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INTRODUCTION: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) in pleural fluid is a useful marker for diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy. However, recent studies have reported a lower specificity of pleural fluid ADA levels. We previously developed a diagnostic flowchart for patients with pleural fluid ADA ≥40 U/L, incorporating variables such as pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase <825 U/L, predominant pleural fluid neutrophils or cell degeneration, and a pleural fluid ADA/total protein ratio <14. This flowchart was effective in distinguishing between tuberculous pleurisy and other diseases. Here, we conducted a validation analysis of this flowchart. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from 458 patients with pleural fluid ADA concentrations ≥40 U/L across eight institutions from January 2019 to December 2023. The diagnostic accuracy rate, sensitivity, and specificity of the diagnostic flowchart were analysed and compared to those in the original study. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients were diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy, and 371 patients were diagnosed with other diseases. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy were 77.7%, 86.2%, and 75.7%, respectively. Compared with that in the original study, the rate of tuberculous pleurisy was lower (19.0% vs. 44.5%, p < 0.001), but the diagnostic accuracy rates were not significantly different (p = 0.253). On the basis of the findings from this validation study, we have revised the flowchart to enhance its utility. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic flowchart exhibited high diagnostic accuracy in this validation study, comparable to that in the original study. This validation confirms the effectiveness of the flowchart, even in settings with a low incidence of tuberculosis.
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BACKGROUND: Safety data of the latest radiofrequency (RF) technologies during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in real-world clinical practice are limited. OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the acute procedural safety of the four latest ablation catheters commonly used for AF ablation. METHODS: A total of 3957 AF ablation procedures performed between January 2022 and December 2023 at 20 centers with either the THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF (STSF), TactiCath (TC), QDOT Micro (QDM), or TactiFlex (TF) were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: In total, QDM, STSF, TF, and TC were used in 343 (8.7%), 1793 (45.3%), 1121 (28.4%), and 700(17.7%) procedures. Among 2406 index procedures, electrical pulmonary vein isolations were successfully achieved in 99.5%. Despite similar total procedure times in the four groups, the total fluoroscopic time was significantly shorter for QDM/STSF with CARTO than TF/TC with EnSite (18.7 ± 14 vs. 27.6 ± 20.6 min, p < .001) and longest in the TF group. The incidence of cardiac tamponade was 0.7% (0.5% and 0.9% during index and redo procedures, 0.8% and 0.3% for paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal AF) and was significantly lower for QDM/STSF than TF/TC (0.2% vs. 1.1%, p = .008) and highest in the TF group. The incidence of cardiac tamponade was higher for TF than TC and STSF than QDM. In the multivariate analysis, TF/TC with EnSite was a significant independent predictor of cardiac tamponade during both the index (odds ratio [OR] = 4.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-17.5, p = .02) and all procedures (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.3-7.2, p = .01). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of cardiac tamponade and the fluoroscopic time during AF ablation significantly differed among the latest RF catheters and mapping systems in real-world clinical practice.
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BACKGROUND: Arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVP-D) can occur due to various conditions, so clarifying its cause is important for deciding treatment strategy. Although several cases of AVP-D following coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) infection or COVID-19 vaccination have been reported, the diagnosis of the underlying disease has not been reported in most cases. CASE PRESENTATION: A 75-year-old woman who presented with polydipsia and polyuria 9 weeks after contracting COVID-19 and 5 weeks after receiving the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, leading to the final diagnosis of AVP-D 8 months after the first appearance of symptoms. Interestingly, pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) still revealed stalk enlargement frequently observed in patients with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination-induced AVP-D. Although this finding could not rule out any malignancies, we additionally measured anti-rabphilin-3A antibodies, a known marker for lymphocytic infundibulo-neurohypophysitis (LINH), and found that the results were positive, strongly suggesting LINH as the cause of this disease. Thus, we avoided pituitary biopsy. At the follow-up MRI conducted 12 months after the initial consultation, enlargement of the pituitary stalk was still observed. CONCLUSION: We experienced a case with LINH probably induced by SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. In SARS-CoV-2 vaccination-related LINH, unlike typical LINH, there is a possibility of persistent pituitary stalk enlargement on MRI images for an extended period, posing challenges in differential diagnosis from other conditions. Pituitary stalk enlargement and positive anti-rabphilin-3A antibodies may help in the diagnosis of AVP-D induced by SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , Humans , Female , Aged , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/immunology , Arginine Vasopressin , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Vaccination/adverse effects , Autoantibodies/blood , Autoantibodies/immunology , Magnetic Resonance ImagingABSTRACT
AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors effectively and safely reduce fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia while promoting weight loss. However, their unique mechanism of action contributes to concerns regarding their safety. We therefore carried out a large-scale, non-commercial, investigator-initiated study on the safety and effectiveness of the SGLT2 inhibitor tofogliflozin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled, prospective observational study was carried out at hospitals and clinics across Japan in participants aged ≥20 years who were SGLT2 inhibitor-naïve and had an established diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The primary endpoint was adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of special interest. Secondary endpoints included all other ADRs and adverse events, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and weight loss. RESULTS: The study, carried out from June 2014 through February 2020, enrolled 11,480 participants from 1,103 medical institutions; 6,967 participants completed the 104-week follow up. The most common ADRs of special interest were urinary and genital tract infections (1.53%), followed by volume depletion (1.25%). Hypoglycemia occurred in 27 participants (0.24%), adverse events in 1,054 (9.18%) and ADRs in 645 (5.62%). HbA1c decreased by 0.85% (95% confidence interval 0.82%-0.88%) and bodyweight decreased by 3.05 kg (95% confidence interval 2.94-3.17 kg). The HbA1c target was achieved by 51.70% of participants for target HbA1c <7.0%, 85.3% for <8.0% and 5.4% for <6.0% at week 104. CONCLUSIONS: Tofogliflozin was associated with only mild or moderate ADRs characteristic of SGLT2 inhibitors, with no unpredictable, new, serious, or high-incidence adverse events or ADRs. This independent study confirmed the safety and effectiveness of tofogliflozin in adult type 2 diabetes patients.
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Hyponatremia is the most common clinical electrolyte disorder. Chronic hyponatremia has been recently reported to be associated with falls, fracture, osteoporosis, neurocognitive impairment, and mental manifestations. In the treatment of chronic hyponatremia, overly rapid correction of hyponatremia can cause osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS), a central demyelinating disease that is also associated with neurological morbidity and mortality. Using a rat model, we have previously shown that microglia play a critical role in the pathogenesis of ODS. However, the direct effect of rapid correction of hyponatremia on microglia is unknown. Furthermore, the effect of chronic hyponatremia on microglia remains elusive. Using microglial cell lines BV-2 and 6-3, we show here that low extracellular sodium concentrations (36 mmol/L decrease; LS) suppress Nos2 mRNA expression and nitric oxide (NO) production of microglia. On rapid correction of low sodium concentrations, NO production was significantly increased in both cells, suggesting that acute correction of hyponatremia partly directly contributes to increased Nos2 mRNA expression and NO release in ODS pathophysiology. LS also suppressed expression and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor of activated T cells-5 (NFAT5), a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes involved in osmotic stress. Furthermore, overexpression of NFAT5 significantly increased Nos2 mRNA expression and NO production in BV-2 cells. Expressions of Nos2 and Nfat5 mRNA were also modulated in microglia isolated from cerebral cortex in chronic hyponatremia model mice. These data indicate that LS modulates microglial NO production dependent on NFAT5 and suggest that microglia contribute to hyponatremia-induced neuronal dysfunctions.
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(1) Background: Proglucagon-derived peptides (PDGPs) including glucagon (Gcg), GLP-1, and GLP-2 regulate lipid metabolism in the liver, adipocytes, and intestine. However, the mechanism by which PGDPs participate in alterations in lipid metabolism induced by high-fat diet (HFD) feeding has not been elucidated. (2) Methods: Mice deficient in PGDP (GCGKO) and control mice were fed HFD for 7 days and analyzed, and differences in lipid metabolism in the liver, adipose tissue, and duodenum were investigated. (3) Results: GCGKO mice under HFD showed lower expression levels of the genes involved in free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation such as Hsl, Atgl, Cpt1a, Acox1 (p < 0.05), and Pparα (p = 0.05) mRNA in the liver than in control mice, and both FFA and triglycerides content in liver and adipose tissue weight were lower in the GCGKO mice. On the other hand, phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in white adipose tissue did not differ between the two groups. GCGKO mice under HFD exhibited lower expression levels of Pparα and Cd36 mRNA in the duodenum as well as increased fecal cholesterol contents compared to HFD-controls. (4) Conclusions: GCGKO mice fed HFD exhibit a lesser increase in hepatic FFA and triglyceride contents and adipose tissue weight, despite reduced ß-oxidation in the liver, than in control mice. Thus, the absence of PGDP prevents dietary-induced fatty liver development due to decreased lipid uptake in the intestinal tract.
