Association between medication adherence and illness perceptions in atrial fibrillation patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants: An observational cross-sectional pilot study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between medication adherence and illness perceptions, and to explore the factors associated with poor medication adherence in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in a real-world clinical setting.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional pilot study was conducted at a single Japanese university hospital. One hundred and twenty-nine patients who were diagnosed with AF and who were taking DOACs were recruited from outpatients between January 4th and April 25th, 2017.

Is pentraxin 3 a biomarker, a player, or both in the context of coronary atherosclerosis and metabolic factors?

The objective of this study is to determine whether pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is clinically a biomarker of inflammation, a player in anti-inflammation, or both with regard to coronary atherosclerosis, we compared levels of PTX-3 with levels of adiponectin in addition to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). We enrolled 693 patients (51 % male; mean age 64 ± 12 years) at Fukuoka University Hospital. They were clinically suspected to have coronary artery disease (CAD) or had at least one cardiac risk factor and had undergone coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Cholesterol metabolism in patients with hemodialysis in the presence or absence of coronary artery disease.

Background: Little is known about the interrelationship between the lipid profile, cholesterol metabolism, and coronary risk factors in patients with hemodialysis (HD) in the presence or absence of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: Ninety-five patients with HD were selected (HD group). Fifty-eight age-, gender-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched patients who had at least 1 cardiovascular risk factor were selected as a non-HD group.

Clinical significance of flow-mediated dilation, brachial intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity in patients with and without coronary artery disease.

Background: Little is known about the interrelationships among brachial flow-mediated vasodilatation (bFMD), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and brachial intima-media thickness (bIMT) in patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: Two-hundred consecutive patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) were enrolled as the CAD group and 50 age-, sex- and body mass index-matched patients without CAD were selected as the non-CAD group. bFMD, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the CAD group were significantly lower.

Efficacy and safety of a single-pill fixed-dose combination of high-dose telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Objective: Many patients still have high blood pressure (BP) after treatment with high-dose angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) or Preminent® (medium-dose of losartan (50 mg/day)/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (12.5 mg/day)). Therefore, we analyzed whether Micombi®BP (high-dose telmisartan (80 mg/day)/HCTZ (12.

Regression of coronary plaque after coronary artery bypass graft.

A 62-year-old woman complained of sudden chest pain and 64-multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) was performed. The volume-rendered image showed severe stenosis of the left main coronary trunk artery (LMT). The mean density of the plaque was 32.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of single-pill fixed-dose combinations of losartan/hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide in patients with hypertension (SALT-VAT study).

Objective: We analyzed the efficacy and safety of Preminent(®) [losartan (50 mg/day)/HCTZ (12.5 mg/day)] compared to CodioMD(®) [valsartan (80 mg/day)/HCTZ (6.25 mg/day)].

Coarctation of the aorta with some collaterals presenting as aortic dissection detected by 64-MDCT.

Coarctation of the aorta with aortic dissection is sometimes seen in cases of Turner syndrome, and most cases are type A aortic dissection, whereas coarctation of the aorta with type B aortic dissection is unusual. Only two cases of coarctation of the aorta presenting as aortic dissection have been reported in Japan, and only a few cases have been reported worldwide. We report here a case of coarctation of the aorta with some collaterals presenting as aortic dissection (type B) detected by 64-multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT).

Randomized, double-blind, controlled, comparative trial of formula food containing soy protein vs. milk protein in visceral fat obesity. -FLAVO study-.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to clarify the efficacy of soy at reducing visceral fat. A randomized, double-blind, controlled, comparative trial was carried out to compare formula food containing soy protein (SP) to the same food in which soy was replaced with milk protein (MP).

Methods And Results: Forty-eight participants were enrolled for the treatment of visceral fat obesity (visceral fat area >100 cm² on computed tomography).

Effect of fixed-dose losartan/hydrochlorothiazide on brain natriuretic peptide in patients with hypertension.

Objective: Losartan/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (Preminent®) is a fixed-dose combination of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and the thiazide diuretic HCTZ that has consistently been shown to be more effective than either losartan or HCTZ. Little is known about the relationship between losartan/HCTZ and blood levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).

Methods And Results: In this study, 44 patients with hypertension who were being treated with ARB were enrolled.

Association between hypertension and coronary artery disease as assessed by coronary computed tomography.

Multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) enables the accurate noninvasive assessment of coronary artery stenosis and plaque imaging. The characteristics of patients who have coronary artery disease (CAD) as assessed by MDCT coronary computed tomography (CT) are not well known. Participants consisted of 513 consecutive patients with suspected CAD who underwent coronary CT.

Superior vena cava obstruction caused by ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm as assessed by multi-detector row computed tomography.

We describe a case of a 64-year-old man with superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction caused by a huge pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta. Pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta is an uncommon cause of SVC obstruction. Multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) simultaneously clarified the SVC obstruction and coronary artery stenosis.

Significance of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels for diagnosis of coronary stenosis as determined by MDCT in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

Aim: Since we previously reported that lower levels of HDL-C may be most useful for predicting coronary artery disease (CAD) as assessed by multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT), we sought to confirm, among the levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, non-HDL-C (total cholesterol minus HDL-C) and the ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C (LDL-C/HDL-C), which is most closely related to the presence of CAD.

Methods And Results: The subjects consisted of 506 consecutive patients with suspected CAD who underwent MDCT with (+) or without (-) statin treatment. The levels of LDL-C in the statin (-) group were similar in categories I, II and III according to the Japan Atherosclerosis Society (JAS) Guidelines 2007, whereas the levels of HDL-C significantly decreased and LDL-C/HDL-C significantly increased as the category number increased.

Acute coronary syndrome associated with essential thrombocythemia.

Although essential thrombocythemia (ET) has been rarely reported to cause coronary thrombosis, its appropriate management is still undefined. We describe a case of acute coronary syndrome in a patient with ET. A 47-year-old woman with ET complained of severe acute chest pain.

Coronary-pulmonary artery fistula with anomalous vessels arising from the right coronary sinus detected by 64-MDCT.

We describe a case of aneurysmal coronary-pulmonary artery fistula and a communicating anomalous vessel arising from the right coronary sinus that was clearly demonstrated by 64-multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT). MDCT angiography was more useful than cardiac catheterization for planning the surgical strategy.

Acute myocardial infarction associated with pregnancy successfully treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

We describe the case of a 43-year-old primiparous woman who had acute myocardial infarction. She underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Elective cesarean section was performed uneventfully at 32 weeks gestation.

Coronary artery aneurysm with thrombus evaluated by multi-detector row computed tomography.

This is a case report of a 60-year-old woman with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who had coronary aneurysms and thrombus in the right coronary artery detected by multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT). In this case, MDCT was useful for clarifying the thrombus complicated with coronary aneurysms, which was considered to be the cause of AMI. Thus, warfarin was started as an anticoagulant therapy for thrombus.

HDL-associated factors provide additional prognostic information for coronary artery disease as determined by multi-detector row computed tomography.

Background: A significant relationship has been noted between the lipid profile and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) using invasive coronary angiography. We tested the hypothesis that the severity of CAD as determined by a non-invasive method, multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT), is also associated with lipidemic factors.

Methods And Results: The subjects included 195 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography using MDCT because of suspected CAD.

Are metabolic factors associated with coronary artery stenosis on MDCT?

Background: The association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) as determined by multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) is unclear.

Methods And Results: The number of significantly stenosed vessels (VD), coronary artery calcification score, visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), and abdominal circumference were quantified using MDCT. Plasma levels of metabolic factors were also measured.

Is chronic kidney disease associated with coronary artery stenosis or calcification as assessed by multi-detector row computed tomography?

Background: The coronary artery calcification (CAC) score as determined by multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) is known to predict coronary artery disease (CAD). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is also known to be a risk factor for CAD. Little is known about the relationship between CKD and the severity of coronary artery stenosis or CAC as determined by MDCT, a non-invasive method for screening.

Left ventricular oozing rupture following acute myocardial infarction.

We describe the case of an 85-year-old woman in whom pericardiocentesis, prolonged bed rest and blood pressure control were performed without surgery to successfully treat an oozing-type myocardial rupture due to myocardial infarction.

Usefulness of the evaluation of stent fracture by 64-multi-detector row computed tomography.

A 77-year-old man with unstable angina pectoris showed severe coronary stenosis with soft plaque in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) as detected by 64-multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a bare-metal stent to the LAD was performed, and stent fracture immediately after PCI was clearly detected by MDCT. MDCT may be useful for identifying a fractured stent and for management after stent implantation.