Clinical outcomes of acute myocardial infarction arising from non-lipid-rich plaque determined by NIRS-IVUS.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can rarely arise from non-lipid-rich coronary plaques. This study sought to compare the clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between AMI showing maximum lipid-core burden index in 4 mm (maxLCBI) < 400 and ≥ 400 in the infarct-related lesions assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS). We investigated 426 AMI patients who underwent NIRS-IVUS in the infarct-related lesions before PCI.

Maternal high-fat diet promotes calcified atherosclerotic plaque formation in adult offspring by enhancing transformation of VSMCs to osteochondrocytic-like phenotype.

Aim: Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adult offspring. Atherosclerotic vascular calcification is well documented in patients with CVD. We examined the effect of maternal HFD on calcified plaque formation.

The effectiveness of scoring balloon angioplasty in the treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an effective treatment for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of the non-slip element percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (NSE PTA) scoring balloons in BPA.

Methods: 108 pulmonary artery branches in 14 CTEPH patients who underwent BPA using NSE PTA scoring balloon (the NSE PTA group) or plain balloon (the POBA group) and pressure gradient evaluation were analyzed.

Immunoglobulin G4-Related Coronary Artery Aneurysm-Associated Stent Migration.

A 65-year-old woman with immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD), which was managed with a corticosteroid, underwent percutaneous coronary stent implantation in the left anterior descending artery as a result of angina pectoris. After 9 months, coronary angiography revealed stent migration and occlusion caused by progression of a coronary aneurysm potentially associated with IgG4-RD. ().

Maternal High-Fat Diet Promotes Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Expansion in Adult Offspring by Epigenetic Regulation of IRF8-Mediated Osteoclast-like Macrophage Differentiation.

Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) modulates vascular remodeling in adult offspring. Here, we investigated the impact of maternal HFD on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development. Female wild-type mice were fed an HFD or normal diet (ND).

Acute coronary syndrome with large thrombus successfully managed with no-stenting revascularization based on intravascular imaging in a patient with hyperhomocysteinemia: a case report.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is caused by genetic and environmental factors, which can result in systemic arteriosclerosis and arteriovenous thrombosis including acute coronary syndrome. Thrombus burden in patients with acute coronary syndrome and hyperhomocysteinemia might involve the culprit lesion as compared with those without any coagulopathy. The primary percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation had been established as the treatment strategy for patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Favorable changes of left ventricular function in the circumferential direction following transcatheter atrial septal defect closure: a strain imaging study.

To clarify the impact on left ventricular (LV) function of percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure in adult patients. Echocardiograms of 46 patients (52 ± 18 years) who underwent ASD closure with a significant left-to-right shunt obtained before and 1 month after the procedure were retrospectively analyzed. Functional parameters were obtained by 2-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging.

Two effective cases of additional pedal artery angioplasty for severe lower limb ischemia following acute thrombotic artery occlusion with hypercoagulable state diseases.

Background: Acute limb ischemia (ALI) and critical limb ischemia (CLI) following ALI are life-threatening diseases. The rare potential causes of ALI include hypercoagulable state diseases, such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). Hypercoagulability often make revascularization for arterial occlusion, especially associated with infrapopliteal lesions, difficult.

Knowledge, perception, and level of confidence regarding COVID-19 care among healthcare workers involved in cardiovascular medicine: a web-based cross-sectional survey in Japan.

Background: The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a significant impact on daily practice in cardiovascular medicine. The preparedness of healthcare workers (HCWs) can affect the spread of infection and the maintenance of the healthcare system. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, perception, and level of confidence regarding COVID-19 care among HCWs involved in cardiovascular medicine.

Maternal high-fat diet exaggerates diet-induced insulin resistance in adult offspring by enhancing inflammasome activation through noncanonical pathway of caspase-11.

Objective: Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) has been shown to promote the development of insulin resistance (IR) in adult offspring; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods: Eight-week-old female wild-type mice (C57BL/6) were fed either an HFD or a normal diet (ND), one week prior to mating, and the diet was continued throughout gestation and lactation. Eight-week-old male offspring of both groups were fed an HFD for 8 weeks.

Comparative Analysis of the Paclitaxel-Eluting Peripheral Igaki-Tamai Stent and the Drug-Free Igaki-Tamai Stent Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Histological Analysis in a Porcine Iliac Artery Model.

Background: The combination of a bioresorbable scaffold and antiproliferative drugs is a promising treatment for peripheral artery disease. The novel paclitaxel-eluting peripheral Igaki-Tamai stent (PTX-ITS) has the same backbone design as the drug-free peripheral Igaki-Tamai stent and a paclitaxel coating. Arterial responses to the PTX-ITS and ITS using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and histological analysis in a porcine iliac artery model were compared.

