Higher Cholesterol Absorption Marker at Baseline Predicts Fewer Cardiovascular Events in Elderly Patients Receiving Hypercholesterolemia Treatment: The KEEP Study.

Background: Higher cholesterol absorption has been reported to be related to a higher incidence of cardiovascular events (CVEs). The KEEP (Kyushu Elderly Ezetimibe Phytosterol) study, a substudy of the EWTOPIA 75 (Ezetimibe Lipid-Lowering Trial on Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in 75 or Older) study, investigated the relationships of cholesterol absorption and synthesis markers with CVEs in older old individuals with hypercholesterolemia, particularly in relation to ezetimibe treatment.

Methods And Results: Eligible patients were those aged ≥75 years who had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥140 mg/dL, no history of coronary artery disease, and no recent use of lipid-lowering drugs.

Strategies for the efficient use of diagnostic resource under constraints: a model-based study on overflow of patients and insufficient diagnostic kits.

This article addresses an optimisation problem of distributing rapid diagnostic kits among patients when the demands far surpass the supplies. This problem has not been given much attention in the field, and therefore, this article aims to provide a preliminary result in this problem domain. First, we describe the problem and define the goal of the optimisation by introducing an evaluation metric that measures the efficiency of the distribution strategies.

Synthesis of Daidzein Glycosides, α-Tocopherol Glycosides, Hesperetin Glycosides by Bioconversion and Their Potential for Anti-Allergic Functional-Foods and Cosmetics.

Daidzein is a common isoflavone, having multiple biological effects such as anti-inflammation, anti-allergy, and anti-aging. α-Tocopherol is the tocopherol isoform with the highest vitamin E activity including anti-allergic activity and anti-cancer activity. Hesperetin is a flavone, which shows potent anti-inflammatory effects.

Evaluation of the Japanese Metabolic Syndrome Risk Score (JAMRISC): a newly developed questionnaire used as a screening tool for diagnosing metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in Japan.

Objectives: To prevent the onset of lifestyle-related diseases associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Japan, research into the development of a useful screening method is strongly desired. We developed a new screening questionnaire (JAMRISC) utilizing a logistic regression model and evaluated its ability to predict the development of MetS, type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases in Japanese populace.

Methods: JAMRISC questionnaire was sent to 1,850 individuals in Rumoi, a small city in Hokkaido.

Regional Differences in Frequency of Warfarin Therapy and Thromboembolism in Japanese Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation - Analysis of the J-RHYTHM Registry.

Background: The proportion of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with anticoagulation varies from country to country. In Japan, little is known about regional differences in frequency of warfarin use or prognosis among patients with non-valvular AF (NVAF).

Methods and results: In J-RHYTHM Registry, the number of patients recruited from each of 10 geographic regions of Japan was based on region population density.

Glucose Fluctuations Aggravate Cardiac Susceptibility to Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Modulating MicroRNAs Expression.

Background: The influence of glucose fluctuations (GF) on cardiovascular complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) has been attracting much attention. In the present study, whether GF increase susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion in the heart was investigated.

Methods And Results: Male rats were randomly assigned to either a control, DM, and DM with GF group.

Splenectomy exacerbates atrial inflammatory fibrosis and vulnerability to atrial fibrillation induced by pressure overload in rats: Possible role of spleen-derived interleukin-10.

Background: The spleen is important for cardiac remodeling induced by myocardial infarction. However, the role of the spleen in inflammatory atrial fibrosis induced by pressure overload is unknown.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether splenectomy (SPX) attenuates or exacerbates pressure overload-induced atrial inflammatory fibrosis and vulnerability to atrial fibrillation (AF) in rats.

Non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients with low CHADS2 scores benefit from warfarin therapy according to propensity score matching subanalysis using the J-RHYTHM Registry.

Introduction: Recently, direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been introduced, with increasing use in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, warfarin continues to be widely used and the benefits and risks of warfarin in NVAF patients warrant closer inspection.

Materials And Methods: Thromboembolism, major hemorrhage, and total and cardiovascular mortalities were analyzed in 7,406 NVAF patients in the J-RHYTHM Registry from January to July 2009, prior to DOAC introduction.

Gastric Invasive Micropapillary Carcinoma with Intestinal Phenotypes Harboring a TP53 R175H Mutation.

We report a case of gastric invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) in an 86-year-old female patient. She was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of bloody emesis. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy found a gastric adenocarcinoma at the antrum.