Subject(s)
CD36 Antigens , Diet, High-Fat , Intestinal Absorption , Lipid Metabolism , Liver , Mice, Knockout , PPAR alpha , Proglucagon , Animals , Male , Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects , PPAR alpha/metabolism , PPAR alpha/genetics , Liver/metabolism , Proglucagon/metabolism , Proglucagon/genetics , CD36 Antigens/metabolism , CD36 Antigens/genetics , Mice , Sterol Esterase/metabolism , Sterol Esterase/genetics , Triglycerides/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/metabolism , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/metabolism , Duodenum/metabolism , Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase/metabolism , Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase/genetics , Adipose Tissue/metabolism , Dietary Fats , Glucagon-Like Peptide 2/metabolism , Acyltransferases , LipaseABSTRACT
Signs and symptoms of hypernatremia largely indicate central nervous system dysfunction. Acute hypernatremia can cause demyelinating lesions similar to that observed in osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS). We have previously demonstrated that microglia accumulate in ODS lesions and minocycline protects against ODS by inhibiting microglial activation. However, the direct effect of rapid rise in the sodium concentrations on microglia is largely unknown. In addition, the effect of chronic hypernatremia on microglia also remains elusive. Here, we investigated the effects of acute (6 or 24â¯h) and chronic (the extracellular sodium concentration was increased gradually for at least 7 days) high sodium concentrations on microglia using the microglial cell line, BV-2. We found that both acute and chronic high sodium concentrations increase NOS2 expression and nitric oxide (NO) production. We also demonstrated that the expression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells-5 (NFAT5) is increased by high sodium concentrations. Furthermore, NFAT5 knockdown suppressed NOS2 expression and NO production. We also demonstrated that high sodium concentrations decreased intracellular Ca2+ concentration and an inhibitor of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, NCX, suppressed a decrease in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and NOS2 expression and NO production induced by high sodium concentrations. Furthermore, minocycline inhibited NOS2 expression and NO production induced by high sodium concentrations. These in vitro data suggest that microglial activity in response to high sodium concentrations is regulated by NFAT5 and Ca2+ efflux through NCX and is suppressed by minocycline.
Subject(s)
Hypernatremia , Microglia , Minocycline , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II , Nitric Oxide , Microglia/metabolism , Microglia/drug effects , Animals , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Hypernatremia/metabolism , Hypernatremia/pathology , Hypernatremia/genetics , Minocycline/pharmacology , Mice , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/metabolism , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics , Sodium/metabolism , Cell Line , Calcium/metabolism , Sodium-Calcium Exchanger/metabolism , Sodium-Calcium Exchanger/genetics , NFATC Transcription Factors/metabolism , NFATC Transcription Factors/geneticsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The potential risk of embolic events during ablation in the left ventricle (LV) with a heated saline-enhanced radiofrequency (SERF) needle-tip ablation catheter has not been characterized. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the formation of microemboli or other untoward events during SERF ablation. METHODS: Ninety-three radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedures were performed in the LV of 14 pigs by using a SERF catheter (35 W, 70 seconds, and 60°C; normal or degassed saline [NS or DS] irrigation with a flow rate of 10 mL/min) vs a standard irrigated-tip radiofrequency (S-RF) catheter (30 or 50 W, 30 seconds, and 17 mL/min). Microbubble formation was graded on the basis of intracardiac echocardiography. Microbubbles, microembolic signals, and microparticles were monitored using our established model. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in microbubble volume among SERF-NS, SERF-DS, and S-RF 30 W with "grade 1" intracardiac echocardiography microbubbles (median and 25th-75th percentiles 0.201 [0.011-3.13], 0.455 [0.06-2.66], and 0.004 µL [0.00-0.16 µL], respectively). There was no significant difference in microembolic signals among SERF-NS, SERF-DS, and S-RF 30 W with grade 1 bubbles (n = 8.0 ± 5.8, n = 7.6 ± 4.2, and n = 6.1 ± 6.1, respectively). Both SERF-NS and SERF-DS created larger lesions than did both S-RF 30 W and S-RF 50 W deliveries (mean 1241.5 ± 658.6, 1497.7 ± 893.4, 75.0 ± 24.8, and 184.0 ± 93.8 mm3; P < .001). There was no significant difference in microparticle incidence among groups (P = .675). No evidence of embolic events was found in the brain and other organs at the histology assessment. CONCLUSION: In the setting of SERF ablation, significantly large LV lesions can be created without any increment in embolic microbubble or particle events. Grade 1 microbubble is related to the efficacy and safety.
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Not available.
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Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor, has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity in animal models and prediabetic patients. However, its other metabolic effects remain poorly investigated. This study examines the impact of sildenafil on insulin secretion in MIN6-K8 mouse clonal ß cells. Sildenafil amplified insulin secretion by enhancing Ca2+ influx. These effects required other depolarizing stimuli in MIN6-K8 cells but not in KATP channel-deficient ß cells, which were already depolarized, indicating that sildenafil-amplified insulin secretion is depolarization-dependent and KATP channel-independent. Interestingly, sildenafil-amplified insulin secretion was inhibited by pharmacological inhibition of R-type channels, but not of other types of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs). Furthermore, sildenafil-amplified insulin secretion was barely affected when its effect on cyclic GMP was inhibited by PDE5 knockdown. Thus, sildenafil stimulates insulin secretion and Ca2+ influx through R-type VDCCs independently of the PDE5/cGMP pathway, a mechanism that differs from the known pharmacology of sildenafil and conventional insulin secretory pathways. Our results reposition sildenafil as an insulinotropic agent that can be used as a potential antidiabetic medicine and a tool to elucidate the novel mechanism of insulin secretion.
Subject(s)
Calcium , Insulin Secretion , Insulin-Secreting Cells , Insulin , Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors , Sildenafil Citrate , Sildenafil Citrate/pharmacology , Animals , Insulin-Secreting Cells/metabolism , Insulin-Secreting Cells/drug effects , Mice , Insulin Secretion/drug effects , Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors/pharmacology , Calcium/metabolism , Insulin/metabolism , Cell LineABSTRACT
In Japan, nutritional guidance based on food-recording apps and food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) is becoming popular. However, it is not always recognized that different dietary assessment methods have different nutritional values. Here, we compared the compatibility of dietary intake data obtained from an app with those obtained from FFQs in 59 healthy individuals who recorded information regarding their diet for at least 7 days per month using an app developed by Asken (Tokyo, Japan). The diurnal coefficient of variation in total energy and protein intake was 20%, but those for vitamins B12 and D were >80%, reflecting the importance of 7 days of recording rather than a single day of recording for dietary intake analyses. Then, we compared the results of two FFQs-one based on food groups and one based on a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire-for 7 days, as recorded by the app. There was a correlation coefficient of >0.4 for all the items except salt. Regarding the compatibility between the app and FFQs, the percentage errors for total energy and nutrients were >40-50%, suggesting no agreement between the app and the two FFQs. In conclusion, careful attention should be paid to the impact of different dietary assessment methods on nutrient assessment.
Subject(s)
Diet Records , Mobile Applications , Humans , Female , Male , Japan , Middle Aged , Adult , Surveys and Questionnaires , Diet Surveys/methods , Nutrition Assessment , Energy Intake , Diet/statistics & numerical data , Aged , Healthy Volunteers , East Asian PeopleABSTRACT
Hepatocytes play important roles in the liver, but in culture, they immediately lose function and dedifferentiate into progenitor-like cells. Although this unique feature is well-known, the dynamics and mechanisms of hepatocyte dedifferentiation and the differentiation potential of dedifferentiated hepatocytes (dediHeps) require further investigation. Here, we employ a culture system specifically established for hepatic progenitor cells to study hepatocyte dedifferentiation. We found that hepatocytes dedifferentiate with a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype, which is required for the induction and maintenance of dediHeps, and exhibit Vimentin-dependent propagation, upon inhibition of the Hippo signaling pathway. The dediHeps re-differentiate into mature hepatocytes by forming aggregates, enabling reconstitution of hepatic tissues in vivo. Moreover, dediHeps have an unexpected differentiation potential into intestinal epithelial cells that can form organoids in three-dimensional culture and reconstitute colonic epithelia after transplantation. This remarkable plasticity will be useful in the study and treatment of intestinal metaplasia and related diseases in the liver.
