A novel catheter ablation strategy for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation combining cryoballoon, radiofrequency, and Marshall-vein ethanol ablations.

Backgrounds: Catheter ablation for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (non-PAF) remains challenging and more effective strategy has been required to reduce postoperative arrhythmia recurrences. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel extensive ablation strategy for non-PAF, that is based on a combination of cryoballoon (CBA), radiofrequency (RFA), and Marshall-vein ethanol ablations (EA-VOM).

Methods: The study was a single-center, retrospective observational study.

Influence of acute beetroot juice supplementation on cold-induced vasodilation and fingertip rewarming.

Purpose: Vasoactive ingredients in beetroot (BR) such as nitrate are known to induce vasodilation in temperate conditions. This study investigated the effect of BR ingestion on cold induced vasodilation (CIVD) and rewarming of finger skin temperature (T) during and after hand immersion in cold water.

Methods: Twenty healthy males (mean ± SD; age 22.

Hemopexin as a Potential Binding Partner of Arginine-Rich Cell-Penetrating Peptides in Serum.

Serum proteins affect the in vivo fate and cellular uptake of arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and drugs delivered by CPPs. Although the binding of CPPs to serum proteins may possibly reduce their cellular uptake to some extent, it may also prolong their circulation half-life in vivo. We aimed to identify novel binding proteins of arginine-rich CPPs in serum to better understand their in vivo fate and develop more sophisticated drug delivery systems using CPPs.

Usefulness of the over-the-wire microelectrodes catheter in treatment of ventricular arrhythmia arising from the left ventricular summit.

Background: This study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of the over-the-wire (OTW) microelectrodes catheter in coronary venous system (CVS) mapping and treatment of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmia (OTVA) arising from the vicinity of the left ventricular summit (LVS).

Methods: Consecutive 62 patients with idiopathic OTVA in whom the OTW microelectrodes catheter was routinely used for CVS mapping were analyzed. CVS mapping was performed for both main trunk (from great cardiac vein to anterior interventricular vein) and branches including the annular branch or septal branch.

Left ventricular lead placement using inner guiding catheter alone in cardiac resynchronization therapy device implantation.

Background: Subselection inner catheters (Inner-Cath) are used adjunctively with outer guiding catheters (Outer-Cath) during cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation. This study aims to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of left ventricular lead placement (LV-LP) guided by Inner-Cath alone.

Methods: A total of 74 patients undergoing de novo CRT implantation were investigated.

Successful off-pump reimplantation of the anomalous right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: A case report.

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is a rare occurrence that requires surgical repair, typically via cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In this study, we present the case of a patient with ARCAPA with a high risk of cerebral infarction and left main trunk stenosis. However, because of the high risk of cerebral infarction, CPB was no longer an option during surgical intervention.

Effect of food intake on respiratory chemosensitivity to CO in young adults.

Background: Food intake augments CO production; however, minute ventilation is not augmented during exercise after food intake. Respiratory chemoreceptors respond to CO and influence respiration. We examined the effect of food intake on respiratory chemosensitivity to CO in young adults.

Clinical experience of idarucizumab use in cases of cardiac tamponade under uninterrupted anticoagulation of dabigatran during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Anticoagulants are prescribed for prevention of thromboembolic events (TE) of atrial fibrillation (AF), however, their effects have a negative impact on disastrous bleeding outcomes. Idarucizumab was developed to reverse the anticoagulation effects of dabigatran. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of idarucizumab in the setting of progressive emergent bleeding events associated with catheter ablation (CA).

Electrophysiological Assessment of Murine Atria with High-Resolution Optical Mapping.

Recent genome-wide association studies targeting atrial fibrillation (AF) have indicated a strong association between the genotype and electrophysiological phenotype in the atria. That encourages us to utilize a genetically-engineered mouse model to elucidate the mechanism of AF. However, it is difficult to evaluate the electrophysiological properties in murine atria due to their small size.

Development of a new knock-in mouse model and evaluation of pharmacological activities of lusutrombopag, a novel, nonpeptidyl small-molecule agonist of the human thrombopoietin receptor c-Mpl.

Lusutrombopag (S-888711), an oral small-molecule thrombopoietin receptor (TPOR) agonist, has gained first approval as a drug to treat thrombocytopenia of chronic liver disease in patients undergoing elective invasive procedures in Japan. Preclinical studies were performed to evaluate its efficacy against megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. To investigate the proliferative activity and efficacy of megakaryocytic colony formation via human TPOR, lusutrombopag was applied to cultured human c-Mpl-expressing Ba/F3 (Ba/F3-hMpl) cells and human bone marrow-derived CD34-positive cells, respectively.

Lipase-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of naphtho[2,3-c]furan-1(3H)-one derivatives by a one-pot dynamic kinetic resolution/intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction: Total synthesis of (-)-himbacine.

One-pot sequential reactions using the acyl moieties installed by enzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of alcohols have been little investigated. In this work, the acryloyl moiety installed via the lipase/oxovanadium combo-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution of a racemic dienol [4-(cyclohex-1-en-1-yl)but-3-en-2-ol or 1-(cyclohex-1-en-1-yl)but-2-en-1-ol] with a (Z)-3-(phenylsulfonyl)acrylate underwent an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction in a one-pot procedure to produce an optically active naphtho[2,3-c]furan-1(3H)-one derivative (98% ee). This method was successfully applied to the asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-himbacine.

