Physiological responses of the abalone Haliotis discus hannai to daily and seasonal temperature variations.

Organisms inhabiting tidal mixing-front zones in shallow temperate seas are subjected to large semidiurnal temperature fluctuations in summer. The ability to optimize energy acquisition to this episodic thermal oscillation may determine the survival, growth and development of these ectotherms. We compared the physiological and molecular responses of Haliotis discus hannai cultivated in suspended cages to fluctuating or stable temperature conditions.

Comparative effect on platelet function of a fixed-dose aspirin and clopidogrel combination versus separate formulations in patients with coronary artery disease: A phase IV, multicenter, prospective, 4-week non-inferiority trial.

Background/objectives: The effect of aspirin and clopidogrel in a fixed-dose combination (FDC) on platelet function was compared with separate formulations in patients that had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent (DES).

Methods: This was a phase IV, prospective, multicenter, single-arm, non-inferiority study. Patients that had taken aspirin 100 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg once daily as separate formulations for >6 months after PCI with DES were enrolled, and then switched to an aspirin/clopidogrel FDC once-daily for 4 weeks.

Changes in Hematological, Biochemical and Non-specific Immune Parameters of Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, Following Starvation.

Triplicate groups of fed and starved olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (body weight: 119.8±17.46 g), were examined over 42 days for physiological changes using hematological, biochemical, and non-specific immune parameters.

Effect of renin-angiotensin-system blockers on contrast-medium-induced acute kidney injury after coronary angiography.

Background/aims: With the increasing incidence of cardiovascular disease, angiocardiography using contrast-enhancing media has become an essential diagnostic and therapeutic tool, despite the risk of contrast-medium-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI). CIAKI may be exacerbated by renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) blockers, which are also used in a variety of cardiovascular disorders. This study evaluated the effects of RAS blockade on CIAKI after coronary angiography.

Assessment of the Association between Mean Hemoglobin A1c Levels for 5 Years and Coronary Artery Disease by Coronary Angiography in Nondiabetic Patients.

Background: The effects of glucose on cardiovascular events or mortality in nondiabetic patients has been recently reported. However, since atherosclerosis can be formed over a long period of time, it is necessary to devote several years to unveil the relationship between the two factors. Here, we attempted to find out the relationship between the mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level and HbA1c variability for 5 years and coronary artery disease (CAD) by using coronary angiography (CAG) to assess nondiabetic patients.

A1c variability can predict coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes with mean a1c levels greater than 7.

Background: Recent studies suggested that the association of acute glucose variability and diabetic complications was not consistent, and that A1c variability representing long term glucose fluctuation may be related to coronary atherosclerosis in patients with type 1 diabetes. In this study, we attempt to determine whether or not A1c variability can predict coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We reviewed data of patients with type 2 diabetes who had undergone coronary angiography (CAG) and had been followed up with for 5 years.

A prospective, randomized comparison of promus everolimus-eluting and TAXUS Liberte paclitaxel-eluting stent systems in patients with coronary artery disease eligible for percutaneous coronary intervention: the PROMISE study.

We aimed comparing two-year clinical outcomes of the Everolimus-Eluting Promus and Paclitaxel-Eluting TAXUS Liberte stents used in routine clinical practice. Patients with objective evidence of ischemia and coronary artery disease eligible for PCI were prospectively randomized to everolimus-eluting stent (EES) or paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) groups. The primary end-point was ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization (TVR) at 2 yr after intervention, and the secondary end-point was a major adverse cardiac event (MACE), such as death, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), TVR or stent thrombosis.

Relationship between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis Beyond Metabolic Disorders in Non-Diabetic Patients.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and carotid artery atherosclerosis beyond metabolic disorders.

Methods: We studied 320 non-diabetic patients with ultrasonographically diagnosed NAFLD and 313 non-diabetic patients without NAFLD who have less than 40 g alcohol/week drinking history. Carotid atherosclerotic burden was assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on left atrial functional and structural remodeling beyond obesity.

Background: To evaluate the left atrial (LA) volume and function of obese patients with/without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its association with left ventricular (LV) diastolic function independent of obesity.

Methods: LA volumetric and functional parameters were measured by 2-dimensional and strain echocardiography in 49 obese (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) subjects (24 non-OSA and 25 OSA).

Results: OSA group showed larger maximal LA volume indexed for body surface area, larger volume before atrial contraction, a reduction in the LA passive emptying fraction, and an increase in the LA active emptying fraction with no significant change in LA total emptying fraction.

Perforated Mitral Valve Aneurysm in the Posterior Leaflet without Infective Endocarditis.

Aneurysm of the mitral valve, although uncommon, occurs most commonly in association with infective endocarditis of the aortic valve and true mitral valve aneurysm is a rare cause of mitral regurgitation. We report a case with perforated mitral valve aneurysm in the posterior leaflet without concurrent infective endocarditis initially mistaken diagnosis of cystic mass, which was confirmed at operation with successful mitral valve annuloplasty.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on the global myocardial performance beyond obesity.

