Reverse Remodeling and Non-Contrast T1 Hypointense Infarct Core in Patients With Reperfused Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Non-contrast T1 hypointense infarct cores (ICs) within infarcted myocardium detected using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) T1 mapping may help assess the severity of left ventricular (LV) injury. However, because the relationship of ICs with chronic LV reverse remodeling (LVRR) is unknown, this study aimed to clarify it.

Methods and results: We enrolled patients with reperfused AMI who underwent baseline CMR on day-7 post-primary percutaneous coronary intervention (n=109) and 12-month follow-up CMR (n=94).

Prevalence of mitral annular calcification and its association with mitral valvular disease.

Background: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is increasingly observed in elderly population. The purpose of this study was to investigate incidence of MAC and its association with mitral valvular disease (MVD).

Methods: A total of 13,483 consecutive patients who underwent echocardiography were enrolled.

Long-term prognosis of patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: comparison between heart failure subtypes based on left ventricular ejection fraction.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) prognosis has been reported similar in patients with preserved vs. reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This study compared the long-term prognosis of HF patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Impact of Atrial Fibrillation on the Prognosis of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure With and Without Mitral Regurgitation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and mitral regurgitation (MR) are frequently combined in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the effect of AF on the prognosis of patients with HF and MR remains unknown. We studied 867 patients (mean age 73 years; 42.

Local Action of Neprilysin Exacerbates Pressure Overload Induced Cardiac Remodeling.

[Figure: see text].

Serum iron: a new predictor of adverse outcomes independently from serum hemoglobin levels in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Iron is an essential trace element in the body. However, in heart failure (HF), iron is only recognized as the cause of anemia. Actually, iron itself affects myocardial exercise tolerance and cardiac function via mitochondrial function.

Predominant subtype of heart failure after acute myocardial infarction is heart failure with non-reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: Patients who survive acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are at risk of being rehospitalized owing to the occurrence of acute decompensated heart failure (HF). However, the clinical characteristics of HF after AMI, especially the frequency of each HF subtype, are unclear.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively studied 1055 patients with AMI.

Effects of Fatty Acid Therapy in Addition to Strong Statin on Coronary Plaques in Acute Coronary Syndrome: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study.

BACKGROUND Vascular healing response associated with adjunctive n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid therapy therapy in patients receiving strong statin therapy remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of polyunsaturated fatty acid therapy with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in addition to strong statin therapy on coronary atherosclerotic plaques using optical coherence tomography. METHODS AND RESULTS This prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial included 130 patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with strong statins.

Role of climatic factors in the incidence of Takotsubo syndrome: A nationwide study from 2012 to 2016.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the influence of climatic factors on the onset of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS).

Methods And Results: We performed a retrospective nationwide study among patients registered in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases and Diagnosis Procedure Combination (JROAD-DPC) discharge database, between 2012 and 2016. Before the analysis, a multicentre validation study was conducted for assessing the accuracy of the JROAD-DPC classification for TTS.

Low Insulin Is an Independent Predictor of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Death in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Patients Without Diabetes Mellitus.

Background Insulin beneficially affects myocardial functions during myocardial ischemia. It increases glucose-derived ATP production, decreases oxygen consumption, suppresses apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and promotes the survival of cardiomyocytes. Patients with chronic heart failure generally have high insulin resistance, which is correlated with poor outcomes.

Incidence and Clinical Significance of 30-Day and 90-Day Rehospitalization for Heart Failure Among Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure in Japan - From the NARA-HF Study.

Background: Countermeasure development for early rehospitalization for heart failure (re-HHF) is an urgent and important issue in Western countries and Japan.

Methods and results: Of 1,074 consecutive NARA-HF study participants with acute decompensated HF admitted to hospital as an emergency between January 2007 and December 2016, we excluded 291 without follow-up data, who died in hospital, or who had previous HF-related hospitalizations, leaving 783 in the analysis. During the median follow-up period of 895 days, 241 patients were re-admitted for HF.

Association between the number of board-certified cardiologists and the risk of in-hospital mortality: a nationwide study involving the Japanese registry of all cardiac and vascular diseases.

Objectives: Although there are 14 097 board-certified cardiologists in Japan, it is unknown whether the number of institutional board-certified cardiologists is related to the prognosis of cardiovascular disease patients.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: Data were collected from the nationwide database of acute care hospitals in Japan (2371 hospitals) between 2012 and 2013.

"Hidden" takotsubo cardiomyopathy in cardiac care unit.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is characterized as a transient segmental cardiac dysfunction mimicking acute coronary syndrome triggered by emotional or physical stress. Although neurological disorders, infection, malignant diseases, trauma and surgery are known triggers for the development of TC, role of cardiac diseases as underlying conditions for the development of TC is uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate incidence and clinical characteristics of TC among critically ill cardiac disease patients and to verify that TC may coexist with other cardiac diseases.

Impact of Board-Certified Cardiologist Characteristics on Risk of In-Hospital Mortality.

This study examined the influence of board-certified cardiologist characteristics on the in-hospital mortality of patients with cardiovascular disease. Data were collected between 2012 and 2014 from a nationwide database of acute care hospitals in Japan. Overall, there were 1,422,703 patients, of whom 883,746 were analyzed.

