Pathophysiological insights into machine learning-based subphenotypes of acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

OBJECTIVE: The heterogeneous pathophysiology of the diverse heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) phenotypes needs to be examined. We aim to assess differences in the biomarkers among the phenotypes of HFpEF and investigate its multifactorial pathophysiology. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of the PURSUIT-HFpEF Study (N=1231), an ongoing, prospective, multicentre observational study of acute decompensated HFpEF. In this registry, there is a predefined subcohort in which we perform multibiomarker tests (N=212). We applied the previously established machine learning-based clustering model to the subcohort with biomarker measurements to classify them into four phenotypes: phenotype 1 (n=69), phenotype 2 (n=49), phenotype 3 (n=41) and phenotype 4 (n=53). Biomarker characteristics in each phenotype were evaluated. RESULTS: Phenotype 1 presented the lowest value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitive C reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor-α, growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, troponin T and cystatin C, whereas phenotype 2, which is characterised by hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy, showed the highest value of these markers. Phenotype 3 showed the second highest value of GDF-15 and cystatin C. Phenotype 4 presented a low NT-proBNP value and a relatively high GDF-15. CONCLUSIONS: Distinctive characteristics of biomarkers in HFpEF phenotypes would indicate differential underlying mechanisms to be elucidated. The contribution of inflammation to the pathogenesis varied considerably among different HFpEF phenotypes. Systemic inflammation substantially contributes to the pathophysiology of the classic HFpEF phenotype with cardiac hypertrophy. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN-CTR ID: UMIN000021831.

P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after complex percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

It remains unknown whether the recent trend of short dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy can simply be applied to patients undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy vs. conventional DAPT in patients undergoing complex PCI and non-complex PCI (PROSPERO: CRD42022335723). Primary endpoint was the 1-year Net Adverse Clinical Event (NACE). Among 5,323 screened studies, six randomized trials fulfilled the eligibility criteria. A total of 10,588 complex PCI patients (5,269 vs. 5,319 patients) and 25,618 non-complex PCI patients (12,820 vs 12,798 patients) were randomly assigned to P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy vs. conventional DAPT. In complex PCI patients, P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy was associated with a lower risk of NACE than conventional DAPT [Odds ratio (OR) 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-0.91, P = 0.003], whereas in non-complex PCI patients, P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy was associated with a trend toward lowering the risk of NACE (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.72-1.02, P = 0.09). This meta-analysis across randomized trials demonstrated that a strategy of short DAPT followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy reduces the risk of 1-year NACE in patients undergoing complex PCI.

Factors Associated With Prehospital Delay Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Era of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention　- Insights From the OACIS Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Japan Circulation Society launched the STOP-MI campaign in 2014, focusing on immediate hospital arrival for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treatment. This study aimed to determine the factors influencing longer prehospital time among patients with AMI in Japan.Methods and Results:This study analyzed a total of 4,625 AMI patients enrolled in the Osaka Acute Coronary Insufficiency Study registry from 1998 to 2014. The prehospital time delay was defined as the time interval from the onset of initial symptoms to hospital arrival time ≥2 h. Among eligible patients, 2,927 (63.3%) had a prehospital time ≥2 h. In multivariable analyses, age 65-79 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.39), age ≥80 years (AOR 1.42, 95% CI 1.13-1.79), diabetes mellitus (AOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.16-1.52), and onset time of 0:00-5:59 h (AOR 1.63, 95% CI 1.37-1.95) were positively associated with prehospital time ≥2 h, whereas smoking (AOR 0.78, 95% CI 0.68-0.90) and ambulance use (AOR 0.37, 95% CI 0.32-0.43) were negatively associated with prehospital time ≥2 h. CONCLUSIONS: Older age, diabetes mellitus, and nighttime onset were associated with prehospital time delay for AMI patients, whereas smoking and ambulance use were associated with no prehospital time delay. Healthcare providers and patients could help reduce the time to get to a medical facility by being aware of these findings.

The Effect of a Cancer History on Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

The effect of a history of cancer on the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is poorly understood.From the Osaka Acute Coronary Insufficiency Study (OACIS) registry in Osaka, Japan, we enrolled the case data of a total of 3499 patients with AMI treated with PCI between 1998 and 2014, of whom 462 had a cancer history (cancer group, 13.2%) and 3037 did not (non-cancer group, 86.8%). All of the cases were followed for up to five years from discharge.The Kaplan-Meier curve and multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards models revealed that all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the cancer group than in the non-cancer group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.43; P < 0.001). Deaths from cardiac, cancer, and other causes were treated as competing events, and competing analysis using the cumulative incidence function (CIF) and Fine-Gray model revealed that mortality due to cancer was higher in the cancer group than in the non-cancer group, whereas cardiac mortality was similar between the two groups. The incidences of cardiovascular events, including stroke, recurrent infarction, and heart failure requiring readmission, were also similar between the two groups, although the Kaplan-Meier analysis and univariate Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the incidence of stroke was higher in the cancer group than in the non-cancer group.A history of cancer increased all-cause and cancer mortality among patients with AMI treated with PCI, although it was not associated with cardiovascular events.

Pressure monitoring predicts pulmonary vein occlusion in cryoballoon ablation.

PURPOSE: Pulmonary venography is routinely used to confirm pulmonary vein (PV) occlusion during cryoballoon ablation. However, this technique is significantly limited by the risks associated with contrast media, such as renal injury and contrast allergy. We hypothesized that PV occlusion can be predicted by elevation of the balloon catheter tip pressure, avoiding the need for contrast media. METHODS: Forty-eight consecutive patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who underwent PV isolation with the cryoballoon technique were enrolled. The balloon catheter tip pressure was measured in each PV before and after balloon inflation. RESULTS: We analyzed 200 applications of cryoballoon ablation in 185 PVs (excluding 3 common PVs and 1 extremely small right inferior PV) of 48 patients (age, 70 ± 11 years; male, n = 28; mean left atrial diameter, 38 ± 6 mm). Compared with patients with unsuccessful occlusion, patients with successful occlusion demonstrated a larger change in pressure after balloon inflation (6 ± 8 vs. 2 ± 4 mmHg, P < 0.001), a lower minimum temperature (- 49 ± 6 vs. - 40 ± 8 °C, P < 0.001), and a higher PV isolation rate (97 vs. 64%, P < 0.001). The best cutoff value of a change in pressure for predicting PV occlusion was 4.5 mmHg, with a sensitivity of 67%, specificity of 83%, and predictive accuracy of 72%. CONCLUSION: Pressure monitoring is helpful to confirm PV occlusion during cryoballoon ablation.

Pace-capture-guided ablation after contact-force-guided pulmonary vein isolation: results of the randomized controlled DRAGON trial.

Aims: Before the discovery of contact-force guidance, eliminating pacing capture along the pulmonary vein (PV) isolation line had been reported to improve PV isolation durability and rhythm outcomes. DRAGON (UMIN-CTR, UMIN000015332) aimed to elucidate the efficacy of pace-capture-guided ablation following contact-force-guided PV isolation ablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Methods and results: A total of 156 paroxysmal AF patients with AF-trigger ectopies from any of the four PVs induced by isoproterenol were randomly assigned to undergo pace-capture-guided ablation along a contact-force-guided isolation line around AF-trigger PVs (PC group, n = 76) or contact-force-guided PV isolation ablation alone (control group, n = 80). Follow-up of at least 1 year commenced with serial 24 h Holter and symptom-triggered ambulatory monitoring. There was no significant difference in acute PV reconnection rates during a 20 min waiting period after the last ablation or adenosine infusion testing between the PC and the control groups (per patient, 21% vs. 27%, P = 0.27; per AF-trigger PV, 5.9% vs. 7.3%, P = 0.70; and per non-AF-trigger PV, 7.1% vs. 7.4%, P = 0.92). Atrial tachyarrhythmia-free survival rates off antiarrhythmic drugs after the initial session were comparable at 19.3 ± 6.2 months between the two groups (82% vs. 80%, P = 0.80). Among 22 patients who required a second ablation procedure, there was no difference between the PC and the control groups in the PV reconnection rates at both previously AF-trigger (29% vs. 43%, P = 0.70) and non-AF-trigger PVs (18% vs. 19%, P = 0.88). Conclusions: Pace-capture-guided ablation performed after contact-force-guided PV isolation demonstrated no improvement in PV isolation durability or rhythm outcome.

Comparison of early-phase arterial repair following cobalt-chrome everolimus-eluting stent and slow-release zotarolimus-eluting stent: an angioscopic study.

Whether arterial repair following implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) of the second generation differs among stent types remains unknown. We examined 41 DES placed in 28 patients (age 72 ± 7 years, male 89%) presenting with stable angina pectoris due to de novo lesions in native coronary arteries. Coronary angioscopy was performed 4 ± 1 months after stent implantation. Patients were divided into two groups based on the DES types: 22 cobalt-chrome everolimus-eluting stents (CoCr-EES) in 13 patients and 19 slow-release zotarolimus-eluting stents (R-ZES) in 15 patients. Neointimal coverage (NIC) was graded as: grade 0, stent struts exposed; grade 1, struts bulging into the lumen, although covered; grade 2, struts embedded in the neointima, but translucent; grade 3, struts fully embedded and invisible. NIC was defined as heterogeneous when the NIC grade variation was ≥1. Presence of thrombus was also investigated. Distribution of dominant NIC grade (CoCr-EES: grade 0, 9%; grade 1, 77%; grade 2, 9%; grade 3, 5%; R-ZES: grade 0, 16%; grade 1: 47%; grade 2, 37%; grade 3, 0%, P = 0.38) and heterogeneity of NIC (P = 0.43) were similar between CoCr-EES and R-ZES groups. Existence of thrombus was not significantly different in CoCr-EES and R-ZES (18 versus 42%, P = 0.17). Arterial repair occurred without significant differences between CoCr-EES and R-ZES 4 months after implantation.

Histological Evaluation of a Self-Expanding Stent-Graft 23 Months After Implantation in the Superficial Femoral Artery.

PURPOSE: To report histological examination of a Viabahn stent-graft implanted in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) for nearly 2 years. CASE REPORT: A 78-year-old man with peripheral artery disease was treated successfully with a 6.0×250-mm Viabahn self-expanding stent-graft in the right SFA, relieving his lower limb claudication. The patient died suddenly due to acute myocardial infarction 23 months later. Histological evaluation of the stent-graft implantation site revealed moderate neointimal proliferation at both proximal and distal edges of the device. In the middle part of the stent, significant macrophages and multinucleated foreign body giant cells had accumulated, although the stent was entirely patent. Furthermore, no endothelial cell coverage was found. CONCLUSION: Judging from these features, it might be necessary to continue dual antiplatelet therapy after stent-graft implantation over the long term to prevent thrombosis and subsequent restenosis or reocclusion.