Anti-inflammatory effects of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 inhibitor therapy in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction.

This study examined the anti-inflammatory and endothelial function-enhancing effects of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor therapy in the early phase after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by assessing changes in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels and the L-arginine/asymmetric-dimethylarginine (ADMA) ratio. This retrospective, single-center cohort study included patients who underwent successful timely primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for first-onset AMI between September 2017 and March 2018. The PCSK9 inhibitor group comprised patients who received 75 mg alirocumab up to 7 days after AMI, while the standard therapy group comprised patients who did not.

Very short-term effects of a single dose of a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 inhibitor before percutaneous coronary intervention: A single-arm study.

Background And Aims: The short-term (within 6 weeks) effects of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors on lipid plaques have not been adequately evaluated. We aimed to investigate whether a single dose of a PCSK9 inhibitor before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could reduce the abundance of lipid-core plaques identified via near-infrared spectroscopy intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS) at target lesions within a very short period.

Methods: This prospective, single-arm, single-center interventional study enrolled 27 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease.

Abdominal Fat Pad Fine-Needle Aspiration for Diagnosis of Cardiac Amyloidosis in Patients with Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

The diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis is frequently delayed because histological confirmation is often challenging. Few studies have attempted to clarify the utility and safety of abdominal fat pad fine-needle aspiration (FPFNA) for an initial screening test in patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis.This study included 77 consecutive patients with suspected non-ischemic cardiomyopathy who had left ventricular dysfunction and/or hypertrophy.

Safety and durability of cavo-tricuspid isthmus linear ablation in the current era: Single-center 9-year experience from 1078 procedures.

Cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) linear ablation is performed not only for atrial flutter (AFL) but empirically during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in real-world practice.  PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the safety and durability of the CTI ablation.  METHODS: This retrospective study included 1078 consecutive patients who underwent a CTI ablation.

Significance of day-to-day glucose variability in patients after acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Several studies have recently addressed the importance of glycemic variability (GV) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although daily GV measures, such as mean amplitude of glycemic excursions, are established predictors of poor prognosis in patients with ACS, the clinical significance of day-to-day GV remains to be fully elucidated. We therefore monitored day-to-day GV in patients with ACS to examine its significance.

Association between Changes in the Systolic Blood Pressure from Evening to the Next Morning and Night Glucose Variability in Heart Disease Patients.

Objectve To assess the impact of glycemic variability on blood pressure in hospitalized patients with cardiac disease. Methods In 40 patients with cardiovascular disease, the glucose levels were monitored by flash continuous glucose monitoring (FGM; Free-Style Libre™ or Free-Style Libre Pro; Abbott, Witney, UK) and self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) for 14 days. Blood pressure measurements were performed twice daily (morning and evening) at the same time as the glucose level measurement using SMBG.

Cardiac rehabilitation after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Few studies have examined the efficacy and safety of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent AF ablation. We explored the feasibility of additional cardiac rehabilitation after AF ablation in patients with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Fifty-four patients with heart failure (HF) and a reduced LVEF (HFrEF) (LVEF < 50%; 67.

Superior vena cava isolation using a novel ablation catheter incorporating local impedance monitoring.

Background: A novel technology able to measure the local impedance (LI) during radiofrequency ablation has become available for clinical use. We investigated the change in the LI characteristics during superior vena cava isolations (SVCIs) using a novel catheter equipped with mini-electrodes.

Methods: Twenty paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients (68 ± 9 years; 14 males) underwent an SVCI by targeting breakthroughs.

The mechanisms of left septal and anterior wall reentrant atrial tachycardias analyzed with ultrahigh resolution mapping: The role of functional block in the circuit.

Background: Low voltage areas (LVAs) are most commonly observed on the left atrial (LA) septal/anterior wall.

Objective: We explored the mechanisms of LA septal/anterior wall reentrant tachycardias (LASARTs) using ultrahigh resolution mapping.

Methods: This study included seven consecutive LASARTs in six patients (75 [62.

Impact of Medical Castration on Malignant Arrhythmias in Patients With Prostate Cancer.

Background Medical castration, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, and antiandrogens have been widely applied as a treatment for prostate cancer. Sex steroid hormones influence cardiac ion channels. However, few studies have examined the proarrhythmic properties of medical castration.

The advantages and disadvantages of the novel fourth-generation cryoballoon as compared to the second-generation cryoballoon in the current short freeze strategy.

