Shoshin beriberi in a young man with gambling addiction.

Unlabelled: We report a case of a 24-year-old previously healthy Japanese man who presented to the emergency department due to cardiopulmonary arrest lasting for 4 min. He had complained of chest pain and worsening dyspnea but was well until 3 days before admission. He had no history of alcohol consumption.

Increased Impact of Serum Uric Acid on Arterial Stiffness and Atherosclerosis in Females.

Aims: Serum uric acid increases with metabolic disorders; however, whether the effects of uric acid on atherosclerosis are different in females and males has not been sufficiently evaluated. Therefore, this study compared the impact of uric acid on arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis between females and males.

Methods: We enrolled 10196 untreated middle-aged subjects (46±8 years, 3021 females and 7175 males) who underwent periodic health check-ups.

A body shape index could serve to identify individuals with metabolic syndrome and increased arterial stiffness in the middle-aged population.

Background: A body shape index (ABSI) is a novel anthropometric measure calculated using waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and body height. This study investigated the usefulness of ABSI to identify individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and increased arterial stiffness in the middle-aged population.

Methods: Middle-aged workers who underwent periodic health check-ups and who were without previous cardiovascular events were enrolled (n = 10,182).

Examination of Large Artery Atherosclerosis could Reveal Small Artery Retinopathy in Untreated Middle-Aged Individuals.

Aims: Small arteries can be visualized in the ocular fundus, and findings of retinopathy based on Scheie classification are often applied to evaluate the impact of hypertension and atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between damage in the large and small arteries has not been investigated sufficiently, especially in the early stages. The present study investigated possible associations between large artery atherosclerosis and small artery retinopathy in untreated middle-aged individuals.

Close Association between Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Pulmonary Function in Middle-Aged Male Smokers.

Aims: Cigarette smoking provokes deleterious influences on cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, although the underlying relationship has not been sufficiently investigated especially in early-stage disease. The present study investigated possible associations between subclinical atherosclerosis and pulmonary function in middle-aged male smokers.

Methods: Male smokers undergoing their periodic health check-up were enrolled in this study (n=3,775, 45±8 years).

Impacts of lifestyle behavior and shift work on visceral fat accumulation and the presence of atherosclerosis in middle-aged male workers.

Work style, and particularly shift work, can affect an individual's circadian rhythms. Moreover, lifestyle habits, including dietary and exercise routines, might be altered by irregular shift hours. The present study investigated how lifestyle and shift work affect the accumulation of visceral fat and the presence of atherosclerosis in middle-aged male workers.

Relationships of Obesity-Related Indices and Metabolic Syndrome with Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Middle-Aged Untreated Japanese Workers.

Aim: Obesity is a social problem due to the prevalence of the Western lifestyle. In particular, visceral fat accumulation, which is a main component of metabolic syndrome, is closely associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the relationships of obesity-related indices and metabolic syndrome with subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-aged untreated workers.

Poor toe flexor strength, but not handgrip strength, is associated with the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in middle-aged males.

Previous studies suggested that reduced muscular strength was one of the potential predictor of prevalence of diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between toe flexor strength (TFS) and handgrip strength (HGS) and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from 1,390 Japanese males (35-59 years).

Association of body flexibility and carotid atherosclerosis in Japanese middle-aged men: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study examined the associations of body flexibility with carotid arterial remodelling, including intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque formation in middle-aged men.

Methods: The subjects of this cross-sectional study included 1354 Japanese men aged 35-59 years without histories of stroke or cardiac diseases. The arm extensibility test, which can estimate flexibility of the upper extremity (composed of shoulder external rotation and forearm supination), and the sit-and-reach test were performed.

Age-related reduction and independent predictors of toe flexor strength in middle-aged men.

Background: Toe flexor muscles play an important role in posture and locomotion, and poor toe flexor strength is a risk factor for falls. In this cross-sectional study, we estimated the age-related change in toe flexor strength and compared it with that of handgrip strength. Independent factors predicting toe flexor and handgrip strength were also determined.

Shoshin beriberi induced by long-term administration of diuretics: a case report.

Previous studies have suggested that diuretic therapy for heart failure may lead to thiamine deficiency due to the increased urinary thiamine excretion. Herein, we present the case of a 61-year-old man with shoshin beriberi, a fulminant form of wet beriberi, induced by long-term diuretic therapy. The patient had a history of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and was receiving furosemide and trichlormethiazide therapy.

Identification of a glutamic acid repeat polymorphism of ALMS1 as a novel genetic risk marker for early-onset myocardial infarction by genome-wide linkage analysis.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Given that a family history is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease, genetic variants are thought to contribute directly to the development of this condition. The identification of susceptibility genes for coronary artery disease or MI may thus help to identify high-risk individuals and offer the opportunity for disease prevention.

Impact of sirolimus-eluting stent fracture on 4-year clinical outcomes.

Background: Although stent fracture (SF) after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation has been recognized as one of the predisposing factors of in-stent restenosis, it remains uncertain whether SF can increase the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), especially beyond 1 year after SES implantation. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of SF relative to non-SF on 4-year clinical outcomes after treatment with SES of comparable unselected lesions.

Methods And Results: A total of 874 lesions in 793 patients undergoing SES implantation and subsequent angiography 6 to 9 months after index procedure were analyzed.

Subtle myocardial damage associated with diagnostic coronary angiography alone.

Aims: To evaluate the frequency, predictors and prognostic significance of elevation in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) after coronary angiography (CAG).

Methods And Results: A series of 296 consecutive patients with normal pre-procedural cTnI levels and undergoing elective CAG at our centre were prospectively analysed. Positive cTnI elevation was defined as >0.

Beneficial effects of growth hormone-releasing peptide on myocardial oxidative stress and left ventricular dysfunction in dilated cardiomyopathic hamsters.

Background: Growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) may act directly on the myocardium and improve left ventricular (LV) function, suggesting a potential new approach to the treatment of cardiomyopathic hearts. The present study tested the hypothesis that the beneficial cardiac effects of GHRP might include attenuation of myocardial oxidative stress.

Methods And Results: Dilated cardiomyopathic TO-2 hamsters were injected with GHRP-2 (1 mg/kg) or saline from 6 to 12 weeks of age.

Relationship between severity of renal impairment and 2-year outcomes after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation.

Background: The presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of restenosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) after coronary interventions, especially in patients on hemodialysis (HD). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of varying degrees of renal impairment on angiographic and 2-year clinical outcomes after treatment with sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs).

Methods: A total of 675 lesions of 593 patients treated with SES were analyzed.

Safety and efficacy of 2.5-mm sirolimus-eluting stent implantation at lower deployment pressures in very small vessels (<2.5 mm).

Objectives: Percutaneous coronary interventions for very small vessels are common in clinical practice despite an unavailability of the 2.25-mm sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) in some countries. We sought to evaluate the clinical and angiographic outcomes of 2.

Xanthine oxidase inhibition improves left ventricular dysfunction in dilated cardiomyopathic hamsters.

Background: Oxidative stress is implicated in cardiac remodeling and failure. We tested whether xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition could decrease myocardial oxidative stress and attenuate left ventricular (LV) remodeling and dysfunction in the TO-2 hamster model of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Methods And Results: TO-2 hamsters were randomized to treatment with the XO inhibitor, allopurinol, or vehicle from 6 to 12 weeks of age.