70%) were involved in this study. Patients were assigned as intracoronary ?-radiation (Beta Cath 30 mm or 40 mm system, Novoste) with CBA group (n=112) and control group (n=183). Pullback radiation was performed for long ISR lesions. In the control group, the patients received intracoronary ?-radiation or CBA alone. In both groups, quantitative coronary angiography was performed, and target vessel revascularization (TVR) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were documented. Results Clinical follow-up (6.3?1.6 months) was conducted in 106 patients (95%) in the intracoronary ?-radiation with CBA group and 172 patients (94%) in the control group. In the follow-up, in the intracoronary ?-radiation with CBA group, MLD was larger and DS was lower than that in the comparison group. Both TVR and MACE occurred significantly less in the intracoronary ?-radiation with CBA group than in the control group (5% vs 16% for TVR, and 10% vs 25% for MACE; P

Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of domestic sirolimus-eluting stent(SES)compared with bare metal stent(BMS)in the primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)for patients with ST-segment elevation AMI in a real-world scenario.Method From January 2005 to March 2006,a total of 143 patient with ST-segment elevation AMI were enrolled in this study,and all of them underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Among the 143 patients,74 were treated with domestic SESs(Firebird stent)and 69 with BMSs.The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE:death,reinfarction,and target vessel revascularization[TVR])was evaluated at 30 days and 180 days.Continuous variables were compared using Student's unpaired t test.Categorical variables were compared using Fisher's test.Cox proportional hazard survival models were used to assess risk reduction of adverse events.P value

BACKGROUNDIncomplete stent apposition (ISA) has been demonstrated to be more common after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation than after bare metal stent (BMS) implantation. Clinical outcomes of ISA remain controversial and the predictive accuracy of previous studies was limited by the short follow-up period of only 12-18 months. In the present study, we present the outcomes of a more than 2-year follow-up in patients with ISA after DES implantation.

METHODSFrom the clinical and core intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) database of the hospital, we identified 76 patients who had undergone DES implantation in de novo lesions between January 2004 and June 2005 and had received IVUS examination at a scheduled 6-month follow-up. A total of 13 (17.1%) patients had documented ISA at the follow-up by IVUS. Clinical follow-up was available up to 41 months after DES implantation and up to 33 months after identification of ISA.

RESULTSOver a mean follow-up of (34+/-5) months (range 24-41 months), 3 of the 13 patients (23.1%) suffered from ST elevated myocardial infarction with one death. Angiography confirmed the very late stent thrombosis (ST) in the area with ISA. All the 3 patients were implanted with sirolimus eluting stents in left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the very late ST occurred at 29, 31 and 32 months after DES implantation, and separately at 20, 23 and 23 months after the identification of ISA. All of the 3 patients had antiplatelet therapy continued before suffering from ST, and had been apparently stable on antiplatelet monotherapy with aspirin for a long period following dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel for more than 12 months.

CONCLUSIONISA of DES may be associated with a high incidence of very late stent thrombosis, even in clinically stable patients with dual antiplatelet therapy of at least 12 months after the procedure.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thrombosis ; etiology ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Aged ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective To explore the correlation between serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) X antigen/antibody (HBxAg-wild/HBxAb-wild,and HBxAg-mutant/HBxAb-mutant) and the disease progression in patients with chronic HBV infection.Methods A direct enzyme immunosorbent asssay (ELISA) was performed to detect HBxAb using recombinant antigen,and a double antibody sandwich ELISA assay to detect HBxAg using monoclonal antibody and specific rabbit polyclonal antibody.HBxAg-wild/HBxAb-wild and HBxAg-mutant/HBxAb-mutant were tested in sera from cases at different stages of chronic HBV infection.A chi-square test was employed to examine statistical significance.Results The positive rates of HBxAg-wild and HBxAg-mutant in the chronic asymptomatic HBV carriers,chronic hepatitis,hepatitis B-related cirrhosis and liver cancer were 6.2％ (2/32),10.7％ (3/28),28.6％ (6/21),43.6％ (17/39) and 3.1％ (1/32),10.7％ (3/28),33.3％ (7/21),48.7％ (19/39),respectively.The positive rates of HBxAb-wild and HBxAb-mutant in the above mentioned groups were 6.2％ (2/32),21.4％ (6/28),38.1％ (8/21),53.8％ (21/39)and 6.2％ (2/32),25.0％ (7/28),42.9％ (9/21),61.5％ (24/39) respectively.The positive rates of HBxAg-wild and HBxAg-mutant were not significantly different among the above groups (x2 =0.871,0.780,0.565 and 0.317,respectively; all P＞0.05) ; The positive rates of HBxAb-wild and HBxAb-mutant were also similar among all the groups (x2 =0.780,0.709,0.580 and 0.210,respectively; all P＞0.05).The positive rates of HBxAg-wild,HBxAb-wild,HBxAg-mutant,HBxAb-mutant in patients with low viral loads (HBV DNA＜1 × 104 copy/mL) were 36.5％ (23/63),44.4％ (28/63),42.9％ (27/63) and 54.0％ (34/63),respectively,those in patients with high viral loads (HBVDNA≥1×104 copy/mL) were 8.8％ (5/57),15.8％ (9/57),5.3％ (3/57) and 14.0％ (8/57),respectively.The positive rates of HBxAg and HBxAb were significantly higher in cases with low viral loads than those with high viral loads (x2 =12.869,11.522,22.556 and 20.976,respectively; all P＜0.05).The positive rates of HBxAg-wild,HBxAb-wild,HBxAg-mutant,HBxAb-mutant in the HBeAg positive group were 21.7％ (18/83),30.1％ (25/83),22.9％ (19/83) and 32.5％ (27/83),respectively,while those in the HBeAg negative group were 27.0％ (10/37),32.4％ (12/37),29.7％ (11/37) and 40.5％ (15/37),respectively.No significant difference of HBxAg/HBxAb positive rates between HBeAg positive group and HBeAg negative group was noticed (x2 =0.408,0.064,0.638 and 0.722,respectively; all P＞0.05).Conclusions The antigenicity and specificity of HBV X protein remains similar after the occurrence of A1762T/G1764A double mutant in X gene.It is also found that the positive rates of HBxAg and HBxAb increase with disease progression.HBxAg/HBxAb might be promoting factors for tumorigenesis in chronic HBV infection.HBxAg and HBxAb might have negative influence on HBV replication.

