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Objectives: To investigate the outcomes of sirolimus-eluting stent (Cypher, Cordis/Johnson & Johnson, Warren, NJ, USA) and paclitaxel-eluting stent (Taxus, Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA) in the treatment of coronary heart disease after a four-year clinical follow-up., Methods: 237 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study and treated with Cypher (136 patients) or Taxus (101 patients) from January to October 2003. The rates of stenosis, stent thrombosis according to ARC definition and major adverse cardiac events (MACE a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization) were analysed., Results: There was no significant difference on secondary restenosis, target lesion revascularization (TLR) and MACE between Cypher and Taxus groups at six-month angiographic follow-up, but late luminal loss was higher in Taxus group [(0.15 +/- 0.43) mm vs (0.42 +/- 0.34) mm, P = 0.022]. At four-year follow-up, TVR-free survival rate was 88.97% in Cypher group versus 82.28% in Taxus group (P = 0.158). MACE-free survival rate was 83.8% in Cypher group and 79.2% in Taxus group (P = 0.056). The incidence of stent thrombosis was no difference between the two groups (1.47% vs 1.98%). There was also no difference among early (0 vs 0.99%), late (0.73% vs 0.99%) and very late stent thrombosis (0.73% vs 0) between the 2 groups., Conclusions: There were no difference between Cypher and Taxus in the treatment of coronary artery disease; Both Cypher and Taxus have good clinical outcomes except that Taxus had higher late loss.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficiency of the dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and estimate the difference between provokable obstruction and resting obstruction in these patients., Methods: Echocardiography was performed in 22 patients with HCM (LVOTPG < 50 mm Hg at rest, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) at rest and at the end point of dobutamine stress. Dobutamine was administered via an infusion pump, starting at a dose of 5 microg x min(-1) x kg(-1) and increasing every 5 minutes by 5 microg x min(-1) x kg(-1) till the maximum dose of 20 microg x min(-1) x kg(-1). Fifty-seven patients with HCM (LVOTPG > 50 mm Hg at rest) were also studied at rest., Results: In these 22 patients, the mean maximum velocity of LVOT was 5.39 +/- 1.60 m/s, the mean maximum LVOTPG was 125.7 +/- 62.4 mm Hg at the end point of dobutamine stress and the mean dose of dobutamine was 13.90 +/- 6.85 microg x min(-1)xkg(-1). Sixteen patients evidenced positive stress results at the end point of dobutamine stress. The main difference between the provokable obstruction and resting obstruction was that in provokable obstruction patients, the SAM positive patients were fewer and the proportion of Maron II patients was higher (50%)., Conclusions: Dobutamine stress echocardiography was a safe and sensitive way for detecting patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Provokable obstruction patients had fewer SAM and higher proportion of Maron II.

Objective: To explore the disease-causing gene mutation in Chinese families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to analyze the correlation between the genotype and phenotype., Methods: Samples of peripheral blood were collected from three Chinese families with HCM (at least two HCM patients existed/family). The exons in the functional regions of the beta myosin heavy chain gene (MYH7) were amplified with PCR and the products were sequenced., Results: A Val606Met missen mutation was identified in the exon 16 of MYH7 gene in a Chinese family and this mutation was identified in all HCM patients (n = 4) and there was also a 15-years-old young mutation carrier who was not HCM patient now (penetrance of 80%). This mutation was not identified in other healthy family members in this family, in other 2 Chinese familiar HCM families and in 120 non-HCM control patients., Conclusion: The Val606Met missen mutation is closely associated with familiar HCM in a Chinese family which is associated with clinical phenotype with a penetrance of 80%.

Background: The efficacy and safety of drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation for unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease remain to be established in different clinical settings., Methods: Elective DES implantation for unprotected LMCA stenosis was performed in 220 patients at the Fu Wai Hospital, China, from April 2003 to February 2006. Data derived from the latter group were compared with those derived from 224 patients treated with bare-metal stents (BMSs) before March 2003 in a Chinese registry of unprotected LMCA stenting., Results: Compared with the historical BMS control group, the DES group had more multivessel disease and underwent more bifurcation stenting. The inhospital major adverse cardiac events were significantly higher in the DES than in the BMS recipients (4.1% vs 0.9%, P = .030) because of more complex lesions and procedures in the DES group. During the 15-month mean follow-up period, cumulative cardiac death (0.5% vs 4.9%, P = .004), target-vessel revascularization (5.9% vs 11.6%, P = .034), and major adverse cardiac event (9.5% vs 16.5%, P = .029) rates were significantly lower in the DES than in the BMS group. There was no significant difference in clinical efficacy between sirolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting stents. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 46.4% of DES and 45.7% of BMS recipients, respectively; and the binary restenosis rate was significantly lower in the DES versus the BMS control group (16.7% vs 31.4%, P = .014)., Conclusions: Based on this comparison with a historical control, DES implantation for unprotected LMCA appears safe in selected patients and might be more effective in preventing major adverse cardiac events compared with BMS implantation over a mean follow-up period of 15 months.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effectiveness of intracoronary transplantation of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in mini-swine model., Methods: Myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury model was established by ligating in 16 mini-swines, which were further randomized into two groups: (3.54 +/- 0.90) x 10(8) BM-MNC was intracoronarily transplanted in BM-MNC group (n = 9), and phosphate buffer saline was intracoronarily applied in the control group (n = 7). Ultrasonic cardiograhpy, hemodynamics, neovascular density, and myocardium infarction size were evaluated before and 4 weeks after transplantation., Results: In BM-MNC group, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), intra-ventricular septa, lateral wall and anterior wall, cardiac output (CO) and + dp/dt(max) had no significant differences before and 4 weeks after transplantation (P > 0.05). In the control group, LVEF, intraventricular septa, lateral wall and anterior wall, CO, and + dp/dt(max) significantly decreased 4 weeks after transplantation (P < 0.05). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and- dp/dt(max) had no significant differences before and after cell transplantation. Capillary density was significantly larger in the BM-MNC group than in the control group [(13.39 +/- 6.96) /HP vs. (3.50 +/- 1.90) /HP]. The percentage and size of myocardial infarction was significantly lower in the BM-MNC group than in the control group., Conclusion: Transplantation of BM-MNC into the myocardial ischemic reperfusion-injury area can increase capillary density and decrease infarction area, and thus remarkably improve cardiac systolic function.

Objective: To compare the effect of treating ostial left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis using drug-eluting stents (DES) by precisely positioning versus crossing over into left main (LM) technique., Methods: From April 2004 to May 2006, DES implantations in 224 consecutive patients with ostial LAD lesions were performed by precisely positioning in 161 patients (P group) and crossing over into LM in 63 patients (C group). Clinical and angiographic follow-up was performed at 7 months post DES implantations., Results: Relevant vessel diameter (RVD) was significantly larger (3.44 +/- 0.52 mm vs. 3.17 +/- 0.40 mm, P = 0.039) and LM/LAD diameter ratio was significantly lower (1.16 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.28 +/- 0.05, P = 0.000) in C group compared that in P group. Stent (3.53 +/- 0.31 mm vs. 3.16 +/- 0.29 mm, P = 0.035) and postdilatation balloon (3.59 +/- 0.65 mm vs. 3.24 +/- 0.32 mm, P = 0.035) diameter were significantly larger and postdilatation (94.1% vs. 29.5%, P = 0.000) and kissing balloon (47.1% vs. 15.2%, P = 0.000) rates were significantly higher in P group than that in C group. Both groups achieved 100% procedure success rate. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate (4.3% vs. 1.6%, P = 0.447), death (0 vs. 0, P = 1.000), AMI (1, 2% vs. 1.6%, P = 1.000) and target vessel revascularization (TVR) rate (3.1% vs. 0%, P = 0.325) were similar between the 2 groups. One patient in P group developed subacute in-stent thrombosis. Follow-up angiography at 7 months showed that in-stent (0 vs.7.7%, P = 0.316) and in-segment restenosis rate (3.8%vs. 10.8%, P = 0.431) tended to be lower while in-stent (0.12 +/- 0.08 mm vs. 0.59 +/- 0.37 mm, P = 0.000) and in-segment (0.17 +/- 0.09 mm vs. 0.64 +/- 0.49 mm, P = 0.000) late loss were significantly lower in C group compared with P group., Conclusion: Compared with precisely positioning technique, crossing over into LM technique was more feasible and tended to reduce restenosis rate for ostial LAD lesions treated with DES.

Background: Resistin is a novel cysteine-rich protein that plays a role in the development of insulin resistance and atherosclerosis in rodents, while its role in humans is unclear. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an important risk predictor for coronary heart disease, and it can also modify the expression of genes involved in atherogenesis. Statins have been demonstrated to possess lipid lowering effects as well as pleiotropic properties. We hypothesize that CRP may result in overexpression of resistin, and statin may decrease CRP-induced resistin expression in cultured human peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC)., Purpose: The aim of the present study, therefore, was to assess the effects of both CRP on resistin expression and simvastatin on CRP-induced of resistin expression in cultured human PBMC., Methods: Human PBMC were isolated from the whole blood of healthy volunteers by density gradient centrifugation. First, cells were incubated with varying concentrations of CRP (0, 5, 10, 25 and 50 microg/ml) for 24h for assessing the dose-dependent effects on resistin expression. Second, 25 microg/ml of CRP was used to time-dependent evaluation on resistin expression (0, 3, 6, 12 and 24h). Moreover, cells were pretreated with simvastatin at concentrations from 0.1 to 1 microM for 2h, and then co-incubated with 25 microg/ml CRP for 24h for evaluating effect of statin on resistin production subjected to CRP. Finally, in additional experiments, monocytes were incubated with 1 microM simvastatin in the absence or presence of 100 microM mevalonate or 10 microM geranylgeranyl-pyrophosphate (GGPP) or 10 microM farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) for 2h, then co-incubated with CRP for 24h for examining whether effects of statin on CRP-induced resistin expression was independent of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors., Results: The results showed that CRP induced both mRNA expression and protein secretion of resistin in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Co-incubation with simvastatin significantly inhibited CRP-induced up-regulation of mRNA and protein expression of resistin. Treatment with mevalonate, GGPP, but not FPP, reversed the inhibition of resistin expression caused by simvastatin, suggesting that simvastatin regulated resistin expression in culture human PBMC through the mevalonate-GGPP signal pathway., Conclusions: In the present study, the data showed that CRP could significantly increase resistin expression in cultured human PBMC, and this effect was inhibited by simvastatin, suggesting that CRP and resistin might be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and statin therapy might be beneficial for atherosclerotic disease by modifying CRP-induced resistin overexpression in PBMC.

