Effect of climatic environment on immunological features of rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of climatic environment on the immunological features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Blood samples were collected from patients with RA and healthy controls (HCs), matched by age and sex, living in two locations, Tsukuba and Karuizawa, which differ in their altitude and average air temperature and atmospheric pressure. Analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) revealed that the proportion of T and B cell subpopulations in HCs and RA patients were significantly different between two sites. Inverse probability weighting adjustment with propensity scores was used to control for potential confounding factors. The results revealed that, in comparison with RA patients in Tsukuba, those in Karuizawa showed a significant increase in cTh1, cTfh1, and Tph cells, and significant decrease in cTh17, cTh17.1, and CD8+ Treg in T cell subpopulations, and a significant increase in DNB, DN1, DN2, and class-switched memory B cells, and a significant decrease in unswitched memory B, naïve B cells, and ABCs in B cell subpopulations. Our results suggest the possibility that climatic environment might have an effect on immune cell proportion and function, and be related to the pathogenic mechanism of RA.

Clinical Outcome of Closure of a Small Atrial Septal Defect in a Patient with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

The closure of small/coincidental atrial septal defects (ASDs) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has been described in recent major guidelines as useless or even contraindicated. We confirm the effectiveness of "Treat and Repair" for ASD closure through one patient diagnosed with idiopathic PAH with small ASD, under careful observation with right heart catheterization and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The clinical decision concerning the closure of ASD with PAH should be made not only by referring to the guidelines but also by evaluating the benefits and risks specific to that case.

Association of serum CCL20 levels with pulmonary vascular involvement and primary biliary cholangitis in patients with systemic sclerosis.

AIM: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease resulting in vasculopathy and fibrosis of the skin and major internal organs. Especially, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension are the leading causes of mortality. C-C motif ligand 20 (CCL20) is known as a homeostatic and inflammatory chemokine, which is associated with fibrosis and angiogenesis and constantly expressed in organs involved in SSc. Therefore, we investigated the potential contribution of CCL20 to the development of SSc. METHOD: We conducted cross-sectional analyses of 67 SSc patients and 20 healthy controls recruited in a single center for 9 years. Serum CCL20 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were performed with the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's multiple comparison test, Fisher's exact probability test and the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: SSc patients had significantly higher serum CCL20 levels than healthy controls. In SSc patients, serum CCL20 levels correlated inversely with the percentage of predicated diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide and positively with mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP). In addition, SSc patients with increased serum CCL20 levels had anti-mitochondrial antibody M2 titer significantly elevated relative to those with normal levels, and SSc patients with asymptomatic primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) possessed higher serum CCL20 levels than those without. Importantly, serum CCL20 levels were associated positively with mPAP values and PBC presence by multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Serum CCL20 levels may be involved in the development of pulmonary vascular involvement leading to pulmonary arterial hypertension and asymptomatic PBC in SSc patients.

Factors associated with left ventricular reverse remodelling after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is sometimes considered as an alternative therapeutic strategy to surgical revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, the types or conditions of patients that receive the clinical benefit of left ventricular reverse remodelling (LVRR) remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of LVRR following PCI in CAD patients with reduced LVEF. From 4394 consecutive patients who underwent PCI, a total of 286 patients with reduced LV systolic function (LVEF < 50% at initial left ventriculography) were included in the analysis. LVRR was defined as LV end-systolic volume reduction ≥ 15% and improvement of LVEF ≥ 10% at 6 months follow-up left ventriculography. Patients were divided into LVRR (n = 63) and non-LVRR (n = 223) groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) intervention was significantly associated with LVRR (P = 0.007, odds ratios [OR] 4.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.54-14.38), while prior PCI (P = 0.001, OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.19-0.66), presence of in-stent restenosis (P = 0.016, OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.12-0.81), and presence of de-novo stenosis (P = 0.038, OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.14-0.95) were negatively associated with LVRR. These data suggest the potential prognostic benefit of unprotected LMCA intervention for LVRR and importance of angiographic follow-up in patients with CAD and LV systolic dysfunction.

Balloon Valvuloplasty to Treat Adult Symptomatic Pulmonary Valve Stenosis with Sequential Follow-Up Using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Combination with Echocardiography.

