Decrease in serum adiponectin levels in response to treatment predicts good prognosis in acute decompensated heart failure.

Adiponectin is a cardioprotective adipocytokine. Serum adiponectin concentration decreases in patients who are obese but increases in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of this study was to explore the temporal changes in serum adiponectin concentration following treatment for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Evaluation of a screening method by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for estimating effect of drugs on the activation and β-oxidation of fatty acids in mitochondria.

Objectives: Fatty acid metabolism is controlled not only by the acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) synthetases but by some enzymes in the β-oxidation cycle. Medium-chain and long-chain acyl-CoA esters are key metabolites in fatty acid metabolism. We have developed an enzymatic assay method for determining chain shortening of the acyl-CoAs via β-oxidation from palmitic and octanoic acids in liver mitochondria.

Role of plasma aldosterone concentration in regression of left-ventricular mass following antihypertensive medication.

Background: Aldosterone is known to bring about damage to various organs; however, it is unclear how important the changes in plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) are as contributors to regression of left-ventricular (LV) mass in hypertensive patients following long-term treatment with calcium channel blockers (CCBs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).

Objective: To assess the importance of changes in PAC during antihypertensive treatment.

Methods: Forty-four untreated hypertensive patients were randomly assigned to either CCB (amlodipine) group or ARB (losartan) group.

Sustained improvement in cardiac function with persistent amyloid deposition in a patient with multiple myeloma-associated cardiac amyloidosis treated with bortezomib.

We describe the case of a 62-year-old man with biopsy-proven cardiac involvement of multiple myeloma-associated immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis, whose cardiac function improved after bortezomib therapy. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and diuretics were initially administered, resulting in improvement of heart failure symptoms and disappearance of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. To reduce production of amyloidogenic precursor proteins, bortezomib therapy combined with dexamethasone was subsequently started.

Increase in tissue and circulating pentraxin3 levels in patients with aortic valve stenosis.

Background: Inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of nonrheumatic aortic valve stenosis (AS). Pentraxin3 (PTX3) is produced at the inflammatory site; however, tissue and circulating PTX3 levels in patients with AS remain largely unknown.

Methods: We enrolled 84 patients who received aortic replacement surgery due to AS (n = 53) or aortic regurgitation (AR; n = 31).

A high-fat diet inhibits the progression of diabetes mellitus in type 2 diabetic rats.

It is well known that rats and mice, when fed a high-fat diet, develop obesity associated with abnormal glycolipid metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effects of a high-fat diet on a diabetic rat model, Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT), which develops diabetes due to decreased insulin production and secretion with age. We hypothesized that a high-fat diet would accelerate the induction of diabetes in this model.

Studies of the toxicological potential of capsinoids XIV: a 26-week gavage toxicity study of dihydrocapsiate in rats.

To further evaluate the safety of dihydrocapsiate (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl 8-methylnonanoate, CAS No. 205687-03-2), a 26-week gavage toxicity study was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats (20/sex/group). Test animals received either dihydrocapsiate, 100, 300, or 1000 mg/kg/day, or vehicle (medium-chain triglyceride) by gavage and were observed for antemortem and postmortem signs of toxicity including changes in clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, water intake, ophthalmology, clinical pathology (clinical chemistry, hematology, urinalysis), tissue findings (macroscopic and microscopic examination), as well as organ weights.

Increased serum neopterin in patients with nonrheumatic aortic valve stenosis.

Background: Inflammation and immunity play an intrinsic role in the pathogenesis of NR-AS. Neopterin is mainly produced by activated macrophages.

Methods: We examined serum neopterin levels in 51 patients undergoing valve replacement surgery [37 NR-AS and 14 aortic regurgitation (AR)].

Pathophysiological analysis of female Spontaneously Diabetic Torii fatty rats.

Obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes-associated complications appear at younger ages (6-8 weeks) in the male Spontaneously Diabetic Torii-Lepr(fa) (SDT-fa/fa) rat than in the male original SDT (SDT-+/+) rat. However, the incidence and progression of diabetes mellitus and diabetic complications in the female SDT-fa/fa rat have not been reported in detail. In the present study, the pathophysiological features of the female SDT-fa/fa rat were examined, and compared with those of the female SDT-+/+ rat.

Hyperglycemia induced cell growth and gene expression via the serum response element through RhoA and Rho-kinase in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The impressive correlation between cardiovascular disease and alterations in glucose metabolism has raised the likelihood that atherosclerosis, heart failure, and type 2 diabetes may share common antecedents. Postprandial hyperglycemia has been shown to play an important role on the onset and development of heart failure and cerebral infarction in several large-scale clinical trials. Recently, chronic hyperglycemia has been reported to enhance the vasoconstrictor response by Rho-kinase.

OCT assessment of thin-cap fibroatheroma distribution in native coronary arteries.

Objectives: We evaluated the geographic distribution of thin-cap fibroatheromas (TCFAs) in the coronary arteries using optical coherence tomography (OCT), a high-resolution imaging modality.

Background: Plaque rupture is the most frequent cause of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It has been recognized that TCFA is the primary plaque type at the site of plaque rupture.

Prognostic factors for progression of early- and late-stage calcific aortic valve disease in Japanese: the Japanese Aortic Stenosis Study (JASS) Retrospective Analysis.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common etiology of acquired valvular heart disease, and hypertension is a principal underlying disease. The Japanese Aortic Stenosis Study (JASS) Retrospective Analysis is a retrospective observational study to clarify the prognostic factors for progression of CAVD in Japanese. Data from 556 subjects who met the following criteria were analyzed: (1) >or=50 years old; (2) calcification in any aortic valve leaflet or peak aortic jet velocity >or=2 m s(-1) on an echocardiographic study performed between July 2004 and June 2007; and (3) availability of earlier echocardiographic data from within the previous 2-5 years to assess the progression of CAVD.