A newly designed 0.018-in.-compatible inner dilator as a novel option for endovascular therapy with the crossover approach.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of guiding sheath delivery with the crossover approach using a newly customized inner dilator for a 0.018-in. guidewire of the Destination guiding sheath (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) (18-system), compared with that of the conventional-type 0.

Feasibility and Safety of Reverse Catheterization Technique of the Superficial Femoral Artery in Single-Stage Endovascular Treatment of Bilateral Infrainguinal Diseases.

Purpose:: We evaluated the feasibility and safety of the reverse catheterization technique of the superficial femoral artery (ReCAT) for single-stage endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with bilateral infrainguinal diseases.

Materials And Methods:: We retrospectively evaluated 24 consecutive patients (overall median age: 79 years; male patients: 21 [87.5%]) who underwent EVT for bilateral infrainguinal diseases.

Transplantation of periaortic adipose tissue inhibits atherosclerosis in apoE mice by evoking TGF-β1-mediated anti-inflammatory response in transplanted graft.

Perivascular adipose tissue (PAT) is associated with vascular homeostasis; however, its causal effect on atherosclerosis currently remains undefined. Here, we investigated the effect of experimental PAT transplantation on atherosclerosis. The thoracic periaortic adipose tissue (tPAT) was dissected from 16-week-old wild-type mice and transplanted over the infrarenal aorta of 20-week-old apoE deficient (apoE) mice fed high-cholesterol diet for 3 months.

Augmented neutrophil extracellular traps formation promotes atherosclerosis development in socially defeated apoE mice.

Depression is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the causal association remains undefined. We exposed mice to repeated social defeat (RSD) to precipitate depressive-like behaviors, and investigated the effects on atherosclerosis. Eight-week-old male apoE mice were exposed to RSD by housing with a larger CD-1 mouse in a shared home cage.

Adrenergic receptor-mediated activation of FGF-21-adiponectin axis exerts atheroprotective effects in brown adipose tissue-transplanted apoE mice.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been found as an endocrine organ that maintains metabolic homeostasis; however, the effects on atherosclerosis remain undefined. Here, we investigated the effect of experimental BAT transplantation on atherosclerosis. Interscapular BAT was dissected from wild-type mice and transplanted into the visceral cavity of 12-week-old apoE mice.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin improves pancreatic β-cell function in hypertensive diabetic patients treated with angiotensin receptor blockers.

Introduction: Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors, a novel oral anti-diabetic agents, exert a protective effect on pancreatic β-cell function in patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM). However, their beneficial effect in hypertensive T2DM patients treated with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) has not been investigated.

Methods: In this open-label multicenter randomized study, a total of 55 hypertensive T2DM patients treated with ARBs were randomly assigned to receive the DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin or sulfonylurea (SU).

Maternal high-fat diet exaggerates atherosclerosis in adult offspring by augmenting periaortic adipose tissue-specific proinflammatory response.

Objective: Maternal obesity elicits offspring's metabolic disorders via developmental modifications of visceral adipose tissue; however, its effect on atherogenesis remains undefined. Perivascular adipose tissue has recently been implicated in vascular remodeling and vasoreactivity. We hypothesize that developmental modifications of perivascular adipose tissue by maternal high-fat diet (HFD) exposure promotes atherosclerosis in adult offspring.

Bone marrow angiotensin AT2 receptor deficiency aggravates atherosclerosis development by eliminating macrophage liver X receptor-mediated anti-atherogenic actions.

Background: Bone marrow (BM) Angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 (AT1) receptor plays a crucial role in atherosclerosis development; however, the effect of BM Ang II type 2 (AT2) receptor on atherogenesis remains undefined.

Methods And Results: We generated BM chimera apoE-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice whose BM cells were repopulated with AT2-deficient (Agtr2(-/-)) or wild-type (Agtr2(+/+)) cells. After 2 months of a high-cholesterol diet, the atherosclerotic lesion area was significantly increased in the apoE(-/-)/BM-Agtr2(-/-) mice compared with the apoE(-/-)/BM-Agtr2(+/+) mice (51%, P < 0.

Transplantation of periaortic adipose tissue from angiotensin receptor blocker-treated mice markedly ameliorates atherosclerosis development in apoE-/- mice.

Background: Perivascular adipose tissue is implicated in vasoreactivity; however, its effect on atherosclerosis remains undefined.

Methods And Results: We examined the effect of a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) on phenotypic alterations of the thoracic periaortic adipose tissue (tPAT) in apoE-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice. Gene expression of the components of the renin angiotensin system and that of macrophage markers were significantly higher in apoE(-/-) mice fed an HCD than in those fed a chow diet (CD).