Left Ventricular Longitudinal Myocardial Function of Heart Failure Patients With Transition From Reduced to Preserved Ejection Fraction and of Those With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Left ventricular (LV) longitudinal myocardial function is associated with the outcomes of heart failure (HF) patients. HF with improved ejection fraction (EF), known as HFimpEF, which is defined as current LVEF >40% but any previously documented LVEF ≤40%, has favorable outcomes compared with HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). However, LV longitudinal myocardial function in patients with previously reduced LVEF (<50%) but improved LVEF to within the normal range (≥50%) (HFnorEF) and its association with cardiovascular events remain unclear.

Anterolateral thoracotomy with partial sternotomy: a feasible approach for treating the complex pathology of the aortic arch.

Objectives: Our goal was to review our surgical experiences in patients with complex pathologies of the aortic arch who have undergone anterolateral thoracotomy with a partial sternotomy (ALPS).

Methods: From October 2019 to November 2023, a total of 23 patients underwent one-stage repairs of complex pathologies of the aortic arch through the ALPS approach. The mean age was 61.

Left atrial volume index as a predictor for left atrial appendage thrombus in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation receiving appropriate oral anticoagulation therapy: A prospective multi-center study.

Objectives: We previously reported a higher left atrial volume index (LAVI) was independently associated with left atrial (LA) appendage (LAA) thrombus formation in 737 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) receiving appropriate oral anticoagulation therapy. Since our previous study was a retrospective single-center study, we designed and conducted a prospective multi-center study to verify our findings for LAVI as a predictor of LAA thrombus in patients with NVAF receiving appropriate oral anticoagulation therapy.

Methods: This prospective multi-center study comprised 746 consecutive patients with NVAF recruited between December 2021 and March 2023 from eight institutions in Japan, who were receiving appropriate oral anticoagulation therapy, had undergone transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Effect of increase in heart rate after anthracycline chemotherapy on subsequent left ventricular dysfunction.

Background: Anthracycline chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction is believed to be refractory to conventional pharmacological therapy and is associated with a poor prognosis. Increased heart rate (HR) is a known marker of cardiovascular outcomes for various categories of heart failure (HF). However, little interest has been expressed regarding increased HR after anthracycline chemotherapy.