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Objective: The pathophysiological mechanism of in-stent restenosis (ISR) is different from atherosclerosis of native coronary arteries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between ISR and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD), and to identify other risk factors associated with ISR in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Methods: A total of 372 consecutive patients presenting with first acute STEMI who were successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention within 12 hours from the onset of symptoms and who had an angiographic follow-up at 3 months were included in the study. The extent of CAD was calculated using the Gensini score. Results: The incidence of ISR observed in our group of patients was 23.4% (n=87). The mean Gensini score was significantly higher in patients with ISR when compared with group without restenosis (69 [range: 51–90] vs 42 [range: 32–61]; p

Objective The vessels involved in the microcirculation are too small to be visualized by conventional angiography and no tools are currently available that can directly evaluate the coronary microcirculation. This study evaluated the coronary clearance frame count (CCFC) in patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX). Methods The retrospective study enrolled patients with angina, who had a positive nuclear imaging test and normal coronary angiography; and a control group consisting of patients who underwent an angiogram to exclude coronary artery disease. Thrombosis in myocardial infarction frame count (TFC) and CCFC for each coronary artery (left anterior descending coronary artery [LAD], circumflex coronary artery [CFX] and right coronary artery [RCA]) were calculated offline. Results A total of 71 patients with CSX and 61 control patients were enrolled in the study. No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding the baseline demographic and clinical variables. The TFC of LAD, CFX and RCA were similar between the two groups. The mean CCFC-LAD, CCFC-CFX and CCFC-RCA were significantly longer in the CSX group compared with the control group. Conclusion CCFC is a simple, quantitative and highly reproducible method that might be used as a marker of coronary microvascular dysfunction.

Inhalation of toluene-based products is popular among young adults. It has been shown to have a variety of adverse effects on several organs and systems. Although the heart seems to be a sensitive target organ to toluene, cardiotoxicity has often been ignored, especially in cases of acute toluene abuse, with relatively low concentrations. Thereby, routine cardiac examination and echocardiography for cardiotoxicity should be performed in cases of acute toluene exposure, even though there is no cardiovascular sign or symptoms. Keywords: Toluene, Acute cardiac toxicity, Cardiomyopathy