MGUard versus bAre-metal stents plus manual thRombectomy in ST-elevation myocarDial infarction pAtieNts-(GUARDIAN) trial: study design and rationale.

BACKGROUND: Distal embolization may decrease coronary and myocardial reperfusion after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In this setting, manual thrombectomy (MT) resulted in better perfusion and clinical outcomes when compared with "conventional" PCI (direct stenting or stenting after predilation). MGuard net protective stent (MGS, Inspire-MD, Tel-Aviv, Israel) is a new bare-metal stent (BMS) with a polyethylene theraphthalate mesh coverage anchored to the external surface of the struts aiming to minimize distal embolization during PCI. PURPOSE: We intend to determine whether MGS implantation is comparable with a strategy of MT pretreatment followed by BMS deployment. STUDY DESIGN: The MGUard versus bAre-metal stents plus manual thRombectomy in ST-elevation myocarDial Infarction pAtieNts (GUARDIAN) is a multicentre, prospective, randomized, noninferiority, open-label trial with a planned inclusion of 556 STEMI patients. Patients are assigned to treatment with MGS or MT pretreatment followed by BMS implantation in the infarct-related artery. All patients are treated medically according to current international guidelines. Randomization is performed before coronary angiography. The primary endpoint is complete (≥ 70%) ST-segment resolution at 60 min after PCI. Secondary endpoints are thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) coronary flow grade ≥ 2, corrected TIMI frame count <23, myocardial blush grade of the infarct related area ≥ 2, and major adverse cardiac events rate at 30-day, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up. A cardiac magnetic resonance imaging substudy is planned to investigate microvascular obstruction and infarct size area reduction, at prespecified time-points, among 80 consecutive patients enrolled. CONCLUSIONS: If MGS implantation is noninferior to a strategy of MT pretreatment followed by BMS deployment, it will lend support to the use of this treatment as another possible option for STEMI patients undergoing PCI.

Reduced antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting stenting: multicenter Janus Flex carbostent implantation with short dual antiplatelet treatment for 2 or 6 months-MATRIX study.

OBJECTIVES: The Multicentre registry with Antiplatelet TReatment two-sIX months (MATRIX) evaluated safety and efficacy at 12-month follow-up of Janus Flex stenting with 2- or 6-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) period. BACKGROUND: There are no data of Janus Flex stent (Carbostent and Implantable Devices-CID, Saluggia, Italy), a polymer-free, tacrolimus-eluting coronary stent, followed by short-term DAT, in daily practice. METHODS: Patients were prospectively enrolled at 12 high-volume procedures centres. After stenting, four sites prescribed 2-month DAT, eight sites 6-month DAT. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and stent thrombosis (ST) rate was evaluated at 12-month follow-up, for entire population, as well as for 2- and 6-month DAT groups, distinctly. MACE included cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization (TLR). RESULTS: From March 2007 to June 2008, 572 patients (mean age 64.91 ± 11 years, 77.45% males) were enrolled. After successful stenting, 12-month follow-up showed a 12.74% MACE occurrence (cardiac death 0.98%; MI 3.13%; TLR 8.62%), with good Janus Flex safety profile confirmed by only two (0.39%) ST. After adjustment for potential confounding, no significant differences were noted at 12-month follow-up among 2- or 6-month DAT groups (MACE-8.99% versus 12.47%, P = 0.16; cardiac death-0.54% versus 1.14%, P = 0.52; MI-2.38% versus 2.71%, P = 0.83; TLR-5.66% versus 10.60%, P = 0.20; ST-0% versus 0.55%, P = 0.99). At multivariable analysis, DAT time duration was not an independent risk factor for adverse events (adjusted HR 0.47, 95% confidence interval 0.16-1.35, P = 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: Janus Flex coronary stenting, followed by short DAT, is safe and feasible, without differences between 2- and 6-month DAT groups. A randomized trial confirming these encouraging data is needed.

Retrospective protein expression and epigenetic inactivation studies of CDH1 in patients affected by low-grade glioma.

