Institutional Characteristics and Prognosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction With Cardiogenic Shock in Japan - Analysis From the JROAD/JROAD-DPC Database.

Background: The high mortality of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with cardiogenic shock (i.e., Killip class IV AMI) remains a challenge in emergency cardiovascular care.

Prognostic Value of Neurological Status on Hospital Arrival for Short-Term Outcome in Patients With Cardiovascular Shock - Sub-analysis of the Japanese Circulation Society Cardiovascular Shock Registry.

Background: Consciousness disturbance is one of the major clinical signs associated with shock state, but its prognostic value has not been previously evaluated in cardiovascular shock patients. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of neurological status for 30-day mortality in cardiovascular shock patients without out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods and results: Patients with out-of-hospital onset cardiovascular shock were recruited from the Japanese Circulation Society Shock Registry.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors in acute coronary syndrome patients complicated with cardiogenic shock in Japan: analysis from the Japanese Circulation Society Cardiovascular Shock Registry.

Cardiogenic shock frequently leads to death even with intensive treatment. Although the leading cause of cardiogenic shock is acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the clinical characteristics and the prognosis of ACS with cardiogenic shock in the present era still remain to be elucidated. We analyzed clinical characteristics and predictors of 30-day mortality in ACS with cardiogenic shock in Japan.

Characterization of three strains of Capnocytophaga canis isolated from patients with sepsis.

Capnocytophaga canimorsus and Capnocytophaga cynodegmi, both commensal bacteria in the oral cavities of dogs and cats, are zoonotic pathogens. In particular, C. canimorsus causes sepsis and fatal septic shock.

The Clinical Features and Outcomes of Patients with Takotsubo Syndrome: The Experience at an Emergency General Hospital.

Objective We aimed to elucidate clinical characteristics, contemporary practice and outcomes of patients with takotsubo syndrome who were hospitalized in an emergency general hospital with angiography capabilities. Methods This retrospective study included a total of 42 consecutive patients who were admitted between January 2010 and August 2014. Results The study population included 11 men (26%) and 31 women (74%) [median age 76 years (interquartile range, 66-83)].

Contemporary practice and outcomes of an elderly cohort of Japanese patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome in the era of routine early invasive strategy.

Background: An early invasive strategy for patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) has been recommended. However, patients at greater risk including the elderly are more often managed conservatively. We aimed to elucidate contemporary practice and outcomes of patients with NSTE-ACS who were referred to our hospital located in Kitakyushu City, one of the most aging metropolises in Japan.

The Effects of the Habitual Consumption of Miso Soup on the Blood Pressure and Heart Rate of Japanese Adults: A Cross-sectional Study of a Health Examination.

Objective It is recommended that middle-aged and elderly individuals reduce their salt intake because of the high prevalence of hypertension. The consumption of miso soup is associated with salt intake, and the reduced consumption of miso soup has been recommended. Recent studies have demonstrated that the consumption of miso soup can attenuate an autonomic imbalance in animal models.

Characteristics and Predictors of Mortality in Patients With Cardiovascular Shock in Japan - Results From the Japanese Circulation Society Cardiovascular Shock Registry.

Background: There are little data about cardiovascular shock caused by various diseases. We evaluated the characteristics and predictors of 30-day mortality in patients with cardiovascular shock in Japan.

Methods and results: The Japanese Circulation Society Cardiovascular Shock registry was a prospective, observational, multicenter, cohort study.

Desert dust is a risk factor for the incidence of acute myocardial infarction in Western Japan.

Background: Recently, there has been increasing concern about adverse health effects of exposure to desert dust events. However, the association between dust and the incidence of ischemic heart diseases is unknown. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether Asian dust (AD), a windblown sand dust originating from mineral soil in China and Mongolia, is associated with the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Home-based cardiac rehabilitation decreases red cell distribution width in chronic heart failure.

Objective: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of variation in the volume of circulating erythrocytes and has recently emerged as a powerful prognostic marker in heart failure. We studied the effect of 5-month, home-based cardiac rehabilitation on RDW.

Methods And Results: Sixty-two patients (age: median 67 years, IQR 63-74) with chronic heart failure caused by reduced left ventricular systolic function were enrolled.

The importance of daily physical activity for improved exercise tolerance in heart failure patients with limited access to centre-based cardiac rehabilitation.

Background: Supervised cardiac rehabilitation provided at dedicated centres ameliorates exercise intolerance in patients with chronic heart failure.

Objective: To correlate the amount of physical activity outside the hospital with improved exercise tolerance in patients with limited access to centre-based programs.

Methods: Forty patients (median age 69 years) with stable heart failure due to systolic left ventricular dysfunction participated in cardiac rehabilitation once per week for five months.

Shock following a cat scratch.

A 49-year-old man with fever, pain in both legs, purpuras and cyanosis was admitted to hospital. He was a heavy drinker, but did not have diabetes or other immunosuppressive disease. On admission, he was in shock, with haematological findings suggestive of disseminated intravascular coagulation, and liver and kidney failure.

The influence of renal insufficiency on sleep-disordered breathing in patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure.

Background: Renal insufficiency, a common condition among patients with chronic heart failure, complicates the management of heart failure. However, the influence of renal insufficiency on sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) - another important comorbidity of heart failure - has not been well studied.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients (60 men and 19 women) with stable, symptomatic heart failure caused by left ventricular systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 45%) were studied.

MRSA tricuspid valve infective endocarditis with multiple embolic lung abscesses treated by combination therapy of vancomycin, rifampicin, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim.

A 26-year-old pregnant woman who was an intravenous drug user (IDU) was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of tricuspid valve infective endocarditis (IE) and lung abscesses due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We started to treat her with vancomycin (VCM) alone and then in combination with rifampicin (RFP), but her condition did not improve. Then we added sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMZ/TMP) to VCM and RFP.

Six-month aerobic exercise training ameliorates central sleep apnea in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common in patients with heart failure and carries an independent risk for poor long-term prognosis. We aimed to study the effects of supervised, aerobic exercise training for 6 months on SDB in patients with chronic heart failure.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 18 patients having both systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction <45%) and SDB (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] >10).

Mitral annulus displacement measured by tissue-tracking method with Doppler-tissue images is a useful marker of the severity of heart failure.

Objectives: This study investigated whether the measurement of mitral annulus displacement by the tissue-tracking method with Doppler-tissue images can provide more accurate information on the severity of heart failure compared to conventional methods, such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Background: Impaired left ventricular function is an important predictor of poor prognosis. Although LVEF has been used to assess left ventricular function, such indicators do not necessarily correlate well to clinical variables such as New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class or plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration.