Clinical outcomes in 995 unselected real-world patients treated with an ultrathin biodegradable polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stent: 12-month results from the FLEX Registry

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate, in the FLEX Registry, clinical outcomes of an ultrathin (60 µm) biodegradable polymer-coated Supraflex sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Additionally, to determine the vascular response to the Supraflex SES through optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis.

SETTING

Multicentre, single-arm, all-comers, observational registry of patients who were treated with the Supraflex SES, between July 2013 and May 2014, at nine different centres in India.

PARTICIPANTS

995 patients (1242 lesions) who were treated with the Supraflex SES, between July 2013 and May 2014, at nine different centres in India. A total of 47 participants underwent OCT analysis at 6 months' follow-up.

INTERVENTIONS

Percutaneous coronary intervention with Supraflex SES, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint-the rate of major adverse cardiac events (defined as a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularisation (TLR))-was analysed during 12 months.

RESULTS

At 12 months, the primary endpoint occurred in 36 (3.7%) of 980 patients, consisting of 18 (1.8%) cardiac deaths, 16 (1.6%) MI, 7 (0.7%) TLR and 2 (0.2%) cases of non-target lesion target vessel revascularization. In a subset of 47 patients, 1227 cross-sections (9309 struts) were analysed at 6 months by OCT. Overall, a high percentage of struts was covered (98.1%), with a mean neointimal thickness of 0.13 ± 0.06 µm.

CONCLUSIONS

The FLEX Registry evaluated clinical outcomes in real-world and more complex cohorts and thus provides evidence that the Supraflex SEX can be used safely and routinely in a broader percutaneous coronary intervention population. Also, the Supraflex SES showed high percentage of stent strut coverage and good stent apposition during OCT follow-up.

The EXCEL and NOBLE trials: similarities, contrasts and future perspectives for left main revascularisation

Unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis has relatively high prevalence and exposes patients to a high risk for adverse cardiovascular events. The optimal revascularisation strategy (coronary artery bypass surgery [CABG] or percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]) for patients with complex coronary artery disease is a topic of continuing debate. The introduction of the newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) -with documented improvements in both safety and efficacy- has prompted the interventional community to design two new dedicated randomised trials comparing CABG and PCI: the NOBLE (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Vs Drug Eluting Stent Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty in the Treatment of Unprotected Left Main Stenosis) and EXCEL (Evaluation of XIENCE Everolimus Eluting Stent Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization) trials. The aims of the present review are to describe the similarities and contrasts between these two trials as well to explore their future implications in ULMCA treatment.

Impact of the Everolimus-eluting Bioresorbable Scaffold in Coronary Atherosclerosis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold has been shown to decrease total plaque areas in the treated segment. However, it is unknown whether plaque size is modified in scaffolded segments only or whether the modification extends to other coronary segments.

METHODS

Absorb Cohort A is a single-arm, prospective study, with safety and imaging endpoints, in which 30 patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with the first generation Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold. Noninvasive multislice computed tomography imaging was performed in 18 patients at 18 months and 5 years of follow-up. The present study was an intrapatient comparison of matched segments (normalized by the segment length) of the scaffolded region with nonintervened segments for lumen volume, vessel volume, plaque volume, plaque burden, and percent change in plaque atheroma volume.

RESULTS

All 18 scaffolded segments could be analyzed. In the nonintervened segments, 1 of 72 segments had a motion artifact and was excluded. Serial comparison showed that the scaffolded segments showed no significant change in the mean plaque burden, total atheroma volume, total lumen volume, or vessel volume between 18 months and 5 years. Conversely, the untreated segments showed a significant increase in plaque burden (2.7 ± 6.5%; P < .01) and normalized plaque volumes (8.0 ± 22.8mm(3); P < .01). This resulted in a significant difference in plaque burden between scaffolded and nonintervened segments (P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

In this small series, the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold showed the potential to provide an additional benefit to pharmacological therapy in locally reducing progression of percent plaque burden. These findings need to be confirmed in larger studies.

