Blood cell HbA1c measured by enzymatic assay show higher than whole blood HbA1c in patients with iron deficiency anemia.

In Japan, most HbA1c measurements by enzymatic assays or immunoassays represent the HbA1c levels in the blood cell fraction obtained after centrifugation of the blood samples. The present study investigated that the blood cell enzymatic HbA1c assay (EA-HbA1c) was compared with whole blood HbA1c in patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Study 1: EA-HbA1c levels using blood cell samples (blood cell EA-HbA1c) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-HbA1c levels using whole blood samples (whole blood HPLC-HbA1c) were measured in 15 IDA patients with Hb < 8 g/dL and transferrin saturation (TSAT) < 20%, and the correlations between the blood cell EA-HbA1c/whole blood HPLC-HbA1c ratio (%) and various IDA indicators [mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), TSAT, and logarithmically transformed ferritin (log-FER)] were examined.

Tricuspid regurgitation and outcomes in mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

Background And Aims: The association between periprocedural change in tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and outcomes in patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) is unclear. This study aimed to examine the prognostic value of TR before and after M-TEER.

Methods: Patients in the OCEAN-Mitral registry were divided into four groups according to baseline and post-procedure echocardiographic assessments: no TR/no TR (no TR), no TR/significant TR (new-onset TR), significant TR/no TR (normalized TR), and significant TR/significant TR (residual TR) (all represents before/after M-TEER).

Falsely Elevated HbA1c Levels in a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Multiple Beta Globulin Gene Mutations.

We present a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus and a variant hemoglobin whose HbA1c levels were falsely elevated regardless of the measurement method [high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), enzymatic, and immuno-assay] used. The causes of the falsely high HbA1c levels in this patient were investigated. The patient was a 73-year-old man with frequent hypoglycemia on self-monitoring of blood glucose, whose HbA1c level when measured by HPLC (standard mode) and immunoassay was substantially higher than that predicted by continuous blood glucose monitoring or from the patient's glycated albumin level.

Incidence and Prognosis of Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Bicuspid Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Evidence regarding the incidence of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) and long-term mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis (AS) is scarce.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the incidence and prognostic impact of PPM after TAVR for bicuspid AS compared with that for tricuspid AS.

Methods: In total, 7,393 patients who underwent TAVR were prospectively enrolled in the OCEAN-TAVI (Optimized Catheter Valvular Intervention Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) registry, an ongoing Japanese, multicenter registry.

Efficacy and Limitations of Continuous Local Antibiotic Perfusion in Treating Surgical Site Infections Following Instrumented Spinal Surgery: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Introduction: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most serious postoperative complications following instrumented spinal surgery. We previously reported the potential of continuous local antibiotic perfusion (CLAP) to retain implants for patients with SSI following instrumented spinal surgery. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study to elucidate the efficacy and limitations of CLAP for patients with SSI following instrumented spinal surgery.

Optimal Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Multivessel Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease.

There is a scarcity of data on clinical outcomes after intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with multivessel disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The Optimal Intravascular Ultrasound (OPTIVUS)-Complex PCI study multivessel cohort was a prospective multicenter single-arm trial enrolling 1,015 patients who underwent multivessel IVUS-guided PCI including left anterior descending coronary artery target with an intention to meet the prespecified OPTIVUS criteria for optimal stent expansion. We compared the clinical outcomes between patients with and without CKD.

Association of Baseline Mitral Valve Area With Procedural and Clinical Outcomes of Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: Insights From the OCEAN-Mitral Registry.

Background: A small mitral valve area (MVA) is one of the challenging anatomies for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for mitral regurgitation, but the relationship between baseline MVA and clinical outcomes remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association of baseline MVA with procedural and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TEER with MitraClip from the OCEAN-Mitral registry (Optimized Catheter Valvular Intervention-Mitral).

Methods: A total of 1768 patients undergoing TEER were divided into 3 groups according to baseline MVA: group 1: <4.

Impact of Angiographically Detected Residual Trabeculation After Left Atrial Appendage Closure Using the WATCHMAN Device: Insight From the OCEAN-LAAC Registry.

