Addition of cilostazol to aspirin therapy for secondary prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A randomized, open-label trial.

Background: Patients with established coronary artery disease are at increased risk for future ischemic events and require secondary prevention for systemic vascular disease. We performed a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the impact of cilostazol on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: A total of 514 patients who had undergone coronary stent implantation >6 months previously and were thought to no longer need dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a thienopyridine were randomly assigned to receive aspirin plus cilostazol therapy or aspirin therapy alone after discontinuation of thienopyridine therapy.

Detailed observation of arterial healing after stent implantation in swine arteries by using optical coherence tomography.

Background: Histopathological examination is not suitable for sequential in vivo analysis of arterial healing after stenting because it can be performed only after the animals are killed. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides higher resolution than intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). The aim of this study was to compare arterial healing images after stenting on the basis of the findings of histopathological examination, IVUS, and OCT.

Incidence and predictors of plaque rupture in the peripheral arteries.

Background: Plaque rupture may be present in the peripheral arteries of the patients at high risk for cardiovascular events and is possibly associated with vascular vulnerability.

Methods And Results: One hundred one iliofemoral arteries from 101 patients undergoing angioplasty were studied. Intravascular ultrasound imaging was performed before intervention.

Age- and gender-specific changes in the left ventricular relaxation: a Doppler echocardiographic study in healthy individuals.

Background: Although left ventricular diastolic function has been shown to deteriorate with advancing age, its gender-specific change is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate age- and gender-specific changes in tissue Doppler-derived left ventricular diastolic index, E'.

Methods And Results: A total of 1333 healthy individual without known heart disease or hypertension (mean age, 55 years; range, 10 to 89) were enrolled and studied.

Elevated E/E' predicts prognosis in congestive heart failure patients with preserved systolic function.

Background: Although approximately 50% of heart failure patients are reported as heart failure with preserved left ventricular systolic function (HFPSF), echocardiographic prognostic predictors have not been well investigated. Recently, the tissue Doppler-derived index, the ratio of the early transmitral flow velocity and the early mitral annular velocity (E/E'), was reported as useful in predicting prognosis of patients with heart diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether E/E' predicts prognosis in HFPSF.

Impact of statin therapy on systemic inflammation, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function and prognosis in low risk ischemic heart disease patients without history of congestive heart failure.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of statin on systemic inflammation, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function and prognosis in low risk ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients.

Methods: A total of 430 consecutive IHD patients without congestive heart failure were enrolled. One hundred and thirty-two patients (31%) were treated with statin (statin group) and 298 patients (69%) were not (no statin group).

Functional mitral regurgitation predicts prognosis independent of left ventricular systolic and diastolic indices in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and tissue Doppler-derived index of left ventricular filling pressure, E/E', on long-term clinical outcome in a broad spectrum of ischemic heart disease.

Background: FMR has been shown to predict prognosis in patients with myocardial infarction.

Methods: A total of 524 patients with ischemic heart disease were enrolled.

Method analysis for optimal continuous imaging using intravascular optical coherence tomography.

Objectives: Optical coherence tomography(OCT)is a high-resolution imaging method that can clearly visualize vessels through the displacement of blood with flushing agents. Continuous imaging methods have not been established. This study investigated optimal methods for continuous OCT imaging.

Acute myocardial infarction: clinical characteristics and plaque morphology between expansive remodeling and constrictive remodeling by intravascular ultrasound.

Background: According to recent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) studies, expansive remodeling (ER) at the culprit lesion has been observed in almost 50% of patients with acute coronary syndrome and constrictive remodeling (CR) in 30%. The purpose of this study is to investigate the difference between ER and CR at the culprit lesion in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: Preinterventional IVUS images of 73 patients with AMI were identified.

Impact of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors for non-treated coronary segments.

Background: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statin) have been reported to decrease coronary artery events in several angiographic studies. However, the mechanism by which statin achieve this is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of statin on coronary plaque using serial intravascular ultrasound analysis.

Quadricuspid aortic valve: report of three cases.

Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a very rare congenital malformation. We have encountered three patients with QAV, of whom one patient may be the eldest reported patient with this particular anatomical abnormality. In another of our patients, there was aortic regurgitation, aortic stenosis, and healed infective endocarditis, with adhesion of the tips of the cusps.