AST-120, an Oral Carbon Absorbent, Protects against the Progression of Atherosclerosis in a Mouse Chronic Renal Failure Model by Preserving sFlt-1 Expression Levels.

Soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1), an endogenous antagonist of the proatherogenic cytokine placental growth factor, is decreased in chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to atherosclerotic progression. In this study, we investigated the effect of AST-120, an oral carbon adsorbent which can remove uremic toxins, on sFlt-1 expression levels and atherosclerosis progression. Atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice underwent a 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 NR) or a sham operation (sham) at 8 weeks of age and were then treated or not with oral AST-120 for 12 weeks.

Number of Cardiologists per Cardiovascular Beds and In-Hospital Mortality for Acute Heart Failure: A Nationwide Study in Japan.

Background Little evidence is available about the number of cardiologists required for appropriate treatment of heart failure (HF). Our objective was to determine the association between the number of cardiologists per cardiology beds for treating patients with acute HF and in-hospital mortality. Methods and Results This was a cross-sectional study, and we used the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases Diagnosis Procedure Combination discharge database.

Differences in blood pressure riser pattern in patients with acute heart failure with reduced mid-range and preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is classified into three types according to left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). The effect of blood pressure (BP) on the pathogenesis of each type is assumed to be different. However, the association between the prognosis of each type of HF and abnormal BP variations assessed by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), such as nocturnal hypertension and the riser pattern, remains unclear.

Plasma Renin Activity Is an Independent Prognosticator in Patients With Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Plasma renin activity (PRA) is associated with cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure (HF), but its prognostic role in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unclear.

Methods and results: A total of 878 patients with information on baseline PRA on admission were selected from 1,055 AMI patients who underwent emergency coronary angiography between 2007 and 2016. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their median PRA (2.

Hospitalization Costs for Patients With Acute Congestive Heart Failure in Japan.

Background: With aging of the population, the economic burden associated with heart failure (HF) is expected to increase. However, little is known about the hospitalization costs associated with HF in Japan.

Methods and results: In this cross-sectional study, using data from The Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases (JROAD) and JROAD-Diagnosis Procedure Combination databases between 2012 and 2014, we evaluated hospitalization costs for acute cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including HF.

Simple Risk Score to Predict Survival in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure - AB Score.

Background: Prognosis after acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is poor. An appropriate risk score that would allow for improved care and treatment of ADHF patients after discharge, however, is lacking.

Methods and results: We used 2 HF cohorts, the NARA-HF study and JCARE-CARD, as derivation and validation cohorts, respectively.

Value of Placental Growth Factor as a Predictor of Adverse Events During the Acute Phase of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background: Few biomarkers, even B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), can predict the long-term outcome in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) on the first day of admission. Placental growth factor (PlGF), a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family of cytokines, is a key molecule in cardiorenal syndrome and a predictor of adverse events in chronic kidney disease patients. However, its significance in ADHF patients remains poorly understood.

Number of Board-Certified Cardiologists and Acute Myocardial Infarction-Related Mortality in Japan - JROAD and JROAD-DPC Registry Analysis.

Background: The appropriate number of board-certified cardiologists (BCC) for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been thoroughly examined in Japan. This study investigated whether the number of BCC/50 cardiovascular beds affects acute outcome in AMI treatment.

Methods and results: Data on 751 board-certified teaching hospitals and 63,603 patients with AMI were obtained from the Japanese Registry Of All cardiac and vascular Diseases (JROAD) and JROAD Diagnosis Procedure Combination (JROAD-DPC) databases between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2014.

Alteration of β-Adrenoceptor Signaling in Left Ventricle of Acute Phase Takotsubo Syndrome: a Human Study.

Accumulating evidence indicates alteration of the β-adrenoceptor (AR), such as desensitization and subtype switching of its coupling G protein, plays a role in the protection against catecholamine toxicity in heart failure. However, in human takotsubo syndrome (TTS), which is associated with a surge of circulating catecholamine in the acute phase, there is no histologic evidence of β-AR alteration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement of alteration of β-AR signaling in the mechanism of TTS development.

Prognostic Value of Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin on the First Day of Admission for Adverse Events in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background: Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (U-NGAL) is an early predictor of acute kidney injury and adverse events in various diseases; however, in acute decompensated heart failure patients, its significance remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of U-NGAL on the first day of admission for the occurrence of acute kidney injury and long-term outcomes in acute decompensated heart failure patients.

Methods And Results: We studied 260 acute decompensated heart failure patients admitted to our department between 2011 and 2014 by measuring U-NGAL in 24-hour urine samples collected on the first day of admission.

Impact of branching angle on neointimal coverage of drug-eluting stents implanted in bifurcation lesions.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of branching angle (BA) on neointimal coverage of drug-eluting stents (DESs) in bifurcation lesions.

Background: Previous experimental studies indicated that BA influences the local flow turbulence and wall shear stress, which are associated with neointimal coverage of DESs.

Methods: Fifty-five bifurcation lesions in 47 patients were evaluated by serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) before DES implantation and at follow-up.