Oxidative Stress Induced Ventricular Arrhythmia and Impairment of Cardiac Function in Nos1ap Deleted Mice.

Genome-wide association study has identified that the genetic variations at NOS1AP (neuronal nitric oxide synthase-1 adaptor protein) were associated with QT interval and sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, the mechanism linking a genetic variant of NOS1AP and SCD is poorly understood. We used Nos1ap knockout mice (Nos1ap(-/-)) to determine the involvement of Nos1ap in SCD, paying special attention to oxidative stress.

Intravital imaging of Ca(2+) signals in lymphocytes of Ca(2+) biosensor transgenic mice: indication of autoimmune diseases before the pathological onset.

Calcium ion (Ca(2+)) signaling is a typical phenomenon mediated through immune receptors, such as the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR), and it is important for their biological activities. To analyze the signaling of immune receptors together with their in vivo dynamics, we generated stable transgenic mice with the Föster/fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based Ca(2+) indicator yellow cameleon 3.60 (YC3.

High-fat diet increases vulnerability to atrial arrhythmia by conduction disturbance via miR-27b.

Background: Lifestyle-related diseases, such as obesity and dyslipidemia are important risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the underlying mechanism linking these diseases and AF has not been fully investigated.

Methods: Adult male mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or vehicle (NC) for 2 months.

Relationship between perceived exertion and blood lactate concentrations during incremental running test in young females.

Background: To investigate more practical handling of Borg's ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and category-ratio scale of RPE (CR-10), we evaluated interrelationships between RPE, CR-10, and blood lactate concentrations (bLa) during incremental treadmill running tests for young females with different aerobic fitness levels.

Methods: Oxygen consumption, heart rate, bLa, RPE, and CR-10 were measured from distance runners (DR; n = 15), race walkers (RW; n = 6), and untrained females (UT; n = 11). These variables corresponding to the lactate threshold (LT) and onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) were compared among these groups.

Use of fructosyl peptide oxidase for HbA1c assay.

ARKRAY, Inc developed the world's first automatic glycohemoglobin analyzer based on HPLC (1981). After that, ARKRAY developed enzymatic HbA1c assay "CinQ HbA1c" with the spread and diversification of HbA1c measurement (2007). CinQ HbA1c is the kit of Clinical Chemistry Analyzer, which uses fructosyl peptide oxidase (FPOX) for a measurement reaction.

Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis late after amiodarone withdrawal.

Background: Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) may develop long after amiodarone withdrawal. This study sought to determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of AIT after amiodarone withdrawal.

Methods And Results: The incidence and clinical characteristics of AIT were examined retrospectively in 71 patients (51 males, mean age 65±13 years) whose amiodarone therapy had been discontinued after at least 1 month of administration.

Discrete prepotential as an indicator of successful ablation in patients with coronary cusp ventricular arrhythmia.

Background: Although coronary cusp (CC) ventricular arrhythmia (VA) can be treated by catheter ablation, reliable indicators of successful ablation sites have not been fully identified.

Methods And Results: This study comprised 392 patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation for outflow tract-VA at 3 institutions from January 2007 to August 2012. The successful ablation site was on the left CC or right CC in 35 (8.

Bleeding events and activated partial thromboplastin time with dabigatran in clinical practice.

Background: Dabigatran has demonstrated promising results for the prevention of strokes in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, there have been episodes of major bleeding, especially in elderly patients or those with renal dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively examine the relationship between the bleeding events and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) values under dabigatran usage in the everyday clinical practice.

Gene Therapy for Cardiac Arrhythmias.

Unlabelled: Morbidity and mortality caused by cardiac arrhythmias are a major issue in developed countries. Although conventional therapeutic options including pharmacological therapy, catheter ablation, and implantable devices have shown extensive advances to help reduce morbidity and mortality, a certain segment of these arrhythmias is still refractory to treatment. Therefore, gene therapy was explored as a potential additional or alternative therapy.

Oxygen uptake, heart rate, perceived exertion, and integrated electromyogram of the lower and upper extremities during level and Nordic walking on a treadmill.

The purpose of this study was to characterize responses in oxygen uptake ( V·O(2)), heart rate (HR), perceived exertion (OMNI scale) and integrated electromyogram (iEMG) readings during incremental Nordic walking (NW) and level walking (LW) on a treadmill. Ten healthy adults (four men, six women), who regularly engaged in physical activity in their daily lives, were enrolled in the study. All subjects were familiar with NW.

Distribution of the origin of adenosine triphosphatesensitive atrial tachycardias with the earliest activation recorded in the His bundle catheter: are they limited to the immediate vicinity of the His bundle?

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the spatial distribution of the origins of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) sensitive focal atrial tachycardias (AT) that have their earliest activation recorded in the His bundle (HB) catheter.

Methods And Results: Catheters were placed according to the standard fashion for an electrophysiologic study of supraventricular arrhythmia, namely, high right atrium, HB, coronary sinus, and right ventricle. The ATs with their earliest activation recorded in the HB catheter and that were terminated by rapid injection of ATP (4.