Association Between Constipation and Frailty Components in Patients Undergoing Late Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Background: The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported that the overall constipation complaint rates among men and women are 2.5% and 4.6%, respectively.

Prognostic impact of peak oxygen uptake and heart rate reserve in patients after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Peak oxygen uptake (peak VO ) and heart rate reserve (HRR) are independent prognostic markers of cardiovascular disease. However, the impact of peak VO and HRR on long-term prognosis after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OP-CABG) remains unclear.

Hypothesis: To determine the prognostic impact of peak VO and HRR in patients after OP-CABG.

Low coenzyme Q10 levels in patients with acute cardiovascular disease are associated with long-term mortality.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) plays a potential role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease through improved cellular bioenergetics. Critical illness in the intensive care unit has been reported to be associated with decreased circulating CoQ10 levels, and we previously demonstrated the association of low CoQ10 levels with in-hospital mortality. However, the association of CoQ10 with the acute phase of cardiovascular disease and long-term mortality remains unclear.

Promotion of oxidative stress is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and muscle atrophy in aging mice.

Aim: We examined the changes in oxidative stress, mitochondrial function and muscle atrophy during aging in mice.

Methods: We used 6-, 12- and 24-month (6 M, 12 M and 24 M)-old C57BL/6J mice. Skeletal muscles were removed from the lower limb and used for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting and histological analyses.

Correlation of Nutritional Indices on Admission to the Coronary Intensive Care Unit with the Development of Delirium.

Background: Delirium is a common occurrence in patients admitted to the intensive care unit and is related to mortality and morbidity. Malnutrition is a predisposing factor for the development of delirium. Nevertheless, whether the nutritional status on admission anticipates the development of delirium in patients with acute cardiovascular diseases remains unknown.

Possible Role of NADPH Oxidase 4 in Angiotensin II-Induced Muscle Wasting in Mice.

Muscle wasting is a debilitating phenotype associated with chronic heart failure (CHF). We have previously demonstrated that angiotensin II (AII) directly induces muscle wasting in mice through the activation of NADPH oxidase (Nox). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that deficiency of NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4), a major source of oxidative stress, ameliorates AII-induced muscle wasting through the regulation of redox balance.

Low 1,5-anhydroglucitol levels are associated with long-term cardiac mortality in acute coronary syndrome patients with hemoglobin A1c levels less than 7.0.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is considered an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. High hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, which indicate poor glycemic control, have been associated with occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. There are few parameters which can predict cardiovascular risk in patients with well-controlled diabetes.

Low Docosahexaenoic Acid, Dihomo-Gamma-Linolenic Acid, and Arachidonic Acid Levels Associated with Long-Term Mortality in Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure in Different Nutritional Statuses.

The clinical significance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in various nutritional statuses remains unclear. For this study, we enrolled 267 patients with ADHF admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit at Juntendo University hospital between April 2012 and March 2014. The association between long-term mortality, the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), and levels of PUFAs, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), and arachidonic acid (AA) was investigated.

Decreased circulating dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid levels are associated with total mortality in patients with acute cardiovascular disease and acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. However, the clinical significance of omega-6 PUFAs in acute cardiovascular disease remains unknown.

Methods: We enrolled 417 consecutive patients with acute cardiovascular disease admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit at Juntendo University Hospital between April 2012 and October 2013.

Significance of Serum Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Level Imbalance in Patients with Acute Venous Thromboembolism.

Aim: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) take part in various biological events linked to the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism (VTE), including inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and hypercoagulability. Several studies have demonstrated the association between PUFAs and the occurrence of VTE. However, the role of PUFAs in the pathogenesis of VTE remains unclear.

Low Serum Levels of EPA are Associated with the Size and Growth Rate of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Aim: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been reported to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, whether omega-3 PUFAs are involved in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) remains unclear.

Methods: We analyzed 67 consecutive patients admitted for the elective surgical repair of AAA.

Low circulating coenzyme Q10 during acute phase is associated with inflammation, malnutrition, and in-hospital mortality in patients admitted to the coronary care unit.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has a potential role in the prevention and treatment of heart failure through improved cellular bioenergetics. In addition, it has antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and vasodilatory effects that may be beneficial. Although critical illness in intensive care unit is associated with decreased circulating CoQ10 levels, the clinical significance of CoQ10 levels during acute phase in the patients of cardiovascular disease remains unclear.