Mitral annulus velocity determined by DTI is a relatively preload-independent variable in evaluating diastolic function.

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The FFR measurement in jailed side branch lesions is both safe and feasible. Quantitative coronary angiography is unreliable in the assessment of the functional severity of jailed side branch lesions, and measurement of FFR suggests that most of these lesions do not have functional significance.

Background-We sought to identify preoperative predictors of clinical outcomes after surgery in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation. Methods and Results-We prospectively enrolled 61 consecutive patients (54 women, aged 57Ϯ9 years) with isolated severe tricuspid regurgitation undergoing corrective surgery. Twenty-one patients (34%) were in New York Heart Association functional class II, 35 (57%) in class III, and 5 (9%) in class IV. Fifty-seven patients (93%) had previous history of left-sided valve surgery. Preoperative echocardiography revealed pulmonary artery systolic pressure of 41.5Ϯ8.7 mm Hg, right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic area of 35.1Ϯ9.0 cm

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Background-The efficacy of intracoronary infusion of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) has not been compared between patients with acute (AMI) versus old myocardial infarction (OMI). In addition, the potential risk of restenosis associated with G-CSF-based stem cell therapy has not been evaluated in the setting of drug eluting stent (DES) implantation. Methods and Results-We randomly allocated 96 patients with myocardial infarction who underwent coronary revascularization with DES for the culprit lesion into 4 groups. Eighty-two patients completed 6-month follow-up; AMI cell infusion (nϭ25), AMI control (nϭ25), OMI cell infusion (nϭ16), and OMI control group (nϭ16). In cell infusion groups, PBSCs were mobilized by G-CSF for 3 days and delivered to infarcted myocardium via intracoronary infusion. The AMI cell infusion group showed a significant additive improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and remodeling compared with controls (change of LVEF: ϩ5.1Ϯ9.1% versus Ϫ0.2Ϯ8.6%, PϽ0.05; change of end-systolic volume: Ϫ5.4Ϯ17.0 mL versus 6.5Ϯ21.9 mL, PϽ0.05). In OMI patients, however, there was no significant change of LVEF and ventricular remodeling in spite of significant improvement of coronary flow reserve after cell infusion. G-CSF-based cell therapy did not aggravate neointimal growth with DES implantation. Conclusions-Intracoronary infusion of mobilized PBSCs with G-CSF improves LVEF and remodeling in patients withAMI but is less definite in patients with OMI. G-CSF-based stem cell therapy with DES implantation is both feasible and safe, eliminating any potential for restenosis.