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Introduction: The aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of the percutaneous closure of PFO (abnormal communication between the right and left atrium). Methods: Between July 2009 and October 2012 percutaneous closure was performed in 37 patients. The presence of PFO was diagnosed through the use of ultrasound techniques: transcranial doppler with contrast (cTCD), transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Follow-up was composed consisted of a Holter ECG 7 days after the closure with a 24 hour heart rhythm monitoring, to evaluate eventual arrhythmia cases and programmed controls which included a TTE at 1-3 months, TTE+ cTCD at 6-12 months, to evaluate the right positioning of the device and the complete closure of the defect. Results: We obtained 100% of procedural success (correct and stable implantation of the device in a perfect position on the interatrial septum).No complications were recorded during the procedure and no new onset atrial fibrillation was detected in any patients after the PFO closure. The follow up with cTCD and TEE reported a closing rate of 86.7%. No new clinical cerebrovascular events occurred in treated patients until now. Conclusion: Our experience describes the percutaneous PFO procedure as feasible, safe and effective with a high rate of procedural success, with an absence of significant adverse events and a high rate of complete closure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Stable microvascular angina (SMVA) describes patients with angina, findings compatible with myocardial ischemia and normal coronary angiograms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of diabetes on the coronary microcirculation troughs angiogra-phy indexes (TIMI Frame Count, Myocardial Blush Grade, Total Myocardial Blush Score) and a new index: Total TIMI Frame Count (TTFC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population included 310 patients with SMVA that we split into two populations: diabetic-non hypertensive (164 patients) and non-diabetic-hypertensive (146 patients). We calculated, on angiographic images of each patient, TIMI Frame Count (TFC), Myocardial Blush Grade (MBG) and Total Myocardial Blush Score (TMBS) using the protocol described by Gibson and Yusuf. On the basis of Yusuf's experience we imagined a new index: TTFC like sum of the three coronary TFC. RESULTS: We found a worse coronary microcirculation in diabetic-non hypertensive patients with lower values of TFC, MBG and TMBS (p = 0.02), compared with non-diabetic hypertensive. New index TTFC is usually higher in diabetic-non hypertensive than non-diabetic hypertensive patients. Patients with positive scintigraphy had a worse TMBS than patients with a negative one, with a high statistical significance (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of diabetic non hypertensive and non-diabetic and hypertensive patients with cardiac syndrome X has led to asses that the diabetic population has a greater involvement of microcirculation. Also the new index, TTFC, proved to be a good marker, in agreement with results of other indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence has increasingly become an integral part of our daily activities. ChatGPT, a natural language processing technology developed by OpenAI, is widely used in various industries, including healthcare. The application of ChatGPT in healthcare is still evolving, with studies exploring its potential in clinical decision-making, patient education, workflow optimization, and scientific literature. ChatGPT could be exploited in the medical field to improve patient education and information, thus increasing compliance. ChatGPT could facilitate information exchange on major cardiovascular diseases, provide clinical decision support, and improve patient communication and education. It could assist the clinician in differential diagnosis, suggest appropriate imaging modalities, and optimize treatment plans based on evidence-based guidelines. However, it is unclear whether it will be possible to use ChatGPT for the management of patients who require rapid decisions. Indeed, many drawbacks are associated with the daily use of these technologies in the medical field, such as insufficient expertise in specialized fields and a lack of comprehension of the context in which it works. The pros and cons of its use have been explored in this review, which was not written with the help of ChatGPT., (Copyright © 2024 Italian Federation of Cardiology - I.F.C. All rights reserved.)

