The Hemodynamic Reversal of Delayed-Onset Radiation-Induced Constrictive Pericarditis Obtained by Pericardiectomy: A Case Report.

Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is often underdiagnosed, partly because of the lack of established diagnostic criteria. Exaggerated ventricular interdependence during inspiration is a hallmark physiological feature of CP. We herein report the case of a 55-year-old patient with CP who demonstrated a hemodynamic improvement following pericardiectomy.

The impact of chronic kidney disease on the antithrombotic strategies and outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes and atrial fibrillation: Insights from STAR-ACS study.

Background: Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) (ACS + AF) face elevated risks of thrombotic and bleeding events, especially with comorbid chronic kidney disease (CKD). Limited research has assessed the combined influence of CKD in this high-risk population.

Methods: This first subanalysis of STAR-ACS study included 445 Japanese ACS + AF patients, stratified by CKD status (eGFR < vs.

Effects of boysenberry on postprandial energy metabolism in healthy adults: A randomized controlled crossover trial.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is essential for thermoregulation and energy metabolism, converting fatty acids into thermal energy in response to cold exposure and dietary intake, thereby contributing to both cold-induced thermogenesis and diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT). Our previous research suggests that boysenberry anthocyanins (BoyACs) may activate BAT under cold conditions, and we hypothesized that BoyACs could also influence DIT through the activation of BAT. This pilot randomized, double-blind crossover trial aimed to evaluate the effects of daily intake of BoyACs on DIT in healthy adults (registration number: UMIN000047413).

A β-cap on the FliPQR protein-export channel acts as the cap for initial flagellar rod assembly.

The FliPQR complex constitutes a channel for export of the flagellar proteins involved in axial structure assembly. It also serves as a template for the assembly of the rod structure, which consists of FliE, FlgB, FlgC, FlgF, and FlgG. FliP, FliQ, and FliR assemble into a right-handed helical structure within the central pore of the flagellar basal body MS-ring, and the complex has two gates on the cytoplasmic and periplasmic sides.

Intestinal luminal polyamines support the gut colonization of enteric bacterial pathogens by modulating flagellar motility and nitrate respiration.

Unlabelled: serovar Typhimurium (Tm) is an etiological agent of common foodborne diseases and a major health concern worldwide. Tm gastrointestinal infection induces intestinal inflammation, allowing Tm outgrowth in the gut lumen by exploiting inflammation-induced host factors. Polyamines, including putrescine and spermidine, are crucial for both intestinal homeostasis and Tm infectivity.

Determinants and Clinical Impact of Visit-to-visit Blood Pressure Variability in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Introduction: Blood pressure (BP) affects the prognosis of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the implications of its variability are poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the determinants and prognostic significance of visit-to-visit BP variability (V2V-BPV) in HFpEF.

Prognostic value of Tc-pyrophosphate uptake in patients with suspected transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of myocardial Tc-pyrophosphate (PYP) uptake in patients undergoing PYP imaging for suspected transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 301 consecutive patients who underwent PYP imaging for suspected ATTR-CA was performed. Myocardial PYP uptake was graded visually using the Perugini classification (grade 0-3) and quantified by the heart-to-contralateral lung uptake (H/CL) ratio.

Low-voltage areas, atrial cardiomyopathy score, and outcomes in patients with preserved ejection fraction after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Left atrial low-voltage areas (LVAs) and the postprocedural atrial cardiomyopathy (AC) score-which incorporates echocardiographic data and brain natriuretic peptide levels-are linked to outcomes in patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, voltage mapping requires considerable time and cost, and the optimal prognostic predictor for patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after AF ablation remains unclear.

Objective: This study analyzed the relationship between LVAs, the AC score, and outcomes among patients with preserved LVEF after AF ablation.

Poor Nutritional Status Combined With Sarcopenia Were Associated With Increased Mortality and Amputation Rate in Patients With Lower Extremity Arterial Disease Following Endovascular Treatment.

Background: There is limited evidence assessing the prognostic impact of nutritional status and sarcopenia simultaneously in patients with lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). In this study, we estimated nutritional status by determining the triglycerides, total cholesterol, and body weight index (TCBI) as well as sarcopenia by obtaining the computed tomography (CT)-based psoas muscle index (PMI) in LEAD patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the simultaneous prognostic impact of TCBI and PMI in LEAD patients.

Association Between Low Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Levels and the Development of Delirium in the Coronary Intensive Care Unit.

Delirium is frequently observed in patients admitted to the intensive care unit, and is associated with mortality and morbidity. Although several studies have reported an association between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and cognitive disorders, the association between PUFA levels and development of delirium in patients with acute cardiovascular disease remains unknown. This study aimed to clarify the association between PUFA levels and development of delirium in the coronary intensive care unit (CICU).

