Publications

Meticulous implantation strategies (i.e. lesion predilatation, stent sizing and postdilatation) are known to decrease lesion-oriented adverse events (LOCE) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bioresorbable scaffolds. Their impact on PCI with drug-eluting stents remains unclear. To assess the impact of meticulous implantation strategies on long-term LOCE in PCI with everolimus-eluting stents (EES). This substudy of the AIDA trial (NCT01858077) focused on the evaluation of predilatation, stent sizing and postdilatation through analyses of vessel and device diameters at various locations around the lesion. Their interrelations were assessed using quantitative coronary angiography across various lesion locations. Logistic regression was used to evaluate how predictors influenced the primary outcome LOCE, which includes target lesion revascularisation (TLR), target-vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI) and definite stent thrombosis (ST). LOCE occurred in 84 (7.7%) of 1098 lesions, mainly driven by TLR (63, 5.7%) and TV-MI (46, 4.2%), with ST occurring in 9 (0.8%) lesions. Predilatation and postdilatation were performed in 92 and 49% of lesions, respectively. The difference between the diameter of the predilatation balloon and the reference vessel diameter was significantly associated with an increased risk for LOCE (odds ratio 4.84, 95% confidence interval: 1.91-12.7) with significant interaction with diabetes (p for interaction = 0.04), thus disfavouring predilatation with oversized balloons. The low LOCE rate (7.7%) over 5 years underscores the efficacy of PCI with EES. The use of 'oversized' balloons for predilatation was associated with an increased risk of LOCE by up to fivefold, a risk that was interestingly reduced in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and resource use worldwide. The goal of this official American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) research statement is to describe evidence related to diagnosis, assessment and management; identify gaps in knowledge; and make recommendations for future research. It is not intended to provide clinical practice recommendations on COPD diagnosis and management. Clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates with expertise in COPD were invited to participate. A literature search of Medline was performed, and studies deemed relevant were selected. The search was not a systematic review of the evidence. Existing evidence was appraised and summarised, and then salient knowledge gaps were identified. Recommendations for research that addresses important gaps in the evidence in all areas of COPD were formulated via discussion and consensus. Great strides have been made in the diagnosis, assessment and management of COPD, as well as understanding its pathogenesis. Despite this, many important questions remain unanswered. This ATS/ERS research statement highlights the types of research that leading clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates believe will have the greatest impact on patient-centred outcomes.

Everolimus-eluting ABSORB bioresorbable vascular scaffolds represent a novel approach that provides transient vessel support with drug-delivery capability without the long-term limitations of the metallic drug-eluting stents (DESs). The technology has the potential to overcome many of the safety concerns associated with metallic DESs and possibly even convey further clinical benefit. In particular the scaffold is designed for providing a short-term lumen support (up to 6-12 months) and for thereafter being completely bioresorbed, eliminating the permanent caging typical of the metallic DES. The first clinical studies testing this device in a small number of patients have shown very promising results with good clinical outcome up to 5 years' follow-up, highlighting important morphological and functional modifications at the scaffolded segment level, such as late lumen enlargement and recuperation of a normal vasoreactivity. A randomized trial, comparing ABSORB with the Xience Prime stent, will evaluate the efficacy and safety of this device in a wide population.

To investigate the extent and the circumferential distribution of the neointima tissue developed following an Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) implantation.Twenty-three patients who were treated with the Absorb BVS and had optical coherence tomographic examination after scaffold implantation, at six-month and at two-year follow-up, were included in the current analysis. The lumen and the scaffold borders were detected and the circumferential thickness of the neointima was measured at one degree intervals. The symmetry of the neointima was defined as: minimum/maximum thickness. The lumen area was decreased at six months compared to baseline but it did not change between six-month and two-year follow-up (baseline: 7.49 [6.13-8.00] mm², six months: 6.31 (4.75-7.06) mm², two years: 6.01 [4.67-7.11] mm², p=0.373). However, the mean neointima thickness (six months: 189 [173-229] m, two years: 258 [222-283] m, p<0.0001) and the symmetry index of the neointima (six months: 0.06 [0.02-0.09], two years: 0.27 [0.24-0.36], p<0.0001) were increased at two years. Full circumferential coverage of the vessel wall by neointima tissue was seen in 91% of the studied frames at two years.This study demonstrates that after an Absorb BVS implantation neointima tissue develops that covers almost the whole circumference of the vessel wall. In contrast to the metallic stents, the neointima tissue does not compromise the luminal dimensions. Further research is required to evaluate the neointimal characteristics and assess the potential value of the device in passivating high-risk plaques.

