Immediate pharmacotherapy intensification after cardiac resynchronization therapy: incidence, characteristics, and impact.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment for drug-refractory heart failure (HF) in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB). Acute haemodynamic improvement after CRT implantation may enable the intensification of HF medication soon thereafter. Immediate pharmacotherapy intensification (IPI) after CRT implantation achieves a synergetic effect, possibly leading to a better prognosis.

Introduction of pseudo-base benzimidazole derivatives into nucleosides via base exchange by a nucleoside metabolic enzyme.

In alternate organic synthesis, biocatalysis using enzymes provides a more stereoselective and cost-effective approach. Synthesis of unnatural nucleosides by nucleoside base exchange reactions using nucleoside-metabolizing enzymes has previously shown that the 5-position recognition of pyrimidine bases on nucleoside substrates is loose and can be used to introduce functional molecules into pyrimidine nucleosides. Here we explored the incorporation of purine pseudo bases into nucleosides by the base exchange reaction of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (PyNP), demonstrating that an imidazole five-membered ring is an essential structure for the reaction.

Combined use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and intra-aortic balloon pump after cardiac arrest.

Objectives: We investigated whether intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) combined with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) was associated with favourable neurological outcomes for patients after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Moreover, we evaluated the aetiology of cardiac arrest on the effectiveness of this therapy in a sub-study.

Background: There is insufficient research on the optimal combination of machines for patients after ROSC is not established.

An on-demand bench-top fabrication process for fluidic chips based on cross-diffusion through photopolymerization.

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to fabricate fluidic chips. The method utilizes molecular cross-diffusion, induced by photopolymerization under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in a channel pattern, to form the channel structures. During channel structure formation, the photopolymer layer still contains many uncured molecules.

Association Between Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease and Return of Spontaneous Circulation Interval in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the major cause of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The relationship between the findings from the study of coronary images and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) interval is still unknown. Hence, we investigated this relationship in ACS patients with OHCA.

Clinical impact of the gap-angle ratio in patients with ostial lesions of the right coronary artery undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of binary restenosis and its predictors in patients with ostial lesions of the right coronary artery (RCAos) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). RCAos are associated with a high incidence of restenosis, and the implantations of drug-eluting stents for RCAos have not been fully elucidated. The study participants included 75 patients (72.

Exercise-related resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to presumed myocardial ischemia: Result from coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound.

Aim: Possible causes of exercise-related out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in people with coronary artery disease (CAD) include atherosclerotic plaque rupture (PR) and intra-coronary thrombosis, exercise-induced myocardial ischaemia and other triggers. We investigated whether there are differences in the incidence of PR and/or intra-coronary thrombus and in clinical outcome between 'exercise-related' and 'non-exercise-related' OHCA.

Methods: 219 consecutive resuscitated patients with CAD diagnosed by emergency coronary angiography (CAG) were enrolled.

Photodynamic therapy of human biliary cancer cell line using combination of phosphorus porphyrins and light emitting diode.

A series of phosphorus porphyrin complexes ([(RO)P(tpp)]Cl, tpp = tetraphenylporphyrinato group, R = -(CHCHO)(CH)H; 1a: m = 2, n = 2; 1b: m = 2, n = 4; 1c: m = 2, n = 6; 1d: m = 3, n = 6) were used for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of human biliary cancer cell line (NOZ) when exposed to the irradiation of light emitting diodes (LEDs). A Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) containing NOZ cells (2000 cell well) and 1 (0-100 nM) was introduced into a 96-well microplate and incubated for 24 h to accumulate 1 into the NOZ cells and to multiply the NOZ cells until the cell number reached 10 cells well. After replacing the DMEM medium containing 1 with a fresh DMEM medium without 1, the plates were irradiated for 30 min at 610 nm.

Additive effect of heparin on the photoinactivation of Escherichia coli using tricationic P-porphyrins.