Aberrant methylation of CpG islands in the promoter regions of tumour cells results in loss of gene function. In addition to genetic lesions, changes in the methylation profile of the promoters may be considered a factor for tumour-specific aberrant expression of the genes.We investigated the methylation status of E-cadherin gene (CDH1) promoter in low-grade glioma and correlated it with clinical outcome. Eighty-four cases of low-grade glioma (43 diffuse astrocytomas, 27 oligodendrogliomas and 14 oligoastrocytomas) with assessable paraffin-embedded tumour blocks and normal brain tissue, derived from non-cancerous tissue adjacent to tumour and commercially normal brain tissue, were collected, from which we determined CDH1 promoter methylation status and E-cadherin protein expression by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. CDH1 promoter was found hypermethylated in 54 out of 84 low grade gliomas (64%) compared with 84 normal brain tissue. CDH1 hypermethylation was found in 65% astrocytomas, 66% oligodendrogliomas and 57% oligoastrocytomas. A significant correlation between hypermethylation status, patient survival and progression-free survival was found (P = 0.04). Survival and progression-free survival were lower in patients with hypermethylated CDH1 promoter. We found that 15 astrocytomas, 9 oligodendrogliomas and 6 oligoastrocytomas were immunoreactive for E-cadherin. The incidence of loss of immunoreactivity for E-cadherin decreased significantly with age, overall survival and progression-free survival (P = 0.001, Kaplan-Meier test). We have demonstrated that CDH1 promoter hypermethylation significantly associated with down-regulated E-cadherin expression and overall survival of patients. This may have a bearing on the prognosis of low-grade glioma.

Presumptive myocarditis with ST-Elevation myocardial infarction presentation in young males as a new syndrome. Clinical significance and long term follow up.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocarditis may mimic myocardial infarction, since affected patients complain of "typical" chest pain, the ECG changes are identical to those observed in acute coronary syndromes, and serum markers are increased. We describe a case series of presumptive myocarditis with ST segment elevation on admission ECG. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 1998 to 2009, 21 patients (20 males; age 17-42 years) were admitted with chest pain, persistent ST segment elevation, serum enzyme and troponine release. All but one patients had fever and flu-like symptoms prior to admission. No abnormal Q wave appeared in any ECG tracing, and angiography did not show significant coronary artery disease. Patients remained asymptomatic at long term follow-up, except 2 who experienced a late relapse, with the same clinical, electrocardiographic and serum findings as in the first clinical presentation. CONCLUSION: Presumptive myocarditis of possible viral origin characterized by ST elevation mimicking myocardial infarction, good short term prognosis and some risk for recurrence is relatively frequent in young males and appears as a distinct clinical condition.

Clopidogrel reloading in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention on chronic clopidogrel therapy: results of the ARMYDA-4 RELOAD (Antiplatelet therapy for Reduction of MYocardial Damage during Angioplasty) randomized trial.

AIMS: To evaluate safety and effectiveness of clopidogrel reloading in patients on chronic clopidogrel therapy undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Five hundred and three patients on >10 days clopidogrel therapy (41% with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome, ACS) randomly received 600 mg clopidogrel loading 4-8 h before PCI (n = 252) or placebo (n = 251). Primary endpoint was 30-day incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). In the overall population primary endpoint occurred in 6.7% of patients in the reload vs. 8.8% in the placebo arm [odds ratios (OR) 0.75, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.37-1.52; P = 0.50]. In stable angina patients, 1-month MACE were not significantly different (7.0 vs. 3.9%; OR 1.84, 0.60-5.88; P = 0.36), whereas ACS patients had significant clinical benefit with reloading (6.4 vs. 16.3%; OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.32-0.90, P = 0.033 at multivariable analysis; interaction test: P = 0.01). There was no excess bleeding in the reload arm (6% in both groups). CONCLUSION: ARMYDA-4 RELOAD reveals no overall benefit from reloading patients on chronic clopidogrel therapy prior to PCI; the benefit observed in ACS patients is a hypothesis-generating finding that needs to be confirmed by larger studies.

Randomized trial of high loading dose of clopidogrel for reduction of periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients undergoing coronary intervention: results from the ARMYDA-2 (Antiplatelet therapy for Reduction of MYocardial Damage during Angioplasty) study.

BACKGROUND: Aggressive platelet inhibition is crucial to reduce myocardial injury and early cardiac events after coronary intervention. Although observational data have suggested that pretreatment with a high loading dose of clopidogrel may be more effective than a conventional dose, this hypothesis has never been tested in a randomized trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 255 patients scheduled to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention were randomized to a 600-mg (n=126) or 300-mg (n=129) loading regimen of clopidogrel given 4 to 8 hours before the procedure. Creatine kinase MB, troponin I, and myoglobin levels were measured at baseline and at 8 and 24 hours after intervention. The primary end point was the 30-day occurrence of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or target vessel revascularization. The primary end point occurred in 4% of patients in the high loading dose versus 12% of those in the conventional loading dose group (P=0.041) and was due entirely to periprocedural MI. Peak values of all markers were significantly lower in patients treated with the 600-mg regimen (P< or =0.038). Safety end points were similar in the 2 arms. At multivariable analysis, the high loading regimen was associated with a 50% risk reduction of MI (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.97, P=0.044). An incremental benefit was observed in patients randomized to the 600-mg dose who were receiving statins, with an 80% risk reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel 4 to 8 hours before the procedure is safe and, as compared with the conventional 300-mg dose, significantly reduced periprocedural MI in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. These results may influence practice patterns with regard to antiplatelet therapy before percutaneous revascularization.

Myocarditis with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction presentation in young man. A case series of 11 patients.

Acute myocarditis may mimic an infarction. Aim is to describe a case series of peculiar myocarditis. From 1997 to 2003, 11 male patients (age 17-39 years) were admitted with diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, localized ST segment elevation and minimal enzyme release. Ten patients had fever in the 3 days prior to admission. Eight patients underwent coronary angiography showing normal coronary arteries. All remained asymptomatic at long term follow-up. In conclusion, myocarditis with ST elevation myocardial infarction presentation is an acute benign syndrome especially frequent in young males.

Efficacy of clopidogrel reloading in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention during chronic clopidogrel therapy (from the Antiplatelet therapy for Reduction of MYocardial Damage during Angioplasty [ARMYDA-8 RELOAD-ACS] trial).

Whether an additional clopidogrel load in patients receiving chronic clopidogrel therapy and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is associated with clinical benefit has not been well characterized. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, in a randomized protocol, the safety and effectiveness of clopidogrel reload for patients with ACS undergoing PCI in the background of chronic clopidogrel therapy. A total of 242 patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS with >10 days of clopidogrel therapy randomly received a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel 4 to 8 hours before PCI (n = 122) or placebo (n = 120). The primary end point was the 30-day incidence of major adverse cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization). The primary end point occurred in 4.1% of patients in the reload arm versus 14.1% in the placebo arm (odds ratio 0.26, 95% confidence interval 0.10 to 0.73, p = 0.013). This benefit in the reload arm was mainly from the prevention of periprocedural myocardial infarction (4.1% vs 13%, p = 0.02) and was paralleled by lower periprocedural platelet reactivity. The aggregometry data were consistent with the clinical outcome. No difference was found in the bleeding outcomes between the 2 groups. In conclusion, the results from the Antiplatelet therapy for Reduction of MYocardial Damage during Angioplasty (ARMYDA-8 RELOAD-ACS) trial have shown a significant clinical benefit from reloading patients with ACS receiving chronic clopidogrel therapy before PCI. These data might be relevant in clinical practice, given the large number of patients with ACS who are still currently treated with clopidogrel during PCI.

Comparison of safety and efficacy of bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin in high-risk patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (from the Anti-Thrombotic Strategy for Reduction of Myocardial Damage During Angioplasty-Bivalirudin vs Heparin study).

Bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is as effective as unfractionated heparin (UFH), with decreased bleeding in patients with acute coronary syndromes who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bivalirudin versus UFH in selected PCI patients at high bleeding risk. Four hundred one consecutive patients who underwent PCI fulfilling ≥ 1 enrollment criterion (age >75 years, chronic renal failure, and diabetes mellitus) were randomized to bivalirudin (bolus 0.75 mg/kg followed by infusion during the procedure; n = 198) or UFH (75 IU/kg; n = 203). In the overall population, 39% were aged >75 years, 22% had renal failure, 63% had diabetes, and 29% had acute coronary syndromes. The primary efficacy end point was the 30-day incidence of major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, or target vessel revascularization). The primary safety end point was the occurrence of any bleeding or entry-site complications after PCI. All patients were preloaded with clopidogrel 600 mg. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were used at the operators' discretion. Thirty-day major adverse cardiac event rates were 11.1% in the bivalirudin group and 8.9% in the UFH group (p = 0.56); the primary efficacy end point was reached mainly because of periprocedural myocardial infarction; 1 patient in the bivalirudin group had stent thrombosis. Occurrence of the primary safety end point was 1.5% in the bivalirudin group and 9.9% in the UFH group (p = 0.0001); this benefit was essentially driven by the prevention of entry-site hematomas >10 cm (0.5% vs 6.9%, p = 0.002). In conclusion, Anti-Thrombotic Strategy for Reduction of Myocardial Damage During Angioplasty-Bivalirudin vs Heparin (ARMYDA-7 BIVALVE) indicates that bivalirudin, compared with UFH, causes significantly lower bleeding and has a similar incidence of major adverse cardiac events in patients with older age, diabetes mellitus, or chronic renal failure who undergo PCI.

miR-155 is up-regulated in primary and secondary glioblastoma and promotes tumour growth by inhibiting GABA receptors.

An altered expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) contributes both to the development of cancer and to the progression of the disease. Malignant tumours and tumour cell lines have widespread deregulated expressions of miRNAs compared to normal tissues. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of 340 mammalian miRNAs in 93 cases of multiform glioblastoma (primary and secondary glioblastoma tumours), by means of DNA microarrays. We show that the expression profiles of 10 miRNAs can distinguish primary from secondary glioblastoma types. Moreover, we found elevated miR-155 levels in primary and secondary glioblastoma tissues as well as in glioblastoma primary cultures. We hypothesised that γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor 1 (GABRA1) is a miR-155 target, and studied the correlation between miR-155 up-regulation and the GABRA1 protein in cultured glioblastoma cells by miRNA silencing. We show that a decrease in miR-155 expression to normal levels restores the expression of GABRA1, making glioblastoma cells sensitive to signals that inhibit cell proliferation mediated by GABRA1. In conclusion, the expression patterns of different miRNAs characterise primary and secondary glioblastomas. The aberrant overexpression of miR-155 contributes to the malignant phenotype of glioblastoma cells removing growth inhibition.

Short-term, high-dose Atorvastatin pretreatment to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (from the ARMYDA-CIN [atorvastatin for reduction of myocardial damage during angioplasty--contrast-induced nephropathy] trial.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) impairs clinical outcome in patients undergoing angiographic procedures. The aim of this study was to investigate whether short-term high-dose atorvastatin load decreases the incidence of CIN after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Statin-naive patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing PCI (n = 241) randomly received atorvastatin (80 mg 12 hours before intervention with another 40-mg preprocedure dose, n = 120) or placebo (n = 121). All patients had long-term atorvastatin treatment thereafter (40 mg/day). Primary end point was incidence of CIN defined as postintervention increase in serum creatinine ≥0.5 mg/dl or >25% from baseline. Five percent of patients in the atorvastatin arm developed CIN versus 13.2% of those in the placebo arm (p = 0.046). In the atorvastatin group, postprocedure serum creatinine was significantly lower (1.06 ± 0.35 vs 1.12 ± 0.27 mg/dl in placebo, p = 0.01), creatinine clearance was decreased (80.1 ± 32.2 vs 72.0 ± 26.6 ml/min, p = 0.034), and C-reactive protein peak levels after intervention were decreased (8.4 ± 10.5 vs 13.1 ± 20.8 mg/l, p = 0.01). Multivariable analysis showed that atorvastatin pretreatment was independently associated with a decreased risk of CIN (odds ratios 0.34, 95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.97, p = 0.043). Prevention of CIN with atorvastatin was paralleled by a shorter hospital stay (p = 0.007). In conclusion, short-term pretreatment with high-dose atorvastatin load prevents CIN and shortens hospital stay in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing PCI; anti-inflammatory effects may be involved in this renal protection. These results lend further support to early use of high-dose statins as adjuvant pharmacologic therapy before percutaneous coronary revascularization.

