Publications by authors named "Maruo T"

Background: A small mitral valve area (MVA) is one of the challenging anatomies for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for mitral regurgitation, but the relationship between baseline MVA and clinical outcomes remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association of baseline MVA with procedural and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TEER with MitraClip from the OCEAN-Mitral registry (Optimized Catheter Valvular Intervention-Mitral).

Methods: A total of 1768 patients undergoing TEER were divided into 3 groups according to baseline MVA: group 1: <4.

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Background: We investigated whether patients with diabetes who had good control of both low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) would be associated with better long-term clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: Using our PCI registry (Fu-Registry), the 1,006 cases with diabetes were divided into 4 groups: Group 1, LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL and TG ≥175 mg/dL; Group 2, LDL-C <100 mg/dL and TG ≥175 mg/dL; Group 3, LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL and TG <175 mg/dL; and Group 4, LDL-C <100 mg/dL and TG <175 mg/dL. The primary endpoint during the follow-up period (median follow up of 1,984 days) was defined as major adverse cardiac events (MACEs).

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This detailed case report presents and discusses the endovascular treatment of a large proximal basilar artery fenestrated aneurysm (PBAFA). Aneurysms occur rarely at the vertebrobasilar junction, with a moderate proportion of cases presenting fenestrations. Considering the high risk associated with posterior circulation aneurysms, including estimated rupture risk, periprocedural complications, or treatment difficulties in surgical procedures, endovascular treatment options are becoming increasingly favored, particularly considering the advancements in stent and flow diverter techniques.

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Background: Research on the impact of angiographically detected residual trabeculation after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is limited.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence, characteristics, and clinical implications of angiographically detected residual trabeculation after LAAC using the WATCHMAN device.

Methods: We analyzed 1350 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing LAAC using the WATCHMAN device from the OCEAN-LAAC registry, which is a prospective ongoing, multicenter Japanese registry.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study examined how left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) changes after a specific heart valve repair procedure called transcatheter edge-to-edge valve repair (TEER) in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR).
  • Findings revealed that 32% of patients experienced worsened LVEF after the procedure, linked to increased end-systolic volumes in the heart and certain predictors like higher LVEF and levels of B-type natriuretic peptide.
  • Despite the LVEF worsening, long-term outcomes (like death or hospitalization for heart failure) were similar for both patients with worsened and preserved LVEF, indicating that LVEF change might not significantly impact overall health results post-TEER
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Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation and malignant left atrial appendage (LAA) may benefit from LAA closure (LAAC); however, evidence is limited.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine management strategies and clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation and malignant LAA.

Methods: Malignant LAA was defined as a history of ischemic stroke and/or evidence of LAA thrombus despite continuous oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy (continuous for ≥3 weeks).

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A teenager who suffered from left hemiparesis after traumatic brain injury underwent 18F-THK5351 PET 48, 286, and 810 days after the injury. The first scan showed slight uptake in the right corticospinal tract (CST), and the second scan showed intense uptake along the CST, which was significantly reduced in the third scan. The hemiparesis has improved between the first and second scans.