Association of Medication Profiles, Including Polypharmacy, Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy, and Potentially Inappropriate Medications, With All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults With Heart Failure, With or Without Frailty and Disability.

Background: Polypharmacy, driven by guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and medications for comorbidities, including potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), is common in older adults with heart failure (HF). Although medication profiles affect survival, the effects of frailty and disability status remain underexplored.

Methods And Results: This retrospective study assessed polypharmacy (≥5 medications), the use of GDMT, and PIMs based on the Beers Criteria.

Insight of Focal Atrial Tachycardia From Right Atrial Appendage in a Case of Resistant to Catheter Ablation: Immunohistological Assessment of the Excised Specimen.

Introduction: Atrial tachycardias originating from right atrial appendages (RAA-AT) are often refractory to catheter ablation (CA). The extent of the localization of arrhythmogenic foci has been described.

Methods And Results: A 25-year-old male with RAA-AT experienced recurrence after CA and subsequently underwent right atrial appendectomy.

Low Arterial Stiffness by Pulse Wave Analysis and Aortic Diseases.

Background: The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is an important marker of arterial stiffness, providing a blood pressure-independent assessment of vascular function. However, the clinical significance of low CAVI values remains unclear. Some connective tissue diseases are associated with aortic diseases due to intrinsic arterial wall abnormalities and may exhibit low CAVI values.

The Relationship Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Frailty in Older Patients Participating in Early Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Background: Frailty is a significant prognostic risk factor for cardiovascular disease and it can lead to poor quality of life due to malnutrition, fatigue, and reduced physical activity. However, few studies have investigated how frailty affects older patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods And Results: Between November 2015 and December 2016 at Juntendo University Hospital, 217 patients (mean age 74.

Successful wire placement into eccentric calcified plaque using intravascular lithotripsy.

Background: Eccentric calcified lesions pose significant challenges in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), as they are associated with an increased risk of coronary artery perforation and suboptimal stent expansion. Moreover, long-term outcomes with drug-eluting stents (DESs) in these lesions are less favorable. Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) has emerged as a treatment option for calcified lesions.

High-resolution deep learning reconstruction to improve the accuracy of CT fractional flow reserve.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) using model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) and high-resolution deep learning reconstruction (HR-DLR) images to detect functionally significant stenosis with invasive FFR as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 79 consecutive patients (mean age, 70 ± 11 [SD] years; 57 male) who underwent coronary CT angiography followed by invasive FFR between February 2022 and March 2024. CT-FFR was calculated using a mesh-free simulation.

Wearable Devices in Remote Cardiac Rehabilitation With and Without Weekly Online Coaching for Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases; however, participation in CR programs remains limited due to the associated challenges. The integration of wearable devices and real-time monitoring offers a potential solution to enhance adherence to remote CR programs and their outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a remote CR program using wearable devices and real-time monitoring with or without online coaching (OLC) in improving exercise capacity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Biventricular reverse remodelling achieved through combined surgical and optimal medical therapy in an adolescent female post-Rastelli procedure: a case report.

Background: Advances in medical treatments have allowed many congenital heart disease patients to reach adulthood, resulting in an increase in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) cases. Managing heart failure (HF) in ACHD patients is a significant concern, particularly due to limited understanding of optimal pharmacological therapies. Conduit dysfunction and right heart failure are common in the late phase after the Rastelli procedure, but right HF is not well understood, and standard medications for acquired HF are not particularly effective.

Vasospastic Angina as a Cause of Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19.

Diagnosing the cause of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC, also known as long COVID)-related chest pain is often challenging in patients with a low pre-test probability of coronary artery disease. In a retrospective review of 273 consecutive patients who presented to the cardiovascular outpatient unit for cardiovascular PASC at the Hokkaido Cardiovascular Hospital, Japan, 8 patients were suspected to have vasospastic angina (VSA) and underwent acetylcholine provocation testing, 5 of whom (1.8%, 5/273) were newly diagnosed with VSA.

The HFA-PEFF score and outcomes in patients with sick sinus syndrome and preserved ejection fraction after pacemaker implantation.

Background: Sick sinus syndrome (SSS) is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, diagnosing HFpEF in patients with SSS and determining its prognosis are challenging. The European Society of Cardiology has recommended the HFA-PEFF score for HFpEF diagnosis.

Causes of applying Long-Term Care Insurance certification for patients with heart failure with systolic dysfunction.

Aim: The number of patients with heart failure with disability and the use of Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) has been increasing in the Japanese aging society. This study investigated the main causes of LTCI demands for better care management.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study including patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in seven hospitals in Niigata City from 2011 to 2016.