Background: The novel fourth-generation cryoballoon (4-CB) is characterized by a shorter-tip that potentially facilitates better time-to-isolation (TTI) monitoring. We sought to clarify the advantages and disadvantages of the 4-CB compared to the second-generation cryoballoon (2-CB) in pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Methods: Forty-one and 49 consecutive atrial fibrillation patients underwent 2-CB and 4th-CB PVIs using 28-mm balloons and short freeze strategies.

Discrepancy between CARTO and Rhythmia maps for defining the left atrial low-voltage areas in atrial fibrillation ablation.

Reported mapping procedures of left atrial (LA) low-voltage areas (LVAs) vary widely. This study aimed to compare the PentaRay/CARTO3 (PentaRay map) and Orion™/Rhythmia™ (Orion map) systems for LA voltage mapping. This study included 15 patients who underwent successful pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation.

Early repolarization in the inferolateral leads predicts the presence of vasospastic angina: a novel predictor in patients with resting angina.

Background: An association between early repolarization and ventricular fibrillation has recently been reported in patients with vasospastic angina (VSA). However, no studies have clarified whether the presence of early repolarization can predict VSA.

Methods: Participants comprised 286 patients (136 males) with clinically suspected VSA who underwent intracoronary provocation tests using acetylcholine or ergonovine.

Ultra-high resolution mapping and ablation of accessory pathway conduction.

Background: Detailed mapping studies of accessory pathway (AP) conduction have not been previously performed using ultra-high resolution mapping systems. We sought to evaluate the clinical utility of ultra-high resolution mapping systems and the novel "Lumipoint" algorithm in AP ablation.

Methods: This study included 17 patients who underwent AP mapping using minielectrode basket catheters and Rhythmia systems.

Mapping and ablation of clinical spontaneous perimitral atrial tachycardias using an ultra-high-resolution mapping system.

Background: Perimitral atrial tachycardias (PMATs) are common atrial tachycardias (ATs), yet their mechanisms vary.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize clinical spontaneous PMATs using an ultra-high-resolution (UHR) mapping system.

Methods: The study included 32 consecutive PMATs in 31 patients who had undergone AT mapping/ablation using a UHR mapping system.

Idiopathic right ventricular arrhythmias requiring additional ablation from the left-sided outflow tract: ECG characteristics and efficacy of an anatomical approach.

Introduction: Despite the characteristic electrocardiogram (ECG) findings of early activation during ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VAs) and/or excellent pacemapping in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), some VAs may require additional, left-sided ablation for a cure.

Methods And Results: This study included five patients with idiopathic VAs whose QRS morphologies were highly suggestive of an RVOT origin. The ECG characteristics and intracardiac electrocardiograms during catheter ablation were assessed.

Femoral vascular complications after catheter ablation in the current era: The utility of computed tomography imaging.

Background: Few studies have examined the characteristics of catheter ablation vascular complications, and recently physicians increasingly use computed tomography angiography (CTA) for diagnosing.

Objective: We sought to investigate the incidence of femoral vascular complications in catheter ablation and factors associated with complications in the current era.

Methods: This single-center observational study consisted of 311 consecutive (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular arrhythmias in 222 [71.

Sequential organ failure assessment score on admission predicts long-term mortality in acute heart failure patients.

Aims: The sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score has been a widely used predictor of outcomes in the intensive care unit, whereas short-term and long-term survivals of heart failure (HF) patients are predicted by the American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines-Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) risk score. The purpose of present study was to examine whether the SOFA score on admission is more useful for predicting long-term mortality in acute HF patients than the GWTG-HF risk score.

Methods And Results: A total of 269 patients (mean age, 78.

Serum tenascin-C levels in atrium predict atrial structural remodeling processes in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Fibro-inflammatory processes in the extracellular matrix are closely associated with progressive structural remodeling in atrial fibrillation (AF). Serum concentrations of tenascin-C (TNC), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, and of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) might serve as a marker of remodeling and progressive inflammation of the aorta and in myocardial diseases. This study aimed to clarify relationships between TNC and CRP in patients with AF.

Feasibility of Uninterrupted Direct Oral Anticoagulants with Temporary Switching to Dabigatran ("Dabigatran Bridge") for Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation.

Uninterrupted anticoagulation therapy during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation minimizes the risk of periprocedural thromboembolic events. Although the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has rapidly developed in patients undergoing AF ablation, no antidote is available for factor Xa inhibitors. We sought to investigate the feasibility of an uninterrupted DOAC protocol with temporary switching to dabigatran ("dabigatran bridge") for AF ablation.