Original Research | By DK McGuire, Bernard Zinman, SE Inzucchi et al.
BACKGROUND - Patients with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are at high clinical risk. We assessed the effect of the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor, empagliflozin, on total cardiovascular events and admissions to hospital in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial. METHODS - The EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial was a randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial of patients (aged ≥18...
Original Research | By PB Bertrand, TW Churchill, E Yucel et al.
AIMS - The aim of this study was to define the natural history of patients with mitral annular calcification (MAC)-related mitral valve dysfunction and to assess the prognostic importance of mean transmitral pressure gradient (MG) and impact of concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS AND RESULTS - The institutional echocardiography database was examined from 2001 to 2019 for all pati...
Review Article | By F Moroni, E Ammirati, AH Hainsworth et al.
Cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases are currently the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide. Both the heart and brain display similar vascular anatomy, with large conduit arteries running on the surface of the organ providing tissue perfusion through an intricate network of penetrating small vessels. Both organs rely on fine tuning of local blood flow to match metabolic demand. Blood flow regulation requires adequate functioning...
Original Research | By G Casu, G D'Angelo, P Merella et al.
BACKGROUND - Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) represents the most serious complication of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and AF patients with previous ICH are a challenge for clinicians. Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion has emerged as an alternative option for AF patients not suitable for OAT. Currently, few data are available on long term outcomes after LAA occlusion in this populati...
The Prognostic Value of Exercise Echocardiography After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Original Research | By A Marques, I Cruz, I João et al.
BACKGROUND - Exercise echocardiography (EE) is a valuable noninvasive method for diagnostic and prognostic assessment of ischemic cardiac disease. The prognostic value of a negative EE test is well known overall, but its role in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention remains poorly validated. The aim of this study was to ascertain the prognostic value of treadmill EE and to determine predictors of cardiac events in this ...
Clinical Trial | By B Cortese, GD Palma, MG Guimaraes et al.
OBJECTIVES - This study sought to compare the performance of a novel drug-coated balloon (DCB) (Elutax SV, Aachen Resonance, Germany), with an everolimus-eluting stent (EES) (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) in patients with de novo lesions. BACKGROUND - Small vessel coronary artery disease (SVD) represents one of the most attractive fields of application for DCB. To date, several devices have bee...
Original Research | By S Yang, B-K Koo, M Hoshino et al.
OBJECTIVES - The goal of this study was to investigate the association of stenosis and plaque features with myocardial ischemia and their prognostic implications. BACKGROUND - Various anatomic, functional, and morphological attributes of coronary artery disease (CAD) have been independently explored to define ischemia and prognosis. METHODS - A total of 1,013 ves...
Original Research | By H Rahman, CM Scannell, A Chiribiri et al.
Clinical Trial | By Y Onuma, N Kogame, OPTIMUM Investigators et al.