Intraplaque wiring enables drug-coated balloons to be utilized for percutaneous recanalization of chronically occluded coronary arteries.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty following intraplaque wiring and the use of modified balloons is safe and effective in the percutaneous treatment of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs).

Background: DCB is an alternative therapeutic option without the limitations of permanent vascular implants. However, its efficacy in CTOs has yet to be confirmed.

Laser vaporization of atherothrombotic burden before drug-coated balloon application in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Two-year outcomes of the laser-DCB trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine whether the combination of excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) and drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty can provide feasible clinical outcome in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with 8-month and 2-year scheduled follow-up angiography.

Background: Intracoronary thrombus elevates the risk of interventional treatment in patients with STEMI and hampers drug absorption into the vasculature released from DCB.

Methods: Sixty-two patients with STEMI within 24 h after the onset of symptoms were enrolled in this prospective, single-center, single-arm study.

Laser Vaporization of Intracoronary Thrombus and Identifying Plaque Morphology in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography.

Objectives: We evaluated the thrombus-vaporizing effect of excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Background: Larger intracoronary thrombus elevates the risk of interventional treatment and mortality in patients with STEMI.

Methods: A total of 92 patients with STEMI who presented within 24 hours from the onset and underwent ELCA following manual aspiration thrombectomy (MT) were analyzed.

[Repeated Hemoptysis after Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Ruptured Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm with Hemoptysis;Report of a Case].

In recent years, re-rupture due to endoleaks after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms has become a problem. Hemoptysis has been reported in patients after pneumocentesis. We report a patient who developed delayed hemoptysis not related to endoleak after TEVAR.

Residual arrhythmogenic foci predict recurrence in long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation patients after sinus rhythm restoration ablation.

Background: The mechanism of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is multifactorial, and arrhythmogenic foci (AMF) might be involved in the occurrence of persistent AF. In this study, we examined the electrophysiological features of AMF during and immediately after ablation, and evaluated the relationship between the presence and number of residual AMF on the risk of AF recurrence after a vigorous sinus rhythm restoration ablation in patients with long-standing persistent AF.

Methods: The study consisted of 117 consecutive patients with persistent AF who underwent catheter ablation (CA).

Features of intrinsic ganglionated plexi in both atria after extensive pulmonary isolation and their clinical significance after catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The features of intrinsic ganglionated plexi (GP) in both atria after extensive pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and their clinical implications have not been clarified in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the features of GP response after extensive PVI and to evaluate the relationship between GP responses and subsequent AF episodes.

Methods: The study population consisted of 216 consecutive AF patients (104 persistent AF) who underwent an initial ablation.

Feasibility and safety of a virtual 3-Fr sheathless-guiding system for percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a virtual 3-Fr system [5-Fr sheathless-guiding catheter (GC)] for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: The use of miniaturized devices for PCI is gaining popularity because of increased patient comfort and decreased risk of access site complications.

Methods: From July 2010 to December 2012, consecutive patients who underwent elective PCI (planned or ad hoc PCI) at our hospital were enrolled.

Transcollateral retrograde approach with rendezvous technique for recanalization of chronically occluded tibial arteries.

Purpose: To describe a novel technique using an antegrade wire in a retrograde microcatheter advanced through a transcollateral vessel for recanalization of challenging infrapopliteal chronic total occlusions.

Technique: A 75-year-old diabetic man presented with critical limb ischemia manifested as nonhealing ulcers on the toes. Baseline angiography revealed a blunt, long, total occlusion of the anterior tibial artery.

Renal biopsy in a patient with haemophilia A and cryoglobulinaemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated with hepatitis C virus infection.

A renal biopsy was performed in a 47-year-old man with haemophilia A. Thirty minutes after administration of an intravenous bolus of 4000 units of recombinant factor VIII, which increased the activity to 74-91%, a needle renal biopsy was successfully performed, followed by administration of 3000 units of factor VIII in the evening, and then the subsequent morning and evening. The patient was diagnosed with hepatitis C virus-associated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.

