Non-Fasting Hypertriglyceridemia as an Independent Risk Factor for Coronary In-Stent Restenosis after Primary Bare Metal Stent Implantation in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

After a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), in-stent neoatherosclerosis may pose a risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR). To clarify whether non-fasting hypertriglyceridemia contributes to ISR, we examined the relationship between non-fasting hypertriglyceridemia (i.e.

Factors limiting habitual exercise in patients with chronic heart failure: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Physical activity (PA) in the daily life is strongly related to prognosis in patients with or at high risk of heart failure (HF). However, factors limiting habitual exercise and their prognostic impacts remain unknown in HF patients. We sent questionnaires asking factors limiting habitual exercise in the daily life to 8370 patients with Stage A/B/C/D HF in our nationwide registry and received valid responses from 4935 patients (mean age 71.

Once-daily glatiramer acetate decreases magnetic resonance imaging disease activity in Japanese patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence, clinical patterns, and treatment responses vary between races and geographical latitudes. Glatiramer acetate (GA; Copaxone) has provided a safe, effective treatment option for relapsing-remitting MS patients in the USA, European nations, and other countries for decades. The objective of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of GA in reducing magnetic resonance imaging disease activity in Japanese patients with active relapsing-remitting MS.

Serial changes in the three-dimensional aspect of the side-branch ostium jailed by a drug-eluting stent assessed by optical coherence tomography.

The present study investigated serial changes in the three-dimensional (3D) aspect of the jailed side-branch (SB) ostium. We evaluated 32 patients who underwent examination with optical coherence tomography (OCT) both at baseline and at follow-up. After reconstruction of the 3D images, we classified the configuration of overhanging struts at the SB orifice into three groups according to the 3D aspect of the jailing configuration.

Biomechanical simulation of thorax deformation using finite element approach.

Background: The biomechanical simulation of the human respiratory system is expected to be a useful tool for the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases. Because the deformation of the thorax significantly influences airflow in the lungs, we focused on simulating the thorax deformation by introducing contraction of the intercostal muscles and diaphragm, which are the main muscles responsible for the thorax deformation during breathing.

Methods: We constructed a finite element model of the thorax, including the rib cage, intercostal muscles, and diaphragm.

Prognostic Impacts of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure - A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is involved in the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. We have previously reported that the prevalence of MetS is more than 2-fold greater in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) than in the general population in Japan. However, the prognostic impact of MetS in CHF patients remains to be elucidated.

Comparison of neointimal coverage and extra-stent lumen between sirolimus and everolimus-eluting stent using optical coherence tomography.

The external lumen of a stent [defined as extra-stent lumen (ESL)] assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be related to the risk of thrombus formation after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation. An everolimus-eluting stent (EES) might provide relatively minimal inflammatory reaction and appropriate neointimal coverage. The purpose of this study was to compare the neointimal thickness and ESL between SES and EES.

Coronary vasodilation by the use of sublingual nitroglycerin using 64-slice dual-source coronary computed tomography angiography.

Background: Sublingual nitroglycerin capsules or spray is routinely used to treat anginal attacks and to maximally dilate the epicardial coronary arteries during coronary angiography. These dilated coronary vessels have an advantage, but increased heart rates were disadvantageous for coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Purpose: The influence of applying nitroglycerin was analyzed regarding the coronary diameter, coronary luminal attenuation, evaluable number of coronary segments, heart rate (HR), HR variability, the optimal reconstruction phase, and image scoring of CTA in the same patients using a 64-slice dual-source CT.

New quantitative method to diagnose coronary in-stent restenosis by 64-multislice computed tomography.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of a newly developed quantitative method using 64-multislice computed tomography angiography (CTA) to detect coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Methods And Results: CTA was performed in 45 patients who underwent stent implantation (79 lesions) and the accuracy to diagnose ISR was evaluated by comparing with invasive coronary angiography (ICA). CTA was evaluated both visually and quantitatively using a new stent restenosis index (SRI) utilizing CT densities at proximal and distal artery lumen from the stented region and the correction value depending on the stent diameter.

3D optical coherence tomography: new insights into the process of optimal rewiring of side branches during bifurcational stenting.

Aims: We describe three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT) guided bifurcation stenting and the clinical utility of 3D-OCT.

Methods And Results: Twenty-two consecutive patients who underwent OCT examination to confirm the recrossing position after stent implantation in a bifurcation lesion were enrolled. Frequency domain OCT images were obtained to check the recrossing position and 3D reconstructions were performed off-line.

Impact of physical activity on cardiovascular events in patients with chronic heart failure. A multicenter prospective cohort study.

