaneous coronary intervention / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) number between normal controls and patients with coronary heart diseases (CHD), and to explore the influence of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the number of EPCs in patients with CHD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 48 hospitalized patients with CHD were enrolled and divided into three groups, including stable angina pectoris (SAP) group, unstable angina pectoris (UA) group, acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) group. Patients with normal coronary angiography served as controls. The percentage of EPCs in peripheral blood nucleated cells was measured at admission and immediately after and 24 hours after PCI in CHD patients by double-color flow cytometry analysis. EPCs were identified with CD133(+)/VEGFR-2(+).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At admission, the percentage of EPCs in peripheral blood nucleated cells was significantly lower in SAP group (0.043% +/- 0.043%), UA group (0.014% +/- 0.018%) and STEMI group (0.040% +/- 0.036%)than that in the control group (0.111% +/- 0.078%, all P < 0.01). The number of EPCs in UA group was significantly lower than that in the SAP group (P < 0.05). In the UA group, the number of EPCs at 24 hours after PCI (0.054% +/- 0.045%) was significantly higher than before operation (0.014% +/- 0.018%, P < 0.01) and tended to be higher than the value immediately after PCI (0.028% +/- 0.041%, P > 0.05). The before and after PCI EPCs numbers were similar in SAP and STEMI groups (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The number of peripheral EPCs in patients with CHD is lower than that in normal subjects and negatively related with severity of coronary heart disease. The number of circulating EPCs increased post PCI in patients with unstable angina pectoris.</p>

Effects of intracoronary administration of nitroglycerin and verapamil for treatment of coronary slow flow phenomenon / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy of intracoronary nitroglycerin and verapamil for patients with the coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four patients with CSFP without stenotic lesions during diagnostic coronary angiography were enrolled and divided into the nitroglycerin group (n = 35) and verapamil group (n = 29), 29 patients with normal coronary flow served as normal control. CSFP was defined when 4 or more heart beats were needed for contrast media to opacify the distal vasculature. Intracoronary injection of 100 - 400 microg nitroglycerin or verapamil through the diagnostic catheter was applied to patients with CSFP to improve coronary flow. The coronary blood flow was evaluated by thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC) method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clinical characteristics were similar among the three groups. The basic TFCs of left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX) and right coronary artery (RCA) were 78.3 +/- 19.4, 57.2 +/- 14.6, 56.9 +/- 12.5 in the verapamil group, and were 70.8 +/- 21.7, 55.3 +/- 12.5, 51.1 +/- 15.4 in the nitroglycerin group, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the normal controls (LAD 29.2 +/- 4.4, LCX 23.1 +/- 3.5 and RCA 19.7 +/- 1.8, respectively). After the administration of drugs, the TFCs of LAD, LCX and RCA were 42.3 +/- 8.9, 36.7 +/- 6.8, 30.3 +/- 5.9 respectively (all P < 0.01 vs. baseline) in the nitroglycerin group and 37.7 +/- 9.3, 31.5 +/- 11.3, 24.6 +/- 4.4 respectively (all P < 0.01 vs. baseline) in the verapamil group. The TFCs after drug administration in both therapy groups were significantly higher than that in normal controls (all P < 0.05). The TFCs decrease in the verapamil group were more significant than that in the nitroglycerin group (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intracoronary administration of verapamil could result in more coronary flow improvement in patients with CSFP than nitroglycerin, although the post therapy coronary flow was still slower than normal.</p>

