Publications by authors named "Kenichiro Saka"
It has not yet been established whether angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), statins, and multiple drugs affect the severity of COVID-19. Therefore, we herein performed an observational study on the effects of 1st- and 2nd-generation ARB, statins, and multiple drugs, on COVID-19 in patients admitted to 15 Japanese medical facilities. The results obtained showed that ARB, statins, and multiple drugs were not associated with the primary outcome (odds ratio: 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Identifying predictive factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is crucial for risk stratification and intervention. Kidney dysfunction contributes to the severity of various infectious diseases. However, the association between on-admission kidney dysfunction and the clinical outcome in COVID-19 patients is unclear.
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- * Specific tests for gait speed, chair stand time, and balance were linked to reduced exercise capacity, as measured by 6-minute walking distance.
- * The study found that low physical performance independently predicted poorer walking distance, regardless of whether patients had preserved or reduced heart function.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak initiated on the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship at Yokohama harbor in February 2020, we have been doing our best to treat COVID-19 patients. In animal experiments, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II type-1 receptor blockers (ARBs) are reported to suppress the downregulation of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and they may inhibit the worsening of pathological conditions. We aimed to examine whether preceding use of ACEIs and ARBs affected the clinical manifestations and prognosis of COVID-19 patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Thinning of the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaque is a major component of plaque vulnerability. The high resolution of optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides an accurate measurement of fibrous-cap thickness. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with inflammation and enhanced local expression of matrix metalloproteinases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Target lesion calcification is known to influence percutaneous coronary intervention. We evaluated the effects of rotational atherectomy (RA) and subsequent balloon angioplasty on calcified coronary lesions using optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Methods and results: Thirty-seven calcified lesions in 36 patients were treated with RA followed by balloon angioplasty and stent implantation.
Background: Blood glucose variability is receiving considerable attention as a new risk factor for coronary artery disease. This study aimed to investigate the association between blood glucose variability and coronary plaque tissue characteristics.
Methods: In 57 patients with acute coronary syndrome, integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) and gray-scale IVUS were performed before balloon dilatation or stent implantation in the culprit vessels.
Aims: We sought to compare the morphological features of non-culprit plaques with >50% diameter stenosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) with those of culprit plaques in patients with ACS and stable angina pectoris (SAP) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS).
Methods And Results: A total of 150 culprit and non-culprit coronary plaques (non-culprit vessels) in 150 patients with coronary artery disease were interrogated by OCT before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients were categorized as follows: 73 culprit plaques in patients with ACS (ACS-C), 32 non-culprit plaques in patients with ACS (ACS-NC), and 45 culprit plaques in patients with SAP.
Objectives: This study sought to determine the additional clinical value of gait speed to Framingham risk score (FRS), cardiac function, and comorbid conditions in predicting cardiovascular events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
Background: There is growing evidence that gait speed is inversely associated with all-cause mortality, particularly cardiovascular mortality, among the elderly.
Methods: We undertook a single-center prospective observational study of gait speed in 472 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in Japan, between 2001 and 2008.