Relationship Between Serum ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Concentration and Fatty Acid Fraction of Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5ω3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6ω3), are widely regarded as cardioprotective. EPA, but not DHA, has been reported to prevent fibrosis in heart failure. The relationship between the ω-3 PUFA fraction in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and vascular inflammation in patients with cardiovascular disease remains unclear.

Preoperative Impella therapy in patients with ventricular septal rupture and cardiogenic shock: haemodynamic and organ function outcomes.

Objectives: We examined the effects of preoperative Impella treatment on haemodynamic stability, organ recovery and postoperative outcomes in patients with postinfarction ventricular septal rupture (PIVSR) and cardiogenic shock (CS).

Methods: Between April 2018 and February 2024, the data of 10 of 15 patients with PIVSR and CS who underwent Impella therapy were analysed. Emergency surgery was contingent on haemodynamic stability with the Impella/ECpella, except in the presence of organ failure.

Safety and Effectiveness of Acceleration Training as Cardiac Rehabilitation Immediately After Open Heart Surgery - A Pilot Study.

Background: We examined the safety and efficacy of acceleration training (AT) in patients immediately after cardiac surgery.

Methods And Results: This randomized controlled study included patients who underwent open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. Of these patients, 31 received regular cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and 39 received AT in addition to regular CR (AT group).

Left atrial reservoir strain is a marker of atrial fibrotic remodeling in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery: Analysis of gene expression.

Left atrial strain (LAS) measured by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) is considered to be a marker of LA structural remodeling, but it remains unsettled. We investigated the potential usefulness and clinical relevance of LAS to detect atrial remodeling including fibrosis by analyzing gene expression in cardiovascular surgery patients. Preoperative 2DSTE was performed in 131 patients (92 patients with sinus rhythm [SR] patients including paroxysmal AF [PAF], 39 atrial fibrillation [AF]) undergoing cardiovascular surgery.

Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor Suppresses Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Activation After Cardiac Surgery Using Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Background: Sacubitril/valsartan, being both a neprilysin inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker, exhibits a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitory effect. However, no study has investigated the administration of sacubitril/valsartan in patients early after surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods And Results: This was a prospective observational study of 63 patients who underwent open heart surgery and were treated with sacubitril/valsartan.

Pathophysiological roles of the serum acylcarnitine level and acylcarnitine/free carnitine ratio in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Introduction: L-carnitine exerts protective effects, such as maintaining mitochondrial functions and decreasing reactive oxygen species, while acylcarnitine (AC) is linked to the development of heart failure and atherosclerosis.

Hypothesis: Serum carnitines play important pathophysiological roles in cardiovascular diseases.

Methods: Pre-operative biochemical data were obtained from 117 patients (71 men, average age 69.

Hemodynamic predictors of negative false lumen remodeling after frozen elephant trunk for acute aortic dissection.

Objective: We evaluated the blood flow within the downstream aortic false lumen after frozen elephant trunk repair for acute aortic dissection and identified hemodynamic predictors of false lumen expansion and negative false lumen remodeling using four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: Thirty-one patients (Stanford type A, n = 28; Stanford type B, n = 3) with patent false lumen who underwent frozen elephant trunk procedures for acute aortic dissection were included in this observational study. Each patient underwent computed tomography during the follow-up period and four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging within 3 postoperative months.

Impella - Current issues and future expectations for the percutaneous, microaxial flow left ventricular assist device.

The importance of temporary mechanical circulatory support for treating acute heart failure with cardiogenic shock is increasingly recognized, and Impella (Abiomed, Danvers, MA, USA) has received particular attention in this regard. Impella is an axial flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) built into the tip of a catheter. It is inserted via a peripheral artery and implanted into the left ventricle.

Simulation to determine the approach of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Purpose: The present study investigated potential access vessels in patients receiving hemodialysis who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement and determined which approaches were most suitable for performing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing hemodialysis with aortic valve stenosis who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement were included. Preoperative computed tomography data were analyzed to assess the vessel diameter and calcification.

Transcatheter aortic valve-in-surgical aortic valve for a patient with repeated healed endocarditis: a case report.

Background: Transcatheter valve replacement is contraindicated in patients with active infective endocarditis. However, few reports suggest that it could be beneficial for high-risk surgical patients with healed infective endocarditis. Here, we report a case of a surgical transcatheter aortic valve in a patient with healed repeated prosthetic valve endocarditis using a stentless valve.

A protocol-based treatment for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm contributed to improving aorta-related mortality: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Recent guidelines state that improving the survival rate of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) requires a protocol or algorithm for the emergency management of these patients. We aimed to investigate whether introducing a protocol treatment for rAAA improves clinical outcomes compared with the pre-protocol strategy.

Methods: At our institution, 92 patients treated for rAAA between June 2008 and August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.

