Association Between the Japanese Version of the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation and Adjustment Disorder in Japanese Patients Using Ventricular Assist Devices as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation.

Objective: Ventricular assist device (VAD) serves as either a bridge to transplantation (BTT) or destination therapy (DT) for end-stage heart failure. In Japan, the extended wait time for heart transplants can make VAD usage for BTT comparable in duration to DT in other countries. Previous studies suggest that while DT patients experience improved quality of life post-VAD implantation, BTT patients often see a decline after two years.

Plasma ceramides as biomarkers for microvascular disease and clinical outcomes in diabetes and myocardial infarction.

Background: Ceramides have recently been identified as novel biomarkers associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). This study aims to explore their utility in diagnosing microvascular disease.

Methods: This study prospectively enrolled 309 patients from 2018 to 2020 into three groups: healthy controls (Group 1, N = 51), DM patients without acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (Group 2, N = 150), and DM patients with AMI (Group 3, N = 108).

Position Statement on the Use of Myocardial Strain in Cardiology Routines by the Brazilian Society of Cardiology's Department Of Cardiovascular Imaging - 2023.

Central Illustration : Position Statement on the Use of Myocardial Strain in Cardiology Routines by the Brazilian Society of Cardiology's Department Of Cardiovascular Imaging - 2023 Proposal for including strain in the integrated diastolic function assessment algorithm, adapted from Nagueh et al.67 Am: mitral A-wave duration; Ap: reverse pulmonary A-wave duration; DD: diastolic dysfunction; LA: left atrium; LASr: LA strain reserve; LVGLS: left ventricular global longitudinal strain; TI: tricuspid insufficiency. Confirm concentric remodeling with LVGLS.

Association of the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplant and 1-Year Outcome of Living Kidney Transplantation in Japan.

Background: Because most kidney transplantations in Japan are performed on the basis of living donors, after-transplant outcomes should achieve optimum results, overcoming participants' possible reduced adherence.

Objective: To investigate the association between the Japanese version of the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation (SIPAT-J) and outcomes, 1 year after the patient's living kidney transplant (LKT).

Methods: The prospective cohort study was undertaken at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital from January 2020 to July 2021, with a 1-year follow-up period.

Family functioning before kidney transplantation from living-related donors: Perspectives of donors and recipients in Japan.

Introduction: In Japan, approximately 90% of kidney transplantations involve living donors who are relatives. Selection of a living donor from potential family member donors could affect the entire family. However, reports focusing on preliving-related kidney transplant (LRKT) family functioning are lacking.

Influence of Physical Training after a Myocardial Infarction on Left Ventricular Contraction Mechanics.

Background: Exercise plays a positive role in the course of the ischemic heart disease, enhancing functional capacity and preventing ventricular remodeling.

Objective: To investigate the impact of exercise on left ventricular (LV) contraction mechanics after an uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: A total of 53 patients was included, 27 of whom were randomized to a supervised training program (TRAINING group), and 26 to a CONTROL group, who received usual recommendations on physical exercise after AMI.

Barriers to the Initiation of Telecommunicator-CPR during 9-1-1 Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Calls: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Fewer than 10% of individuals who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survive with good neurologic function. Bystander CPR more than doubles the chance of survival, and telecommunicator-CPR (T-CPR) during a 9-1-1 call substantially improves the frequency of bystander CPR.

Objective: We examined the barriers to initiation of T-CPR.

Effectiveness of Lay Bystander Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on a Mattress versus the Floor: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial.

Study Objective: Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation increases the likelihood of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival by more than two-fold. A common barrier to the prompt initiation of compressions is moving victims to the floor, but compression quality on a "floor" versus a "mattress" has not been tested among lay bystanders.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, cross-over trial comparing lay bystander compression quality using a manikin on a bed versus the floor.

Plasma Ceramides in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Stratification.

Ceramide production takes place throughout the body and plays a key role in the maintenance of normal physiology. However, ceramide levels are altered during disease states, particularly considering the development of diabetes and dyslipidemia. Ceramide production is also associated with atherosclerotic plaque instability.

