Risk factors for hospitalisation due to respiratory syncytial virus infection in children receiving prophylactic palivizumab.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common pathogen that causes extremely severe respiratory symptoms in the first few weeks and months of life. In infants with cardiopulmonary diseases, RSV infections have a significant clinical impact. Palivizumab, a humanised monoclonal antibody for RSV, has been shown to significantly reduce the rate of hospitalisation of high-risk infants diagnosed with RSV.

Which factors have a great impact on coagulopathy and hemostatic impairment after cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiovascular surgery? An analysis based on rotational thromboelastometry.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate which factors have a great impact on coagulopathy after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM).

Methods: Ninety-eight patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery using CPB were enrolled. Data of amplitude 10 min after clotting time (A10) of ROTEM measured routinely before and after CPB were retrospectively collected.

Expert consensus document on automated diagnosis of the electrocardiogram: The task force on automated diagnosis of the electrocardiogram in Japan. Part 1: Nomenclature for diagnosis and abnormal findings.

As these terms should accurately represent the abnormal findings and conditions as much as possible, we propose to unify these terms into terminologies that are not confusing and easy to understand for everyone.

Factors associated with bleeding events during catheter ablation with uninterrupted periprocedural edoxaban for atrial fibrillation: a subanalysis of the KYU-RABLE study.

Background: Data are limited on patient background characteristics associated with catheter ablation (CA)-related bleeding events in Japanese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation receiving uninterrupted periprocedural edoxaban. This subanalysis of the KYU-RABLE study focused on univariate and multivariate analyses to identify correlations between bleeding events and baseline patient demographics and CA-related characteristics.

Methods: Patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) enrolled from the KYU-RABLE study were included in the study.

Catheter Ablation Energy Sources and Myocardial Injury and Coagulation Biomarkers During Uninterrupted Periprocedural Edoxaban Use - A Subanalysis of KYU-RABLE.

Background: The effects of catheter ablation (CA) energy sources on myocardial injury and coagulation biomarkers among Japanese non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients receiving uninterrupted periprocedural edoxaban are unclear. This KYU-RABLE exploratory subanalysis compared the effects of CA using radiofrequency energy vs. cryoballoon on: (1) myocardial injury; and (2) plasma edoxaban and coagulation biomarker concentrations measured before and after CA.

Atorvastatin Reduces Circulating S100A12 Levels in Patients with Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques - A Link with Plaque Inflammation.

Aims: Inflammation is involved in various processes of atherosclerosis development. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a predictor for cardiovascular risk, are reportedly reduced by statins. However, several studies have demonstrated that CRP is a bystander during atherogenesis.

Downregulation of ZNF395 Drives Progression of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma through Enhancement of Growth Potential.

Background: Progression of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) to invasive carcinoma is a critical factor impacting the prognosis of patients with pancreatic tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms involved are not fully understood. We have reported that the process frequently involves loss of chromosome 8p, causing downregulation of DUSP4, thus conferring invasive ability on cancer cells.

Impact of Age on Gender Differences in the Acute Myocardial Infarction Onset-Weather Association - Oita AMI Registry.

The onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is related to weather conditions, but the impact of age on gender differences in the AMI onset-weather association has not been elucidated. We analyzed the Oita AMI Registry and obtained data for 403 enrolled patients. To examine the impact of age, we categorized the patients into 4 groups: young (age ≤65 years) women (n=20); young men (n=123); elderly (age >65 years) women (n=84); and elderly men (n=176).

Distinctively different predictors for long-term outcomes between responders and nonresponders who underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: It is common to develop heart failure (HF) events even in respondents to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) during a long-term observation period. We investigated the predictors for long-term outcome in responders in comparison with nonresponders in patients diagnosed with HF along with implanted CRT.

Methods: We enrolled 133 consecutive patients (mean age, 70 ± 10 years; 72 males) implanted with CRT from April 2010 to July 2019.

Changes in plasma concentrations of edoxaban and coagulation biomarkers according to thromboembolic risk and atrial fibrillation type in patients undergoing catheter ablation: Subanalysis of KYU-RABLE.

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) can be associated with a risk of thromboembolism and bleeding. We recently demonstrated that uninterrupted edoxaban with one dose delayed on the CA procedural day is associated with a low risk of periprocedural complications. Previous reports have indicated that some specific subgroups of patients undergoing CA have an increased risk of bleeding and thromboembolic complications.

Long-term prognosis in patients with non-type 1 Brugada electrocardiogram: Results from a large Japanese cohort of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.

Background: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is diagnosed in patients with ST-segment elevation with spontaneous, drug-induced, or fever-induced type 1 morphology. Prognosis in type 2 or 3 Brugada electrocardiogram (Br-ECG) patients remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term prognosis in non-type 1 Br-ECG patients in a large Japanese cohort of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (The Japan Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation Study [J-IVFS]).

J-wave change during rewarming therapy for accidental hypothermia.

Background: J waves are abnormal electrocardiogram findings that indicate an elevation at the junction between the QRS complex and the ST segment. Hypothermia is associated with fetal arrhythmia, along with the increase of J-wave manifestation.

Case Presentation: A 68-year-old woman with a medical history of old cerebral infarction and dementia was admitted to the emergency department with accidental hypothermia.

Risk stratification in asymptomatic patients with Brugada syndrome: Utility of multiple risk factor combination rather than programmed electrical stimulation.

Background: The prognostic value of programmed electrical stimulation (PES) in Brugada syndrome (BrS) remains controversial. Asymptomatic BrS patients generally have a better prognosis than those with symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of nonaggressive PES with up to two extra stimuli and predict clinical factors for risk stratification in asymptomatic BrS patients.

Improved Risk Stratification of Patients With Brugada Syndrome by the New Japanese Circulation Society Guideline - A Multicenter Validation Study.

Background: The new guideline (NG) published by the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) places emphasis on previous arrhythmic syncope and inducibility of ventricular fibrillation (VF) by ≤2 extrastimuli during programmed electrical stimulation (PES) for deciding the indication of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS). This study evaluated the usefulness of the NG and compared it with the former guideline (FG) for risk stratification of patients with BrS.

Methods and results: This was a multicenter (7 Japanese hospitals) retrospective study involving 234 patients with BrS who underwent PES at baseline (226 males; mean age at diagnosis: 44.

Usefulness of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy in patients with Brugada syndrome.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are the main therapy to prevent sudden cardiac death in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS). The subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) can eliminate lead-associated complications compared with transvenous ICD (TV-ICD). However, S-ICD is susceptible to T-wave oversensing (TWOS) and may result in more frequent inappropriate shocks in patients with BrS.