Long-Term Maintenance of Normal Serum Vitamin B Levels Is Associated with Better Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure.

Deficiency of vitamin B (VB1), an essential micronutrient, causes heart failure (HF). A recent randomized controlled trial failed to show any improvement in HF prognosis after short-term VB1 supplementation. In the current study, we investigated the efficacy of long-term maintenance of normal blood VB1 levels in preventing adverse outcomes in patients with HF.

Impact of Cancer History on Temporal Changes in the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test of Patients with Cardiovascular Disease.

The elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in cancer patients and survivors is likely the result of normal age-related pathologies coupled with the direct and indirect effects of cancer therapy that extend across multiple systems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on CVD patients with a history of cancer.In this study, patients who had participated in the outpatient CR program were enrolled and were divided into 2 groups (cancer survivor group and no-cancer group) based on their history of cancer.

Impact of Climate on the Incidence of Acute Coronary Syndrome - Differences Between Japan and Thailand.

Although there are many reports of temperature being associated with the onset of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), few studies have examined differences in ACS due to climatic differences between Japan and Thailand. The aim of this joint Japan-Thailand study was to compare patients with myocardial infarction in Japanese and Thai hospitals in different climates. We estimated the climate data in 2021 for the Wakayama Prefecture and Chonburi Province, two medium-sized cities in Japan and Thailand, respectively, and ACS patients who were treated at the Wakayama Medical University (WMU) and Burapha University Hospital (BUH), the two main hospitals in these provinces (ACS patient numbers: WMU, n=177; BUH, n=93), respectively.

Characteristics of Discharged Elderly Patients with Acute Heart Failure Followed by Board-Certified-Cardiologists in a Rural Area of Japan.

The worldwide incidence rates of heart failure (HF) are approaching pandemic status due to aging societies. Board-certified cardiologists (BCCs) of the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) are cardiologists who have completed the respective fellowship program and passed the examination. However, in rural areas, patients have limited access to medical care for social or geographical reasons.

Long-term risk stratification for hospitalized patients with acute heart failure at a single rural cardiovascular centre.

Aims: Early risk stratification of patients with acute heart failure (AHF) is critical for appropriate triage and outcome improvement. The serum sodium, blood urea nitrogen, age, serum albumin, systolic blood pressure, and natriuretic peptide level (SOB-ASAP) score can predict in-hospital mortality of AHF. However, the relationship between the SOB-ASAP score and long-term prognosis is unknown.

Impact of Upper Arm Prolonged Occlusion on Radial Artery Diameter Before Coronary Angiography in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: The transradial approach (TRA) for percutaneous coronary angiography and intervention has been increasingly gaining popularity in clinical practice. However, there are cases in which it is difficult to insert a sheath or catheter due to spasm, pulsation loss, and occlusion. It has been reported that flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) contributed to the reduction of complications due to the TRA and the improvement of the number of puncture attempts.

Serial changes of coronary flow reserve over one year after transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Background: Impaired coronary flow reserve (CFR) portends a poor prognosis in patients with aortic stenosis. The present study aims to investigate how CFR changes over one year after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe aortic stenosis, and to explore factors related to the changes.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing TAVI were registered.

Hyperglycemia and intramyocardial hemorrhage in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Hyperglycemia at admission and intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) are associated with poor prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Little is known about the relationship between glucose levels at admission and IMH. The association between matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which plays an important role in the development of IMH, and hyperglycemia is also unknown.

Acute coronary syndrome due to plaque erosion likely triggered by insect bites: a case series of Kounis syndrome.

Background: Kounis syndrome is the concurrence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including coronary spasm, acute myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis due to an allergic and/or anaphylactoid insult.

Case Summary: We present two cases of Kounis syndrome likely triggered by insect bites, with plaque erosion demonstrated using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Three common findings were derived from this case series.

Effect of Atherectomy on Lesion Preparation in Heavily Calcified Coronary Artery Disease.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of heavily calcified lesions remains challenging. This study examined whether calcified lesion preparation is better with an ablation-based than balloon-based technique. Results of lesion preparations with and without atherectomy devices were compared in 121 patients undergoing optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided PCI of heavily calcified lesions.

Vascular Response After Everolimus-Eluting Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction Caused by Calcified Nodule.

Background: Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) caused by calcified nodules (CN) have worse clinical outcomes following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study investigated the late vascular response after everolimus-eluting stent (EES) implantation assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with AMI caused by CN, by comparing with plaque rupture (PR) and plaque erosion (PE).