Pulmonary valve stenosis (PVS) accounts for approximately 10% of all congenital heart defects. Echocardiography and right heart catheterization are the gold standards for diagnosis of PVS and for assessing disease severity and responsiveness to treatment.Recently, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) has been established as an important tool to comprehensively evaluate cardiac structure and function; however, research into the usefulness of cMRI for PVS management is limited. Here, we describe a case of a 59-year-old female with isolated, severe PVS who was successfully treated with balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV) followed by sequential cMRI at 1 and 12 months. Exertional dyspnea and elevated plasma BNP concentration were observed 1 month after BPV; however, echocardiographic findings did not indicate recurrent stenosis or increased pulmonary valve regurgitation but an increase in mitral E/e'. cMRI demonstrated improved systolic forward flow and RV function with enlargement of LV volume, and the rapid increase in LV preload might be associated with the transient deterioration in symptoms and BNP level, which both gradually improved within 3 months after BPV. cMRI further depicted that a reduced RV mass index and increased RV cardiac output were achieved gradually during the follow-up period.In conclusion, cMRI in combination with echocardiography was sufficiently informative to follow-up this PVS patient both before and after BPV. cMRI is easily reproducible in adult patients; therefore, cMRI should be recommended for long-term follow-up in adult PVS patients.

The Clinical Efficacy of Endothelin Receptor Antagonists in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Therapeutic strategies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have made remarkable progress over the last two decades. Currently, 3 types of drugs can be used to treat PAH; prostacyclins, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, and endothelin receptor antagonists (ERA). In Japan, the first generation ERA bosentan was reimbursed in 2005, following which the 2nd generation ERAs ambrisentan and macitentan were reimbursed in 2009 and 2015, respectively. The efficacy of each ERA on hemodynamics in PAH patients remains to be elucidated. The aims of this study were to evaluate the hemodynamic effects of ERAs and compare these effects among each generation of ERAs.We retrospectively examined the clinical parameters of 42 PAH patients who were prescribed an ERA (15 bosentan, 12 ambrisentan, and 15 macitentan) and who underwent a hemodynamic examination before and after ERA introduction at our institution from January 2007 to July 2019.In a total of 42 patients, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were significantly decreased and cardiac index was significantly increased after ERA introduction (P < 0.001) and the World Health Organization-Functional class (WHO-Fc) was significantly improved after ERA introduction (P = 0.005). Next, in a comparison between 1st and 2nd generation ERAs, 2nd generation ERAs were found to have brought about greater improvements in hemodynamic parameters (mPAP and PVR. P < 0.01), heart rate, brain natriuretic peptide, arterial oxygen saturation, and mixed venous oxygen saturation than the 1st generation ERA bosentan.We conclude that all ERAs could successfully improve the hemodynamics of PAH patients and that the newer generation ERAs, ambrisentan and macitentan, seemed to be preferable to bosentan.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide in adult congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels are related to various clinical diseases. This study investigated the associations between the clinical characteristics and the level of fractional exhaled nitric oxide in patients with adult congenital heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide values were measured in 30 adult patients with stable congenital heart disease who had undergone right heart catheterization and 17 healthy individuals (controls). There was no significant difference in fractional exhaled nitric oxide values between patients with congenital heart disease and healthy controls. Depending on whether their fractional exhaled nitric oxide values were above or below the median value, patients with congenital heart disease were divided into two groups (low vs. high fractional exhaled nitric oxide groups). The relationship between fractional exhaled nitric oxide values and clinical characteristics was investigated. There was a higher percentage of patients with cyanosis in the low fractional exhaled nitric oxide group (50%) than in the high fractional exhaled nitric oxide group (7.1%). There was no significant difference in right heart catheterization data between the low and high fractional exhaled nitric oxide groups. The fractional exhaled nitric oxide value was correlated to the number of neutrophils in patients with cyanosis (r = 0.84 (N = 8), p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of patients with adult congenital heart disease, lower levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide corresponded to the presence of cyanosis.

Regular Treatment Strategy with a Large Amount of Carvedilol for Heart Failure Improves Biventricular Systolic Failure in a Patient with Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

It is widely known that ß-blockers exert beneficial effects on non-ischemic and ischemic systolic heart failure (sHF) in nonstructural hearts. However, whether ß-blockers exert similar effects on sHF associated with congenital heart disease (CHD), particularly in an anatomical right ventricle, remains under debate.Here we report the case of an adult man with repaired tetralogy of Fallot suffering from biventricular heart failure. Treatment with carvedilol directly improved the systolic function of the right and left ventricles. This case report strongly suggests there is potential for carvedilol to exert a beneficial effect on heart failure in CHD. The appropriate titration of carvedilol and patient follow-up for long-term effects are important when treating adult patients with CHD with ß-blockers.

