Successful catheter ablation for sustained ventricular tachycardia in right ventricular infarction after surgery for giant right coronary artery aneurysm: a case report.

Background: Post-infarction scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT) originating from the right ventricular (RV) free wall in patients with RV infarction is rare.

Case Summary: A 75-year-old Asian male, with a history of RV infarction after surgery for a giant right coronary artery aneurysm, presented with sustained VT with left bundle branch block and inferior axis morphology. The activation mapping during the VT revealed a focal origin initially propagated from the anterior attachment of the RV wall, and mid-diastolic potentials (MDPs) were detected within the RV free wall close to the anterior attachment.

Improved cerebral blood flow and hippocampal blood flow in stroke-free patients after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a risk factor for reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cognitive dysfunction, even in stroke-free patients. We aimed to test the hypothesis that CBF and hippocampal blood flow (HBF), measured with arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), improve after catheter ablation of AF to achieve sinus rhythm (SR).

Methods: A total of 84 stroke-free patients (63.

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 and Clinical Outcomes in Japanese Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease.

Background: Despite a reduction in the rate of thrombotic events, ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains a key medical problem associated with high major bleeding and mortality in Asian patients with IHD. Growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, a stress-response cytokine belonging to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily, is reportedly associated with poor clinical outcomes in Western patients with IHD. However, the clinical significance of GDF-15 in Asian patients with IHD has not yet been fully elucidated.

Prognostic impact of plasma xanthine oxidoreductase activity in patients with heart failure with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) is a rate-limiting enzyme for uric acid (UA) production and plays an important role in generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overproduction of ROS is reported to contribute to the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF), however, the prognostic impact of plasma XOR activity in patients with heart failure (HF) with AF is undetermined.

Methods: We measured plasma XOR activity in 475 HF patients, including those with sinus rhythm (HF-SR, n = 211), and those with AF (HF-AF, n = 264).

Cardiac-specific ITCH overexpression ameliorates septic cardiomyopathy inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Background: Septic cardiomyopathy is a common complication of septic shock and organ dysfunction. ITCH is a HECT (homologous to the E6-AP carboxyl-terminus)-type ubiquitin E3 ligase that plays a critical role in inflammatory suppression. Herein, we focused on the interaction between ITCH and key regulators of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), such as tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and transforming growth factor-β activated kinase 1 (TAK1), and examined the impact of ITCH on the development of septic cardiomyopathy.

Association of malnutrition with renal dysfunction and clinical outcome in patients with heart failure.

Malnutrition, glomerular damage (GD), and renal tubular damage (RTD) are common morbidities associated with poor clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients. However, the association between malnutrition and renal dysfunction and its impact on clinical outcomes in HF patients have not yet been fully elucidated. We assessed the nutritional status and renal function of 1061 consecutive HF patients.

Prognostic Impact of Renal Dysfunction at 1-Year Follow-Up on Clinical Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Aims: Renal dysfunction is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the prognostic impact of mid-term changes in renal dysfunction status remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of mid-term changes in renal dysfunction status on long-term clinical outcomes in CAD patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Albumin-to-globulin ratio predicts clinical outcomes of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in women.

Despite advances in medicine, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains an increasing health concern associated with a high mortality rate. Research has shown sex-based differences in the clinical characteristics of patients with HF; however, definitive biomarkers for poor clinical outcomes of HFpEF in women are unavailable. We focused on the albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR), a biomarker for malnutrition and inflammation and investigated its usefulness as a predictor of clinical outcomes of HFpEF in women.

Association of Nephronophthisis 4 genetic variation with cardiorenal syndrome and cardiovascular events in Japanese general population: the Yamagata (Takahata) study.

Background: Nephronophthisis (NPHP) 4 gene encoding nephrocystin-4, which contributes to end-stage renal disease in children and young adults, is involved in the development of the heart and kidneys. Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS), which consists of bidirectional dysfunction of the heart and kidneys, is a risk factor for cardiovascular events. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the NPHP4 gene are reportedly associated with kidney function, even in adults.

HECT (Homologous to the E6-AP Carboxyl Terminus)-Type Ubiquitin E3 Ligase ITCH Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy by Suppressing the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

The HECT (homologous to the E6-AP carboxyl terminus)-type ubiquitin E3 ligase ITCH is an enzyme that plays an important role in ubiquitin-proteasomal protein degradation. Disheveled proteins (Dvl1 [disheveled protein 1], Dvl2, and Dvl3) are the main components of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is involved in cardiac hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to examine the role of ITCH during development of cardiac hypertrophy.

The association between microRNA-21 and hypertension-induced cardiac remodeling.

Hypertension is a major public health problem among the aging population worldwide. It causes cardiac remodeling, including hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis, which leads to development of hypertensive heart disease (HHD). Although microRNA-21 (miR-21) is associated with fibrogenesis in multiple organs, its contribution to cardiac remodeling in hypertension is poorly understood.

Therapeutic inhibition of microRNA-34a ameliorates aortic valve calcification via modulation of Notch1-Runx2 signalling.

Aims: Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is the most common valvular heart disease and is increased with elderly population. However, effective drug therapy has not been established yet. This study aimed to investigate the role of microRNAs (miRs) in the development of CAVS.