Polycationic porphyrins have received substantial attention in developing singlet oxygen-sensitizers for biological use such as in the photoinactivation of bacteria and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumor cells because they have strong binding affinities for DNA and proteins. However, these strong cellular interactions can retard elimination of the drug after PDT. Therefore, the studies on the interactions of porphyrins with other molecules present much interest, in order to modulate the sensitizers' activity or even remove them from the human body after PDT.

Association between delay to coronary reperfusion and outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Aim: The prognostic effect of early coronary reperfusion therapy with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in patients with cardiac arrest due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has yet to be clarified. We investigated the relationship between time interval from collapse to start of ECPR (CtoE) and coronary reperfusion (CtoR) time and neurological outcome in patients with cardiac arrest due to ACS.

Methods: A cohort of 119 consecutive patients (63±12 years old) with ACS who underwent ECPR and percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) at our hospital was registered from January 2005 to June 2016.

Focused Proteomics Revealed a Novel Rho-kinase Signaling Pathway in the Heart.

Protein phosphorylation plays an important role in the physiological regulation of cardiac function. Myocardial contraction and pathogenesis of cardiac diseases have been reported to be associated with adaptive or maladaptive protein phosphorylation; however, phosphorylation signaling in the heart is not fully elucidated. We recently developed a novel kinase-interacting substrate screening (KISS) method for exhaustive screening of protein kinase substrates, using mass spectrometry and affinity chromatography.

Atresia of the right atrial ostium of the coronary sinus without persistent left superior vena cava.

We present a case of atresia of the right atrial ostium of the coronary sinus. Recognizing this anomaly is important during catheter ablation or cardiac surgery, which could be noninvasively evaluated by multidetector CT.

Prevalence of amino acid mutation in hepatitis C virus core region among Japanese volunteer blood donors.

It is not known whether there is a trend of increasing or decreasing incidence of new hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Japan. From the treatment point of view, it is important to verify HCV genotypes and the prevalence of treatment-resistant clones of HCV. At the Japanese Red Cross blood centers, all blood samples obtained from blood donation have been screened using serological methods and the minipool nucleic acid amplification testing.

Modification of atrioventricular conduction in dogs by laser irradiation of Koch's triangle guided by balloon-tipped cardioscope.

Purpose: This study assessed the feasibility of modification of atrioventricular (AV) conduction under direct vision with a new ablation system using laser energy.

Methods And Results: In 23 anesthetized dogs, a combined laser and balloon-tipped endoscope was introduced into the right atrium after right thoracotomy. Koch's triangle was easily identified in all dogs endoscopically.

Sex- and age-specific carriers of hepatitis B and C viruses in Japan estimated by the prevalence in the 3,485,648 first-time blood donors during 1995-2000.

Objective: Carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Japan were estimated on a national basis.

Methods: Sera from the first-time blood donors aged 16-64 years in eight jurisdictions of the Japanese Red Cross Blood Center during 1995-2000 were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HCV (anti-HCV). Viremia with HCV was estimated to be present in 70% of donors with anti-HCV.

Clinical study of the efficacy of a cooled-tip catheter ablation system for common atrial flutter.

Background: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RF-CA) of common atrial flutter (AFL) requires the creation of a transmural incision to create a bidirectional conduction block in the cavotricuspid isthmus (ITH).

Methods And Results: RF-CA of the ITH using a cooled-tip system was carried out in 40 patients. In the 'conventional' mode (CONV) of the system, RF energy was applied for 2 min with the temperature set at 60 degrees C and power of up to 50 W, and in the failed cases the 'cooled-tip' mode (COOL) was utilized at 45 degrees C with up to 30 W (with a 15 ml/min saline flow rate).

'Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy' associated with syndrome malin: reversible left ventricular dysfunction.

A 66-year-old man developed a fever and had a syncopal attack during treatment with imipramine and amantadine for depression and Parkinson's disease. His muscular enzyme levels were very high, so he was diagnosed with incomplete syndrome malin and given hydration therapy. The electrocardiogram recorded an ST segment elevation like acute myocardial infarction in most leads, and the echocardiogram revealed left ventricular dysfunction with severe hypokinesis to dyskinesis of the anterior and apical wall regions, and hyperkinesis of the basal wall.