Cost-effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention versus bypass surgery from a Dutch perspective

AIMS

Recent cost-effectiveness analyses of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have been limited by a short time horizon or were restricted to the US healthcare perspective. We, therefore, used individual patient-level data from the SYNTAX trial to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of PCI versus CABG from a European (Dutch) perspective.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between 2005 and 2007, 1800 patients with three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease were randomised to either CABG (n=897) or PCI with drug-eluting stents (DES; n=903). Costs were estimated for all patients based on observed healthcare resource usage over 5 years of follow-up. Health state utilities were evaluated with the EuroQOL questionnaire. A patient-level microsimulation model based on Dutch life-tables was used to extrapolate the 5-year in-trial data to a lifetime horizon. Although initial procedural costs were lower for CABG, total initial hospitalisation costs per patient were higher (€17 506 vs €14 037, p<0.001). PCI was more costly during the next 5 years of follow-up, due to more frequent hospitalisations, repeat revascularisation procedures and higher medication costs. Nevertheless, total 5-year costs remained €2465/patient higher with CABG. When the in-trial results were extrapolated to a lifetime horizon, CABG was projected to be economically attractive relative to DES-PCI, with gains in both life expectancy and quality-adjusted life expectancy. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) (€5390/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained) was favourable and remained <€80 000/QALY in >90% of the bootstrap replicates. Outcomes were similar when incorporating the prognostic impact of non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke, as well as across a broad range of assumptions regarding the effect of CABG on post-trial survival and costs. However, DES-PCI was economically dominant compared with CABG in patients with a SYNTAX Score ≤22 or in those with left main disease. In patients for whom the SYNTAX Score II favoured PCI based on lower predicted 4-year mortality, PCI was also economically dominant, whereas in those patients for whom the SYNTAX Score II favoured surgery, CABG was highly economically attractive (ICER range, €2967 to €3737/QALY gained).

CONCLUSIONS

For the broad population with three-vessel or left main disease who are candidates for either CABG or PCI, we found that CABG is a clinically and economically attractive revascularisation strategy compared with DES-PCI from a Dutch healthcare perspective. The cost-effectiveness of CABG versus PCI differed according to several anatomic factors, however. The newly developed SYNTAX Score II provides enhanced prognostic discrimination in this population, and may be a useful tool to guide resource allocation as well.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Clinical trial unique identifier: NCT00114972 (http://www.clinical-trials.gov).

Darapladib for the treatment of cardiovascular disease

Elevated levels of phospholipase A2 have been linked to atherosclerotic plaque progression, instability via promoting inflammation and subsequent acute coronary events. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated the correlation between elevated levels associated phospholipase A2 and cardiovascular events. Therefore, specific inhibition of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 with darapladib has been tested as a therapeutic option for atherosclerosis. The aim of this profile is to review the physiologic aspects of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and to revisit the clinical evidence of darapladib as therapeutic option for atherosclerosis.

Four-year clinical follow-up of the first-in-man randomized comparison of a novel sirolimus eluting stent with abluminal biodegradable polymer and ultra-thin strut cobalt-chromium alloy: the INSPIRON-I trial

BACKGROUND

The Inspiron™ sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) is a low-dose, ultra-thin-strut cobalt-chromium stent abluminally coated with biodegradable polymers (BP). Previous results from the INSPIRON-I trial, a first-in-man study, have proven the efficacy of the novel stent in reducing neointimal proliferation. The present report aims at evaluating the long-term clinical outcomes of patients enrolled into the INSPIRON-I trial (Clinical Trials Gov. identifier: NCT01093391).

METHODS

A total of 57 patients (60 lesions) were randomly allocated in a 2:1 ratio to treatment with the Inspiron™ SES vs. its equivalent Cronus™ bare metal stent (BMS, both by Scitech Medical™, Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil), in four tertiary centers. The primary endpoint of the present analysis was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) [death, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR) and/or target lesion revascularization (TLR)] at 4 years.

