Publications by authors named "Rakugi H"

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a classically known circulatory regulatory system. In addition to the previously known multi-organ circulatory form of the RAS, the existence of tissue RASs in individual organs has been well established. Skeletal muscle has also been identified as an organ with a distinct RAS.

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Sacubitril/valsartan, an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor, has demonstrated a superior blood pressure-lowering effect compared with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in several clinical trials. However, there has been no available evidence on the comparison between sacubitril/valsartan and calcium channel blockers (CCBs), a well-established class of antihypertensive drugs. In this open-label, multicenter study, we aimed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan versus amlodipine, one of the most widely used CCBs, after 8 weeks of treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focused on myofibroblasts and how a vaccine targeting fibroblast activation protein (FAP) might help reduce cardiac fibrosis in mice with chronic cardiac stress.
  • - Mice were vaccinated with a FAP peptide while undergoing continuous treatment with angiotensin II and phenylephrine, resulting in a significant decrease in both cardiac fibrosis and the number of myofibroblasts.
  • - The findings suggest that the FAP vaccine is a promising therapeutic option for cardiac fibrosis without causing harmful side effects in other injury models, indicating its potential for future treatments.
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Hypertension increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease and death. In addition to aerobic exercise, which is currently recommended for its antihypertensive effects, recent studies have suggested that dynamic and isometric resistance exercises also have antihypertensive effects. However, the magnitude of the antihypertensive effect of such resistance exercises is not well known.

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Previous studies suggest older patients with multiple health conditions and medications may experience adverse interactions, leading to negative outcomes. However, there's limited research on this in older adults receiving home medical care. This study assesses whether polypharmacy is linked to falls or other clinical outcomes.

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Although hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, the control of blood pressure (BP) is insufficient worldwide. Exercise is an effective treatment for reducing BP, but the differences in the blood pressure lowering effects of exercise according to the underlying pathophysiological condition, the type of exercise, and the geographic region are not fully understood. An umbrella review with a meta-analysis of 435 randomized controlled trials that investigated the BP-lowering effects of exercise was performed using Ovid MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library, covering the period from inception to August 1, 2023.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigated the link between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and cognitive decline in Japanese individuals aged 70 and 80, as previous research provided inconclusive results on this association.
  • - Data from 872 participants were analyzed, revealing that approximately 70% of 70-year-olds and over 80% of 80-year-olds showed low cognitive function, with significant associations found between higher hs-CRP levels and cognitive impairment in both age groups.
  • - The findings suggest that elevated hs-CRP levels may negatively impact cognitive function, highlighting the need for further exploration in the context of inflammation and cognitive health among older adults.
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Aim: This study aimed to examine the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical components and activity, and its relationship to physical performance in older adults.

Methods: Sixty-seven participants aged 75 and older (81 ± 2 years, female: 66%), who underwent medical checkups continuously from 2018 to 2022 in one clinic, were enrolled. Muscle mass was assessed by the biometrical impedance analysis method, which was adjusted by height squared.

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This is the first consensus statement of the Joint Committee on Renal Denervation of the Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH)/Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics (CVIT)/Japanese Circulation Society (JCS). The consensus is that the indication for renal denervation (RDN) is resistant hypertension or "conditioned" uncontrolled hypertension, with high office and out-of-office blood pressure (BP) readings despite appropriate lifestyle modification and antihypertensive drug therapy. "Conditioned" uncontrolled hypertension is defined as having one of the following: 1) inability to up-titrate antihypertensive medication due to side effects, the presence of complications, or reduced quality of life.

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This is the first consensus statement of the Joint Committee on Renal Denervation of the Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH)/Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics (CVIT)/Japanese Circulation Society (JCS). The consensus is that the indication for renal denervation (RDN) is resistant hypertension or "conditioned" uncontrolled hypertension, with high office and out-of-office blood pressure (BP) readings despite appropriate lifestyle modification and antihypertensive drug therapy. "Conditioned" uncontrolled hypertension is defined as having one of the following: 1) inability to up-titrate antihypertensive medication due to side effects, the presence of complications, or reduced quality of life.

