Efficacy and safety of first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab treatment in elderly patients (aged ≥ 75 years) with non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Nivolumab plus ipilimumab (Nivo-Ipi) combination therapy is an effective first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its effectiveness and feasibility in elderly patients (aged ≥ 75 years) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of first-line Nivo-Ipi therapy in elderly patients with NSCLC.

Retrieval of a dislodged leadless pacemaker: An example of the double-snare technique.

A video demonstration presents the retrieval of a dislodged leadless pacemaker using the double-snare technique. Sharing troubleshooting strategies in such cases is clinically important for managing rare pacemaker complications.

Concurrent Onset of Osimertinib-Induced Heart Failure and Metronidazole-Induced Encephalopathy During Brain Abscess Treatment: A Report of a Rare Case.

We report a rare case of concurrent onset of osimertinib-induced heart failure and metronidazole-induced encephalopathy during treatment of a brain abscess. A 78-year-old female with lung adenocarcinoma presented with neurological symptoms and was diagnosed with a brain abscess. During treatment, she developed heart failure and encephalopathy, linked to osimertinib and metronidazole, respectively.

Safety and Efficacy of Imeglimin for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Patients With Heart Failure.

Background/aim: Imeglimin, a novel oral antidiabetic agent, was approved in 2021 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Phase III clinical trials demonstrated its safety and efficacy in managing T2DM. However, its safety profile in patients with heart failure has not been thoroughly evaluated in real-world clinical settings.

Severe restenosis after stentless treatment with coronary intravascular lithotripsy for calcified nodule lesions: a serial observation with IVUS.

An 82-year-old woman with a history of myocardial infarction presented with worsening effort angina. Coronary angiography (CAG) revealed 75% stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD), with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) identifying a severe calcified nodule near a previously implanted drug-eluting stent. The lesion was treated with intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) and a drug-coated balloon (DCB), avoiding left main crossover stenting.

Excessive supraventricular ectopic activity is a simple cutoff for predicting late recurrence of atrial fibrillation after ablation.

The relationship between post-ablation excessive supraventricular ectopic activity (ESVEA), a new marker for new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), and late AF recurrence is uncertain. We enrolled 469 patients with AF who underwent initial radiofrequency catheter ablation and 24-h Holter monitoring the day after. Early AF recurrence (n = 57; 12%) and ESVEA (n = 242; 52%) were noted.

AMPK regulates Bcl2-L-13-mediated mitophagy induction for cardioprotection.

The accumulation of damaged mitochondria in the heart is associated with heart failure. Mitophagy is an autophagic degradation system that specifically targets damaged mitochondria. We have reported previously that Bcl2-like protein 13 (Bcl2-L-13) mediates mitophagy and mitochondrial fission in mammalian cells.

Mobile Thrombus Observed Around an Impella Device.

An Impella device (Abiomed, Inc., Danvers, Massachusetts, United States) is a useful percutaneous left ventricular assist device for patients with cardiogenic shock. However, there are cases in which patients are unable to escape cardiogenic shock and become Impella-dependent.

A case report: pitfalls in antibacterial therapy with rifampicin for mechanical valve endocarditis-the king of drug interactions.

Background: Rifampicin is a strong inducer of the hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) family and is known to interact with many clinical drugs. However, to our knowledge, no case of worsening heart failure (HF) due to the interaction between rifampicin and HF drugs has been reported.

Case Summary: A 32-year-old female, who had undergone intracardiac repair for an incomplete atrioventricular septal defect with dextrocardia and prosthetic valve replacements for right and left atrioventricular valve regurgitation, presented as an outpatient.

Cardiohistological Findings in Refeeding Syndrome.

Severe eating disorders may develop refeeding syndrome, which sometimes resembles severe cardiac dysfunction. A woman in her thirties was admitted to our hospital because of cardiogenic shock. Transthoracic echocardiography showed reduced left ventricular systolic function.

Utility of Adjunctive Impella Support to Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for a Refractory Electrical Storm.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) stabilizes hemodynamics in an electrical storm leading to cardiogenic shock. However, adverse effects of VA-ECMO are increased left ventricular (LV) afterload and LV end-diastolic pressure due to retrograde blood return. These adverse effects could be ameliorated by LV unloading with Impella insertion.

The Feasibility of a Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction Technique Tuned for the Myocardium on Myocardial Computed Tomography Late Enhancement.

Objectives: This study evaluated the feasibility of a model-based iterative reconstruction technique (MBIR) tuned for the myocardium on myocardial computed tomography late enhancement (CT-LE).

Methods: Twenty-eight patients who underwent myocardial CT-LE and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 1 year were retrospectively enrolled. Myocardial CT-LE was performed using a 320-row CT with low tube voltage (80 kVp).

Remote dielectric sensing predicts elevated left atrial pressure in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: There are currently no established non-invasive indices of echocardiography for elevated left atrial pressure (LAP) especially in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) is a novel non-invasive electromagnetic energy-based technology that quantifies total lung fluid, enabling the monitoring of volume status in patients with heart failure. The utility of ReDS for estimating LAP in patients with AF remains unknown.

Therapeutic Resistance in G-CSF Producing Lung Cancer With Mutation.

Background/aim: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-producing neoplasms are relatively rare; however, little is known on the clinical features of G-CSF-producing lung cancer harboring activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations.

Case Report: A 66-year-old female was definitively diagnosed with G-CSF-producing lung cancer that was positive for EGFR mutations. She repeatedly received epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), such as osimertinib and afatinib.

Feasibility of left atrial strain assessment using cardiac computed tomography in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of left atrial strain (LAS) assessment using cardiac computed tomography (CT) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 98 patients with PAF who underwent cardiac CT and echocardiography before the first catheter ablation. LAS was analyzed using cardiac CT (CT-LAS) and speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE; STE-LAS).

Progression to Lymph Node Metastasis After Spontaneous Regression of Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Following Biopsy.

Background/aim: Spontaneous regression (SR) of cancer, which indicates the natural disappearance of malignant tumors, is rare. Little is known about the mechanisms underlying SR; however, immunological reactions, infections, injuries, and medications have been presumed. Among previously reported cases of SR, lung cancer cases have been extremely limited.