Combined Surgical and Medical Therapy for Candida Prosthetic Endocarditis in a Patient with Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

Candida prosthetic endocarditis (CPE) is an uncommon and fatal complication in adults with congenital heart disease. The current guidelines for the management of fungal endocarditis recommend a combination of surgical and medical therapy. However, it still remains uncertain when surgical management in CPE patients should be performed. Therefore, the prognosis of CPE patients is very poor. Here we report a case of CPE in a 31-year-old woman who had undergone surgical repair for tetralogy of Fallot during childhood and pulmonary valve replacement at the age of 21 years. She underwent re-pulmonary valve replacement after being sufficiently sterilized with a 5-week course of antifungal medical therapy, leading to clinical improvement. In CPE patients, it is necessary to perform surgical therapy while suppressing the activity of fungi as much as possible.

Prevalence of primary Sjögren's syndrome in patients undergoing evaluation for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) had been reported to be rare. However, recent studies using echocardiography as a screening method showed conflicting results, and the true prevalence is still unclear. Since diagnosing primary SS is difficult because of its heterogeneous nature, a number of patients with primary-SS-associated PAH may be misdiagnosed with idiopathic PAH, losing their chance to undergo immunosuppressive therapy. Therefore, we sought to elucidate the prevalence of primary SS among patients who initially present with PAH. METHODS: From our prospective institutional PAH database, 40 consecutive patients without any obvious cause of PAH at the time of PAH diagnosis were identified. We retrospectively evaluated the prevalence of primary SS diagnosed during or after the initial assessment of PAH. RESULTS: During the initial assessment, one patient was diagnosed with primary-SS-associated PAH. Among the 25 patients who were initially diagnosed with idiopathic PAH, five were diagnosed with primary SS during their course of the disease. Of the five patients, three had key signs suggesting primary SS and were probably underdiagnosed at the time of initial evaluation. The remaining two patients, who were finally diagnosed with primary SS, did not have any specific signs suggesting primary SS at the time of initial evaluation but showed positive conversion of their autoantibodies during the course of PAH. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of primary-SS-associated PAH may be relatively high among patients who undergo initial evaluation for PAH. Furthermore, primary-SS-associated PAH may be underdiagnosed with routine evaluation for the primary cause of PAH. Clinicians should pay specific attention and carefully evaluate the possibility of primary SS in patients with PAH.

Serum levels of interleukin-18-binding protein isoform a: Clinical association with inflammation and pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by extensive tissue fibrosis and various vascular complications. A wealth of evidence suggests the substantial contribution of pro-inflammatory cytokines to the development of SSc, but the role of interleukin (IL)-18 signaling in this disease still remains elusive. To address this issue, we herein determined serum levels of IL-18-binding protein isoform a (IL-18BPa), a soluble decoy receptor for IL-18, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 57 SSc patients and 20 healthy controls and evaluated their clinical correlation. Serum IL-18BPa levels were higher in SSc patients than in healthy controls, while comparable between diffuse cutaneous SSc and limited cutaneous SSc patients. Although serum IL-18BPa levels were not associated with dermal and pulmonary fibrotic parameters in SSc patients, there was a significant positive correlation between serum IL-18BPa levels and right ventricular systolic pressure estimated by echocardiography. Furthermore, in 24 SSc patients who underwent right heart catheterization, serum IL-18BPa levels positively correlated with mean pulmonary arterial pressure. As for systemic inflammatory markers, significant positive correlations of circulating IL-18BPa levels with erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were noted. These results suggest that the inhibition of IL-18 signaling by IL-18BPa may be involved in the development of pulmonary vascular involvement leading to pulmonary hypertension and modulate the systemic inflammation in SSc.