Virtual histology intravascular ultrasound assessment of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in diabetic patients / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the components and characteristics of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in type 2 diabetic patients using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In vivo atherosclerotic plaques (over 50% angiographic diameter stenosis) of the three main coronary arteries were analyzed by gray-scaled IVUS with planar and volumetric VH-IVUS in consecutive patients examined between September 2008 and March 2009. Patients were divided into two groups: diabetic mellitus (DM) group with 22 patients (39 lesions) and non-DM group with 46 patients (69 lesions).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the minimal lumen area (MLA) site, the percentage of NC (necrotic core) area (19.4% +/- 1.2% vs. 15.1% +/- 1.1%, P = 0.015) and dense calcium (DC) area (15.2% +/- 1.6% vs. 10.7% +/- 1.1%, P = 0.016) were significantly larger while fibrotic tissue (FT) area (56.7% +/- 2.3% vs. 64.8% +/- 1.8%, P = 0.007) was smaller in DM group than in non-DM group. Likewise, volumetric VH-IVUS analysis showed that the percentage of NC volume (21.3% +/- 1.3% vs. 16.5% +/- 1.1%, P = 0.008) and DC volume (16.6% +/- 1.4% vs. 11.3% +/- 1.1%, P = 0.003) were significantly larger while FT volume (55.1% +/- 2.1% vs. 63.9% +/- 1.8%, P = 0.003) was significantly smaller in DM group than in non-DM group. Moreover, significantly higher incidence of VH-TCFA (thin-cap fibro atheromas) was evidenced in the DM group than in the non-DM group (69.2% vs. 42.0%, P = 0.009). However, the remodeling index and the positive remodeling frequency were similar between the 2 groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Incidence of necrotic core, dense calcium plaque and vulnerable plaques in stenotic lesions was higher in DM patients than in non-DM patients.</p>

Quantitative and qualitative assessment of non-obstructive left main coronary artery plaques using 64-multislice computed tomography compared with intravascular ultrasound / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>There are few reports of quantitative and qualitative measuring of left main coronary artery (LMCA) plaques by multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCTA), especially when compared with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) as reference standard. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of 64-MSCTA in the diagnosis of LMCA disease, and the accuracy of MSCTA in the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the LMCA lesion as compared with IVUS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 91 patients (53 men, 38 women, mean age (64.78 +/- 9.19) years) were examined by 64-MSCTA and IVUS. Compared with the IVUS, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of the MSCTA on the diagnosis of LMCA diseases were calculated. Also, kappa index (kappa) for the agreement between MSCTA and IVUS was calculated. Minimal lumen area (MLA), external elastic membrane cross-sectional area (EEM-CSA) and plaque burden were measured by two blinded and independent operators on MSCTA cross-sectional reconstruction and compared with the parameters measured from IVUS by manually tracing. The CT value of soft, fibrous and calcific plaques was measured using IVUS classification of the plaques.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of MSCTA for detecting LMCA plaques were 93.1%, 84.2%, 95.7%, 76.2%, respectively. Kappa index (kappa = 0.744, P < 0.001) indicated excellent agreement between MSCTA and IVUS. The Pearson index between MLA on IVUS and MLA on MSCTA was 0.815 (P < 0.01). The Pearson index of plaque burden and EEM-CSA between IVUS and MSCTA was 0.736 and 0.740 respectively (both P < 0.01). The CT value of soft plaque, fibrous plaque and calcific plaque compared with IVUS were (52.52 +/- 15.71) HU, (108.32 +/- 43.44) HU and (604.16 +/- 377.67) HU (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of CT value of non-calcific plaques for predicting soft plaques showed the cutpoint was 54.35 HU, with a sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 94.4%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Sixty-four section MSCTA is an effective diagnostic tool for the detection of LMCA plaques with higher sensitivity and specificity. The correlation of quantitative and qualitative analysis between MSCTA and IVUS was excellent. The CT value of plaques can help the diagnosis of plaque composition.</p>

Retrograde approach for the recanalization of coronary chronic total occlusion: preliminary experience of a single center / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The success rate of antegrade approach for chronic total occlusions (CTO) recanalization has not dramatically increased, especially in complex CTO subset. The retrograde technique may hold great promise. This report aimed to describe our experience of retrograde recanalization for CTO, focusing on its safety and feasibility.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We identified 42 patients who underwent revascularization in CTO with retrograde approach from July 2005 to November 2009 in our center.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three kinds of strategy were applied: retrograde as primary strategy (50.0%), retrograde immediately after antegrade failure (26.2%) and repeat procedure after previous antegrade failure (23.8%). Septal collaterals were more frequently used as the retrograde access route (92.9%). Overall success rate was 88.1%. In patients with successful retrograde wire crossing collateral channel to the distal cap of CTO, the success rate of recanalization was 94.1%. In patient with failure to cross the collaterals, the success rate was 62.5%. Eight different kinds of retrograde techniques were used: kissing wire technique (35.3%), wire trapped and reverse wire trapped technique (17.6%), back-end balloon and microcatheter reversal technique (14.7%), controlled antegrade and retrograde subintimal tracking (CART) technique (8.8%), reverse CART and modified reverse CART technique (8.8%), retrograde wire crossing technique (2.9%). There were 4 complications occurred without in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE). In-hospital MACE was 7.7%. All of them were non-Q wave myocardial infarction. There were no cases of death or target vessel revascularization, either surgery or percutaneous.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The retrograde approach can be an effective tool for increasing the success rate of recanalization in the very complex CTO. To ensure the success and safety of the approach, careful case selection and device handling by experienced operators is essential.</p>

Prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging in coronary angiogram--data from consecutive 5525 patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Large discrepancy of the incidence of myocardial bridging (MB) has been reported either among the postmortem studies or among the studies with coronary angiogram. This study was to investigate the prevalence of MB in large number of coronary angiograms and the angiographic characteristics of MB.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 5525 consecutive patients who underwent first diagnostic coronary angiography from January 2003 to March 2006 in Zhongshan Hospital were enrolled in this study. MB was diagnosed when the angiographical "milking effect", defined as the systolic compression and complete or partly release of the compression in diastole, was seen in the epicardial coronary arteries. Angiography was routinely repeated after intracoronary injection of 200 microg nitroglycerin. The systolic compression and length of MB were compared before and after the administration of nitroglycerin and also before and after stent implantation in patients with significant stenosis in segment proximal to the MB.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 5525 patients, MBs were found in a total of 888 patients angiographically with the prevalence of 16.1%. Atherosclerotic lesions were found more often in the segment proximal to the MB with 344/854 (40.3%) patients than in the segment distal to the MB with 47/854 (5.5%) (P < 0.01). The systolic compression ((43.3 +/- 13.7)% at baseline vs (54.2 +/- 14.0)% after nitroglycerine) and the average length ((20.9 +/- 7.5) mm at baseline vs (22.7 +/- 8.0) mm after nitroglycerine) of the MB segment were increased after intracoronary injection of nitroglycerin (both P < 0.01). Stent implantation was performed in 88 patients with significant stenosis in the segment proximal to the MB. The systolic compression and the length of the MB segment were increased after stenting compared with those before stenting (systolic compression, (49.4 +/- 14.6)% at baseline vs (57.3 +/- 12.3)% after stenting, and length of MB, (19.5 +/- 6.1) mm at baseline vs (21.8 +/- 6.3) mm after stenting, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MB was a frequent finding in coronary angiogram with an incidence of 16.1%. Intracoronary administration of nitroglycerin and stent implantation in the segment proximal to the MB could enhance the systolic compression and the length of the MB angiographically.</p>

Intravascular ultrasound assessment of sirolimus-eluting stent restenosis or thrombosis after stent implantation / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify underlying mechanical risk factors of that developed in-stent restenosis (ISR) or early stent thrombosis in sirolimus-eluting stent (SES)-treated lesions using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>IVUS were performed in 60 (ISR, n = 43; early stent thrombosis, n = 17) patients (event group) and in 34 patients without ISR and early stent thrombosis (no-event group) underwent SES implantations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the no-event group, minimum stent area [MSA, (4.6 +/- 1.6) mm(2) vs. (5.8 +/- 1.6) mm(2), P < 0.01], minimum stent diameter [(2.2 +/- 0.5) mm vs. (2.5 +/- 0.4) mm, P < 0.01], and stent expansion [(69.2 +/- 20.7)% vs. (80.6 +/- 17.2)%, P < 0.01] were significantly smaller, and longitudinal stent symmetry index (MSA/maximum stent area, 2.0 +/- 0.6 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.6, P < 0.05) was significantly larger in the event group. Incidence of MSA < 4.0 mm(2) (43.3% vs. 14.7%, P < 0.01) and stent expansion < 60% (40.7% vs. 11.8%, P < 0.01) were more frequent in the event group than that in no-event group. Furthermore, proximal residual plaque burden was significantly higher compared to the no-event group [(49.0 +/- 15.5)% vs. (38.4 +/- 17.6)%, P < 0.01]. Independent predictors of post SES ISR or early thrombosis were MSA (OR:0.7, 95%CI:0.5 - 0.8, P < 0.01) and proximal residual plaque burden (OR: 280.7, 95%CI: 17.2 - 40 583.6, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Smaller MSA and higher proximal residual plaque burden are independent predictors of ISR or early thrombosis post SES implantations.</p>