Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate and Heart Failure Risk: A Comparative Study With Calcium Polystyrene Sulfonate.

Aim: Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) is one of the classic potassium-binding agents that remains commonly used in the treatment of hyperkalaemia. However, the potential concern about its sodium load has not been fully investigated. In this study, we evaluated the association between SPS initiation and heart failure (HF), compared with calcium polystyrene sulfonate (CPS).

Impact of early in-hospital initiation of sacubitril/valsartan on left ventricular reverse remodelling in acute heart failure.

Aims: The effect of initiating sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) therapy during hospitalization for acute heart failure (AHF) on left ventricular (LV) remodelling remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of Sac/Val on LV remodelling in patients in whom Sac/Val was initiated during AHF hospitalization.

Methods And Results: This study was a sub-analysis of the Program of Angiotensin-Neprilysin Inhibition in Admitted Patients with Worsening Heart Failure (PREMIER) study, which investigated the impact of initiating Sac/Val during hospitalization for AHF on echocardiographic parameters over an 8-week period, in comparison with the standard renin-angiotensin system inhibitor therapy (control).

The JSH Morning Hypertension Eradication Program Project.

Hypertension is the greatest risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and significantly contributes to cardiovascular mortality. In Japan, the hypertensive population is estimated at 43 million, with only 27% achieving well-controlled blood pressure (BP). The onset of major cardiovascular events, including stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and aortic dissection, frequently occurs during the early morning hours.

Gender differences in the prescription of SGLT2 inhibitors in chronic kidney disease: A real-world database study.

Aims: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing global health concern, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have emerged as a key treatment strategy. While their kidney-protective effects are well established in both genders, women are prescribed these agents less frequently than men for the treatment of type 2 diabetes worldwide. However, data on gender differences in SGLT2 inhibitor prescriptions for CKD remain limited.

Frailty and its components and cardiovascular outcomes in older adults: A nationwide epidemiological study.

Aim: Although frailty is the result of multifactorial vulnerability, such as physical, cognitive, and socio-psychological factors, the association of multifactor-defined frailty and its components with cardiovascular disease (CVD) has not been investigated. The goal of this paper is to clarify the association between multifactor-defined frailty and its components and CVD in older adults.

Methods: Using a nationwide claims database, we included 66 948 participants aged ≥65 years without a history of CVD who were assessed using a simple questionnaire-based approach covering physical, cognitive, oral, nutritional, and social aspects of frailty.

Blood pressure control and treatment status at 1 year after the first health check-up in individuals with observed referral-level blood pressure.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to clarify blood pressure (BP) management after the health check-up among individuals with grade II or severer hypertension, defined as systolic BP (SBP) ≥ 160 mmHg or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥ 100 mmHg in Japan. This retrospective study used the JMDC Claims Database (2005-2022) in Japan, including 63,785 individuals (median age 50 years; men 75.

Prevalence and management of hypertension in childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Improvements in cancer survival rates have drawn attention to the long-term cardiovascular health of childhood and adolescent/young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Hypertension is a key modifiable risk factor contributing to elevated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this population. However, its prevalence and persistence remain underexplored.

Association of lean mass index with a risk of incident stroke: a nationwide epidemiological cohort study.

Background: Body compositions are closely related to stroke risk. Recently, lean mass index (LMI) has been demonstrated to be a precise indicator of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and the newly proposed formula enabled the simple estimation of LMI without a computed tomography scan. However, little is known about its attribution to a risk of stroke.

Targeted disruption of the aralkylamine -acetyltransferase gene in a seasonal mammal, .

A definitive understanding of intrinsic functions of endogenous melatonin may require genetic manipulation or modification of its synthesizing enzymes. Here, we established Syrian hamsters, a seasonal mammal, carrying loss of function of aralkylamine -acetyltransferase (AANAT), a rate-limiting enzyme in melatonin biosynthesis. Mutants showed a normal circadian period but an accelerated entrainment to rescheduled light-dark cycles.

Artificial blood vessels-clinical development of TEVG.

The market for small-diameter vascular grafts (< 6 mm) used in cardiac and vascular surgery has not yet been fully established, as stable long-term patency has not been achieved. This paper focuses on the clinical development of tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs), especially those that have progressed to clinical trials, and introduces their current status with historical background and future directions. This review was created based on a translation of the Japanese review first reported in the Japanese Journal of Artificial Organs in 2023 (vol.

2025 Japanese Heart Rhythm Society / Japanese Circulation Society Consensus Statement on the Appropriate Use of Ambulatory and Wearable Electrocardiographs.

Recently, some clinicians have been diagnosing and treating arrhythmias on the basis of electrocardiogram (ECG) devices with low accuracy. In Europe and the US, several statements on the use of ECGs have already been published by related academic societies. In addition, with the relaxation of regulations on media advertising ambulatory/wearable ECG devices, the frequency of use of simple ECG devices by the general public will increase in the future.

Atrial amyloidosis identified by biopsy in atrial fibrillation: prevalence and clinical presentation.

