Procedural characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing Impella-assisted high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions in the IMPELLA-PL registry.

Background: Impella is a catheter-based, continuous blood flow left ventricle assist device used in selected patients undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (HR PCI). We aimed to evaluate outcomes in patients undergoing Impella-assisted HR-PCI and identify independent predictors of 12-month mortality.

Methods: Consecutive HR-PCI patients enrolled in the national, multicentre, retrospective IMPELLA-PL registry (n = 253) in 20 Polish interventional cardiological centres from October 2014 until December 2021 were included in the analysis.

Artificial Intelligence-Based Algorithm for Stent Coverage Assessments.

Neointimal formation after stent implantation is an important prognostic factor since delayed healing may lead to stent thrombosis. In vivo, optical coherence tomography (OCT) can most precisely assess stent strut coverage. Since analyzing neointimal coverage is time-consuming, artificial intelligence (AI) may offer valuable assistance.

Short- and long-term outcomes of Impella-protected, high-risk, elective PCI in patients with multivessel coronary disease and low ejection fraction - Polish Impella Registry.

Background: The Impella percutaneous mechanical circulatory support device provides improved support in treating patients with high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (HR-PCI) or in cardiogenic shock. IMPELLA-PL is a multicenter registry developed to share clinical data and experiences using Impella technology in Poland. The retrospective analysis conducted in this study aims to fill the knowledge gap of Impella performance in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) and depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (≤30%) treated with HR-PCI.

Direct-acting antivirals (DAA) positively affect depression and cognitive function in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The aim of the study was to determine how depression and cognitive dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are affected by treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAA). Fifty-two chronic hepatitis C patients underwent neurocognitive and psychological evaluation before therapy and 5-6 months later. Depression was measured by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), anxiety by State-Trait Anxiety inventory (STAI), neuroticism by Eysenck Personality Inventory (N/EPO-R), while Ruff Figural Fluency Test (RFFT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), The Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT), and California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) were used to assess neurocognitive function.

Acute and short-term outcome of Intravascular Coronary Lithotripsy and Excimer Laser Coronary Atherectomy for Severe Stent Underexpansion: The Multicenter IVL-ELCA DRAGON Registry.

Background: Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) and excimer laser-coronary atherectomy (ELCA) could be both used in the percutaneous treatment of coronary stent underexpansion.

Aims: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of IVL vs. ELCA for the treatment of stent underexpansion related to heavy calcifications.

Association between standardized management algorithm and outcomes of patients undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions included in the IMPELLA-PL registry.

Introduction: Impella CP is a percutaneous left ventricular assist device used in selected patients undergoing high‑risk percutaneous coronary interventions (HR‑PCIs). To improve outcomes of Impella‑supported HR‑PCI, institutional Impella programs have been developed.

Objectives: We evaluated the association between the use of a standardized periprocedural management algorithm and outcomes of patients undergoing HR‑PCI included in the national IMPELLA‑PL registry.

Assessing diagnostic accuracy of intravascular imaging for functionally significant coronary stenosis: updated findings from a meta-analysis.

Background: Accurate discrimination of functionally significant coronary stenosis using intravascular imaging remains uncertain, particularly with regard to vessel size. This meta-analysis evaluates the diagnostic performance of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for identifying functionally significant coronary stenosis as confirmed by fractional flow reserve (FFR).

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar identified studies that assessed the diagnostic accuracy of IVUS and OCT by minimal luminal area (MLA) with FFR as the reference standard.

Blunted Cortisol Awakening Response Is Associated with External Attribution Bias Among Individuals with Personality Disorders.

Background/objectives: The dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been associated with various mental disorders. One of the most commonly described parameters of HPA axis functioning is the cortisol awakening response (CAR). To date, few studies have been conducted on the relationship between personality disorders and CAR.

Pulsatile Left Ventricular Assistance in High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: Short-Term Outcomes.

To document the real-world experience with the use of pneumatic pulsatile mechanical circulatory support (MCS) with the PulseCath iVAC2L during high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (HR-PCIs). : The use of MCS in HR-PCIs may reduce the rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) at 90 days. The PulseCath iVAC2L is a short-term pulsatile transaortic left ventricular (LV) assist device that has been in use since 2014.

Risk factors of cardiac arrest during a percutaneous coronary intervention performed with rotational atherectomy - analysis based on a Large National Registry.

Background: Rotational atherectomy (RA) is traditionally administered for patients with heavily calcified lesions and is thereby characterized by a high risk of the performed intervention. However, the prevalence characteristics of cardiac arrest are poorly studied in this group of patients. We aimed to evaluate the frequency and risk factors of cardiac arrest during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) performed with RA and preceding coronary angiography (CA).

Same-day discharge coronary interventions: How to succeed?

Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are the cornerstone of treatment in patients with coronary artery disease, generating substantial costs for the healthcare system. Considerable improvements in PCI technique, stent technology, and antiplatelet therapy led to a complication rate of <5%, a success rate of >95%, and lack of routine cardiothoracic surgical support. Thereby, the concept of same-day discharge following PCI has been proposed due to comparable efficacy, safety, and socioeconomic benefits of inpatient PCI.

Optical Coherence Tomography Measures Predicting Fractional Flow Reserve: The OMEF Study.

Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows to carefully characterize coronary plaque morphology and lumen dimensions. We sought to evaluate the value of OCT in predicting fractional flow reserve (FFR).

Methods: We performed a multicenter, international, pooled analysis of individual patient-level data from published studies assessing FFR and OCT on the same vessel.

Assessment of Effectiveness of the Algorithm for Automated Quantitative Analysis of Metallic Strut Tissue Short-Term Coverage with Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography.

Due to its high resolution, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is the most suitable modality for neointimal coverage assessments. Evaluation of stent healing seems crucial to accurately define their safety profile since delayed healing is connected with stent thrombosis. This study aimed to present an algorithm for automated quantitative analysis of stent strut coverage at the early stages of vessel healing in intravascular OCT.

Development of machine learning models for fractional flow reserve prediction in angiographically intermediate coronary lesions.

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) represents the gold standard in guiding the decision to proceed or not with coronary revascularization of angiographically intermediate coronary lesion (AICL). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows to carefully characterize coronary plaque morphology and lumen dimensions.

Objectives: We sought to develop machine learning (ML) models based on clinical, angiographic and OCT variables for predicting FFR.

Long-Term Outcomes Following Sirolimus-Coated Balloon or Drug-Eluting Stents for Treatment of In-Stent Restenosis.

Background: Evidence suggests that drug-coated balloons may benefit in-stent restenosis (ISR) treatment. However, the efficacy of new-generation sirolimus-coated balloon (SCB) compared with the latest generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) has not been studied in this setting.

Methods: All patients in the EASTBORNE (The All-Comers Sirolimus-Coated Balloon European Registry) and DEB-DRAGON (DEB vs Thin-DES in DES-ISR: Long Term Outcomes) registries undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for DES-ISR were included in the study.

Climate legacy in seed and seedling traits of European beech populations.

Tree species' ability to persist within their current distribution ranges is determined by seed germination and seedling growth. Exploring variation in these traits in relation to climatic conditions helps to understand and predict tree population dynamics, and to support species management and conservation under future climate. We analyzed seeds and seedlings of 26 European beech populations from the northeastern boundary of the species range to test whether: 1) adaptation to climatic conditions is reflected in depth of dormancy and germination of seeds; 2) climatic characteristics of origin predictably affect seedling traits.