Distal radial arterial hypertrophy after transradial intervention: A serial intravascular ultrasound study.

Background: Transradial intervention (TRI) may cause damage to the radial artery (RA). We have demonstrated intima-media thickening and luminal narrowing of the distal RA after TRI using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). This study aimed to determine the predictors of intima-media thickening of RA after TRI in the same patients using serial IVUS.

Impact of milrinone on mitral annular velocity in patients with congestive heart failure.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of milrinone on mitral annular velocity in patients with congestive heart failure.

Method: We studied 27 patients with congestive heart failure. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography both before and after administration of milrinone.

Effects of isoproterenol and propranolol on the inducibility and frequency of ventricular fibrillation in patients with Brugada syndrome.

Background: Isoproterenol (ISP), a beta-adrenergic agonist, suppresses arrhythmic storm in patients with sporadic Brugada syndrome (BS). However, the influence of ISP and the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol (PRO) on the inducibility and frequency of ventricular fibrillation (VF) in BS patients remains unclear.

Methods And Results: Twenty-seven BS patients with induced VF>10s in a control state were enrolled.

Characteristics of induced ventricular fibrillation cycle length in symptomatic Brugada syndrome patients.

Background: Limited information is available on the ventricular fibrillation (VF) spectrum in Brugada syndrome (BS) patients. We clarified differences in the VF cycle length (CL) using fast-Fourier transformation (FFT) analysis in symptomatic and asymptomatic BS patients.

Methods And Results: VF was induced by pacing from the right ventricular (RV) apex and/or RV outflow tract (RVOT) for >8s.

Effects of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone on atrial conduction and remodeling in patients with heart failure.

Background: Spironolactone was shown to reduce mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the effect of spironolactone on the incidence of atrial fibrillation remains unknown. Therefore, we examined the effects of spironolactone on atrial conduction and remodeling in patients with HF.

Cardio-ankle vascular index is superior to brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity as an index of arterial stiffness.

Both cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) are noninvasive methods to estimate arterial stiffness. The purpose of this study is to determine whether CAVI or baPWV is superior as an index of arterial stiffness. One hundred and thirty patients with chest pain syndrome who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) were included in this study.

Cardio-ankle vascular index is a new noninvasive parameter of arterial stiffness.

Background: Beta is an index of arterial stiffness independent of blood pressure. Beta of the thoracic descending aorta (TDA) has been obtained by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a new noninvasive estimation of beta.

Methods And Results: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of CAVI and to compare it with other parameters of arteriosclerosis by carotid ultrasound (CU).