Sudden cardiac death after acute decompensation in heart failure patients: implications of discharge haemoglobin levels.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) patients have a high risk of mortality due to sudden cardiac death (SCD) and non-SCD, including pump failure death (PFD). Anaemia predicts more severe symptomatic burden and higher morbidity, as noted by markedly increased hospitalizations and readmission rates, and mortality, underscoring its importance in HF management. Herein, we aimed to determine whether haemoglobin (Hb) level at discharge affects the mode of death and influences SCD risk prediction.

Evidence-to-Practice Gap for Preventing Procedure-Related Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. This risk can be minimized with reduction of contrast volume via preprocedural risk assessment. We aimed to identify quality gaps for implementing the available risk scores introduced to facilitate more judicious use of contrast volume.

Inflammatory and Hypercoagulable Biomarkers and Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients.

Systemic inflammation and hypercoagulopathy are known pathophysiological processes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly in patients with known cardiovascular disease or its risk factors (CVD). However, whether a cumulative assessment of these biomarkers at admission could contribute to the prediction of in-hospital outcomes remains unknown. The CLAVIS-COVID registry was a Japanese nationwide retrospective multicenter observational study, supported by the Japanese Circulation Society.

De-Escalation of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Background: Balancing the effects of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in the era of potent P2Y inhibitors has become a cornerstone of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) management. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated DAPT de-escalation to decrease the risk of bleeding outcomes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety outcomes of various DAPT strategies in patients with ACS, including de-escalation from a potent P2Y inhibitor to clopidogrel or low-dose prasugrel.

Comprehensive functional evaluation of variants of fibroblast growth factor receptor genes in cancer.

Various genetic alterations of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) family have been detected across a wide range of cancers. However, inhibition of FGFR signaling by kinase inhibitors demonstrated limited clinical effectiveness. Herein, we evaluated the transforming activity and sensitivity of 160 nonsynonymous FGFR mutations and ten fusion genes to seven FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) using the mixed-all-nominated-in-one (MANO) method, a high-throughput functional assay.

Intensive Care Unit Admission for Moderate-to-Severe COVID-19 Patients With Known Cardiovascular Diseases or Their Risk Factors - Insights From a Nationwide Japanese Cohort Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged healthcare systems, at times overwhelming intensive care units (ICUs). We aimed to describe the length and rate of ICU admission, and explore the clinical variables influencing ICU use, for COVID-19 patients with known cardiovascular diseases or their risk factors (CVDRF). A post hoc analysis was performed of 693 Japanese COVID-19 patients with CVDRF enrolled in the nationwide CLAVIS-COVID registration system between January and May 2020 (mean [±SD] age 68.

Differences in Priorities for Heart Failure Management Between Cardiologists and General Practitioners in Japan.

Background: The purpose of this study was to clarify the current status and issues of community collaboration in heart failure (HF) using a nationwide questionnaire survey.

Methods and results: We conducted a survey among hospital cardiologists and general practitioners (GPs) using a web-based questionnaire developed with the Delphi method, to assess the quality of community collaboration in HF. We received responses from 46 of the 47 prefectures in Japan, including from 281 hospital cardiologists and 145 GPs.

Female sex as an independent predictor of high bleeding risk among East Asian percutaneous coronary intervention patients: A sex difference analysis.

Background: Sex differences in the outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been identified in Western countries. However, data on the long-term outcomes for bleeding events, particularly in East Asia where the aging population is growing rapidly and consists predominantly of women, remain scarce.

Methods: We analyzed 2,494 ACS survivors from a multicenter PCI registry who underwent PCI between 2009 and 2012.

One-Year Outcome After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Coronary Syndrome - An Analysis of 20,042 Patients From a Japanese Nationwide Registry.

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) hospital survivors experience a wide array of late adverse cardiac events, despite considerable advances in the quality of care. We investigated 30-day and 1-year outcomes of ACS hospital survivors using a Japanese nationwide cohort.

Methods and results: We studied 20,042 ACS patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 2017: 10,242 (51%) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 3,027 (15%) with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and 6,773 (34%) with unstable angina (UA).

Comprehensive molecular profiling of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.

Information regarding the molecular features of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (PPC) is insufficient. Here, we performed next-generation sequencing to determine the genomic and transcriptomic profiles of PPC. We sequenced the DNAs and RNAs of 78 specimens from 52 patients with PPC.

Contemporary Management of Stable Coronary Artery Disease - Implications of the ISCHEMIA Trial.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in developed countries. Although urgent revascularization is the cornerstone of management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), for patients with stable CAD recent large-scale clinical trials indicate that a mechanical 'fix' of a narrowed artery is not obviously beneficial; ACS and stable CAD are increasingly recognized as different clinical entities. We review the perspectives on (1) modifying the diagnostic pathway of stable CAD with the incorporation of modern estimates of pretest probability, (2) non-imaging evaluations based on their availability, (3) the optimal timing of invasive coronary angiography and revascularization, and (4) the implementation of medical therapy during the work-up.