Subject(s)
Cell Dedifferentiation , Cell Differentiation , Epithelial Cells , Hepatocytes , Animals , Hepatocytes/cytology , Hepatocytes/metabolism , Epithelial Cells/cytology , Epithelial Cells/metabolism , Mice , Organoids/cytology , Organoids/metabolism , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition , Intestinal Mucosa/cytology , Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Signal Transduction , Vimentin/metabolism , Hippo Signaling Pathway , Liver/cytology , Liver/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Male , Cell Culture Techniques/methodsABSTRACT
Hormonal changes during the menopause transition may lead to vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes (HFs) and neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and irritability. We hypothesized that the effects of cassis polyphenol (CaP) to improve microcirculation and vasorelaxation may alleviate menopausal symptoms. We performed a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial involving 59 healthy women (mean [standard deviation] age, 51.3 [4.3] years; body mass index, 20.8 [2.6] kg/m2). Participants experiencing subjective menopausal symptoms consumed CaP tablets (400 mg/d, CaP group) or placebo tablets (placebo group) for 4 weeks. Participants were evaluated using questionnaires at baseline, during the 4-week intervention period, and during a 2-week postinterventional observation period. The primary objective was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with CaP on HFs in healthy Japanese women with menopausal symptoms. Additional assessments included the modified Kupperman menopausal index, World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index, World Health Organization quality-of-life 26-item index, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (anxiety and trait components), and Oguri-Shirakawa-Azumi sleep inventory (middle-aged and elderly versions). During the 4-week intervention period, no significant between-group differences were detected in the HF frequency, HF score, sweating frequency, menopausal symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, or sleep. During the 2-week postintervention observational period, the HF score and sweating frequency were significantly decreased in the CaP group compared with the placebo group. These findings suggest that twice daily intake of CaP for 4 weeks does not alleviate menopause symptoms, but the improvement observed in the CaP intake group during the postintervention period warrants confirmation through further large-scale studies.
Subject(s)
Dietary Supplements , Hot Flashes , Menopause , Polyphenols , Quality of Life , Humans , Female , Double-Blind Method , Middle Aged , Hot Flashes/drug therapy , Polyphenols/pharmacology , Polyphenols/administration & dosage , Menopause/drug effects , Anxiety , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have reported the efficacy of the cryoballoon (CB)-guided left atrial roof block line (LARB) creation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it can be technically challenging to attach the balloon to the left atrial (LA) roof due to its anatomical variations. We designed a new procedure called the "Raise-up Technique," which may facilitate the firm adhesion of the CB to the LA roof during freezing. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the Raise-up technique in LARB creation. METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, 100 consecutive patients with persistent AF who underwent CB-LARB creation were enrolled. Fifty-seven patients underwent LARB creation using the Raise-up technique (Raise-up group), and the remaining 43 did not use it (control group). The Raise-up technique was performed as follows: An Achieve catheter was inserted as deeply as possible into the upper branch of the right superior pulmonary vein to anchor the CB. The balloon was placed below the targeted site on the LA roof and frozen. When the temperature of the CB reached approximately -10°C and the CB was easier to attach to the LA tissue, the CB was raised and pressed against the LA roof immediately by sheath advancement. Then the balloon could be in firm contact with the target site on the roof. If necessary, additional sheath advancement after sufficient freezing (-20°C to -30°C) was allowed the CB to have more firm and broad contact with the target site. LARB creation without touch-up ablation was achieved in 54 of 57 patients (94.7%) in the Raise-up group and 33 of 43 patients (76.7%) in the control group (p < .05). The lesion size of the LARB in the Raise-up group was significantly larger than that in the control group (15.2 cm2 vs. 12.8 cm2, p < .05). Moreover, the width of the LARB lesion in the Raise-up group was wider than that in the control group (32.0 mm vs. 26.6 mm, p < .05). CONCLUSION: The Raise-up technique enabled the creation of seamless and thick LARB lesions with a single stroke. In addition, the CB-LARB lesions created using the Raise-up technique tended to be large, resulting in extensive debulking of the LA posterior wall arrhythmia substrates. In CB ablation for persistent AF, the Raise-up technique can be considered one of the key strategies for LARB creation.
