Relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and congestive heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Homocysteine and congestive heart failure.

Heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is an important factor in determining clinical outcome. We examined whether the plasma homocysteine level was a predictor of heart failure in patients with AMI. A series of 96 patients without renal failure who were admitted to our hospital because of AMI between January 2003 and December 2005 were assigned to two groups; a group with a high homocysteine level (group H: n = 48) and a group with a low homocysteine level (group L: n = 48) based on a median homocysteine level.

Safety and efficacy of sirolimus-eluting stent in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing emergency procedure.

Background: Sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) reduce restenosis and revascularization rates, compared with bare-metal stents (BMS), in elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study investigated the safety and efficacy of SES for emergency PCI in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

Methods And Results: The 154 consecutive patients (SES: n=77, BMS: n=77) admitted to hospital with ACS were enrolled in this study.

A case of vasospastic angina showing resolution of coronary vasospasm in acetylcholine provocation test corresponding to regression of coronary atherosclerosis.

We experienced a case of vasospastic angina showing resolution of vasospasm in the acetylcholine provocation test corresponding to regression of coronary atherosclerotic plaque following treatment with a combination of benidipine and pravastatin.

Resuscitative value of B-type natriuretic peptide in comatose survivors treated with hypothermia after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to cardiac causes.

Background: Two randomized studies have shown a neurological benefit of therapeutic hypothermia in comatose survivors after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but there are no studies of the cardiac neurohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients treated with hypothermia.

Methods And Results: A prospective study was conducted of 109 comatose patients who were treated with mild hypothermia after out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest due to cardiac causes and whose BNP level was measured on arrival at the emergency room. The primary endpoint was a favorable neurological outcome at the time of hospital discharge.

Increasingly well-preserved left ventricular function in hospital survivors with acute myocardial infarction: effect of early and complete reperfusion strategy on left ventricular remodeling.

Background: Progress in reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has greatly reduced acute phase mortality, but few data exist regarding the time trends in left ventricular (LV) remodeling in hospital survivors of AMI.

Methods And Results: The study enrolled 813 patients with AMI who had received reperfusion therapy and survived to hospital discharge. The patients were divided into chronological groups: first treatment received between 1989 and 1992, n=196; 1993 and 1995, n=193; 1996 and 1998, n=211; and 1999 and 2002, n=213.

Reperfusion strategy for acute myocardial infarction in elderly patients aged 75 to 80 years.

The increasing elderly population will influence the treatment policies adopted in cases of acute myocardial infarction. Considering reperfusion therapy in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction, we compared three strategies, as follows: primary percutaneous coronary intervention (primary PCI: n = 26), facilitated PCI with half the standard dose of mutant tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) (half + PCI: n = 24), and facilitated PCI with a standard dose of mutant t-PA (standard + PCI: n = 15) between patients 75 and 80 years of age. The rate of acquisition of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI-3) flow on initial coronary arteriography was significantly lower in the primary PCI group than in the other two groups (7.

Pure ventricular septal myocardial infarction in a young man with coronary artery ectasia.

The case of a 30-year-old man with myocardial infarction localized in the interventricular septum is described. Coronary angiography performed on day 28 after the onset of symptoms revealed ectasia in the right and left coronary arteries, but no overt stenotic or occlusive lesions were present. Spasm was induced in the first septal branch of the left anterior descending artery by an acetylcholine provocation test, and single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging showed a reduced thallium-201 uptake localized in the interventricular septum.

Predictive factors of TIMI-3 flow before percutaneous coronary intervention in facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

The outcome for facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is known to be more favorable in cases in which TIMI-3 flow is obtained before PCI. We investigated factors that affect the acquisition of TIMI-3 flow before PCI. Facilitated PCI was performed on 178 patients divided into two groups, a group in which TIMI-3 flow was acquired before conducting PCI and another in which it was not, and their background factors and short-term outcomes were investigated.

Relationship between the plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide and left ventricular ejection fraction in asymptomatic patients with previous myocardial infarction.

While the usefulness of measuring the plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in cases with worsening heart failure and severe heart failure has already been established, the benefits of evaluation of this parameter in asymptomatic stable patients with left ventricular dysfunction is still under debate. Left ventricular function was evaluated in 141 ambulatory outpatients with a previous history of myocardial infarction not associated with symptoms of heart failure for at least one year. The plasma BNP level was also determined in these patients for comparative study.

Regulation of arginine vasopressin in the human heart.

Background: The role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the heart has yet to be determined. The present study was designed to examine whether AVP is regulated in the human heart.

Methods And Results: The subjects were 93 patients who underwent coronary angiography and left ventriculography.

Effect of pravastatin on malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein levels and coronary plaque regression as determined by three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound.

