Proximal superficial femoral artery puncture using an ascending approach for stent re-occlusion in the common femoral artery.

Unlabelled: We aimed to describe a technique for approaching the common femoral artery (CFA) in cases where doing so is difficult owing to an occluded lesion caused by a previously implanted stent. A 72-year-old woman had severe stenotic lesions in both iliac arteries that required an approach via the bilateral femoral arteries. The right CFA had a previously implanted stent and a completely occluded lesion that extended from the superficial femoral artery (SFA).

Relationship between exercise tolerance and muscle strength following cardiac rehabilitation: comparison of patients after cardiac surgery and patients with myocardial infarction.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies have demonstrated that cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves exercise tolerance and muscle strength in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and in patients after cardiac surgery. However, the association between exercise tolerance and muscular strength following CR and the comparison of relationships among various disease categories has not been fully examined. The purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship between exercise tolerance and muscle strength following CR in patients after cardiac surgery and patients with MI.

Effects of a phase III cardiac rehabilitation program on physical status and lipid profiles in elderly patients with coronary artery disease: Juntendo Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (J-CARP).

Background: Limited data are available regarding the effects of phase III cardiac rehabilitation on the physical status and risk factors in elderly patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: Thirty-four male CAD patients (>65 years old) were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=18) or a control group (n=16). The intervention group participated in a phase III cardiac rehabilitation program consisting of exercise training, diet therapy, and weekly counseling for 6 months.

Comparison of HERG channel blocking effects of various beta-blockers-- implication for clinical strategy.

beta-Blockers are widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, their effects on HERG channels at comparable conditions remain to be defined. We investigated the direct acute effects of beta-blockers on HERG current and the molecular basis of drug binding to HERG channels with mutations of putative common binding site (Y652A and F656C).

Blockade of HERG cardiac K+ current by antifungal drug miconazole.

1. Miconazole, an imidazole antifungal agent, is associated with acquired long QT syndrome and ventricular arrhythmias. Miconazole increases the plasma concentration of QT-prolonging drugs by inhibiting the hepatic cytochrome P450 metabolic pathway, but whether it has direct effects on cardiac ion channels has not been elucidated.

Successful treatment of severe orthostatic hypotension with erythropoietin.

A 71-year-old man, who was diagnosed with familial amyloidosis type I, was admitted for treatment of severe orthostatic hypotension associated with recurrent syncopal attacks. Head-up tilt testing demonstrated severe orthostatic hypotension (114/72 mmHg in the supine position and 62/34 mmHg in the upright position) with syncope or presyncope. Oral midodorine and fludrocortisone therapies failed to prevent his symptoms.

Clinical advantage of neutral anode positioning feature in recent pacemaker generator.

Recent advances in pacemaker technology such as a thinner lead body, smaller size of pacemaker generators and pacemaker pulse generators with the neutral anode positioning (NAP) feature, have made pacemaker implantation easier. To date, however, the clinical disadvantages of this NAP feature have not been investigated. We investigated whether there are any clinically disadvantages in pacing and sensing thresholds, myopotential tracking thresholds and myopotential inhibition thresholds in 62 pacemaker patients with the NAP feature.

Effects of phase III cardiac rehabilitation programs on health-related quality of life in elderly patients with coronary artery disease: Juntendo Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (J-CARP).

The purpose of this prospective randomized controlled trial was to assess the impact of phase III comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in elderly patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Thirty-eight elderly males (mean age, 70 years) with CAD were stratified as the intervention group (n=20) and the control group (n=18). In the intervention group, patients participated in CR for 6 months, whereas in the control group, they received standard care.