Huge racemose hemangioma of the bronchial artery with arterial supply via the right coronary artery and left internal thoracic artery.

A 79-year-old male with bronchiectasis was referred to our clinic because of mild chest tightness on exertion. He had no history of hemoptysis. An electrocardiogram showed ST segment depression in leads V5-6.

Effects of high-absorption curcumin for the prevention of hypertensive heart disease: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical study.

Aims: Hypertension is a strong risk factor for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Curcumin has p300-specific histone acetyltransferase inhibitory activity, suppresses cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis, and significantly reduces myocardial brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) expression without altering blood pressure in a rat model of hypertensive heart disease. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, for the first time, aimed to examine the efficacy of a high-absorption curcumin for the prevention of hypertensive heart disease in humans.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on the Associations of Cardiovascular Biomarkers With Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Suspected or Known Coronary Artery Disease: The EXCEED-J Study.

Background The impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on the prognostic utility of cardiovascular biomarkers in high-risk patients remains unclear. Methods and Results We performed a multicenter, prospective cohort study of 3255 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) to investigate whether CKD modifies the prognostic utility of cardiovascular biomarkers. Serum levels of cardiovascular and renal biomarkers, including soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin-I (hs-cTnI), cystatin C, and placental growth factor, were measured in 1301 CKD and 1954 patients without CKD.

Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aims: Endothelial cell vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis, which induces physiological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via paracrine signalling between endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. We investigated whether a decrease in circulating soluble VEGFR-2 (sVEGFR-2) levels is associated with poor prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure (HF).

Methods And Results: We performed a multicentre prospective cohort study of 1024 consecutive patients with HF, who were admitted to hospitals due to acute decompensated HF and were stabilized after initial management.

Simple and non-invasive screening method for diabetes based on myoinositol levels in urine samples collected at home.

Objective: To establish a simple screening method for diabetes based on myoinositol (MI) in urine samples collected at home.

Research Design And Methods: Initially, we evaluated the stability of urinary MI (UMI) at room temperature (RT; 25°C) and 37°C in 10 outpatients with type 2 diabetes. We then enrolled 115 volunteers without a current or history of diabetes.

Effects of Metformin on Left Ventricular Size and Function in Hypertensive Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Results of a Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter, Phase IV Trial.

Background: Metformin is the most widely used oral antihyperglycemic agent for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Despite the possible benefits of metformin on diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure (HF), acute or unstable HF remains a precaution for its use.

Objective: The aim of the present prospective randomized controlled trial was to assess whether metformin treatment has beneficial effects on patients with T2DM with hypertension without overt HF.

VEGF-C and Mortality in Patients With Suspected or Known Coronary Artery Disease.

Background The lymphatic system has been suggested to play an important role in cholesterol metabolism and cardiovascular disease. However, the relationships of vascular endothelial growth factor-C ( VEGF -C), a central player in lymphangiogenesis, with mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease are unknown. Methods and Results We performed a multicenter, prospective cohort study of 2418 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease undergoing elective coronary angiography.

Clinical Significance of Peripheral Endothelial Function for Left Atrial Blood Stagnation in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients With Low-to-Intermediate Stroke Risk.

Background: In patients who have atrial fibrillation (AF) with CHADS2score of 0-1 (categorized as low-to-intermediate risk), there is little information on stratifying the risk of stroke. This study aimed to determine whether impaired endothelial function assessed by reactive hyperemia-peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) predicted left atrial blood stagnation in these patients.

Methods and results: We enrolled 81 consecutive patients with nonvalvular AF.

Clinical Utility of Atrial Electromechanical Conduction Time Measured with Speckle Tracking Echocardiography after Catheter Ablation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Validation Study with Electroanatomical Mapping.

Purpose: Our recent report demonstrated that atrial electromechanical conduction time (EMT-ε) measured with speckle tracking echocardiography could predict cardiac events in patients with pathological left ventricular hypertrophy. This study aimed to validate EMT-ε by comparison with electroanatomical mapping and to investigate the clinical utility of EMT-ε in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing catheter ablation.

Methods: Forty-six patients with preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF ≥ 50%) undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for AF were studied.

Postcardiac injury syndrome following vascular interventional radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Postcardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) occurs following a pericardial or myocardial injury. On the other hand, PCIS following cardiac catheter intervention is rare and can be difficult to diagnose because of its delayed onset. A 24-year-old man underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and suffered from general fatigue and left-sided pleural effusion three months after the procedure.

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of adenosine triphosphate stress whole-heart dynamic myocardial perfusion imaging using 256-slice computed tomography.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of the qualitative transmural extent of hypoperfusion areas (HPA) using stress dynamic whole-heart computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging by 256-slice CT with CTP-derived myocardial blood flow (MBF) for the estimation of the severity of coronary artery stenosis.

