Clinical Significance of Early Computed Tomography Scan on Thrombus Regression Rate in Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Insights from the SAKURA PE/DVT REGISTRY.

Aims: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are used to treat venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, their impact on thrombus regression and the clinical outcomes after 2-week post-therapy computed tomography (CT) monitoring remains unexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of patients with VTE treated with individual DOACs, assess the incidence of clinical events, and evaluate their impact on pulmonary artery thrombus regression.

A case of repeated stent fracture.

Stent fracture is one of the complications of drug-eluting stent implantation. An 84-year-old man underwent coronary angiography for unstable angina. He had diffuse severe stenosis and calcified plaque in the left anterior descending artery and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the left anterior descending artery for severe stenosis with chest pain.

Association Between Aortic Wall Parameters on Multidetector Computed Tomography and Ruptured Plaques By Nonobstructive General Angioscopy.

Background: Nonobstructive general angioscopy (NOGA) can identify vulnerable plaques in the aortic lumen that serve as potential risk factors for cardiovascular events such as embolism. However, the association between computed tomography (CT) images and vulnerable plaques detected on NOGA remains unknown.

Methods And Results: We investigated 101 patients (67±11 years; women, 13.

Rivaroxaban treatment for asymptomatic venous thromboembolism: insights from the J'xactly study.

Background: An established treatment strategy for asymptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) remains uncertain in Japan; therefore, in this study, we clarify the characteristics and outcomes of symptomatic compared to asymptomatic patients with PE or DVT.

Methods: This prospective, multicenter sub-analysis of the J'xactly study in Japan included 1,016 patients (mean age, 68; 41% male) with venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated with rivaroxaban.

Results: Asymptomatic PE patients (47% of PE patients) were more likely to have active cancer and asymptomatic proximal DVT at lower severity than symptomatic PE patients, despite no differences in age, sex, or the proportion receiving intensive 30 mg/day-rivaroxaban.

Pathology of Critical Limb Ischemia; Comparison of Plaque Characteristics Between Anterior and Posterior Tibial Arteries.

Aims: Though the number of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI) is increasing, few histopathological studies of PAD, particularly that involving below-the-knee arteries, has been reported. We analyzed the pathology of anterior tibial artery (ATA) and posterior tibial artery (PTA) specimens obtained from patients who underwent lower extremity amputation due to CLIMethods: Dissected ATAs and PTAs were subjected to ex-vivo soft X-ray radiography, followed by pathological examination using 860 histological sections. This protocol was approved by the Ethics Review Board of Nihon University Itabashi Hospital (RK-190910-01) and Kyorin University Hospital (R02-179).

Relationship between baseline D-dimer and prognosis in Japanese patients with venous thromboembolism: Insights from the J'xactly study.

Background: D-dimer is a biomarker of fibrin production and degradation, and changes in D-dimer concentration suggest fibrin clot formation, which is associated with thromboembolism and hypercoagulable states. Thus, an elevated D-dimer concentration could be a useful prognostic predictor for patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Methods And Results: In this subanalysis of the J'xactly study, a prospective multicenter study conducted in Japan, we examined the clinical outcomes of 949 patients with VTE stratified by baseline D-dimer concentration.

Analysis of disordered abrasive scratches on titanium surfaces and their impact on nuclear translocation of yes-associated protein.

The morphology of the metallic surface of an implant is important for its contact with bone tissue as it directly affects osteoblast functions, such as cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Firm contact between the implant and cells creates a barrier that prevents inflammation and bacterial infections. Therefore, optimizing surface morphology, such as surface roughness adjustments, is essential to improving the adhesion between the implant and cells for successful tissue regeneration.

Protective effect of the Impella on the left ventricular function after acute broad anterior wall ST elevation myocardial infarctions with cardiogenic shock: cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging strain analysis.