Novel Scoring System to Predict Ineligibility for Bridge to Implantable Left Ventricular Assist Device as Destination Therapy Before Extracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device Implantation - For the Coming Era of Destination Therapy in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Although destination therapy (DT) is now expected to be a promising strategy for those who are not suitable for heart transplantation in Japan, there has not been any investigation into ineligibility for bridging to implantable left ventricular assist device (I-LVAD) as DT among patients with extracorporeal LVAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively studied 85 patients who had received an extracorporeal LVAD. To assess ineligibility for a bridge to I-LVAD for DT, we defined DT ineligibility (DTI) as BiVAD requirement, death within 6 months, and persistent end-organ dysfunction (medium or high J-VAD risk score) at 6 months after extracorporeal LVAD implantation. DTI was recorded for 32 patients. Uni/multivariate analysis showed that smaller left ventricular diastolic dimension (<64 mm; [odds ratio (OR) 4.522]), continuous hemodiafiltration (OR 4.862), past history of cardiac surgery (OR 6.522), and low serum albumin level (<3.1 g/dl; OR 10.064) were significant predictors of DTI. By scoring 2, 2, 3, 4 points, respectively, considering each OR, we constructed a novel scoring system for DTI (DTI score), which stratified patients into 3 risk strata: low (0-3 points), medium (4-6 points), and high (7-11 points), from the view point of DTI risk (low 8%, medium 46%, high 93%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: DTI score is a promising tool for predicting ineligibility for I-LVAD as DT before extracorporeal VAD implantation.

A case of interferon-α-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension after living donor liver transplantation.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive and life-threatening disease characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, which results in right-heart failure. We present a case of interferon (IFN)-α-induced PAH developed after living donor liver transplantation. Although IFN is categorized as a "possible" risk factor for PAH in the current international classification, it is still under recognized. Moreover, the prognosis of IFN-induced PAH is poor in the limited number of published cases. In our case, we achieved good outcome by the withdrawal of IFN and administration of combination therapy using tadalafil, beraprost, and treprostinil. Since IFN is an important treatment option in current medical therapy, its contribution to the pathogenesis of PAH should be taken into consideration. In conclusion, our case suggests the importance of PAH screening in patients treated with IFN.

An Experience of Landiolol Use for an Advanced Heart Failure Patient With Severe Hypotension.

Tachyarrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) sometimes invoke life-threatening collapse of hemodynamics in patients with severe heart failure. Recently, landiolol, an ultra-short acting ß1-selective antagonist, has been reported to be safe and useful for the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias with reduced left ventricular function. Here we report a case of advanced heart failure with severe hypotension who was treated successfully by landiolol for rapid AF. The patient was a 20-year old male with dilated cardiomyopathy. He presented with low output syndrome in spite of optimal medical therapy and was referred to our department to consider ventricular assist device implantation and heart transplantation. Soon after admission, he developed rapid atrial fibrillation at 180 beats per minute (bpm) followed by severe hypotension and liver enzyme elevation. Low dose landiolol at 2 µg/kg/minute was started because digoxin was not effective. After landiolol administration, his heart rate decreased to 110 bpm, and finally returned to sinus rhythm without hemodynamic deterioration. Intra-aortic balloon pumping was inserted soon after sinus recovery and he was discharged successfully with an implantable left ventricular assist device.

Quality of Life and Influential Factors in Patients Implanted With a Left Ventricular Assist Device.

BACKGROUND: Improving quality of life (QOL) has become an important goal in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy. We aimed (1) to assess the effect of an implantable LVAD on patients' QOL, (2) to compare LVAD patients' QOL to that of patients in different stages of heart failure (HF), and (3) to identify factors associated with patients' QOL. METHODS AND RESULTS: The QOL of 33 Japanese implantable LVAD patients was assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and Short-form 8 (SF-8), before and at 3 and 6 months afterwards. After LVAD implantation, QOL significantly improved [MLHFQ, SF-8 physical component score (PCS), SF-8 mental component score (MCS), all P<0.05]. Implanted LVAD patients had a better QOL than extracorporeal LVAD patients (n=33, 32.1±21.9 vs. n=17, 47.6±18.2), and Stage D HF patients (n=32, 51.1±17.3), but the score was comparable to that of patients who had undergone a heart transplant (n=13). In multiple regression analyses, postoperative lower albumin concentration and right ventricular failure were independently associated with poorer PCS. Female sex and postoperative anxiety were 2 of the independent factors for poorer MCS (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Having an implantable LVAD improves patients' QOL, which is better than that of patients with an extracorporeal LVAD. Both clinical and psychological factors are influence QOL after LVAD implantation.

Opening of native aortic valve accomplished after left ventricular assist device implantation in patients with insufficient preoperative Beta-blocker treatment.