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This is the first consensus statement of the Joint Committee on Renal Denervation of the Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH)/Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics (CVIT)/Japanese Circulation Society (JCS). The consensus is that the indication for renal denervation (RDN) is resistant hypertension or "conditioned" uncontrolled hypertension, with high office and out-of-office blood pressure (BP) readings despite appropriate lifestyle modification and antihypertensive drug therapy. "Conditioned" uncontrolled hypertension is defined as having one of the following: (1) inability to up-titrate antihypertensive medication due to side effects, the presence of complications, or reduced quality of life.

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Background: We prospectively examined the effect of baseline multimorbidity and polypharmacy on the physical function of community-dwelling older adults over a three-year period.

Methods: The analysis included 1,401 older adults (51.5 % women) who participated in both wave 1 and wave 2 (3-year follow-up) of the Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, and Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians (SONIC) study.

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The efficacy of renal denervation (RDN) has been controversial, but recent randomized sham-controlled trials demonstrated significant blood pressure reductions after RDN in patients with hypertension. We conducted a systematic review and updated meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of RDN on ambulatory and office blood pressures in patients with hypertension. Databases were searched up to 15 November 2023 to identify randomized, sham-controlled trials of RDN.

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Aim: The number of elderly patients with liver cancer is increasing with the aging society. The Geriatric Prognostic Scoring System is useful in predicting the postoperative prognosis for elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The aim of the present study was to assess the predictive ability of the geriatric prognostic scoring system for postoperative survival in elderly patients with liver cancer.

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Background And Purpose: Biomarkers have been required for diagnosing early Alzheimer disease. We assessed the utility of hippocampal diffusion parameters for diagnosing Alzheimer disease pathology in mild cognitive impairment.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-nine patients with mild cognitive impairment underwent both CSF measurement and multi-shell diffusion imaging at 3T.

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This study aimed to evaluate the role of skeletal muscle-derived interleukin (IL)-15 in the regulation of skeletal muscle autophagy using IL-15 knockout (KO) and transgenic (TG) mice. Male C57BL/6 wild-type (WT), IL-15 KO, and IL-15 TG mice were used in this study. Changes in muscle mass, forelimb grip strength, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, gene and protein expression levels of major regulators and indicators of autophagy, comprehensive gene expression, and DNA methylation in the gastrocnemius muscle were analyzed.

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Aim: To examine the actual conditions of older patients receiving home medical care after hospitalization over a period of 2 years in Japan.

Methods: The study population included 102 participants, aged ≥65 years, receiving home medical care, who consented to participate in the Osaka Home Care Registry (OHCARE) study in Japan over a period of 2 years. We investigated the actual conditions for returning home after hospitalization.

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Background: Epidemiological evidence has demonstrated a clear association between diabetes mellitus and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cerebral accumulation of phosphorylated tau aggregates, a cardinal neuropathological feature of AD, is associated with neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Clinical and experimental studies indicate that diabetes mellitus affects the development of tau pathology; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown.

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Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing home blood pressure measurement (HBPM) continuation in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A longitudinal analysis used the NOSE study intervention group datasets. The participants were encouraged HBPM with self-monitoring devices provided to them twice in the morning and twice in the evening.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers assessed frailty using the Japanese version of Cardiovascular Health Study criteria and sleep status using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), highlighting differences in sleep duration and quality amongst age groups.
  • * The findings indicated that in participants in their 70s, long sleep duration and sleep medication use correlated with frailty, while in those in their 80s, poor sleep quality was linked to frailty, suggesting tailored approaches to sleep evaluation can aid in preventing frailty.
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Purpose: Individuals with impaired masticatory function tend to prefer soft foods, which results in decreased masticatory muscle activity. This study examined the association between the oral condition (number of teeth, occlusal force, and occlusal contact area) and dietary hardness using a daily dietary questionnaire.

Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 1841 participants aged 69-71 and 79-81 years.

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