Glucose fluctuations increase the incidence of atrial fibrillation in diabetic rats.

Aims: We investigated whether glucose fluctuations aggravate cardiac fibrosis and increase the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in rats with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods And Results: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into three groups: uncontrolled DM (U-STZ) group, controlled DM (C-STZ) group, and DM with glucose fluctuations (STZ-GF) group. Glucose fluctuations were induced by fasting for 24 h and additional regular insulin injections (0.

False tendons may be associated with the genesis of J-waves: prospective study in young healthy male.

Background: Recent studies showed that J-waves are associated with vulnerability to ventricular fibrillation. Recently we reported the association between false tendons (FTs) and J-waves in a retrospective study.

Methods And Results: We prospectively studied 50 young healthy men (mean age 24.

Impact of gender on the prognosis of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Treatment guidelines for atrial fibrillation (AF) used in Western countries describe female gender as a risk factor for thromboembolic events in patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF). The present study aimed to determine the impact of gender on prognosis of Japanese patients with NVAF. A subanalysis of 7,406 patients with NVAF (mean age 70 years) who were followed-up prospectively for 2 years was performed using data from the J-RHYTHM registry.

Effect of ECG filter settings on J-waves.

Background: While J-waves were observed in healthy populations, variations in their reported incidence may be partly explicable by the ECG filter setting.

Methods: We obtained resting 12-lead ECG recordings in 665 consecutive patients and enrolled 112 (56 men, 56 women, mean age 59.3±16.

Production of reactive oxygen species in the diabetic heart. Roles of mitochondria and NADPH oxidase.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the main facilitators of cardiovascular complications in diabetes mellitus (DM), and the ROS level is increased in cultured cells exposed to high glucose concentrations or in diabetic animal models. Emerging evidence shows that mitochondria and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase are dominant mechanisms of ROS production in the diabetic heart. Hyperpolarization of the mitochondrial inner membrane potentials and impaired mitochondrial function promote ROS production in the mitochondria of the diabetic heart.

[Echocardiogram in atrial fibrillation].

The echocardiogram should be performed in the patients with atrial fibrillation to detect cardiac structurally abnormality and assess left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions. Parameters that reflect left atrium (LA) size such as LA dimension and LA volume have been proposed as predictors of success of the radiofrequency catheter ablation. The transthoracic echocardiogram can provide useful information to guide the management of atrial fibrillation, but cannot exclude thrombus in the left atrial appendage (LAA).

Role of leptin signaling in the pathogenesis of angiotensin II-mediated atrial fibrosis and fibrillation.

Background: We examined the hypothesis that leptin signaling contributes to the atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation (AF) evoked by angiotensin II (AngII).

Methods And Results: Eight-week-old male CL57/B6 (CNT) and leptin-deficient ob/ob mice (Ob) were subcutaneously infused with AngII (2.0 mg/kg per day).

Comparison of autonomic J-wave modulation in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation and control subjects.

Background: Although J-waves are seen in both patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) and the general population, their genesis remains unclear. To assess the relationship between J-waves and autonomic tone we investigated the circadian variation of J-waves in individuals with and without IVF.

Methods And Results: In study 1, we obtained resting 12-lead ECG and Holter ECG recordings in 258 individuals undergoing screening for heart disease.

Combined assessment of baroreflex sensitivity with iodine 123 metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphic findings strengthens the power of predictive value for cerebral and cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: We previously reported that baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) or cardiac iodine 123 metaiodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG) scintigraphic findings can predict cardiovascular prognosis in type 2 diabetic patients. We therefore tested the hypothesis that the combination of BRS and (123)I-MIBG scintigraphic findings could strengthen the predictive power for major adverse cerebral and cardiovascular events (MACCE).

Methods And Results: From 1998, we have evaluated both BRS and (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy in 165 type 2 diabetic patients (77 females, 88 males, mean age 59 ± 12 years).

Novel strategy to prevent atrial fibrosis and fibrillation.

To explore a novel strategy of preventing atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation (AF), we have established 3 appropriate experimental models of AF. Firstly, atrial fibrosis was induced by pressure overload by abdominal aortic constriction (AAC). AAC enhanced left atrial (LA) expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.

Establishment of a model of atrial fibrillation associated with chronic kidney disease in rats and the role of oxidative stress.

Background: An animal model of atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been available.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the validity of 5/6 nephrectomy (5.6Nx) as an appropriate model of AF associated with CKD and to investigate the role of oxidative stress.