Three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) images has an increasing application as the applicability of systems of on-line analysis provides a superior guidance by coupling the advantages of a high-resolution cross-sectional imaging with an overview of stenosis and reference segments. Detection of the external contour of the vessel which is a prerequisite for measurements of coronary plaques is currently not provided by the algorithms for automated on-line analysis. Thus, off-line reconstruction is required for studies aiming at the assessment of progression/regression of atherosclerosis and of mechanisms of interventions or restenosis. Various 3-D reconstruction methods with specific advantages and limitations are able to meet the different requirements concerning applicability, quality of visualization, and accuracy of quantification. The use of 3-D ICUS in the assessment of cardiac transplant recipients permits a more reliable and accurate quantification of intimal hyperplasia as seen in cardiac allograft arteriopathy. In patients undergoing bypass surgery it may influence the therapeutic decision, since it allows to determine the longitudinal extent of calcification and frequently discovers atherosclerosis in angiographically normal segments. Vessel stenoses both of native coronary arteries and bypass grafts can be studied by 3-D ICUS and additional information can be obtained during catheter based interventions. Despite some remaining technical limitation 3-D reconstruction of ICUS images has the potential of becoming a practical tool to simplify the interpretation and quantification of ICUS images.

To investigate the influence of eccentricity ratio and slenderness ratio on the mechanical properties of eccentric compressed concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) lattice column, the ultimate bearing capacity tests of 20 K shape arrangement lacing strip of four-tube CFST columns were conducted. Based on the stress-strain relationship of CFST and the influence of shear deformation, the equilibrium equation of the mid-section is established and a numerical method for the ultimate bearing capacity of CFST lattice column is proposed. The slenderness reduction coefficient calculation model and equivalent slenderness ratio formula of CFST lattice column are established. Combined with the numerical results and the slenderness ratio reduction coefficient calculation model, the formula of slenderness ratio reduction coefficient is put forward. The comparison between theoretical analysis and experimental results shows that the calculation method of elastic-plastic ultimate bearing capacity of CFST lattice column proposed in this paper is quite accurate. The research outcomes can provide a reference for the application of CFST lattice column and revision of current specifications.

No abstract is provided for this article.

The structural performance of S960 ultra-high strength steel non-slender welded I-sections subjected to combined loading is studied in the present paper. Nonlinear finite element (FE) models were first created and validated with reference to test results collected from the literature, and then used for conducting parametric studies to derive numerical data over an extensive spectrum of cross-sectional geometries, aspect ratios, as well as loading combinations. Given the lack of existing design rules for S960 ultra-high strength steel structures, the suitability of the current provisions for lower strength steels given in the European, Australian and American specifications to S960 ultra-high strength steel was assessed based on the generated numerical data. It was found that (i) the European code and Australian standard can accurately predict the strengths of Class 1 and 2 (i.e. compact) S960 ultra-high strength steel welded I-sections subjected to both strong- and weak-axis combined loading, but results generally in conservative strength predictions for Class 3 I-sections, and (ii) the American specification yields accurate strength predictions for S960 ultra-high strength steel welded I-sections subjected to strong-axis combined loading, but leads to conservative strength predictions for weak-axis combined loading. Finally, the continuous strength method (CSM) was applied to the studied S960 ultra-high strength steel non-slender welded I-sections subjected to combined loading and found to offer significantly improved design consistency and accuracy relative to the current codified provisions. The reliability of the latter design method was also confirmed by means of statistical analyses.

Objectives To compare the predictive performances of the prewiring, postwiring MI‐SYNTAX scores, prewiring, and postwiring Updated Logistic Clinical SYNTAX score (LCSS) for 2‐year all‐cause mortality post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Background In patients with STEMI and undergoing primary PCI, coronary stenosis(es) distal to the culprit lesion is often observed after the restoration of coronary flow. To address comprehensively the complex coronary anatomy in these patients, prewiring and postwiring MI‐SYNTAX scores have been reported in the literature. Furthermore, to enable individualized risk estimation for long‐term all‐cause mortality, the Updated LCSS has been developed by combining the anatomical SYNTAX score and clinical factors. Methods In the randomized GLOBAL LEADERS trial, anatomical SYNTAX score analysis was performed by an independent angiographic corelab for the first 4,000 consecutive patients as a prespecified analysis; of these, 545 presented with STEMI. The efficacy of the mortality predictions of the four scores at 2 years were evaluated based on their discrimination and calibration abilities. Results Complete data was available in 512 patients (93.9%). When the patients were stratified into two groups based on the median of the scores, the prewiring and postwiring Updated LCSSs demonstrated that the high‐score groups were associated with higher rates of 2‐year all‐cause mortality compared to the low‐score groups (6.6 vs. 1.2%; log‐rank p = .001 and 6.6 vs. 1.2%; log‐rank p = .001, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences for predicting the mortality between the prewiring (area under the curve [AUC] 0.625), postwiring MI‐SYNTAX score (AUC 0.614), prewiring (AUC 0.755), and postwiring Updated LCSS (AUC 0.757). In the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), the prewiring MI‐SYNTAX score had a better discrimination for the mortality than the postwiring MI‐SYNTAX score (IDI ‐0.0082; p = .029). The four scores had acceptable calibration abilities for 2‐year all‐cause mortality. Conclusions The prewiring Updated LCSS predicts long‐term all‐cause mortality with clearly useful discrimination and acceptable calibration. Since the postwiring MI‐SYNTAX score does not improve mortality prediction, the prewiring MI‐SYNTAX score may be preferred for the 2‐year mortality prediction using the Updated LCSS.