We hypothesized that a reduction in atherogenic malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) levels, which may antagonize the action of atheroprotective high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, leads to coronary plaque regression. This study investigated the effects of pravastatin on the serum levels of MDA-LDL and coronary atherosclerosis. In a 6-month prospective study, 75 patients with stable coronary artery disease were randomly assigned to a pravastatin-treatment group (n = 52) or a control group (n = 23).

Takotsubo-shaped cardiomyopathy with type I CD36 deficiency.

A transient left ventricular apical ballooning (so-called "ampulla" or "Takotsubo-shaped" cardiomyopathy) with type I CD36 deficiency is described in a 71-year-old woman. The patient was referred because of chest pain and worsening of dyspnea. Electrocardiogram showed T-wave inversions on the precordal leads, and acute coronary syndrome was suspected.

Effect of pioglitazone on arteriosclerosis in comparison with that of glibenclamide.

Background: Pioglitazone is an insulin-sensitizing agent that has been reported to have anti-arteriosclerotic effects.

Objective: To investigate the anti-arteriosclerotic effects of pioglitazone in patients with diabetes mellitus using pulse wave velocity (PWV) as an index of efficacy.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned to two groups, and pioglitazone (n=13) or glibenclamide (n=14) was administered for 6 months.

Unexpected coronary vasospasm of a contralateral artery during balloon angioplasty.

It is unusual for coronary vasospasm to develop following angioplasty of a coronary vascular lesion that is located elsewhere. We experienced a rare case of shock with vasospasm of the right coronary artery in a patient following balloon angioplasty performed for stent restenosis of the left anterior descending artery.

Relationship between the generation and the facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction--analysis based on the fibrinolysis and subsequent transluminal trial--.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in comparing young and elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Methods And Results: The present study enrolled 168 initial myocardial infarction patients within 12 h of the symptom onset between 40 and 80 years of age who were indicated on the fibrinolysis and subsequent transluminal (FAST-3) trial. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to their age, peak creatine kinase (CK), peak CK-MB and peak troponin T (Tn-T) levels, and cardiac function were compared between the 4 groups.

Mismatch between results of myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements and myocardial perfusion SPECT for identification of the severity of ischemia: pitfall of FFR in patients with prior myocardial infarction.

We experienced two rare cases of mismatch between the results of FFR and myocardial perfusion SPECT for identification of myocardial ischemia after myocardial infarction. If a FFR cutoff value of 0.75 is applied as in angina patients to patients with myocardial infarction, the severity of ischemia may be underestimated.

Efficacy of calcium channel blocker in the secondary prevention of myocardial infarction--retrospective analysis of the 10-year prognosis or coronary thrombolysis-treated patients.

Background: Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) may have a positive influence on the long-term prognosis of Japanese patients with ischemic heart disease.

Methods And Results: The effect of nifedipine-retard (NR) (n=202) compared with that of non-CCB treatment (n=92) on the secondary prevention of myocardial infarction (MI) was retrospectively investigated in patients who had survived acute MI between 1987 and 1996. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of cardiac death or non-fatal MI.

Relation of secretory phospholipase A(2) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Recently it has become clear that inflammatory changes play a part in the development of atherosclerosis, including coronary artery disease, and Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is thought to be a proinflammatory factor. The plasma concentration of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a potential predictor of outcome in atherosclerotic diseases.

Relationship between the door-to-TIMI-3 flow time and the infarct size in patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction: analysis based on the fibrinolysis and subsequent transluminal (FAST-3) trial.

Background: The purpose of this study was to use the findings of a fibrinolysis and subsequent transluminal trial (FAST-3) to evaluate the association between the target time for obtaining a thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI)-3 flow after arrival at the emergency room with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the degree of myocardial salvage.

Methods And Results: The FAST-3 trial was administered to 100 patients suffering from AMI. Ranges in the door-to-TIMI-3 flow time (D-T3-time: TIMI-3 flow after arrival at the emergency room) according to quartile were as follows: 30-54 min (quartile 1), 55-77 min (quartile 2), 78-120 min (quartile 3) and 121-330 min (quartile 4).

Involvement of inflammation in acute coronary syndromes assessed by levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and soluble vascular-cell adhesion molecule-1.

Objectives: Inflammation is important in the development of atherosclerosis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and interferon-gamma which participate in collagen degradation are pathological factors in plaque vulnerability as an important mechanism underlying acute coronary syndrome. This study investigated whether inflammation is related to the onset of acute coronary syndrome.

Effect of pravastatin on coronary plaque volume.

A volumetric analysis by 3-dimensional intravascular ultrasound revealed that lipid-lowering therapy with pravastatin significantly reduced coronary plaque volume. The changes in plaque volume were inversely correlated with the changes in plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol but not with changes in levels of total cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.