Background: Research on the impact of angiographically detected residual trabeculation after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is limited.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence, characteristics, and clinical implications of angiographically detected residual trabeculation after LAAC using the WATCHMAN device.

Methods: We analyzed 1350 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing LAAC using the WATCHMAN device from the OCEAN-LAAC registry, which is a prospective ongoing, multicenter Japanese registry.

Update on Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Asian Patients.

Background: Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is of greater concern in Asians, considering their relatively smaller annular sizes compared with Westerners. However, the prognostic significance of PPM in Asian populations has not been demonstrated.

Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic value of PPM after TAVR in Asian patients.

Phase II study of ramucirumab and docetaxel for previously platinum-treated patients with non-small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural effusion (PLEURAM study).

Background: The prognosis of patients with lung cancer and malignant pleural effusion (MPE) caused by carcinomatous pleurisy is poor. Chemical pleurodesis is commonly performed clinically, however, often has a high failure rate. Furthermore, prolonged sustained drainage and delayed introduction of systemic chemotherapy could increase the risk of worsening the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Association Between Direct Oral Anticoagulant Score and Bleeding Events in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: The Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC) Score can predict bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation taking DOACs; however, it lacks external validation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association between the DOAC Score and bleeding events in patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Methods And Results: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement, as registered in a Japanese multicenter registry.

Multi-institutional Registry of Large Bowel Cancer in Japan Conducted by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum in 2023: Cases Treated in 2015.

Objectives: Colorectal cancer is the most prevalent malignant disease in Japan. This study aimed to publish data on colorectal cancer cases registered in 2023, involving initial treatments in 2015.

Methods: Participating facilities of the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) registered cases treated in 2015 according to the 8th edition of the Japanese Classification of Colorectal Carcinoma.

The feasibility of double stent strategy in left main true bifurcation with small and large angle change between diastole and systole: The Milan and New-Tokyo (MITO) registry.

Background: Provisional single stenting strategy (PSS) is a default strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of unprotected left main distal bifurcation lesions (ULMD). Previous study reported that a bifurcation angle change (BAC) between end diastole and systole was associated with outcomes after PCI with double stent strategy (DSS) for ULMD. However, there are no data comparing outcomes after PCI with PSS versus DSS according the degree of BAC.

Initial Findings Concerning the Latest Self-Expandable Evolut FX Valve: A Report Using OCEAN-TAVI Registry Data.

Data concerning the clinical effect of the latest-generation self-expandable transcatheter heart valve (Evolut FX) remain limited. We aimed to assess the in-hospital outcomes of 3 bioprosthetic valves (Evolut EPO, PRO+, and FX). We analyzed data from a Japanese multicenter registry involving 634 consecutive patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement with Evolut FX up until October 2023.

Clinical Impact of Baseline Frailty Status and Residual Mitral Regurgitation After Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair: Insights From the OCEAN-Mitral Registry.

Background: The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a useful frailty marker for predicting clinical outcomes in patients undergoing invasive therapy. However, the clinical impact of CFS after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the association between the baseline frail status defined by the CFS and clinical outcomes with or without postprocedural MR ≥2+ (post-MR ≥2+) after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

A case of gastrointestinal perforation following transarterial embolization for an intramural hematoma after cold snare polypectomy of an adenoma in the transverse colon.

We encountered a case of a large hematoma developing with perforation shortly after a cold snare polypectomy for a colorectal adenoma. The patient underwent cold snare polypectomy for a 3-mm type Is lesion in the transverse colon at another facility. Two hours later, she visited the emergency room due to abdominal pain.

HydroDynamic contrast Recanalization (HDR): Description of a new crossing technique for coronary chronic total occlusions.

Background: Intraplaque delivery of contrast has been utilized during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTO) to delineate anatomy and to facilitate wire crossing. Its utility as a tool to accomplish primary crossing of CTOs has not been described or validated.

Aims: We describe a new technique leveraging the diagnostic and therapeutic roles of intraplaque contrast injection to accomplish primary crossing of CTOs: HydroDynamic contrast Recanalization (HDR).