Pretreatment with different loading doses of clopidogrel influences P-selectin levels in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: results from the ARMYDA-2 (antiplatelet therapy for reduction of myocardial damage during angioplasty) SELECT substudy.

OBJECTIVES: ARMYDA-2 (Antiplatelet therapy for Reduction of MYocardial Damage during Angioplasty) trial demonstrated improved clinical outcome in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) pretreated with 600 vs. 300 mg clopidogrel loading dose. ARMYDA-2 SELECT is a prospectively planned subanalysis to investigate the effects of those different loading regimens on P-selectin levels. METHODS: From the ARMYDA-2 population, we investigated a subgroup of 84 patients (41 randomized to a 600 mg and 43 to a 300 mg clopidogrel loading dose given at a mean time of 6 h before PCI), in whom soluble P-selectin levels were measured at baseline (at the time of clopidogrel administration), immediately after the procedure, and after 8 and 24 h. RESULTS: In the overall study population, a significant decrease of P-selectin levels was observed from baseline to intervention (from 91 ± 10 to 53 ± 15 ng/ml; P < 0.001). Baseline P-selectin levels were similar in the two groups, whereas at the time of intervention they were significantly lower in the high-dose arm (50 ± 13 vs. 58 ± 15 ng/ml; P = 0.048). P-selectin values between the two arms were not different at the subsequent determinations. The lowest procedural P-selectin levels were observed in patients of the 600 mg arm who had no postprocedural increase of troponin-I above normal limits (P ≤ 0.040). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with clopidogrel before PCI decreases peri-procedural P-selectin levels; moreover, a 600 mg clopidogrel loading dose, compared with the 300 mg regimen, is associated with reduction of peri-procedural myocardial damage and significant attenuation of P-selectin levels at the time of intervention. These results may help in identifying mechanisms underlying clinical benefit of the high clopidogrel load in PCI.

Effectiveness of in-laboratory high-dose clopidogrel loading versus routine pre-load in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: results of the ARMYDA-5 PRELOAD (Antiplatelet therapy for Reduction of MYocardial Damage during Angioplasty) randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate safety and effectiveness of in-laboratory (in-lab) 600-mg clopidogrel loading pre-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus routine 6-h pre-load. BACKGROUND: Clopidogrel pre-treatment significantly improves outcome in patients undergoing PCI; however, efficacy of an in-lab loading strategy before PCI after coronary angiography versus routine pre-load has not been fully characterized. METHODS: A total of 409 patients (39% with acute coronary syndrome) were randomized to receive a 600-mg clopidogrel loading dose 4 to 8 h before PCI (pre-load group, n = 204) or a 600-mg loading dose given in the catheterization lab after coronary angiography, but prior to PCI (in-lab group, n = 205). Primary end point was 30-day incidence of major adverse cardiac events: cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), or unplanned target vessel revascularization. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in primary end point between the 2 randomization arms (8.8% in-lab vs. 10.3% pre-load; p = 0.72); this was mainly driven by periprocedural MI (8.8% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.99). No increased risk of bleeding or vascular complications was observed in the pre-load arm (5.4% vs. 7.8%; p = 0.42). As determined by the VerifyNow assay (Accumetrics, San Diego, California), patients in the in-lab group showed higher platelet reactivity during PCI and 2 h after intervention versus those in the pre-load arm (p < or = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: ARMYDA-5 PRELOAD (Antiplatelet therapy for Reduction of MYocardial Damage during Angioplasty) trial indicates that a strategy of 600-mg in-lab clopidogrel load pre-PCI may have similar clinical outcomes as routine 4- to 8-h pre-load. Thus, when indicated, in-lab clopidogrel administration can be a safe alternative to routine pre-treatment given before knowing patients' coronary anatomy.

Transradial access compared with femoral puncture closure devices in percutaneous coronary procedures.