BACKGROUNDLarge 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.

METHODSA 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.

RESULTSAmong 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).

CONCLUSIONSMB 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.

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Bridging ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVEWe aimed to assess and compare the morphological characteristics of ostial and non-ostial left main coronary artery (LMCA) lesion without heavy calcification using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging.

METHODSBetween Oct. 2004 and Oct. 2007, 153 patients with confirmed or suspected coronary artery narrowing in coronary angiography with satisfactory IVUS images and non-heavy calcification were included in the study (ostial lesions, n = 47; non-ostial lesion, n = 106). IVUS analysis included plaque composition, external elastic membrane (EEM), lumen, plaque cross-sectional area (CSA), plaque burden (plaque CSA/EEM CSA) at the lesion, proximal and/or distal reference site, and remodeling index (RI, lesion EEM CSA/reference EEM CSA). Negative remodeling was defined as RI < 0.95.

RESULTSLMCA mean reference lumen and vessel diameter was 4.1 +/- 0.8 mm and 5.3 +/- 0.8 mm respectively. Incidence of patients with minimum lumen area (MLA < 6.0 mm(2)) was similar between the two groups (29.5% for ostial lesions and 31.9% for non-ostial lesions, P = 0.87). There were significantly more fibrous (70.2% vs. 35.8%) and soft (8.5% vs. 3.8%) plaques while significantly less calcified plaque (19.2% vs. 43.4%) in patients with hostile lesions compared those with non-ostial lesions (all P < 0.05). Compared to non-ostial lesions, ostial lesion had significant smaller plaque area [(10.8 +/- 4.5) mm(2) vs. (13.3 +/- 5.4) mm(2), P = 0.007], less plaque burden (54.8% +/- 15.9% vs. 61.9% +/- 14.5%, P = 0.020), smaller RI (0.9 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.2, P = 0.000) and higher incidence of negative remodeling (74.5% vs. 34.9%, P = 0.000). Multivariant Logistic regression analysis showed that the site of lesion (ostial or non-ostial lesion, OR = 4.9, P = 0.004), plaque area (OR = 1.2, P = 0.01) and plaque burden (OR = 0.003, P = 0.000) were the independent predictors of LMCA remodeling.

CONCLUSIONNegative remodeling might be responsible for the development of LMCA ostial narrowing.

Aged ; Calcinosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; methods

OBJECTIVEDuring progression of atherosclerosis, the vessel may develop either positive or negative remodeling. The pathophysiology of vascular remodeling is not fully understood. This study investigated the relationship between plaque characteristics and arterial remodeling using intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS).

METHODSA total of 77 patients (male 53, mean age 58 +/- 10 years) who underwent IVUS imaging (ClearView or Galaxy2, Boston Scientific, USA) of culprit vessel were enrolled in this study. Among the 77 patients, 31 presented with stable angina pectoris and 46 presented with acute coronary syndrome. Qualitative assessment of the lesion and quantitative measurement were performed in both stenotic and reference segments. The lesions were classified into soft plaque and hard plaque (including fibrous plaque, calcified plaque and mixed plaque) according to different ultrasound patterns of tissue reflection. The remodeling index (RI) was defined as the ratio of vessel cross sectional area (EEMcsa) of lesion segment to the mean reference EEMcsa. Positive remodeling was defined as RI > 1.0 and negative remodeling as RI < 1.0.

RESULTSOf 77 lesions, 45 (58%) had undergone positive remodeling, and 32 (42%) had negative remodeling. In comparison to the patients with negative remodeling, patients with positive remodeling presented with more acute coronary syndrome (74% vs. 43%, P = 0.006). Both the plaque area and the vessel area were significantly larger in the lesion with positive remodeling than in lesion with negative remodeling. The lesions with positive remodeling were predominantly soft (71% vs. 34%, P = 0.001) and had less calcification [21% vs. 54%, P = 0.003 and (18 +/- 37) degrees vs. (40 +/- 50) degrees, P = 0.027] compared with lesions with negative remodeling. The difference of clinical presentation and plaque characteristics between the patients with different patterns of remodeling is still significant with binary logistic analysis.

CONCLUSIONSCoronary arterial remodeling pattern is related to the clinical manifestation and the composition of plaque. Lesions presented with positive remodeling have a higher prevalence of soft plaque and less calcification.

Aged ; Coronary Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

OBJECTIVETo 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).

METHODSIVUS 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.

RESULTSCompared 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).

CONCLUSIONSmaller MSA and higher proximal residual plaque burden are independent predictors of ISR or early thrombosis post SES implantations.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Cohort Studies ; Coronary Restenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Thrombosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

BACKGROUNDThe 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.

METHODSEighty-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.

RESULTSMean 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.

CONCLUSIONSThe 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.

Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Collateral Circulation ; physiology ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Occlusion ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged