Impact of Sleep Apnea on Nocturnal Parasympathetic Activity in Atrial Fibrillation Patients After Catheter Ablation　- Implications for Heart Rate Variability Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The impact of sleep apnea (SA) on heart rate variability (HRV) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients has not been investigated.Methods and Results: Of 94 patients who underwent AF ablation between January 2021 and September 2022, 76 patients who had a nocturnal Holter electrocardiography and polysomnography conducted simultaneously were included in the analysis. A 15-min duration of HRV, as determined by an electrocardiogram during apnea and non-apnea time, were compared between patients with and without AF recurrence at 12 months' postoperatively. Patients had a mean age of 63.4±11.6 years, 14 were female, and 20 had AF recurrence at 12 months' follow-up. The root mean square of the difference between consecutive normal-to-normal intervals (RMSSD, ms) an indicator of a parasympathetic nervous system, was more highly increased in patients with AF recurrence than those without, during both apnea and non-apnea time (apnea time: 16.7±4.5 vs. 13.5±3.3, P=0.03; non-apnea time: 20.9±9.5 vs. 15.5±5.9, P<0.01). However, RMSSD during an apneic state was decreased more than that in a non-apneic state in both groups of patients with and without AF recurrence (AF recurrence group: 16.7±4.5 vs. 20.9±9.5, P<0.01; non-AF recurrence group; 13.5±3.3 vs. 15.5±5.9, P=0.03). Consequently, the effect of AF recurrence on parasympathetic activity was offset by SA. Similar trends were observed for other parasympathetic activity indices; high frequency (HF), logarithm of HF (lnHF) and the percentage of normal-to-normal intervals >50 ms (pNN50). CONCLUSIONS: Without considering the influence of SA, the results of nocturnal HRV analysis might be misinterpreted. Caution should be taken when using nocturnal HRV as a predictor of AF recurrence.

Clinical Significance of Physical Examination for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) show various physical findings, but their clinical significance has not been systematically evaluated.Methods and Results: This study evaluated 105 consecutive patients with HCM who had undergone phonocardiography and external pulse recording. Physical examinations included a visible jugular a-wave (Jug-a), audible 4th sound (S4), and double or sustained apex beat. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death and hospitalization for cardiovascular disease. A total of 104 non-HCM subjects served as controls. The prevalence of visible Jug-a in the seated or supine position, audible S4, and a sustained or double apex beat in patients with HCM were 10%, 71%, 70%, 42%, and 27%, respectively, all of which were significantly higher than in the controls (0%, 20%, 11%, 17%, and 2%; P<0.001 for all comparisons). The combination of visible Jug-a in the supine position and audible S4 yielded a specificity of 94% and sensitivity of 57%. During a follow-up period of 6.6 years, 6 patients died and 10 were hospitalized. The absence of audible S4 was a predictor of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 3.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.41 to 10.8; P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Detection of these findings has clinical importance in the diagnosis and risk stratification of HCM prior to the use of advanced imaging techniques.

Comparison of maximum-sized visually guided laser balloon and cryoballoon ablation.

Balloon ablation therapy has recently been used for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Laser balloons possess the property in which the balloon size can be changed. Standard laser balloon ablation (Standard LBA) was followed by additional ablation using a maximally extended balloon (Extended LBA) and its lesion characteristics were compared to cryoballoon ablation (CBA), another balloon technology. From June 2020 to July 2021, patients with paroxysmal AF who underwent an initial pulmonary vein (PV) isolation were enrolled. Sixty-five patients with paroxysmal AF were included, 32 in the LBA and 33 in the CBA group. To measure the isolated surface area after the ablation procedures, left atrial voltage mapping was performed after Standard LBA, Extended LBA, and CBA. The baseline patient characteristics did not differ between LBA and CBA. Extended LBA could successfully increase the isolated area more than Standard LBA for all four PVs. Compared to CBA, the isolated area of both superior PVs was significantly greater with Extended LBA (left superior PV: 8.5 ± 2.1 vs 7.3 ± 2.4, p = 0.04, right superior PV: 11.4 ± 3.7 vs 8.7 ± 2.7, p < 0.01), and thus the non-isolated posterior wall (PW) was smaller (8.5 ± 3.4 vs 12.4 ± 3.3, p < 0.01). Nevertheless, changes in the cardiac injury markers were significantly lower with LBA than CBA. There was no significant correlation between the cardiac injury level and isolated area in both groups. In conclusion, Extended LBA exhibited a significantly greater isolation of both superior PVs and resulted in a smaller non-isolated PW, but the cardiac injury markers were significantly suppressed as compared to CBA.