Objective: To observe the incidence rate of stent thrombosis after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in the real world., Methods: A total of 8190 consecutive CAD patients underwent implantation with Cypher or Cypher Select stents (Cordis, USA, n = 2986), TAXUS stents (Boston Scientific Corp., USA, n = 1587) and Chinese Rapamycin eluting stents (Firebird, Microport Medical Company, China, n = 3617) for enrolled in this single center registry study from Dec.2001 to April 2007. One-year follow-up was completed in 5412 patients (2210 Cypher or Cypher select stents, 1238 TAXUS stents and 1964 Firebird stents). Two-year follow-up was finished in 2176 patients (1245 Cypher or Cypher Select stents, 558 TAXUS stents and 373 Firebird stents). 80.1% of all the lesions were the type B2 and type C lesions. All patients were treated with aspirin plus clopidogrel for at least 9 months post DES., Results: Among 8190 patients, 17 patients had acute stent thrombosis (0.21%): 7 in the Cypher group, 4 in the TAXUS group, 6 in the Firebird group; 23 patients had subacute stent thrombosis (0.28%): 8 in Cypher group, 6 in TAXUS group and 9 in Firebird group. The incidence rate of acute and subacute thrombosis was 0.49% (40/8190) and incidence of thrombosis was similar among the three groups (0.50% in Cypher group, 0.63% in TAXUS group and 0.41% in Firebird group, P > 0.05). One-year follow-up showed that late thrombosis rate was 0.63 % (34/5412) and similar among the groups (0.63% in Cypher group, 0.89% in TAXUS group and 0.46% in Firebird group, P > 0.05). Two-year follow-up showed that late thrombosis rate was 0.74 % (16/2176) and was similar among the 3 groups (0.72% in Cypher group, 0.90% in TAXUS group and 0.54% in Firebird group, P > 0.05)., Conclusion: This study indicates that using the first-generation DES to treat complex coronary lesions is safe and effective and the incidence of late thrombosis remains low (< 1%) under double antiplatelet treatment.

Objective: To explore the infarct sites in patients with inferior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI) concomitant with ST segment elevation in leads V1-V3 and leads V3R-V5R., Methods: Five patients diagnosed as inferior, right ventricular, and anteroseptal walls AMI at admission were enrolled. Electrocardiographic data and results of isotope 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) myocardial perfusion imaging and coronary angiography (CAG) were analyzed., Results: Electrocardiogram showed that ST segment significantly elevated in standard leads II, III, aVF, and leads V1-V3, V3R-V5R in all five patients. The magnitude of ST segment elevation was maximal in lead V1 and decreased gradually from lead V1 to V3 and from lead V1 to V3R-V5R. There was isotope 99mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging defect in inferior and basal inferior-septal walls. CAG showed that right coronary artery was infarct-related artery., Conclusions: The diagnostic criteria for basal inferior-septal wall AMI can be formulated as follows: (1) ST segment elevates > or = 2 mm in lead V1 in the clinical setting of inferior wall AMI; (2) the magnitude of ST segment elevation is the tallest in lead V1 and decreases gradually from lead V1 to V3 and from lead V1 to V3R-V5R. With two conditions above, the basal inferior-septal wall AMI should be diagnosed.

Objective: To compare the effects of intracoronary transplantation of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) or peripheral endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in mini-swine model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion., Methods: The Mini-swine acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion model was created with 90 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by reperfusion and the animals were then divided into BM-MNC group (3.54 x 10(8) +/- 0.90 x 10(8), n = 9), EPC group (1.16 x 10(7) +/- 1.07 x 10(7), n = 7) and control group (saline, n = 7). Echocardiography, hemodynamic measurements and myocardium infarction size were evaluated before and 4 weeks after intracoronary cell transplantations., Results: The net decrease from baseline to 4 weeks after transplantation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end systolic pressure, cardiac output and +dp/dt(max) were significantly attenuated post BM-MNC and EPC therapy compared to control group (all P < 0.05) and were similar between BM-MNC and EPC groups. Transplantation of BM-MNC and EPC also significantly decreased myocardial infarction size compared to control group., Conclusion: Autologous intracoronary transplantation of BM-MNC or EPC in this model equally improved cardiac systolic function and reduced infarction area.

Objective: To compare the clinical and angiographic outcome in patients with type-II diabetes mellitus undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) or bare-metal stent (BMS)., Methods: A total of 139 consecutive diabetic patients (114 males) with coronary disease who underwent successful elective percutaneous coronary intervention with DES (n = 83 with 151 lesions) or BMS (n = 56 with 70 lesions) on native coronary arteries from April 2004 to August 2005 at our institution were included in this study. All patients were treated according to guidelines and coronary angiography was repeated at 6 months post procedure in all patients. Aspirin (300 mg/d) and clopidogrel (75 mg/d) were administered till 6 months after the procedure., Results: There were 42.5% C type by ACC/AHA and 19.0% total occlusion lesions. The average stent length of each lesion was 26.53 +/- 14.72 mm, and mean reference diameter was 2.80 +/- 0.43 mm. Baseline characteristics were similar between DES and BMS groups except lower mean reference vessel diameter in DES than that of BMS group (2.71 +/- 0.41 mm vs. 2.98 +/- 0.53 mm, P < 0.001). The in stent restenosis rate at 6 months (10.6% vs. 38.6%, P < 0.001) and in-segment late loss (0.24 +/- 0.56 mm vs. 0.91 +/- 0.77 mm, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in DES group than those of BMS group. The target lesion revascularization (TLR) incidence was also significantly lower in DES group compared to BMS group (8.6% vs. 30.0%, P < 0.001). However, 4 late in-stent thrombosis were seen in DES group and none in BMS group of DES (P = 0.148)., Conclusion: DES implantation in patients with diabetes mellitus is associated with lower in-stent restenosis and TLR rates compared to BMS implantation 6 months after procedure and attention should be paid on late in-stent thrombosis after DES implantation.

Objective: To investigate the differentiation status of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) and peripheral endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) transplanted into myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury region in swine., Methods: BM-MNC marked with PKH26 (n = 9), EPC marked with CM-DiI (n = 7), phosphate buffer saline (control, n = 7) were transplanted into myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury region of swine by intracoronary artery injection. Specimens were harvested 4 weeks after injection for histological analysis (HE, immunochemical stain for vWF, alpha-sarcomeric-actin and fibronectin antibody). Cell differentiation was observed under transmission electronmicroscope., Results: The number of small blood vessels was similar between BM-MNC group and EPC group (13.39 +/- 6.96/HP vs.12.39 +/- 4.72/HP, P < 0.05), but was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). Responsive intensity of immunochemical stain for fibronectin antibody was significantly lower in BM-MNC and EPC groups than that in control group. Responsive intensity of immunochemical stain for alpha-sarcomeric-actin antibody was similar among the three groups. Cluster cells were observed in one swine from BM-MNC group which might relate to the proliferation of stem cells in situ. Immature endothelial cells and myocytes were also detected by transmission electronmicroscope in BM-MNC and EPC group., Conclusion: BM-MNC and EPC transplanted into myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury region in swine stimulated the formation of blood vessels and inhibited fibrogenesis.

