[Study of the echocardiographic diagnosis of acute pulmonary thromboembolism and risk factors for venous thromboembolism].

Objectives: To identify the relationship of risk factors for atherosclerosis with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and the utility of transthoracic echocardiography in acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE).

Methods: In 75 patients with VTE (VTE group), 101 patients with suspected VTE (N group), and 50 control subjects (control group), the frequency of atherosclerosis risk factors such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes mellitus and the number of risk factors were evaluated. Transthoracic echocardiographic findings such as tricuspid regurgitation, right ventricular dilation, pulmonary hypertension, and right ventricular dysfunction were evaluated in 15 patients with APTE (APTE group) and 38 patients in the N group (NC group).

[Relationship between insulin resistance and oxidative stress in vivo].

Objectives: The relationship between oxidative stress in vivo and insulin resistance was examined.

Methods: This study included 87 patients, 46 males and 41 females (mean age 63 +/- 10 years), without coronary artery disease. The homeostasis assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (fasting blood sugar x fasting immunoreactive insulin/405), a marker for insulin resistance, was measured.

Preventive effect of an antiallergic drug, pemirolast potassium, on restenosis after stent placement: quantitative coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound studies.

Objectives: The preventive effect of pemirolast against restenosis after coronary stent placement was evaluated.

Methods: Eighty-four patients with 89 de novo lesions who underwent successful coronary stenting were assigned to the pemirolast group(40 patients, 45 lesions) and the control group(44 patients, 44 lesions). Administration of pemirolast(20 mg/day) was initiated from the next morning after stenting and continued for 6 months of follow-up.

[Headache due to nitroglycerin administration and its clinical significance].

Objectives: This study assessed the side effects of nitroglycerin administration and their clinical significance.

Methods: Adverse reactions associated with sublingual nitroglycerin administration were investigated in 103 patients, 71 men and 32 women (mean age 56 +/- 11 years), 32 patients with coronary artery stenosis and 71 without coronary artery stenosis.

Results: Fifty-one percent of patients experienced headache and 30% experienced other adverse reactions, whereas 19% experienced no adverse reactions.

Angioscopic evaluation of stabilizing effects of an antilipemic agent, bezafibrate, on coronary plaques in patients with coronary artery disease: a multicenter prospective study.

To evaluate the stabilizing effects of an antilipemic agent, bezafibrate, on coronary plaques, we carried out a prospective angioscopic and angiographic open trial. From April 1997 to December 1998, 24 patients underwent coronary angioscopy of plaques in non-targeted vessels during coronary interventions and then again 6 months later. The patients were divided into control (10 patients, 14 plaques) and bezafibrate (14 patients, 21 plaques) groups.

Association between preheparin serum lipoprotein lipase mass and acute myocardial infarction in Japanese men.

A sensitive immunoassay system using a specific monoclonal antibody against lipoprotein lipase (LPL) recently demonstrated the presence of an LPL mass in preheparin serum. We reported that a preheparin serum LPL mass (pre-LPL mass) reflected the level of functioning LPL activity in the whole body and could be deeply involved in the progression of coronary atherosclerosis of stable organic angina pectoris. We examined the relation between the pre-LPL mass and acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

[Clinical significance of preheparin serum lipoprotein lipase mass in normocholesterolemic patients with coronary artery disease].

Objectives: Some normocholesterolemic patients have coronary artery disease (CAD) in Japan. This study evaluated the clinical significance of preheparin lipoprotein lipase mass as a risk factor for normocholesterolemic patients with CAD.

Methods: This study included 89 normocholesterolemic male patients with CAD (CAD group, 40 with stable organic angina pectoris, 19 with vasospastic angina pectoris, and 30 with acute myocardial infarction), and 13 normocholesterolemic males with normal coronary arteries (control group) with no stenotic lesion and negative reaction to intracoronary administration of acetylcholine.