The prevalence of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) beyond the spectrum of chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) is non-negligible, pertaining to pathophysiological and therapeutical implications. Thanks to the availability of accurate and safe non-invasive technique, CMD can be identified as a key player in heart failure, cardiomyopathies, Takotsubo syndrome, aortic stenosis. While CMD is widely recognized as a cause of myocardial ischemia leading to a worse prognosis even in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease, the characterization of CMD patterns beyond CCS might provide valuable insights on the underlying disease progression, being potentially a "red flag" of adverse cardiac remodeling and a major determinant of response to therapy and outcomes. In this review, we aimed to provide an overview of the latest evidence on the prevalence, mechanistic and prognostic implications of CMD beyond the spectrum of CCS (i.e. heart failure, cardiomyopathies, Takotsubo syndrome, aortic stenosis)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is traditionally viewed as protective against cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, emerging evidence reveals that dysfunctional HDL, characterized by impaired reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), reduced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and increased endothelial dysfunction, which can contribute to coronary artery disease (CAD). Dysfunctional HDL, resulting from oxidative modifications of Apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-1) and enzyme inactivation, fails to effectively remove cholesterol from peripheral tissues and may promote inflammation and atherosclerosis. Genetic mutations affecting HDL metabolism further complicate its role in cardiovascular health. Studies have shown that conventional therapies aimed at raising HDL-C levels do not necessarily reduce cardiovascular events, highlighting the need for new approaches that improve HDL functionality. Therapeutic strategies such as Apo A-1 mimetic peptides, reconstituted HDL infusions, and drugs targeting specific HDL metabolic pathways are being explored. Additionally, weight loss, statin therapy, and niacin have shown potential in enhancing HDL function. The pathophysiology of dysfunctional HDL involves complex mechanisms, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and genetic mutations, which alter its structure and function, diminishing its cardioprotective effects. New functional assays, such as the cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) and HDL inflammatory index, provide more accurate predictions of cardiovascular risk by assessing HDL quality rather than quantity. As research progresses, the focus is shifting towards therapeutic strategies that enhance HDL function and address the root causes of its dysfunction, offering a more effective approach to reducing cardiovascular risk and preventing CAD.

Background: There are many questions regarding the optimal approach to treating non-culprit lesions in STEMI patients. Several questions still need to be answered, such as identifying the lesions to be revascularized and the optimal timing. Methods: We conducted a single-center analysis. The primary outcome was the incidence of major cardiovascular and cerebral adverse events (MACCE) at 12 months in patients with STEMI and multivessel disease (MVD) who achieved complete revascularization during the index procedure or with a staged procedure. The secondary outcomes were death from any cause, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, stroke, major bleeding events, new angina episodes, new hospitalization, and in-hospital MACCE. Results: From January 2021 to December 2022, a total of 230 patients with STEMI underwent primary PCI in our department; 87 patients had MVD. Fifty-nine patients (67.8%) underwent a non-culprit revascularization strategy during the index procedure strategy, and 28 patients (32.2%) during a staged procedure. The incidence of MACCE at 12 months was 11.9% (seven patients) in the index PCI group, compared with 32.1% (nine patients) in the staged PCI group (odds ratio, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.15 to 10.77; p = 0.022). In-hospital MACCE occurred in five patients (8.5%) of the index PCI group, compared with seven patients (25%) in the staged PCI group (odds ratio, 3.60; 95% CI, 1.03 to 12.61; p = 0.036). A trend towards better outcomes favoring the index PCI group was observed with death from any cause, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, and new angina episodes. Conclusions: Better outcomes were evident with an index PCI strategy than with a staged PCI strategy for complete revascularization in patients with STEMI and MVD.

Purpose of Review: This review investigates the relationship between myocardial bridges (MBs), intimal thickening in coronary arteries, and Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It focuses on the role of mechanical forces, such as circumferential strain, in arterial wall remodeling and aims to clarify how MBs affect coronary artery pathology., Review Findings: MBs have been identified as influential in modulating coronary artery intimal thickness, demonstrating a protective effect against thickening within the MB segment and an increase in thickness proximal to the MB. This is attributed to changes in mechanical stress and hemodynamics. Research involving arterial hypertension models and vein graft disease has underscored the importance of circumferential strain in vascular remodeling and intimal hyperplasia. Understanding the complex dynamics