Enhanced Plaque Stabilization Effects of Alirocumab - Insights From Artificial Intelligence-Aided Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis of the Alirocumab for Thin-Cap Fibroatheroma in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Estimated by Optical Coherence Tomography (ALTAIR) Study.

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors stabilize vulnerable plaque, reducing cardiovascular events. However, manual optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis of drug efficacy is challenging because of signal attenuation within lipid plaques.

Methods And Results: Twenty-four patients with thin-cap fibroatheroma were prospectively enrolled and randomized to receive alirocumab (75 mg every 2 weeks) plus rosuvastatin (10 mg/day) or rosuvastatin (10 mg/day) alone.

Revisiting the Synthesis of Cellulose Acrylate and Its Modification via Michael Addition Reactions.

The synthesis of cellulose acrylate from cellulose with acryloyl chloride has been problematic due to unexpected gelation of the reaction mixture, but we discovered that the use of bulky amines was crucial for the reproducibility of the synthesis of cellulose acrylate. The solubility of the obtained cellulose acrylate depended on the reaction conditions due to the possible cross-linking oxa-Michael reaction between a remaining hydroxy group and the introduced acrylate group. The synthesized cellulose acrylate worked as a useful precursor of chemically modified cellulose materials because it reacted with various functionalized nucleophiles such as secondary amines and thiols as a Michael donor.

Dynamic Changes in Electrocardiogram Parameters After Epicardial Substrate Catheter Ablation of Brugada Syndrome.

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) is effective for recurrent episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) in Brugada syndrome (BrS). VF development in BrS is associated with several electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities. This study investigated changes in ECG parameters in high-risk BrS patients who underwent epicardial CA.

The mechanism and prognosis of acute and late improvement in mitral regurgitation after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves functional mitral regurgitation (MR); however, the mechanism and differences in acute and late improvement in MR are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the factors associated with the acute and late MR improvements and the prognosis of MR improvement after CRT. This retrospective study included 121 patients who underwent CRT implantation with full echocardiography assessment at baseline, 1 week, and 6 months after implantation.

Early improvement of daily physical activity after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in an accelerometer assessment: A prospective pilot study.

Background: Catheter ablation improves physical activity in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, continuous daily evaluation and time course of improvement in physical activity after ablation have not been fully assessed. This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the daily physical activities and changes in the physical performance in patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF by continuous monitoring of a portable accelerometer.

Periprocedural Management of Cardiac Tamponade During Catheter Ablation for AF Under Uninterrupted DOAC and Warfarin.

Objectives: This was a retrospective analysis of a registry of patients who underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) under uninterrupted direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) and warfarin administration.

Background: Uninterrupted DOAC used during catheter ablation for AF causes a life-threatening bleeding risk of cardiac tamponade.

Methods: Of 3,149 catheter ablation procedures for AF with uninterrupted oral anticoagulants used in 2,406 patients in 3 institutions, DOAC and warfarin were administered in 1,896 and 1,253 procedures, respectively.

Electrocardiogram characteristics of P wave associated with successful pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: Significance of changes in P-wave duration and notched P wave.

Background: The mechanisms involved in changes in P wave following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) are uncertain. This study aimed to assess the relationship between changes in P-wave morphology and pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection following ablation by the assessment of 12-lead surface electrocardiogram and signal-averaged electrocardiogram.

Methods: This retrospective study included 115 consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF that underwent repeat ablation for recurrence following initial ablation.

Discontinuous contraction in the left ventricle assessed by 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography benefits from CRT.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves the morbidity and mortality rate in patients with left bundle-branch block (LBBB); however, some LBBB patients are non-responders for CRT. Previous studies have shown that a transmural functional line block alters the left ventricular (LV) activation sequence, and that the presence of a line block is predictive for responders. We investigated whether responders could be predicted in patients with LBBB by 2-dimensional (2-D) speckle tracking strain imaging.

T-wave changes of cardiac memory caused by frequent premature ventricular contractions originating from the right ventricular outflow tract.

Introduction: Cardiac memory is recognized as altered T-waves when the sinus rhythm resumes after an abnormal myocardial activation period that recovers slowly over several weeks. The T-wave changes after ablation of frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) as cardiac memory was not known.

Objective: This study identified whether cardiac memory exists after successful ablation of PVCs from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT).

Characterization of the Axillary Microbiota of Japanese Male Subjects with Spicy and Milky Odor Types by Pyrosequencing.

　Malodorants in the human axilla are produced from human biogenic precursors by axillary bacterial enzymes. In the present study, we used pyrosequencing analysis to identify the axillary bacterial microbiota of 13 Japanese male subjects with cumin-like, spicy body odor (C type), and 9 with milky, skin-based body odor (M type). Anaerococcus, Corynebacterium, and Staphylococcus predominated in both C- and M-type subjects, followed by Moraxella and Peptoniphilus.

Oxidative deterioration of platinum nanoparticle and its prevention by palladium.

Pt nanoparticle is a strong reductant and has been used as an antioxidant in cosmetics and medicine. It was reported to have catalase-like activity, which converts hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. However, in this study, freshly prepared Pt nanoparticle was almost inert towards decomposing hydrogen peroxide.