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Background There is equipoise about the optimal initial strategy for crossing coronary chronic total occlusions. Objectives We performed a multicenter, randomized-controlled, clinical trial comparing upfront use of the CrossBoss catheter vs. antegrade wire escalation for antegrade crossing of coronary chronic total occlusions. Methods The primary endpoints were: the time required to cross the chronic total occlusion or abort the procedure, and the frequency of procedural major adverse cardiovascular events. The secondary endpoints were: technical and procedural success, total procedure time, fluoroscopy time required to cross and total fluoroscopy time, total air kerma radiation dose, total contrast volume, and equipment utilization. Results Between 2015 and 2017, 246 patients were randomized to CrossBoss (n=122) or wire escalation (n=124) at 11 US centers. The baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics of the study groups were similar. Technical and procedural success were 87.8% and 84.1%, respectively and were similar in the two groups. Crossing time was similar: 56 (interquartile ranges: 33, 93) min in the CrossBoss and 66 (36, 105) min in the wire escalation group (p=0.323), as was as the incidence of procedural major adverse cardiovascular events (3.28% vs. 4.03%, p=1.000). There were no significant differences in the secondary study endpoints. Conclusions As compared with wire escalation, upfront use of the CrossBoss catheter for antegrade crossing of coronary chronic total occlusions was associated with similar crossing time, similar success and complication rates and similar equipment utilization and cost.

Objectives We sought to examine near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) imaging findings of aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts (SVGs). Background SVGs are prone to develop atherosclerosis similar to native coronary arteries. They have received little study using NIRS. Methods We examined the clinical characteristics and imaging findings from 43 patients who underwent NIRS imaging of 45 SVGs at our institution between 2009 and 2016. Results The mean patient age was 67 ± 7 years and 98% were men, with high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (56%), hypertension (95%), and dyslipidemia (95%). Mean SVG age was 7 ± 7 years, mean SVG lipid core burden index (LCBI) was 53 ± 60 and mean maxLCBI4 mm was 194 ± 234. Twelve SVGs (27%) had lipid core plaques (2 yellow blocks on the block chemogram), with a higher prevalence in SVGs older than 5 years (46% vs. 5%, P = 0.002). Older SVG age was associated with higher LCBI (r = 0.480, P

Ethiopia reports the third highest number of extrapulmonary TB cases globally, most of which are lymph node TB (TBLN). We investigated the performance of the available diagnostic tests for TBLN. Fine needle aspirate (FNA) and excision biopsy samples from affected lymph nodes were collected from 150 consenting patients with suspected TBLN visiting regional hospitals in Ethiopia. The sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of histopathology against culture as reference was 92%, 88%, 97% and 77% and of FNA cytology (FNAC) 76%, 88%, 100% and 55%, respectively. Naked eye examination of FNA had 67% sensitivity and 64% specificity. HIV coinfection did not diminish the performance of macroscopic examination, Ziehl-Neelsen stain, histology or cytology examinations. When any positive result in ZN, histopathology or culture was considered confirmatory, clinical diagnosis could be confirmed in 85% of the patients, suggesting that TBLN is over-diagnosed in up to 15% of cases. With combined criteria as reference standard, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of FNAC was 72%, 100%, 100% and 55%, respectively. FNAC is a practical tool that can improve the diagnosis of TBLN in high-burden settings. Over-diagnosis alone cannot explain the high burden of LNTB in Ethiopia.

Background: We examined contemporary use and outcomes of excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: The baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics; procedural outcomes of 119 consecutive PCIs in which ELCA was performed between 2008 and

We sought to examine the effect of patient age on the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTO). We examined clinical and angiographic data as well as outcomes of 1,216 CTO PCIs performed in 1,195 patients divided into three age groups (

Background Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is endemic in Ethiopian cattle. The aim of this study was to assess BTB prevalence at an intensive contact interface in Meskan Woreda (district) in cattle, small ruminants and suspected TB-lymphadenitis (TBLN) human patients. Methods The comparative intradermal test (CIDT) was carried out for all animals involved in the cross-sectional study and results interpreted using a > 4 mm and a > 2 mm cut-off. One PPD positive goat was slaughtered and lymph nodes subjected to culture and molecular typing. In the same villages, people with lymphadenitis were subjected to clinical examination. Fine needle aspirates (FNA) were taken from suspected TBLN and analyzed by smear microscopy and molecular typing. Results A total of 1214 cattle and 406 small ruminants were tested for BTB. In cattle, overall individual prevalence (> 2 mm cut-off) was 6.8% (CI: 5.4-8.5%) with 100% herd prevalence. Only three small ruminants (2 sheep and 1 goat) were reactors. The overall individual prevalence in small ruminants (> 2 mm cut-off) was 0.4% (CI: 0.03-5.1%) with 25% herd prevalence. Cattle from owners with PPD positive small ruminants were all PPD negative. 83% of the owners kept their sheep and goats inside their house at night and 5% drank regularly goat milk. FNAs were taken from 33 TBLN suspected cases out of a total of 127 screened individuals with lymph node swellings. Based on cytology results, 12 were confirmed TBLN cases. Nine out of 33 cultures were AFB positive. Culture positive samples were subjected to molecular typing and they all yielded M. tuberculosis. M. tuberculosis was also isolated from the goat that was slaughtered. Conclusions This study highlighted a low BTB prevalence in sheep and goats despite intensive contact with cattle reactors. TBLN in humans was caused entirely by M. tuberculosis, the human pathogen. M. tuberculosis seems to circulate also in livestock but their role at the interface is unknown.