A case of cough syncope diagnosed by the Valsalva maneuver and cough induction test under invasive arterial pressure measurement.

Following the loss of consciousness during the Valsalva maneuver and cough induction test, real-time arterial pressure measurement could clarify the significant blood pressure decrease in a patient with cough syncope.

Short-Term Study of the Outcome of a New Instrument for All-Inside Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term clinical results and location of the bone tunnel with a new surgical procedure for all-inside double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: The double-bundle ACL reconstruction procedure was performed in 24 patients (13 male and 11 female patients) with a mean age of 31.0 years. Anterior and posterior tibial translation using an arthrometer (KT-1000; MEDmetric, San Diego, CA) and the Lysholm score were measured before surgery and at a mean of 24.8 months (range, 13 to 45 months) postoperatively. Computed tomography scans were taken to evaluate the bone tunnel positions using 3-dimensional images with the quadrant method for the femoral tunnel and Stäubli's technique for the tibial tunnel. RESULTS: Three-dimensional computed tomography scans showed that the anteromedial and posterolateral tunnels were placed in anatomically appropriate positions. Arthrometric measurements showed that the mean side-to-side differences were 5.3 mm (SD, 1.6 mm) preoperatively and 0.05 mm (SD, 0.7 mm) at a mean of 24.8 months postoperatively, indicating a remarkable improvement (P < .00001). The mean Lysholm score was 56.3 points (SD, 14.8 points) preoperatively and 95.5 points (SD, 3.8 points) at final follow-up and was significantly improved after the operation (P < .00001). CONCLUSIONS: The all-inside double-bundle ACL reconstruction technique used in this study resulted in the creation of tunnels in an anatomically appropriate position. Short-term clinical follow-up showed improvement in patient-reported outcomes and knee stability. This technique may provide an alternative option for all-inside ACL reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of stent restenosis by optical coherence tomography: comparison between drug-eluting and bare-metal stents.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that the tissue components of in-stent restenosis (ISR) might differ between drug-eluting stents (DES) and bare-metal stents (BMS) and that these differences could be distinguished by qualitative and quantitative optical coherence tomography (OCT) analyses. METHODS AND RESULTS: One-hundred and twenty-two initial ISR lesions (sirolimus-eluting stents: n=28; paclitaxel-eluting stents: n=51; BMS: n=43) were evaluated with OCT. Based on their OCT appearance, the lesions were classified as homogeneous, layered or heterogeneous. The optical properties of backscatter, attenuation and signal intensity of the neointimal tissue (NIT) were quantified. To evaluate the vascular response after balloon angioplasty (BA), the rate of reduction of the NIT area (NITA) was calculated (NITA before - after BA/NITA before BA at the minimum lumen cross-sectional area). Among the morphologic OCT patterns, the layered type was predominant with DES, whereas lesions were homogeneous with BMS (P<0.001). Backscatter and signal intensity were significantly higher with BMS (P<0.05 and P<0.001 respectively). The NITA reduction rate was significantly greater in the layered and heterogeneous groups than in the homogeneous group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The morphologic OCT patterns of the NIT in ISR differed significantly between DES and BMS, probably reflecting pathologic differences. Layered and heterogeneous tissues might respond better than homogeneous tissue to simple balloon dilatation, suggesting a possible direction for OCT-based ISR treatment strategies.

Upper turnover portion of the reentry circuit for typical and reverse typical atrial flutter.

BACKGROUND: The posteromedial right atrium (PMRA) forms a block line during typical atrial flutter (AFL). However, whether upper turnover portion exists at the anterior or posterior superior vena cava (SVC) has not been determined. METHODS: We performed right atrial mapping during AFL in 20 patients (typical AFL, n = 17; reverse typical AFL, n = 3) using an electroanatomical mapping system. RESULTS: Mean AFL cycle length was 224 +/- 20 ms and mean number of mapping points was 140 +/- 27. PMRA formed a block line during both typical and reverse AFL in all patients. However, in 16 of 17 patients mapped with typical AFL, PMRA did not extend superiorly to the orifice of the SVC and AFL wave propagated between the upper limit of the PMRA and the posterior SVC. In the remaining patient mapped with typical AFL, a double potential was recorded along the PMRA continuously between the orifices of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and SVC. In the three patients mapped with reverse typical AFL, a posterior barrier was detected from IVC to the upper limit of the PMRA and AFL wave propagated between the upper limit of the PMRA and the posterior SVC. Mean length from IVC to upper limit of the PMRA was 81 +/- 8% of the length from IVC to SVC. CONCLUSIONS: PMRA forms a functional block line during both typical and reverse typical AFL. The upper turnover portion of reentry circuit for AFL was observed between the upper limit of the PMRA and the posterior SVC in the majority of isthmus-dependent AFL patients.

