Cluster Analysis of Subjective Shoulder Stiffness and Muscle Hardness: Associations with Central Sensitization-Related Symptoms.

Background and Objectives: Understanding the relationships between subjective shoulder stiffness, muscle hardness, and various factors is crucial. Our cross-sectional study identified subgroups of shoulder stiffness based on symptoms and muscle hardness and investigated associated factors. Materials and Methods: measures included subjective stiffness, pain, muscle hardness, and factors like physical and psychological conditions, pressure pain threshold, postural alignment, heart rate variability, and electroencephalography in 40 healthy young individuals. Results: Three clusters were identified: Cluster 1 with high stiffness, pain, and muscle hardness; Cluster 2 with low stiffness and pain but high muscle hardness; and Cluster 3 with low levels of all factors. Cluster 1 had significantly higher central sensitization-related symptoms (CSS) scores than Cluster 2. Subjective stiffness is positively correlated with psychological factors. Conclusions: our results suggest that CSS impacts subjective symptom severity among individuals with similar shoulder muscle hardness.

The Impact of Stretching Intensities on Neural and Autonomic Responses: Implications for Relaxation.

Stretching is an effective exercise for increasing body flexibility and pain relief. This study investigates the relationship between stretching intensity and relaxation effects, focusing on brainwaves and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. We used a crossover design with low- and high-intensity conditions to elucidate the impact of varying stretching intensities on neural activity associated with relaxation in 19 healthy young adults. Participants completed mood questionnaires. Electroencephalography (EEG) and plethysmography measurements were also obtained before, during, and after stretching sessions. The hamstring muscle was targeted for stretching, with intensity conditions based on the Point of Discomfort. Data analysis included wavelet analysis for EEG, plethysmography data, and repeated-measures ANOVA to differentiate mood, ANS activity, and brain activity related to stretching intensity. Results demonstrated no significant differences between ANS and brain activity based on stretching intensity. However, sympathetic nervous activity showed higher activity during the rest phases than in the stretch phases. Regarding brain activity, alpha and beta waves showed higher activity during the rest phases than in the stretch phases. A negative correlation between alpha waves and sympathetic nervous activities was observed in high-intensity conditions. However, a positive correlation between beta waves and parasympathetic nervous activities was found in low-intensity conditions. Our findings suggest that stretching can induce interactions between the ANS and brain activity.

CORRIGENDUM: Deterioration of Phosphate Homeostasis Is a Trigger for Cardiac Afterload　- Clinical Importance of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 for Accelerated Aging.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1253/circrep.CR-22-0124.].

Deterioration of Phosphate Homeostasis Is a Trigger for Cardiac Afterload　- Clinical Importance of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 for Accelerated Aging.

Background: After the discovery of the Klotho gene, phosphate came into focus as a pathogenetic aging agent. Phosphate homeostasis is controlled by phosphate-regulating hormones: fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), vitamin D3, and parathyroid hormone. This study investigated the relationship between the deterioration in phosphate homeostasis and arterial stiffness by measuring serum FGF23 concentrations. Methods and Results: The study subjects comprised 82 hospitalized patients (31 males, 51 females; mean [±SD] age 78.6±10.5 years). All patients underwent chest computed tomography, measurement of central blood pressure (BP), and blood chemistry tests. Arterial calcification and/or stiffness was evaluated using the Agatston calcification score (ACS) and pulse wave velocity (PWV). PWV was significantly correlated with age (t=23.47, P<0.0001), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; t=-4.40, P<0.0001), and ACS (t=4.36, P<0.0001). Serum FGF23 concentrations were significantly correlated with age (t=2.52, P=0.014), eGFR (t=-3.37, P<0.001), serum inorganic phosphorus concentrations (t=3.49, P<0.001), serum vitamin D3 concentrations (t=-4.57, P<0.001), ACS (t=2.30, P=0.025), augmentation pressure (t=2.48, P=0.015), central systolic BP (t=2.00, P=0.049), plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations (t=3.48, P<0.001), and PWV (t=2.99, P=0.004). PWV was positively related to augmentation pressure (t=4.09, P<0.001), central systolic BP (t=3.13, P=0.002), and plasma BNP concentrations (t=3.54, P<0.001). Conclusions: This study shows that the increase in serum FGF23 concentrations reflects deterioration of phosphate homeostasis and is an important predictor for arterial stiffness, which intensifies cardiac afterload.

A case of erythema multiforme-like rash induced by everolimus in a patient with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

A 66-year-old Japanese woman had been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreatic head (G2) 3 years previously and undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy. Nine months postoperatively, recurrence with multiple liver metastases developed and she was referred to our department. A regimen of 10 mg of everolimus for 2 weeks plus 1-week washout was instituted, and no adverse events were observed. Fourteen months after treatment initiation, she developed severe generalized erythema multiforme (EM). Skin biopsy revealed spongiosis in the epidermis and interface change and edema in the superficial dermis. Mast cells were observed from the dermis to the subcutaneous tissue, as well as perivascular eosinophilic infiltration, leading to EM being diagnosed. Oral everolimus was discontinued, and the EM was relieved by treatment including steroid therapy. Everolimus is an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin, and its indications include neuroendocrine tumors. Skin disorders are commonly seen in the early stages of everolimus treatment, but their severity is almost always mild and never severe. This is the first report on a patient who presented with severe generalized EM more than 1 year after everolimus treatment initiation. Patients on everolimus therapy should be monitored for skin disorders on a long-term basis.

ß-Blockers are associated with increased B-type natriuretic peptide levels differently in men and women in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

ß-Blocker (BB) use is a mainstay for the treatment of heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), whereas its efficacy for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains controversial. Women outnumber men in HFpEF, whereas men outnumber women in HFrEF. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is established as a biomarker for HF. We examined whether BB use is associated with plasma BNP levels differently in men and women with HFpEF. The study subjects comprised 721 patients with HFpEF [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50%] (184 men, mean age 78.2 ± 9.2 yr and 537 women, mean age 83.1 ± 8.8 yr), 179 on BB (66 men and 113 women) and 542 no BB (118 men and 424 women), 583 in sinus rhythm (SR) and 138 in atrial fibrillation (AF). A multivariable logistic regression test was used. Plasma BNP levels were higher (P = 0.0005), systolic blood pressure and LVEF lower (P = 0.0003, and P = 0.0059, respectively) on BBs than on no BBs in women, whereas in men, plasma BNP levels, systolic blood pressure, and LVEF were not altered significantly (P = 0.0849, P = 0.9129, and P = 0.4718, respectively) on BBs compared with no BBs in patients with SR. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that BB use and women were a positive and a negative predictor for high BNP levels (P = 0.003 and P = 0.032, respectively) in SR but not in AF. BB use was associated with high-plasma BNP levels and lower LVEF in women but not in men with HFpEF and SR, suggesting that the pathogenesis and treatment of HFpEF may differ in men and women in SR.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Pathogenesis and treatment for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) may differ in men and women in sinus rhythm (SR).

Incidence, clinical characteristics, and diagnostic approach in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: The Kumamoto Cardiac Amyloidosis Survey.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) has received increasing attention; however, the epidemiology of ATTR-CM in Japan is not yet understood. In the Kumamoto Cardiac Amyloid Survey, we evaluated the current incidence, clinical characteristics, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies for ATTR-CM and compared tafamidis-prescription hospitals with regional hospitals. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter observational cohort study. The registry included patients with ATTR-CM diagnosed in two tafamidis-prescription hospital institutes [Japanese Circulation Society (JCS)-certified facilities] and 15 regional cardiovascular facilities in Kumamoto between January 2018 and December 2020. RESULTS: In total, 174 patients were diagnosed with ATTR-CM. The incidence of ATTR-CM was estimated to be approximately 1 per 10,000 person-years in the elderly population (>65 years old) in Kumamoto. Compared with that in the JCS-certified facilities cohort (n=115), age at diagnosis was significantly older (84.5 ± 5.6 vs. 77.5 ± 6.3 years old; p<0.01) in the regional hospitals cohort (n=59). Histological (25% vs. 81%; p<0.01) and genetic diagnosis (7% vs. 82%) were also less frequently performed. Probable (as indicated by positive bone scintigraphy findings with confirmation of monoclonal protein absence) and possible (as indicated by positive bone scintigraphy findings without confirmation of monoclonal protein absence) ATTR-CM accounted for the majority of cases (75% vs. 19%; p<0.01) in the regional hospitals cohort compared to the JCS-certified facilities cohort. There were no cases of hereditary ATTR-CM among the patients who underwent TTR genetic testing (n=98). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the incidence of ATTR-CM in Kumamoto and the diagnostic approach used in patients with ATTR-CM. Further prospective studies with a larger sample are needed to validate our results and to further shed light on the epidemiology of ATTR-CM in Japan.