Objective: To compare the procedural success and 10-month outcome between sirolimus-eluting stent (Cypher stent) and paclitaxel-eluting stent (TAXUS stent) for the treatment of in-stent restenosis lesions., Methods: Patients with in-stent restenosis treated with drug-eluting stents (DES) from December 2002 to March 2005 were included in this study and 10 months post stenting follow-up data were reported., Results: A total of 253 patients with 262 in-stent restenosis lesions were treated with 176 Cypher and 132 TAXUS stents. There were 29 total occlusion, 143 > or = 90% stenosis and 90 < 90% stenosis lesions. Target lesion type distributions were as follows: 9 type A, 45 type B1, 73 type B2 and 135 type C lesions. The mean diameter in Cypher group (2.96 +/- 0.27) mm was smaller than that of TAXUS (3.05 +/- 0.35 mm, P = 0.041) and mean DES length was similar between the two groups (23.31 +/- 6.68 mm vs. 23.56 +/- 6.54 mm, P = 0.745). Procedural success rate of DES implantation was 100% for both Cypher and TAXUS groups. MACE rate during hospitalization was similar between the two groups. At 10-month follow up, MACE rate was significantly higher in TAXUS group than that in Cypher group (16.0% vs. 6.7% P = 0.031) and angiographic in-stent restenosis rate tended also higher in TAXUS group than that in Cypher group (29.4% vs. 14.0%, P = 0.075)., Conclusion: Procedural success rate was similar between Cypher and TAXUS groups and the angiographic and clinical outcome at 10 months was better in Cypher DES group than in TAXUS DES group.

Objective: To assess the value of (99m)Tc-N-NOET ((99m)Tc-N-ethoxy-N-ethyl dithiocarbamato-nitrito) myocardial perfusion SPECT for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease., Methods: A total of 42 patients [mean age (54 +/- 9) years, 35 men] with suspected chest pain were included in this study. 740 MBq of (99m)Tc-N-NOET was injected intravenously during bicycle exercise when the heart rate attained reached more than 85% of the expected maximum, or in cases of angina pectoris, severe arrhythmias and ischemic ST segment changes. (99m)Tc-N-NOET 740 MBq, SPECT myocardial imaging acquisitions were obtained at 15 minutes and 2 hours after (99m)Tc-N-NOET injection. Coronary angiography was performed in all patients., Results: Coronary artery stenosis was detected in 26 patients and normal coronary angiography was shown in 16 patients. (99m)Tc-N-NOET myocardial perfusion imaging was abnormal in twenty-one patients out of the 26 patients with significant coronary artery stenosis (sensitivity, 81%); 14 out of 16 patients with normal angiography had a normal myocardial perfusion imaging (specificity, 88%). The positive predictive value, negative predictive value and predictive accuracy of (99m)Tc-N-NOET myocardial perfusion imaging for detection of CAD was 91%, 74% and 83%, respectively. The sensitivity of the imaging for detecting single vessel, double vessels and triple vessels disease were 60% (6/10), 86% (6/7) and 100% (9/9), respectively. There was mild (99m)Tc-N-NOET lung uptake in patients with coronary artery stenosis 15 minutes post (99m)Tc-N-NOET injection., Conclusion: SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging with (99m)Tc-N-NOET supplied an important diagnostic tool for detecting coronary artery disease. Lung uptake with stress (99m)Tc-N-NOET might be related to coronary artery disease.

Objective: Stent thrombosis has been regarded as a severe complication of PCI therapy, therefore, analyzing the causes of thrombosis after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) is necessary., Methods: This is a single center study with no limitation of entry criteria for using DES in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). From Dec. 2001 to Dec. 2005, 3345 consecutive patients underwent implantation with Cypher stents (eluted with sirolimus: 2165 patients, 2362 lesions, 2695 stents) or TAXUS stents (eluted with paclitaxel: 1180 patients, 1453 lesions, 1725 stents) in our hospital. 10-month follow-up was completed in 2296 patients (1455 patients with 1632 lesions using 1773 Cypher stents & 841 patients with 1032 lesions used 1182 TAXUS stents). All patients were treated with aspirin plus clopidogrel at least 9 months after PCI procedure., Results: Among 3345 patients, 9 patients had acute stent thrombosis (0.27%): 7 in the sirolimus group, 2 in the paclitaxel group (0.32% vs 0.17%, P = 0.637), 7 patients had subacute stent thrombosis (0.21%): 5 in the sirolimus group and 2 in the paclitaxel group (0.23% vs 0.17%, P = 0.526) and 13 patients had late stent thrombosis (0.57%): 5 in the sirolimus group and 8 in the paclitaxel group (0.34% vs 0.95%, P = 0.114) Among the 29 patients with DES thrombosis. 8 patients (26.7%) presented as sudden death, 13 nonfatal MI and 8 unstable angina. Stent thrombosis was demonstrated by angiography in 21 patients (72.4%). The causes of acute and subacute DES thrombosis were related to suboptimal stenting in 8 patients including 7 patients with bifurcation lesions or to uncovered injury segment of the diffuse lesions in five patients. The causes for late thrombosis were discontinuation of antiplatelet drugs in four cases and related to poor left ventricular function in 6 cases with history of old myocardial infarction., Conclusions: Our study showed that suboptimal stenting, especially for bifurcation lesions and uncovered injury segment of diffuse lesions were the main causes of acute and subacute stent thrombosis. Left ventricular disfunction and premature discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy were the main reasons of late thrombosis.