Methods and results: Based on the OCT findings in AMI culprit lesions before PCI, a total of 141 patients were categorized into 3 groups (PR, PE, or CN), and the OCT findings immediately and 10 months after PCI were compared.

Telecardiology in Rural Practice: Global Trends.

The management of cardiovascular diseases in rural areas is plagued by the limited access of rural residents to medical facilities and specialists. The development of telecardiology using information and communication technology may overcome such limitation. To shed light on the global trend of telecardiology, we summarized the available literature on rural telecardiology.

Usefulness of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Patient with Cardiac Involvement of Systemic Sclerosis.

A 72-year-old Japanese woman with systemic sclerosis was admitted to our hospital because of symptoms of heart failure. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging had shown that extensive myocardial fibrosis secondary to systemic sclerosis was the main cause of heart failure. One month after CMR, she had complete atrioventricular (AV) block.

Cancer-related vulnerable lesions in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) has become a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors. It is still unclear whether cancer history influences lesion characteristics. The purpose of this study was to investigate cancer-related lesion morphology in patients with CAD.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol as a therapeutic target for residual risk in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: The current guideline recommends lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) for the primary management of dyslipidemia in patients at high-risk of cardiovascular events. Patients who have achieved LDL-C levels below the recommended targets may still experience cardiovascular events, suggesting additional therapeutic targets beyond LDL-C. The aim of this study was to investigate whether high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels had an impact on plaque stabilization in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Temporal course of vascular healing and neoatherosclerosis after implantation of durable- or biodegradable-polymer drug-eluting stents.

Aims: Delayed healing and endothelial dysfunction may occur with drug-eluting stents (DES), promoting accelerated infiltration of lipids in the neointima and development of neoatherosclerosis (NA). Pathology data suggest durable polymer (DP) of DES to play a major role in this process. Whether biodegradable polymer (BP) may address these issues is uncertain.

Early Clinical Experience With Right and Left Distal Transradial Access in the Anatomical Snuffbox in 52 Consecutive Patients.

Background: Distal transradial access in the anatomical snuffbox has advantages over standard access in terms of patient and operator comfort levels and risk of ischemia. Radial artery preservation could be a relevant issue in patients requiring multiple radial artery procedures and coronary bypass with the use of a radial graft. One relevant drawback is the challenging puncture of a small and weak artery, with a steeper learning curve.

Impact of Plaque Rupture Detected by Optical Coherence Tomography on Transmural Extent of Infarction After Successful Stenting in ST-Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between plaque rupture (PR) assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and the transmural extent of infarction (TEI) assessed by contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CE-CMR) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: PR is associated with larger infarct size as assessed by cardiac enzymes in STEMI patients. CE-CMR is a favorable method to assess TEI, which can predict the prognosis of STEMI patients.

Optical Coherence Tomography Predictors for Edge Restenosis After Everolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation.

Background: Stent edge restenosis (SER) remains a potential limitation of drug-eluting stents. The aim of this study was to determine optical coherence tomography (OCT) predictors for angiographic late SER after everolimus-eluting stent implantation.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively analyzed 319 patients who underwent OCT immediately after everolimus-eluting stent implantation and scheduled 9- to 12-month follow-up angiography.

Impact of functional focal versus diffuse coronary artery disease on bypass graft patency.

Background: Pressure guidewire pullback recording can differentiate between functional focal and diffuse disease types in coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patency between patients with functional focal versus diffuse disease types in recipient coronary arteries.

Methods And Results: We investigated 89 patients who underwent pressure guidewire pullback in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery before CABG using internal mammary artery (IMA).

Reduction of in-stent thrombus immediately after percutaneous coronary intervention by pretreatment with prasugrel compared with clopidogrel: An optical coherence tomography study.

Background: Prasugrel is a new-generation thienopyridine antiplatelet agent that provides more consistent and prompt platelet inhibition than clopidogrel. The aim of this study was to compare in-stent thrombus inhibition effect of pretreatment with prasugrel and clopidogrel by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) immediately after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: We performed OCT immediately after PCI in 108 ACS patients pretreated with either prasugrel (n=51) or clopidogrel (n=57).

Optimal threshold of postintervention minimum stent area to predict in-stent restenosis in small coronary arteries: An optical coherence tomography analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the best threshold of postintervention minimum stent area (MSA) assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) to predict long-term in-stent restenosis (ISR) for 2.5 mm-diameter everolimus-eluting stents (EES).

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for small coronary arteries remains challenging.