Subject(s)
Atrial Fibrillation , Cryosurgery , Humans , Atrial Fibrillation/surgery , Atrial Fibrillation/physiopathology , Atrial Fibrillation/diagnosis , Cryosurgery/instrumentation , Female , Male , Middle Aged , Aged , Treatment Outcome , Heart Atria/surgery , Heart Atria/physiopathology , Heart Atria/diagnostic imaging , Action Potentials , Heart Rate , Time Factors , Retrospective Studies , Recurrence , Pulmonary Veins/surgery , Pulmonary Veins/physiopathologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) prevalence increases with age, and sarcopenia is a poor prognostic factor in patients with HF. We aimed to evaluate the characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with HF and sarcopenia. RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed 256 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital for HF between May 2018 and May 2021, underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The prognoses and characteristics were evaluated and compared between patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% (reduced LVEF, HF with reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF]) and those with LVEF ≥ 50% (preserved LVEF, HF with preserved ejection fraction [HFpEF]). 83 (32%) and 173 (68%) patients had HFrEF and HFpEF, respectively. The HFrEF group had fewer women, lower hypertension rates, higher ischemic heart disease rates, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels than did the HFpEF group. Kaplan-Meier analysis for all-cause death showed that the HFrEF group had a significantly worse prognosis than the HFpEF group [log-rank p = 0.002]. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HF and sarcopenia, older age, higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, BNP levels, and reduced LVEF were independent predictors of death after evaluation. During the treatment of patients with HF and sarcopenia, it is necessary to manage treatment with close attention to BNP and LVEF.
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Although immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related kidney diseases are typically characterized by tubulointerstitial nephritis with abundant infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells and fibrosis, there have been relatively rare cases of IgG4-related glomerulonephritis. Several cases of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccination have been reported. However, there are no reports of IgG4-related glomerulonephritis following COVID-19 vaccination. Herein, we present a case of IgG4-related membranous nephropathy (MN) occurring after COVID-19 vaccination. A 69-year-old Japanese male presented to our hospital with edema that started the day after his second COVID-19 vaccination. The patient exhibited nephrotic syndrome and was diagnosed with MN based on the results of a kidney biopsy. Although serum IgG4 levels were elevated to 946 mg/dL, no evidence of organ involvement suggestive of IgG4-RD was observed. Treatment with prednisolone and cyclosporine resulted in complete remission, and immunosuppressive agents were tapered. However, one month after discontinuing the immunosuppressive agents, the patient was readmitted with swelling around the submandibular glands and exertional dyspnea. Serum IgG4 level was markedly elevated at 2,320 mg/dL, and computed tomography revealed submandibular gland swelling and thickening of the interlobular septum and bronchovascular bundles in both lungs. The patient was diagnosed with IgG4-RD based on elevated serum IgG4 levels and infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells in the submandibular gland biopsy. Upon resuming treatment with prednisolone, the symptoms attributed to IgG4-RD improved within a few days. In cases of nephrotic syndrome following COVID-19 vaccination, it may be advisable to conduct detailed examinations to assess the possibility of the development of IgG4-RDs.
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AIMS: Phrenic nerve injury (PNI) is the most common complication during cryoballoon ablation. Currently, two cryoballoon systems are available, yet the difference is unclear. We sought to compare the acute procedural efficacy and safety of the two cryoballoons. METHODS: This prospective observational study consisted of 2,555 consecutive atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using either conventional (Arctic Front Advance) (AFA-CB) or novel cryoballoons (POLARx) (POLARx-CB) at 19 centers between January 2022 and October 2023. RESULTS: Among 2,555 patients (68.8 ± 10.9 years, 1,740 men, paroxysmal AF[PAF] 1,670 patients), PVIs were performed by the AFA-CB and POLARx-CB in 1,358 and 1,197 patients, respectively. Touch-up ablation was required in 299(11.7%) patients. The touch-up rate was significantly lower for POLARx-CB than AFA-CB (9.5% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.002), especially for right inferior PVs (RIPVs). The touch-up rate was significantly lower for PAF than non-PAF (8.8% vs. 17.2%, P < 0.001) and was similar between the two cryoballoons in non-PAF patients. Right PNI occurred in 64(2.5%) patients and 22(0.9%) were symptomatic. It occurred during the right superior PV (RSPV) ablation in 39(1.5%) patients. The incidence was significantly higher for POLARx-CB than AFA-CB (3.8% vs. 1.3%, P < 0.001) as was the incidence of symptomatic PNI (1.7% vs. 0.1%, P < 0.001). The difference was significant during RSPV (2.5% vs. 0.7%, P < 0.001) but not RIPV ablation. The PNI recovered more quickly for the AFA-CB than POLARx-CB. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of right PNI and lower touch-up rate for the POLARx-CB than AFA-CB in the real-world clinical practice.
