Long-term changes in carotid intima-media thickness according to baseline blood pressure level: J-STARS Echo study.

Background And Aims: We aimed to investigate long-term changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) based on baseline blood pressure (BP) levels in non-cardioembolic stroke patients.

Methods: Patients aged 45-80 years with dyslipidemia who were not on statins before enrollment and had experienced a non-cardioembolic stroke were assigned to either the pravastatin group or the control group in a randomized trial. Patients were classified into three groups according to BP levels: normal BP (N-group: systolic BP [sBP] <140 mmHg and diastolic BP [dBP] <90 mmHg), highly elevated BP (G2 group: sBP ≥160 mmHg or dBP ≥100 mmHg), and mildly elevated BP (G1 group: the remaining patients).

Antiplatelets for Cardiovascular Disease in Non-valvular AF with Rivaroxaban: A Subanalysis of the EXPAND Study.

Aim: In this subanalysis of the EXPAND study, we evaluated the risks and benefits of rivaroxaban plus antiplatelet therapy (APT) for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) complicated by stable coronary artery disease (CAD), ischemic stroke, or peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Methods: From the EXPAND study population (n=7,141), patients with NVAF complicated by stable CAD (n=886), ischemic stroke (n=1,231), or PAD (n=160) were included. Patients complicated by any of them were set as ALL (n=2,030).

A large-scale, observational study to investigate the current status of diabetes complication and their prevention in Japan: incidence/risk factors for malignancies during follow-up-JDCP study 11 (English version).

In the large-scale, prospective, observational JDCP study, a total of 5944 people with type 2 diabetes (mean age at baseline, 61.4 years old; women, 39.9%; and duration of diabetes, 10.

Improved Glycemic Control through Robot-Assisted Remote Interview for Outpatients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study.

: Our research group developed a robot-assisted diabetes self-management monitoring system to support Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCESs) in tracking the health status of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of this system on glycemic control and to identify suitable candidates for its use. : After obtaining written informed consent from all participants with T2D, the CDCESs conducted remote interviews with the patients using RoBoHoN.

Negative correlation between organ heteroplasmy, particularly hepatic heteroplasmy, and age at death revealed by post-mortem studies of m.3243A > G cases.

Mitochondrial DNA m.3243A > G mutation causes mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) and its associated multi-organ disorders, including diabetes. To clarify associations between m.

Acute and mid-term outcomes of ablation for atrial fibrillation with VISITAG SURPOINT: the Japan MIYABI registry.

Aims: The effectiveness of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) guided by VISITAG SURPOINT (VS) has been demonstrated in Western populations. However, data for Asian populations are limited. VS settings may differ for Asians, given their smaller body size.

A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Forty Systematic Reviews of Foods with Function Claims (FFC) in Japan: Quality Assessment Using AMSTAR 2.

Background: The Foods with Function Claims (FFC) was introduced in Japan in April 2015 to make more products available that are labeled with health functions. The products' functionality of function claims must be explained by scientific evidence presented in systematic reviews (SRs), but the quality of recent SRs is unclear. This study assessed the quality of SRs in the FFC registered on the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) website in Japan.

Predictive ability of visit-to-visit blood pressure indices for adverse events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: Subanalysis of the J-RHYTHM Registry.

Background: We previously reported that standard deviation (SD) of systolic blood pressure (SBP), an index of BP variability, and SBP-time in target range (TTR), an index of BP consistency, were significantly associated with adverse events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Thus, this study aimed to compare predictive ability for adverse events among visit-to-visit BP variability/consistency indices using data from the J-RHYTHM Registry.

Methods: Of 7406 outpatients with NVAF, 7226 (age, 69.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy With Cilostazol for Secondary Prevention in Lacunar Stroke: Subanalysis of the CSPS.com Trial.

Background: The effectiveness of long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to prevent recurrent strokes in patients with lacunar stroke remains unclarified. Therefore, this study aimed to compare and to elucidate the safety and effectiveness of DAPT and single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) in preventing recurrence in chronic lacunar stroke.

Methods: CSPS.

Treatment patterns and satisfaction in patients with type 2 diabetes newly initiating oral monotherapy with antidiabetic drugs in Japan: results from the prospective Real-world Observational Study on Patient Outcomes in Diabetes (RESPOND).

Introduction: To present longitudinal data from the Real-world Observational Study on Patient Outcomes in Diabetes (RESPOND) in Japan.

Research Design And Methods: In this multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) newly initiated on monotherapy were followed up for 2 years. Primary outcomes included changes in treatment pattern over time, target hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) attainment and treatment satisfaction per Oral Hypoglycaemic Agent Questionnaire (OHA-Q).

