Difference in risk factors of silent brain infarction between paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Although silent brain infarction is an independent risk factor for subsequent symptomatic stroke and dementia in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, little is known regarding differences in risk factors for silent brain infarction between patients with paroxysmal and persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Methods: This study population consisted of 190 neurologically asymptomatic patients (mean age, 64 ± 11 years) with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (119 paroxysmal, 71 persistent) who were scheduled for catheter ablation. All patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging to screen for silent brain infarction prior to ablation.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Silent Brain Infarction in Patients with Aortic Stenosis.

Introduction: Silent brain infarction (SBI) is an independent risk factor for subsequent symptomatic stroke in the general population. Although aortic stenosis (AS) is also known to be associated with an increased risk of future symptomatic stroke, little is known regarding the prevalence and risk factors for SBI in patients with AS.

Methods: The study population comprised 83 patients with severe AS with no history of stroke or transient ischemic attack and paralysis or sensory impairment (mean age 75 ± 7 years).

Greater nighttime blood pressure variability is associated with left atrial enlargement in atrial fibrillation patients with preserved ejection fraction.

Left atrial enlargement is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Little is known regarding the association between nighttime blood pressure variability and left atrial enlargement in patients with atrial fibrillation and preserved ejection fraction. The study population consisted of 140 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation (mean age 64 ± 10 years) with preserved ejection fraction (≥50%).

Echocardiographic parameters predicting acute hemodynamically significant mitral regurgitation during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Alteration in mitral valve morphology resulting from retrograde stiff wire entanglement sometimes causes hemodynamically significant acute mitral regurgitation (MR) during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Little is known about the echocardiographic parameters related to hemodynamically significant acute MR.

Methods And Results: This study population consisted of 64 consecutive patients who underwent transfemoral TAVR.

Plaque surface irregularity and calcification length within carotid plaque predict secondary events in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background And Aims: Although comprehensive risk factor modification is recommended, a uniform management strategy does not necessarily prevent secondary events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore, identification of high-risk patients who may benefit from more intensive interventions may improve prognosis. Carotid ultrasound can reliably identify systemic atherosclerosis, and carotid plaque and intima-media thickness (IMT) are known independent risk factors for CAD.

Four cases of investigational therapy with interleukin-11 against acute myocardial infarction.

We describe four cases of the patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) that were treated with interleukin-11 (IL-11), a cardioprotective cytokine. Recombinant human IL-11 (rhIL-11), was intravenously administered to two cases at low dose (6 µg/kg) and to two at high dose (25 µg/kg). The cytokine administration started just after the coronary occlusion was confirmed by coronary angiography (CAG), taking 3 h.