Utility of the Novel Auto + A3 Threshold Function in Maintaining Atrioventricular Synchrony.

Introduction: The VDD-leadless pacemaker aims to maintain high atrioventricular (AV) synchrony, but proper sensing setup is crucial.

Methods And Results: This case was an elderly woman with an AV block who received a dual-chamber pacemaker. Due to ventricular pacing failure, a Micra AV2 was implanted.

Secular change in seaweed species composition and coverage of Sargassaceae on the artificial reef in Wakasa Bay, Japan.

The threat of declining seaweed beds has been a concern around the world. Seagrass and seaweed (brown algae) beds are essential habitats supporting fisheries. However, approximately 22% of these habitats have been lost in Japan due to increased coastal landfill sites and ports.

Comprehensive Assessment of Lipid Markers in Cardiovascular Events Prediction.

Many studies have reported a relationship between various lipids, such as cholesterol, fatty acids, and lipoproteins, and cardiovascular events. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is often cited as a representative marker. However, there is still room for discussion regarding which markers, among other lipids, should take clinical precedence.

Effect of DNA methylation at the CTLA4 gene on the clinical status of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

The pathogenesis and manifestation of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), Graves' disease (GD), and Hashimoto's disease (HD) are associated with T cell activation. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) plays a crucial role in the regulation of T cell activation. DNA methylation levels of eight CpG sites in the CTLA4 gene and expression levels of soluble CTLA-4 were examined.

Methylation levels of the IL10 gene in peripheral blood are related to the intractability of Graves' disease.

The prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Hashimoto's disease (HD) and Graves' disease (GD), is difficult to predict. DNA methylation regulates gene expression of immune mediating factors. Interleukin (IL)-10 is a Th2 cytokine that downregulates inflammatory cytokines produced by Th1 cells.

Risk of supranormal left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with aortic stenosis.

Background: Cardiovascular events are increasing in patients with supranormal left ventricular ejection fraction (snLVEF). However, the effect of snLVEF in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) remains unclear, especially in patients with moderate AS.

Hypothesis: This study aimed to evaluate the prognosis of mortality and heart failure (HF) in patients with LVEF ≥ 50% and moderate or severe AS.

Clinical value of the fibrosis-4 index in predicting mortality in patients with right ventricular pacing.

Background: The fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index has attracted attention as a predictive factor for cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with heart disease. However, its clinical value in patients with implanted pacemakers remains unclear.

Methods: This study included patients who underwent pacemaker implantation.

Possible Involvement of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Painful Left Bundle Branch Block.

Cases of painful left bundle branch block syndrome have been reported; however, the pathophysiology of chest pain remains unclear. Here, we report a patient with left bundle branch block and chest pain. We evaluated coronary microvascular dysfunction using guide wire-based thermodilution.

Role of serum n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the development of acute coronary syndromes.

n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have an inhibitory effect on the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, whether n-6 PUFAs, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), and arachidonic acid (AA) play a role in the development of CAD remains unclear. This study investigated the association between PUFAs and the risk of developing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) using the lipid and PUFAs data of patients who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for either non-emergent conditions (staged group) or ACS (ACS group).

Systemic immune-inflammation index as a predictor of prognosis after carotid artery stenting compared with C-reactive protein.

Background: Immune-inflammatory processes are highly associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a potential predictor for clinical outcomes in patients with stroke and ischemic heart disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether SII can accurately predict the short- and long-term prognoses in patients who underwent carotid artery stenting (CAS) compared to that with C-reactive protein (CRP).

Relationship between left-axis deviation and onset of cardiac adverse events in right ventricular pacing.

Aims: The electrical axis shows alterations during right ventricular pacing (RVP), including a normal axis and left axis deviation; however, it remains unknown if differences in the electrical axis affect the occurrence of cardiac adverse events. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a left axis deviation increases the incidence of adverse cardiac events compared with a normal axis.

Methods: This study analysed 156 patients with RVP.

New insight into the bioactivity of substituted benzimidazole derivatives: Repurposing from anti-HIV activity to cell migration inhibition targeting hnRNP M.

Drug repurposing is a distinguished approach for drug development that saves a great deal of time and money. Based on our previous successful repurposing of a compound BMMP from anti-HIV-1 therapy to anti-cancer metastatic activity, we adopted the same techniques for repurposing benzimidazole derivatives considering MM-1 as a lead compound. An extensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) study afforded three promising compounds, MM-1d, MM-1h, and MM-1j, which inhibited cell migration in a similar fashion to BMMP.

