α-Glucosidase inhibitor miglitol attenuates glucose fluctuation, heart rate variability and sympathetic activity in patients with type 2 diabetes and acute coronary syndrome: a multicenter randomized controlled (MACS) study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about clinical associations between glucose fluctuations including hypoglycemia, heart rate variability (HRV), and the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in patients with acute phase of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This pilot study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of glucose fluctuations on HRV and SNS activity in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with recent ACS. We also examined the effect of suppressing glucose fluctuations with miglitol on these variables. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint, multicenter, parallel-group comparative study included 39 T2DM patients with recent ACS, who were randomly assigned to either a miglitol group (n = 19) or a control group (n = 20). After initial 24-h Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) (Day 1), miglitol was commenced and another 24-h Holter ECG (Day 2) was recorded. In addition, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was performed throughout the Holter ECG. RESULTS: Although frequent episodes of subclinical hypoglycemia (≤4.44 mmo/L) during CGM were observed on Day 1 in the both groups (35% of patients in the control group and 31% in the miglitol group), glucose fluctuations were decreased and the minimum glucose level was increased with substantial reduction in the episodes of subclinical hypoglycemia to 7.7% in the miglitol group on Day 2. Holter ECG showed that the mean and maximum heart rate and mean LF/HF were increased on Day 2 in the control group, and these increases were attenuated by miglitol. When divided 24-h time periods into day-time (0700-1800 h), night-time (1800-0000 h), and bed-time (0000-0700 h), we found increased SNS activity during day-time, increased maximum heart rate during night-time, and glucose fluctuations during bed-time, which were attenuated by miglitol treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In T2DM patients with recent ACS, glucose fluctuations with subclinical hypoglycemia were associated with alterations of HRV and SNS activity, which were mitigated by miglitol, suggesting that these pathological relationships may be a residual therapeutic target in such patients. Trial registration Unique Trial Number, UMIN000005874 ( https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000006929 ).

Response Prediction and Influence of Tolvaptan in Chronic Heart Failure Patients Considering the Interaction of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System and Arginine Vasopressin.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) regulate body fluids. Although conventional diuretics have been used for treating heart failure, they activate RAAS and exacerbate renal function. Tolvaptan, a newly developed vasopressin-2 receptor antagonist, elicits aquaresis and improves volume overload in heart failure patients, however, the predictors of tolvaptan effectiveness and the influence on the RAAS and renal function according to tolvaptan therapy are not established. We evaluated 26 chronic heart failure patients receiving therapy with 15 mg/day tolvaptan and examined their laboratory and urinary data before and after tolvaptan therapy. A response to tolvaptan was defined as a body weight decrease by more than 2 kg in a week and a urine volume increase by 500 mL/ day compared with that before tolvaptan administration. Body weight, urine volume, and brain natriuretic peptide levels significantly improved (P < 0.05), without any worsening of renal function represented by serum creatinine, sodium, and potassium. Moreover, no significant changes were observed in the plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC). In the responder group, urine osmolality before tolvaptan administration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) but declined significantly after tolvaptan administration (P < 0.05). The AVP/PAC ratio before administration was positively correlated with the efficacy of tolvaptan. Tolvaptan treatment could prevent RAAS activation in chronic heart failure patients. Moreover, monitoring the AVP/PAC ratio may be useful in predicting the tolvaptan response.

Eosinophilic myocarditis due to Churg-Strauss syndrome with markedly elevated eosinophil cationic protein.

A 67-year-old woman with asthma visited our hospital with increasing dyspnea and new-onset paresthesia and purpura in her legs. Physical examination showed a wheeze, pretibial edema, and surrounding purpura. Chest X-rays showed cardiac decompensation and an electrocardiogram revealed a new ST-T change. Laboratory data showed leukocytosis, hypereosinophilia (10,450/µL), troponin T(+), elevated BNP, and markedly elevated eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) (> 150 ng/mL). Echocardiography revealed diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis (ejection fraction 30%) with increased wall thickness. Coronary angiography was normal. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging implied diffuse myocardial edema and subendocardial late gadolinium enhancement. Skin biopsy of purpura showed superfi cial perivascular dermatitis with remarkable eosinophilic infiltrations. No evidence of drug allergies, parasitic infection, or myeloproliferative disorder was detected. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of eosinophilic myocarditis due to Churg-Strauss syndrome was considered. She was administered prednisolone at a dose of 1 mg/kg, cyclophosphamide, and diuretics. Several markers of eosinophilic myocarditis and heart failure gradually improved, including ECP. She was discharged 30 days later with no cardiac event. Eosinophilic myocarditis is characterized by predominantly eosinophilic infi ltration. Eosinophilic granule proteins, such as ECP and major basic protein, play important roles in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic myocarditis. We experienced a rare case of eosinophilic myocarditis due to Churg-Strauss syndrome. Markedly elevated ECP played an important role in the early diagnosis and subsequent reduction in ECP served as a marker of monitoring. In an asthmatic patient with dyspnea, hypereosinophilia, and vasculitis, Churg-Strauss syndrome with eosinophilic myocarditis should be considered.

Pulmonary embolism due to right atrial free-floating thrombus during echocardiographic examination: a case of a pulmonary saddle thrombus.

A 69-year-old female with polymyositis was referred to our hospital with a chief complaint of dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography showed right ventricular overloading. In addition to two-dimensional echocardiography, observation of the abnormal free-floating string-like mass by three-dimensional echocardiography provided superior visualization of the features of the mass which protruded into the right ventricle across the tricuspid valve during diastole. These findings enabled us to confirm the diagnosis of venous thrombus. The thrombus disappeared during the echocardiographic examination. Multidetector-row computed tomography showed a string-like thrombus across the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery. Anticoagulation therapy was initiated with heparin and warfarin, and fondaparinux was started on the fourth day. Three-dimensional echocardiography was useful in characterizing the motion and extent of the thrombus.

Allixin accumulation with long-term storage of garlic.

Extremely high accumulation of allxiin, a phytoalexin derived from garlic, was observed in necrotic tissue areas after long-term storage. The allixin produced recrystallized on the surface of the garlic clove. The amount of allixin produced in raw garlic with necrotic tissue areas was 1400 ng/mg wet garlic, which exceeds the minimum exhibitory concentration of allixin. After approximately 2 years of storage, amount of allixin accumulated reached slightly less than 1% of the dry weight of garlic cloves.