Publications by authors named "Riichi Nishikawa"

Background Anemia is common in older adults and, together with heart failure and chronic kidney disease, forms a vicious cycle, whereas diseases such as chronic inflammation and cancer are associated with the anemia of chronic disease (ACD). Researchers have linked growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) to a variety of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, inflammation, cancer, and kidney disease, and have reported hepcidin as a biomarker for iron regulation in ACD. Therefore, anemia, GDF-15, and hepcidin have significance in aging physiology.

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Background: Myostatin is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. On the other hand, growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15 is associated with lower muscle strength and muscle mass. We investigated the relationship between serum GDF-15, myostatin, and sarcopenia in patients receiving cardiovascular surgery through a ROC curve and a multivariate regression analysis.

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Article Synopsis
  • Sarcopenia, which affects muscle function, is linked to poor recovery after cardiovascular surgery, and the study explored the connection between serum GDF-15 levels and muscle health in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement versus healthy elderly women.
  • In the study, 43 female patients (79.9 years old on average) and 64 healthy elderly women (75.9 years old on average) were assessed for muscle function, with findings indicating higher GDF-15 levels in surgical patients compared to healthy individuals.
  • The results showed that a GDF-15 level above 1109 pg/mL was associated with a high prevalence of sarcopenia in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement, suggesting that GDF-15
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A long-acting loop diuretic, azosemide, has been shown to improve long-term prognosis in patients with heart failure compared with a short-acting loop diuretic, furosemide. However, the therapeutic advantages of azosemide over furosemide have not been clearly established. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes and laboratory data in patients with congestive heart failure treated with furosemide or azosemide, and the efficacy of these agents was compared.

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