East Asian variant aldehyde dehydrogenase type 2 genotype exacerbates ischemia/reperfusion injury with ST-elevation myocardial infarction in men: possible sex differences.

Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) detoxifies toxic aldehydes generated during ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The deficient variant ALDH2 genotype (ALDH2*2) is prevalent among East Asians. Whether ALDH2*2 exacerbates I/R injury of in patients with STEMI is not known. The study subjects comprised 218 Japanese patients with STEMI (158 men and 60 women, mean age 67.9 ± 11.9) who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention. Of these, 120 (55.0%) were the carriers of variant ALDH2*2 and 98 (45.0%) those of wild ALDH2*1/*1 on genotyping. There were no differences in clinical characteristics between the ALDH2*2 and ALDH2*1/*1 group except lower alcohol habit (14.2% vs 46.3%, P < 0.001) in the ALDH2*2 group. The peak plasma levels of creatine phosphokinase myocardial binding (CKMB), a marker of myocardial injury, however, were significantly higher in the patients with ALDH2*2 than in those with ALDH2*1/*1 [a median 275.0 (175.8-407.5) vs 177.5 (126.9-344.3) U/L, P = 0.001] among men but not among women (P = 0.811). There was a significant interaction between men (male sex) and ALDH2*2 for I/R injury (χ2 = 4.425, P = 0.040). The variant ALDH2*2 was associated with more severe I/R injury than the wild ALDH2*1/*1 in STEMI patients in men with possible sex differences.

Frequency- and Area-Specific Phase Entrainment of Intrinsic Cortical Oscillations by Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Synchronous oscillations are ubiquitous throughout the cortex, but the frequency of oscillations differs from area to area. To elucidate the mechanistic architectures underlying various rhythmic activities, we tested whether spontaneous neural oscillations in different local cortical areas and large-scale networks can be phase-entrained by direct perturbation with distinct frequencies of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). While recording the electroencephalogram (EEG), we applied single-pulse TMS (sp-TMS) and rTMS at 5, 11, and 23 Hz over the motor or visual cortex. We assessed local and global modulation of phase dynamics using the phase-locking factor (PLF). sp-TMS to the motor and the visual cortex triggered a transient increase in PLF in distinct frequencies that peaked at 21 and 8 Hz, respectively. rTMS at 23 Hz over the motor cortex and 11 Hz over the visual cortex induced a prominent and progressive increase in PLF that lasted for a few cycles after the termination of rTMS. Moreover, the local increase in PLF propagated to other cortical areas. These results suggest that distinct cortical areas have area-specific oscillatory frequencies, and the manipulation of oscillations in local areas impacts other areas through the large-scale oscillatory network with the corresponding frequency specificity. We speculate that rTMS that is close to area-specific frequencies (natural frequencies) enables direct manipulation of brain dynamics and is thus useful for investigating the causal roles of synchronous neural oscillations. Moreover, this technique could be used to treat clinical symptoms associated with impaired oscillations and synchrony.

Probing dynamical cortical gating of attention with concurrent TMS-EEG.

