A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Trial to Assess the Effectiveness of the MagicTouch Sirolimus-Coated Balloon in Small Vessels: Rationale and Design of the TRANSFORM I Trial

AIMS

The objective of the study is to assess the efficacy and safety of the novel Magic Touch sirolimus coated-balloon (SCB) when compared to the SeQuent Please Neo paclitaxel coated balloon (PCB) for the treatment of de-novo small vessel coronary artery diseases (SVD).

STUDY DESIGN

The TRANSFORM I study is a randomized, multicenter, non-inferiority trial with the intent to enroll a total of 114 patients with a de-novo SVD (≤2.5 mm). Vessel size will be pre-screened by on-line QCA. After successful pre-dilatation without major coronary dissections (type C-F) nor Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction trial [TIMI] grade flow ≤2, patients will be enrolled in a 1:1 randomization to receive treatment with either the novel SCB balloon or the comparative PCB balloon. The balloon sizing will be selected according to the lumen-based approach derived from optical coherence tomography (OCT). The primary endpoint is 6-month mean net lumen diameter gain (6-month minimum lumen diameter [MLD] minus baseline MLD) assessed by quantitative coronary analysis (QCA) with non-inferiority margin of 0.3 mm in per-protocol analysis. The clinical follow-up will be conducted up to 1 year. The enrollment started in September 2020 and will complete in April 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

The TRANSFORM I trial will assess the efficacy of novel SCB in terms of non-inferiority to conventional PCB with a novel OCT measurement approach in patients with a de-novo SVD. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03913832.

Ticagrelor monotherapy in patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease: a post hoc analysis of the GLOBAL LEADERS trial

Background

Patients with both diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are a subpopulation characterized by ultrahigh ischemic and bleeding risk after percutaneous coronary intervention. There are limited data on the impact of ticagrelor monotherapy among these patients.

Methods

In this post hoc analysis of the GLOBAL-LEADERS trial, the treatment effects of the experimental (one-month dual-antiplatelet therapy [DAPT] followed by 23-month ticagrelor monotherapy) versus the reference regimen (12-month DAPT followed by 12-month aspirin alone) were analyzed according to DM/CKD status. The primary endpoint was a composite endpoint of all-cause death or new Q-wave myocardial infarction at 2-years. The patient-oriented composite endpoint (POCE) was defined as the composite of all-cause death, any stroke, site-reported MI and any revascularization, whereas net adverse clinical events (NACE) combined POCE with BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding events.

Results

At 2 years, the DM + /CKD + patients had significantly higher incidences of the primary endpoint (9.5% versus 3.1%, adjusted HR 2.16; 95% CI [1.66–2.80], p < 0.001), BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding events, stroke, site-reported myocardial infraction, all revascularization, POCE, and NACE, compared with the DM-/CKD- patients. Among the DM + /CKD + patients, after adjustment, there were no significant differences in the primary endpoints between the experimental and reference regimen; however, the experimental regimen was associated with lower rates of POCE (20.6% versus 25.9%, HR 0.74; 95% CI [0.55–0.99], p = 0.043, p_interaction = 0.155) and NACE (22.7% versus 28.3%, HR 0.75; 95% CI [0.56–0.99], p = 0.044, p_interaction = 0.310), which was mainly driven by a lower rate of all revascularization, as compared with the reference regimen. The landmark analysis showed that while the experimental and reference regimen had similar rates of all the clinical endpoints during the first year, the experimental regimen was associated with significantly lower rates of POCE (5.8% versus 11.0%, HR 0.49; 95% CI [0.29–0.82], p = 0.007, p_interaction = 0.040) and NACE (5.8% versus 11.2%, HR 0.48; 95% CI [0.29–0.82], p = 0.007, p_interaction = 0.013) in the second year.

Conclusion

Among patients with both DM and CKD, ticagrelor monotherapy was not associated with lower rates of all-cause death or new Q-wave, or major bleeding complications; however, it was associated with lower rates of POCE and NACE. These findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating.

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01813435).

DAPT Score and the Impact of Ticagrelor Monotherapy During the Second Year After PCI

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the ability of the dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) score in stratifying ischemic and bleeding risk in a contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) population.

BACKGROUND

The DAPT score is recommended by guidelines as a tool to stratify ischemic and bleeding risk. Its utility in contemporary PCI is unknown.

METHODS

The study studied patients in GLOBAL LEADERS (A Clinical Study Comparing Two Forms of Anti-platelet Therapy After Stent Implantation) who were free of major ischemic and bleeding events and adhered to antiplatelet strategy during the first year after PCI. The primary ischemic endpoint was the composite of myocardial infarction or stent thrombosis. The primary bleeding endpoint was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 3 or 5. Outcomes from 12 to 24 months after PCI were compared according to the DAPT score.

RESULTS

Of 11,289 patients that were event-free after the first year, 6,882 and 4,407 patients had low (<2) and high (≥2) DAPT scores, respectively. Compared with a low DAPT score, patients with a high DAPT score had a higher rate of the composites of myocardial infarction or stent thrombosis (0.70% vs. 1.55%; p < 0.0001). The rate of Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 3 or 5 bleeding was 0.54% and 0.30% in the low and high DAPT score groups, respectively (p = 0.058). The effect of ticagrelor versus aspirin monotherapy on primary ischemic and bleeding endpoints during the second year were no different among the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The DAPT score can stratify ischemic but not bleeding risk in a contemporary PCI population during the second year. The score did not provide additional value for selection of antiplatelet strategy beyond the first year.

Frailty Checkup Supporters' Intentions to Participate in Human-Resource Development and Training Activities

BACKGROUND

Frailty prevention is one of social prescriptions for an aging society. That requires community level intervention.

OBJECTIVES

This study examined frailty checkup supporters' (FCSs') intentions to engage in human-resource development and training activities (i.e., leadership activities) and related factors.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Three municipalities in suburban area, Eastern Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty-five of 59 FCSs completed anonymous self-administered questionnaires.

MEASUREMENTS

Questionnaire sought information regarding their sociodemographic data, their perceptions and experiences of FCS activities, and their intentions to participate in human-resource development and training activities. Participants were divided into a high intention (HI) and low intention group (LI). The two groups were compared using quantitative and qualitative data.

RESULTS

Eleven FCSs reported intending to engage in leader-related activities. Factors associated with FCSs' intentions were finding FCS activities rewarding and the willingness to continue performing FCS activities. The participants who changed their daily activities (p = .041) and perceptions regarding contributing to the community (p = .018) showed significantly higher intention than LI participants. Free description about the changes in perceptions and lifestyles as a consequence of participating in FCS activities were analyzed qualitatively. FCSs who changed their daily activities and perspectives about contributing to the community described positive changes in both the groups. Meanwhile, FCSs who did not change their daily activities and perspectives about contributing to the community described their reason only in the LI group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results might encourage FCSs to participate in training and guidance activities, as they have positive experiences and receive recognition obtained through participation in such activities.

Endothelial shear stress and vascular remodeling in bioresorbable scaffold and metallic stent

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The impact of endothelial shear stress (ESS) on vessel remodeling in vessels implanted with bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) as compared to metallic drug-eluting stent (DES) remains elusive. The aim of this study was to determine whether the relationship between ESS and remodeling patterns differs in BRS from those seen in metallic DES at 3-year follow-up.

METHODS

In the ABSORB II randomized trial, lesions were investigated by serial coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Three-dimensional reconstructions of coronary arteries post-procedure and at 3 years were performed. ESS was quantified using non-Newtonian steady flow simulation. IVUS cross-sections in device segment were matched using identical landmarks.

RESULTS

Paired ESS calculations post-procedure and at 3 years were feasible in 57 lesions in 56 patients. Post-procedure, median ESS at frame level was higher in BRS than in DES, with marginal statistical significance (0.97 ± 0.48 vs. 0.75 ± 0.39 Pa, p = 0.063). In the BRS arm, vessel area and lumen area showed larger increases in the highest tercile of median ESS post-procedure as compared to the lowest tercile. In contrast, in DES, no significant relationship between median ESS post-procedure and remodeling was observed. In multivariate analysis, smaller vessel area, larger lumen area, higher plaque burden post-procedure, and higher median ESS post-procedure were independently associated with expansive remodeling in matched frames. Only in BRS, younger age was an additional significant predictor of expansive remodeling.

CONCLUSIONS

In a subset of lesions with large plaque burden, shear stress could be associated with expansive remodeling and late lumen enlargement in BRS, while ESS had no impact on vessel dimension in metallic DES.

The ultra-thin strut sirolimus-eluting coronary stent: SUPRAFLEX

Percutaneous coronary interventions with drug-eluting stents is currently the preferred revascularization treatment strategy for coronary artery disease. Following the first generation, the second-generation drug-eluting stents was designed with a thinner strut, better biocompatible polymer with/without bioresorbable coating or even polymer-free struts. The SUPRAFLEX stent system has ultra-thin struts (60 μm) across all stent diameters and a biodegradable polymer coating, enabling 70% of the sirolimus elution within 7 days. SUPRAFLEX has been assessed in large scale randomized controlled trials. This review summarizes the design of the SUPRAFLEX stent, the results of the pivotal clinical trials and outlines the ongoing research programs.

Site vs. core laboratory variability in computed tomographic angiography-derived SYNTAX scores in the SYNTAX III trial

AIMS 

To investigate the variability between site and core laboratory (CL) calculation of the anatomical SYNTAX score (SS) based on coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) alone and functional SS based on coronary CTA and fractional flow reserve derived from computed tomography (FFRCT) in the SYNTAX III trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS 

The SYNTAX III trial was a multicentre, international study that included 223 patients with three-vessel disease with or without left main involvement. Functional SS was computed by subtracting non-flow limiting stenoses (FFRCT > 0.80) from anatomical SS. SS was combined with clinical information to generate the SYNTAX score II (SS II) that provides treatment recommendations. The mean anatomical SS based on coronary CTA alone was 33.4 ± 12.7 by sites and 37.1 ± 13.4 by CL (P < 0.001). The mean functional SS based on coronary CTA and FFRCT was 30.5 ± 13.0 by sites and 33.3 ± 13.6 by CL (P < 0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.49 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37-0.59) in anatomical SS and 0.62 (95% CI 0.52-0.70) in functional SS. The Cohen's κ comparing treatment recommendation between sites and CL was 0.68 (95% CI 0.58-0.78) based on anatomical SS and 0.71 (95% CI 0.60-0.82) based on functional SS.

CONCLUSION 

The mean anatomical SS derived from coronary CTA alone and functional SS based on coronary CTA and FFRCT were higher when assessed by the CL than by the sites themselves. However, substantial agreement in treatment recommendation by SS II between sites and CL was demonstrated.

CLINICAL TRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER

NCT02385279.

Impact of Bleeding and Myocardial Infarction on Mortality in All-Comer Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND

Bleeding and myocardial infarction (MI) after percutaneous coronary intervention are independent risk factors for mortality. This study aimed to investigate the association of all-cause mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention with site-reported bleeding and MI, when considered as individual, repeated, or combined events.

METHODS

We used the data from the GLOBAL LEADERS trial (GLOBAL LEADERS: A Clinical Study Comparing Two Forms of Anti-Platelet Therapy After Stent Implantation), an all-comers trial of 15 968 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Bleeding was defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) 2, 3, or 5, whereas MI included periprocedural and spontaneous MIs according to the Third Universal Definition.

RESULTS

At 2-year follow-up, 1061 and 498 patients (6.64% and 3.12%) experienced bleeding and MI, respectively. Patients with a bleeding event had a 10.8% mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 5.97 [95% CI, 4.76-7.49]; P<0.001), and the mortality of patients with an MI was 10.4% (HR, 5.06 [95% CI, 3.72-6.90]; P<0.001), whereas the overall mortality was 2.99%. Albeit reduced over time, MI and even minor BARC 2 bleeding significantly influenced mortality beyond 1 year after adverse events (HR of MI, 2.32 [95% CI, 1.18-4.55]; P=0.014, and HR of BARC 2 bleeding, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.02-3.15]; P=0.044). The mortality rates in patients with repetitive bleeding, repetitive MI, and both bleeding and MI were 16.1%, 19.2%, and 19.0%, and their HRs for 2-year mortality were 8.58 (95% CI, 5.63-13.09; P<0.001), 5.57 (95% CI, 2.53-12.25; P<0.001), and 6.60 (95% CI, 3.44-12.65; P<0.001), respectively. De-escalation of antiplatelet therapy at the time of BARC 3 bleeding was associated with a lower subsequent bleeding or MI rate, compared with continuation of antiplatelet therapy (HR, 0.32 [95% CI, 0.11-0.92]; P=0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

The fatal impact of bleeding and MI persisted beyond one year. Additional bleeding or MIs resulted in a poorer prognosis. De-escalation of antiplatelet therapy at the time of BARC 3 bleeding could have a major safety merit. These results emphasize the importance of considering the net clinical benefit including ischemic and bleeding events. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01813435.

Reduction of extracellular sodium evokes nociceptive behaviors in the chicken via activation of TRPV1

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), a non-selective cation channel, is mainly expressed in nociceptive primary sensory neurons. Sensitivity of TRPV1 to several stimuli is known to vary among species, specifically, the avian orthologue is nearly insensitive to capsaicin. Extracellular sodium ions ([Na⁺]_o) regulate TRPV1 activity in mammals, but their regulatory role on chicken TRPV1 (cTRPV1) is unknown. Here, we focused on the actions of capsaicin and low [Na⁺]_o on cTRPV1 activity. In chicken dorsal root ganglion (cDRG) neurons, capsaicin elicited [Ca²⁺]_i increases, but its effective concentration was much higher than those in mammals. Low [Na⁺]_o evoked [Ca²⁺]_i increases in cDRG neurons in a decreasing [Na⁺]_o-dependent manner and the complete removal of [Na⁺]_o (0Na) produced maximal effects. The population of 0Na-sensitive neurons was mostly overlapped with those of proton- and capsaicin-sensitive ones. Low [Na⁺]_o synergistically potentiated the capsaicin- and proton-induced TRPV1 activation in cDRG neurons. In HEK293 cells expressing cTRPV1 (cTRPV1-HEK), capsaicin elicited [Ca²⁺]_i increases with an EC₅₀ of 11.8 µM, and low [Na⁺]_o also did. Well-defined mammalian TRPV1 antagonists hardly suppressed cTRPV1 activation by low [Na⁺]_o. 0Na evoked outwardly rectified currents in cTRPV1-HEK. Mutagenesis analyses revealed a possible interaction of [Na⁺]_o with the proton-binding sites of cTRPV1. The administration of capsaicin and 0Na to chick eyes elicited pain-related behaviors. These results suggest that low [Na⁺]_o is capable of activating cTRPV1 in vitro, resulting in pain in vivo. Our data demonstrate that characterization of the cTRPV1 function is important to understand activation mechanisms of TRPV1.

Advances in IVUS/OCT and Future Clinical Perspective of Novel Hybrid Catheter System in Coronary Imaging

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been developed and improved as both diagnostic and guidance tools for interventional procedures over the past three decades. IVUS has a resolution of 100 μm with a high tissue penetration and capability of assessing the entire structure of a coronary artery including the external elastic membrane, whereas OCT has a higher resolution of 10–20 μm to assess endoluminal structures with a limited tissue penetration compared to IVUS. Recently, two companies, CONAVI and TERUMO, integrated IVUS and OCT into a single catheter system. With their inherent strength and limitations, the combined IVUS and OCT probes are complementary and work synergistically to enable a comprehensive depiction of coronary artery. In this review, we summarize the performance of the two intracoronary imaging modalities—IVUS and OCT—and discuss the expected potential of the novel hybrid IVUS–OCT catheter system in the clinical field.

Comparative Methodological Assessment of the Randomized GLOBAL LEADERS Trial Using Total Ischemic and Bleeding Events

BACKGROUND

Time-to-first-event analysis considers only the first event irrespective of its severity. There are several methods to assess trial outcomes beyond time-to-first-event analysis, such as analyzing total events and ranking outcomes. In the GLOBAL LEADERS study, time-to-first-event analysis did not show superiority of ticagrelor monotherapy following one-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention to conventional 12-month DAPT followed by aspirin monotherapy in the reduction of the primary composite end point of all-cause mortality or new Q-wave myocardial infarction. This study sought to explore various analytical approaches in assessing total ischemic and bleeding events after percutaneous coronary intervention in the GLOBAL LEADERS study.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Total ischemic and bleeding events were defined as all-cause mortality, any stroke, any myocardial infarction, any revascularization, or Bleeding Academic Research Consortium grade 2 or 3 bleeding. We used various analytical approaches to analyze the benefit of ticagrelor monotherapy over conventional DAPT. For ischemic and bleeding events at 2 years after percutaneous coronary intervention, ticagrelor monotherapy demonstrated a 6% risk reduction, compared with conventional 12-month DAPT in time-to-first-event analysis (hazard ratio, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.88-1.01]; log-rank P=0.10). In win ratio analysis, win ratio was 1.05 (95% CI, 0.97-1.13; P=0.20). Negative binomial regression and Andersen-Gill analyses which include repeated events showed statistically significant advantage for ticagrelor monotherapy (rate ratio, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.85-0.99; P=0.020] and hazard ratio, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.85-0.99; P=0.028], respectively), although in weighted composite end point analysis, the hazard ratio was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.84-1.04; log-rank P=0.22).

CONCLUSIONS

Statistical analyses considering repeated events or event severity showed that ticagrelor monotherapy consistently reduced ischemic and bleeding events by 5% to 8%, compared with conventional 1-year DAPT. Applying multiple statistical methods could emphasize the multiple facets of a trial and result in accurate and more appropriate analyses. Considering the recurrence of ischemic and bleeding events, ticagrelor monotherapy appeared to be beneficial after percutaneous coronary intervention. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01813435.

Benefit and Risks of Aspirin in Addition to Ticagrelor in Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Post Hoc Analysis of the Randomized GLOBAL LEADERS Trial

Importance

The role of aspirin as part of antiplatelet regimens in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) needs to be clarified in the context of newer potent P2Y12 antagonists.

Objective

To evaluate the benefit and risks of aspirin in addition to ticagrelor among patients with ACS beyond 1 month after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Design, Setting, and Participants

This is a nonprespecified, post hoc analysis of GLOBAL LEADERS, a randomized, open-label superiority trial comparing 2 antiplatelet treatment strategies after PCI. The trial included 130 secondary/tertiary care hospitals in different countries, with 15 991 unselected patients with stable coronary artery disease or ACS undergoing PCI. Patients had outpatient visits at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after index procedure.

Interventions

The experimental group received aspirin plus ticagrelor for 1 month followed by 23-month ticagrelor monotherapy; the reference group received aspirin plus either clopidogrel (stable coronary artery disease) or ticagrelor (ACS) for 12 months, followed by 12-month aspirin monotherapy. In this analysis, we examined the clinical outcomes occurring between 31 days and 365 days after randomization, specifically in patients with ACS who, within this time frame, were assigned to receive either ticagrelor alone or ticagrelor and aspirin.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the composite of all-cause death or new Q-wave myocardial infarction.

Results

Of 15 968 participants, there were 7487 patients with ACS enrolled; 3750 patients were assigned to the experimental group and 3737 patients to the reference group. Between 31 and 365 days after randomization, the primary outcome occurred in 55 patients (1.5%) in the experimental group and in 75 patients (2.0%) in the reference group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.51-1.03; P = .07); investigator-reported Bleeding Academic Research Consortium-defined bleeding type 3 or 5 occurred in 28 patients (0.8%) in the experimental group and in 54 patients (1.5%) in the reference arm (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33-0.81; P = .004).

Conclusions and Relevance

Between 1 month and 12 months after PCI in ACS, aspirin was associated with increased bleeding risk and appeared not to add to the benefit of ticagrelor on ischemic events. These findings should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis generating; however, they pave the way for further trials evaluating aspirin-free antiplatelet strategies after PCI.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01813435.

Effect of lactate administration on exercise-induced PGC-1α mRNA expression in Thoroughbreds

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of lactate administration on the mRNA response of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) to acute exercise in Thoroughbred skeletal muscle. Five Thoroughbred horses performed treadmill running at 90% of maximal oxygen consumption for 2 min on two separate occasions, either after the administration of two litres of a sodium lactate solution (LAC; 500 mmol/l sodium lactate in 0.9% NaCl) or a saline solution as a control (CON; 0.9% NaCl). Lactate administration significantly elevated the peak plasma lactate concentration during exercise (16.0±2.8 mmol/l in LAC vs 10.8±2.2 mmol/l in CON). The increase in PGC-1α mRNA expression after 4 h of recovery from exercise was similar between treatments. However, there was positive correlation between exercise-induced PGC-1α mRNA response at 4 h after exercise and peak plasma lactate concentration during exercise. These results suggest that the exercise intensity-dependent adaptation of PGC-1α may be attributed, at least in part, to an increased lactate concentration.

Detection of information flow between cortical laminae activities and auditory evoked potentials in rats by means of Granger causality

We seek to understand the relation between invasive high-resolution data and non-invasive measurement in an animal model in an auditory sensory adaptation experimental setting. In a previous study, we estimated the mutual information between the phase of auditory evoked responses (AER) with the phase of local field potentials (LFP) of auditory cortices at different frequency ranges. The results showed a consistently high level of information sharing between the AER activities as well as the responses from the granular layer, which was known as the main thalamo-recipient layer. However, mutual information was fundamentally an undirected measure of information flow. In this study we investigated how well we could characterize direction of information flow, by using Granger causality (GC), between different cortical laminae and functional projections on to the AER activities. We obtained that based on the GC coefficients, we are able to extract the connectivity between different cortical laminae to some extend and also a strong connection between the AER and granular layer. In our future study, we would like to construct a reliable picture of network connectivity, both functionally and anatomically, between different layers at more specified frequencies and much finer temporal resolutions.

Comparative Assessment of Predictive Performance of PRECISE-DAPT, CRUSADE, and ACUITY Scores in Risk Stratifying 30-Day Bleeding Events

Background  The utility of the PRECISE-DAPT score in predicting short-term major bleeding, either alone, or in comparison with the CRUSADE and ACUITY scores, has not been investigated. This analysis compared the predictive performances of the three bleeding scores in stratifying the risk of 30-day major bleeding postpercutaneous coronary intervention in patients with dual-antiplatelet therapy.

Methods  In this post hoc subanalysis of the GLOBAL LEADERS trial, the primary safety objective (bleeding according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium [BARC] criteria [type 3 or 5]) was assessed at 30 days according to the three scores in the overall population, and in patients with acute (ACS) and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS).

Results  In a total of 15,968 patients, we calculated all three scores in 14,709 (92.1%). Irrespective of clinical presentation, the PRECISE-DAPT ( c -statistics: 0.648, 0.653, and 0.641, respectively), CRUSADE ( c -statistics: 0.641, 0.639, and 0.644, respectively), and ACUITY ( c -statistics: 0.633, 0.638, and 0.623, respectively) scores were no significant between-score differences in discriminatory performance for BARC 3 or 5 bleeding up to 30 days, and similarly the PRECISE-DAPT score had a comparable discriminative capacity according to the integrated discrimination improvement when compared with the other scores. In ACS, the CRUSADE score had a poor calibration ability (Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit [GOF] chi-square = 15.561, p  = 0.049), whereas in CCS, the PRECISE-DAPT score had poor calibration (GOF chi-square = 15.758, p  = 0.046).

Conclusion  The PRECISE-DAPT score might be clinically useful in the overall population and ACS patients for the prediction of short-term major bleeding considering its discriminative and calibration abilities.

Preclinical evaluation of a thin-strut bioresorbable scaffold (ArterioSorb): acute-phase invasive imaging assessment and hemodynamic implication

AIMS

The aim of this study was to assess the acute performance of the 95 µm ArterioSorb oriented poly L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffold in comparison with the XIENCE metallic drug-eluting stent (DES) in porcine coronary arteries.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In 15 non-atherosclerotic Yucatan mini pigs, the ArterioSorb (3.0/14 mm) and XIENCE (3.0/15 mm) were implanted in 25 and 15 vessels, respectively. Acute performance was evaluated by using quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Following three-dimensional reconstruction of the coronary arteries, endothelial shear stress (ESS) was quantified using non-Newtonian steady-flow simulation. Acute recoil measured by QCA was comparable in the two arms. Post-procedural flow and scaffold/stent area by OCT did not differ between the two devices. ESS post procedure was comparable between ArterioSorb and XIENCE (2.21±1.97 vs 2.25±1.71 Pa, p=0.314).

CONCLUSIONS

Acute recoil, luminal dimensions and ESS in the ArterioSorb oriented PLLA scaffold with thin struts of 95 µm were comparable to those in the XIENCE metallic DES.

Final 3-Year Outcomes of MiStent Biodegradable Polymer Crystalline Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Versus Xience Permanent Polymer Everolimus-Eluting Stent: Insights From the DESSOLVE III All-Comers Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

Numerous randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the superiority of thin-strut biodegradable polymer second-generation drug-eluting stent to the first-generation drug-eluting stent and the noninferiority to the thin-strut second-generation permanent polymer drug-eluting stent. Data on long-term clinical outcomes with a novel ultrathin drug-eluting stent, to date, are limited.

METHODS

The DESSOLVE III trial (Multicenter Randomized Study of the MiStent Sirolimus Eluting Absorbable Polymer Stent System for Revascularization of Coronary Arteries; n=1398) is a prospective, multicenter, single-blinded, all-comers, randomized controlled trial (NCT02385279), allocating in a 1:1 ratio to either ultrathin-strut biodegradable polymer MiStent sirolimus-eluting stent or to thin-strut permanent polymer Xience everolimus-eluting stent. The primary end point was device-oriented composite end point, defined as the composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically indicated target lesion revascularization. The secondary end point was patient-oriented composite end point, defined as the composite of all-cause mortality, any myocardial infarction, or any revascularization.

RESULTS

At 3 years, follow-up data were available in 1381 patients (98.8%). The primary end point of device-oriented composite end point occurred in 10.5% for MiStent sirolimus-eluting stent and in 11.5% for Xience everolimus-eluting stent (P=0.55). Rates of cardiac death (3.9% versus 3.8%; P=0.88), target vessel myocardial infarction (3.2% versus 2.5%; P=0.43), and clinically indicated target lesion revascularization (5.2% versus 6.5%; P=0.30) did not differ significantly between the 2 devices. The rate of definite or probable stent thrombosis was infrequent and similar between the 2 arms (1.2% versus 1.5%; P=0.64). The 90-day landmark analysis showed no significant difference in device-oriented composite end point between the 2 groups after polymer degradation of MiStent. The risk of patient-oriented composite end point was comparable between the 2 groups (22.7% versus 22.9%; P=0.34).

CONCLUSIONS

In the DESSOLVE III trial, early safety and efficacy with MiStent sirolimus-eluting bioabsorbable polymer-coated stent are confirmed at a longer term follow-up when compared with Xience everolimus-eluting permanent polymer-coated stent in a large all-comers population. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02385279.

Halo Structure of the Neutron-Dripline Nucleus ^{19}B

The heaviest bound isotope of boron ^{19}B has been investigated using exclusive measurements of its Coulomb dissociation, into ^{17}B and two neutrons, in collisions with Pb at 220  MeV/nucleon. Enhanced electric dipole (E1) strength is observed just above the two-neutron decay threshold with an integrated E1 strength of B(E1)=1.64±0.06(stat)±0.12(sys)  e^{2} fm^{2} for relative energies below 6 MeV. This feature, known as a soft E1 excitation, provides the first firm evidence that ^{19}B has a prominent two-neutron halo. Three-body calculations that reproduce the energy spectrum indicate that the valence neutrons have a significant s-wave configuration and exhibit a dineutronlike correlation.