Overview of the 88 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS2024) - The Future of Cardiology - Challenges in Overcoming Cardiovascular Disease.

The 88Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS2024) was held from Friday, March 8to Sunday, March 10in Kobe, Japan. The main theme of this 3-day meeting was "The Future of Cardiology: Challenges in Overcoming Cardiovascular Disease". As COVID-19 has been finally conquered, with revision of its categorization under the Infectious Disease Control Law and relaxation of infection prevention measures, it was once again possible to have face-to-face presentations and lively discussion.

Effect of tafamidis on left atrial function of patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy.

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is characterized by the functional and structural effects of amyloid infiltration, predominantly within the ventricles, causing biventricular wall thickening. Amyloid infiltration can be observed in the left atrium in ATTR-CM patients, but the association of left atrial (LA) myocardial function with cardiovascular events and of changes in LA myocardial function with tafamidis administration have not yet been clarified. Our aim was, therefore, to use speckle-tracking strain for investigating LA myocardial function in patients with ATTR-CM treated with tafamidis.

Left Ventricular Longitudinal Myocardial Function of Heart Failure Patients With Transition From Reduced to Preserved Ejection Fraction and of Those With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Left ventricular (LV) longitudinal myocardial function is associated with the outcomes of heart failure (HF) patients. HF with improved ejection fraction (EF), known as HFimpEF, which is defined as current LVEF >40% but any previously documented LVEF ≤40%, has favorable outcomes compared with HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). However, LV longitudinal myocardial function in patients with previously reduced LVEF (<50%) but improved LVEF to within the normal range (≥50%) (HFnorEF) and its association with cardiovascular events remain unclear.

Effect of increase in heart rate after anthracycline chemotherapy on subsequent left ventricular dysfunction.

Background: Anthracycline chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction is believed to be refractory to conventional pharmacological therapy and is associated with a poor prognosis. Increased heart rate (HR) is a known marker of cardiovascular outcomes for various categories of heart failure (HF). However, little interest has been expressed regarding increased HR after anthracycline chemotherapy.

Identification of factors associated with progression of left atrial enlargement in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Left atrial (LA) enlargement frequently occurs in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, and this enlargement is associated with the development of heart failure, thromboembolism, or atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR). AF patients can develop LA enlargement over time, but its progression depends on the individual. So far, the factors that cause progressive LA enlargement in AF patients have thus not been elucidated, so that the aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the progression of LA enlargement in AF patients.

Impact of Tafamidis on Echocardiographic Cardiac Function of Patients With Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Background: The efficacy of a therapy for patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) has not been proven, but tafamidis has been associated with favorable outcomes. However, echocardiographic details of the association of tafamidis with cardiac morphology remain undetermined. Moreover, whether the efficacy of tafamidis varies with the degree of cardiac involvement remains unknown.

Direct oral anticoagulant use and outcomes in adult patients with Fontan circulation: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: Many adult patients with Fontan circulation are treated with antithrombotic agents, including direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). However, few studies have investigated the efficacy, feasibility, and safety of DOACs in adult patients with Fontan circulation.

Methods And Results: In this retrospective cohort study, clinical records of 139 adult patients with Fontan circulation (70 females, 50.

Quality indicators of palliative care for acute cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Although recent attention to palliative care for patients with cardiovascular diseases has been increasing, there are no specific recommendations on detailed palliative care practices. We proceed on a discussion of the appropriateness and applicability of potential quality indicators for acute cardiovascular diseases according to our previous systematic review.

Methods: We created a multidisciplinary panel of 20 team members and 7 external validation clinicians composed of clinical cardiologists, a nutritionist, a physiotherapist, a clinical psychologist, a critical and emergent care specialist, a catheterization specialist, a primary care specialist, a palliative care specialist, and nurses.

Inverted Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Associated With the Consumption of a Weight Management Supplement.

Inverted takotsubo cardiomyopathy (ITC) is a rare disease that has a strong association with pheochromocytoma and intracranial hemorrhage. We describe the case of a patient who developed ITC after an extra dose, along with chronic exposure, of a weight management supplement containing caffeine and amphetamine-like stimulants, a combination that could potentially raise the local sympathetic tone of the myocardium. The patient was managed conservatively and recovered in 2 months.

Utility of the long DrySeal sheath in facilitating transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation with the Edwards Sapien 3 valve.

Objective: To assess the utility of the 65-cm-long Gore DrySeal sheath when compared to the standard 36-cm-long Edwards expandable sheath (e-sheath) for transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation (TPVI) with the Edwards Sapien 3 valve.

Methods: All patients who underwent TPVI with the Sapien 3 valve, excluding those performed via hybrid approach, at our center between September 2015 and November 2019 were retrospectively reviewed and compared between two groups.

Results: A total of 94 patients were enrolled; 29 patients underwent TPVI with the Sapien valve using the DrySeal sheath and 65 underwent TPVI using the e-sheath.

Peripartum Management of Pregnant Women With Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: The average maternal age at delivery, and thus the associated maternal risk are increasing including in women with congenital heart disease (CHD). A comprehensive management approach is therefore required for pregnant women with CHD. The present study aimed to investigate the factors determining peripartum safety in women with CHD.

Impact of facilities accredited by both adult and pediatric cardiology societies on the outcome of patients with adult congenital heart disease.

Background: The emerging burden and need of hospital admission due to adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) will need many facilities with expertise in ACHD. Regional specialized ACHD centers are carrying this increasing patient burden. Although these centers are considered to perform better management than other institutes, their impact on outcome has not been fully evaluated.

Afadin Facilitates Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Induced Network Formation and Migration of Vascular Endothelial Cells by Inactivating Rho-Associated Kinase Through ArhGAP29.

Objective: We previously reported that afadin, an actin filament-binding protein, regulated vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the mechanisms of how Rho-associated kinase is activated in afadin-knockdown human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and how its activation is involved in defects of vascular endothelial growth factor-induced network formation and migration of the cells.

Aberrant cochlear hair cell attachments caused by Nectin-3 deficiency result in hair bundle abnormalities.

The organ of Corti consists of sensory hair cells (HCs) interdigitated with nonsensory supporting cells (SCs) to form a checkerboard-like cellular pattern. HCs are equipped with hair bundles on their apical surfaces. We previously reported that cell-adhesive nectins regulate the checkerboard-like cellular patterning of HCs and SCs in the mouse auditory epithelium.

[Clinical analysis of precaution against atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery: landiolol or amiodarone?].

Atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery remains as a most common complication. Tachycardia with atrial fibrillation just after the operation could lead to cardiac deterioration. Although we have to control tachycardia, we often have great difficulties in managing these arrhythmias.