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BACKGROUND The COMBO drug eluting stent is a novel device with luminal endothelial progenitor cell capture technology for rapid homogeneous endothelialization. METHODS AND RESULTS We examined for sex differences in 1-year outcomes after COMBO stenting from the COMBO collaboration, a pooled patient-level dataset from the MASCOT and REMEDEE multicenter registries. The primary endpoint was 1-year target lesion failure (TLF), composite of cardiac death, target vessel-myocardial infarction (TV-MI), or clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR). Secondary outcomes included stent thrombosis (ST). Adjusted outcomes were assessed using Cox regression methods. The study included 861 (23.8%) women and 2,753 (76.2%) men. Women were older with higher prevalence of several comorbidities including diabetes mellitus. Risk of 1-year TLF was similar in both sexes (3.8% vs. 3.9%, HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.59-1.42, p = .70), without sex differences in the incidence of cardiac death (1.6% vs. 1.5%, p = .78), TV-MI (1.5% vs. 1.1%, p = .32), or CD-TLR (2.0% vs. 2.2%, p = .67). Definite or probable ST occurred in 0.4% women and 1.0% men (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.06-1.11, p = .069). CONCLUSIONS Despite greater clinical risks at baseline, women treated with COMBO stents had similarly low 1-year TLF and other ischemic outcomes compared to men.

Background Current surgical technique to fix the tricuspid valve regurgitation carry a high percentage (up to 37%) of recurrence of severe tricuspid valve regurgitation in mid-term follow up. There is a need for anatomically and physiologically correct Tricuspid annulus device. Our ring is developed in the way that mimics the normal anatomy & physiology of Tricuspid annulus. The aim of this study is to test three prototypes and choose the proper prototype that is tested and suitable to conform well to the normal shape of the tricuspid annulus with no distortion of the movement during the different phases of the cardiac cycle. Methods We used an acute open heart model in sheep as an animal model to test three prototypes. We used adult sheep (6 males and 6 females), body weight 60–70 Kg, age: 1–3 years old. We followed the protocol of open heart model in animals. Results Post Prototype implantation, Tricuspid valve leaflet coaptation was verified with no induced tricuspid regurgitation. On the other hand, there was no ring distortion or ring material fracture. All the three prototypes conformed well to the normal shape of the tricuspid annulus with no distortion of the movement during the different phases of the cardiac cycle (both in systole and diastole). Conclusions All the three tested prototypes seemed to be effective and reproducible.

Objectives We investigated the incidence of radial anomalies (RA) in patients undergoing transradial (TR) coronary procedure and their impact on procedural outcome in the Egyptian population. Background Radial anomalies (RA) are considered an important factor for procedural failure. Information about anatomical variation is limited in our Egyptian population. Methods We performed a multicentre prospective study in Egypt. A total of 650 consecutive patients undergoing their first TR coronary procedure were recruited from January 2013 till January 2015. By retrograde radial arteriography we assessed the frequency of RA and their impact on procedural outcome. Results 650 consecutive patients were studied, 74% male, mean (SD) age 55 (10) years. The overall incidence of radial artery anomaly was 12.6% (n = 82). 40 (6.2%) patients had a high-bifurcating radial origin, 8 (1.2%) had a full radial loop, 14 (2.1%) had extreme radial artery tortuosity and 20 (3%) had other anomalies such as persistent left subclavian artery and extreme subclavian tortuosity. Overall transradial procedural success was 95%. Procedural failure was more common in patients with anomalous anatomy (39%) than in patients with normal anatomy (0.2%). Procedural failure was highest in patients with radial loop (87.5%), followed by those with subclavian tortuosity (45%), then high radial bifurcation (30%), and severe radial tortuosity (28.5%). 14 (2.1%) vascular complications occurred, all of which were treated conservatively. Conclusion There is a relatively significant presence of radial anomalies, with different degrees of impact on procedural failure rate, in our Egyptian population. Further collaborative studies are recommended to increase our success rates.