Mitral valve leaflet stiffness predicts residual mitral regurgitation after transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair.

BACKGROUND: Residual regurgitation after transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TMVR) is a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). This study sought to identify the mitral valve (MV) parameters measured by three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) and MV leaflet features that predict residual mitral regurgitation (MR) after TMVR in patients with FMR. METHODS: Consecutive patients with FMR who underwent TMVR were classified into two groups based on the degree of residual MR just after TMVR: < 2+ in the optimal MR reduction group and ≥ 2+ in the suboptimal MR reduction group. The two groups were compared with respect to 3D-TEE parameters and the MV leaflet features, including the following parameters: stiffness, defined as a leaflet that remains at a fixed angle even during diastole, and thickness, measured in both clear and rough zones. RESULTS: Thirty-four of 46 patients (74%) were classified as the optimal MR reduction group. Multivariable analysis showed that anterior mitral leaflet + posterior mitral leaflet length/anteroposterior annulus diameter (p = .044) and MV leaflet stiffness (p = .007) were independent predictors of residual MR. CONCLUSION: MV leaflet stiffness and the ratio of MV leaflet lengths to the annulus diameter may be good predictors of residual MR after TMVR in patients with FMR.

Tako-Tsubo Syndrome Following Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation in a Patient with Primary Aldosteronism.

Tako-tsubo syndrome (TTS) can be triggered by emotional or physical stress and is characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction with apical ballooning. Some neurologic disorders and pheochromocytoma serve as triggers for TTS, however, its association with primary aldosteronism (PA) is not well known. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has been performed worldwide, and TTS following PVI has been reported as a rare complication. Sympathetic stimulation can play an important role in TTS development, however, its mechanism and risk factors are not yet understood.We describe a 72-year-old woman with PA who developed TTS after PVI with radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for symptomatic paroxysmal AF. Complete isolation of the pulmonary vein was carried out without any complications, however, she complained of epigastric discomfort 7 hours after the procedure. An electrocardiogram showed recurrent AF with a new negative-T wave and prolonged QT interval. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed apical ballooning and basal hypercontraction, characteristic of TTS, and coronary angiography showed no significant stenosis. She was diagnosed with TTS following RFCA for AF and managed well with conservative therapy.The present case suggests that TTS should be recognized as a complication associated with AF ablation. Moreover, PA may be involved in TTS development by increasing sympathetic activity. Further studies on the mechanism and characteristics of TTS are required.

Predictivity of acute kidney injury risk scores for late kidney injury in patients with chronic coronary syndrome.

Late rather than acute kidney injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been recently recognized as a predictor of future adverse events in patient with coronary artery disease. The risk-predicting models for acute kidney injury reported by Mehran et al., Bartholomew et al., and Tsai et al. were derived from a large cohort and externally validated, although the applicability of these models for predicting late kidney injury is unknown. A total of 327 patients undergoing elective PCI procedures were included. We calculated the three scores and tested their diagnostic ability for predicting late kidney injury (> 6 months after PCI), defined as an increase in creatinine levels ≥ 0.3 mg/dl or ≥ 50% from baseline. During the median follow-up period of 28 months, 27 (8.3%) patients had late kidney injury. All three scores significantly predicted late kidney injury, among which the score by Tsai et al. had a better diagnostic ability (area under the curve 0.83, best cut-off value 14, p < 0.001). With the best cut-off value, patients with Tsai score ≥ 14 had a significantly higher rate of late kidney injury than their counterpart (27.4% vs. 2.8%, p < 0.001). In conclusion, established risk scores for acute kidney injury may be useful for predicting late kidney injury after PCI in patients with chronic coronary syndrome.

Absent fourth heart sound as a marker of adverse events in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with sinus rhythm.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in sinus rhythm commonly show the fourth heart sound (S4). The lack of S4 may be a marker of impaired atrial function in HCM patients with sinus rhythm. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective study consisted of 47 patients with HCM who had undergone phonocardiography and a cardiopulmonary exercise test. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiac death, stroke, hospitalization for worsening heart failure, and newly developed atrial fibrillation (AF). S4 was detected in 38 of 43 patients with sinus rhythm (88%). Peak oxygen consumption was the highest in 38 sinus rhythm patients with S4 (23.6 ± 5.6 mL/kg/min), middle in five sinus rhythm patients without S4 (19.3 ± 6.7 mL/kg/min), and lowest in four patients with AF (15.7 ± 3.3 mL/kg/min, p = 0.01). After a median of 40.5 months, the incidence of the primary outcome was higher in patients without S4 than in those with S4 (33% vs. 8%; hazard ratio, 6.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 - 37.4; p = .04) and higher in sinus rhythm patients without S4 than in those with S4 (60% vs. 8%; hazard ratio, 12.05; 95% confidence interval, 2.31 - 71.41; p = .007). CONCLUSIONS: The absence of S4 on phonocardiography was associated with impaired exercise tolerance and adverse cardiac events in HCM patients with sinus rhythm.

Simple Phonocardiography with the Ankle-Brachial Index Measurement System as a Tool for Detecting Fourth Heart Sounds of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Conventional phonocardiography is useful for objective assessment of cardiac auscultation, but its availability is limited. More recently, an ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement system equipped with simple phonocardiography has become widely used for diagnosing peripheral artery disease, however, whether this simple phonocardiography can be an alternative to conventional phonocardiography remains unclear.This retrospective study consisted of 48 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and 107 controls. The presence of the fourth sound (S4) was assessed by conventional phonocardiography, in addition to apexcardiography and auscultation, in all patients with HCM. S4 was also estimated by the ABI measurement system with the phonocardiographic microphone on the sternum (the standard method) or at the apex (the apex method) in HCM patients and controls.S4 on conventional phonocardiography was detected in 42 of 48 patients (88%) with HCM. Auscultation for the detection of S4 had a sensitivity of 0.78, specificity of 0.57, and accuracy of 0.75. These diagnostic values were generally superior to those of the standard method using the ABI measurement system, whereas the apex method using the ABI measurement system had better diagnostic values, with an excellent specificity of 1.0, sensitivity of 0.77, and accuracy of 0.80. No significant differences were observed in low ABI defined as < 0.9.Simple phonocardiography equipped with the ABI measurement system may be an alternative to conventional phonocardiography for the detection of S4 in patients with HCM when the phonocardiographic microphone is moved from the sternum to the apex.

Trajectory of renal function change and kidney injury after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Acute kidney injury usually assessed within 48 h after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with poor clinical outcomes, and persistent kidney damage is also strongly related to long-term mortality. However, little is known about longitudinal renal function change from a very early period to long-term follow-up after PCI. A total of 327 patients with stable coronary artery disease underwent elective PCI. Renal function was assessed with serum creatinine levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at baseline, 1 day after PCI, at 1 year and at the latest follow-up. Kidney injury was defined as an increase in creatinine levels ≥ 0.3 mg/dl or ≥ 50% from baseline at each timepoint. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was defined as a composite of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke. eGFR was significantly increased 1 day after PCI, while it was progressively decreased at 1-year and long-term follow-up (median 28 months). Overall, eGFR was declined by - 2.3 ml/min/1.73 m2 per year. Only one (0.3%) patient developed kidney injury 1 day after PCI, whereas kidney injury at 1-year and long-term follow-up was observed in 15 (4.6%) and 27 (8.3%). During the follow-up period, 23 (7.0%) patients had MACE. The incidence of subsequent MACE was significantly higher in patients with kidney injury at 1 year than those without. In conclusion, kidney injury within 24 h after elective PCI was rarely observed. eGFR was progressively decreased over time, and mid-term kidney injury at 1 year was associated with future MACE.

Importance of Preoperative Computed Tomography Assessment of the Membranous Septal Anatomy in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement With a Balloon-Expandable Valve.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac conduction disturbance (CD) is the most frequent complication following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study examined whether the anatomy of the membranous septum (MS) could provide useful information about the risk of CD following TAVR with a balloon-expandable valve (BEV).Methods and Results:Among 132 consecutive patients, 106 (mean age, 85.6±5.1 years; 75 females) were included in the study. Using preoperative CT and angiography, MS length and implantation depth (ID) were assessed. The MS length minus the prosthesis ID was calculated (∆MSID). Correlation between CD, defined as new-onset left-bundle branch block (LBBB) or the need for permanent pacemaker (PPM) within 1 week after the procedure, and MS length were evaluated. A total of 19 patients (18%) developed CD following TAVR. MS length was significantly shorter in these patients than in those without CD (5.3±1.3 vs. 6.6±1.4; P<0.001), and was the important predictor of CD (odds ratio [OR]: 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.27-0.69, P<0.001). When considering the pre- and postprocedural parameters, the ∆MSID was smaller in patients with CD (-1.7±1.5 vs. 0.8±1.9, P<0.001), and emerged as the important predictor of CD (OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.33-0.69, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Short MS is associated with an increased risk of CD after TAVR with BEV.

