Background—Edge-to-edge approximation of the mitral valve leaflets (Alfieri procedure) is a novel surgical treatment for patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). Long-term durability may be limited if abnormal mitral leaflet stresses result from this procedure. The aim of the current study was to measure Alfieri stitch tension (FA) and to explore its geometric determinants in an ovine...

BACKGROUND The use of fractional flow reserve in patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is a controversial issue. We undertook a study to assess the vasodilatory capacity of the coronary microcirculation in patients with NSTEMI when compared with a model of preserved microcirculation (stable angina [SA] cohort: culprit and nonculprit vessel) and acute microcircula...

In the present study, we noted that bleomycin induced growth inhibitory action was augmented by all the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) tested on human neuroblastoma IMR-32 (0.5 × 10(4) cells/100 µl of IMR) cells (EPA > DHA > ALA = GLA = AA > DGLA = LA: ∼ 60, 40, 30, 10-20% respectively) at the maximum doses used. Of all the prostaglandins (PGE1, PGE2, PGF2α, and PGI2) and leukotrienes (LTD...

Hyperhomocysteinemia has been identified as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of hyperhomocysteinemia on coronary microcirculation in patients who have been referred for elective coronary angiography. This study included 79 consecutive participants who were referred for elective coronary angiography due to suspected myoca...

OBJECTIVE Functional impairment of coronary microcirculation is thought to be a major pathway in the development of primary cardiac involvement in SSc; however, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms of coronary flow reserve (CFR) reduction in patients with SSc. METHODS Seventeen SSc patients and 17 gender- and age-matched controls were enroll...

Intracoronary continuous thermodilution is a novel technique to quantify absolute coronary flow (Q) and resistance (R) has potential advantages over current methods such as reserve (CFR) index of microvascular (IMR). However, no data are available in patients with ischemia nonobstructive artery disease (INOCA). This study aimed assess the relationship Q R established CFR/IMR INOCA patients, exp...

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to investigate whether a distal protection (DP) device can preserve the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS AND RESULTS The study group of 36 consecutive patients with anterior STEMI were randomized into ...

Brain shift during tumor resection compromises the spatial validity of registered preoperative imaging data that is critical to image-guided procedures. One current clinical solution to mitigate the effects is to reimage using intraoperative magnetic resonance (iMR) imaging. Although iMR has demonstrated benefits in accounting for preoperative-to-intraoperative tissue changes, its cost and encu...

BACKGROUND Early risk stratification after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction is currently challenging. Identification of a low-risk group may improve triage of patients to alternative clinical pathways and support early hospital discharge. Our aim was to assess whether the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) at the time of PP...

By injecting a few cubic centimeters of saline into the coronary artery and using thermodilution principles, mean transit time (T(mn)) of the injectate can be calculated and is inversely proportional to coronary blood flow. Because microvascular resistance equals distal coronary pressure (P(d)) divided by myocardial flow, the product P(d). T(mn) provides an index of myocardial resistance (IMR)....