Objective: To compare the short- and long-term clinical outcomes between sirolimus-eluting stent (Cypher stent) and paclitaxel-eluting stent (TAXUS stent) in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) lesions of the coronary arteries., Methods: From December 2002 to March 2005, 253 patients with ISR lesions of the coronary arteries were selected and divided into two groups. Cypher group (152 cases) was treated with Cypher or Cypher Select stents, and TAXUS group (101 cases) with TAXUS stents. A total of 262 ISR lesions in these patients were treated with 308 drug-eluting stents (DESs), including 176 Cypher or Cypher Select stents and 132 TAXUS stents. All patients were followed up for 10 months. Procedure success rates of DES implantation in both groups were observed. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rates in hospital and at 10 months follow-up, as well as in-DES restenosis observed using coronary angiography at follow-up were compared between two groups., Results: Success rate of DES implantation was 100% in both groups. No significant difference in MACE rate during hospitalization was found between the two groups. However, at 10 months follow-up, MACE rate was higher in TAXUS group than in Cypher group (16.00% vs. 6.67% , P = 0.031). As for coronary angiography at 10 months follow-up, we observed an increasing tendency of in-DES restenosis rate in TAXUS group compared with Cypher group (29.41% vs. 14.04%, P = 0.075)., Conclusions: Cypher and TAXUS DESs both have good short- and long-term outcomes in treating ISR. Cypher DES proved better long-term clinical outcome than TAXUS DES.

Objective: To compare the effect of sirolimus-eluting stents to paclitaxel-eluting stents in complex and diffuse coronary lesions., Methods: 138 consecutive patients with complex and diffuse coronary lesions were enrolled from April 2004 to August 2005; they were implanted with more than 25 mm long sirolimus-eluting stents or paclitaxel-eluting stents. Unsuccessful cases were excluded. All patients received medical treatment according to guideline. Aspirin 300 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg once daily were continually administered for 6 months after the procedure. The patients were followed up after 6 months., Results: The study population consisted of 138 patients, including 124 men and 14 women. There were 129 (87.8%) C ACC/AHA type lesions. The average reference vessel diameter was (2.91 +/- 0.43) mm. The average lesion length was (36.36 +/- 12.27) mm. The average stent length per lesion was (40.25 +/- 12.79) mm. There was no difference of patient and lesion baseline characteristics between the groups of sirolimus-eluting and paclitaxel-eluting stents. At the end of follow up, in-stent restenosis rate (5.9% vs 17.7%, P = 0.023) and in-segment restenosis rate (9.4% vs 21.0%, P = 0.048) in the group of sirolimus-eluting stents were less than that in the group of paclitaxel-eluting stents. The difference was also seen in in-stent late luminal loss [(0.26 +/- 0.46) mm vs (0.60 +/- 0.66) mm, P = 0.001)] and in-segment late lumens loss [(0.16 +/- 0.52) mm vs (0.45 +/- 0.65) mm, P = 0.003)]. There was no difference between the sirolimus-eluting stents group and paclitaxel-eluting stents group in the incidence of target lesion revascularization (7.1% vs 12.9%, P = 0.223)., Conclusions: In patients with complex and diffuse coronary lesions, the use of the sirolimus-eluting stent was associated with a decrease in the extent of late luminal loss, as compared with use of paclitaxel-eluting stents, suggesting that sirolimus-eluting stent might be more suitable to be used in small vessel.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of treating bifurcation lesions with two drug-eluting stent (DES) techniques., Methods: From October 2003 to June 2005, 112 patients with 113 bifurcation lesions with severe stenosis at the ostium of side branch and the diameter > or = 2.50 mm were treated by two DES. Sixty-two of the bifurcation lesions were located in LAD/diagonal (54.9%), 32 in distal left main coronary arteries (28.3%), 18 in LCX/OM (15.9%) and 1 distal RCA (0.9%). Sixty-four lesions were treated with Crush technique, 27 with "T-form" stent implanting technique, 11 with modified "Y-form" stent implanting technique, 5 with kissing technique, 3 with "V-form" stent implanting technique and 3 with Culotta technique. Ninety-one Cypher or Cypher select DES stents, 74 TAXUS DES stents, 67 Firebird stents were used for 226 lesions. Final kissing balloon inflation was performed in 60 bifurcation lesions (93.7%) after 64 Crush stenting procedure., Results: Success rate of PCI procedure for the bifurcation lesions was 100%. One patient developed subacute stent thrombosis and underwent successful urgent revascularization. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (death, AMI, revascularization, MACE) rate was 0.89% (1/112). Nine months follow-up was made in all 112 patients and all patients were alive and MACE rate was 8.04% (9/112) with 1 AMI occurred during the follow-up period in 1 patient due to late thrombosis. Follow-up coronary angiography at 9 months was performed in 48 patients (42.9%) and evidenced 8 in-stent restenosis (16.7%) and 1 patient received CABG, re-PCI was performed in 5 patients., Conclusion: Two DES technique for the treatment of bifurcation lesions is safe and effective and short- and long-term outcomes is satisfactory.