Utility of growth differentiation factor-15 as a predictor of cardiovascular surgery outcomes: Current research and future directions.

In a world increasingly confronted by cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and an aging population, accurate risk assessment prior to cardiac surgery is critical. Although effective, traditional risk calculators such as the Japan SCORE, Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, and EuroSCORE II may not completely capture contemporary risks, particularly due to emerging factors such as frailty and sarcopenia. These calculators often focus on regional and ethnic specificity and rely heavily on evaluations based on age and underlying diseases.

Multidisciplinary treatment for infective endocarditis complicated with systemic multiple abscess due to Panton-Valentine leukocidin producing community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans: a case report.

Background: Infective endocarditis resulting from community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a rare, but often fatal heart disorder. Here, we report a case of multidisciplinary treatment for infective endocarditis with systemic multiple abscesses due to Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) producing CA-MRSA and Candida albicans .

Case Presentation: The patient suffered from infective endocarditis, destructive thyroiditis, hemorrhagic cerebral infarction due to mycotic embolism, lung abscess, multiple skeletal muscle abscess, and disseminate intravascular coagulopathy.

Novel Scoring System to Risk Stratify Patients Receiving Durable Left Ventricular Assist Device From J-MACS Registry Data.

Background: Recently, destination therapy (DT) was approved in Japan, and patients ineligible for heart transplantation may now receive durable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Several conventional risk scores are available, but a risk score that is best to select optimal candidates for DT in the Japanese population remains unestablished.

Methods and results: A total of 1,287 patients who underwent durable LVAD implantation and were listed for the Japanese registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (J-MACS) were eligible for inclusion.

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery via bilateral thoracotomy in treatment of left ventricle aneurysm: a case report.

Background: Left ventricle aneurysm (LVA) as a sequela to myocardial infarction or iatrogenic injury is required surgical treatment with full median sternotomy. Herein, we report a case of successful surgical treatment of left ventricle aneurysm performed by minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS).

Case Presentation: We describe a case of a LVA treated by minimally invasive cardiac surgery in an 82-year-old woman who reported to the hospital with the complaint of chest pains at rest.

Overview of mechanical circulatory support for the management of post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture.

Post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture (PIVSR) is becoming increasingly rare in the percutaneous coronary intervention era; however, the mortality rates remain high. Surgical repair is the gold standard treatment for PIVSR but is associated with surgical difficulty and high mortality. Therefore, the timing of surgery is controversial (i.

Prosthetic Valve Function after Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Stenosis by Transcatheter Procedure versus Surgery.

Background This study compared the clinical outcomes of transcatheter (TAVR) and surgical (SAVR) aortic valve replacements, focusing on postoperative valvular performance assessed by echocardiography. Method and Results A total of 425 patients who underwent TAVR (230 patients) or SAVR (195 patients) were included. Postoperative effective orifice area index (EOAI) was higher in the TAVR group (1.

Immunoglobulin G4-related inflammatory pseudotumor of the right ventricle with right coronary artery occlusion.

Unlabelled: Immunoglobulin G4-related inflammatory pseudotumors are usually benign. Such tumors of cardiac origin are extremely rare, with no primary cardiac tumors reported to date. We report a case of a 77-year-old woman, with a medical history of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, who was diagnosed with a malignant cardiac tumor on preoperative imaging and had a confirmed pathological diagnosis of immunoglobulin G4-related inflammatory pseudotumor.

[Surgical Treatment for Infective Endocarditis].

Infective endocarditis is an infection of the endocardium that can cause major complications. While surgery may reduce complications and improve survival, the surgery is of high risk and has a high mortality rate. Indications for early surgical treatment include advanced heart failure, refractory infection, and embolism.

Association between serum GDF-15, myostatin, and sarcopenia in cardiovascular surgery patients.

Background: Myostatin is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. On the other hand, growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15 is associated with lower muscle strength and muscle mass. We investigated the relationship between serum GDF-15, myostatin, and sarcopenia in patients receiving cardiovascular surgery through a ROC curve and a multivariate regression analysis.

Serum and Adipose Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 in Cardiovascular Surgery Patients: Influence of Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors.

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a novel adipokine and may be involved in the association between adipose tissue and metabolic syndrome. We investigated DPP-4 and adiponectin levels in the serum, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), and their relationship with preoperative factors, as well as comparing the DPP-4 levels in SAT and EAT with and without DPP-4 inhibitors. This study included 40 patients (25 men, age 67.

Mid-term results of surgical aortic valve replacement with bioprostheses in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Limited studies have assessed the factors affecting prognosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients who undergo surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprostheses (SAVR-BP). This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of HD patients who had undergone SAVR-BP for aortic stenosis (AS) and identify the risk factors for mortality.

Methods: This retrospective study included 57 HD patients who had undergone SAVR-BP for AS between July 2009 and December 2020.