Different risk factors for vascular calcification in end-stage renal disease between diabetics and nondiabetics: the respective importance of glycemic and phosphate control.

Vascular calcification is highly prevalent in dialysis patients, and significantly increases cardiovascular mortality. The presence and progression of vascular calcification is significantly associated with chronic inflammation and malnutrition. Disorders of mineral metabolism, particularly hyperphosphatemia, have been emphasized as risk factors for vascular calcification.

Urinary albumin excretion associated with arterial wall stiffness rather than thickness in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: A close relationship has been reported between microalbuminuria and atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to determine which of the 2 aspects of atherosclerosis, arterial thickening or stiffness, has more effect on levels of microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: Twenty-four-hour urine samples of 167 Japanese type 2 diabetic patients (aged 58 +/- 12 years) without overt proteinuria were collected for quantitative analysis of urinary albumin excretion (UAE).

Annual change in bone mineral density in predialysis patients with chronic renal failure: significance of a decrease in serum 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D.

Bone disease occurs in the predialysis phase of chronic renal failure (CRF). The aim of this study was to examine how a decrease in renal function affects annual bone mineral density (BMD) changes in predialysis CRF patients and to examine the factors that affect BMD. The BMD of the distal radius in 53 predialysis CRF patients (age, 61.

Cimetidine-induced tubulointerstitial nephritis with both MPO-ANCA and PR3-ANCA.

We describe a 75-year-old man with tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-antineutrophil antibody (ANCA) and proteinase-3 (PR3)-ANCA. He had a slight fever and eruption with itching after taking cimetidine (prescribed after gastrectomy for gastric cancer) and he was admitted to a nearby hospital. There, he showed proteinuria, serum creatinine (sCr) of 2.

Serum levels of 1-84 and 7-84 parathyroid hormone in predialysis patients with chronic renal failure measured by the intact and bio-PTH assay.

Background: The intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay detects both PTH(1-84) and the PTH(7-84)-like fragment, which is reported to be an antagonist of the biological action of PTH(1-84). It is debatable which of the two assays is clinically more useful, the intact or bio-PTH assay, the latter of which only detects PTH(1-84). It is also unknown whether serum levels of the PTH(7-84)-like fragment have clinical significance.

[Clinical significance of PTH (1-84) and PTH (7-84) in patients with predialysis chronic renal failure in relation to bone metabolism markers].

Serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in predialysis patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) were measured using both the "intact PTH" and "bio PTH" assays, and serum levels of PTH (7-84) were assessed by subtracting bio PTH from intact PTH. The PTH values measured by the two assays were strongly correlated, and were also significantly positively correlated with both bone formation and resorption markers. PTH (7-84) was significantly positively correlated with both the intact PTH and bio PTH, and was also significantly positively correlated with the bone metabolism markers.

[Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 3 and 4 -- current concept and its therapeutic strategy].

Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency, which is clinically represented by low 25(OH)D concentration, is frequently seen in patients with CKD stage 3 and 4. Although its cause is unknown, hypovitaminosis D is partly associated with low 1,25(OH)2D in these patients, possibly leading to advancement of renal osteodystrophy. Recently, in United States, K/DOQI (Kidney disease outcomes quality initiative) guideline indicated that vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency of 25(OH)D concentration less than 30 ng/mL should be treated by supplementation of ergocalciferol.

The clinical significance of serum osteocalcin and N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen in predialysis patients with chronic renal failure.

Several new serum markers for bone metabolism have recently become available and are being applied to clinical practice. Their clinical usefulness in predialysis patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), however, has not yet been determined. Serum levels of three bone formation markers-bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin (OC), and N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PINP)-and three bone resorption markers-type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx), deoxypyridinoline (DPD), and pyridinoline (PYD)-were measured simultaneously in 85 predialysis CRF patients (serum creatinine 3.