Objective: To compare the clinical and angiographic outcome in patients with total occlusion lesion treated with drug-eluting stent (DES) or bare-metal stent (BMS)., Methods: A total of 155 (138 males) consecutive patients with total occlusion lesion underwent successful revascularization with DES (n = 74) or BMS (n = 81) in our hospital were included in this study. All patients received aspirin 300 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg once daily for at least 3 months after the procedure. Clinical and angiographic follow-up were completed in all patients at 6 months post stenting., Results: Demographic data between the two groups were similar except there was more diabetic patients in DES group (33.8% vs. 18.5%, P < 0.05). A total of 232 stents for 159 target lesions (77 treated with DES, 82 treated with BMS) were implanted. There were 85.4% C ACC/AHA type lesions and 17.0% lesions were treated with overlapping stents. Six months post stenting, the incidence of restenosis (15.6% vs. 41.5%, P < 0.001), the cumulative rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (1.4% vs. 11.1%, P = 0.032) and TLR (5.8% vs. 19.9%, P = 0.001) were significantly lower in DES group than that of BMS group. The incidence of local restenosis in DES group is higher in DES group than that in BMS group (58.3%, 17.6%, P < 0.001). Two DES treated patients developed late in-stent thrombosis., Conclusion: For patients with total occlusion lesion, the clinical and angiographic outcome 6 months post DES stenting is clearly superior to that of BMS stenting.

Objective: To compare the effect of percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (n = 20) with subaortic ventriculotomy (n = 17) in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy by echocardiography., Methods: The pre- and post-operation (1 week post procedure) gradients of left ventricular out flow (LVOTGs) were measured by echocardiography., Results: Post operation LVOTGs were significantly reduced than that of pre-operation in patients treated with either percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation [(36 +/- 20) vs. (99 +/- 19) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), P < 0.05], or subaortic ventriculotomy [(28 +/- 17) vs. (117 +/- 32) mm Hg]. Post operation LVOTGs were also similar with the two procedures [(36 +/- 20) vs. (28 +/- 17) mm Hg, P > 0.05]., Conclusion: Percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation is as effective as subaortic ventriculotomy in treating patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Objective: Compare drug-eluting stent (DES) to bare-metal stent (BMS) in prognosis on treating diffuse coronary lesions and analysis risk factor of treating complex and diffuse lesions in PCI., Methods: 205 consecutive patients with complex and diffuse coronary lesions enrolled our hospital, who were treated with more than 25 mm long DES or BMS. We exclude unsuccessful operation and location. All patients received medical treatment by guideline, and aspirin 300 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg once daily were continued at 6 months after the procedure. The patients were followed up after 6 months., Results: The study population were consisted of 205 patients that there were 181 man, and 24 women, who got 382 stents for 227 target lesions in coronary. There were 93.8% C and 6.2% B2 ACC/AHA type lesion. There were 86.8% patients with binary or above vessel treated. The average reference vessel diameter was 2.88 +/- 0.43 mm. The average stent length of per lesion was 40.09 +/- 12.94 mm. There were 54.2% lesions treated with overlapping stent. There were not different between DES and BMS in patients baseline characteristics, but RVD of group DES less than of group BMS (2.80 +/- 0.37 mm, 3.10 +/- 0.48 mm, P = 0.005) in lesion baseline characteristics. After 6 months, restenosis rate in group DES was less than in group BMS (15.4%, 48.4%, P < 0.001). There were obvious superiority TVR of DES than of BMS (11.6%, 38.5%, P < 0.001). The rate of local restenosis in group of DES was higher than that in group of BMS (33.3%, 18.2%, P = 0.029). We analyzed the risk factors for diffuse lesion by a logistic regression model, the significant univariate clinical and angiographic predictors of restenosis were treating with overlapping stent (OR = 2.82, P = 0.017) and drug-eluting stent (OR = 5.71, P < 0.001)., Conclusions: We find that implantation of DES in patients with diffuse lesions in coronary is relatively more safe and associated with more good clinical outcomes, than of BMS.

Objective: Gauging the acute effect of Percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) as a treatment for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM)., Methods: PTSMA was performed in 52 patients with symptomatic HOCM [mean age (44.7 +/- 11.9), male 38, female 14]. All patients had echocardiography performed prior to the procedure, 3-7 days post-PTSMA., Results: Procedure success was achieved in 41 patients, success rate was 78.8%. The average left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient was (92.64 +/- 38.69) mm Hg before the procedure, and (51.79 +/- 38.99) mm Hg after the procedure (P < 0.001). The thickness of interventricular septum (IVS) was (22.96 +/- 5.15) mm before the procedure and became (21.27 +/- 4.64) mm 3-7 days post-PTSMA (P < 0.05). The incidence of right bundle branch block development post-PTSMA was 15.38% (> 48 h), and one patient (1.92%) had complete heart block. Two patients died., Conclusion: PTSMA is an effective non-surgical procedure for symptomatic patients with HOCM because of its low risk and its significant hemodynamic and echocardiographic improvement.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using Enoxaparin instead of UFH for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) underwent coronary angiogram with or without percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)., Methods: From Oct. 2003 to Feb. 2005, 966 patients with CHD underwent coronary angiogram (CAG) were randomized to receive enoxaparin (1 mg/kg subcutaneously, Q12 h, at least twice before CAG and the sheath was withdrawn immediately after the procedure, n = 484) or UFH (25 mg, iv, before CAG with additional 65 mg iv if PCI indicated and the sheath was withdrawn 4 hours after the procedure, n = 482)., Results: (1) PCI was not performed in 511 patients due to mild lesions or patients were suitable for CABG. In 455 patients underwent PCI (227 in enoxaparin and 228 in UFH group), 1 patient in enoxaparin group developed acute thrombosis and resulted in AMI during PCI and underwent successful urgent revascularization. The incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events were 0.44% in the enoxaparin group and 0 in the UFH group. (2) Hematoma at the puncture site happened in 8 patients (3.5%) in enoxaparin group and in 20 patients (8.8%, P < 0.05) in UFH group. (3) One patient had AMI caused by subacute thrombosis in UFH group during 1 month follow-up., Conclusions: Our results suggest that the effects and safety are comparable for enoxaparin and UFH, it is also safe and efficient to give enoxaparin at least twice before CAG/PCI and the sheath can be withdrawn immediately after PCI. For ACS patients received more than twice enoxaparin and the last dose was given within 8 hours before PCI, PCI could be performed directly without additional UFH.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of treating bifurcation lesions with two drug-eluting stent (DES) techniques., Methods: From October 2003 to February 2005, Seventy-one patients with 72 bifurcation lesions (the ostium of side branch > 2.5 mm in diameter) were treated by two DES. Forty-five of the bifurcation lesions were located in LAD/Diagonal (62.5%), 20 in distal left main coronary arteries (27.8%), 6 in LCX/OM (8.3%) and 1 distal RCA (1.4%). The Crush or modified Crush technique was used in 42, "T" technique in 19, modified "Y" technique in 5, "V" technique in 3 and Culotta technique in 3 bifurcation lesions, respectively. Fifty-nine Cypher or Cypher Select stents, 48 TAXUS stents, 25 Firebird stents and 24 bare metal stents were used for 144 lesions. Final kissing balloon inflation was performed in 60 bifurcation lesions (83.3%) after stenting procedure., Results: Success rate of PCI procedure for the bifurcation lesions was 100%. One patient developed subacute stent thrombosis and underwent successful urgent revascularization. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE, death, AMI, revascularization) rate was 1.4% (1/71). Six months follow-up was made in 16 patients. No death and AMI occurred during the follow-up period in these patients. Total occlusion in ostium of the diagonal vessel was found in one patient with LAD/Diagonal bifurcation lesion 6 months post procedure. MACE rate during the follow-up was 6.3% (1/16)., Conclusion: This study showed that the use of two DES techniques for the treatment of bifurcation lesions was safe and effective. The short-term outcome for this strategy was very satisfactory and primary data of 6-month follow-up also showed satisfactory results.

