Early clinical outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the NAVITOR system.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using the NAVITOR system has been relatively underreported due to its recent introduction in Japan. This study aimed to assess the short-term outcomes of TAVI with the NAVITOR in real-world clinical practice. Patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI using the NAVITOR system at our institution between December 2022 and December 2023 were prospectively enrolled.

Hemodynamic effect of supra-annular implantation of SAPIEN 3 balloon expandable valve.

The hemodynamic impact of the implantation depth for balloon-expandable valves is under-investigated, especially with higher implantation techniques. We assessed the hemodynamic performance of supra-annular SAPIEN 3 valve implantation. This retrospective study involved consecutive patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using the SAPIEN 3.

Haemodynamic effects of inhaled nitric oxide in acute myocardial infarction complicated by right heart failure under ECPELLA support: case report.

Background: Recently, mechanical support obtained with the combination of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and an Impella device, together referred to as ECPELLA, has been shown to be effective for acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock. However, methods for withdrawing VA-ECMO in acute myocardial infarction cases complicated by right ventricular dysfunction are yet to be established. Here, we report the effective use of inhaled nitric oxide during the weaning of VA-ECMO from the ECPELLA management of a patient with acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock.

Impact of respiratory gating and ECG gating on F-FDG PET/CT for cardiac sarcoidosis.

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of respiratory and electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated FDG positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) on the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS).

Methods And Results: Imaging from thirty-one patients was acquired on a PET/CT scanner equipped with a respiratory- and ECG-gating system. Non-gated PET images and three kinds of gated PET/CT images were created from identical list-mode clinical PET data: respiratory-gated PET during expiration (EX), ECG-gated PET at end diastole (ED), and ECG-gated PET at end systole (ES).

Plaque characteristics and prognosis in patients with peripheral arterial disease by angioscopic analysis.

Background: The plaques with higher grade of yellow color by angioscopy are reported to be associated with vulnerability leading to adverse outcomes in coronary artery diseases. However, no studies have been performed for peripheral artery disease (PAD). We aimed to evaluate the relationship of angioscopic findings of peripheral arteries with the long-term prognosis.

Flow-Responsive Noncoding RNAs in the Vascular System: Basic Mechanisms for the Clinician.

The vascular system is largely exposed to the effect of changing flow conditions. Vascular cells can sense flow and its changes. Flow sensing is of pivotal importance for vascular remodeling.

Not Baseline Atrial Fibrillation but New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation and the Loss of Left Atrial Function Are Essential for Predicting Poor Outcomes in Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

The clinical impact of the type of atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been completely elucidated in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). Although the structure and function of the left atrium (LA) provide prognostic information in patients with heart failure, the relationship of the AF type with LA structure and function in NICM is unclear. Consecutive patients with NICM who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance were evaluated and followed.

Impact of pericardial fluid glucose level and computed tomography attenuation values on diagnosis of malignancy-related pericardial effusion.

Background: We evaluated malignancy according to the characteristics of pericardial fluid in symptomatic Japanese patients undergoing pericardiocentesis and computed tomography (CT).

Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center, observational study of 125 symptomatic patients undergoing pericardiocentesis. The patients were classified into two groups: a malignancy group and a non-malignancy group, according to the primary disease and cytology of the pericardial effusion (PE).

Impact of Neointimal Condition and Platelet Reactivity on Intrastent Thrombus at Long-Term Follow-up After 2nd- and 3rd-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation - Insights From a Coronary Angioscopy and Pharmacodynamic Study.

Background: Although the incidence of very late stent failure (VLSF) is reduced with newer generation drug-eluting stent (DES), the mechanism of VLSF has not been fully explored.

Methods and results: This study evaluated both local vascular healing using coronary angioscopy and systemic factors determined by platelet reactivity at long-term follow-up after 2nd- and 3rd-generation DES implantation in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Coronary angioscopy was performed to assess neointimal coverage (NIC), yellow color (YC) grade and presence of thrombus.

Diagnostic utility of fusion F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in cardiac sarcoidosis.

Background: Although each F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) has been used to diagnose cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), active CS is still misdiagnosed.

Methods: Active CS, diagnosed by PET alone, was defined as focal or focal on diffuse FDG uptake pattern. In fusion PET/CMR imaging, using a regional analysis with AHA 17-segment model, the patients were categorized into four groups: (1) PET-/LGE-, (2) PET+/LGE-, (3) PET+/LGE+, and (4) PET-/LGE+.