between MBs, mechanical strain, and vascular remodeling is crucial for advancing our knowledge of coronary artery disease mechanisms. This could lead to improved management strategies for cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the need for further research into MB-related vascular changes., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Since the beginning of the COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, poor attention has been paid to the indirect effects of the pandemia on cardiovascular health system, in particular in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). The aims of this study is to compare possible epidemiological, clinical and management differences between the four epidemic waves in groups of patients hospitalized for ACS with a view to highlighting the burden of the pandemic on the management of this syndrome., Materials and Methods: In this retrospective observational study we included 98 patients admitted to Coronary Intensive Care Unit (CICU) for ACS between March 2020 and March 2022, who underwent revascularization procedure using percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCI). The patients examined were divided into four groups representative of the four epidemic waves that affected our country., Results: The rate of hospitalization for ACS increased progressively to a 178 % increase in the third wave compared to the first ( p  = 0.003), with an increase of 900 % if we consider only Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) (representing 54 % of the ACS diagnoses of the third group against 14.3 % in the first). Longer door-to-balloon times were recorded in the third wave for the increased presence of NSTEMI. The average hospital stay was lower in the third wave with 5 ± 2 days ( p  = 0.007) as well as mortality (5.1 % in the third wave; the highest in the fourth wave with 9.5 %)., Conclusions: The study show that the management of ACS suffered most from the indirect effects of the pandemic during the first wave, both because of the unpreparedness of hospital facilities and because of the fear of infection that has dissuaded people from asking for help., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

The term MINOCA (Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries) refers to myocardial infarction cases where coronary arteries exhibit less than 50 % stenosis. MINOCA encompasses a diverse range of pathologies with varying etiologies. Diagnosis involves meeting acute myocardial infarction criteria and excluding other causes (myocarditis, takotsubo syndrome). Clinical features often resemble those of traditional myocardial infarction, but MINOCA patients tend to be younger and more frequently female. Etiological investigations include coronary angiography, intracoronary imaging, and vasomotor function tests. Causes include plaque rupture, coronary dissection, vasospasm, microvascular dysfunction, thromboembolism. Prognosis varies, with some subsets at higher risk. Management involves a tailored approach addressing underlying causes, with emphasis on cardioprotective therapy, risk factor modification, and lifestyle interventions. Further research is needed to refine diagnostic strategies and optimize therapeutic approaches in MINOCA patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a clinical situation characterized by evidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI)-according to the Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction-with normal or near-normal coronary arteries on angiographic study (stenosis < 50%). This condition is extremely variable in etiology, pathogenic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, prognosis and consequently therapeutic approach., Objective: The objective of the study was the evaluation of remnant cholesterol (RC), monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and various lipoprotein ratios in patients with MINOCA in order to establish their validity as predictors of this event., Materials and Methods: We included 114 patients hospitalized in the Intensive Coronary Care Unit (ICCU) and Hospital Wards of our Hospital Center from 2015 to 2019 who received a diagnosis of MINOCA compared to a control group of 110 patients without previous cardiovascular events. RC was calculated with the following formula: RC = total cholesterol (TC) - HDL-C - LDL-C. MHR was calculated by dividing the monocyte count in peripheral blood by high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels; PLR was obtained by dividing platelet count by lymphocyte count. We also calculated various lipoprotein ratios, like total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C/HDL-C), triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C/HDL-C) ratios., Results: The MINOCA group had higher mean levels of RC (21.3 ± 10.6 vs. 13.2 ± 7.7 mg/dL), MHR (23 ± 0.009 vs. 18.5± 8.3) and PLR (179.8 ± 246.1 vs. 135 ± 64.7) than the control group. Only the mean values of all calculated lipoprotein ratios were lower in MINOCA patients. Statistical significance was achieved only in the RC evaluation., Conclusions: Higher levels of RC and MHR were found in patients with MINOCA. We also observed higher levels of PLR than in the control group. Only various lipoprotein ratios were lower, but this could reflect the extreme heterogeneity underlying the pathogenic mechanisms of MINOCA. In patients who receive a diagnosis of MINOCA with a baseline alteration of the lipid profile and higher levels of cholesterol at admission as well, the evaluation of these parameters could play an important role, providing more detailed information about their cardiometabolic risk.

Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of death in the world and are subject to limitations in prevention strategies despite the use of very effective drugs. The concept of residual risk (RR) is intrinsically related to that of global risk of which it represents a very significant percentage. In the cardiovascular field, the term RR refers to the probability of incurring a major cardiovascular event, despite adequate control of the risk factors present in the individual patient. A significant portion of the RR in the cardiovascular field results from the underestimation of additional risk factors not subjected to adequate intervention such as, for example, triglyceride levels in patients treated for the presence of hypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia. The control of the RR therefore appears as an essential condition for the effective reduction of the global risk profile and is based on an integrated intervention that combines all the different prevention strategies derived from the available evidence and capable of interacting on the basis of a strengthening reciprocal between lifestyle and pharmacological and nutraceutical intervention methods.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading global cause of mortality and are primarily driven by atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Their pathogenesis involves multi-factorial mechanisms, among which low-density lipoprotein (LDL) plays a causative role. Recent ESC/EAS guidelines advocate for a shift toward new risk estimation algorithms that better emphasize non-fatal cardiovascular events, lifetime risk prediction, and tailored pharmacological approaches, including statin + ezetimibe and triple therapy, in specific cases. Intensive lipid-lowering therapy has been shown to be pivotal, especially in post-acute coronary events. Intracoronary imaging has revealed insights into the composition of plaque and demonstrated the significant regression that can be achieved through the use of statins such as rosuvastatin and atorvastatin. The positive effects of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, particularly alirocumab and evolocumab, on plaque regression, have been demonstrated. Inclisiran, which targets PCSK9 gene expression, significantly reduces LDL cholesterol. The associated challenges include hesitancy to prescribe intensive regimens and limited treatment adherence, highlighting the need for pharmacological combinations to improve therapeutic outcomes.

Aims: To describe through emblematic images rare but clinically relevant carotid artery stenting complications that occurred at two high-volume centres for carotid artery stenting (CAS)., Background: CAS is an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis in patients judged to be at high risk for CEA. CAS complications range between 1 and 9% and are higher in older patients complaining of neurological symptoms at the time of presentation. Besides periprocedural or early-after-procedure stroke, which remains the true Achilles' heel of CAS, other dramatic complications might compromise the clinical outcomes of this procedure., Methods: Five infrequent complications, out of more than 1000 CAS performed in the years 2016-2021, have been described., Results: Among CAS complications, acute carotid stent thrombosis, rescue retrieval of a disconnected distal cerebral embolic protection device, plaque prolapse after carotid stenting, cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS), and radial artery long sheath entrapment requiring surgical intervention were found to account for 0.3% of the total number of procedures performed by operators with high CAS volume., Conclusions: Unusual CAS complications may infrequently occur, even in hands of expert operators. To know how to deal with such complications might help interventionalists to improve CAS performance.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by a complex spectrum of coagulopathy ranging from hemorrhagic to thrombotic symptoms. To date, platelet count (PLT) and conventional coagulation tests (CCTs) cannot predict hemorrhagic events and thrombotic risk. Thromboelastography (TEG) measures the viscoelastic properties of the clot, thus providing information on the entire process of blood coagulation. The primary aim of the study was to assess the hemostatic balance from AML diagnosis to the end of chemotherapy (CHT) by TEG., Material and Methods: Here we present the results of a prospective study enrolling newly diagnosed AML patients treated with chemotherapy. Patients had complete blood counts (CBCs), TEG and CCTs performed at three time points: 1) diagnosis (T 0 ); 2) during the first cycle of CHT (T 1 ); and 3) at the end of CHT (T 2 ). An algorithm of TEG indirectly calculated thrombin generation (TG). Patients underwent daily follow-up for bleeding and thrombotic episodes up to the time of hospital discharge or death., Results: Eighty consecutive patients were evaluated; forty were eligible for the study, and 21 completed the entire study. At T 1 , maximum amplitude (MA), TG and K-time were significantly shifted toward a hypocoagulability state compared to T 0 (p<0.05), while a hypercoagulable state at T 2 was shown by changes in α-angle, MA and TG values. Otherwise, there were no statistically significant differences in CCTs between the evaluated time points., Discussion: Overall, TEG revealed complex and dynamic coagulation abnormalities in patients with AML according to both the course of disease and therapy. Further studies are needed to investigate more fully the role of TEG in defining the hemostatic profile in patients with AML.

Objective: While most of the evidence in CTO interventions emerge from Western and Japanese studies, few data have been published up today from the Middle East. Objective of this study was to evaluate technical success rates and clinical outcomes of an Iranian population undergoing CTO PCI in a tertiary referral hospital. Moreover, we sought to evaluate the efficacy of our CTO teaching program., Methods: This is a retrospective single-center cohort study including 790 patients who underwent CTO PCI performed by operators with different volumes of CTOs PCI performed per year. According to PCI result, all patients have been divided into successful (n = 555, 70.3 %) and unsuccessful (n = 235, 29.7 %) groups. Study endpoints were Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Health Status Improvement evaluated using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire at one year., Results: A global success rate of 70 % for antegrade and 80 % for retrograde approach was shown despite the lack of some CTO-dedicated devices. During the enrollment period, the success rate increased significantly among operators with a lower number of CTO procedures per year. One-year MACE rate was similar in both successful and unsuccessful groups (13.5 % in successful and 10.6 % in unsuccessful group, p = 0.173). One year patients' health status improved significantly only in successful group., Conclusions: No significant differences of in-hospital and one-year MACE were found between the successful and unsuccessful groups. Angina symptoms and quality of life significantly improved after successful CTO PCI. The RAIAN registry confirmed the importance of operator expertise for CTO PCI success., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Cardiological Society of India. Published by Elsevier, a division of RELX India, Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and during the first year after transplantation. For these reasons, and due to the shortage of organs available for transplant, it is of utmost importance to identify patients with a good life expectancy after transplant and minimize the transplant peri-operative risk. Various conditions, such as severe pulmonary diseases, recent myocardial infarction or stroke, and severe aorto-iliac atherosclerosis, need to be ruled out before adding a patient to the transplant waiting list. The effectiveness of systematic coronary artery disease (CAD) treatment before kidney transplant is still debated, and there is no universal screening protocol, not to mention that a nontailored screening could lead to unnecessary invasive procedures and delay or exclude some patients from transplantation. Despite the different clinical guidelines on CAD screening in kidney transplant candidates that exist, up to today, there is no worldwide universal protocol. This review summarizes the key points of cardiovascular risk assessment in renal transplant candidates and faces the role of noninvasive cardiovascular imaging tools and the impact of coronary revascularization versus best medical therapy before kidney transplant on a patient's cardiovascular outcome.

In the last decades a significant increase of the migratory phenomenon from South Asian countries to the Western World has occurred for social, economic and geopolitical reasons. The aim of this review is to describe cardiovascular risk factors, pathogenesis and treatments of coronary artery disease in South Asian patients. It is well established that South Asian populations have a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease and premature onset of myocardial infarction episodes than other populations. This higher predisposition might be caused by genetic factors, common in both South Asian patients residing in their birth country and in those residing abroad, but it may also be due to the new spatial environment in which they live. It will be important to examine the leading cardiovascular risk factors determining increasing incidence of coronary artery disease in the South Asian population. These include: insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and abdominal obesity caused by a diet rich in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats. Furthermore, it is important to examine emerging cardiovascular risk factors strictly related to this particular ethnic group. The evidence of higher levels of prothrombotic and proinflammatory factors, for example lipoprotein(a) and proinflammatory adipokines, as well as the influence of air pollution and psychosocial stress, may have consequences on the risk, treatment and outcomes of the coronary artery disease in this population. Migrants from South Asia deserve to be addressed and framed with particular care in terms of cardiovascular risk and especially in the management of acute coronary events., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of the study is to evaluate the subclinical alterations of cardiac mechanics detected using speckle-tracking echocardiography and compare these data with the coronary angiography indices used during coronary angiography in a population of patients diagnosed with ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery (INOCA) and microvascular angina (MVA). Methods: The study included 85 patients admitted to our center between November 2019 and January 2022 who were diagnosed with INOCA compared with a control group of 70 healthy patients. A collection of anamnestic data and a complete cardiovascular physical examination, and echocardiogram at rest with longitudinal strain were performed for all patients. Furthermore, the TIMI frame count (TFC) for the three coronary vessels was calculated according to Gibson's indications. All parameters were compared with a control population with similar characteristics. Results: Patients with INOCA compared to the control population showed statistically significant changes in the parameters assessed on the longitudinal strain analysis. In particular, patients with INOCA showed statistically significant changes in GLS (-16.71) compared to the control population (-19.64) ( p = 0.003). In patients with INOCA, the total TIMI frame count (tTFC) correlated with the GLS value with a correlation coefficient of 0.418 ( p = 0.021). Conclusions: In patients with angina, documented myocardial ischemia, the absence of angiographically significant stenosis (INOCA) and LVEF > 50%, the prevalence of microvascular dysfunction documented by TFC was extremely represented. A statistically significant reduction in GLS was observed in these patients. TFC and longitudinal strain, therefore, appear to be two reliable, sensitive and easily accessible methods for the study of alterations in coronary microcirculation and the characterization of patients with INOCA and microvascular angina.

Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is an abnormal dilatation of a coronary artery segment; those coronary artery aneurysms that are very large in size are defined as giant. However, a standardized dimension cut-off to define giant CAAs is still missing. The reported prevalence of coronary aneurysms in the population who underwent coronary angiography ranges from 0.3% to 5%, and often CAAs are found in patient with aneurysms in other sites, such as the ascending or abdominal aorta. In half of the cases an atherosclerotic etiology could be recognized; often, CAA is found in the context of acute coronary syndrome. Seldomly, CAA is found at the autopsy of patients who died due to sudden cardiac death. Currently, very few data exist about CAA management and their prognostic relevance; moreover, CAA treatment is still not clearly codified, but rather case-based. Indeed, currently there are no published dedicated studies exploring the best medical therapy, i.e., with antiplatelets or anticoagulant agents rather than an interventional approach such as an endovascular or surgical technique. In this review, through two clinical cases, the current evidence regarding diagnostic tools and treatment options of CAAs will be described.

Objectives: To describe the experience of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) using antegrade fenestration and re-entry (AFR) technique with a dedicated dual guidewire balloon (DGB)., Background: Antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR) techniques has been emphasized in recent worldwide CTO consensus documents. We investigated the feasibility and safety of DGB as a dedicated device to perform guidewire-based AFR., Methods and Results: Fourteen consecutive patients with complex CTO (J-CTO score: 3.1 ± 0.9) underwent DGB-AFR in the years 2020-2021. DGB-AFR consists in advancing the DGB over a guidewire that reached the vessel distal to the CTO in an extra plaque fashion, inflating/deflating the DGB to create fenestration between subintimal space and the true lumen and advancing a proximal re-entry guidewire through fenestration in the true lumen. DGB-AFR alone was successful in 10 of 14 (71%) cases, a rescue wire-based ADR was needed in two cases for re-entry into the true lumen with a total success rate in 12 of 14 (86%) cases. Among all DGB-AFR cases, four (28%) were performed as a first-line strategy while the remaining 10 (71%) cases were performed as a bail-out strategy after failure of other antegrade crossings for 30 min of procedural time. No DGB-related complications were observed., Conclusions: DGB-AFR is a user-friendly reliable strategy for the treatment of many CTO lesions. It can be used as bail-out after failure of conventional antegrade wiring techniques, achieving high procedural success rate and low occurrence of procedural adverse events., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background Coronary perforation is a life-threatening complication of acute percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO), but data on midterm outcomes are limited. Methods and Results Data from LATAM (Latin American)-CTO Registry (57 centers; 9 countries) were analyzed. We assessed the risk of 30-day, 1-year major adverse cardiac events of coronary perforation using time-to-event and weighted composite end point analysis having CTO PCI without perforation as comparators. Additionally, we studied the independent predictors of perforation in these patients. Of 2054 patients who underwent CTO PCI between 2015 and 2018, the median Multicenter CTO Registry in Japan and Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention-Chronic total occlusions scores were 2.0 (1.0-3.0) and 1.0 (0.0-2.0), respectively. The perforation rate was 3.7%, of which 55% were Ellis class 1. After 1-year coronary perforation had higher major adverse cardiac events rates (24.9% versus 13.3%; P <0.01). Using weighted composite end point, perforation was associated with increased bleeding and ischemic events at 6 months ( P =0.04) and 1 year ( P <0.01). We found as independent predictors associated with coronary perforation during CTO PCI: maximum activated clotting time ( P <0.01), Multicenter CTO Registry in Japan score ≥2 ( P =0.05), antegrade knuckle wire ( P =0.04), and right coronary artery CTO PCI ( P =0.05). Conclusions Coronary perforation was infrequent and associated with anatomical and procedural complexity, resulting in higher risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic events. Landmark and weighted analysis showed a sustained burden of major events between 6 months and 1 year follow-up.

