This study aimed to determine whether the proportion of female patients enrolled at individual clinical trial sites differed according to site principal investigator (PI) gender in industry-sponsored multicenter vascular trials. A retrospective, secondary, site-level analysis of seven completed Penumbra, Inc. (Alameda, CA, USA)-sponsored trials across neurovascular, peripheral, and coronary interventions was conducted. Sites were categorized as led by a female PI, a male PI with ≥1 female sub-investigator, or a male PI with no female investigators. Nonparametric tests, linear regression with trial-level fixed effects, and resampling-based sensitivity analyses were used to assess the association between PI gender and female enrollment. Given the small number of female-led sites, all findings were treated as exploratory. Across 230 sites (N = 3114 patients), trial-level female enrollment ranged from 23.8
To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing efficacy and the safety profile of Degradable Starch Microspheres TACE (DSM-TACE) with conventional treatments (cTACE and DEB-TACE) in patients with Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Comparative studies (including randomized controlled trials -RCTs- and observational studies) reporting at least one of the following outcomes were included and considered for statistical analysis: Tumor response according to mRECIST criteria, Overall Survival (OS), Adverse Events (AEs), increase of ALT and AST levels. Risk Ratios were calculated using random-effects models. Survival analyses and Hazard Ratios were derived using reconstructed individual patient data. 6/180 articles met inclusion criteria, including 1 RCT and 5 observational studies. Tumor response was comparable between DSM-TACE and control groups, without significant differences in the pooled analyses. DSM-TACE was not associated with a significant improvement in OS compared with conventional treatments (HR = 1.04; 95
Pain control and early mobility remain primary challenges after Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). This study will evaluate whether pre-TKA CT-guided cryoneurolysis of the genicular nerves improves postoperative pain, mobility, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. One hundred patients undergoing unilateral TKA will be randomized 1:1 in this prospective, open-label trial. Intervention patients will receive CT-guided cryoneurolysis of three genicular nerves (superior medial, superior lateral, and inferior medial) 24–72h before surgery; controls will undergo TKA alone. Chronic opioid users and patients unable to self-assess are excluded. Perioperative analgesia and rehabilitation will be standardized. Patients will be assessed preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Quality of Life Index (QLI). The primary endpoint is the BPI Pain Interference Scale at 3 months; secondary endpoints include KOOS, WOMAC, and QLI scores, opioid consumption (morphine milligram equivalents), time to mobilization, and length of stay. Safety endpoints comprise adverse events of either procedure, graded by the modified CIRSE classification. One hundred patients provide >80
Interventional radiology (IR) services for children lag behind IR provision for adults. Meanwhile, visibility of the paediatric IR (PIR) services that are currently available is limited. The Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) Paediatric Taskforce mandate included the mapping of current PIR services via a member survey. A survey questionnaire comprising 17 questions was created by the CIRSE Paediatric Taskforce. All CIRSE members were invited by email to participate. Responses were collected over a three-month period, and results were analysed in a descriptive manner. In total, 293 responses were received from a total of 8111 CIRSE members who were contacted. The 293 respondents were employed in 235 medical institutions across 59 countries. A large majority of institutions reported performing less than 50 PIR procedures per month, most of which were image-guided biopsies, sclerotherapy and vascular access procedures. Procedures were performed by a variety of medical specialists including paediatric interventional radiologists, adult interventional radiologists, and non-radiologists. A lack of structured PIR training was reported by most respondents, together with a request to increase PIR training and network options across Europe. The survey results provide a structured mapping of PIR provision within a multinational IR organisation. The lack of structured training programmes and resources demonstrate a clear mission to expand PIR training and service development in order to widen access to minimal-invasive care for children.
The CIRSE Emprint Microwave Ablation (MWA) Registry (CIEMAR) was designed to evaluate real-world effectiveness of MWA for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). This analysis reports on local tumour control and includes post-hoc analyses of ablation margin size and confirmation software use. Patients were eligible if MWA was indicated as part of a curative-intent strategy for ≤9 local treatment-naïve CRLM measuring ≤3 cm, with no extrahepatic disease except ≤5 lung nodules. Baseline, treatment and follow-up data from September 2019 to December 2025 were analysed. Ablation margin categories were reported locally according to centre-specific practice. The primary endpoint was the 1-year local tumour control rate after the last MWA. In total, 491 patients with 1083 CRLM from 30 sites in 11 countries were included. Reported margins were <5mm (12.3
To systematically review the literature and perform a meta-analysis assessing the efficacy and safety of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue diluted with Lipiodol for vascular embolization. A systematic search of MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) identified studies published between January 2004 and May 2024. Data were independently extracted and evaluated by two reviewers. Studies reporting efficacy and/or safety outcomes in ≥10 patients treated with NBCA–Lipiodol® Ultra Fluid alone were included. The primary outcome was the overall rate of technically successful embolization, defined as immediate haemostasis or complete occlusion; secondary outcomes included technical success by indication, recurrent bleeding, clinical success by indication, defined according to each indication, and procedure-related complications, including reported major complications. A total of 150 studies involving 8996 patients were included: 132 peripheral (8301 patients) and 18 central (695 patients) embolization studies. Outcomes varied across indications. Technical success ranged from 94.1
Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome and cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) carry substantial mortality, yet whether a composite index integrating insulin resistance and frailty shows stronger associations with advanced CKM syndrome, CMM, and mortality than conventional metabolic markers remains unclear. This study evaluated the associations of the triglyceride-glucose-frailty index (TyG-FI) with CKM, CMM, and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and explored the role of baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The analysis included 11,228 adults aged 20–79 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2018. TyG-FI was calculated as the TyG index multiplied by the frailty index. Survey-weighted logistic and Cox proportional-hazards models were used to estimate odds and hazard ratios, with sequential adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral confounders. Restricted cubic splines examined non-linear relationships. Overall model performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves with DeLong’s test, time-dependent AUC, Harrell’s C-index, calibration, and decision curve analysis. Exploratory mediation analyses quantified the proportion of mortality associations accounted for by baseline eGFR. Robustness was verified through multiple sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Over a median follow-up of 90 months (1,220 all-cause and 379 cardiovascular deaths), higher TyG-FI quartiles were associated with graded decreases in survival. Compared with the lowest TyG-FI quartile, the highest quartile yielded markedly elevated odds for advanced CKM syndrome (OR = 4.57, 95
To determine the publication rate of oral presentations from the CIRSE 2021 and 2022 congresses, assess time to publication and citation impact, and identify factors associated with successful full-text publication in PubMed/MEDLINE-indexed journals. This cross-sectional bibliometric study analyzed all oral presentations from the CIRSE 2021 and 2022 Books of Abstracts. Publication searches were conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed/MEDLINE between February and March 2026. The primary endpoint was the publication rate. Secondary endpoints included time to publication, citation count, 5-year journal impact factor (JIF), and factors associated with publication. Of 254 oral abstracts, 158 (62.2
Jetstream atherectomy is commonly used to prepare severely calcified femoropopliteal lesions; however, the optimal choice between low- and high-dose drug-coated balloons after atherectomy remains unclear. We analyzed data from multicenter JOKER registry. We identified patients with symptomatic lower-extremity artery disease who underwent Jetstream atherectomy followed by DCB angioplasty for severely calcified femoropopliteal lesions between November 2022 and December 2024. Patients were classified into the low-dose drug-coated balloon group, treated with Ranger, and the high-dose drug-coated balloon group, treated with IN.PACT Admiral. Propensity score matching was used for adjustment for clinical and lesion characteristics. The primary endpoint was 1-year primary patency. Of 219 patients, 136 were treated with low-dose drug-coated balloon and 83 with high-dose drug-coated balloon. Propensity score matching generated 66 matched pairs. In the matched cohort, flow impairment after Jetstream atherectomy did not differ significantly between the low-dose and high-dose drug-coated balloon groups (16.7
To investigate the clinical outcomes of the E-liac (Artivion©) Iliac Branched Device (IBD) in mid- to long-term follow-up. This retrospective multicentre observational study included all patients treated with the E-liac (Artivion©) IBD in the participating centres between January 2011 and December 2024. Patients treated for acute ruptured aneurysm were excluded. IBD was indicated for isolated iliac aneurysm, as treatment for type 1b endoleak or in combination with EVAR for aorto-iliac aneurysm. Primary outcome was technical success, defined as deploying the IBD as planned while maintaining flow in the internal and external iliac arteries (IIA, EIA), without type 1 or 3 endoleak extending beyond 30 days and without mortality within 30 days. A subgroup of patients with at least 60 months of follow-up was analysed separately. A total of 252 E-liac IBDs were deployed in 221 patients. One hundred and seventy-one IBDs (67.9
Focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) has become the standard of care for bedside assessments of cardiac function. With the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), there is limited evidence comparing it to bedside visual assessments by experienced users. In our prospective study conducted at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts from December 2020 to March 2022, patients ≥ 18 years requiring a TTE were recruited by convenience sampling. They each underwent FoCUS LVEF classification by AI and bedside visual assessment, with TTE as reference. LVEF was calculated by Simpson’s biplane method of disks in AI-FoCUS and TTE, and visual global assessment by the bedside sonographer. Data analysis was completed in October 2025. Our 215 participants had a median age of 63 (IQR 49–73) years with 83 (38.6
The C-reactive protein-triglyceride-glucose index (CTI) is a comprehensive marker that reflects inflammation and insulin resistance. Cardiovascular-liver-metabolic (CLM) diseases caused by multiple factors may be related to insulin resistance, obesity, metabolism, etc. Our aim is to explore the association between the fat index derived from CTI and a newly identified surrogate-defined CLM multimorbidity (CLMM) phenotype, while also comparing the relative discriminatory performance of these indices and exploring potential biological domains. From the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a total of 6534 individuals with full baseline records were included in our analysis. Nine CTI-derived adiposity indices were calculated, including CTI, CTI-BMI, CTI-WC, CTI-WHtR, CTI-BRI, CTI-WWI, CTI-CVAI, CTI-ABSI, and CTI-CI. CVD was identified primarily from self-reported physician diagnoses, whereas MASLD was inferred using the lipid accumulation product (LAP) rather than imaging, histology, or clinical adjudication. Because the component conditions were ascertained using different methods and levels of diagnostic accuracy, CLMM was operationalized as a surrogate-defined composite phenotype rather than clinically confirmed CLMM. Associations as well as potential nonlinear relationships were examined using multivariable logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) modeling, and two-piece segmented regression analyses. Apparent discrimination and exploratory incremental model performance were quantified using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and reclassification measures, specifically the net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess stability. During the approximately four-year follow-up interval, 406 participants (6.2