Although we recently demonstrated that opening of a native aortic valve (AV) after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is a sufficient condition to prevent development of aortic insufficiency (AI), its preoperative predictors remain unknown. Data were obtained from 58 patients who had been treated with continuous flow LVAD for ≥ 6 months at our institute between 2006 and 2014. Opening of native AV was accomplished in 21 patients (36%) at postoperative 6 months. Uni/Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that a preoperative lower cumulative dose of ß-blocker was the only independent predictor for postoperative opening of native AV (P = 0.020, OR 0.905) at the cutoff level of 4.5g (equivalent dose of carvedilol), calculated by an ROC analysis. Prevalence of native AV opening was increased gradually along with improvement of LV ejection fraction only in patients with preoperative insufficient ß-blocker treatment during postoperative 6 months (P < 0.05 for both). Patients with opening of native AV had higher exercise capacity and a lower re-admission rate than those with closed native AV during 2-year LVAD support (5% versus 44%, P < 0.05). Opening of native AV during LVAD support is profoundly associated with LV reverse remodeling especially in patients with insufficient preoperative ß-blocker exposure probably due to their better responsiveness to combination therapy with ß-blocker and LVAD. Patients who accomplished native AV opening can enjoy better exercise performance and avoid re-admission due to cardiovascular events.

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib, is effective for treating pulmonary hypertension induced by pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) induced by pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) can be fatal because its rapid progression confounds diagnosis, and it is difficult to control with therapy. Here we describe a woman with symptomatic PTTM-PH accompanying gastric cancer that was suspected from perfusion scintigraphy. PTTM-PH was diagnosed by gastroesophageal endoscopy and lung biopsy after partial control of PH using the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor (PDGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib. Treatment with sildenafil and ambrisentan further decreased PH, and she underwent total gastrectomy followed by adjuvant TS-1 chemotherapy. PH did not recur before her death from metastasis. Postmortem histopathology showed recanalized pulmonary arteries where the embolized cancer masses disappeared. PDGF-A, -B, and PDGFR-α, ß expression was detected in cancer cells and proliferating pulmonary vascular endothelial cells. Thus, PTTM-PH was successfully controlled using a combination of imatinib, drugs to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, and cancer management.

Late rejection occurred in recipients who experienced acute cellular rejection within the first year after heart transplantation.

Serial endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) are scheduled even several years after heart transplantation (HTx) to monitor for late rejection (LR). However, repeated EMBs are associated with an increased risk for fatal complications and decrease the quality of life of the recipient. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 42 adult recipients who had received HTx and were followed > 1 year at the University of Tokyo Hospital. Five recipients experienced LR at 1130 ± 157 days after HTx, and all 5 had experienced acute cellular rejection (ACR) with ISHLT grade ≥ 2R within the first year, which was treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy (sensitivity, 1.000; specificity, 0.7027). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that positive panel reactive antibody (PRA) was the only significant predictor for LR among all parameters at 1 year after HTx (P = 0.020, odds ratio 24.00). Among the 5 recipients with LR, LR occurred earlier in the two PRA positive recipients than in those with a negative PRA (981 ± 12 versus 1230 ± 110 days, P = 0.042). Among the perioperative parameters, gender mismatch [n = 13 (31%)] was the only significant predictor for ACR within the first year in logistic regression analyses (P = 0.042, odds ratio 4.200). In conclusion, the current schedule of serial EMBs should perhaps be reconsidered for recipients without any history of ACR within the first year due to their lower risk of LR.

Parasympathetic reinnervation accompanied by improved post-exercise heart rate recovery and quality of life in heart transplant recipients.

Although sympathetic reinnervation is accompanied by the improvement of exercise tolerability during the first years after heart transplantation (HTx), little is known about parasympathetic reinnervation and its clinical impact. We enrolled 21 recipients (40 ± 16 years, 71% male) who had received successive cardiopulmonary exercise testing at 6 months, and 1 and 2 years after HTx. Exercise parameters such as peak oxygen consumption or achieved maximum load remained unchanged, whereas recovery parameters including heart rate (HR) recovery during 2 minutes and the delay of peak HR, which are influenced by parasympathetic activity, improved significantly during post-HTx 2 years (P < 0.05 for both). HR variability was analysed at post-HTx 6 months in 18 recipients, and high frequency power, representing parasympathetic activity, was significantly associated with the 2 recovery parameters (P < 0.05 for all). We also assessed quality of life using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure (HF) Questionnaire at post-HTx 6 months and 2 years in the same 18 recipients, and those with improved recovery parameters enjoyed a better HF-specific quality of life (P < 0.05 for both). In conclusion, parasympathetic reinnervation emerges along with improved post-exercise recovery ability of HR and quality of life during post-HTx 2 years.