Endovascular Aortic Repair of an Infective Native Aortic Aneurysm.

An infective native aortic aneurysm (INAA) is a rare, life-threatening, and complex disease. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of INAA remain uncertain. We describe the case of a 64-year-old man who had abdominal pain and a fever for more than one week.

Abdominal Stent Grafting With Coil Embolization for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Sac With a Short Neck.

A 68-year-old man underwent endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair for a two-humped abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with a short neck. The abdominal aorta had severe calcification, suggesting a high risk for type Ia endoleak. Initially, a catheter was placed in the aneurysm sac, followed by stent graft deployment.

A Case of Refractory Variant Angina.

Coronary vasospasm is defined as the abnormal contraction of an epicardial coronary artery. Variant angina is a severe form of coronary vasospasm, reflecting transmural ischemia with ST-T elevation on an electrocardiogram. A pharmacologic spasm provocation test during coronary angiography is the gold standard evaluation for patients who have not been diagnosed with coronary vasospasm by a non-invasive test.

A Rare Case of Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection.

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC), in which the right and left lower pulmonary veins drain into the coronary sinus (CS), is very rare, and only one case has been reported previously. The diagnosis of PAPVC is difficult, as the symptoms may be not specific. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography and MRI help in the diagnosis of congenital cardiac anomalies.

Femorotibial Bypass Sutured on Bovine Pericardium Patch of the Femoral Artery for Bypass Inflow: A Case Report.

A 72-year-old man presented with intermittent claudication and a foot ulcer. Computed tomography revealed severe calcification and occlusion of the left femoral artery and calcification and stenosis from the superficial femoral artery to the popliteal artery. Thromboendarterectomy (TEA) and anterior reconstruction of the femoral artery with a bovine pericardium patch were performed.

A Case of Father-Son Juvenile Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a cause of juvenile myocardial infarction. The causes of CAE include arteriosclerosis, vasculitis such as Kawasaki disease, and genetic contribution. There are few reports about familial aggregation of CAE-related juvenile myocardial infarction.

Coronary Vasospasm in a Patient With Argininosuccinic Aciduria.

A 39-year-old male was referred for treatment of hypertension. He had been treated for argininosuccinic aciduria since 8 months of age. Therapeutic drugs, including l-arginine, sodium phenylbutyrate, and antiepileptic drugs, had been prescribed.

[Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery for a Left Atrial Myxoma with Atrial Septal Defect:Report of a Case].

A 48-year-old woman presented with abnormal electrocardiogram was diagnosed as having a left atrial tumor by echocardiography. She was asymptomatic and had no history of cardiac abnormality. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a relatively hyperechoic and heterogenous tumor with the diameter of 5~6 cm originated from the left atrial septum but could not detect atrial septal defect.

Clinical Features of Patients With Heart Failure After the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes.

Objective: Acute and chronic stress after severe earthquakes can contribute to cardiovascular events, including heart failure (HF). On April 14, 2016, magnitude 7 earthquakes occurred in the Aso region in the western part of Japan. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of HF in this area after these earthquakes.

[Impending Paradoxical Embolization in a Patient with a Thrombus Straddling the Patent Foramen Ovale].

The patent foramen ovale (PFO) is known as a risk of paradoxical embolism in patients with deep venous thromboses. However, PFO is usually found after systemic embolic symptoms become apparent. A 60-year-old male had complained of dyspnea for two weeks.

Dose-Dependent Inhibitory Effect of Rosuvastatin in Japanese Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction on Serum Concentration of Matrix Metalloproteinases-INVITATION Trial.

Aim: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play critical roles in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This trial was conducted to determine the potential effects of higher-dose rosuvastatin on circulating MMP levels in patients with AMI.

Methods: This was a multicenter, open-label, 1:1 randomized, parallel-group study.

[Long Term Patency of Saphenous Vein Graft Using the Automated Proximal Anastomosis System Compared with the Hand-sewn Anastomosis System].

Unlabelled: Backgrounds：The purpose of this study was to compare the long term patency of PAS-Port system with other hand-sewn anastomosis system.

Methods: From 2009 to 2018, a total of 79 anastomoses were done in coronary bypass surgery with PAS-Port system, and a total of 252 anastomoses with Enclose Ⅱ. Among them, 76 anastomoses with PAS-Port system (group P) and 246 anastomoses of enclose Ⅱ (group E) were evaluated using angiography or multislice computer tomography.

[The Third Operation for Prosthetic Valve Detachment Caused by Aortitis Syndrome without Aortic Ectasia;Report of a Case].

We report a surgical case of a 58-year-old woman with aortitis syndrome is presented. The patient had undergone aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a mechanical prosthesis. Five months later, re-AVR was performed because of prosthetic valve detachment and severe regurgitation.

Dose-dependent INhibitory effect of rosuVastatin In Japanese patienTs with Acute myocardial infarcTION on serum concentration of matrix metalloproteinases - INVITATION trial.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is mainly characterized by the rupture of lipid-rich vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been shown to play a critical role in inflammatory processes underlying plaque rupture. Some reports suggested statins inhibit the increased MMP levels after AMI.

Clinical Impact of Telemedicine Network System at Rural Hospitals Without On-Site Cardiac Surgery Backup.

Background: In Japan, catheterization laboratories are available in each medical service area. However, cardiovascular centers capable of surgical procedures are concentrated in urban areas. Critically ill patients with complex coronary lesions must be transferred to receive advanced medical care.

Heart attacks triggered by huge mud slides in mountain regions and severe flooding in inhabited areas.

Background: On July 12, 2012, heavy rains struck southwest Japan, particularly in the Mount Aso area. Huge mud slides in the mountains destroyed houses, and heavy rains caused severe flooding in the inhabited areas. We investigated the incidence of cardiovascular events after the disaster.

Peripheral endothelial function and cardiovascular events in high-risk patients.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is a key component of vascular vulnerability. Reactive hyperemia index (RHI), as assessed by the peripheral arterial tonometry, can noninvasively evaluate endothelial function. This study was designed to determine the additional prognostic value of endothelial function to the Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery Score (SYNTAXsc) and the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in predicting cardiovascular events in high-risk patients.

Myocardial bridging is associated with coronary atherosclerosis in the segment proximal to the site of bridging.

Background: Myocardial bridging is a common finding on multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). The segment proximal to a myocardial bridge is frequently atherosclerotic, although the tunneled segment is spared. This study aimed to investigate whether myocardial bridging identified by MDCT is an independent risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis.

Basal and ischemia-induced transcardiac troponin release into the coronary circulation in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

Background: Cardiac troponin is a specific biomarker for cardiomyocyte necrosis in acute coronary syndromes. Troponin release from the coronary circulation remains to be determined because of the lower sensitivity of the conventional assay. We sought to determine basal and angina-induced troponin release using a highly sensitive troponin assay.

Coronary plaque component in patients with vasospastic angina: a virtual histology intravascular ultrasound study.

Background: Coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease. However, tissue components of coronary plaque in patients with vasospastic angina (VSA) have been unknown. This study used virtual histology (VH)-intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to elucidate the tissue component of spastic coronary arteries and its gender differences in patients with VSA.

Microvascular coronary artery spasm presents distinctive clinical features with endothelial dysfunction as nonobstructive coronary artery disease.

Background: Angina without significant stenosis, or nonobstructive coronary artery disease, attracts clinical attention. Microvascular coronary artery spasm (microvascular CAS) can cause nonobstructive coronary artery disease. We investigated the clinical features of microvascular CAS and the therapeutic efficacy of calcium channel blockers.