Attention facilitates the gating of information from the sending brain area to the receiving areas, with this being achieved by dynamical changes in effective connectivity, which refers to the directional influences between cortical areas. To probe the effective connectivity and cortical excitability modulated by covertly shifted attention, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to directly perturb the right retinotopic visual cortex with respect to attended and unattended locations, and the impact of this was tracked from the stimulated area to other areas by concurrent use of electroencephalography (EEG). TMS to the contralateral visual hemisphere led to a stronger evoked potential than stimulation to the ipsilateral hemisphere. Moreover, stronger beta- and gamma-band effective connectivities assessed as time-delayed phase synchronizations between stimulated areas and other areas were observed when TMS was delivered to the contralateral hemisphere. These effects were more enhanced when they preceded more prominent alpha lateralization, which is known to be associated with attentional gating. Our results indicate that attention-regulated cortical feedforward effective connectivity can be probed by TMS-EEG with direct cortical stimulation, thereby bypassing thalamic gating. These results suggest that cortical gating of the feedforward input is achieved by regulating the effective connectivity in the phase dynamics between cortical areas.

East Asians Variant Mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Genotype Exacerbates Nitrate Tolerance in Patients With Coronary Spastic Angina.

BACKGROUND: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) plays a central role in the biotransformation of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) or nitroglycerin, which is widely used for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). The deficient variant ALDH2 genotype (ALDH2*2) is prevalent among East Asians. This study examined whether there are differences in nitroglycerine-mediated dilation (NMD) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) response between wildALDH2*1/*1and variantALDH2*2patients with CAD.Methods and Results:The study subjects comprised 55 coronary spastic angina (CSA) patients, confirmed by coronary angiography and intracoronary injection of acetylcholine (42 men and 13 women, mean age 68.0±9.0 years). They underwent NMD and FMD tests in the morning before and after continuous transdermal GTN administration for 48 h. NMD was lower at baseline inALDH2*2than in theALDH2*1/*1group (P=0.0499) and decreased significantly in both groups (P<0.0001 and P<0.0001, respectively) after GTN, with significantly lower levels in theALDH2*2group (P=0.0002). FMD decreased significantly in bothALDH2*1/*1andALDH2*2groups (P<0.0001and P=0.0002, respectively) after continuous GTN administration, with no significant differences between the 2 groups both before and after GTN. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous administration of GTN produced endothelial dysfunction as well as nitrate tolerance in bothALDH2*1/1andALDH2*2patients with CSA.ALDH2*2attenuated GTN response and exacerbated GTN tolerance, but not endothelial dysfunction, as compared toALDH2*1/*1in patients with CSA.

Association of East Asian Variant Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Genotype (ALDH2*2*) with Coronary Spasm and Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease, including angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), silent myocardial ischemia, and sudden death. The prevalence of coronary spasm is higher among East Asians probably due to genetic as well as environmental factors. ALDH2 eliminates toxic aldehydes including 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) derived from lipid peroxidation and acrolein in tobacco smoking as well as ethanol-derived acetaldehyde and thereby protects tissues and cells from oxidative damage. Deficient variant ALDH2*2 genotype is prevalent among East Asians and is a significant risk factor for both coronary spasm and AMI through accumulation of toxic aldehydes, thereby contributing to oxidative stress, endothelial damage, vasoconstriction, and thrombosis. Toxic aldehydes are thus identified as risk factors to be targeted for the treatment of coronary spasm and AMI.

Phase-Amplitude Coupling of Neural Oscillations Can Be Effectively Probed with Concurrent TMS-EEG.

Despite the widespread use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), knowledge of its neurophysiological mode of action is still incomplete. Recently, TMS has been proposed to synchronise neural oscillators and to thereby increase the detectability of corresponding oscillations at the population level. As oscillations in the human brain are known to interact within nested hierarchies via phase-amplitude coupling, TMS might also be able to increase the macroscopic detectability of such coupling. In a concurrent TMS-electroencephalography study, we therefore examined the technique's influence on theta-gamma, alpha-gamma, and beta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling by delivering single-pulse TMS (sTMS) and repetitive TMS (rTMS) over the left motor cortex and right visual cortex of healthy participants. The rTMS pulse trains were of 5 Hz, 11 Hz, and 23 Hz for the three coupling variations, respectively. Relative to sham stimulation, all conditions showed transient but significant increases in phase-amplitude coupling at the stimulation site. In addition, we observed enhanced coupling over various other cortical sites, with a more extensive propagation during rTMS than during sTMS. By indicating that scalp-recorded phase-amplitude coupling can be effectively probed with TMS, these findings open the door to the technique's application in manipulative dissections of such coupling during human cognition and behaviour in healthy and pathological conditions.