Sonothrombolysis Promotes Improvement in Left Ventricular Wall Motion and Perfusion Scores after Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: It has recently been demonstrated that the application of high-energy ultrasound and microbubbles, in a technique known as sonothrombolysis, dissolves intravascular thrombi and increases the angiographic recanalization rate in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Objective: To evaluate the effects of sonothrombolysis on left ventricular wall motion and myocardial perfusion in patients with STEMI, using real-time myocardial perfusion echocardiography (RTMPE).

Methods: One hundred patients with STEMI were randomized into the following 2 groups: therapy (50 patients treated with sonothrombolysis and primary coronary angioplasty) and control (50 patients treated with primary coronary angioplasty).

COVID-19 containment management strategies in a nursing home.

Objective: To describe the first COVID-19 pandemic at Casa Ondina Lobo, a philanthropic nursing home in São Paulo city, and the containment measures against the pandemic that proved to be effective.

Methods: Several preventive measures were taken before and during the pandemic, with emphasis on universal testing by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for COVID-19. All residents and employees were tested twice in a D9 period.

Psychosocial Assessment of Transplant Candidates: Inter-rater Reliability and Concurrent Validity of the Japanese Version of the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation.

Background: The Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation (SIPAT) is a comprehensive instrument developed to provide a standardized, objective, and evidence-based psychosocial evaluation of the main pretransplant psychosocial risk factors that may influence transplant outcomes.

Objective: Because established assessment procedures or standardized tools designed to perform pre-solid organ transplant psychosocial evaluation are currently unavailable in Japan, the present study aimed to develop and preliminarily validate the Japanese version of the SIPAT.

Methods: First, the Japanese version of the SIPAT was developed using standard forward-back-translation procedures.

Reduced Complexity Model Intercomparison Project Phase 2: Synthesizing Earth System Knowledge for Probabilistic Climate Projections.

Over the last decades, climate science has evolved rapidly across multiple expert domains. Our best tools to capture state-of-the-art knowledge in an internally self-consistent modeling framework are the increasingly complex fully coupled Earth System Models (ESMs). However, computational limitations and the structural rigidity of ESMs mean that the full range of uncertainties across multiple domains are difficult to capture with ESMs alone.

Usefulness of speckle tracking echocardiography and biomarkers for detecting acute cellular rejection after heart transplantation.

Background: Acute cellular rejection (ACR) is a major complication after heart transplantation. Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) remains the gold standard for its diagnosis, but it has concerning complications. We evaluated the usefulness of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and biomarkers for detecting ACR after heart transplantation.

Sonothrombolysis Improves Myocardial Dynamics and Microvascular Obstruction Preventing Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: It has recently been demonstrated that high-energy diagnostic transthoracic ultrasound and intravenous microbubbles dissolve thrombi (sonothrombolysis) and increase angiographic recanalization rates in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. We aimed to study the effect of sonothrombolysis on the myocardial dynamics and infarct size obtained by real-time myocardial perfusion echocardiography and their value in preventing left ventricular remodeling.

Methods: One hundred patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction were randomized to therapy (50 patients treated with sonothrombolysis and percutaneous coronary intervention) or control (50 patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention only).

Medication nonadherence after kidney transplantation: an internet-based survey in Japan.

Nonadherence to immunosuppressive medications after kidney transplantation is a major risk factor for allograft rejection and graft loss. Transplant recipients tend to conceal nonadherence in clinical settings. We conducted an internet-based cross-sectional survey aimed to clarify the prevalence and risk factors of patient nonadherence after kidney transplantation in Japan.

Successful Recanalization of Thrombotic Occlusion in Pulmonary Artery Stent Using Sonothrombolysis.

• Stent thrombosis can occur in children after surgery for hypoplastic left heart. • Sonothrombolysis uses ultrasound and microbubbles to dissolve thrombi. • Pulmonary artery recanalization can be reached with sonothrombolysis.

Cardiac shock wave therapy improves myocardial perfusion and preserves left ventricular mechanics in patients with refractory angina: A study with speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background: Cardiac shockwave therapy (CSWT) is a new potential option for the treatment of patients with chronic coronary disease and refractory angina (RA). We aimed to study the effects of CSWT on left ventricular myocardial perfusion and mechanics in patients with RA.

Method: We prospectively studied 19 patients who underwent CSWT.