GRP78 antibodies damage the blood-brain barrier and relate to cerebellar degeneration in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome.

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is an autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction caused by autoantibodies binding to P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channels. Breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and diffusion of cerebellar granule/Purkinje cell-reactive autoantibodies into the CNS are critical for the pathogenesis of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. We recently found evidence that glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) autoantibodies in the plasma of patients with neuromyelitis optica promote the CNS access of AQP4 autoantibodies. In the present study, we investigated whether the GRP78 autoantibodies in PCD-LEMS IgG boost the brain uptake of cerebellar cell-reactive antibodies across the blood-brain barrier and facilitate cerebellar dysfunction. We first evaluated the effects of purified IgG from PCD-LEMS or PCD patients on the blood-brain barrier function in human brain microvascular endothelial cells using a high content imaging system with nuclear factor κB p65 and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) immunostaining. Next, we identified GRP78 autoantibodies causing blood-brain barrier permeability in PCD-LEMS IgG by co-immunoprecipitation and the living cell-based antibody binding assays. Exposure of brain microvascular endothelial cells to IgG from PCD-LEMS patients induced nuclear factor κB p65 nuclear translocation, ICAM1 upregulation, reduced claudin-5 expression, increased permeability and increased autocrine IL-1ß and IL-8 secretion; the IgG from patients with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome did not have these effects. We detected GRP78 autoantibodies in the IgG of LEMS-PCD (83.3%, n = 18), but observed fewer in patients with LEMS (6.6%, n = 15) and none were observed in the control subjects (n = 8). The depletion of GRP78 autoantibodies reduced the biological effect of LEMS-PCD IgG on brain microvascular endothelial cells. These findings suggest that GRP78 autoantibodies play a role beyond neuromyelitis optica and that they have direct implications in the phenotypic differences between PCD-LEMS and LEMS.

Clinical significance of rectus femoris diameter in heart failure patients.

Heart failure (HF) is often accompanied by skeletal muscle weakness and exercise intolerance, which are known as prognostic factors of HF. Comprehensive evaluation of physical function is important, but it is not commonly conducted because of the lack of equipment or appropriate expertise. Measurement of rectus femoris diameter (RFD) by ultrasound is convenient and noninvasive, but it has not been clarified that RFD could represent physical functions in HF patients. This study evaluated 185 consecutive HF patients and underwent assessment including RFD, grip power (GP), knee extension strength (KES), skeletal muscle index (SMI), nutrition status, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class. RFD was related with NYHA class and significantly correlated with GP, KES, SMI, body mass index, pre-albumin level, geriatric nutritional risk index, and peak VO2 (r = 0.631, 0.676, 0.510, 0.568, 0.380, 0.539, 0.527, respectively; p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that estimated glomerular filtration rate (ß = 0.551) and RFD (ß = 0.326) were predictive factors of peak VO2. Gender, age, brain natriuretic peptide level, left ventricular ejection fraction, and hemoglobin level were the other explanatory parameters. The cut off value of RFD for sarcopenia diagnosis was estimated as 15 mm (sensitivity = 0.767 and specificity = 0.808). RFD is a simple and useful marker which reflects skeletal muscle strength/volume, exercise tolerance, nutrition status, and NYHA class. It is also associated with sarcopenia in HF patients.

Human immunodeficiency virus-associated vacuolar encephalomyelopathy with granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease improved after antiretroviral therapy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Vacuolar encephalomyelopathy, a disregarded diagnosis lately, was a major neurological disease in the terminal stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection in the pre-antiretroviral therapy (ART) era. Granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease (GLILD) was classically identified as a non-infectious complication of common variable immunodeficiency; however, it is now being recognized in other immunodeficiency disorders. Here, we report the first case of GLILD accompanied by vacuolar encephalomyelopathy in a newly diagnosed HIV-infected man. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old Japanese man presented with chronic dry cough and progressing paraplegia. Radiological examination revealed diffuse pulmonary abnormalities in bilateral lungs, focal demyelinating lesions of the spinal cord, and white matter lesions in the brain. He was diagnosed with GLILD based on marked lymphocytosis detecting in bronchoalveolar lavage, and transbronchial-biopsy proven T-cellular interstitial lung disease with granulomas. Microbiological examinations did not reveal an etiologic agent. The patient was also diagnosed with HIV-associated vacuolar encephalomyelopathy on the basis of an elevated HIV viral load in cerebrospinal fluid. After initiating ART, the brain lesions and paraplegia improved significantly, and interstitial abnormalities of the lungs and cough disappeared. CONCLUSION: This report highlights that even in the post-ART era in developed countries with advanced healthcare services, HIV-associated vacuolar encephalomyelopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a progressive neurological disorder during the first visit. Furthermore, GLILD may represent an HIV-associated pulmonary manifestation that can be treated by ART.

Pauses in atrial rhythm in a patient with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy: A case report.

A 58-year-old woman with a history of multi-origin atrial tachycardia and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy was treated for presyncope caused by pauses in atrial rhythm. A dual-chamber pacemaker was implanted. The low-voltage area extended broadly, but 10-V pacing could not capture the large right atrium, including the right atrial appendage, except the coronary sinus ostium. The atrial lead was screwed in using a steerable stylet. A ventricular lead was placed in the right ventricular apex. Atrial pacing at the coronary sinus was required to treat the pauses in the atrial rhythm.

Biomarkers of Cardiac Dysfunction as Risk Factors in Cryptogenic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction are associated with cryptogenic stroke (CS). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated consecutive ischemic stroke patients. Patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography to evaluate left atrial diameter and the peak transmitral filling velocity/mean mitral annular velocity during early diastole (E/e'). Patent foramen ovale (PFO) and left atrial appendage flow velocity were evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography. We compared clinical characteristics and biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction (brain natriuretic peptide [BNP], left atrial diameter, E/e', and left atrial appendage flow velocity) between CS or CS without large PFO and other causative stroke subtypes. RESULTS: Among 1,514 patients with ischemic stroke, 264 patients were classified as having CS. Of these, transesophageal echocardiography revealed 27/158 (17%) large PFOs. In comparison, for the noncardioembolic stroke group, which consisted of large artery and small vessel subtypes, patients with CS without large PFO had higher log10 BNP (adjusted OR 2.70; 95% CI 1.92-3.78; p < 0.001), higher log10 E/e' (3.41; 1.21-13.15; p = 0.019), and lower left atrial appendage flow velocity (0.98; 0.97-1.00; p = 0.031). Left atrial diameter was similar for noncardioembolic stroke and CS without large PFO (p = 0.380). Cutoff values of BNP, E/e', and left atrial appendage flow velocity capable of distinguishing CS without large PFO from noncardioembolic stroke were 65.0 pg/mL (sensitivity 55.3%; specificity 70.9%), 13.0 (45.5%; 68.0%), and 46.0 cm/s (37.1%; 87.5%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients with CS without large PFO could have biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction.

Angioscopic Evaluation During Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a progressive disorder with a poor prognosis. Recently, balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has been reported to be an effective treatment for inoperable patients with CTEPH. However, this catheter-based treatment has potentially life-threatening vascular complications. To improve the efficacy and safety of BPA, we assessed the morphological evaluation of organised thrombus and the vascular injury by BPA procedure. METHODS: In this study, we assessed the morphology of organised thrombi and the vascular injury observed by angioscopy during BPA in 28 lesions from nine CTEPH patients. RESULTS: Angioscopy visualised various forms of organised thrombi such as 'Mesh', 'Slit', 'Flap' and 'Mass' and allowed for a detailed evaluation of organised thrombus that was difficult to do by conventional contrast angiography. In addition, after balloon dilation for BPA, angioscopy revealed a haemorrhage due to a vessel wall injury caused by wiring and/or ballooning. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of organised thrombus and vascular injury by angioscopy might contribute to improving the treatment of the patients with CTEPH.

Characteristics of patients with fragility hip fractures in the northern Kyushu district in Japan: a multicenter prospective registry based on an electronic data capture system.