Methods And Results: Eleven patients underwent adenosine triphosphate (0.16 mg/kg/min, 5 min) stress dynamic CTP by 256-slice CT (coverage: 8 cm, 0.

Impact of septal curvature on regional strain in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: The interventricular septum in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) has a unique shape, which is characterized by the convex curvature toward the left ventricle (LV). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between curvature of the LV wall and regional myocardial strain.

Methods And Results: Fifty-six patients with HC (mean age, 55±12 years) and 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects (mean age, 56±8 years) were enrolled.

Impact of type 2 diabetes on serial changes in tissue characteristics of coronary plaques: an integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound analysis.

Aims: Several studies have demonstrated that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis, which results in an increased risk of coronary vascular events. However, serial changes in plaque characteristics have not been reported in vivo. We evaluated the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with T2DM using an integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) examination.

Direct measurement of radial strain in the inner-half layer of the left ventricular wall in hypertensive patients.

Background: Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) is a novel technology that directly measures regional left ventricular (LV) wall contraction. This study aimed to directly measure inner-layer thickening (radial strain) of the LV using 2D-STE, and to examine the relationship between radial strain and the degree of hypertrophy.

Methods: The study enrolled 63 untreated hypertensive patients with normal geometry (N group, n=32) or concentric hypertrophy (CH group, n=31), classified according to LV mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness (RWT).

Right ventricular septal pacing preserves global left ventricular longitudinal function in comparison with apical pacing: analysis of speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) pacing alters left ventricular (LV) mechanical activation, resulting in adverse impacts on LV function. This study was aimed to investigate the acute effect of RV apical (RVA) and septal pacing (RVS) on LV dyssynchrony and function using speckle tracking echocardiography.

Methods And Results: The 103 patients (749 years) with symptomatic bradyarrhythmia and preserved LV ejection fraction, and 50 age-matched control subjects were studied.

Myocardial fibrosis attenuates the effect of cibenzoline on left ventricular diastolic function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and the effect of cibenzoline (CBZ) on left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. Echocardiography before and after intravenous CBZ (1.4 mg/kg over 5 minutes) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed in 22 consecutive patients with HCM [mean age: 65 ± 14 years, obstructive HCM: 14, nonobstructive HCM (HNCM): 8].

Usefulness of the MOSAIC (measurement of stenosis by aliasing coronary flow) method using transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography in unstable angina patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of the MOSAIC (measurement of stenosis by aliasing coronary flow) method for the detection of proximal left coronary stenosis in patients with unstable angina (UA) using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE).

Methods: Patients (n=107) with UA were evaluated. Proximal left coronary flow was sought in the short axis (SAX) at the aortic root level using color Doppler guidance.

Regulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow is related to measures of vascular and autonomic function.

Appropriate blood vessel function is important to cardiovascular health. Adipose tissue plays an important role in metabolic homoeostasis, and subcutaneous abdominal ATBF (adipose tissue blood flow) is responsive to nutritional stimuli. This response is impaired in obesity, suggesting parallels with endothelial function.

The differences in left ventricular torsional behavior between patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hypertensive heart disease.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in left ventricular (LV) twisting behavior between patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hypertensive heart disease (HHD).

Methods: Forty-four patients with HCM (mean age, 63±15 years), 35 patients with HHD (mean age, 63±13 years) and 20 age and sex-matched control subjects were evaluated. After a standard echocardiographic examination, LV twist and twisting velocity profiles from apical and basal short-axis images were analyzed using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging.

Influence of meal intake on pulse wave indices in type 2 diabetes.

Augmentation index (AI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) are available for the assessment of arterial stiffness in clinical practices. However, influences of meal intake on these indices are still poorly understood. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effects of daily meal intake on pulse wave indices in patients with type 2 diabetes.

A case of pulmonary stenosis after a repair for tetralogy of Fallot treated with percutaneous pulmonary valvuloplasty using a triple-balloon technique.

The patient was a 37-year-old female who had undergone a repair for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) at the age of 4 years. Postoperative pulmonary stenosis remained, but she continued to be managed medically. Approximately 3 years ago, at the age of 34, she exhibited a worsening of fatigue and dyspnea during exertion (New York Heart Association III), and was therefore hospitalized for a detailed examination.

Initial Japanese experience and long-term follow-up with a new active fixation coronary sinus lead, the StarFix 4195.

Technologies associated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices and lead systems have progressed. However, dislocation after coronary sinus (CS) lead placement continues to be a problem. Furthermore, CS lead positioning at the site of the ventricular latest activation (detected by echocardiography) is often problematic due to large vessel size leading to the lead placement (wedge site) near the apical site.