We aimed to assess the impact of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on the left ventricular (LV) function independent of obesity using the myocardial performance index (Tei index) and the global longitudinal LV strain (GLS) and its reversibility after surgery. Twenty-five newly diagnosed OSA patients, normal weight (n = 15) and obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25; n = 20) controls without OSA were enrolled and underwent transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation. The OSA and obese groups had a significantly comparable increased BMI and LV chamber dimension, prolonged isovolumic relaxation time, reduced early mitral filling velocity, and increased late mitral filling velocity and Tei index as compared to the normal weight group.

The predictive value of retinal vascular findings for carotid artery atherosclerosis: are further recommendations with regard to carotid atherosclerosis screening needed?

Vascular retinopathy is the consequence of vascular disease, and the retina is the only place where the arteries can be visualized directly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of retinal vascular findings for carotid artery atherosclerosis. From December 2009 to January 2011, the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and total plaque area (TPA) were measured in 179 consecutive patients, who received a fundoscopic examination.

Impact of right ventricular apical pacing and its frequency on left atrial function.

Background: Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing induces left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, increases the risk of persistent atrial fibrillation in the long term. The aim was to investigate the effects of RVA pacing on left atrial (LA) function, which are unknown.

Methods: Echocardiographic evaluation including LV dyssynchrony based on conventional Doppler, tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking strain echocardiography was done before and after (12 months) single-chamber ventricular pacemaker implantation in 40 patients with sick sinus syndrome.

Alteration of left ventricular function with dobutamine challenge in patients with myocardial bridge.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to identify changes in left ventricular (LV) performance in patients with a myocardial bridge (MB) in the left anterior descending coronary artery during resting and in an inotropic state.

Methods: Myocardial strain measurement by speckle-tracking echocardiography and conventional LV wall-motion scoring was performed in 18 patients with MB (mean age, 48.1 ± 1.

Arterial stiffness in female patients with fibromyalgia and its relationship to chronic emotional and physical stress.

Background And Objectives: In patients with fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome, stress and pain may chronically enhance sympathetic activity, altering cardiovascular responses and inducing the arterial wall-stiffening process. We investigated arterial stiffness in FM patients using pulse wave velocity (PWV) and analyzed whether arterial stiffness was affected by the clinical parameters of FM.

Subjects And Methods: This study included 108 female FM patients (51.

Dual fistulas of ascending aorta and coronary artery to pulmonary artery.

Coronary artery fistula to pulmonary artery is common. However, to the best of our knowledge, a case of coronary artery fistula to pulmonary artery associated with aortopulmonary fistula remains unreported. We herein report a 64-year-old female with a left anterior descending coronary artery and ascending aorta to pulmonary artery fistulas, and conduct a brief review of the literature.

Effect of valsartan on N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic Peptide in patient with stable chronic heart failure: comparison with enalapril.

Background And Objectives: The plasma concentration of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) is a st-rong prognostic indicator for patients with heart failure (HF) across all stages of the condition. Several clinical trials have de-monstrated convincingly that neurohormonal modulation on the renin angiotensin system (RAS) decreases plasma NT-pro-BNP level and results in favorable outcomes. But there are still limited comparative data on the neuro-hormonal modulatory effects of two RAS inhibitors: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker.

A rare case with primary undifferentiated carcinoma of pericardium.

A primary pericardial tumor is very rare. A 77-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with chief complaint of exertional dyspnea due to large amount of pericardial effusion. She was finally diagnosed as pericardial undifferentiated carcinoma without definite histopathologial, immunochemistry feature.

Assessment of endothelial function in patients with fibromyalgia--cardiac ultrasound study.

In patients with fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome, stress and pain may chronically enhance sympathetic activity, altering cardiovascular response and inducing endothelial dysfunction. We investigated endothelial function in FM patients using echocardiography and analyzed whether endothelial function was affected by the clinical parameters of FM. Fifty-five postmenopausal women with FM and 35 healthy controls were included.

Assessment of myocardial function in patients with fibromyalgia and the relationship to chronic emotional and physical stress.

Background And Objectives: An association between emotional or physical stressful triggers and adverse cardiovascular events, such as death and myocardial infarction, has been recognized for many years. The clinical features of transient left apical ballooning syndrome have been clearly described, but the effect of chronic stress on the myocardium is unknown. Our objective was to assess left ventricular (LV) function in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) with chronic emotional and physical stress.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic Peptide in overweight and obese patients with and without diabetes: an analysis based on body mass index and left ventricular geometry.

Background And Objectives: Several recent studies have shown that there is an inverse relationship between plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and body mass index (BMI) in subjects with and without heart failure. Obesity frequently coexists with diabetes, so it is important to consider the relationship between diabetes and natriuretic peptide levels. We evaluated the influence of diabetes on the correlation of BNP and BMI.