Atherosclerotic lesions that critically narrow the artery can necessitate an angioplasty and stent implantation. Long-term therapeutic effects, however, are limited by excessive arterial remodeling. We here employed a miniaturized nitinol-stent coated with star-shaped polyethylenglycole (star-PEG), and evaluated its bio-functionalization with RGD and CXCL1 for improving in-stent stenosis after ...

DRUG-ELUTING stents (DES) represent the latest percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) designed to deal with the problem of in-stent restenosis. These stents are impregnated with a drug (sirolimus or paclitaxel) that retards the neointimal proliferation that leads to restenosis. The thrombogenic profile of DES differs from that of bare metal stents. Postprocedure dual antiplatelet therapy (clo...

BACKGROUND Sirolimus-eluting stents have been developed to prevent restenosis in the treatment of coronary artery disease. We investigated the risk of restenosis with use of sirolimus-eluting stents compared with bare-metal stents to assess possible differences. METHODS We enrolled 352 patients in whom one coronary artery required treatment, with diameter 2.5-3.0 mm and lesion length 15-32 mm...

BACKGROUND Guidelines recommend that noncardiac surgery be delayed until 30 to 45 days after bare-metal stent implantation and 1 year after drug-eluting stent implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS We used linked registry data and population-based administrative health care databases to conduct a cohort study of 8116 patients (≥40 years of age) who underwent major elective noncardiac surgery in On...

Background—Guidelines recommend that noncardiac surgery be delayed until 30 to 45 days after bare-metal stent implantation and 1 year after drug-eluting stent implantation. Methods and Results—We used linked registry data and population-based administrative health care databases to conduct a cohort study of 8116 patients (Ն40 years of age) who underwent major elective noncardiac surgery in Onta...

BACKGROUND Noncardiac surgery performed after coronary stent implantation is associated with an increased risk of stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and death. The influence of stent type and period of risk still have to be defined. METHODS AND RESULTS We linked the Scottish Coronary Revascularisation Register with hospital admission data to undertake a Scotland-wide retrospective cohor...

BACKGROUND There is evidence that endothelial coverage of drug-eluting stents might be delayed or absent, a risk factor for late thrombotic events. We studied the effects of different drug-polymer-device iterations on endothelium-dependent coronary vasomotion. Systemic markers of endothelial inflammation were correlated with coronary vasomotor changes. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients with paclit...

A major challenge in the management of hemodialysis patients is central venous stenosis and obstruction. Placement of central venous catheters has been shown to result in a high incidence of central venous stenosis or obstruction. There has been extensive literature on the treatment of this important and prevalent problem. Treatment options include percutaneous balloon angioplasty and bare meta...

AIMS Although drug-eluting stents have assumed a dominant role in interventional cardiology, concern has been raised about the potential for long-term adverse outcomes, including death. The aim of the present study was to compare the incidence and cause of death between patients who received sirolimus-eluting or bare metal stents. METHODS AND RESULTS An integrated analysis was performed on 17...

A common problem in the management of patients who are undergoing hemodialysis is central venous occlusive disease. There has been extensive literature on the treatment of this important and prevalent problem. Treatment options to date include percutaneous balloon angioplasty, bare metal stents, and surgical bypass. Unfortunately, all the available treatment options have poor long-term patency,...