Impact of seasonal variation on hospital admission and in-hospital mortality of acute cardiovascular diseases: a contemporary nationwide database study.

Purpose: Whether acute cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as acute heart failure (AHF), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and acute aortic dissection (AAD), have distinct seasonal variations in the number of hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality was investigated using a nationwide database in Japan.

Methods: The hospitalized patients with AHF, AMI, and AAD between April 2012 and March 2020 were identified. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was conducted and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was calculated.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor use in early-phase acute coronary syndrome with severe heart failure.

Aims: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) improves clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF), but has limited evidence of SGLT2i use in early-phase acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We determined association of early SGLT2i use compared with either non-SGLT2i or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor (DPP4i) use in hospitalized patients with ACS.

Methods And Results: This retrospective cohort study that used the Japanese nationwide administrative claims database included patients hospitalized with ACS aged ≥20 years between April 2014 and March 2021.

Transfusion-transmitted HBV infection with isolated anti-HBs-positive blood.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive individuals with isolated anti-HBs are found among HBV vaccine recipients and healthy blood donors with no vaccination history. HBV infectivity from blood transfusions derived from such individuals remains unclear.

Case Presentation: A male patient who received transfusion with blood negative for individual donation-NAT, HBsAg and anti-HBc but weakly positive for anti-HBs developed typical transfusion-transmitted (TT)-HBV with anti-HBc response.

Significance of coronary artery calcification for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events: results from the NADESICO study in Japan.

Background: We aimed to determine the usefulness and sex differences of assessment of coronary artery calcification (CAC) with cardiovascular risk factors and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in Japanese patients.

Methods: In a nationwide, multicenter, prospective cohort study, 1187 patients with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent coronary computed tomography were enrolled. MACE included cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, revascularization, and hospitalization for unstable angina, heart failure, or aortic disease.

Combination of coronary CT angiography, FFR , and risk factors in the prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients suspected CAD.

Background: To examine the utility of fractional flow reserve by coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography (FFR ) for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: This was a nationwide multicenter prospective cohort study including consecutive 1187 patients aged 50-74 years with suspected CAD and had available coronary CT angiography (CCTA). In patients with ≥50% coronary artery stenosis (CAS), FFR was further analyzed.

Initial multicenter clinical experience with the first-generation endoscopic guided laser balloon in Japan.

Background: Isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVs) is the golden standard for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. To achieve a permanent PV isolation, the endoscopic guided HeartLight laser balloon system was invented. We analyzed the safety and efficacy of this laser balloon system.

Shorter door-to-balloon time, better long-term clinical outcomes in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients: J-MINUET substudy.

Background: The impact of shorter door-to-balloon (DTB time on long-term outcomes in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: We investigated 3283 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction selected from a prospective, nationwide, multicenter registry (J-MINUET database comprising 28 institutions in Japan between July 2012 and March 2014. Among the study population, we analyzed 1639 STEMI patients who had PPCI within 12 h of onset.

Clinical expert consensus document on rotational atherectomy from the Japanese association of cardiovascular intervention and therapeutics: update 2023.

The Task Force on Rotational Atherectomy of the Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics (CVIT) proposed the expert consensus document to summarize the techniques and evidences regarding rotational atherectomy (RA) in 2020. Because the revascularization strategy to severely calcified lesions is the hottest topic in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), many evidences related to RA have been published since 2020. Latest advancements have been incorporated in this updated expert consensus document.

Impact of Residual Functional Mitral Regurgitation After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction.

Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) negatively impacts the prognosis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and reduced left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF). Although structural reverse remodeling after AF ablation can reduce FMR severity, the prognostic impact of FMR and its evolution remain unclear. Of 491 patients with baseline LVEF <50% who underwent first-time AF ablation, 134 patients (27%) had grade 2 to 4 FMR at baseline.

Total arch and descending thoracic aortic replacement for massive hemoptysis requiring CPR caused by intrapulmonary penetration of chronic dissecting aortic aneurysm: a case report.

Background: Intrapulmonary penetration of the thoracic aorta is a rare, life-threatening complication of a chronic dissecting aortic aneurysm. It causes massive hemoptysis requiring prompt intervention to prevent fatal airway bleeding. A surgical approach that enables diverse surgical maneuvers and intraoperative organ protection is crucial.

Drug-Coated Balloon for the Treatment of Small Vessel Coronary Artery Disease - A Randomized Non-Inferiority Trial.

Background: Drug-coated balloons (DCB) have shown promising results for the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) and small vessel disease (SVD). However, data comparing the treatment efficacy of different DCBs are limited.

Methods and results: AGENT Japan is a prospective randomized controlled trial that compares the Agent balloon coated with a low-dose formulation of paclitaxel (2 μg/mm) to the SeQuent Please paclitaxel-coated balloon (3 μg/mm) for the treatment of SVD.

Communicating Coronary and Ventricular Pseudoaneurysms Complicating Coronary Artery Perforation.

We present the case of a 75-year-old man who experienced rebleeding after surgical treatment of grade III coronary perforation, resulting in intertwined complications including communicating coronary and ventricular pseudoaneurysms. The percutaneous intervention of sealing the rebleeding site with a covered stent implantation managed this rare pseudoaneurysm successfully. ().

Clinical impact of beta-blockers at discharge on long-term clinical outcomes in patients with non-reduced ejection fraction after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Beta-blockers are associated with several clinical benefits in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (REF) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), such as lower rates of mortality, recurrence of myocardial infarction, and heart failure. However, the long-term prognosis of beta-blockers has rarely been investigated in patients with non-REF after AMI. This study aimed to investigate the clinical benefits of beta-blockers in these patients.

Postoperative delirium does not affect cardiopulmonary exercise testing in aged patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery.

Background: The effect of delirium on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) is unknown. This retrospective study was to examine the effect of delirium on CPX at discharge in aged patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: This study included seventy patients aged 70 or older undergoing cardiac valve surgery, who entered our ICU and were discharged from our hospital between June 2016 and July 2018.