RESULTS

Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics of both groups were similar. After 4 years, the primary endpoint occurred in 7.9% vs. 23.5% of patients in Inspiron and control groups respectively (P=0.11). The rate of death/MI was similar between the groups, but there was a significant decrease in the risk of repeat revascularization in the Inspiron group compared to the control arm TLR (0.0% vs. 23.5% respectively, P=0.02). There were no stent thromboses in the study population.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel Inspiron™ SES showed a sustained safe and effective clinical profile after 4-year of follow-up, with very low adverse events and null stent thrombosis (ST) occurrence.

Validation of the SYNTAX revascularization index to quantify reasonable level of incomplete revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention

Incomplete revascularization is common after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Whether a "reasonable" degree of incomplete revascularization is associated with a similar favorable long-term prognosis compared with complete revascularization remains unknown. We sought to quantify the proportion of coronary artery disease burden treated by PCI and evaluate its impact on outcomes using a new prognostic instrument-the Synergy Between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) Revascularization Index (SRI). The baseline SYNTAX score (bSS), the residual SYNTAX score, and the delta SYNTAX score (ΔSS) were determined from 888 angiograms of patients enrolled in the prospective SYNTAX trial. The SRI was then calculated for each patient using the following formula: SRI = (ΔSS/bSS]) × 100. Outcomes were examined according to the proportion of revascularized myocardium (SRI = 100% [complete revascularization], 50% to <100%, and <50%). The Youden index for the SRI was computed to identify the best cutoff for 5-year all-cause mortality. The mean bSS was 28.4 ± 11.5, and after PCI, the mean ΔSS was 23.8 ± 10.9 and the mean residual SYNTAX score was 4.5 ± 6.9. The mean SRI was 85.3 ± 21.2% and was 100% in 385 patients (43.5%), <100% to 50% in 454 patients (51.1%), and <50% in 48 patients (5.4%). Five-year adverse outcomes, including death, were inversely proportional to the SRI. An SRI cutoff of <70% (present in 142 patients [16.0%] after PCI) had the best prognostic accuracy for prediction of death and, by multivariable analysis, was an independent predictor of 5-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 4.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.79 to 6.11, p <0.0001). In conclusion, the SRI is a newly described method for quantifying the proportion of coronary artery disease burden treated by PCI. The SRI is a useful tool in assessing the degree of revascularization after PCI, with SRI ≥70% representing a "reasonable" goal for patients with complex coronary artery disease.

Short- and Long-term Evaluation of Bioresorbable Scaffolds by Optical Coherence Tomography

The analysis of bioresorbable scaffolds (BRSs) by optical coherence tomography (OCT) requires a dedicated methodology, as the polymeric scaffold has a distinct appearance and undergoes dynamic structural changes with time. The high resolution of OCT allows for the detailed assessment of scaffold implantation, rupture, discontinuity, and strut integration. OCT does not provide reliable information on the extent of scaffold degradation, as it cannot differentiate between polylactide polymer and the provisional matrix of proteoglycan formed by connective tissue. Three-dimensional OCT reconstruction can aid in the evaluation of BRS in special scenarios such as overlapping scaffold segments and bifurcations.

Comparison between MDCT and Grayscale IVUS in a Quantitative Analysis of Coronary Lumen in Segments with or without Atherosclerotic Plaques

Background

The diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice MDCT in comparison with IVUS has been poorly described and is mainly restricted to reports analyzing segments with documented atherosclerotic plaques.

Objectives

We compared 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with gray scale intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for the evaluation of coronary lumen dimensions in the context of a comprehensive analysis, including segments with absent or mild disease.

Methods

The 64-slice MDCT was performed within 72 h before the IVUS imaging, which was obtained for at least one coronary, regardless of the presence of luminal stenosis at angiography. A total of 21 patients were included, with 70 imaged vessels (total length 114.6 ± 38.3 mm per patient). A coronary plaque was diagnosed in segments with plaque burden > 40%.

Results

At patient, vessel, and segment levels, average lumen area, minimal lumen area, and minimal lumen diameter were highly correlated between IVUS and 64-slice MDCT (p < 0.01). However, 64-slice MDCT tended to underestimate the lumen size with a relatively wide dispersion of the differences. The comparison between 64-slice MDCT and IVUS lumen measurements was not substantially affected by the presence or absence of an underlying plaque. In addition, 64-slice MDCT showed good global accuracy for the detection of IVUS parameters associated with flow-limiting lesions.

Conclusions

In a comprehensive, multi-territory, and whole-artery analysis, the assessment of coronary lumen by 64-slice MDCT compared with coronary IVUS showed a good overall diagnostic ability, regardless of the presence or absence of underlying atherosclerotic plaques.

Long-term forecasting and comparison of mortality in the Evaluation of the Xience Everolimus Eluting Stent vs. Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization (EXCEL) trial: prospective validation of the SYNTAX Score II

AIMS

To prospectively validate the SYNTAX Score II and forecast the outcomes of the randomized Evaluation of the Xience Everolimus-Eluting Stent Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization (EXCEL) Trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Evaluation of the Xience Everolimus Eluting Stent vs. Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularization is a prospective, randomized multicenter trial designed to establish the efficacy and safety of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the everolimus-eluting stent compared with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in subjects with unprotected left-main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease and low-intermediate anatomical SYNTAX scores (<33). After completion of patient recruitment in EXCEL, the SYNTAX Score II was prospectively applied to predict 4-year mortality in the CABG and PCI arms. The 95% prediction intervals (PIs) for mortality were computed using simulation with bootstrap resampling (10 000 times). For the entire study cohort, the 4-year predicted mortalities were 8.5 and 10.5% in the PCI and CABG arms, respectively [odds ratios (OR) 0.79; 95% PI 0.43-1.50). In subjects with low (≤22) anatomical SYNTAX scores, the predicted OR was 0.69 (95% PI 0.34-1.45); in intermediate anatomical SYNTAX scores (23-32), the predicted OR was 0.93 (95% PI 0.53-1.62). Based on 4-year mortality predictions in EXCEL, clinical characteristics shifted long-term mortality predictions either in favour of PCI (older age, male gender and COPD) or CABG (younger age, lower creatinine clearance, female gender, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction).

CONCLUSION

The SYNTAX Score II indicates at least an equipoise for long-term mortality between CABG and PCI in subjects with ULMCA disease up to an intermediate anatomical complexity. Both anatomical and clinical characteristics had a clear impact on long-term mortality predictions and decision making between CABG and PCI.

First-in-man randomised comparison of a novel sirolimus-eluting stent with abluminal biodegradable polymer and thin-strut cobalt-chromium alloy: INSPIRON-I trial

AIMS

The INSPIRON-I trial is a first-in-man evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the Inspiron drug-eluting stent, a sirolimus-eluting stent with abluminal biodegradable polymer coating and thin cobalt-chromium alloy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This is a randomised, multicentre comparison between Inspiron and a stent with the same metallic structure but without polymer coating or drug elution (Cronus). The primary objective was to evaluate the in-segment late loss (LLL) at six months. Secondary endpoints included percent in-stent obstruction as measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) at six months and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Fifty-eight patients were enrolled (60 lesions), 39 for Inspiron and 19 for Cronus. Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics of both groups were similar. At six months, the in-segment LLL was reduced in the Inspiron group compared to the control group (0.19±0.16 mm vs. 0.58±0.4 mm, respectively; p<0.001), as well as the percent neointimal obstruction (7.8±7.1% vs. 26.5±11.4%; p<0.001). At two-year follow-up, incidence of MACE was similar between groups (7.9 vs. 21.1%, respectively; p=0.20), with lower target lesion revascularisation for Inspiron (0 vs. 21.1%, respectively; p=0.01) and no stent thrombosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Sirolimus eluted from an abluminal biodegradable polymer on a cobalt-chromium alloy proved effective in reducing restenosis at six months.

Scaffold and edge vascular response following implantation of everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold: a 3-year serial optical coherence tomography study

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to investigate the in-scaffold vascular response (SVR) and edge vascular response (EVR) after implantation of an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) using serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.

BACKGROUND

Although studies using intravascular ultrasound have evaluated the EVR in metal stents and BRSs, there is a lack of OCT-based SVR and EVR assessment after BRS implantation.

METHODS

In the ABSORB Cohort B (ABSORB Clinical Investigation, Cohort B) study, 23 patients (23 lesions) in Cohort B1 and 17 patients (18 lesions) in Cohort B2 underwent truly serial OCT examinations at 3 different time points (Cohort B1: post-procedure, 6 months, and 2 years; B2: post-procedure, 1 year, and 3 years) after implantation of an 18-mm scaffold. A frame-by-frame OCT analysis was performed at the 5-mm proximal, 5-mm distal edge, and 2-mm in-scaffold margins, whereas the middle 14-mm in-scaffold segment was analyzed at 1-mm intervals.

RESULTS

The in-scaffold mean luminal area significantly decreased from baseline to 6 months or 1 year (7.22 ± 1.24 mm(2) vs. 6.05 ± 1.38 mm(2) and 7.64 ± 1.19 mm(2) vs. 5.72 ± 0.89 mm(2), respectively; both p < 0.01), but remained unchanged from then onward. In Cohort B1, a significant increase in mean luminal area of the distal edge was observed (5.42 ± 1.81 mm(2) vs. 5.58 ± 1.53 mm(2); p < 0.01), whereas the mean luminal area of the proximal edge remained unchanged at 6 months. In Cohort B2, the mean luminal areas of the proximal and distal edges were significantly smaller than post-procedure measurements at 3 years. The mean luminal area loss at both edges was significantly less than the mean luminal area loss of the in-scaffold segment at both 6-month and 2-year follow-up in Cohort B1 or at 1 year and 3 years in Cohort B2.

CONCLUSIONS

This OCT-based serial EVR and SVR evaluation of the Absorb Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) showed less luminal loss at the edges than luminal loss within the scaffold. The luminal reduction of both edges is not a nosologic entity, but an EVR in continuity with the SVR, extending from the in-scaffold margin to both edges. (ABSORB Clinical Investigation, Cohort B [ABSORB B]; NCT00856856).

Intravascular ultrasound guidance to minimize the use of iodine contrast in percutaneous coronary intervention: the MOZART (Minimizing cOntrast utiliZation With IVUS Guidance in coRonary angioplasTy) randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance on the final volume of contrast agent used in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

BACKGROUND

To date, few approaches have been described to reduce the final dose of contrast agent in PCIs. We hypothesized that IVUS might serve as an alternative imaging tool to angiography in many steps during PCI, thereby reducing the use of iodine contrast.

METHODS

A total of 83 patients were randomized to angiography-guided PCI or IVUS-guided PCI; both groups were treated according to a pre-defined meticulous procedural strategy. The primary endpoint was the total volume contrast agent used during PCI. Patients were followed clinically for an average of 4 months.

RESULTS

The median total volume of contrast was 64.5 ml (interquartile range [IQR]: 42.8 to 97.0 ml; minimum, 19 ml; maximum, 170 ml) in the angiography-guided group versus 20.0 ml (IQR: 12.5 to 30.0 ml; minimum, 3 ml; maximum, 54 ml) in the IVUS-guided group (p < 0.001). Similarly, the median volume of contrast/creatinine clearance ratio was significantly lower among patients treated with IVUS-guided PCI (1.0 [IQR: 0.6 to 1.9] vs. 0.4 [IQR: 0.2 to 0.6, respectively; p < 0.001). In-hospital and 4-month outcomes were not different between patients randomized to angiography-guided and IVUS-guided PCI.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoughtful and extensive use of IVUS as the primary imaging tool to guide PCI is safe and markedly reduces the volume of iodine contrast compared with angiography-alone guidance. The use of IVUS should be considered for patients at high risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury or volume overload undergoing coronary angioplasty. (Minimizing cOntrast utiliZation With IVUS Guidance in coRonary angioplasTy [MOZART]; NCT01947335).

Differential impact of five coronary devices on plaque size: insights from the ABSORB and SPIRIT trials

BACKGROUND

Coronary plaque size modification, by either local (device) or systemic treatments, has been the target for many years.

METHODS

From ABSORB Cohort A (Absorb BVS 1.0), ABSORB Cohort B (Absorb BVS 1.1), SPIRIT FIRST (Multi-Link Vision vs. Xience V) & SPIRIT II (Xience V vs. Taxus), we calculated the total plaque area (vessel minus lumen area - thus it comprises both compartments - the plaque behind struts and the neointima.) changes by IVUS.

RESULTS

A total of 313 patients were included. Comparison-at-6-month follow-up: All devices induced an increase in the total plaque area. The largest increase occurred with Vision and Taxus stents as compared to other devices [Absorb BVS (1.0 and 1.1) and Xience V], (p=0.0002). Comparison-at-2-year follow-up: Absorb BVS 1.1 had a larger increase from post procedure in total plaque compared to Absorb BVS 1.0, Xience V and Taxus (p=0.0499). However, in Absorb BVS 1.1 total plaque showed a reduction of 2.2% from 1 to 3 years. Specifically, the total plaque in the sequential cohorts of Absorb BVS 1.1 increased 16.2% from baseline to 2 years (Cohort B1) while at 3 years this increase is only 5% compared to baseline (Cohort B2).

CONCLUSIONS

Local devices affect coronary plaque size differently and it depends on the platform (metallic vs. polymeric) and on whether it is a bare - or drug eluting stent. Coronary scaffolds appear to be a promising alternative to metallic stents since they allow plaque regression at long-term follow-up.

Impact of everolimus versus other rapamycin derivative-eluting stents on clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis of 16 randomized trials

BACKGROUND

Everolimus-eluting stent (EES) are considered to have better clinical outcomes than other rapamycin derivative-eluting stents; however, the individual trials may not have sufficient power to prove it. This meta-analysis aimed to compare clinical outcomes of EES against other rapamycin derivative-eluting stents.

METHODS

We searched Medline, the Cochrane Library, and other internet sources, without language or date restrictions for articles comparing clinical outcomes between EES and other rapamycin derivative-eluting stents. Safety endpoints were stent thrombosis (ST), mortality, cardiac death, and myocardial infarction (MI). Efficacy endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACE), target lesion revascularization (TLR), and target vessel revascularization (TVR).

RESULTS

We identified 16 randomized controlled trials with 23,481 patients and a weighted mean follow-up of 18 months. Compared with other rapamycin derivative-eluting stents, EES were associated with a significant reduction in definite ST [relative risk (RR): 0.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.30-0.69; p<0.001] and TLR (RR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77-0.99; p=0.03). EES also showed a non-significant trend toward reduction in definite/probable ST (RR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.56-1.01; p=0.06). However, both groups had similar rates of mortality (RR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.82-1.09; p=0.45), MI (RR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.82-1.10; p=0.43), and MACE (RR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.87-1.02; p=0.35). The stratified analysis of the included trials showed that EES was associated with significantly lower rate of definite ST compared with either zotarolimus-eluting stent (p=0.012) or sirolimus-eluting stent (p=0.006), but not biolimus-eluting stent (p=0.16). In longer follow-up (>1 year) stratification, EES was associated with a significant reduction in risk of definite ST (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

EES is associated with a significant reduction in definite ST and TLR for treating patients with coronary artery disease, compared with a pooled group of other rapamycin derivative-eluting stents. Biolimus-eluting stent had similar safety and efficacy for treating patients with coronary artery disease, compared with the EES.

