Clinical impact of myocardial ischemia and viability after treatment of proximal left anterior descending artery chronic total occlusions

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of myocardial ischemia and viability is recommended prior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions. We evaluated late adverse cardiovascular events of patients with PCI for proximal left anterior descending artery occlusions, comparing patients with or without myocardial ischemia or viability. METHODS: Patients were allocated to groups with myocardial ischemia/viability (G1, n = 91) and without myocardial ischemia/viability (G2, n = 65) and adverse cardiovascular events (death, myocardial infarction, target-vessel revascularization and congestive heart failure) were compared. RESULTS: Most patients were male (68.1% vs 69.2%; P = 0.56), with a mean age of 65.4 ± 10 years vs 63.5 ± 8.7 years (P = 0.61) and almost one third were diabetics (33% vs 29.2%; P = 0.76). No differences regarding the clinical and angiographic profile were observed, except for the left ventricular ejection fraction (48.6 ± 13.7% vs 39.5 ± 11.8%; P = 0.04) and the degree of angiographic collateral flow grade to the left anterior descending artery, which was more evident in G1 (P = 0.03). The 3-year follow-up incidence of composite adverse cardiovascular events was lower in patients with myocardial ischemia/viability (12.5% vs 31.1%; P < 0.01). The factors that contributed the most for this difference were the incidence of congestive heart failure (3.3% vs 15.3%; P = 0.02) and death (2.2% vs 7.7%; P = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of proximal left anterior descending artery chronic total occlusions in patients with evidence of myocardial ischemia or viability reduces the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in the long term.INTRODUÇÃO: A avaliação da isquemia e viabilidade miocárdicas é recomendável antes da intervenção coronária percutânea (ICP) em oclusões crônicas. Avaliamos os eventos cardiovasculares adversos tardios de pacientes com ICP da oclusão crônica no segmento proximal da artéria descendente anterior, comparando pacientes de acordo com a presença ou não de isquemia ou viabilidade miocárdicas. MÉTODOS: Os pacientes foram alocados nos grupos com isquemia/viabilidade miocárdicas (G1, n = 91) e sem isquemia/viabilidade miocárdicas (G2, n = 65) e avaliados os eventos clínicos combinados tardios (óbito, infarto do miocárdio, revascularização do vaso-alvo e insuficiência cardíaca congestiva). RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo masculino (68,1% vs. 69,2%; P = 0,56), com média de idade de 65,4 ± 10,4 anos vs. 63,5 ± 8,7 anos (P = 0,61), e quase um terço era de diabéticos (33% vs. 29,2%; P = 0,76). Os grupos não mostraram diferenças em relação ao perfil clínico-angiográfico, com exceção da fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (48,6 ± 13,7% vs. 39,5 ± 11,8%; P = 0,04) e do grau de circulação colateral para a artéria descendente anterior, mais evidente no G1 (P = 0,03). A incidência de eventos clínicos combinados em um período de três anos foi menor nos pacientes com isquemia/viabilidade miocárdicas (12,5% vs. 31,1%; P < 0,01). Os fatores que mais contribuíram para essa diferença foram a incidência de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva (3,3% vs. 15,3%; P = 0,02) e óbito (2,2% vs. 7,7%; P = 0,13). CONCLUSÕES: O tratamento de oclusão crônica no segmento proximal da artéria descendente anterior com stent farmacológico, em pacientes com evidência de isquemia ou viabilidade miocárdicas, reduz eventos clínicos a longo prazo.Hospital Beneficência Portuguesa de São PauloHospital Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo Equipe de Cardiologia Intervencionista-Wilson PimentelUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Hospital do Rim e HipertensãoUNIFESP, Hospital do Rim e HipertensãoSciEL

Performance of the Titanium-Nitride-Oxide Coated Stent in Patients with Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease

ABSTRACTBackgroundTo date, there are no studies evaluating the use of the titanium-nitride-oxide coated stent in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. We have compared the performance of the Titan-2® stent to that of the second generation drug-eluting stents in this scenario.MethodsFrom 2011 to 2012, 284 patients were treated with the Titan-2® stent, of which 100 (35.2%) had multivessel coronary artery disease. This group was compared to 100 patients, of a group of 304 (38.9%) patients with multivessel coronary artery disease treated with second generation drug-eluting stents with durable or biodegradable polymers. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events at 1 year.ResultsClinical, angiographic and procedure-related characteristics of the patients did not show differences between groups. Most patients in the Titan-2® group were male (70%), mean age was 68.4 ± 12.9 years and 25% were diabetic. Stable symptomatic patients were prevalent (68%), 51% had three-vessel disease and ventricular function was preserved (55.6 ± 12.7%). The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events at 1 year in the Titan-2® group was 21% (vs. 17%; p = 0.59), death was observed in 3% (vs. 2%; p > 0.99) of the patients, acute myocardial infarction in 5% (vs. 4%; p > 0.99) and a new revascularization procedure in 13% (vs. 11%; p = 0.83). Definitive stent thrombosis was not observed in either group.ConclusionsThe Titan-2® stent showed similar results to those of the second-generation drug-eluting stents, which makes it attractive for use in the complex scenario of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.RESUMODesempenho do Stent Recoberto por Titânio-Óxido Nítrico em Pacientes com Doença Coronária MultiarterialIntrodçãoAté o momento, nenhum estudo avaliou o stent recoberto por titânio-óxido nítrico em pacientes com doença arterial coronariana multiarterial. Comparamos o desempenho do stent Titan-2® ao stents farmacológicos de segunda geragao nesse cenário.MétodosNo período de 2011 a 2012, 284 pacientes foram tratados com o stent Titan-2®, dos quais 100 (35,2%) eram portadores de doença arterial coronariana multiarterial. Esse grupo foi comparado a 100 pacientes, de um grupo de 304 (38,9%), com doença arterial coronariana multiarterial, tratados com o stent farmacológico de segunda geração com polímeros duráveis ou biodegradáveis. O desfecho primário foi a ocorrência de eventos cardíacos adversos maiores em 1 ano.ResultadosCaracterísticas clínicas, angiográficas e do procedimento não apresentaram diferenças entre os grupos. A maioria dos pacientes do grupo Titan-2® era do sexo masculino (70%), com idade de 68,4 ± 12,9 anos e 25% eram diabéticos. Predominaram os quadros clínicos estáveis (68%), 51% tinham acometimento triarterial e a função ventricular estava preservada. A incidência de eventos cardiovasculares adversos maiores em 1 ano no grupo Titan-2® foi de 21% (vs. 17%; p = 0,59), óbito ocorreu em 3% (vs. 2%; p > 0,99) dos pacientes, infarto do miocárdio em 5% (vs. 4%; p > 0,99) e nova revascularização miocárdica em 13% (vs. 11%; p = 0,83). Não foram constatadas tromboses de stent definitivas em nenhum grupo.ConclusõesO uso do Titan-2® apresentou resultados similares aos do stent farmacológico de segunda geração, o que o torna atrativo para ser utilizado no complexo cenário de pacientes portadores de doença arterial coronariana multiarterial

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved