Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in Two Patients without Any Cardiac Symptom on Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a disorder characterized by left ventricular apical ballooning and electrocardiographic changes in the absence of coronary artery disease. While reversible in many cases, the mechanism of this disorder remains unclear. The most frequent clinical symptoms of takotsubo cardiomyopathy on admission are chest pain and dyspnea, resembling acute myocardial infarction.

Relation of estimated glomerular filtration rate to the presence of coronary plaque and obstructive coronary artery disease in a zero or low coronary artery calcium score.

Objectives: Although renal dysfunction is associated with the presence of atherosclerosis, little is known about the relationship between reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the presence of atherosclerosis detected by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). This study evaluated the relation of eGFR to the presence of coronary plaque and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with a zero or low coronary artery calcium score (CACS).

Methods: Coronary artery calcium scoring and CCTA were performed with CT scanners.

Novel combined GPIHBP1 mutations in a patient with hypertriglyceridemia associated with CAD.

Aim: Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by severe hypertriglyceridemia. Similar clinical phenotypes have been reported with respect to defects in several LPL-associated proteins. However, it remains controversial whether severe hypertriglyceridemia itself is atherogenic.

Relation of cardiovascular risk factors and angina status to obstructive coronary artery disease according to categorical coronary artery calcium score.

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is associated with the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular risk factors. However, the relation between cardiovascular risk factors and CAD has not yet been fully elucidated in patients with a zero or low coronary artery calcium score (CACS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation of cardiovascular risk factors and angina status to obstructive CAD according to categorical CACS.

Glycosylated hemoglobin is a predictor of major adverse cardiac events after drug-eluting stent implantation in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is associated with the risk of restenosis and mortality after coronary stenting, but the relation between glycosylated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1c) and prognosis has not yet been fully elucidated in patients with diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether hemoglobin A1c is associated with a risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after successful drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: In a retrospective study with a prospective follow-up, 206 patients with diabetes mellitus undergoing successful DES implantation were enrolled in this study.

An autopsy case of left ventricular apical ballooning probably caused by pheochromocytoma with persistent ST-segment elevation.

We describe the autopsy case of an 86-year-old man who experienced left ventricular (LV) apical ballooning with pheochromocytoma. During the follow-up period, his electrocardiogram (ECG) showed persistent ST-segment elevation in leads V3 to V6, and an echocardiogram revealed persistent LV dysfunction in the apical region. He died 64 days after admission.

QT dispersion and prognosis after coronary stent placement in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: QT dispersion is increased in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but the relation of QT dispersion to prognosis has not yet been fully elucidated.

Hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to evaluate prospectively whether QT dispersion is associated with the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and mortality after successful coronary stenting in AMI.

Methods: One hundred and forty-two patients with AMI and undergoing successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled in this study.

Inflection point of ascending aortic waveform is a predictive factor for major adverse cardiac events after successful coronary stent placement in acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: The reflection waveform in the ascending aortic pressure has been reported to reflect systemic arterial stiffness, and increase the risk of coronary heart disease. The purpose of this study is to evaluate prospectively whether the reflection waveform in the ascending aortic pressure is associated with the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after successful coronary stenting in acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: One hundred and twenty-five patients with AMI and undergoing successful coronary stenting were enrolled in this study.

QT dispersion and left ventricular function after stent placement in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: QT dispersion is increased in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but the relation of QT dispersion to left ventricular (LV) function has not yet been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between QT dispersion and LV function in patients with successful coronary stenting in AMI.

Methods: Seventy five patients with AMI who underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) were enrolled in this study.

Correction of the maxillary occlusal plane relieves persistent headache and shoulder stiffness.

It has been known for many years that deformations of the occlusal plane of the teeth cause indefinite symptoms such as headaches or stiffness of the shoulders. However, how the occlusal plane of the teeth should be corrected remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a correction of the deviation of the maxillary occlusal plane (MOP) from the center of dens of axis vertebrae (DAV) improves symptoms in patients having intractable headache or shoulder-stiffness.

Inflection point of ascending aortic waveform is a predictive factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis.

Background: The reflection waveform in the ascending aortic pressure has been reported to reflect systemic arterial stiffness, and increase risk of coronary heart disease. The purpose of this study is to evaluate prospectively whether the reflection waveform in the ascending aortic pressure is associated with the mortality in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis.

Methods: Fifty two patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis and undergoing cardiac catheterizations were enrolled in this study.

The timing of the reflected wave in the ascending aortic pressure predicts restenosis after coronary stent placement.

It has been reported that the reflection waveform in the ascending aortic pressure is associated with systemic arterial stiffness. Stiffening of the aortic walls leads to a decrease in coronary perfusion and an increase in restenosis rate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the reflection waveform in the ascending aortic pressure could be used to predict restenosis after percutaneous coronary stenting.

Intravenous nicorandil can reduce QT dispersion and prevent bradyarrhythmia during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of the right coronary artery.

Background: Nicorandil, a potassium channel opener, is used for the treatment of angina pectoris and has a pharmacologic preconditioning effect. This study evaluated whether intravenous nicorandil reduces QT dispersion and prevents bradyarrhythmia during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of the right coronary artery.

Methods: A historical cohort study on the effect of nicorandil on QT dispersion and bradyarrhythmia was conducted.

Intravenous nicorandil can reduce the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation and QT dispersion in patients with successful coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Because nicorandil, a potassium channel opener, has a cardioprotective effect and attenuates reperfusion injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), intravenous nicorandil should reduce arrhythmic mortality and QT dispersion in patients with AMI.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether intravenous nicorandil reduces the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation and QT dispersion in patients with successful coronary angioplasty in AMI.

Methods: A historical cohort study on the effect of nicorandil on ventricular fibrillation and QT dispersion was conducted.

Thrombus formation after aortic valvular replacement using Björk-Shiley valve occluding the right coronary orifice.

We describe a patient with unstable angina due to occlusion of the orifice of the right coronary artery by thrombus formation after aortic valvular replacement using a Björk-Shiley valve. After strict anticoagulant treatment, transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated disappearance of the thrombus formation around the orifice of the right coronary artery.

Fusiform coronary aneurysm in the left circumflex artery with recurrent myocardial infarction and idiopathic thrombopenia.

The authors describe the rare case of a patient with fusiform coronary aneurysm with myocardial infarction in the left circumflex artery complicated by idiopathic thrombopenia. Medical treatment with a combination of warfarin and aspirin could not prevent recurrence of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, but surgical ligation of the proximal site of the fusiform aneurysm and coronary bypass to the distal site of the fusiform aneurysm prevented further myocardial infarction and angina pectoris.

Inflection point of ascending aortic waveform is a powerful predictor of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Background: Although it was reported that the pulsatility of ascending aortic pressure is closely related to restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), it is not known whether the reflection period of ascending aortic pressure can predict restenosis after PTCA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether reflection in the arterial system can be used to predict restenosis after PTCA.

Methods: We used the inflection point as the reflection period index and measured the coronary artery diameter, aortic pressure, and inflection time before PTCA.

Reflection in the arterial system and the risk of coronary heart disease.

Background: Although it was reported that the augmentation index and inflection time are closely related to reflection in the arterial system and large artery function, it is not known whether these indices of the ascending aortic pressure waveform increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the aortic reflection of the ascending aortic pressure waveform is related to an increased risk of CHD.

Methods: We enrolled 190 men and women who had chest pain, normal contractions, no local asynergy, and no history of myocardial infarction.