BACKGROUND: Transradial access (RA) is associated with less complications and is preferred by patients. Vascular closure devices (VCDs) may improve discomfort and may reduce complications associated with transfemoral access. Aim was to evaluate complications and discomfort associated with percutaneous coronary procedures employing RA or VCDs. METHODS: We enrolled 1492 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous coronary procedures with RA (604 procedures), femoral approach with manual compression (MC) (276 procedures), or with either Angioseal (311 procedures) or Starclose (301 procedures) closure device. Discomfort was assessed using procedure-specific questions. Major vascular complications were evaluated during hospitalization. RESULTS: RA significantly reduced major complications (0.7%) compared to either the MC (2.9%, p=0.03) or the VCDs (Starclose 2.7%, Angioseal 3.9%, p=0.003). There were no significant differences in major complications between MC and either the Angioseal or the Starclose. At multivariate analysis the RA was predictor of reduced complications (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.85, p=0.03 vs MC, and OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.07-0.57, p=0.003 vs VCDs). The RA was associated with a significant reduction in procedural discomfort with 44.2% of patients referring no discomfort (p<0.0001). Starclose and Angioseal were better tolerated than MC (27.8%, 29.3% and 8.9% patients respectively without discomfort, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: RA is associated with a significant reduction in major vascular complications compared to femoral approach even if two different VCDs are employed. VCDs are better tolerated than MC but the RA was associated with the lowest discomfort.

Efficacy of atorvastatin reload in patients on chronic statin therapy undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: results of the ARMYDA-RECAPTURE (Atorvastatin for Reduction of Myocardial Damage During Angioplasty) Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate whether an acute atorvastatin reload before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) protects patients receiving chronic statin therapy from periprocedural myocardial damage. BACKGROUND: Previous ARMYDA (Atorvastatin for Reduction of Myocardial Damage During Angioplasty) studies demonstrated that short-term pre-treatment with atorvastatin reduces myocardial infarction during PCI in statin-naïve patients with both stable angina and acute coronary syndromes. METHODS: A total of 383 patients (age 66 +/- 10 years, 305 men) with stable angina (53%) or non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (47%) and chronic statin therapy (55% atorvastatin) undergoing PCI were randomized to atorvastatin reload (80 mg 12 h before intervention, with a further 40-mg pre-procedural dose [n = 192]) or placebo (n = 191). All patients received long-term atorvastatin treatment thereafter (40 mg/day). The primary end point was 30-day incidence of major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or unplanned revascularization). RESULTS: The primary end point occurred in 3.7% of patients treated with atorvastatin reload and in 9.4% in the placebo arm (p = 0.037); this difference was mostly driven by reduction in periprocedural myocardial infarction. There was lower incidence of post-procedural creatine kinase-myocardial band and troponin-I elevation greater than the upper limit of normal in the atorvastatin arm (13% vs. 24%, p = 0.017, and 37% vs. 49%, p = 0.021, respectively). Multivariable analysis identified atorvastatin reload as a predictor of decreased risk of 30-day incidence of major adverse cardiac events (odds ratio: 0.50, 95% confidence interval: 0.20 to 0.80; p = 0.039), mainly in patients with acute coronary syndromes (82% relative risk reduction; p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The ARMYDA-RECAPTURE trial suggests that reloading with high-dose atorvastatin improves the clinical outcome of patients on chronic statin therapy undergoing PCI. These findings may support a strategy of routine reload with high-dose atorvastatin early before intervention even in the background of chronic therapy.

Correlative analysis of gene expression profile and prognosis in patients with gliomatosis cerebri.

BACKGROUND: In modern clinical neuro-oncology, the pathologic diagnoses are very challenging, creating significant clinical confusion and affecting therapeutic decisions and prognosis. METHODS: TP53 and PTEN gene sequences were analyzed, and microarray expression profiling was also performed. The authors investigated whether gene expression profiling, coupled with class prediction methodology, could be used to determine the prognosis of gliomatosis cerebri in a more consistent manner than standard pathology. RESULTS: The authors reported the results of a molecular study in 59 cases of gliomatosis cerebri, correlating these results with prognosis. The well-known prognostic factors of gliomas (ie, age, Karnofsky performance status, histology [grade 2 vs 3], and contrast enhancement) were found to be predictive of response or outcome in only a percentage of patients but not in all patients. The authors identified a 23-gene signature that was able to predict patient prognosis with microarray gene expression profiling. With the aim of producing a prognosis tool that is useful in clinical investigation, the authors studied the expression of this 23-gene signature by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Real-time expression values relative to these 23 gene features were used to build a prediction method able to distinguish patients with a good prognosis (those more likely to be responsive to therapy) from patients with a poor prognosis (those less likely to be responsive to therapy). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study demonstrated not only a strong association between gene expression patterns and patient survival, but also a robust replicability of these gene expression-based predictors.