Ecology of the parasitic endohelminth community of Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) (Characiformes) from Aquidauana and Miranda Rivers, Pantanal, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

In this study the structure and diversity of the endohelminth community, as well as its interactions with 73 specimens of Piaractus mesopotamicus are described. The fish were caught in Aquidauana and Miranda rivers, both located in the Pantantal region, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. A total of 608,788 specimens of helminthes were found, representing five species: Dadaytrema oxycephala, Chabaudinema americanum, Spectatus spectatus, Rondonia rondoni and Echinorhynchus jucundum. D. oxycephala was more prevalent (91.78%) followed by R. rondoni (73.97%). Simpson's index indicated dominance in the endohelminth infracommunities (C = 0.396) and D. oxycephala was considered central species. A total of 54 hosts had between 2 and 3 species of helminthes. The pairs of the species R. rondoni/D. oxycephala and S. spectatus/D. oxycephala showed significant positive correlation between abundances. There was a significant positive correlation between total length and abundance of S. spectatus (rs = -0.2467 and p = 0.0353). Abundance of R. rondoni between the periods of 1/2003 and 2/2003 (p = 0.0356) and 1/2003 and 4/2004 (p = 0.0009) was significantly different. There was significant prevalence of E. jucundum in the female hosts.

Ecology of the parasitic endohelminth community of Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Linnaeus, 1776) (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from the Aquidauana River, Pantanal, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

This study investigated the structure and diversity of the endohelminth community and its interactions with Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, caught in the Aquidauana River, in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Ten helminth species were represented in 1,228 specimens of parasites found in the intestine and mesentery of 33 specimens of P. fasciatum. Cestodes were observed in the intestine, while nematodes Cucullanus sp. in the mesentery. Contracaecum sp. Type 1, Spatulifer rugosa and Choanoscolex abscisus showed the highest mean intensity and mean abundance and Nomimoscolex sudobin showed the highest prevalence. Simpson's index indicated dominance in the endohelminth infracommunities (C = 1.0792) and Choanoscolex abscisus was considered the central species. A clumped pattern of dispersion according to Green's index was related. 69.69% of hosts analyzed had between 2 and 5 species of endohelminths. Mean diversity was H = 0.5517 (SD = 0.4209). Two pairs of species showed significant positive association and four pairs presented significant positive correlation among abundance data. Significant negative correlations between total length and prevalence and abundance of Peltydocotyle rugosa and Nomimoscolex sudobim were found. However, no significant correlation was observed between condition factor and abundance, as well as total length and diversity. There was significant prevalence of Harriscolex kaparari in male hosts.

[The process of nursing care in mental health]

This is an essay about the nursing working process in mental health. Several conceptions have substantiated the psychiatric assistance, as well as the proposals of reorientation of those practices; nursing practices have been related to that process. The professionals' standpoint determines the choice of a tendency and the understanding of the health-illness process. The need of reviewing the nursing working object, as well as its practice in view of the transformations in mental health assistance, has pointed towards new professional attitudes regarding the person with psychic disorders, as well as towards the acquisition of knowledge besides that one obtained at college courses.

[Association of thymoma and severe intestinal strongyloidiasis]

A 59-years-old man with thymoma and severe intestinal strongyloidiasis is reported. The authors pointed out a possible influence of immunological response related with thymoma in the development of hyperinfection by Strongyloides stercoralis.

Development of an antivenom against toxins of Lonomia obliqua caterpillars

Skin contact with caterpillars of Lonomia moths causes haemostatic disorders that may evolve into a haemorrhagic syndrome. Replacement therapy has been shown to exacerbate the clinical symptoms of this envenoming. In this study it is shown that horses immunized with a bristle extract of L. obliqua caterpillars produced IgG antibodies that completely neutralized, in vitro, the toxin(s) responsible for the blood incoagulability observed in rats. This antivenom offers the possibility of specific treatment for envenoming caused by contact with caterpillars of Lonomia moths.

[Sodoku--a case report]

Rat-bite fever results from an infection with the organism Spirillum minus. The authors report a symptomatic patient with fever, malaise, and ulcer in forehead after a rodent exposure. The organism was identified in darkfield examination of the ulcer exudate. Penicillin was the drug used with clinical improvement of symptoms.