Association of B7H3 and B7H4 gene polymorphisms and protein expression with the development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Background: The prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's disease (HD), varies among patients. B7-H3 and B7-H4, members of the B7 family of proteins, regulate immune response. To clarify the association of B7-H3 and B7-H4 with the pathogenesis and prognosis of AITDs, we examined the expression of the soluble and membrane form of B7-H3 and B7-H4 and genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the B7H3 and B7H4 genes.

Investigation of effective invasive blood pressure control methods to prevent acute exacerbation of acute aortic dissection.

Background: Acute aortic dissection is associated with high mortality and increased risk of complications. Acute exacerbations have a relatively high frequency; however, the contributing factors are unclear. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate control are important factors, but the ideal BP control strategy to prevent acute exacerbations under invasive arterial pressure monitoring remains unclear.

Comparison of cardiac function before and after Micra implantation using pool scintigraphy and myocardial work: A case report.

Leadless pacemakers, specifically Micra (Medtronic), have recently become a preferred alternative to transvenous pacemakers for use in bradyarrhythmia. Problems with conventional transvenous pacemakers include wound infection, lead disconnection, and tricuspid valve dysfunction. While Micra has the advantage of not being associated with the aforementioned complications, there have been reports of cardiac injury during Micra implantation, which have raised safety concerns.

Unusual case of cerebral embolism after initiation of selexipag for sarcoidosis-related pulmonary hypertension: a case report.

: Pulmonary hypertension is a rare complication of sarcoidosis. The pathogenesis of sarcoidosis-related pulmonary hypertension is multifactorial, and patients with sarcoidosis-related pulmonary hypertension can have variable treatment responses and prognoses. While selexipag (Nippon Shinyaku / Kyoto / Japan) was recently approved in Japan for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, the risk of cerebral infarction has not been clearly reported.

gene polymorphisms and thyroid expression of PD-1 ligands differ between Graves' and Hashimoto's diseases.

The programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/PD ligand pathway plays a key role in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance by enhancing the suppressive activity of regulatory T (Treg) cells. The promoter activity of the A allele of rs36084323 G/A polymorphism is lower than that of the G allele. We examined the association of gene polymorphisms, PD-1 expression on Treg cells, and thyroid PD-1/PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) expression with the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD).

Polymorphisms in Vitamin A-Related Genes and Their Functions in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease.

Vitamin A is a factor that suppresses immune responses, including T helper (Th)1 and Th17 responses. However, there has been no report showing the association between vitamin A-related genes (, , and ) and the prognosis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). The objective of this study was to clarify the association between vitamin A-related genes and the susceptibility and prognosis of AITD.

Arf GTPase-activating proteins SMAP1 and AGFG2 regulate the size of Weibel-Palade bodies and exocytosis of von Willebrand factor.

Arf GTPase-Activating proteins (ArfGAPs) mediate the hydrolysis of GTP bound to ADP-ribosylation factors (Arfs), which are critical to form transport intermediates. ArfGAPs have been thought to be negative regulators of Arfs; however, accumulating evidence indicates that ArfGAPs are important for cargo sorting and promote membrane traffic. Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) are cigar-shaped secretory granules in endothelial cells that contain von Willebrand factor (vWF) as their main cargo.

One-step synthesis of M13 phage-based nanoparticles and their fluorescence properties.

Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles have been gaining more attention in recent years for their excellent fluorescence properties and simple synthesis routes. Different carbon sources have been reported for fluorescent carbon nanoparticle synthesis but the use of virus particles as a carbon source is scarce. Herein, we report the utilization of M13 bacteriophage particles as the carbon source to synthesize phage-based nanoparticles through facile, one-step microwave heating.

Conversion to complete resection with mFOLFOX6 with bevacizumab or cetuximab based on K-RAS status for unresectable colorectal liver metastasis (BECK study): Long-term results of survival.

Background/purpose: To investigate the long-term outcome and entire treatment course of patients with technically unresectable CRLM who underwent conversion hepatectomy and to examine factors associated with conversion to hepatectomy.

Methods: Recurrence and survival data with long-term follow-up were analyzed in the cohort of a multi-institutional phase II trial for technically unresectable colorectal liver metastases (the BECK study).

Results: A total of 22/12 patients with K-RAS wild-type/mutant tumors were treated with mFOLFOX6 + cetuximab/bevacizumab.