Volume 16 Number 5

This month’s mini-focus is on coronary plaque characteristics with an analysis of the large CLIMA registry looking at the relationship between calcified nodules with or without disruption of the superficial intimal fibrous rhythm and target lesion MI and/or cardiac death; a study exploring the accuracy of OFDI/OCT for detecting cholesterol crystals and their pathophysiological significance; another study testing the hypothesis of the association of coronary microvascular endothelial dysfunction and vulnerable plaque characteristics of epicardial atherosclerotic CAD; and an algorithm classifying OCT frames with or without OCT-derived thin-cap fibroatheroma. In high bleeding risk in PCI patients an article looks at the ARC-HBR criteria. Valvular heart disease and heart failure: first-in-human report of a new balloon-expandable TV; a study investigating the impact of echocardiographic parameters, including detection of secondary MR in MitraClip recipients; and research into pulmonary haemodynamics contributing to a better understanding of the interatrial shunting approach for HF.