Background: We have previously demonstrated that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in chronic heart failure (CHF) is more than double compared with the general population in Japan. However, the impact of physical activity on cardiovascular events in CHF patients remains to be fully elucidated.

Methods And Results: We performed a prospective, nationwide large-scale multicenter study of 9,178 patients with stage A/B/C/D CHF in Japan.

Serial three-dimensional optical coherence tomography assessment of strut coverage and intraluminal structures after drug-eluting stent implantation.

Understanding of intraluminal structure and distribution of uncovered struts after drug-eluting stent implantation are limited by only 2-dimensional (2D) optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. We compared tissue coverage with 3-dimensional (3D) OCT and 2D quantitative analyses, and changes in intraluminal structure immediately after (baseline) everolimus-eluting stent (EES) implantation and at follow-up. The 2D analyses of uncovered struts ratio and tissue coverage thickness at a 0.

Dual-source computed tomography coronary angiography in patients with high heart rate.

Although single-source 64-multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (SSCTA) needs to reduce heart rate (HR), dual-source computed tomography coronary angiography (DSCTA) can acquire images even in tachycardia. The accuracy of DSCTA during tachycardia is compared to the accuracy of SSCTA at reduced HR. Patients who received invasive coronary angiography and either SSCTA or DSCTA were included.

Evaluation of image quality on a per-patient, per-vessel, and per-segment basis by noninvasive coronary angiography with 64-section computed tomography: dual-source versus single-source computed tomography.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the image quality (IQ) of dual-source CT (DSCT) versus single-source CT (SSCT).

Materials And Methods: A total of 100 patients underwent 64-section CT coronary angiography (50 DSCT, 50 SSCT). Three observers evaluated the IQ of each coronary segment using a four-point scale (1, excellent; 2, good; 3, fair; 4, no assessment).

Systolic reconstruction in patients with low heart rate using coronary dual-source CT angiography.

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to determine the relationship between the predictive factors and systolic reconstruction (SR) as an optimal reconstruction window in patients with low heart rate (LHR; less than 65 bpm).

Methods: 391 patients (262 male and 129 female, mean age; 67.1±10.

Prevalence and clinical implication of metabolic syndrome in chronic heart failure.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a pathological condition with a clustering of metabolic components and is a well-known risk and prognostic factor for ischemic heart disease (IHD). However, the prevalence and clinical significance of MetS remain to be fully elucidated in chronic heart failure (CHF), an important clinical syndrome caused by various cardiac abnormalities.

Methods And Results: The present nationwide, large-scale clinical study enrolled 3,603 patients with stage C/D CHF from 6 institutes in Japan.

Tongue muscle-derived stem cells express connexin 43 and improve cardiac remodeling and survival after myocardial infarction in mice.

Background: Cell transplantation therapy for heart failure is hindered by poor differentiation into cardiomyocytes and arrhythmias caused by the poor expression of connexin 43 (Cx43). A new stem cell source for cardiac regeneration is needed.

Methods And Results: Tongue muscle-derived Sca-1(+) cells (TDSCs) were isolated from normal and green fluorescence protein (GFP)-transgenic mouse tongues using surface antigen Sca-1.

Augmentation of left ventricular apical endocardial rotation with inotropic stimulation contributes to increased left ventricular torsion and radial strain in normal subjects: quantitative assessment utilizing a novel automated tissue tracking technique.

Background: The difference in the left ventricular (LV) torsion of the endo- and epicardium (Endo, Epi) with inotropic stimulation and its relation to radial strain (RS) remain unclear.

Methods And Results: LV basal and apical short-axis images were recorded in 13 normal subjects at rest and during dobutamine infusion (5, 10 microg x kg (-1) x min(-1)). A total of 8 points (anterior, lateral, posterior and septum in both Endo and Epi) were manually placed by 2-dimensional tissue tracking technique and the movement of these points during a cardiac cycle was tracked, after which the rotation angles and RS were calculated.

Pleiotropic effects of the beta-adrenoceptor blocker carvedilol on calcium regulation during oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.

Carvedilol is a nonselective beta-adrenoceptor blocker with multiple pleiotropic actions. A recent clinical study suggested that carvedilol may be superior to other beta-adrenoceptor blockers in the treatment of heart failure. Despite numerous investigations, the underlying mechanisms of carvedilol on improving heart failure are yet to be fully established.

Carvedilol inhibits mitochondrial oxygen consumption and superoxide production during calcium overload in isolated heart mitochondria.

Background: The COMET study suggested the better effect of carvedilol to metoprolol in treating heart failure. However, its underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear. As a result, evaluation of the distinct effects of both drugs on the mitochondrial function and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during Ca(2+) overload was investigated.