The current gold standard for diagnosis of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in the absence of myocardial diseases, whose clinical manifestation is microvascular angina (MVA), is reactivity testing using adenosine or acetylcholine during coronary angiography. This invasive test can be difficult to perform, expensive, and harmful. The identification of easily obtainable blood biomarkers which reflect the pathophysiology of CMD, characterized by high reliability, precision, accuracy, and accessibility may reduce risks and costs related to invasive procedures and even facilitate the screening and diagnosis of CMD. In this review, we summarized the results of several studies that have investigated the possible relationships between blood biomarkers involved with CMD and MVA. More specifically, we have divided the analyzed biomarkers into 3 different groups, according to the main mechanisms underlying CMD: biomarkers of "endothelial dysfunction," "vascular inflammation," and "oxidative stress." Finally, in the last section of the review, we consider mixed mechanisms and biomarkers which are not included in the 3 major categories mentioned above, but could be involved in the pathogenesis of CMD.

Background and Aims: In the present study, we aimed to compare the clinical and coronary angiography features between South Asian and Caucasian patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). In particular, we focused our analysis on the evaluation of recent cardiovascular risk markers, such as remnant cholesterol, corresponding to all plasma cholesterol minus HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), and the Monocyte-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio. We also compared values of several lipoprotein ratios and the Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, accurate predictors of coronary events and coronary artery disease., Methods and Results: We recruited 40 South Asian and 40 Caucasian patients admitted for ACS. Data were collected by consulting patients' medical records. We used Chi-square test and Student's t-test to analyse qualitative and quantitative variables, respectively. South Asian patients, compared to Caucasians, showed higher mean values of the parameters analysed: remnant cholesterol (32.6 ± 17 vs 26.5 ± 9.6), Monocyte-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio (26.4 ± 48.7 vs 16.5 ± 8.3), Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (124.7 ± 130.7 vs 120.5 ± 58.8). Moreover, higher mean values of several lipoprotein ratios were also found in South Asian patients compared to the control group. However, statistical significance was not reached for any of these differences observed., Conclusions: The evaluation of the parameters analysed in this study might provide accurate information regarding the cardio-metabolic risk in South Asian patients. However, further studies with larger samples are needed to obtain more significant results., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Statin therapy has been the cornerstone for the reduction of cholesterol and circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, statin monotherapy has disadvantages attributable to myopathies and to the insufficient cholesterol reduction observed in some patients. There is a need for new well-tolerated therapies for lowering LDL. This review will focus on bempedoic acid in combination with traditional statin therapy or other lipid-lowering agents and its emerging role in LDL-C lowering. Bempedoic acid is also a viable alternative for reducing LDL cholesterol in the treatment of some patients suffering from heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia., (Copyright © 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is defined by clinical evidence of myocardial infarction (MI) with normal or near-normal coronary arteries on angiography. This condition is present in about 5% to 25% of patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes. MINOCA is a working diagnosis. Current guidelines and consensus recommend identification of underlying causes of MINOCA in order to optimize treatment, improve prognosis, and promote prevention of recurrent myocardial infarction. An accurate evaluation of patient history, symptoms and use of invasive and non-invasive imaging should lead to identification of epicardial or microvascular causes of MINOCA and differentiation from non-ischemic myocardial injury due to both cardiac (e.g. myocarditis) and non-cardiac disease (e.g. pulmonary embolism). In this review, we highlight the role of coronary imaging in differential diagnosis of patients presenting with MINOCA. Intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography are well known technologies used in different settings from acute to chronic coronary syndromes. In MINOCA patients, coronary imaging could help to identify pathological alterations of the epicardial vessels that are not visible by coronary angiography such as plaque disruption, coronary dissection, coronary thromboembolism, coronary spasm, and coronary artery disease in patients presenting with takotsubo syndrome. In future, the widespread use of these technologies, in the right clinical context, could lead to optimization and personalization of treatment, and to better prognosis of patients presenting with MINOCA., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction represent a widespread population, and despite the good prognosis, many of them, because of the angina symptoms, have a poor quality of life with strong limitations in their daily activities. In 2017, a new classification of microvascular dysfunction as well as a new definition of ischemia in patients with no obstructive coronary artery disease became available. This new definition improves Kemp's initial work, where cardiac X syndrome was initially described. This work summarizes the last updates on the subject with particular attention to the new classification of microvascular dysfunction, with particular attention to microvascular and vasospastic angina definition and diagnostic criteria.