Objective: To compare the short and long-term clinical outcomes of rapamycin (sirolimus)-eluting stent (DES) (CYPHER stent) and paclitaxel-DES (TAXUS stent) in treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with complicated lesions., Methods: 611 CHD patients with 642 lesions, were treated with 698 CYPHER stents, and 450 sex, age, clinical data and lesion type-matched patients, with 534 lesions, were treated with 600 TAXUS stents by means of percutaneous coronary intervention. The short and long term outcomes were compared between these 2 groups., Results: The success rate of stent implantation was 99.2% (606/611) and 98.8% (445/450) in the CYPHER stent and TAXUS stent groups respectfully. The overall rate of major cardiac events, including death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) target lesion revascularization (TLR), and major adverse cardiac event (MACE), during hospitalization and 6 - 8 month' follow-up were 0.65% and 2.3% in the CYPHER stent group, not significantly different from those of the TAXUS stent group (1.3% and 3.2% respectively). The restenosis rate of the TAXUS stent group was 7.3%, a little higher than that of the CYPHER stent group (14%), but without significant difference., Conclusion: CYPHER and TAXUS DES are both safe and effective in CHD patients with complicated lesions. There is an increasing tendency of restenosis rate in the TAXUS stent group in comparison with the CYPHER stent.

Objective: To compare the procedural and in-hospital outcomes in a large series of diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing selective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and to evaluate the influence of diabetes mellitus on the procedural and in-hospital outcomes., Methods: 1294 consecutive patients underwent selective PCI from January to December 2002 in this institution were analyzed retrospectively. Baseline clinical, in-lab and in-hospital outcome information were recorded. Rates of procedural success, device success and clinical success were analyzed and logistic regression was performed to model the association between diabetes status and outcomes., Results: Two hundred and sixty-nine patients (20.8%) complicated with diabetes. Type C lesion, double and triple vessel diseases were more prevalent in diabetics than those in non-diabetics. The pre-PCI diameter stenosis of diabetics was significantly more severe than that of non-diabetics (91.00 +/- 6.62 vs 89.81 +/- 6.64, P < 0.01). The balloon length, maximum balloon diameter and maximum balloon inflation pressure, maximum inflation duration were larger in diabetics than those in non-diabetics [(17.07 +/- 6.31) mm vs (16.07 +/- 7.28) mm, (2.30 +/- 1.11) mm vs (2.12 +/- 0.94) mm, (9.86 +/- 4.40) atm vs (9.05 +/- 4.75) atm, (20.94 +/- 14.69) s vs (18.26 +/- 14.65) s, respectively, P < 0.05]. The stent diameter was smaller in diabetics than that in non-diabetics [(3.15 +/- 0.47) mm vs (3.23 +/- 0.43) mm, P < 0.05]. The procedural success rate showed no significant difference between two groups (89.6% vs 90.3%, P > 0.05). But a higher incidence of acute/subacute stent thrombosis was observed in diabetics compared with that in non-diabetics (1.9% vs 0.5%, P < 0.05). The rate of clinical success was similar between diabetics and non-diabetics (99.3% vs 99.2%, P > 0.05). Diabetes was not an independent predictor of acute outcomes in the regression model., Conclusions: A higher incidence of acute/subacute stent thrombosis was observed in diabetics. The incidence of procedural and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events and the rate of clinical success were similar between diabetics and non-diabetics. Diabetes was not an independent predictor of in-hospital outcomes after selective PCI.