Impact of heart rate on adverse events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: Subanalysis of the J-RHYTHM Registry.

Background: Although heart rate (HR) is reportedly associated with major cardiovascular outcomes in the general population, its impact on adverse events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) remains controversial. Thus, we performed analyses of data from the J-RHYTHM Registry to clarify this in patients with NVAF.

Results: Of 7406 outpatients with NVAF from 158 institutions, 6886 (age, 69.

Sex Difference in the Impact of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy using Cilostazol for Secondary Stroke Prevention: A Sub-Analysis of CSPS.com.

Aim: Although some sex differences in stroke have been reported, differences in the effects of antiplatelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention have not been clarified.

Methods: In the Cilostazol Stroke Prevention Study combination trial, patients with high-risk, non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke between 8 and 180 days after onset treated with aspirin or clopidogrel alone were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either monotherapy or dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) using cilostazol and followed up for 0.5-3.

Impact of Systolic Blood Pressure Time in Target Range on Adverse Events in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation (from the J-RHYTHM Registry).

Although time in target range (TTR) of systolic blood pressure (BP), an index of consistency of BP control, is reportedly associated with major cardiovascular outcomes, the impact of BP-TTR on adverse events in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) has not been thoroughly investigated. Thus, we performed a post hoc analysis to clarify it in patients with NVAF using data of the J-RHYTHM registry. Of 7,406 outpatients with NVAF, 7,226 (age, 70 ± 10 years; men, 71%), in whom BP was measured 4 times or more (15 ± 5 times) during the 2-year follow-up period or until occurrence of an event, constituted the study group.

Thromboembolic events in left ventricular non-compaction: comparison between children and adults - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is morphologically characterised by excessive trabeculations and deep recesses in the ventricular wall. The risk of thromboembolic disease in the paediatric patients with LVNC has not been clearly established. We conducted this systematic review to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of thromboembolism (TE) in paediatric and adult patients with LVNC and searched for risk factors for TE to explore management strategies.

Clinical Status and Outcome of Isolated Right Ventricular Hypoplasia: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of Case Reports.

Background: Isolated right ventricular hypoplasia (IRVH), not associated with severe pulmonary or tricuspid valve malformation, is a rare congenital myocardial disease. This study aims to evaluate the clinical status and outcome of IRVH.

Methods: A systematic search of keywords on IRVH was conducted.

Fragmented QRS on electrocardiography as a predictor for diastolic cardiac dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.

Aims/introduction: Diastolic cardiac dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (DD2D) is a critical risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. However, there is no established biomarker to detect DD2D. We aimed to investigate the predictive impact of fragmented QRS (fQRS) on electrocardiography on the existence of DD2D.

Compliance of Clinical Trial Protocols for Foods with Function Claims (FFC) in Japan: Consistency between Clinical Trial Registrations and Published Reports.

Background: A new type of foods with a health claims notification system, the Foods with Function Claims (FFC), was introduced in Japan in April 2015. This cross-sectional study sought to clarify compliance of clinical trial protocols reported as the scientific basis of efficacy in the FFC system.

Methods: All articles based on clinical trials published on the Consumer Affairs Agency website from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2021 were reviewed.

Clinical phenotypes of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation as defined by a cluster analysis: A report from the J-RHYTHM registry.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heterogeneous condition caused by various underlying disorders and comorbidities. A cluster analysis is a statistical technique that attempts to group populations by shared traits. Applied to AF, it could be useful in classifying the variables and complex presentations of AF into phenotypes of coherent, more tractable subpopulations.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Using Cilostazol in Patients With Stroke and Intracranial Arterial Stenosis.

Background Long-term benefit of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) over single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) for the prevention of recurrent stroke has not been established in patients with intracranial arterial stenosis. We compared the efficacy and safety of DAPT with cilostazol and clopidogrel or aspirin to those of SAPT with clopidogrel or aspirin in patients with intracranial arterial stenosis, who were recruited to the Cilostazol Stroke Prevention Study for Antiplatelet Combination trial, a randomized controlled trial in high-risk Japanese patients with ischemic stroke. Methods and Results We compared the vascular and hemorrhagic events between DAPT and SAPT in patients with ischemic stroke and symptomatic or asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis of at least 50% in a major intracranial artery.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Using Cilostazol With Aspirin or Clopidogrel: Subanalysis of the CSPS.com Trial.

Background And Purpose: Although dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel reduces the recurrence of ischemic stroke while significantly increasing the bleeding events compared with monotherapy, the CSPS.com trial (Cilostazol Stroke Prevention Study combination) showed that DAPT using cilostazol was more effective without the bleeding risk. In the CSPS.