Effectiveness of surveillance by echocardiography for cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction of patients with breast cancer.

Background: Cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) affect the prognosis of patients with breast cancer. Echocardiographic surveillance of patients treated with anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) antibodies has been recommended, but few reports have provided evidence on patients with breast cancer only. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of echocardiographic surveillance for breast cancer patients.

Benefits of guideline-directed medical therapy to loop diuretics in management of heart failure.

Background: We sought to compare the outcomes of patients receiving combination therapy of diuretics and neurohormonal blockers, with a matched cohort with monotherapy of loop diuretics, using real-world big data.

Methods: This study was based on the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Datasets (JROAD-DPC). After exclusion criteria, we identified 78,685 patients who were first hospitalized with heart failure (HF) between April 2015 and March 2017.

Linkage of Left Atrial Function to Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

In heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), left atrial enlargement is a surrogate marker reflecting chronic left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. As a result, the left atrial volume is often evaluated in daily clinical practice to determine the presence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. However, recent studies have shown that left atrial dysfunction is an important factor contributing to the pathogenesis of HFpEF, and it is expected to become one of the therapeutic targets of HFpEF, rather than just a surrogate marker.

Isoproterenol loading transesophageal echocardiography in atrial fibrillation.

In patients with sludge or severe spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in the left atrial appendage (LAA), cases with isoproterenol loading transesophageal echocardiography (ISP-TEE) have been reported to identify the presence of thrombus in the LAA. This study aimed to assess the validity and hemodynamic changes of ISP-TEE in the LAA. We prospectively enrolled patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent ISP-TEE.

Association between cardiovascular risk factors and left ventricular strain distribution in patients without previous cardiovascular disease.

Background: Some cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, have been reported to reduce left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain (LS) even in patients with preserved LV ejection fraction. We hypothesized that multiple CV risk factors might cause changes in myocardial strain. Our study aimed to assess the association between multiple CV risk factors and strain in patients without previous CV disease (CVD).

Impact of cancer on short-term in-hospital mortality after primary acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the second most common cause of mortality among cancer survivors, after death from cancer. We sought to assess the impact of cancer on the short-term outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), by analysing data obtained from a large-scale database.

Methods: This study was based on the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases and the Diagnosis Procedure Combination.

Use of Echocardiography and Heart Failure In-Hospital Mortality from Registry Data in Japan.

Background: Echocardiography requires a high degree of skill on the part of the examiner, and the skill may be more improved in larger volume centers. This study investigated trends and outcomes associated with the use and volume of echocardiographic exams from a real-world registry database of heart failure (HF) hospitalizations.

Methods: This study was based on the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Datasets (JROAD-DPC).

How to standardize the measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction.

Despite recent advances in imaging for myocardial deformation, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is still the most important index for systolic function in daily practice. Its role in multiple fields (e.g.

Review: application of current imaging modalities in the management of left-sided valvular heart disease.

In terms of valvular heart disease (VHD) imaging, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the preferred first choice because of its widespread availability. Other modalities, such as transesophageal echocardiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, have played a supplementary role in diagnosis for severity, deciding the timing/type of treatment, detection of post procedural complications, and prognostic predictions. However, there are few consensuses on how to employ these modalities, as the evidence is not extensive as that for TTE.

Clinical Utility of Overlap Time for Incomplete Relaxation to Predict Cardiac Events in Heart Failure.

Background: The overlap time of transmitral flow can be a novel marker of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction for predicting adverse events in heart failure (HF). We aimed to (1) investigate the role of overlap time of the E-A wave in association with clinical parameters and (2) evaluate whether the overlap time could add prognostic information with respect to other conventional clinical prognosticators in HF.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 153 patients hospitalized with HF (mean age 68 ± 15 years; 63% male).

Predictive value of left atrial function for latent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation as the cause of embolic stroke of undetermined source.

Background: In patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) is often diagnosed, however, the risk of paroxysmal AF in ESUS has not been well described. Several studies have suggested a linkage between left atrial (LA) functional parameters and risk of AF in stroke patients. The aim of this study was to assess the role of LA functional parameters as predictors of latent paroxysmal AF in ESUS on admission.

Acute Hospital Mortality of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Cancer From Registry Data.

Background The prognosis of patients with cancer-venous thromboembolism (VTE) is not well known because of a lack of registry data. Moreover, there is also no knowledge on how specific types are related to prognosis. We sought to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with cancer-associated VTE, compared with a matched cohort without cancer using real-world registry data of VTE.

Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism with Early-Onset Coronary Artery Disease.

The patient with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) shows low serum levels of androgen, which is a group of sex hormones including testosterone, caused by the decreased gonadotropin release in the hypothalamus. Recent reports showed androgens exert protective effects against insulin resistance or atherosclerotic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease. However, whether the juvenile hypogonadism affects the diabetes or cardiovascular disease is unclear.

Association between Vitamin D and Heart Failure Mortality in 10,974 Hospitalized Individuals.

A broad range of chronic conditions, including heart failure (HF), have been associated with vitamin D deficiency. Existing clinical trials involving vitamin D supplementation in chronic HF patients have been inconclusive. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of patients with vitamin D supplementation, compared with a matched cohort using real-world big data of HF hospitalization.

Association between Sarcopenia/Lower Muscle Mass and Short-Term Regression of Deep Vein Thrombosis Using Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

Advanced age, obesity, and muscle weakness are independent factors in the onset of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Recently, an association between sarcopenia and DVT has been reported. We hypothesized that sarcopenia related factors, observed by ultrasonography, are associated with the regression effect on the thrombus following anticoagulation therapy.

Osteolytic primary bone lymphoma in the multiple bones.

Primary non-Hodgkin bone lymphoma (PBL) can involve solitary or multiple destructive bone lesions such as those of the femur or pelvis humerus, and some cases have osteolytic lesions. PBL is a rare disease in adults. Thus, PBL is rarely considered a differential diagnosis of the osteolytic tumor.

Updated Left Ventricular Diastolic Function Recommendations and Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Heart Failure Hospitalization.

Background: Evaluation of diastolic dysfunction is crucial in determining elevated left atrial pressure. However, a validation of the long-term prognostic value of the newly proposed algorithm updated in 2016 has not been performed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relative value of the updated 2016 diastolic dysfunction grading system for the incidence of readmission in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Left atrial functional response after a marathon in healthy amateur volunteers.

Middle-aged marathon runners have an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF). A previous study described that repetitive marathon running was associated with left atrial (LA) dysfunction. However, whether this change is common in marathon runners and which runners are at risk of LA dysfunction remain unknown.

Registered Replication Report: Dijksterhuis and van Knippenberg (1998).

Dijksterhuis and van Knippenberg (1998) reported that participants primed with a category associated with intelligence ("professor") subsequently performed 13% better on a trivia test than participants primed with a category associated with a lack of intelligence ("soccer hooligans"). In two unpublished replications of this study designed to verify the appropriate testing procedures, Dijksterhuis, van Knippenberg, and Holland observed a smaller difference between conditions (2%-3%) as well as a gender difference: Men showed the effect (9.3% and 7.

Proteinuria in sarcoidosis: Prevalence and risk factors in a consecutive outpatient cohort.

While sarcoidosis has been recognized as a potential cause of proteinuria, no study has systematically evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for proteinuria in sarcoid patients. Consecutive sarcoid patients followed in a university clinic were identified prospectively. All patients with spot urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) between 11-2012 and 07-2015 were included in the analysis.