Coronary artery spasm - Clinical features, pathogenesis and treatment.

Coronary artery spasm (CAS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease, including angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and sudden death, occurring most often from midnight to early morning. CAS is prevalent among East Asians and is associated with an aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2)-deficient genotype (ALDH2*2) and alcohol flushing, which is prevalent among East Asians but is virtually non-existent in other populations. ALDH2 eliminates not only acetaldehyde but also other toxic aldehydes from lipid peroxidation and tobacco smoking, thereby protecting tissues and cells from oxidative damage. Risk factors for CAS include smoking and genetic polymorphisms including those of ALDH2*2, endothelial NO synthase, paraoxonase I, and interleukin-6. Accordingly, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and low-grade chronic inflammation play an important role in the pathogenesis of CAS, leading to increased coronary smooth muscle Ca2+ sensitivity through RhoA/ROCK activation and resultant hypercontraction. Ca-channel blockers blocking the intracellular entry of Ca2+ are specifically effective for treatment for CAS.

Sex Differences in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Reflected by B-type Natriuretic Peptide Level.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) increases with advancing age, particularly among women. Plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), a surrogate marker of heart failure, have consistently been shown to be higher in women in the general populations. Whether BNP levels differ as per the sex of HFpEF patients remains largely unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study subjects were 733 HFpEF patients (204 men and 529 women, aged 80.9 ± 9.6 years) who underwent echocardiography and routine clinical examination, including plasma BNP level evaluation. These parameters were compared between women and men. RESULTS: Plasma levels of BNP were significantly lower in women than in men (104 [61, 192] versus 133 [78, 255] pg/mL, P < 0.001), just as hemoglobin, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, beta-blockers, left ventricular diastolic dimension, left ventricular mass index, left ventricular eccentric hypertrophy and left atrial dimension were. Age, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, heart rate, left ventricular relative wall thickness, left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular concentric hypertrophy were higher in women than in men. Multiple regression analyses revealed that left ventricular mass index, body mass index, the ratio of early diastolic mitral flow velocity to tissue annular motion velocity divided by left ventricular diastolic dimension, estimated glomerular filtration rate, beta-blockers, left atrial dimensions, female sex and atrial fibrillation were significant predictors for BNP levels (t = 5.41, P < 0.001; t = -4.06, P < 0.001; t = 3.76, P < 0.001; t = -3.68, P < 0.001; t = 3.32, P = 0.001; t = 3.11, P = 0.002; t = -3.07, P = 0.002; and t = 2.65, P = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma BNP levels were lower in women and were related to left ventricular concentric remodeling and hypertrophy among HFpEF patients, contrary to those in the general population.

[The Beneficial Effects of Switching from Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors to Dulaglutide on Plasma Glucose and Hemoglobin A1c Levels: A Case Report of Four Patients with Type 2 Diabetes].

　Incretin-based therapy consists of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Whether switching from DPP-4 inhibitors to one of the GLP-1 receptor agonists, dulaglutide, has greater beneficial effects remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of switching from DPP-4 inhibitors to dulaglutide in four patients with type 2 diabetes. All four patients with hyperglycemia who switched from DPP-4 inhibitors to dulaglutide demonstrated noticeable decreased plasma glucose levels on the next day after switching. Two of the patients observed maintained a decreased plasma glucose level over 14 day after switching. Moreover, all patients demonstrated decreased glycosylated hemoglobin A1c levels during the observation period (1-6 months) after switching and lost weight from 6 to 27 day. Minor and manageable hypoglycemia, nausea, and diarrhea were observed as side effects in one case. The current findings suggest that dulaglutide is a suitable treatment alternative in patients with type 2 diabetes who are not currently achieving adequate glycemic control with DPP-4 inhibitors.

