Long-Term Outcomes of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention in Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Follow-Up of the DISCO-CT Study.

Unlabelled: In the original randomised Dietary Intervention to Stop Coronary Atherosclerosis (DISCO-CT) trial, a 12-month Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) project led by dietitians improved cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors and reduced platelet chemokine levels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). It is unclear whether these benefits are sustained.

Objective: To determine whether the metabolic, inflammatory, and clinical benefits achieved during the DISCO-CT trial are sustained six years after the structured intervention ended.

Left main stem disease: percutaneous coronary intervention vs. coronary artery bypass grafting-what about medical management? A case report.

Background: Optimal strategy for treating bifurcation lesions in the left main coronary artery (LMCA) remains elusive.

Case Summary: We describe a 66-year-old Caucasian male with a risk factor for coronary artery disease, but free of angina, who presented to the hospital after syncope and nsVT diagnosis in the 24 h Holter electrocardiography monitoring. Coronary computed tomography angiography revealed LMCA bifurcation stenosis with concomitant left circumflex artery (LCx) and diagonal branch stenosis.

Iron levels and vulnerable coronary atherosclerotic plaques.

Background: Preliminary research indicates that higher iron levels are associated with worse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease.

Aims: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between iron levels and the type and composition of coronary plaques.

Methods: In patients with ≥1 coronary stenosis ≥50% on computed tomography angiography, iron levels, presence of high-risk plaque features, such as low-attenuation plaque (LAP), napkin-ring sign, positive remodeling, and spotty calcium, as well as type and plaque composition (calcified/fibrous/fibro-fatty/necrotic core) were evaluated.

Large Field-of-View Intravascular Ultrasound for Mitral and Tricuspid Valve-in-Valve Guidance: A Pilot Study.

Background: Actual expansion of a transcatheter heart valve (THV) might differ from nominal, particularly during nonaortic valve-in-valve for a degenerated bioprosthetic surgical heart valve (SHV). This pilot study compared THV expansion measured using large-field-of-view intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) vs. multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and assessed the correlation between THV dimensions and transvalvular gradients.

Pre-Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Computed Tomography-Based Fractional Flow Reserve Predicts Graft Failure: Implications for Planning Invasive Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate whether a pre-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) coronary computed tomography-based fractional flow reserve (FFR-CT) result at the site of a future anastomosis would predict the graft failure in patients undergoing CABG.

Methods: In 43 patients who had coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) prior to the CABG, follow-up CCTA were acquired >12 months post-CABG procedure. The FFR-CT values were simulated on the basis of the pre-CABG CCTA.

Diet and Lifestyle Intervention-Induced Pattern of Weight Loss Related to Reduction in Low-Attenuation Coronary Plaque Burden.

Background: Despite extensive research on body weight and cardiovascular risk, the mechanistic relationship between weight loss and coronary plaque modification has not been adequately addressed. This study aimed to determine the association between body composition dynamics and low-attenuation coronary plaque (LAP) burden.

Methods: Eighty-nine participants (40% women, 60 ± 7.

Transcatheter Intervention for Inoperable Tricuspid Surgical Prosthesis Dysfunction: Minimally Invasive Approach to Mitigate Heart Failure.

What is the efficacy and safety of transcatheter tricuspid valve-in-valve implantation for patients with inoperable tricuspid surgical prosthesis dysfunction? Thirty-day mortality after greatly effective transcatheter treatment is 2 times less than the estimated surgical risk.

Strategy to optimize PeriproCeduraL AnticOagulation in structural transseptal interventions: Design and rationale of the STOP CLOT trial.

Background: Both transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) of mitral regurgitation or left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) require periprocedural anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin (UFH) that is administered either before or immediately after transseptal puncture (TSP). The optimal timing of UFH administration (before or after TSP) is unknown. The Strategy To Optimize PeriproCeduraL AnticOagulation in Structural Transseptal Interventions trial (STOP CLOT Trial) was designed to determine if early anticoagulation is effective in reducing ischemic complications without increasing the risk of periprocedural bleeding.

Biomarkers in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy-What We Know and What Is Still to Be Found.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a form of heart failure, often severe, that occurs in previously healthy women at the end of their pregnancy or in the first few months after delivery. In PPCM, the recovery of heart function reaches 45-50%. However, the all-cause mortality in long-term observation remains high, reaching 20% irrespective of recovery status.

Computed Tomography Angiography-Derived Scores for Prediction of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Using the Hybrid Algorithm.

Whereas coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) exceeds invasive angiography for predicting the procedural outcome of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), CCTA-derived scores have never been validated in the hybrid CTO PCI population. In this single-center, retrospective, observational study, we included 108 consecutive patients with 110 CTO lesions and preprocedural CCTA who underwent hybrid CTO PCI to assess the diagnostic accuracy of CCTA-derived scoring systems. Successful guidewire crossing within 30 min was set as the primary endpoint.

Computed tomographic characteristics of congenital coronary artery fistulas in an adult population.

Background: Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are usually congenital coronary artery anomalies of termination.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, anatomic characteristics, and clinical significance of CAFs detected by computed tomography (CT) in an adult population.

Methods: We performed 45 817 CT examinations in 39 066 subjects between 2008 and 2020.

Safety and efficacy of the Amplatzer™ Trevisio™ intravascular delivery system: Post-approval study results.

Background: The Amplatzer™ Trevisio™ Intravascular Delivery System (Trevisio DS; Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL, USA) facilitates the delivery of Amplatzer™ Occluders and features an ultraflexible tip, which improves assessment of occluder position before release.

Aims: To assess the safety and efficacy of the Trevisio DS for transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale and atrial septal defect.

Methods: The Amplatzer™ Trevisio™ Intravascular Delivery System Post-Approval Study was a prospective, postmarket, single-arm, multicentre, observational study of the Trevisio DS.

Identification of noncalcified coronary plaque characteristics using machine learning radiomic analysis of non-contrast high-resolution computed tomography.

Background: Novel imaging and analysis techniques may offer the ability to detect noncalcified or high-risk coronary plaques on a non-contrast computer tomography (CT) scan, advancing cardiovascular diagnostics.

Aims: We aimed to explore whether machine learning (ML) radiomic analysis of low-dose high-resolution non-contrast electrocardiographically (ECG) gated cardiac CT scan allows for the identification of noncalcified coronary plaque characteristics.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 125 patients with noncalcified plaques and adverse plaque characteristics (APC) and 25 controls without visible atherosclerosis on coronary CT angiography (CCTA).