Objective: To probe the efficacy and feasibility of the transradial approach for diagnostic coronary angiography with 5F universal catheter., Methods: Transradial coronary angiography was performed in 3094 consecutive patients, 2396 men and 698 women, aged 30 - 81 years, mean age (56.1 +/- 9.8) years, from July 2000 to April 2004. Patients were divided into 5F improved Terumo catheter group (improved Terumo group, n = 985), 5F universal Terumo catheter group (Terumo group, n = 1024) and 5F universal Medtronic catheter group (Medtronic group, n = 1085). The procedure success rate, duration of operation and fluoroscopy between groups were compared., Results: The procedure success rate was 98.4% in improved Terumo group, 98.0% in Terumo group, and 96.0 % in Medtronic group, respectively. The success rate was higher in improved Terumo group than in Medtronic group (P < 0.05). The average duration of operation and fluoroscopy in improved Terumo group was (17.9 +/- 5.8) min and (4.8 +/- 1.8) min, in Terumo group was (18.2 +/- 5.5) min and (5.0 +/- 1.7) min, but (21.1 +/- 7.2) min and (5.2 +/- 1.9) min in Medtronic group. There were significant differences among group (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: (1) Transradial coronary angiography with small diameter universal catheter is safe and easy to perform with a higher success rate and allow earlier patient ambulation, and should be strongly encouraged and recommended. (2) Option of angiographic catheter plays a key role in the safety, efficacy and quality of transradial coronary angiography. Seemingly, the improved Terumo group was excellent and shoud be popularized.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of coronary lesions in patients after first myocardial infarction (MI)., Methods: From May 1998 to December 2000, coronary angiography was performed on 878 consecutive cases who had had first MI within 6 months and without history of previous coronary revascularization, 481 with anterior-lateral MI, 368 with inferior-posterior MI, 19 with posterio-lateral MI, and 10 with location-undetermined MI, and 394 receiving thrombolytic therapy 176 (44.7%) of which were treated successfully, and 525 (59.8%) with history of pre-infarction angina pectoris and 428 (48.7%) with history of post-infarction angina pectoris., Results: (1) Normal coronary vessels or lesions less than 50% stenosis were seen only in 5.9% (52) of the patients. One-, two- and three-vessel diseases were present in 32.8% (288), 26.4% (232) and 34.9% (306) patients respectively. 3.2% (28) had concomitant left main stem (LMS) disease. Three-vessel coronary disease was significantly more common in the patients with a history of pre-infarction angina in comparison with those without such history (39.2% vs 28.3%, P < 0.01), and was significantly more common in the patients who did not undergo thrombolytic therapy in comparison with those who had received thrombolytic therapy (38.4% vs 30.5%, P < 0.05). (2) Only in 5.1% (41) cases the infarct-related artery (IRA) was normal or with lesions less than 50% stenosis. Total occlusion (100% stenosis), subtotal occlusion (95% to 99% stenosis), severe stenosis (70% to 94% stenosis) and borderline stenosis (50% to 69% stenosis) of IRA were seen in 29.6% (240), 22.6% (183), 37.9% (307) and 4.9% (40) of the cases respectively. Total occlusion of IRA occurred significantly less often in the thrombolytic group than in the non-thrombolytic group (24.6% vs 33.7%, P < 0.01). IRA could not be determined in 67 cases. (3) 90.5% (795), 79.4% (697), 57.2% (502) and 35.6% (313) of the patients had > or = 70% stenosis, > or = 90% stenosis, > or = 95% stenosis and total occlusion coronary lesions in at least one major coronary artery respectively, and coronary revascularization including PCI and CABG was needed on 84% (736/878) of the patients., Conclusion: Patients with a first MI usually have multi-vessel disease and severe coronary stenosis, with IRA having severe stenotic lesions. Revascularization treatment is needed in the majority of the patients. It is true too for the MI patients without history of pre- or post-infarction angina pectoris and those with successful thrombolytic therapy. Coronary angiography should routinely be performed on the patients who need further coronary revascularization.

Objective: This report provides analysis of the complication rates, the risk factors, prevention and treatments of the complications of selective coronary interventions., Methods: The types, the incidence, and the annual distribution characteristics of the complications in 2 868 cases of coronary interventions performed from October 1987 to December 2000 were reviewed, and the risk factors, prevention and treatments of the complications were analyzed., Results: During the study period, 2 868 procedures of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) were performed. The total complication rate of PCI was 8.30% (6.33% - 20.00%). The procedure-related mortality rates were 0.07%. The complications included non-fatal Q wave myocardial infarctions (0.17%), coronary artery dissecting (2.58%), acute coronary artery occlusion (1.99%), coronary artery thrombosis (0.38%), coronary artery spasm (1.32%), coronary artery perforation (0.31%), severe arrhythmia (0.63%), severe contrast allergic reaction (0.07%), peripheral vascular complication (0.90%), and heart failure (0.10%). Emergent coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) was required in 0.10% of the patients with PCI. The independent risk factors of the complications of PCI included unstable angina, coronary multivessel disease, and heart failure., Conclusions: The complication rates of PCI decreased with the accumulation of experiences. The complication rates in this group of patients are lower than the reported ones. This result is probably due to strictly selecting the indication, actively preventing and treating the complications.

Objective: To study the incidence rates, risk factors, prevention and treatments of complications of selective coronary arteriography., Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted on the data of the incidence and annual distribution characteristics of complications among 9 196 cases that underwent selective coronary arteriography performed October 1987 to December 2000, and analyze the risk factors and prevention and treatment of these complications., Results: The total complication rate was 1.33%. The procedure-related mortality rates were 0.02%. The incidence rate of non-fatal Q wave myocardial infarction, coronary artery spasm, severe arrhythmia, severe contrast allergic reaction, peripheral vascular complication, and heart failure in coronary arteriography was 0.01%, 0.13%, 0.29%, 0.04%, 0.35%, and 0.08%, respectively. No emergent coronary artery bypass surgery was required in patients with coronary arteriography. The independent risk factors of the complications of coronary arteriography included unstable angina, coronary multivessel disease, left main coronary artery disease and heart failure., Conclusion: The complication rate of coronary arteriography decrease with the accumulation of experience. The complication rate in this group is lower than in other reports probably due to strictly selecting of indication and active prevention and treatment of complications.