Iron regulatory hormone hepcidin decreases in chronic heart failure patients with anemia.

Background: The etiology of anemia is still unclear in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Hepcidin is an iron regulatory peptide that is synthesized in the liver to suppress iron absorption and utilization. Hepcidin synthesis is suppressed by anemia, hypoxia and erythropoiesis, and induced by inflammation.

Serum interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein are markedly elevated in acute decompensated heart failure patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Cytokines play important roles in heart failure (HF). We examined whether cytokine levels are different in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients between with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSDF) and with preserved LV ejection function (PLVEF). We studied 81 HF patients who were admitted to our hospital with acute decompensation.

The mechanism of distinct diurnal variations of renin-angiotensin system in aorta and heart of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Diurnal variations in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 mRNA expression are different between the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, and between the aorta and the heart. To elucidate the mechanisms, we examined diurnal changes in the circulating renin-angiotensin system in the SHR and WKY rats. Diurnal variations in plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma angiotensin I, and aldosterone concentrations were similar between the SHR and WKY rats.

Inappropriateness of ventricular hypertrophy is important as a determinant of BNP but not of diastolic filling in untreated hypertensive patients.

Echocardiographically determined inappropriateness of left ventricular mass (LVM) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. Although LV hypertrophy is associated with an increase in the plasma brain natriuretic peptide level and decreased LV diastolic filling, it is unknown whether the inappropriateness of LVM affects them. We studied 77 untreated hypertensive patients (49 men, 28 women, aged 59+/-12 years).

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -2 levels are differently regulated in acute exacerbation of heart failure in patients with and without left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important roles in progression of chronic heart failure (HF) by regulating cardiac extracellular matrix metabolism. However, there is no report to investigate the difference of circulating MMP-1 and MMP-2 levels between systolic HF (SHF) and diastolic HF (DHF), particularly in light of acute exacerbation of HF. We assessed 110 HF patients who were admitted because of an acute exacerbation.

Collaborative work on evaluation of ovarian toxicity. 4) Effects of fertility study of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide in female rats.

As part of a collaborative project, 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD), an ovarian toxicant, was intraperitoneally administered to female Sprague-Dawley rats at 0, 5, 20 or 80 mg/kg from 2 weeks prior to mating to Day 7 of gestation. At necropsy, the number of implanted embryos, rate of implantation decreased and the rate of preimplantation loss showed an increasing tendency in the 80 mg/kg group. As for organ weight, decreases in absolute and relative ovary weight were observed in the 80 mg/kg group.

High salt intake elevated blood pressure but not changed circadian blood pressure rhythm in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat.

We examined the effect of high salt intake on mean arterial pressure and circadian blood pressure rhythm in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, a model of type II diabetes mellitus. Mean arterial pressure, fasting blood glucose, and fasting plasma insulin in OLETF rats were higher than those in LETO rats, their normoglycemic controls. The amplitude of circadian blood pressure rhythm in LETO rats was smaller than that in OLETF rats.

Cardiac steroidogenesis and glucocorticoid in the development of cardiac hypertrophy during the progression to heart failure.

Background: Elevated plasma glucocorticoid level is an independent predictor of increased mortality risk in chronic heart failure, but local biosynthesis and pathophysiological roles of glucocorticoids in the heart remain unclear.

Methods: Dahl salt-sensitive rats on high-salt diet and mice with transthoracic aortic banding (TAC) operation (TAC mice), both of which finally represent heart failure, were assessed at compensatory hypertrophic stage. As a model of cardiac-specific activation of steroidogenesis, alpha-myosin heavy chain-steroidogenic acute regulatory protein transgenic mice were used.

Increased interleukin-18 expression in nonrheumatic aortic valve stenosis.

Background: It is unknown whether interleukin-18 (IL-18) participates in the pathophysiology of nonrheumatic aortic stenosis (NR-AS).

Methods: We examined IL-18 expression in human NR-AS valves by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.

Results: Immunohistochemistry revealed that NR-AS valves showed increased IL-18 expression compared with controls.

Noninvasive assessment of wall distensibility with the evaluation of diastolic epicardial movement.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) wall stiffening plays an important role in the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Based on the linear elastic theory, we hypothesized that the evaluation of epicardial movement during diastole is helpful for the noninvasive assessment of LV wall distensibility.

Methods And Results: Based on the linear elastic theory, the epicardial movement index (EMI) was calculated on the echocardiogram as: [see text.

Phenotypic characterization of the Komeda miniature rat Ishikawa, an animal model of dwarfism caused by a mutation in Prkg2.

The Komeda miniature rat Ishikawa (KMI) is a spontaneous animal model of dwarfism caused by a mutation in Prkg2, which encodes cGMP-dependent protein kinase type II (cGKII). This strain has been maintained as a segregating inbred strain for the mutated allele mri. In this study, we characterized the phenotype of the KMI strain, particularly growth traits, craniofacial measurements, and organ weights.

Adaptive response of the heart to long-term anemia induced by iron deficiency.

Anemia is common in patients with chronic heart failure and an independent predictor of poor prognosis. Chronic anemia leads to left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and heart failure, but its molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. We investigated the mechanisms, including the molecular signaling pathway, of cardiac remodeling induced by iron deficiency anemia (IDA).