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  • Intranasal tumors in dogs are mainly malignant and treated with radiotherapy, but they often return after treatment; combining therapies can improve outcomes.
  • The study tested a combination of two drugs, TS-1 and toceranib phosphate, to determine a safe dosage for dogs with these tumors, using a cohort design to assess safety over a month.
  • Results showed that the maximum TS-1 dose of 2.0 mg/kg combined with 2.4 mg/kg of toceranib phosphate thrice weekly was well-tolerated, indicating that this combination therapy is safe for treating canine intranasal tumors.
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  • EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has shown good results in high-volume centers, but this study investigates its safety and effectiveness in newer centers that recently adopted the procedure.
  • The research involved 22 centers from 2017 to 2022, assessing 255 patients and looking at the success and complications of EUS-BD performed by 84 endoscopists.
  • The study found a high technical success rate of 91.4% but identified specific risks for failure and complications, including smaller puncture target diameters and moderate ascites, highlighting that the experience level of endoscopists did not significantly affect outcomes.
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  • * The study involved 46 patients over 2 years, comparing outcomes based on whether they had CA before or after LAAC, with a focus on complications and adverse events.
  • * Results showed that CA post-LAAC was safe, with no device-related issues reported even in the early phase after LAAC, while a few complications occurred when LAAC was done after CA.
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  • This study examined factors that predict how well head and neck cancer patients respond to nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 treatment, focusing on clinical, microenvironmental, and genomic aspects.
  • It analyzed 100 patients, revealing that responders typically had lower smoking and drinking habits, more immune-related side effects, and higher PD-L1 expression compared to non-responders.
  • Additionally, factors like age, previous treatment with cetuximab, and specific gene mutations affected the response to treatment, highlighting the complexity of immune responses in cancer therapy.
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  • Ischemic stroke can occur due to serious thrombus formation after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC), especially if patients stop taking oral anticoagulants (OACs).
  • Continuing OACs, even at half-dose, might better protect high-risk patients from further thromboembolic incidents after LAAC.
  • The study suggests that maintaining some level of anticoagulation could be critical for preventing strokes in these vulnerable patients.
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  • This study compares the effectiveness and safety of two devices, WATCHMAN-FLX (WM-FLX) and WATCHMAN-2.5 (WM-2.5), used for closing the left atrial appendage in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who cannot take long-term anticoagulants.* -
  • An analysis of 199 patients highlighted that WM-FLX had shorter procedure times, fewer complications like cardiac tamponade, and a better success rate for complete device sealing at 45 days compared to WM-2.5.* -
  • Despite these advantages, WM-FLX was associated with a higher incidence of device-related thrombosis (DRT) over one year, particularly in patients with nonpar
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  • A study investigated the effectiveness of antithrombotic therapy in preventing complications during and after percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in patients with previous thromboembolic or bleeding events while on oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy.
  • Results showed that patients who experienced thromboembolic events while on OAC were at a higher risk for device-related thrombosis (DRT) and post-procedural thromboembolic events, while those with bleeding events were more likely to have post-procedural bleeding events.
  • Continuing OAC for 12 months after LAAC reduced the incidence of DRT and thromboembolic events without increasing bleeding risks, suggesting that careful management of patients with
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The MitraClip G4 device has controlled gripper actuation (CGA) system, which allows the anterior and posterior grippers operate separately in transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER). We investigated the indications and outcomes of the use of CGA system during TEER for significant mitral regurgitation (MR). We reviewed 158 patients undergoing TEER with MitraClip G4 from September 2020 to July 2023.

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  • * Using intracardiac echocardiography improves the safety of AF ablation by accurately locating the LAAC device.
  • * A case study demonstrates that performing AF ablation right after LAAC device placement can be done safely without causing complications.
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  • The study investigates retinal neural circuitry in vertebrates, focusing on the outer plexiform layer where photoreceptors connect with bipolar and horizontal cells for visual perception.
  • It identifies Necl-1/CADM3 as a crucial factor for synapse formation between S- and S/M-opsin cones and type 4 OFF cone bipolar cells (CBCs) in the mouse retina.
  • Mice lacking Necl-1 displayed abnormal synapse positioning and impaired visual responses, indicating that Necl-1 plays a key role in facilitating OFF pathways for short-wavelength light processing.
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  • In veterinary radiotherapy, accurate immobilization is crucial for effective irradiation, leading to the development of a new reusable head-immobilization method using cylinders for dogs.
  • The study compared three immobilization techniques—bite-block only, bite-block with torso immobilization, and cylinder-based immobilization—using CT scans on beagles to measure accuracy.
  • Results showed that the cylinder method provided the most reproducible and smallest errors in immobilization, although further research is needed to validate its clinical application due to some limitations in the study.
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Introduction: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a crucial symptom that diminishes the quality of life. The primary causes of EDS are central hypersomnia, including narcolepsy type 1 (NT1), type 2 (NT2), and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH). EDS is often associated with other psychiatric disorders, particularly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

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The progress of endoscopic diagnosis and treatment for inflammatory diseases of the biliary tract and pancreas have been remarkable. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and EUS-elastography are used for the diagnosis of early chronic pancreatitis and evaluation of endocrine and exocrine function in chronic pancreatitis. Notably, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and electrohydraulic shock wave lithotripsy have improved the endoscopic stone removal rate in patients for whom pancreatic stone removal is difficult.

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  • The study investigates the risk factors for severe-to-fatal post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) in 3739 ERCP patients with biliary disease over a one-year period.
  • Key risk factors identified include pancreatic guidewire-assisted biliary cannulation, post-ERCP NSAID use, and a history of previous pancreatitis, all significantly increasing the likelihood of severe-to-fatal PEP.
  • Preventive measures that showed effectiveness include endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy and prophylactic pancreatic stents, both of which significantly reduced the risk of severe-to-fatal PEP.
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Black soybean seed coat extract (BE) contains multiple bioactive polyphenols, including flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins. BE improves endothelial function; however, it is unclear whether BE protects endothelial cells from senescence. In this study, we examined the effects of BE on endothelial cell senescence and vascular function in healthy individuals.

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