Gliomatosis cerebri type II: two case reports.

INTRODUCTION: TWO TYPES OF GLIOMATOSIS CEREBRI EXIST: Type I and Type II. We report the results of a histological and genetic study of two cases of gliomatosis cerebri Type II, correlating these results with therapy and prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: Two patients, a 52-year-old man (Patient 1) and a 76-year-old man (Patient 2) with gliomatosis cerebri II were admitted to our institution; they underwent surgical treatment and received radiotherapy and chemotherapy. At the 24-month follow-up, Patient 1 was still alive, while Patient 2 had died. The poor prognosis of Patient 2 was underlined by molecular analysis which showed that the angiogenesis related genes VCAM1 and VEGF were overexpressed, reflecting the high degree of neovascularization. CONCLUSION: Genes involved in drug resistance and metallothioneins were highly expressed in Patient 2 and this, associated with unmethylated O6-methylguanine methyltransferase, can explain the lack of response to chemotherapy.

Atorvastatin pretreatment improves outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing early percutaneous coronary intervention: results of the ARMYDA-ACS randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate potential protective effects of atorvastatin in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND: Randomized studies have shown that pretreatment with atorvastatin may reduce periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients with stable angina during elective PCI; however, this therapy has not been tested in patients with ACS. METHODS: A total of 171 patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS were randomized to pretreatment with atorvastatin (80 mg 12 h before PCI, with a further 40-mg preprocedure dose [n = 86]) or placebo (n = 85). All patients were given a clopidogrel 600-mg loading dose. All patients received long-term atorvastatin treatment thereafter (40 mg/day). The main end point of the trial was a 30-day incidence of major adverse cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, or unplanned revascularization). RESULTS: The primary end point occurred in 5% of patients in the atorvastatin arm and in 17% of those in the placebo arm (p = 0.01); this difference was mostly driven by reduction of myocardial infarction incidence (5% vs. 15%; p = 0.04). Postprocedural elevation of creatine kinase-MB and troponin-I was also significantly lower in the atorvastatin group (7% vs. 27%, p = 0.001 and 41% vs. 58%, p = 0.039, respectively). At multivariable analysis, pretreatment with atorvastatin conferred an 88% risk reduction of 30-day major adverse cardiac events (odds ratio 0.12, 95% confidence interval 0.05 to 0.50; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The ARMYDA-ACS trial indicates that even short-term pretreatment with atorvastatin may improve outcomes in patients with ACS undergoing early invasive strategy. These findings may support routine use of high-dose statins before intervention in patients with ACS.

The "pull-push" technique to deal with a redundant eustachian valve interfering with placement of a PFO occluder.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of a new technique to deal with a redundant Eustachian valve (EV) interfering with placement of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) occluder. BACKGROUND: The EV is a remnant of the embryonic valve of the sinus venosus. In rare occasions, it is large and redundant and it may interfere with catheters and devices used in cardiac catheterization. METHODS: We have developed a new technique to control the EV in order to avoid interferences with the device for closure of atrial septal defects and PFO's. This technique is called "pull-push" technique and consists in pulling down on the inferior vena cava the redundant EV by using a 6 Fr pigtail catheter while a second operator pushes the right atrial disc out of the long sheath. RESULTS: Here, we report on two patients with a patent foramen ovale, in whom the EV prevented the right atrial disc of an Amplatzer PFO occluder to be completely flat against the interatrial septum. Finally, we used this technique in one more patient to avoid any interference of a very redundant EV during placement of a Starflex device. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion. the so called "pull-push" technique is an alternative and easy technique to control the EV in order to avoid interferences with the device for closure of atrial septal defects and PFO's