Effect of Serum Carboxyl-Terminal Telopeptide of Type I Collagen on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Serum carboxyl-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CITP), a marker of collagen degradation in the heart and blood vessels, is associated with plaque vulnerability and cardiac remodeling in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, the effect of CITP on the clinical outcomes of patients with CAD has not yet been elucidated.

A Japanese Family with a Novel Pathogenic Variant in KIF1A Presenting with Spastic Paraparesis, Cerebellar Ataxia, and Intellectual Disability.

Variants in KIF1A are associated with hereditary spastic paraplegia (SPG30), which can manifest in both pure and complex forms. We describe a Japanese family with a novel KIF1A variant presenting with a complex form of SPG30. Patient 1, a 69-year-old woman, experienced progressive gait disturbance due to spastic paraparesis and cerebellar atrophy, and intellectual disability.

Diacylglycerol Kinase ζ Attenuates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity Through p53 Degradation.

Background: Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is still an important medical problem associated with a high mortality rate in cancer survivors. p53 plays a key role in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Diacylglycerol kinase ζ (Dgkζ), a 130-kDa enzyme abundant in cardiomyocytes, regulates the p53 protein expression level in neurons.

Potential radiosensitive germline biomarkers in the testes of wild mice after the Fukushima accident.

We investigated potential germline-specific radiosensitive biomarkers in the testes of large Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus) exposed to low-dose-rate (LDR) radiation after the Fukushima accident. Fukushima wild mice testes were analysed via RNA-sequencing to identify genes differentially expressed in the breeding and non-breeding seasons when compared to controls. Results revealed significant changes during the breeding season, with Lsp1 showing a considerable upregulation, while Ptprk and Tspear exhibited significant reductions.

The frequency and clinical impact of synonymous HTT loss-of-interruption and duplication-of-interruption variants in a diverse HD cohort.

Purpose: To determine the frequency and clinical impact of loss-of-interruption (LOI) and duplication-of-interruption modifier variants of the HTT CAG and CCG repeat in a cohort of individuals with Huntington disease (HD).

Methods: We screened symptomatic HD participants from the UBC HD Biobank and 5 research sites for sequence variants. After variant identification, we examined the clinical impact and frequency in the reduced penetrance range.

Virtual Reality-Guided Simulation for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in a Patient with Anatomical Anomalies: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Virtual reality (VR)-guided GC simulation for patients with anatomical anomalies using cardiac computed tomography (CT) has been recently reported. Rotational atherectomy (RA) for the left circumflex (LCX) ostium is challenging due to the tortuous anatomy, acute angulation, and variable vessel size compared to other lesions. The appropriate positioning and coaxiality of the guide catheter (GC) are key factors for safely performing RA.

One-Year Outcome of Drug-Coated Balloon vs. Drug-Eluting Stent in Patients Undergoing Initial Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) for De Novo Lesion.

Background: Drug-eluting stents (DES) are the major treatment option in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Recently, drug-coated balloon (DCB) utilization has been increasing globally, leading to the expected new strategy of "stent-less PCI." This study aimed to evaluate the one-year outcome of DCB compared to DES.

Glucose loading for heart failure protects the myocardium and improves physical function.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of glucose intake on physical function in a heart failure rat model. [Materials and Methods] Five-week-old male Wistar rats were used for this study. Monocrotalin (40 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to rats to induce heart failure.

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 and Clinical Outcomes in Japanese Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease.

Background: Despite a reduction in the rate of thrombotic events, ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains a key medical problem associated with high major bleeding and mortality in Asian patients with IHD. Growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, a stress-response cytokine belonging to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily, is reportedly associated with poor clinical outcomes in Western patients with IHD. However, the clinical significance of GDF-15 in Asian patients with IHD has not yet been fully elucidated.

Cardiac-specific ITCH overexpression ameliorates septic cardiomyopathy inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Background: Septic cardiomyopathy is a common complication of septic shock and organ dysfunction. ITCH is a HECT (homologous to the E6-AP carboxyl-terminus)-type ubiquitin E3 ligase that plays a critical role in inflammatory suppression. Herein, we focused on the interaction between ITCH and key regulators of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), such as tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and transforming growth factor-β activated kinase 1 (TAK1), and examined the impact of ITCH on the development of septic cardiomyopathy.

Functional capacity in community-dwelling older adults maintained by a higher friend network than family network: implications from a two-year longitudinal study.

Objective: Maintaining a level of functional capacity is essential for healthy aging. In this research, the association between the change in the level of functional capacity and social network typology was explored over a two-year period. Participants were recruited from a community-based cohort study within Kashiwa City, Japan, and data from the years 2016 and 2018 were used.

Expanded clinical spectrum of oculopharyngodistal myopathy type 1.

Introduction/aims: Heterozygous CGG repeat expansions in low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 12 (LRP12) have recently been identified as a cause of oculopharyngodistal myopathy (OPDM), and the disease is designated as OPDM type 1 (OPDM1). In contrast to broadening of our knowledge on the genetic background of OPDM, what we know of the clinical phenotype of genetically confirmed OPDM1 remains limited.

Methods: This investigation was a single-center case series study of OPDM consisting of ten patients from seven families.

Muscle Transcriptomics Shows Overexpression of Cadherin 1 in Inclusion Body Myositis.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the molecular features of inclusion body myositis (IBM).

Methods: We performed RNA sequencing analysis of muscle biopsy samples from 67 participants, consisting of 58 myositis patients with the pathological finding of CD8-positive T cells invading non-necrotic muscle fibers expressing major histocompatibility complex class I (43 IBM, 6 polymyositis, and 9 unclassifiable myositis), and 9 controls.

Results: Cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and pathway analysis showed that differentially expressed genes and pathways identified in IBM and polymyositis were mostly comparable.

Alanine transaminase is predominantly increased in the active phase of anti-HMGCR myopathy.

Autoantibodies against 3‑hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) and the signal recognition particle (SRP) are representative antibodies causing immune-mediated necrotizing myopathies (IMNM), called as anti-HMGCR and anti-SRP myopathies, respectively. Here, we analyzed the differences in routine blood test results between 56 anti-HMGCR and 77 anti-SRP myopathy patients. A higher alanine transaminase (ALT) level and a lower aspartate transaminase (AST)/ALT ratio were observed in anti-HMGCR myopathy patients [ALT, 265.

Association of Nephronophthisis 4 genetic variation with cardiorenal syndrome and cardiovascular events in Japanese general population: the Yamagata (Takahata) study.

Background: Nephronophthisis (NPHP) 4 gene encoding nephrocystin-4, which contributes to end-stage renal disease in children and young adults, is involved in the development of the heart and kidneys. Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS), which consists of bidirectional dysfunction of the heart and kidneys, is a risk factor for cardiovascular events. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the NPHP4 gene are reportedly associated with kidney function, even in adults.

Association between thrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade and clinical outcome after emergent percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction who have suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the Yamagata AMI registry.

Despite improvements in the survival rate of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) due to AMI is still a devastating condition. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade is used to classify coronary reperfusion after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but it remains unclear whether TIMI grade after emergent PCI is associated with short-term mortality in patients with AMI who have suffered OHCA. We analyzed data collected from 2012 to 2017 and recorded in the Yamagata AMI registry, which is a multicenter surveillance conducted in all institutions in Yamagata prefecture.

The Role of HECT-Type E3 Ligase in the Development of Cardiac Disease.

Despite advances in medicine, cardiac disease remains an increasing health problem associated with a high mortality rate. Maladaptive cardiac remodeling, such as cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, is a risk factor for heart failure; therefore, it is critical to identify new therapeutic targets. Failing heart is reported to be associated with hyper-ubiquitylation and impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, indicating an importance of ubiquitylation in the development of cardiac disease.

Qualitative Research on the Primary Effect of Fish Pet Ownership Using the Bottleium, a Bottle-Type Aquarium, on Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan: A Potential Preventive Measure Towards Social Isolation.

Aging increases the risk of social isolation, which could lead to conditions such as depressive mood. Pet ownership is known to reduce social isolation. However, previous studies have mainly focused on mammals as pets, which could be difficult at old age.

Enhancement of elastin expression by transdermal administration of sialidase isozyme Neu2.

Reduction of elastin in the skin causes various skin diseases as well as wrinkles and sagging with aging. Sialidase is a hydrolase that cleaves a sialic acid residue from sialoglycoconjugate. Cleavage of sialic acid from microfibrils by the sialidase isozyme Neu1 facilitates elastic fiber assembly.