Subject(s)
Atrial Fibrillation , Cryosurgery , Peripheral Nerve Injuries , Phrenic Nerve , Pulmonary Veins , Registries , Humans , Phrenic Nerve/injuries , Male , Female , Atrial Fibrillation/surgery , Atrial Fibrillation/epidemiology , Pulmonary Veins/surgery , Aged , Cryosurgery/adverse effects , Cryosurgery/methods , Prospective Studies , Incidence , Peripheral Nerve Injuries/etiology , Peripheral Nerve Injuries/epidemiology , Peripheral Nerve Injuries/prevention & control , Middle Aged , Treatment Outcome , Catheter Ablation/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Transgenerational responses of susceptible calcifying organisms to progressive ocean acidification are an important issue in reducing uncertainty of future predictions. In this study, a two-generation rearing experiment was conducted using mature Mesocentrotus nudus, a major edible sea urchin that occurs along the coasts of northern Japan. Morphological observations and comprehensive gene expression analysis (RNA-seq) of resulting larvae were performed to examine transgenerational acclimation to acidified seawater. Two generations of rearing experiments showed that larvae derived from parents acclimated to acidified seawater tended to have higher survival and show less reduction in body size when exposed to acidified seawater of the same pH, suggesting that a positive carry-over effect occurred. RNA-seq analysis showed that gene expression patterns of larvae originated from both acclimated and non-acclimated parents to acidified seawater tended to be different than control condition, and the gene expression pattern of larvae originated from acclimated parents was substantially different than that of larvae of non-acclimated and control parents.
Subject(s)
Acclimatization , Sea Urchins , Seawater , Animals , Sea Urchins/genetics , Sea Urchins/physiology , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Larva/genetics , Gene Expression , JapanABSTRACT
Background: Gestational diabetes insipidus (DI) is a very rare complication of pregnancy. We present a case of gestational DI combining two different types of DI. Case Presentation. A 39-year-old pregnant woman suddenly presented with thirst, polydipsia, and polyuria after 31 gestation weeks (GWs). Based on laboratory findings of hypotonic urine (78 mOsm/kgH2O) with higher plasma osmolality (298 mOsm/kgH2O) and higher serum sodium levels (149 mEq/L), gestational DI was suspected, and the clinical course was monitored without therapy until the results of a measurement of plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels were available. However, she subsequently developed acute prerenal failure and underwent an emergency cesarean section at 34 GWs. Her resected placenta weighed 920 g, nearly twice the normal weight. Immediately following delivery, intranasal 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin was administered, and her symptoms promptly disappeared. Afterward, her predelivery plasma AVP level was found to have been inappropriately low (0.7 pg/mL) given her serum sodium level. The patient's serum vasopressinase level just before delivery was 2,855 ng/mL, more than 1,000 times the upper limit of the normal range, suggesting excess vasopressinase-induced DI. The presence of anti-rabphilin-3A antibodies in the patient's blood, a hypertonic saline infusion test result, and loss of the high-intensity signal of the posterior pituitary on fat-suppressed T1-weighted magnetic resonance images without thickening of the stalk and enlargement of the neurohypophysis suggested concurrent central DI-like lymphocytic infundibulo-neurohypophysitis (LINH). Conclusion: In addition to the degradation of AVP by excess placental vasopressinase due to the enlarged placenta, an insufficient compensatory increase in AVP secretion from the posterior pituitary gland due to LINH-like pathogenesis might have led to DI symptoms.