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and SARS-CoV-2 infection: an analysis from the veteran's affairs healthcare system.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are known to impact the functional receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The association between chronic therapy with these medications and infection risk remains unclear.

Objectives: The objective was to determine the association between prior ACEI or ARB therapy and SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with hypertension in the U.

Transcription start site-level expression of thyroid transcription factor 1 isoforms in lung adenocarcinoma and its clinicopathological significance.

There are multiple transcription start sites (TSSs) in agreement with multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms of NKX2-1/TTF-1 (thyroid transcription factor 1); however, the clinicopathological significance of each transcript isoform of NKX2-1/TTF-1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) is unknown. Herein, TSS-level expression of NKX2-1/TTF-1 isoforms was evaluated in 71 LADs using bioinformatic analysis of cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE)-sequencing data, which provides genome-wide expression levels of the 5'-untranslated regions and the TSSs of different isoforms. Results of CAGE were further validated in 664 LADs using in situ hybridisation.

Patient Perspectives in the Era of Remote Medical Visits During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic - Insights From Outpatient Care of Cardiovascular Disease.

Patient perspectives in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are significantly associated with clinical outcomes. Among 100 patients who responded to a telephone survey in a university hospital setting in Tokyo during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, 20% reported depressive symptoms and 33% were hesitant to contact medical staff in the event of CVD exacerbation. Interestingly, the frequency of depressive symptoms was maintained even after a decline in the number of newly COVID-19-infected patients.

Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes Associated With Hyperkalemia in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Hospital-Based Cohort Study.

Objective: To examine the association between hyperkalemia and long-term cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Patients And Methods: An observational retrospective cohort study was performed using a Japanese hospital claims registry, Medical Data Vision (April 1, 2008, to September 30, 2018). Of 1,208,894 patients with at least 1 potassium measurement, 167,465 patients with chronic kidney disease were selected based on codes or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 mL/min/1.

Clinical and Biomarker Profiles and Prognosis of Elderly Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) With Cardiovascular Diseases and/or Risk Factors.

Background: This study investigated the effects of age on the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and on cardiac biomarker profiles, especially in patients with cardiovascular diseases and/or risk factors (CVDRF).

Methods and results: A nationwide multicenter retrospective study included 1,518 patients with COVID-19. Of these patients, 693 with underlying CVDRF were analyzed; patients were divided into age groups (<55, 55-64, 65-79, and ≥80 years) and in-hospital mortality and age-specific clinical and cardiac biomarker profiles on admission evaluated.

Association Between Statin Use Prior to Admission and Lower Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Severity in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease or Risk Factors.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases and/or risk factors (CVDRF) have been reported as risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods and results: In total, we selected 693 patients with CVDRF from the CLAVIS-COVID database of 1,518 cases in Japan. The mean age was 68 years (35% females).

Abnormal Liver Function Tests and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients Discharged after Acute Heart Failure.

Abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) are known to be associated with impaired clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients. However, this implication varies with each single LFT panel. We aim to evaluate the long-term outcomes of acute HF (AHF) patients by assessing multiple LFT panels in combination.

Revisiting the Role of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy for Patients with Heart Failure and Severe Functional Mitral Regurgitation.

Patients with heart failure often have mitral regurgitation, which can generate a vicious cycle. Medical therapy remains the cornerstone of their treatment in this setting. This review revisits the role of medical therapy and its optimization for severe functional mitral regurgitation in the contemporary era.

National survey of percutaneous coronary intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: second report of the Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics.

Healthcare systems worldwide have been overburdened by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Accordingly, hospitals have had to implement strategies to profoundly reorganize activities, which have affected procedures such as primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). This study aimed to describe changes in PCI practices during the health emergency at the national level.

In-hospital outcomes and usage of embolic protection devices in percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary artery bypass grafts: Insights from a Japanese nationwide registry.

Objectives: We evaluated the in-hospital outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for bypass graft vessels (GV-PCI) compared with those of PCI for native vessels (NV-PCI) using data from the Japanese nationwide coronary intervention registry.

Methods: We included PCI patients (N = 748,229) registered between January 2016 and December 2018 from 1,123 centers. We divided patients into three groups: GV-PCI (n = 2,745); NV-PCI with a prior coronary artery bypass graft (pCABG) (n = 23,932); and NV-PCI without pCABG (n = 721,552).

Healthcare resource utilization after initiation of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors or other glucose-lowering drugs in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To examine healthcare resource utilization in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients after initiation of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) or other glucose-lowering drugs (oGLDs).

Materials And Methods: A cost-utilization analysis was performed using a nationwide hospital-based administrative claims database (Medical Data Vision) during 2014-2018 in Japan, where universal healthcare coverage is maintained under a single-payer system. Data on T2D patients initiated on either SGLT-2is or oGLDs during the study period (228 514 patients) were extracted and subjected to a 1:1 propensity score-matching analysis (7626 patient pairs for DPP-4is and 28 484 for oGLDs).