Retrograde-angioscopy guided wiring technique in chronic total occlusion lead to successful revascularization.

Endovascular therapy (EVT) was performed in two cases with chronic total occlusion (CTO) of superficial femoral artery. In these cases, angioscopy was deployed in the backyard of the CTO lesion from popliteal artery retrogradely, then the guidewire was advanced from antegrade. When the wire crossed the distal of the CTO lesion, the wire penetration was clearly visualized by the retrograde-angioscopy.

Empagliflozin prevents doxorubicin-induced myocardial dysfunction.

Background: Empagliflozin showed efficacy in controlling glycaemia, leading to reductions in HbA1c levels, weight loss and blood pressure, compared to standard treatment. Moreover, the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial demonstrated a 14% reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a 38% reduction in cardiovascular (CV) death and a 35% reduction in the hospitalization rate for heart failure (HF). These beneficial effect on HF were apparently independent from glucose control.

Increased Left Ventricular Trabeculation Is Associated With Increased B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels and Impaired Outcomes in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The clinical significance of left ventricular (LV) trabeculation remains unknown in cardiomyopathies. B-Type natriuretic peptide (BNP) strongly reflects LV end-diastolic wall stress and is a useful prognostic marker of cardiovascular diseases. The enhanced identification of LV trabeculae (T) with the use of cardiac magnetic resonance and the evaluation of its relationship with BNP may elucidate the biologic significance and clinical impact of trabeculation in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM).

Right ventricular involvement is an important prognostic factor and risk stratification tool in suspected cardiac sarcoidosis: analysis by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Late gadolinium enhancement imaging (LGE) of the left ventricle (LV) by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has prognostic value for patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). Right ventricle (RV) dysfunction is also associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure. Therefore, we sought to determine if RV LGE and dysfunction predicted adverse events in patients with suspected CS.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Identified the Fibrotic Lesion Associated with Syncope Attack Due to Complete Atrioventricular Block in a Patient with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Aortic Stenosis.

An 84-year-old man presented with syncope. Prior to admission, ambulatory electrocardiogram had demonstrated non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Echocardiography showed severe aortic stenosis.

Diagnostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography for cardiac sarcoidosis with previous myocardial infarction: A case report.

Rationale: Diagnostic difficulty due to overlapped clinical findings exists in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) patients who also have coronary artery disease. Since cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) evaluate different pathological processes, that is, fibrosis and inflammation respectively, the combination may be useful in such a case.

Patient Concerns: A 77-year-old man was admitted due to heart failure and advanced atrioventricular block who was previously diagnosed with cutaneous sarcoidosis and old myocardial infarction (MI) with angiographical evidence.

Migration of a stent from left main and its retrieval from femoral artery: A case report.

Rationale: Embolization of a deployed stent is a rare complication and its mechanism remains unclear in most cases.

Patient Concerns: A 52-year-old man underwent coronary angiography for effort angina, revealing an 80% stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) involving the distal left main (LM). After luminal sizing with intravascular ultrasound two drug-eluting stents were deployed (5.

Risk stratification for major adverse cardiac events and ventricular tachyarrhythmias by cardiac MRI in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.

Background: The presence of myocardial fibrosis by cardiac MRI has prognostic value in cardiac sarcoidosis, and localisation may be equally relevant to clinical outcomes.

Objective: We aimed to analyse cardiac damage and function in detail and explore the relationship with clinical outcomes in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis using cardiac MRI.

Methods: We included 81 consecutive patients with cardiac sarcoidosis undergoing cardiac MR.

Interrelationship between the Myocardial Mass, Fibrosis, BNP, and Clinical Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Objective Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) and LV fibrosis mass (LVFM) are characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Additionally, a substantial increase in the plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level is observed. Therefore, we investigated the interrelationship and clinical significances of these parameters in a HCM cohort that underwent cardiac MRI (CMR).

Relationship of basal-septal fibrosis with LV outflow tract obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: insights from cardiac magnetic resonance analysis.

Myocardial fibrosis is frequently observed and may be associated with the prognosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM); however, the clinical pathophysiological features, particularly in terms of fibrosis, of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) remain unclear. This study aimed to determine a role of local fibrosis in HOCM using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). 108 consecutive HCM patients underwent CMR.