Quantitative coronary three-dimensional geometry and its association with atherosclerotic disease burden and composition.

BACKGROUND: Isolate features of the coronary anatomy have been associated with the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic disease. Computational methods have been described to allow precise quantification of the complex three-dimensional (3D) coronary geometry. The present study tested whether quantitative parameters that describe the spatial 3D coronary geometry is associated with the extension and composition of the underlying coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Patients with CAD scheduled for percutaneous intervention were investigated with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), and invasive coronary angiography, and virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (IVUS-VH). For all target vessels, 3D centerlines were extracted from CCTA images and processed to quantify 23 geometric indexes, grouped into 3 main categories as follows: (i) length-based; (ii) curvature-based, torsion-based, and curvature/torsion-combined; (iii) vessel path-based. The geometric variables were compared with IVUS-VH parameters assessing the extent and composition of coronary atherosclerosis. RESULTS: A total of 36 coronary patients (99 vessels) comprised the study population. From the 23 geometric indexes, 18 parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with at least 1 IVUS-VH parameter at a univariate analysis. All three main geometric categories provided parameters significantly related with atherosclerosis variables. The 3D geometric indexes were associated with the degree of atherosclerotic extension, as well as with plaque composition. Geometric features remained significantly associated with all IVUS-VH parameters even after multivariate adjustment for clinical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative 3D vessel morphology emerges as a relevant factor associated with atherosclerosis in patients with established CAD.

Coronary arterial geometry: A comprehensive comparison of two imaging modalities.

The characterization of vascular geometry is a fundamental step towards the correct interpretation of coronary artery disease. In this work, we report a comprehensive comparison of the geometry featured by coronary vessels as obtained from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and the combination of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) with bi-plane angiography (AX) modalities. We analyzed 34 vessels from 28 patients with coronary disease, which were deferred to CCTA and IVUS procedures. We discuss agreement and discrepancies between several geometric indexes extracted from vascular geometries. Such an analysis allows us to understand to which extent the coronary vascular geometry can be reliable in the interpretation of geometric risk factors, and as a surrogate to characterize coronary artery disease.

Coronary fractional flow reserve derived from intravascular ultrasound imaging: Validation of a new computational method of fusion between anatomy and physiology.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of a novel computational algorithm based on three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging in estimating fractional flow reserve (IVUSFR ), compared to gold-standard invasive measurements (FFRINVAS ). BACKGROUND: IVUS provides accurate anatomical evaluation of the lumen and vessel wall and has been validated as a useful tool to guide percutaneous coronary intervention. However, IVUS poorly represents the functional status (i.e., flow-related information) of the imaged vessel. METHODS: Patients with known or suspected stable coronary disease scheduled for elective cardiac catheterization underwent FFRINVAS measurement and IVUS imaging in the same procedure to evaluate intermediate lesions. A processing methodology was applied on IVUS to generate a computational mesh condensing the geometric characteristics of the vessel. Computation of IVUSFR was obtained from patient-level morphological definition of arterial districts and from territory-specific boundary conditions. FFRINVAS measurements were dichotomized at the 0.80 threshold to define hemodynamically significant lesions. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients with 34 vessels were analyzed. IVUSFR significantly correlated (r = 0.79; P < 0.001) and showed good agreement with FFRINVAS , with a mean difference of -0.008 ± 0.067 (P = 0.47). IVUSFR presented an overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 91%, 89%, 92%, 80%, and 96%, respectively, to detect significant stenosis. CONCLUSION: The computational processing of IVUSFR is a new method that allows the evaluation of the functional significance of coronary stenosis in an accurate way, enriching the anatomical information of grayscale IVUS.

Clinical performance of a novel ultrathin strut, low-dose, sirolimus-eluting stent with abluminal-only biodegradable polymeric coating for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in the daily practice.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance, in the daily practice of a busy catheterization laboratory, of a novel drug-eluting stent (DES) built with an ultra-thin-strut metallic platform, eluting sirolimus at low doses, abluminal coated with biodegradable polymers, and mounted in a low-compliant delivery system. METHODS: Prospective, single-arm study, comprising all consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the Inspiron™ sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) (Scitech, Aparecida de Goiania, Brazil). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) [cardiac death, non-PCI related myocardial infarction (MI), or target vessel revascularization (TVR)]. RESULTS: A total of 470 patients were included, from which 51.3% were diabetics, 33.8% had triple-vessel disease, 15.3% had heart failure, 38.9% had at least one bifurcation treated, 19.8% were treated for a bare metal stent restenosis, and 61.9% had at least one type C lesion; one or more of these features were found in 96.0%. At 300 days, the rate target lesion revascularization was 5.4% and the rate of MACE was 8.1%. The incidence of definite or probable stent thrombosis was 0.4%, with no cases between 30 and 300 days. CONCLUSIONS: The novel stent is associated with excellent short and mid-term clinical outcomes in patients treated with PCI in the daily practice.

Impacto das intoxicações por antidepressivos tricíclicos comparados aos depressores do “sistema nervoso central” / Poisoning impact by tryciclic antidepressants compared to Central Nervous System depressants

Os antidepressivos tricíclicos (ADT) constituem uma classe de drogas de alta importância toxicológica,porque o uso abusivo dessa substância acarreta alguma sintomatologia ou mesmo risco de vida, pelo fácil acesso, em razão do baixo custo, da distribuição pelo sistema público de saúde e pela prescrição indiscriminada.Este trabalho teve por objetivos avaliar o impacto das intoxicações por ADT atendidos em um hospital terciário comparando com as intoxicações ocasionadas por outras drogas depressoras do “sistema nervoso central”. Para a realização deste trabalho foram avaliados os atendimentos realizados pelo Centro de Assistência Toxicológica (CEATOX) de São José do Rio Preto, entre o período de 01 de janeiro de 2001 até 31 de dezembrode 2003, através da Ficha de Notificação do CEATOX. Nesse estudo, de um total de 2950 atendimentos, 123 eram casos de intoxicação por antidepressivos tricíclicos (ADT) e 275 de outras drogas depressoras do“sistema nervoso central” (DSNC) atendidos neste hospital. O ADT mais utilizado foi a Amitriptilina; já entre os DSNC temos os Benzodiazepínicos (BZD). Houve uma maior internação por parte dos ADT, com maior tempo de internação em relação aos DSNC. Com isso, observamos o significativo impacto que as intoxicações pelos ADT causam em termos de atendimento e internação para o nosso hospital. Concluímos que os benefícios e os riscos da prescrição de ADT, hoje largamente utilizados em várias patologias, precisam ser bem avaliados, e sempre que possível, a opção por outros medicamentos com potencial toxicológico menos intenso deve ser feita.

A considerably important toxicological class of drugs is the Tryciclic antidepressants (TCA) because thedrug abuse can trigger some complex combined symptoms of a disease or even risk of death; it is easilyattainable; owing to his low cost; it is available at the health public system; and it is widely prescribed. Thisstudy directly aimed at to estimate the poisoning impact by TCA of patients treated at a tertiary hospitalcompared to poisoning caused by other central nervous system depressant drugs. To the completion of thisessay the exams performed by the Center for Toxicological Assistance (CEATOX) of São José do Rio Preto,from January 1st 2001 to December 31st 2003, were estimated by the Center for Toxicological Assistance(CEATOX) Notification Form. In this study, from a total of 2,950 treated in-hospital patients, 123 werepoisoning cases caused by tryciclic antidepressants (TCA), and 275 from other central nervous systemdepressant drugs. Amytriptiline was the most used Tryciclic antidepressant while among the central nervoussystem depressant drugs the benzodiazepine compounds were the mostly used ones. There was a higherhospitalization rate with tryciclic antidepressants but a higher length of hospitalization related to the centralnervous system depressant drugs. The hospitalization costs to the Unified Health System (SUS) werefurther analyzed indicating that the poisoning costs by tryciclic antidepressants were the same when comparedto central nervous system depressant drugs. And therewith we could see the significant impact that thepoisonings by tryciclic antidepressants caused in relation to medical attendance and hospitalization to ourhospital. It was inferred that the benefits and risks of tryciclic antidepressant prescription, nowadaysextensively used in several pathologies, need to be estimated and whenever is possible, the choice for amedication with a much less intense toxicological potential should be made.

Uso de drogas entre os estudantes de medicina da Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, SP, no ano de 2002 / Drug use among the students of the Medical School of São José do Rio Preto, SP, in 2002

Objetivos: Avaliar o consumo de álcool e outras drogas e o perfil dos estudantes de medicina, fornecendo subsídios para implementação de medidas preventivas na Instituição. Metodologia: Aplicação de um questionário fechado, de autopreenchimento, anônimo, a todos os alunos do curso de medicina da Famerp. Resultados: Foram analisados 297 questionários (77%), nos quais 51% são homens, média 21,7 anos, renda familiar 11 a 25 salários mínimos, 58% moram com amigos e 94% não trabalham. Cerca de 86% dos alunos usaram álcool na vida, 42% tabaco, 30% inalantes, 25% maconha, 22% anfetaminas, 13,7% ansiolíticos. Destes, 16% iniciaram o uso de álcool após o início do curso de medicina, 22% tabaco, 61% anfetaminas, 30% ansiolíticos, 27% inalantes, 25% maconha. Houve um aumento do consumo de anfetaminas diretamente proporcional às séries. Os homens foram responsáveis pelo maior consumo das drogas, exceto ansiolíticos.Cerca de 69% dos alunos já beberam até se embriagar, sendo 32% no mês anterior. As bebidas mais consumidas são cerveja e vinho e os locais de consumo mais freqüentes são festas de faculdade (46%) e bares (36%) e 74% costumam beber com amigos. Depois de beber, 61% dos alunos já faltaram às aulas, 45% dirigiram e 15% brigaram. Cerca de 35% dos alunos usaram álcool associado a outra droga no último ano. Os homens consomem mais álcool e com mais freqüência que as mulheres. Em relação ao cigarro, 82% dos alunos fumam menos que 10 cigarros por dia, 75% tentaram parar de fumar e 52% conseguiram. As principais razões para o uso de drogas são diversão/prazer e curiosidade. Para 80% dos alunos, a escola médica deve aconselhar o usuário ocasional e para 87% deve tratar e 25% afastar o usuário dependente. Conclusão: há uma freqüência elevada no consumo de drogas, principalmente lícitas, com uso concomitante entre elas, sendo necessárias medidas educativas e de prevenção mais efetivas pela instituição.