Background And Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and to test the hypothesis that early-stage CA can be identified through atrial biopsy.

Methods: Atrial biopsy was performed on 578 patients during AF ablation, with right ventricular (RV) biopsy conducted in 385 patients. The amyloid type was assessed using immunohistochemistry.

Uptitration of Sacubitril/Valsartan in Acute Heart Failure: Insight from the PREMIER Study.

Aims: This study investigated the effect of uptitration of sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) compared with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEIs/ARBs) on N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level within current guideline-directed medical therapy in acute heart failure (AHF).

Methods And Results: This was the secondary analysis in the Program Angiotensin-Neprilysin Inhibition in Admitted Patients with Worsening Heart Failure (PREMIER) study. AHF patients were allocated to switch to Sac/Val or ACEIs/ARBs, and the Sac/Val group was divided into Sac/Val with or without uptitration group (Sac/Val >24/26 mg or ≤24/26 mg twice daily at week 8).

Impact of baseline left ventricular ejection fraction and body mass index on the effect of 24-week Ipragliflozin treatment on left ventricular diastolic function in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease: insights from the PROCEED trial.

Background: Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are important for treating patients with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF). Several studies have assessed the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on LV diastolic function, with conflicting results. In this sub-analysis of the Program of Ipragliflozin for Endothelial Dysfunction in Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes (PROCEED) trial-including patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD)-we examined the effect of ipragliflozin compared with non-SGLT2 inhibitor standard therapy (control) on changes in the maximum early diastolic velocity to average early diastolic peak velocity (E/e') ratio (an index of LV diastolic function) via echocardiography.

Home-based telemonitoring care and executive function in patients with heart failure.

Enhancement of self-care ability is essential for patients with heart failure (HF), and executive function plays a critical role. We investigated the clinical influence of a home-based remote care program using telemonitoring and telecoaching on executive function in patients with HF and assessed the relationship between executive functional status and clinical outcomes. This prospective study enrolled outpatients with HF, and they received home-based remote care program with telemonitoring and telecoaching using self-measured physical data.

Intensive blood pressure-lowering treatment to prevent cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The effect of intensive blood pressure (BP) reduction on the prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes remains unclear. This study evaluated the impact of intensive BP-lowering on cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes compared to standard treatment. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted, comparing intensive treatment (target systolic BP < 130 mmHg or diastolic BP < 80 mmHg) with standard treatment in patients with diabetes.

A Randomized Clinical Trial of ICT-based Interventions for Sodium and Potassium Regulation in Healthy Adults.

Background: There is limited knowledge regarding effective strategies, including information and communication technology (ICT)-based interventions, to reduce sodium intake and increase potassium intake in healthy individuals.

Methods: We conducted a 3-month randomized controlled trial involving healthy adult employees with spot urine sodium-to-potassium ratios (spot UNa/UK) ≥4.0 or estimated 24-hour salt intake ≥10g.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes Stratified by Time to ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Presentation.

There were few data on the clinical characteristics of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with late presentation (long symptom onset to door [hospital arrival] time). Among 719 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the SAGA-ACS registry, we compared baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes between patients with early presentation (symptom onset to door time <2.3 hours) and late presentation (≥2.

2025 Japanese Heart Rhythm Society / Japanese Circulation Society Consensus Statement on the Appropriate Use of Ambulatory and Wearable Electrocardiographs.

Recently, some clinicians have been diagnosing and treating arrhythmias on the basis of electrocardiogram (ECG) devices with low accuracy. In Europe and the US, several statements on the use of ECGs have already been published by related academic societies. In addition, with the relaxation of regulations on media advertising ambulatory/wearable ECG devices, the frequency of use of simple ECG devices by the general public will increase in the future.

Effect of SGLT2i on kidney outcomes of individuals with type2 diabetes according to blood pressure levels.

Aims: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have proven kidney protective effects. Given that the SGLT2 inhibitors lower blood pressure (BP), the magnitude of their kidney benefits may vary depending on an individual's BP. Therefore, we investigated whether baseline BP modifies the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on kidney function.

Disease modifying therapies in heart failure: an update.

There is currently limited evidence-based disease-modifying pharmacotherapy in patients with heart failure and mildly reduced/preserved ejection fraction (HFmrEF/HFpEF), forming an unmet clinical need in contemporary heart failure care. However, according to the finding from recent clinical trials with some medications such as finerenone and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, a clinical concept of pharmacological therapy in patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF will be updated and upgraded. Based on recent evidences, we herein aim to discuss the possible roles of those medications in the HFmrEF/HFpEF therapy and propose an emerging pharmacological strategy for this population.

HINT1 suppression protects against age-related cardiac dysfunction by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis.

Objective: Cardiac function declines with age, impairing exercise tolerance and negatively impacting healthy aging. However, mechanisms driving age-related declines in cardiac function are not fully understood.

Methods: We examined mechanisms underlying age-related cardiac dysfunction using 3- and 24-month-old wild-type mice fed ad libitum or 24-month-old wild-type mice subjected to 70% calorie restriction (CR) starting at 2-month-old.