Efficacy of Add-on Therapy with Carvedilol and the Direct Renin Inhibitor Aliskiren for Improving Cardiac Sympathetic Nerve Activity, Cardiac Function, Symptoms, Exercise Capacity and Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

: Aliskiren is a direct renin inhibitor that has been reported to be effective for CHF, but the usefulness of combined therapy with carvedilol and aliskiren has not been reported. Forty-four patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) were randomized into a group receiving add-on therapy with carvedilol plus aliskiren and another group receiving carvedilol alone for 6 months. Nuclear imagings with I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) and Tc-Sestamibi were performed.

Adaptive servo-ventilation therapy improves cardiac sympathetic nerve activity, cardiac function, exercise capacity, and symptom in patients with chronic heart failure and Cheyne-Stokes respiration.

Purpose: Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy has been reported to be effective for improving central sleep apnea (CSA) and chronic heart failure (CHF). The purpose of this study was to clarify whether ASV is effective for CSA, cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (CSNA), cardiac symptoms/function, and exercise capacity in CHF patients with CSA and Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR-CSA).

Methods: In this study, 31 CHF patients with CSR-CSA and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% were randomized into an ASV group and a conservative therapy (non-ASV) group for 6 month.

Diastolic Stunning as a Marker of Severe Coronary Artery Stenosis: Analysis by Speckle Tracking Radial Strain in the Resting Echocardiogram.

Background: Two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) stress echocardiography detects postischemic myocardial diastolic stunning. However, the use of 2DST at rest for detecting diastolic stunning in ischemia is unclear.

Results: Thirty-nine patients (age = 65 ± 12 years; male/female = 34/5) with effort angina pectoris that was confirmed by stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy were enrolled.

Effect of physical training on ventilatory patterns during exercise in patients with heart disease.

Background: Exercise training is known to improve the shortness of breath experienced by patients with heart disease when the ventilatory pattern becomes abnormal during exercise. However, the precise relationship between breathing patterns and the effect of exercise training has not been elucidated to date. We evaluated the relationship between the effect of exercise training on exercise tolerance and the amelioration of the ventilatory response during exercise in such patients.

Coronary artery calcification as a new predictor of non-target lesion revascularization during the chronic phase after successful percutaneous coronary intervention.

In the drug-eluting stent era, the outcome of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has remarkably improved. Nevertheless, non-target lesion revascularization (non-TLR) is often performed even after successful PCI and optimized medical therapy. This study aimed to determine the predictor of non-TLR.

Combination of ¹²³I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and flow-mediated dilation for the detection of patients with coronary spastic angina.

Background: This study evaluated the usefulness of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity, estimated by (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy, and endothelial function, estimated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), in the detection of coronary spastic angina (CSA).

Methods And Results: We compared 78 consecutive patients suspected of CSA with ten age-matched controls. On the basis of a spasm provocation test with acetylcholine, 53 patients were diagnosed as CSA and 25 patients were considered to have chest-pain syndrome (CPS).

Relation between connective tissue growth factor and cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in heart failure in DCM patients.

Cardiac fibrosis is an important process of myocardial remodeling. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a cytokine that plays a key role in the occurrence of progressive fibrosis and excessive scarring. CTGF levels are increased in the failing heart.

Olmesartan improves coronary flow reserve of hypertensive patients using coronary magnetic resonance imaging compared with amlodipine.

Objectives: Hypertension impairs coronary endothelial cell function, coronary microvascular function and the coronary flow (CF) reserve (CFR). Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) have been reported to possibly improve coronary endothelial function and coronary microvascular function. The purpose of this study was to determine whether treatment with the ARB olmesartan was more effective for improving CFR than the calcium channel blocker amlodipine.

Low-dose and long-term G-CSF treatment can improve severe myocardial ischemia in patients with severe coronary artery disease.

Background: It has been reported that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can promote angiogenesis by mobilizing bone marrow stem cells to blood vessels. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether low-dose and long-term G-CSF treatment can improve severe myocardial ischemia.

Methods: We studied 40 patients (M/F = 29/11, age = 68 ± 9 years) who had severe coronary artery disease (7 with and 5 without old myocardial infarction; 3VD/2VD/1VD = 17/17/6) and severe myocardial ischemia with no indication for revascularization.

Safety and efficacy of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in patients with acute coronary syndrome in the real world.

The use of drug-eluting stents in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), particularly those with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), is controversial owing to concerns about late adverse events. We evaluated the long-term safety of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in patients with ACS. Of 10,778 patients treated exclusively with a sirolimus-eluting stent in the j-Cypher registry, the 3-year outcomes of 2,308 patients with ACS (953 patients with AMI) were compared to those of 8,470 patients without ACS.

Sirolimus-eluting stent versus balloon angioplasty for sirolimus-eluting stent restenosis: Insights from the j-Cypher Registry.

Background: Optimal treatment strategies for restenosis of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) have not been adequately addressed yet.

Methods And Results: During the 3-year follow-up of 12 824 patients enrolled in the j-Cypher registry, 1456 lesions in 1298 patients underwent target-lesion revascularization (TLR). Excluding 362 lesions undergoing TLR for stent thrombosis or TLR using treatment modalities other than SES or balloon angioplasty (BA), 1094 lesions with SES-associated restenosis in 990 patients treated with either SES (537 lesions) or BA (557 lesions) constituted the study population for the analysis of recurrent TLR and stent thrombosis after the first TLR.

Transesophageal echocardiography for thrombus screening prior to left atrial catheter ablation.

Background: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is useful for detecting left atrial (LA) thrombus prior to percutaneous LA catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study was designed to evaluate clinical predictors of LA thrombus and determine indications for TEE screening prior to LA ablation.

Methods And Results: The study consisted of 446 patients with drug-resistant AF who were scheduled to undergo initial LA ablation (age 59+/-11 years, 312 males, 136 persistent AF).

Hybrid therapy of radiofrequency catheter ablation and percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy in patients with atrial fibrillation and mitral stenosis.

Background: The rhythm control of atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with mitral stenosis (MS) is often difficult using antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs), even after a percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC). Few studies have examined the efficacy and safety of simultaneously performing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) and a PTMC in patients with MS and AF.

Methods: Twenty consecutive patients with drug-resistant AF and rheumatic MS underwent RFCA combined with a PTMC (n = 10; persistent AF-8, long-lasting [>1 year] persistent AF-2; RFCA group) or transthoracic direct cardioversion (DC) following a PTMC (n = 10; persistent AF-7, long-lasting persistent AF-3; DC group).

Levels of serum deoxyribonuclease I activity on admission in patients with acute myocardial infarction can be useful in predicting left ventricular enlargement due to remodeling.

Objectives: Serum deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) activity has recently been highlighted as a potential diagnostic marker for the early detection of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We evaluated whether the serum DNase I activity was associated with the parameters of the left ventricular (LV) remodeling after an AMI.

Methods: We measured the serum DNase I activity in 45 patients with an AMI who were admitted to our hospital within approximately 4 h of the onset of their chest pain.

Effectiveness of nocturnal home oxygen therapy to improve exercise capacity, cardiac function and cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in patients with chronic heart failure and central sleep apnea.

Background: Central sleep apnea, often found in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), has a high risk of poor prognosis.

Methods And Results: This study involved 20 patients with CHF (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45%, M/F =19/1, age 65+/-10 years) and an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) >5 times/h who were divided into 2 groups: 10 patients treated with nocturnal home oxygen therapy (HOT) and 10 patients without HOT (non-HOT). All patients had dilated cardiomyopathy and underwent overnight polysomnography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and nuclear cardiac examinations to evaluate AHI, exercise capacity according to the specific activity scale and oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold and peak exercise (peak VO(2)).

Important factors for salvaging myocardium in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the factors that affect myocardial salvage after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: One hundred and eighty-three patients with AMI who had undergone successful PCI were recruited for this study. Patients underwent (99m)Tc-pyrophosphate single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) on the third day and (99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT on the sixth day after admission.

Impact of lesion calcification on clinical and angiographic outcome after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in real-world patients.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated similar efficacy of the drug-eluting stent (DES) in patients with and without calcified lesions. However, most of the randomized trials have excluded patients with severe calcified lesions. This study aimed to examine the impact of lesion calcium on clinical and angiographic outcome after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation in real-world patients.

Usefulness of virtual histology intravascular ultrasound to predict distal embolization for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: We aimed to predict the high-risk plaque of distal embolization after stent deployment in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with Virtual Histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) (Volcano Therapeutics, Inc., Rancho Cordova, California).

Background: Distal embolization during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) carries a poor prognosis in patients with STEMI.

Rare survival in a patient with severe complications of acute myocardial infarction: a case report.

A 50-year-old man presented with acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography showed the left anterior descending artery (segment 6) was totally occluded. Direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed, but a distal embolism occurred by the procedure.

Nicorandil administration shows cardioprotective effects in patients with poor TIMI and collateral flow as well as good flow after AMI.

Background: Nicorandil (NCR) has been reported to have cardioprotective effects in patients with AMI. And collateral flow and TIMI flow are also important determinants of final salvaged myocardium in patients with AMI. There is no evidence as to whether TIMI or collateral flow modifies the cardioprotective effects of NCR in patients with AMI.

Acute myocardial infarction and ischemia in the left anterior descending artery territory in a patient with single coronary artery.

This report describes a 77-year-old woman with a single coronary artery who suffered an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction. The single coronary artery arose from the right coronary artery through the transverse trunk, and there were no other cardiovascular anomalies. Coronary angiography did not reveal significant coronary artery stenosis in the left anterior descending artery.

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy and radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with mitral stenosis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term results of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) following percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC).

Methods And Results: Four patients (2 males, age 59+/-6 years) underwent simultaneous PTMC and pulmonary vein (PV) ablation. All patient had AF and MS (2 had persistent AF >1 month, 2 had paroxysmal AF), and the mean duration of AF was 3.