In recent decades, the outcomes of coronary heart disease （CHD） have markedly improved, which can be partly attributed to the use of novel drugs （especially statins and antiplatelet drugs） and partly to the evolut...In recent decades, the outcomes of coronary heart disease （CHD） have markedly improved, which can be partly attributed to the use of novel drugs （especially statins and antiplatelet drugs） and partly to the evolution ofpercutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. From percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty to bare-metal stent and then to drug-eluting stent, every step of PCI is attractive to interventional cardiologist, great progress has been made for patients with CHD. In the past few years, some successor devices for treating CHD have cmerged. Undoubtedly, drug-coated balloon （DCB）, which was recommended by 2014 ESC Guidelines on myocardial revascularization, is a ＂shining star＂ among them. DCB involves a semi-compliant angioplasty balloon coated with an anti-proliferative agent that can exert antirestenotic efficacy by permeating into the vessel wall during balloon contact. This review discusses the conception and merits, preclinical data, emerging clinical indications, and results from clinical trials of this novel interventional technology. Although DCB has shown authentic efficacy in the treatment ofin-stent restenosis, its use in de novo coronary lesions is still in dispute. Hence, concerns and the future direction of DCB are also covered in this paper.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the prevalence of cholelithiasis among patients treated with ezetimibe. METHODS： A retrospective, case-control study based on computerized medical records from patients of the Clalit Health Servi...AIM： To investigate the prevalence of cholelithiasis among patients treated with ezetimibe. METHODS： A retrospective, case-control study based on computerized medical records from patients of the Clalit Health Services, Sharon-Shomron region, from 2000 to 2009. Patients 20-85 years of age, who had been treated with ezetimibe and statins or statins only for at least 6 too, and who had an abdominal ultrasound were included in the study. Collected data included age, gender, ezetimibe treatment duration, presence of hypothyroidism or diabetes, and existence of cholelithiasis as determined by ultrasound. Ex- cluded were subjects after gallbladder resection, with hemolysis, myeloproliferative or inflammatory bowel diseases, and those treated with ursodeoxycholic acid and fibrates. Patients treated with statins and ezeti- mibe （study group） were compared to patients treated with statins only （control group）. RESULTS： The study group included 25 patients and the control group 168. All patients in the study were treated with statins. The study group included 13 males （52%） and 12 females （48%）, the control group 76 males （45%） and 92 （55%） females （P = 0.544）. The groups did not differ in age （mean age： 68 ± 8 years, range 53-85 years vs mean age： 71±8 years, range 51-85 years; P = 0.153） or in the rate of dia- betic and hypothyroid patients [11 （44%） vs 57 （33%）, P = 0.347 in the study group and 5 （20%） vs 23 （14%）, P = 0.449 in the control group, respectively]. Patients in the study group were treated with ezetimibe for an average of 798±379 d. Cholelithiasis was found in 4 （16%） patients in the study group and in 33 （20%） patients in the control group （P = 0.666）. CONCLUSION： Ezetimibe does not appear to influ- ence the prevalence of gallstones.展开更多
The changes in the demographic profile of the population with longer life expectancy are mainly due to an improvement of lifestyle, prevention and care of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease.
文摘In recent decades, the outcomes of coronary heart disease （CHD） have markedly improved, which can be partly attributed to the use of novel drugs （especially statins and antiplatelet drugs） and partly to the evolution ofpercutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. From percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty to bare-metal stent and then to drug-eluting stent, every step of PCI is attractive to interventional cardiologist, great progress has been made for patients with CHD. In the past few years, some successor devices for treating CHD have cmerged. Undoubtedly, drug-coated balloon （DCB）, which was recommended by 2014 ESC Guidelines on myocardial revascularization, is a ＂shining star＂ among them. DCB involves a semi-compliant angioplasty balloon coated with an anti-proliferative agent that can exert antirestenotic efficacy by permeating into the vessel wall during balloon contact. This review discusses the conception and merits, preclinical data, emerging clinical indications, and results from clinical trials of this novel interventional technology. Although DCB has shown authentic efficacy in the treatment ofin-stent restenosis, its use in de novo coronary lesions is still in dispute. Hence, concerns and the future direction of DCB are also covered in this paper.
文摘AIM： To investigate the prevalence of cholelithiasis among patients treated with ezetimibe. METHODS： A retrospective, case-control study based on computerized medical records from patients of the Clalit Health Services, Sharon-Shomron region, from 2000 to 2009. Patients 20-85 years of age, who had been treated with ezetimibe and statins or statins only for at least 6 too, and who had an abdominal ultrasound were included in the study. Collected data included age, gender, ezetimibe treatment duration, presence of hypothyroidism or diabetes, and existence of cholelithiasis as determined by ultrasound. Ex- cluded were subjects after gallbladder resection, with hemolysis, myeloproliferative or inflammatory bowel diseases, and those treated with ursodeoxycholic acid and fibrates. Patients treated with statins and ezeti- mibe （study group） were compared to patients treated with statins only （control group）. RESULTS： The study group included 25 patients and the control group 168. All patients in the study were treated with statins. The study group included 13 males （52%） and 12 females （48%）, the control group 76 males （45%） and 92 （55%） females （P = 0.544）. The groups did not differ in age （mean age： 68 ± 8 years, range 53-85 years vs mean age： 71±8 years, range 51-85 years; P = 0.153） or in the rate of dia- betic and hypothyroid patients [11 （44%） vs 57 （33%）, P = 0.347 in the study group and 5 （20%） vs 23 （14%）, P = 0.449 in the control group, respectively]. Patients in the study group were treated with ezetimibe for an average of 798±379 d. Cholelithiasis was found in 4 （16%） patients in the study group and in 33 （20%） patients in the control group （P = 0.666）. CONCLUSION： Ezetimibe does not appear to influ- ence the prevalence of gallstones.
文摘The changes in the demographic profile of the population with longer life expectancy are mainly due to an improvement of lifestyle, prevention and care of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease.