Infantile hypophosphatasia combined with vitamin B6-responsive seizures and reticular formation lesions on magnetic resonance imaging: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by rachitic bone manifestations and a low serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level. It is caused by mutations in the tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) gene, which encodes the tissue non-specific isozyme of ALP. HPP patients exhibit various presentations depending on their age at onset, such as infantile HPP combined with vitamin B6-responsive seizures. CASE PRESENTATION: A newborn with infantile HPP presented with tonic convulsions from day 5 after birth and received intravenous vitamin B6 (10mg/kg/day pyridoxal phosphate). Eleven days later, frequent apneic episodes occurred, and head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed bilateral reticular formation lesions in the brain stem, including the medulla oblongata. After the pyridoxal phosphate dose was increased (to 40mg/kg/day), the patient's seizures and apnea resolved, and her MRI findings also improved. Genetic testing revealed that she was homozygous for the 1559delT mutation of TNSALP. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose pyridoxal phosphate is a useful treatment for HPP-induced seizures and might improve reticular formation lesions.

The diabetic heart utilizes ketone bodies as an energy source.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic heart is characterized by failure of insulin to increase glucose uptake and increasingly relies on free fatty acids (FFAs) as a source of fuel in animal models. However, it is not well known how cardiac energy metabolism is altered in diabetic hearts in humans. We examined cardiac fuel metabolism in the diabetics as compared to non-diabetics who underwent cardiac catheterization for heart diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study subjects comprised 81 patients (male 55, female 26, average age 63.0±10.0years) who underwent the cardiac catheterization for heart diseases. Thirty-six patients were diagnosed as diabetics (diabetic group) and 45 as non-diabetics (non-diabetic group). Blood samplings were done in both the aortic root (Ao) and coronary sinus (CS) simultaneously and the plasma levels of FFAs, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, total ketone bodies and ß-hydroxybutyrate were measured and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The myocardial uptake of glucose, lactate and pyruvate were decreased, whereas those of total ketone bodies, ß-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate were increased in the diabetics as compared to the non-diabetics. However, the myocardial uptakes of FFAs were not significantly increased in the diabetics as compared to the non-diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac uptakes of carbohydrate (glucose, lactate and pyruvate) were decreased, whereas those of total ketone bodies and ß-hydroxybutyrate were increased in the diabetics as compared to the non-diabetics in humans. Ketone bodies therefore are utilized as an energy source partially replacing glucose in the human diabetic heart.

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction　- Relevance to Age-Related Left Ventricular Modeling in Japanese.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasing with aging of the population. Plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) increase in proportion to the severity of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The object of this study was to examine the plasma levels of BNP in HFpEF to better understand the pathogenesis of HFpEF as compared with HF with reduced EF (HFrEF).Methods and Results:The study subjects comprised 468 HFpEF patients (158 men, 310 women, mean age 81.3±9.6 years) and 126 HFrEF patients (77 men, 49 women, mean age 75.4±12.0 years) who underwent echocardiography and routine clinical examinations including plasma BNP. Age, female prevalence, systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were higher in the HFpEF patients than in the HFrEF patients (P<0.0001, P<0.001, P<0.0001, and P<0.0001, respectively). Plasma BNP levels, LV diastolic dimensions, and LV mass index (LVMI) were lower (P<0.0001, P<0.0001, and P<0.0001, respectively), while relative wall thickness was higher (P<0.0001) in the HFpEF patients than in the HFrEF patients. Multiple regression analysis revealed that LVMI, EF, plasma levels of albumin, C-reactive protein, and uric acid were the predictors of BNP levels (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.009, P=0.012, and P=0.018, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma BNP levels were lower and related to aging-related LV concentric remodeling/hypertrophy in HFpEF patients as compared with HFrEF patients, who were associated predominantly with eccentric LV hypertrophy.