CONTENT

Bifurcation lesions pose unique challenges during percutaneous coronary intervention and are associated with suboptimal outcomes. The standard approach involves provisional stenting of the main branch with plain balloon angioplasty for compromised side branches (SB). Özbay et al from Türkiye did a meta-analysis whether drug-coated balloons or plain balloon angioplasty pose a better strategy to treat SB in bifurcation lesions.

The increase in aortic stiffness is a significant parameter of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), posing a substantial global health challenge and economic burden. The gut microbiota and its homeostasis, directly and indirectly, influence CVD. Altun et al from Türkiye investigated the extent to which alterations in the gut microbiota can affect aortic parameters in a rat model through the administration of VSL#.

Yin et al from China investigated the expression of miR-330-3p and its clinical and functional performance in congenital heart disease-associated pulmonary hypertension (CHD-PAH). They found that compared with healthy control and patients without PAH, miR-330-3p expression was upregulated in patients with PAH. A new drug possible?

The comparison of outcomes of robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting (RACABG) vs. stenting techniques (ostial or crossover stenting) for ostial left anterior descending (LAD) artery lesions is still lacking. This respective study by Köseoğlu et al from Türkiye sought to determine the mid-term outcomes of RACABG, crossover stenting, and ostial stent implantation in patients with ostial LAD disease.

Given the bleeding risk associated with full-dose intravenous thrombolytic treatment and the absence of randomized clinical trial evidence, current guidelines do not recommend reperfusion treatments as first-line therapy for intermediate-high-risk (IHR) pulmonary embolism (PE). Kültürsay et al from Türkiye aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-assisted catheter directed thrombolysis compared to anticoagulation therapy alone in patients with IHR PE. Good results.

And a case report, letters, e-page originals.

I hope this new issue of our journal will be interest of our readers.