Background: The clinical efficacy of the Impella for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and cardiogenic shock remains under debate. We thus sought to investigate the protective effects on the heart with the Impella's early use pre-PCI using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the difference in the subacute phase CMR imaging results (19 ± 9 days after admission) between patients undergoing an Impella (n = 7) or not (non-Impella group: n = 18 [12 intra-aortic balloon pumps (1 plus veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and 6 no mechanical circulation systems]) in broad anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) cases.

Prognostic Significance of a Combination of Cardiogenic Shock and the Critical Culprit Lesion Location in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarctions.

Both cardiogenic shock (CS) and critical culprit lesion locations (CCLLs), defined as the left main trunk and proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, are associated with worse outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs). We aimed to examine how the combination of CS and/or CCLLs affected the prognosis in Japanese STEMI patients in the primary percutaneous coronary intervention era (PPCI-era). The subjects included 624 STEMI patients admitted to our hospital between January 2013 and April 2020.

Binding stability of peptides to Co-Cr-Mo alloy affects proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast.

Cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CCM) alloys possess high corrosion-resistant properties as well as good mechanical properties. Hence, the alloys are employed in medical implants such as artificial knee and hip joints, coronary stents, and removable partial dentures. To improve the biocompatibility of CCM alloys, we reported that CCM-binding peptide (CBP) linked to cell-adhesive motif Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) improved the attachment of endothelial cells on CCM alloys.

Mechanical Complications of Myocardial Infarction.

In this retrospective observational study, we have examined the incidence, characteristics, and treatment of serious myocardial infarction (MI) -associated mechanical complications (MCs) occurring in Japanese patients in this era of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), focusing on frailty, nutrition, and clinical implication of surgery. Included were 883 patients who, having suffered an MI, had been admitted to Nihon University Hospital between January 2013 and April 2020. Fifteen (1.

Clinical Importance of the LDL-C/Apolipoprotein B Ratio for Neointimal Formation after Everolimus-Eluting Stent Implantations.

Aims: Smaller low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size has been suggested to result in the development of endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and in-stent restenosis (ISR); however, little is known regarding the impact of the LDL particle size on the neointima formation leading to ISR after everolimus-eluting stent (EES) implantation.

Methods: In this study, we have included 100 patients to examine the relationship between an LDL-C/apolipoprotein B (Apo B) ≤ 1.2, reportedly representing the LDL particle size, and the neointimal characteristics using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and coronary angioscopy (CAS) during the follow-up coronary angiography (CAG) period (8.

Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on hospitalizations and outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction in a Japanese Single Center.

There are a few Japanese data regarding the incidence and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. We retrospectively reviewed the data of AMI patients admitted to the Nihon University Itabashi Hospital after a COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 (COVID-19 period) and the same period from 2017 to 2019 (control period). The patients' characteristics, time course of admission, diagnosis, and treatment of AMI, and 30-day mortality were compared between the two period-groups for both ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI), respectively.

Absence of coronary angioscopy-derived in-stent thrombi is associated with major bleeding events in acute myocardial infarction.

Background And Aims: The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy for acute myocardial infarction is controversial because the bleeding risk outweighs the thromboembolic risk. We hypothesized that an in-stent thrombus (IS-thrombus) detected by coronary angioscopy (CAS) after stent implantation would be associated with high bleeding risk.

Methods: This study included 208 patients who underwent CAS at 2 weeks after stent implantation for an acute myocardial infarction.

Effect of Rivaroxaban and Clopidogrel Combination Therapy on In-Stent Responses After Everolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation in a Porcine Coronary Model.

Aim: According to recent clinical trials, a combination of direct oral anticoagulants with antiplatelet drugs is often recommended for atrial fibrillation patients who receive drug-eluting stents (DESs). Although the optimal combination comprises direct factor Xa inhibitors and a P2Y receptor antagonist (or aspirin), their influence on vascular responses to DESs remains unclear.

Methods: Pigs were given either aspirin and clopidogrel (dual antiplatelet therapy [DAPT] group), aspirin and rivaroxaban (AR group), or clopidogrel and rivaroxaban (CR group), followed by everolimus-eluting stent (Promus Element) implantation into the coronary artery.