Impact of Conversion from Conventional Pemafibrate to Novel Pemafibrate XR on Hypertriglyceridemia: An Observational Retrospective Study.

Pemafibrate is a novel selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α modulator, which was demonstrated to reduce serum triglyceride levels with few drug-related adverse events in several clinical studies, as well as phase II and III clinical trials. One of the limitations of this medicine was the requirement of twice-daily oral administration, resulting in reduced medication adherence, particularly in elderly patients, who are rather good targets for this medicine. Recently, a once-daily extended-release (XR) tablet has been introduced.

Short-term impact of kampo goreisan in patients with congestive heart failure refractory to tolvaptan-incorporated medical therapy.

We often encounter patients with congestive heart failure refractory to conventional diuretics therapy. Kampo goreisan (Tsumura &Co. Tokyo, Japan) is receiving great concern in mediating body water balance, particularly for such a cohort.

Successful management of HeartMate 3 in a patient with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

The management of right heart failure during durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support remains an unsolved issue so far. We had a 44-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and received HeartMate 3 LVAD (Abbott, USA) implantation as a bridge-to-transplant indication. The pump speed was adjusted as low as 4500 rpm to avoid the left ventricular narrowing and interventricular septal leftward shift.

Clinical Implication of Supra-Normal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Individuals with heart failure displaying supra-normal left ventricular ejection fraction (snLVEF) may exhibit less favorable clinical outcomes in contrast to their counterparts with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (nLVEF). The distinctive characteristics and mid-term prognosis of individuals with severe aortic stenosis and snLVEF following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remain enigmatic.

Methods: Among 7393 patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR between 2013 and 2019 and were enlisted in the optimized transcatheter valvular intervention (OCEAN-TAVI) multicenter registry (UMIN000020423), we selected patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50%.

Impact of Pemafibrate Therapy on Reducing Small Dense Low-Density-Lipoprotein-Cholesterol Levels in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia.

Background: Small dense LDL-cholesterol is a recently discovered cardiovascular risk factor beyond LDL-cholesterol. Pemafibrate is a novel selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α modulator that reduces triglyceride levels. Given the significant association between triglycerides and small dense LDL-cholesterol levels, pemafibrate may reduce the levels of small dense LDL-cholesterol.

Constipation as a Drug-Related Adverse Effect in Patients with Hyperkalemia: Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate versus Conventional Potassium Binders.

(1) Background: Constipation is one of the most serious adverse effects of potassium-lowering agents and decreases patients' quality of life. Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) is a recently innovated potassium binder intended for patients with hyperkalemia. The impact of SZC on the worsening of constipation, as compared with conventional potassium binders, remains unknown.

A case of chronic myocarditis remitted by immunosuppressive and central extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy.

The concept and therapeutic strategy for chronic lymphocytic myocarditis remain unestablished. We had a 57-year-old man with advanced biventricular (predominantly right ventricular) failure due to chronic lymphocytic myocarditis. He received central extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy that was explanted on day 129 following the aggressive steroid pulse and plasma exchange therapy.

Pulmonary Artery Pulsatility Index and Hemolysis during Impella-Incorporated Mechanical Circulatory Support.

Background: Impella is a percutaneous transcatheter left ventricular assist device. Device-related hemolysis is a serious complication that is sometimes encountered depending on the device position, device speed, and support duration. However, the impact of hemodynamics on the occurrence of hemolysis remains unknown.

Percutaneous transseptal transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve replacement for degenerated mitral bioprosthesis: The first experience in Japan.

A 76-year-old woman had received surgical mitral valve replacement with Magna Mitral Ease (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) 25 mm for functional severe mitral regurgitation 6 years previously. She presented recurrence of heart failure due to severe stenotic and moderate regurgitant degeneration of the implanted mitral bioprosthesis. Considering her comorbidities and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, our heart valve team eventually decided to perform percutaneous transseptal transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve replacement instead of surgical redo mitral valve replacement, using a 26 mm SAPIEN 3 valve (Edwards Lifesciences) via trans-femoral approach.

Efficacy of 50 mg pregabalin for prevention of postoperative neuropathic pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and thoracotomy: a 3-month prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study analyzed the preventive effect of 50 mg/day pregabalin on postoperative neuropathic pain, and any additional benefits related to sleep and respiratory function.

Methods: This prospective randomized controlled study included lung resection patients 20-89 years of age. Patients were randomly assigned to the treatment (pregabalin; initial dose, 50 mg/day) or control (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) group.