Impact of Q wave in synthesized V7-9 lead on long-term outcomes after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: To investigate the relationship between the Q wave in synthesized V7-9 leads of a baseline electrocardiogram and clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation.

Methods: Consecutive patients with heart failure and a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction <35 % were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with Q waves in the synthesized V7-9 lead were defined as the qV7-9 group and those without Q waves in the synthesized V7-9 lead were defined as the non-qV7-9 group.

Impact of stent edge dissection detected by optical coherence tomography after current-generation drug-eluting stent implantation.

Background: Stent edge dissection (SED) is a well-known predictor of worse clinical outcomes. However, impact of SED after current-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation remains unknown since there was no study using only current-generation DES to assess impact of SED. This study aimed to investigate a relationship between SED detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and clinical outcomes after current-generation DES implantation.

Cardiac index predicts long-term outcomes in patients with heart failure.

Background: The role of cardiac index (CI) and right atrial pressure (RAP) for predicting long-term outcomes of heart failure has not been well established. The aim of this study was to investigate long-term cardiac outcomes in patients with heart failure having various combinations of CI and RAP.

Methods: A total of 787 heart failure patients who underwent right-heart catheterization were retrospectively categorized into the following four groups: Preserved CI (≥2.

Impact of proton pump inhibitors on mortality and severe esophageal injury after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a nationwide retrospective study using propensity score matching.

Studies on the protective effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on mortality and severe esophageal injury after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation are lacking. However, some reports have recommended use of PPIs for prophylaxis against esophageal injury. We investigated the effects of PPIs on mortality and severe esophageal injury after ablation.

Calcium Channel Blockers Are Associated with Nocturia in Men Aged 40 Years or Older.

Background: The associations of nocturia with hypertension and anti-hypertensive agents (AHTs) remain to be validated.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined whether blood pressure and/or frequently used classes of AHTs had consistent associations with nocturia.

Methods: A total of 418 male patients aged ≥ 40 years were retrospectively assessed in terms of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prescription medications, and blood pressure.

Combined pre- and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension: The clinical implications for patients with heart failure.

Background: The prognostic implications of combined pre- and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (Cpc-PH) in patients with pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease (PH-LHD) remain controversial. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the new PH-LHD criteria, recommended by the 6th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension and to determine the prognostic value of Cpc-PH.

Methods: A total of 701 patients with symptomatic heart failure who had undergone right-heart catheterization were divided into the following four groups: (i) Isolated post-capillary PH (Ipc-PH) group; mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) >20 mmHg, pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) >15 mmHg, and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) <3 Wood units (WU) (ii) Cpc-PH group; mPAP >20 mmHg, PAWP >15 mmHg, and PVR ≥3 WU (iii) borderline-PH group; mPAP >20 mmHg and PAWP ≤15 mmHg (iv) non-PH group; mPAP ≤20 mmHg.

Periprocedural hypotension after conscious sedation versus local anesthesia during defibrillator implantation for left ventricular dysfunction: analysis of a national inpatient database in Japan.

The association between periprocedural hypotension and conscious sedation (CS) during defibrillator implantation remains to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to compare the occurrence of periprocedural hypotension after CS or local anesthesia (LA) during defibrillator implantation in a retrospective cohort study using a national inpatient database. Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, we retrospectively collected data for adult inpatients who underwent implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy device from July 2010 to March 2016.

Clinical Characteristics and Long-Term Outcomes of Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure with Mid-Range Ejection Fraction.

According to recent guidelines, a new category of patients with heart failure (HF) with mid-range left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HFmrEF) (LVEF = 40%-49%) has been defined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with HFmrEF. This was a single-center, retrospective, observational study in which we examined the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 494 consecutive patients with acute decompensated heart failure who were admitted to our institution between January 2014 and December 2016.

Residual pulmonary hypertension is associated with clinical outcomes in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

In patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), the influence of residual pulmonary hypertension (PH) has not been well investigated. The aim of this study was to compare clinical characteristics between patients with and without residual PH, and to investigate the association between residual PH and clinical outcomes after acute phase in acute PTE. We included acute PTE patients who underwent echocardiogram after acute phase between January 2009 and December 2016.

Novel Acute Myocardial Infarction Risk Stratification (nARS) System Reduces the Length of Hospitalization for Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: The novel Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Risk Stratification (nARS) system was recently developed based on original criteria. The use of nARS may reduce the length of hospitalization.

Methods and results: We allocated 560 AMI patients into the pre-nARS group (before adopting nARS) or the nARS group.

Right Ventricular Stroke Work Index.

Recently, long-term outcomes of pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) have been improved, whereas morbidity and mortality are still high because of right-sided heart failure (HF). Right-sided HF is closely related to right ventricular (RV) function and hemodynamics such as RV stroke work index (RVSWI). However, the association between RVSWI and long-term outcomes in pre-capillary PH has not been well investigated.

A Case of Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is characterized by multi-organ damage that is associated with tissue hypereosinophilia. A persistently elevated eosinophilic count is also required for the diagnosis of HES. Although HES affects various organs, damage to pulmonary artery is rarely reported.

Clinical Characteristics and Mid-Term Outcomes of Non-Elderly Obese Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure in Japan.

Obesity is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases including heart failure (HF). However, some literatures suggested better clinical outcomes in obese patients with HF. Since higher body mass index (BMI) levels of HF patients were significantly associated with younger age, the impact of obesity on clinical outcomes in non-elderly HF patients should be elucidated.

Clinical outcomes after acute myocardial infarction according to a novel stratification system linked to a rehabilitation program.

Background: A risk classification of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) linked to a rehabilitation program has not been established.

Methods: We allocated 292 patients with AMI into the low- (L) (n=108), intermediate- (I) (n=72), and high- (H) (n=112) risk groups according to our original risk classification. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal AMI, stent thrombosis, and ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization.

High-Intensity Interval Training for Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction Treated with Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Aerobic training based on anaerobic threshold (AT) is well-known to improve cardiac function, exercise capacity, and long-term outcomes of patients with heart failure. Recent reports suggested that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for patients with cardiovascular disease may improve cardiopulmonary exercise capacity. We present a 61-year-old male patient of severe left ventricular dysfunction with left ventricular assisted device (LVAD).

In-hospital outcomes of acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock caused by right coronary artery occlusion vs. left coronary artery occlusion.

In-hospital outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with cardiogenic shock (CS) were still not satisfactory even in the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) era. The aim of this study was to compare in-hospital outcomes of AMI with CS caused by right coronary artery (RCA) occlusion vs. left coronary artery (LCA) occlusion.

Low eicosapentaenoic acid to arachidonic acid ratio is associated with thin-cap fibroatheroma determined by optical coherence tomography.

Background: A low eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/arachidonic acid (AA) ratio is known to be associated with cardiovascular events. However, the relationship between the EPA/AA ratio and coronary plaque vulnerability assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) has not been examined thoroughly. This study examined the relationship between the EPA/AA ratio and coronary plaque vulnerability assessed by OCT in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Effect of postconditioning in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction.

Postconditioning (PosC), which is a brief period of ischemia performed at the time of reperfusion therapy, reduces the infarct size in animal models. We aim to evaluate the impact of PosC in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). Between January 2008 and August 2009, 37 STEMI patients received PosC.