Osteoporosis has become a worldwide public health problem, in part due to the fact that it increases the risk of fragility hip fractures (FHFs). The epidemiological assessment of FHFs is critical for their prevention; however, datasets for FHFs in Japan remain scarce. This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study in the northern district of Kyushu Island. Inclusion criteria were age > 60 years with a diagnosis of FHF and acquisition of clinical data by an electronic data capture system. Of 1294 registered patients, 1146 enrolled in the study. Nearly one third of patients (31.8%) had a history of previous fragility fractures. The percentage of patients receiving osteoporosis treatment on admission was 21.5%. Almost all patients underwent surgical treatment (99.1%), though fewer than 30% had surgery within 48 h after hospitalization. Bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated during hospitalization in only 50.4% of patients. The rate of osteoporosis treatment increased from 21.5% on admission to 39.3% during hospitalization. The main reasons that prescribers did not administer osteoporosis treatment during hospitalization were forgetfulness (28.4%) and clinical judgment (13.6%). Age and female ratio were significantly higher in patients with previous FHFs than in those without. There was a significant difference in the rate of osteoporosis treatment or L-spine BMD values in patients with or without previous FHFs on admission. In conclusion, this study confirmed that the evaluation and treatment of osteoporosis and FHFs is still suboptimal in Japan, even in urban districts.

Third and Fourth Heart Sounds and Myocardial Fibrosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The 4th heart sound (S4) is commonly heard in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The 3rd heart sound (S3) is also audible in HCM patients regardless of the presence or absence of heart failure. These extra heart sounds may be associated with myocardial fibrosis because myocardial fibrosis has been suggested to affect left ventricular compliance.Methods and Results:The present retrospective study evaluated 53 consecutive HCM patients with sinus rhythm who had no symptoms of heart failure and underwent an initial assessment including phonocardiography, echocardiography, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). S3 was detected on phonocardiography in 13% of all patients, and S4 was recorded in 75% of patients. Patients with S3 had a higher incidence of LGE and larger LGE volumes (86% and 11.5±2.4 g/cm, respectively) than patients without S3 (33% and 2.5±0.8 g/cm, respectively; P=0.02 and P=0.002). The presence of S4 was not associated with MRI findings, including the incidence of LGE and LGE volume. The diagnostic value of S3 for the detection of LGE was highly specific (97%), with a low sensitivity (29%). CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial fibrosis, as assessed by LGE, was associated with S3 but not with S4 in patients with HCM. These results may contribute to the risk stratification of patients with HCM.

Brachial-Ankle Pulse Waves Reflect the Hemodynamics of Valvular Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Brachial-ankle pulse wave (ba-PW) analysis is an established technique for assessing arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk. The peripheral arterial pulse wave configuration may be useful for valvular heart disease (VHD) detection because it is closely related to the physical signs of VHD; however, few reports have been made assessing the efficacy of ba-PW analysis for VHD screening. METHODS: Consecutive VHD patients scheduled for valve surgery were enrolled in the study. These included 58 patients with aortic stenosis (AS) (mean age 74 ± 1.1 years), 67 with aortic regurgitation (AR) (mean age 59 ± 1.9 years), and 65 with mitral regurgitation (MR) (mean age 62 ± 1.6 years). Ba-PW analysis was conducted using the VaSera VS-1500 screening system before and after surgery. Upstroke time (UT), ejection time (ET), pre-ejection period (PEP), PEP/ET ratio, mean arterial pressure (%MAP), and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) were compared with a control group (n = 65; mean age 69 ± 1.5 years) without VHD. RESULTS: The UT was significantly shorter in the AR group (132.9 ± 4.0 ms) and MR group (134.5 ± 2.5 ms), but significantly longer in the AS group (178.2 ± 2.8 ms) compared to controls (149.6 ± 3.6 ms; all p <0.01). The ET was significantly longer in the AS group (318.5 ± 7.4 ms) and AR group (320.0 ± 4.6 ms), but significantly shorter in the MR group (289.0 ± 3.8 ms) compared to controls (305.3 ± 3.4 ms; all p <0.05). In ROC analyses of each group compared to controls, areas under the curve of UT, corrected (c)UT, ET and cET in the AS group, UT/ET ratio in the AR group, and PEP/UT ratio in the MR group were all >0.7. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple pulse wave parameters reflect VHD hemodynamics and may be useful for screening for the condition.