Evolutionary perspective of drug eluting stents: from thick polymer to polymer free approach

In vitro drug release profiling of Sirolimus polymeric microparticles coated long-acting stents

In the realm of arterial disease interventions, drug-eluting stents (DES) have become a vital therapeutic choice in preventing atherosclerotic plaque formation and restenosis and facilitating vessel healing. Sirolimus-encapsulated poly Lactic-co-Glycolic acid (PLGA) Microparticles (MPs) were developed using solvent evaporation. MPs were freeze-dried with a cryoprotectant and coated on the stent surface using an efficient and reproducible nitrogen-assisted spray coating technique. The MPs displayed a uniform distribution particle size of 4.38 ± 1.1 μm, span value of 0.88 ± 0.02, coating mass transfer efficiency of 13.45 ± 1.1 % on the stent, and a coating time of ≤ 2 min per stent. Post sterilization, the particle size and morphology of the coated stents remained unchanged. Accelerated in vitro drug release profiles were evaluated under different conditions, indicating significant influences based on dissolution methods ranging from 28.2 %±4.3 %, 42.5 %±5.3 %, 76.6 %±4.7 %, and 84.25 %±3.1 % for dialysis bag (DB), vessel simulating flow-through cell (vFTC), flow-through cell (FTC), and sample and separate (SS) technique respectively for 48 h. The drug release mechanism from the coated stents is governed by the combination of the Korsmeyer Peppas and Higuchi models. The developed dissolution method exhibited discriminative effectiveness when evaluated with critical formulation attributes and process parameter variations. The 48 h accelerated drug release studies correlated well with the 6-month real-time release rate with an R2 value of 0.9142 and Pearson's R2 of 0.9561. Ex-vivo studies demonstrated the permeation of MPs into artery tissues. Stability studies confirmed that MPs coated stents maintained desired properties at 4 °C and 30 °C/65 % RH for 6 months. Overall, these findings contribute to advancing stent technology, suggesting the potential for improvement of arterial interventions and enhanced patient outcomes.

Global trends in clinical trials involving engineered biomaterials

Engineered biomaterials are materials specifically designed to interact with biological systems for biomedical applications. This paper offers the comprehensive analysis of global clinical trial trends involving such materials. We surveyed 834 studies in the ClinicalTrials.gov database and explored biomaterial types, their initiation points, and durations in clinical trials. Predominantly, synthetic and natural polymers, particularly silicone and collagen, are used. Trials, focusing on ophthalmology, dentistry, and vascular medicine, are primarily conducted in the United States, Canada, and Italy. These trials encompass a broad demographic, and trials enrolled fewer than 100 participants. The study duration varied ranging from 0.5 to 4.5 years. These biomaterials are mainly bioresorbable or bioinert, with the integration of cells in biomaterials remaining an underexplored area. Our findings shed light on current practices and future potentials of engineered biomaterials in clinical research, offering insights for advancing this dynamic field globally.

Polymer-free stents for percutaneous coronary intervention in diabetic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: To compare the efficacy of polymer-free drug-eluting stents (PF-DES) versus other stents in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions. Materials & methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to identify pertinent randomized controlled trials. The primary end point was the occurrence of target lesion failure. Results: Eight randomized controlled trials were included for a total of 4854 subjects. The PF-DES group experienced a trend in favor of a lower rate of target lesion failure (Incidence rate ratio = 0.91; p = 0.11) and a significantly lower rate of cardiac mortality, as compared with the control group (Incidence rate ratio = 0.82; p = 0.04). However, statistical significance was lost if bare-metal stent patients were excluded and a trend in favor of the PF-DES strategy was reported only for cardiac mortality. Conclusion: PF-DES could be a valuable strategy in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions.

Efficacy and Safety Evaluation of Tacrolimus-Eluting Stent in a Porcine Coronary Artery Model

BACKGROUND

A drug-eluting stent (DES) is a highly beneficial medical device used to widen or unblock narrowed blood vessels. However, the drugs released by the implantation of DES may hinder the re-endothelialization process, increasing the risk of late thrombosis. We have developed a tacrolimus-eluting stent (TES) that as acts as a potent antiproliferative and immunosuppressive agent, enhancing endothelial regeneration. In addition, we assessed the safety and efficacy of TES through both in vitro and in vivo tests.

METHODS

Tacrolimus and Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were applied to the metal stent using electrospinning equipment. The surface morphology of the stent was examined before and after coating using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-rays (EDX). The drug release test was conducted through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Cell proliferation and migration assays were performed using smooth muscle cells (SMC). The stent was then inserted into the porcine coronary artery and monitored for a duration of 4 weeks.

RESULTS

SEM analysis confirmed that the coating surface was uniform. Furthermore, EDX analysis showed that the surface was coated with both polymer and drug components. The HPCL analysis of TCL at a wavelength of 215 nm revealed that the drug was continuously released over a period of 4 weeks. Smooth muscle cell migration was significantly decreased in the tacrolimus group (54.1% ± 11.90%) compared to the non-treated group (90.1% ± 4.86%). In animal experiments, the stenosis rate was significantly reduced in the TES group (29.6% ± 7.93%) compared to the bare metal stent group (41.3% ± 10.18%). Additionally, the fibrin score was found to be lower in the TES group compared to the group treated with a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES).

CONCLUSION

Similar to SES, TES reduces neointimal proliferation in a porcine coronary artery model, specifically decreasing the fibrins score. Therefore, tacrolimus could be considered a promising drug for reducing restenosis and thrombosis.

3D printing technology and its revolutionary role in stent implementation in cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), exemplified by coronary artery disease (CAD), is a global health concern, escalating in prevalence and burden. The etiology of CAD is intricate, involving different risk factors. CVD remains a significant cause of mortality, driving the need for innovative interventions like percutaneous coronary intervention and vascular stents. These stents aim to minimize restenosis, thrombosis, and neointimal hyperplasia while providing mechanical support. Notably, the challenges of achieving ideal stent characteristics persist. An emerging avenue to address this involves enhancing the mechanical performance of polymeric bioresorbable stents using additive manufacturing techniques And Three-dimensional (3D) printing, encompassing various manufacturing technologies, has transcended its initial concept to become a tangible reality in the medical field. The technology's evolution presents a significant opportunity for pharmaceutical and medical industries, enabling the creation of targeted drugs and swift production of medical implants. It revolutionizes medical procedures, transforming the strategies of doctors and surgeons. Patient-specific 3D-printed anatomical models are now pivotal in precision medicine and personalized treatment approaches. Despite its ongoing development, additive manufacturing in healthcare is already integrated into various medical applications, offering substantial benefits to a sector under pressure for performance and cost reduction. In this review primarily emphasizes stent technology, different types of stents, highlighting its application with some potential complications. Here we also address their benefits, potential issues, effectiveness, indications, and contraindications. In future it can potentially reduce complications and help in improving patients' outcomes. 3DP technology offers the promise to customize solutions for complex CVD conditions and help or fostering a new era of precision medicine in cardiology.

Revolutionizing Cardiovascular Frontiers: A Dive Into Cutting-Edge Innovations in Coronary Stent Technology

Plain balloon angioplasty was the initial method used to enlarge the intracoronary lumen size. However, it was linked to acute coronary closure due to early vessel recoil. This led to the invention of coronary stents, which offer mechanical support to open and maintain the vascular lumen. Nevertheless, the metallic scaffold introduced other issues, such as thrombosis and restenosis caused by neointimal proliferation. To address these concerns, polymers were employed to cover the scaffold, acting as drug reservoirs and regulators for controlled drug release. The use of polymers prevents direct contact between blood and metallic scaffolds. Drugs within the stent were incorporated to inhibit proliferation and expedite endothelialization in the healing process. Despite these advancements, adverse effects still arise due to the inflammatory reaction caused by the polymer material. Consequently, resorbable polymers and scaffolds were later discovered, but they have limitations and are not universally applicable. Various scaffold designs, thicknesses, materials, polymer components, and drugs have their own advantages and complications. Each stent generation has been designed to address the shortcomings of the preceding generation, yet new challenges continue to emerge. Conflicting data regarding the long-term safety and efficacy of coronary stents, especially in the extended follow-up, further complicates the assessment.

Nanotechnology in development of next generation of stent and related medical devices: Current and future aspects

Coronary stents have saved millions of lives in the last three decades by treating atherosclerosis especially, by preventing plaque protrusion and subsequent aneurysms. They attenuate the vascular SMC proliferation and promote reconstruction of the endothelial bed to ensure superior revascularization. With the evolution of modern stent types, nanotechnology has become an integral part of stent technology. Nanocoating and nanosurface fabrication on metallic and polymeric stents have improved their drug loading capacity as well as other mechanical, physico-chemical, and biological properties. Nanofeatures can mimic the natural nanofeatures of vascular tissue and control drug-delivery. This review will highlight the role of nanotechnology in addressing the challenges of coronary stents and the recent advancements in the field of related medical devices. Different generations of stents carrying nanoparticle-based formulations like liposomes, lipid-polymer hybrid NPs, polymeric micelles, and dendrimers are discussed highlighting their roles in local drug delivery and anti-restenotic properties. Drug nanoparticles like Paclitaxel embedded in metal stents are discussed as a feature of first-generation drug-eluting stents. Customized precision stents ensure safe delivery of nanoparticle-mediated genes or concerted transfer of gene, drug, and/or bioactive molecules like antibodies, gene mimics via nanofabricated stents. Nanotechnology can aid such therapies for drug delivery successfully due to its easy scale-up possibilities. However, limitations of this technology such as their potential cytotoxic effects associated with nanoparticle delivery that can trigger hypersensitivity reactions have also been discussed in this review. This article is categorized under: Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Cardiovascular Disease Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies.

Drug-eluting stents for coronary artery disease in the perspective of bibliometric analysis

Drug-eluting stents (DES) play a crucial role in treating coronary artery disease (CAD) by preventing restenosis. These stents are coated with drug carriers that release antiproliferative drugs within the vessel. Over the past two decades, DES have been employed in clinical practice using various materials, polymers, and drug types. Despite optimizations in their design and materials to enhance biocompatibility and antithrombotic properties, evaluating their long-term efficacy and safety necessitates improved clinical follow-up and monitoring. To delineate future research directions, this study employs a bibliometric analysis approach. We comprehensively surveyed two decades' worth of literature on DES for CAD using the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC). Out of 5,778 articles, we meticulously screened them based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subsequently, we conducted an in-depth analysis encompassing annual publication trends, authorship affiliations, journal affiliations, keywords, and more. Employing tools such as Excel 2021, CiteSpace 6.2R3, VOSviewer 1.6.19, and Pajek 5.17, we harnessed bibliometric methods to derive insights from this corpus. Analysis of annual publication data indicates a recent stabilisation or even a downward trend in research output in this area. The United States emerged as the leading contributor, with Columbia University and CRF at the forefront in both publication output and citation impact. The most cited document pertained to standardized definitions for clinical endpoints in coronary stent trials. Our author analysis identifies Patrick W. Serruys as the most prolific contributor, underscoring a dynamic exchange of knowledge within the field.Moreover, the dual chart overlay illustrates a close interrelation between journals in the "Medicine," "Medical," and "Clinical" domains and those in "Health," "Nursing," and "Medicine." Frequently recurring keywords in this research landscape include DES coronary artery disease, percutaneous coronary intervention, implantation, and restenosis. This study presents a comprehensive panorama encompassing countries, research institutions, journals, keyword distributions, and contributions within the realm of DES therapy for CAD. By highlighting keywords exhibiting recent surges in frequency, we elucidate current research hotspots and frontiers, thereby furnishing novel insights to guide future researchers in this evolving field.

Impacts of the SYNTAX score I, II and SYNTAX score II 2020 on left main revascularization

Patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) with a high SYNTAX score (SS) were excluded from randomized studies that comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We sought to compare PCI and CABG in the real-world practice and investigate the impact of SS I, SS II, and SS II 2020 on clinical outcomes. In total, 292 Patients with LMCAD (173 PCI, 119 CABG) treated between 2017 and 2021 were enrolled. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of all-cause death, stroke, or myocardial infarction (MI). The mean SS I was high in both groups (PCI vs. CABG: 31.64 ± 11.45 vs. 32.62 ± 11.75, p = 0.660). The primary outcome occurred in 28 patients (16.2%) in the PCI group and in 19 patients (16.0%) in the CABG group without significant difference [adjusted hazard ratio, 95% CI = 0.98 (0.51-1.90), p = 0.97] over the follow-up period (26.9 ± 17.7 months). No significant difference was observed in all-cause mortality (11.6% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.93) or stroke rates (3.5% vs. 5.0%, p = 0.51) between groups. However, PCI was associated with higher MI (4.6% vs. 0.8%, p < 0.05) and revascularization rates (26% vs. 5.9%, p < 0.001). Prognostic value of the SS I, SS II and SS II 2020 on the primary outcome was not relevant in the PCI group. Among patients with LMCAD, PCI and CABG did not significantly differ in the composite endpoint of all-cause death, stroke, and MI. These results support the potential expansion of PCI indications in LMCAD management for whom are ineligible for CABG with complex coronary artery disease.

A nightmare of clopidogrel resistance in a resource-limited setting: case report of subacute stent thrombosis

BACKGROUND

Stent thrombosis, a life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) continues to occur despite effective antiplatelet regimens and improved stenting methods. Noncompliance with dual antiplatelet therapy is the most common etiology; however, in spite of timely and their optimum administration the rates of recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) and stent thrombosis remain high. Clopidogrel resistance is increasingly evoked with elevated risk of anterothrombotic events particularly in the setting of stent implantation. In this case report, we present a case of subacute stent thrombosis associated with clopidogrel resistance in a resource-constrained setting.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 60 year old man with a long standing history of hypertension presented with a 6-month history of progressive shortness of breath. Initial electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed T-wave inversion on lateral leads and echocardiogram revealed akinetic basal lateral wall and hypokinetic mid lateral wall with reduced systolic functions. An elective coronary angiography (CAG) revealed a 90% stenosis of mid left anterior descending (LAD) artery and an 80% stenosis on the proximal left circumflex artery. He underwent a successful PCI with a drug-eluting stent implantation to mid LAD. He was discharged in a stable state 48 h post revascularization with dual antiplatelet (clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid). Seven days later, he presented with a crushing substernal chest pain. Cardiac enzymes were elevated and ECG revealed anterior ST-elevation MI. An emergency CAG revealed a high thrombus burden with 100% occlusion of mid LAD. Following unsuccessful ballooning, intravenous and intracoronary thrombolysis with tenecteplase was given. A TIMI II flow was achieved and the patient was sent to the coronary care unit. However, 14 h later there was yet a new onset of severe chest pain. A 12-lead ECG previewed anterior ST-elevation MI and the cardiac enzymes were high. Urgent CAG revealed in-stent thrombotic total occlusion of mid LAD. A stent in stent was then implanted and TIMI III flow was restored. Clopidogrel resistance was suspected and the patient was transitioned to ticagrelol. There were no further ischemic events during the remainder of hospitalization and the patient was discharged in a hemodynamically stable state three days later. During follow-up after one and three months, he was fairly stable without any further cardiac events.

CONCLUSIONS

Owing to clopidogrel resistance, stent thrombosis in the setting of dual antiplatelet therapy compliance may occur. While in a situation of clopidogrel resistance newer and more potent antiplatelet drugs should be used, their availability and cost remains a significant barrier particularly in the developing world. Nonetheless, a high index of suspicion and timely revascularization is fundamental to restore patency of the thrombosed vessel and confer better risk-adjusted survival rates.

Is There an Advantage of Ultrathin-Strut Drug-Eluting Stents over Second- and Third-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents?

In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, the second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) are considered the gold standard of care for revascularization. By reducing neointimal hyperplasia, drug-eluting coronary stents decrease the need for repeat revascularizations compared with conventional coronary stents without an antiproliferative drug coating. It is important to note that early-generation DESs were associated with an increased risk of very late stent thrombosis, most likely due to delayed endothelialization or a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to the polymer. Studies have shown a lower risk of very late stent thrombosis with developing second-generation DESs with biocompatible and biodegradable polymers or without polymers altogether. In addition, research has indicated that thinner struts are associated with a reduced risk of intrastent restenosis and angiographic and clinical results. A DES with ultrathin struts (strut thickness of 70 µm) is more flexible, facilitates better tracking, and is more crossable than a conventional second-generation DES. The question is whether ultrathin eluting drug stents suit all kinds of lesions. Several authors have reported that improved coverage with less thrombus protrusion reduced the risk of distal embolization in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Others have described that an ultrathin stent might recoil due to low radial strength. This could lead to residual stenosis and repeated revascularization of the artery. In CTO patients, the ultrathin stent failed to prove non-inferiority regarding in-segment late lumen loss and showed statistically higher rates of restenosis. Ultrathin-strut DESs with biodegradable polymers have limitations when treating calcified (or ostial) lesions and CTOs. However, they also possess certain advantages regarding deliverability (tight stenosis, tortuous lesions, high angulation, etc.), ease of use in bifurcation lesions, better endothelialization and vascular healing, and reducing stent thrombosis risk. In light of this, ultrathin-strut stents present a promising alternative to existing DESs of the second and third generation. The aims of the study are to compare ultrathin eluting stents with second- and third-generation conventional stents regarding procedural performance and outcomes based on different lesion types and specific populations.

Management of failed stenting of the unprotected left main coronary artery

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is increasingly accepted as treatment for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease especially in those patients who are unsuitable for cardiac surgery. Treatment of any stent failure is associated with increased complexity and worse clinical outcomes when compared with de novo lesion revascularization. Intracoronary imaging has provided new insight into mechanisms of stent failure and treatment options have developed considerably over the last decade. There is paucity of evidence on the management strategy for stent failure in the specific setting of ULMCA. Treating any left main with PCI requires careful consideration and consequently treatment of failed stents in ULMCA is complex and provides unique challenges. Consequently, we provide an overview of ULMCA stent failure, proposing a tailored algorithm to guide best management and decision in daily clinical practice, with a special focus on intracoronary imaging characterization of causal mechanisms and specific technical and procedural considerations.

Drug loaded implantable devices to treat cardiovascular disease

INTRODUCTION

It is widely acknowledged that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be the leading cause of death globally. Furthermore, CVDs are the leading cause of diminished quality of life for patients, frequently as a result of their progressive deterioration. Medical implants that release drugs into the body are active implants that do more than just provide mechanical support; they also have a therapeutic role. Primarily, this is achieved through the controlled release of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) at the implementation site.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, the authors discuss drug-eluting stents, drug-eluting vascular grafts, and drug-eluting cardiac patches with the aim of providing a broad overview of the three most common types of cardiac implant.

EXPERT OPINION

Drug eluting implants are an ideal alternative to traditional drug delivery because they allow for accurate drug release, local drug delivery to the target tissue, and minimise the adverse side effects associated with systemic administration. Despite the fact that there are still challenges that need to be addressed, the ever-evolving new technologies are making the fabrication of drug eluting implants a rewarding therapeutic endeavour with the possibility for even greater advances.

Evolving Coronary Stent Technologies - A Glimpse Into the Future

One of the most widely accepted forms of treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD) is the implementation of stents into the vessel. This area of research is constantly evolving, ranging from bare-metal stents through drug-eluting stents and, more recently, approaching bioresorbable stents and polymer-free stents. This article reviews the evolution of all these devices and emphasizes how they might be further evolved to provide an optimal coronary stent and overcome unsolved challenges in stent development. We thoroughly evaluated a number of published studies in order to advance coronary stent technologies. Additionally, we looked for various literature that highlighted the inadequacies of the coronary stents that are currently available and how they might be modified to create the optimum coronary stent. Coronary stents have significantly improved clinical outcomes in interventional cardiology, but there are still a number of drawbacks, including an persisted risk of thrombosis due to endothelial injury and in-stent restenosis. Gene eluting stents (GES) and customized coronary stents with self-reporting stent sensors are appealing alternatives to existing stent approaches. Considering the adequacy of these gene eluting stents (GES), customized coronary stents produced by novel 4D printing technologies and integrated self-reporting stent sensors should be assumed for anticipating future advancements to optimal coronary stent devices; however, more interventional evidence is required to determine the future prospects of these stent innovations.

Drug-Eluting Stents: Technical and Clinical Progress

Drug-eluting stents (DES) demonstrated superior efficacy when compared to bare metal stents and plain-old balloon angioplasty and are nowadays used in almost all percutaneous revascularization procedures. The design of the stent platforms is constantly improving to maximize its efficacy and safety. Constant development of DES includes adoption of new materials used for scaffold production, new design types, improved overexpansion abilities, new polymers coating and, finally, improved antiproliferative agents. Especially nowadays, with the immense number of available DES platforms, it is crucial to understand how different aspects of stents impact the effect of their implantation, as subtle differences between various stent platforms could impact the most important issue-clinical outcomes. This review discusses the current status of coronary stents and the impact of stent material, strut design and coating techniques on cardiovascular outcomes.

Stent Thrombosis and Restenosis with Contemporary Drug-Eluting Stents: Predictors and Current Evidence

Iterations in stent technologies, advances in pharmacotherapy, and awareness of the implications of implantation techniques have markedly reduced the risk of stent failure, both in the form of stent thrombosis (ST) and in-stent restenosis (ISR). However, given the number of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) performed worldwide every year, ST and ISR, albeit occurring at a fairly low rate, represent a public health problem even with contemporary DES platforms. The understanding of mechanisms and risk factors for these two PCI complications has been of fundamental importance for the parallel evolution of stent technologies. Risk factors associated with ST and ISR are usually divided into patient-, lesion-, device- and procedure-related. A number of studies have shown how certain risk factors are related to early (1 month) versus late/very late ST (between 1 month and 1 year and >1 year, respectively). However, more research is required to conclusively show the role of time-dependence of risk factors also in the incidence of ISR (early [1 year] or late [>1 year]). A thorough risk assessment is required due to the complex etiology of ST and ISR. The most effective strategy to treat ST and ISR is still to prevent them; hence, it is crucial to identify patient-, lesion-, device- and procedure-related predictors.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes after Non-ST-Segment and ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Populations

Using a new-generation drug-eluting stent, we compared the 2-year clinical outcomes of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and non-DM concomitant with a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. A total of 11,798 patients with acute myocardial infarction were classified into two groups: DM (NSTEMI, n = 2399; STEMI, n = 2693) and non-DM (NSTEMI, n = 2694; STEMI, n = 4012). The primary clinical outcome was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction, or any coronary repeat revascularization. The secondary outcome was the occurrence of definite or probable stent thrombosis. In all the patients, both multivariable and propensity score-adjusted analyses revealed that the incidence rates of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.214; p = 0.006 and aHR, 1.298; p = 0.002, respectively), all-cause death, cardiac death (CD), and non-CD rate were significantly higher in the NSTEMI group than in the STEMI group. Additionally, among patients with NSTEMI, there was a higher non-CD rate (aHR, 2.200; p = 0.007 and aHR, 2.484; p = 0.004, respectively) in the DM group and a higher CD rate (aHR, 2.688; p < 0.001 and 2.882; p < 0.001, respectively) in the non-DM group. In this retrospective study, patients with NSTEMI had a significantly higher 2-year mortality rate than those with STEMI did. Furthermore, strategies to reduce the non-CD rate in patients with DM and the CD rate in patients without DM could be beneficial for those with NSTEMI.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Potential of Circulating-Free DNA and Cell-Free RNA in Cancer Management

Over time, molecular biology and genomics techniques have been developed to speed up the early diagnosis and clinical management of cancer. These therapies are often most effective when administered to the subset of malignancies harboring the target identified by molecular testing. Important advances in applying molecular testing involve circulating-free DNA (cfDNA)- and cell-free RNA (cfRNA)-based liquid biopsies for the diagnosis, prognosis, prediction, and treatment of cancer. Both cfDNA and cfRNA are sensitive and specific biomarkers for cancer detection, which have been clinically proven through multiple randomized and prospective trials. These help in cancer management based on the noninvasive evaluation of size, quantity, and point mutations, as well as copy number alterations at the tumor site. Moreover, personalized detection of ctDNA helps in adjuvant therapeutics and predicts the chances of recurrence of cancer and resistance to cancer therapy. Despite the controversial diagnostic values of cfDNA and cfRNA, many clinical trials have been completed, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved many multigene assays to detect genetic alterations in the cfDNA of cancer patients. In this review, we underpin the recent advances in the physiological roles of cfDNA and cfRNA, as well as their roles in cancer detection by highlighting recent clinical trials and their roles as prognostic and predictive markers in cancer management.