A Simple Prognostic Index Based on Heart Rate, Age, and Systolic Blood Pressure for the Risk Stratification of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Aim: A rapid and effective risk stratification method is highly important for the emergency care of patients with acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Previous studies (including our own), have suggested that heart rate, age, and systolic blood pressure contribute to the pathophysiology of HFpEF. This study aimed to examine the predictive utility of the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction risk index (TRI)-consisting of heart rate, age, and systolic blood pressure-for determining the in-hospital mortality in patients with acute HFpEF.

Intravascular Imaging and Pathological Features of Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty in Atherosclerotic Porcine Peripheral Arteries.

Aims: The safety and efficacy of drug-coated balloon angioplasty (DCBA), compared to plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) for peripheral artery in-stent restenosis (ISR), have been examined in clinical trials. However, little is known about the pathological response after DCBA for ISR. We compared the intravascular imaging findings and tissue responses of in-stent neointima in iliac arteries after DCBA and POBA using atherosclerotic porcine peripheral arteries.

Impella effects on reverse myocardial remodeling in anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction: insights from a comprehensive analysis of acute and chronic MRI findings.

Background: Late adverse myocardial remodeling after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is strongly associated with cardiac death. Global Longitudinal strain (GLS) and circumferential diastolic strain rate (CDSR) derived cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is a powerful predictor of late myocardial remodeling. However, the Impella's effects on CMRI after STEMI are not fully understood.

Specific phenotypes of heart failure with preserved/reduced ejection fraction according to Body Mass Index.

Background: The relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and acute heart failure (HF) remains ill-defined. This study aimed to compare the influence of BMI on in-hospital mortality between patients with acute HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and those with acute HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and to examine the specific phenotypes of HFpEF/HFrEF according to BMI.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 5313 and 6332 consecutive patients with acute HFpEF and HFrEF, respectively.

Safety and efficacy of edoxaban monotherapy after bioabsorbable polymer everolimus-eluting stent implantation in a human-like coronary atherosclerotic porcine model.

Background: The combination of antiplatelet and antithrombotic drugs increases the risk of bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation after coronary drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. However, the appropriateness of direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) monotherapy at the time of stent implantation remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of DOAC monotherapy, specifically using factor Xa inhibitors such as edoxaban, in a low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDL-R) miniature pig model of human-like unstable coronary plaques compared to conventional dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).

Stress phase bandwidth as a predictor of left ventricular reverse remodeling in patients with new-onset acute decompensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Background: Stress phase bandwidth (SPBW), assessed using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), is considered to be a useful indicator of left ventricular dyssynchrony. However, few reports have examined whether it can be used as an indicator for improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in new-onset heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods And Results: A total of 64 patients (mean age 56 years, 39 male) who were admitted to our hospital with new-onset non-ischemic HFrEF (median LVEF 24.

Hospital Variability in the Use of Vasoactive Agents in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure for Clinical Phenotypes.

Background: The absence of practice standards in vasoactive agent usage for acute decompensated heart failure has resulted in significant treatment variability across hospitals, potentially affecting patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess temporal trends and institutional differences in vasodilator and inotrope/vasopressor utilization among patients with acute decompensated heart failure, considering their clinical phenotypes.

Methods: Data were extracted from a government-funded multicenter registry covering the Tokyo metropolitan area, comprising consecutive patients hospitalized in intensive/cardiovascular care units with a primary diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure between January 2013 and December 2021.

Fractal geometry of culprit coronary plaque images within optical coherence tomography in patients with acute coronary syndrome vs stable angina pectoris.

The main cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is plaque rupture and thrombus formation. However, it has not been fairly successful to identify vulnerable plaque to rupture using conventional parameters of intravascular imaging modalities. Fractal analysis is one of the mathematical models to examine geometrical features of picture image using a specific parameter called as fractal dimension (FD) which suggests geometric complexity of the image.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors in acute heart failure: real-world prescription trends and outcomes analysis.

Aims: Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have shown potential therapeutic benefits in heart failure (HF). However, data on their real-world usage and benefits in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) are limited.

Methods And Results: We conducted a post hoc analysis of real-world data from 1108 patients with ADHF admitted to Nihon University Itabashi Hospital (Tokyo, Japan) between 2018 and 2022.

Hepatic steatosis evidenced by computed tomography in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have common pathological links. This study investigates the prognostic impact of NAFLD assessed as hepatic steatosis (HS) by computed tomography (CT) in AMI patients and explores the mechanistic role of NAFLD in cardiovascular (CV) events using coronary angioscopy (CAS).

Methods: We retrospectively examined 342 AMI patients who underwent CT followed by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between January 2014 and December 2019.

Identification of Nutritional Factors to Evaluate Periodontal Clinical Parameters in Patients with Systemic Diseases.

Nutritional factors reflect the periodontal parameters accompanying periodontal status. In this study, the associations between nutritional factors, blood biochemical items, and clinical parameters were examined in patients with systemic diseases. The study participants were 94 patients with heart disease, dyslipidemia, kidney disease, or diabetes mellitus.

Prognostic significance of pulmonary arterial wedge pressure estimated by deep learning in acute heart failure.

Aims: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) presents with pulmonary congestion, which is caused by an increased pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP). PAWP is strongly associated with prognosis, but its quantitative evaluation is often difficult. Our prior work demonstrated that a deep learning approach based on chest radiographs can calculate estimated PAWP (ePAWP) in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Association between Dietary Habit and Clinical Parameters in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis Undergoing Supportive Periodontal Therapy.

The recurrence risk evaluation has been emphasized in periodontal stabilization during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). However, nutritional factors, e.g.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospitalizations, time course, presenting symptoms, and mid-term outcomes in patients with myocardial infarctions in a Japanese multi-center registry.

To investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on myocardial infarctions (MIs), consecutive MI patients were retrospectively reviewed in a multi-center registry. The patient characteristics and 180-day mortality for both ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) and non-STEMIs (NSTEMIs) in the after-pandemic period (7 April 2020-6 April 2021) were compared to the pre-pandemic period (7 April 2019-6 April 2020). Inpatients with MIs, STEMIs, and NSTEMIs decreased by 9.

Autopsy and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Image Case of Bevacizumab-Related Cardiomyopathy.

We report an autopsy case of a 69-year-old female with cervical cancer. She was given bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy for 4 months. After two years of chemotherapy, she developed congestive heart failure (CHF) with left ventricular dysfunction.

Association of ambient temperature and acute heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: Evidence on the association between ambient temperature and the onset of acute heart failure (AHF) is scarce and mixed. We sought to investigate the incidence of AHF admissions based on ambient temperature change, with particular interest in detecting the difference between AHF with preserved (HFpEF), mildly reduced (HFmrEF), and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods And Results: Individualized AHF admission data from January 2015 to December 2016 were obtained from a multicentre registry (Tokyo CCU Network Database).

Protective effect of the Impella on the left ventricular function after acute broad anterior wall ST elevation myocardial infarctions with cardiogenic shock: cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging strain analysis.

Background: The clinical efficacy of the Impella for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and cardiogenic shock remains under debate. We thus sought to investigate the protective effects on the heart with the Impella's early use pre-PCI using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the difference in the subacute phase CMR imaging results (19 ± 9 days after admission) between patients undergoing an Impella (n = 7) or not (non-Impella group: n = 18 [12 intra-aortic balloon pumps (1 plus veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and 6 no mechanical circulation systems]) in broad anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) cases.