The association of serum adiponectin level with activities of daily living in hospitalized elderly patients with heart failure.

Background: Several studies have reported a relationship between elevated serum adiponectin levels and poor outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). However, data on the activities of daily living (ADL) in elderly patients with HF are limited.

Methods: We evaluated 218 hospitalized elderly (≥65 years) patients with HF who underwent a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program during hospitalization.

The impact of the dominant frequency of body surface electrocardiography in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

The dominant frequency (DF) of atrial fibrillation (AF) reflects atrial electrical activity. However, the relationship between DF measured using surface electrocardiography (ECG) and AF ablation success remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify whether the DF of surface ECG in patients with persistent AF could predict arrhythmia recurrence after catheter ablation.

Myocardial viability as shown by left ventricular lead pacing threshold and improved dyssynchrony by QRS narrowing predicts the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Introduction: Patients with advanced heart failure and dyssynchrony can benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). To predict the response to CRT, myocardial viability and improved dyssynchrony are suggested to be important.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 93 patients who underwent CRT implantation in Nagoya University Hospital.

Uninterrupted Direct Oral Anticoagulant and Warfarin Administration in Elderly Patients Undergoing Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Comparison With Younger Patients.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of uninterrupted direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use and uninterrupted warfarin administration in elderly patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Background: There is limited knowledge regarding the uninterrupted use of oral anticoagulant agents in elderly patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF.

Methods: This retrospective study included 2,164 patients (n = 325 ≥75 years of age and n = 1,839 <75 years of age) who underwent catheter ablation for AF.

Assessment of autonomic nervous system modulation after novel catheter ablation techniques for atrial fibrillation using multiple short-term electrocardiogram recordings.

Purpose: The effect of novel catheter ablation techniques for atrial fibrillation (AF) on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is unclear. This study aimed to assess the ANS after three novel catheter ablation techniques for paroxysmal AF by evaluating heart rate variability (HRV) parameters using a 3-min electrocardiogram recording.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty-five patients who underwent catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF (119 in irrigated-tip, 51 in contact-force sensing-guided, and 65 patients in second-generation cryoballoon ablation) were included.

Renal function and risk of stroke and bleeding in patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: Comparison between uninterrupted direct oral anticoagulants and warfarin administration.

Background: The effect of uninterrupted oral anticoagulant use in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) during catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is not fully understood.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of periprocedural uninterrupted direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use compared with those of uninterrupted warfarin use in patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF stratified by various renal function groups.

Methods: A total of 2091 patients were retrospectively included in this study.

Vagal response in cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation and autonomic nervous system: Utility of epicardial adipose tissue location.

Background: Mechanism and effects of vagal response (VR) during cryoballoon ablation procedure on the cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) are unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between VR during cryoballoon catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and ANS modulation by evaluating epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) locations and heart rate variability (HRV) analysis.

Methods: Forty-one patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (11 with VR during the procedure and 30 without VR) who underwent second-generation cryoballoon ablation were included.

Intravascular ultrasound-guided percutaneous coronary intervention for total occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending artery caused by spontaneous coronary dissection in a young woman.

A 35-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of a sudden cardiac arrest caused by an acute anterior myocardial infarction. Emergency coronary angiography showed total occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD). We performed an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to detect the LAD orifice and successfully inserted the guidewire to the occluded LAD.