Expression of Toll-like receptors on human platelets.

INTRODUCTION: Platelets play a crucial role in arterial thrombosis, which is the main cause of acute coronary syndrome. Some mycobacteriums, such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, were associated with progression of atherosclerosis and they are interacted with Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which have been defined as pathogen-associated molecular pattern recognition molecules in innate immunity. In the present study, we examined whether human platelets express TLRs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human platelets were obtained from healthy volunteers and the mRNA and protein level of TLRs on platelets and Meg-01 cells, megakaryoblastic cell line, were investigated. RESULTS: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated that TLR1 and TLR6 mRNA were expressed in platelets and Meg-01 cells. Furthermore, interferon-gamma up-regulated their mRNA levels in dose and time dependent manners after stimuli. Both TLR1 and TLR6 proteins in platelets were detected by Western blotting, and their expression of platelets was more than that of Meg-01 cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed the expression of TLR1 and TLR6 on the cell surface of Meg-01 cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis using human coronary thrombi obtained from patients with acute coronary syndrome confirmed the expression of TLR1 and TLR6 on platelets. CONCLUSION: In summary, we demonstrated that human platelets and Meg-01 cells expressed a family of TLRs for the first time, and our findings indicated that platelets might recognize antigens directly via TLRs. Our findings suggest a possibility that platelets have the ability to recognize the antigens via TLRs and that there are mechanistic relations between infectious inflammation and atherosclerotic vascular diseases.

Correlation of connexin43 expression and late ventricular potentials in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is associated with a high risk of sudden cardiac death. Signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG) is a useful clinical tool for detecting late ventricular potentials (LP). Gap junction alterations have recently been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of ventricular arrhythmias in DCM; however, the possible relationship between gap junctional connexin43 (C x 43) expression and SAECG has not yet been evaluated. In the present study 16 patients (47+/-13 years) with DCM who had undergone SAECG testing were evaluated. In each patient, the expression of C x 43 proteins was qualitatively and quantitatively determined using immunoconfocal microscopy and right ventricular biopsy specimens. The level of expression of C x 43 protein was defined as the proportion of tissue area occupied by C x 43 (percent tissue area) in each test area. The abundance and distribution of the C x 43 signal was assessed in relation to LP. Late ventricular potentials were positive in 5 patients (LP (+) group) and negative in 11 patients (LP (-) group). The incidence of sustained ventricular tachycardia in the LP (+) group was higher than that in the LP (-) group (80% vs 18%, p=0.04). The percent tissue area of C x 43 in the LP (+) group was significantly lower than that in the LP (-) group (p=0.02). Furthermore, C x 43 protein in the LP (+) group was distributed more heterogeneously than that in the LP (-) group (p=0.001). The heterogeneous expression of C x 43 protein may contribute to impaired ventricular conduction, which may be related to the LP detected on SAECG.

Comparative usefulness of beat-to-beat QT dispersion and QT interval fluctuations for identifying patients with organic heart disease at risk for ventricular arrhythmias.

The comparative usefulness of 10 min of beat-to-beat 12-lead QT dispersion (QTd) and QT interval variability index (QTVI) analysis for identifying patients with organic heart disease (OHD) at risk for ventricular arrhythmias was assessed in 86 subjects: 54 had OHD without a history of ventricular arrhythmias, 15 had OHD with documented ventricular tachycardia, and there were 17 controls. The following parameters were analyzed among the groups: (1) the average QTd (mean QTd), (2) the difference between the maximum and minimum QTd observed over the recording time (QTd variation), (3) the maximum difference of QTd between consecutive beats (QTd maximum), (4) the QTd standard deviation (QTd variability), and (5) QTVI, calculated in lead I or II according to an established formula: log 10 [(QTv/QTm2) / (HRv/HRm2)]. All the analyzed parameters were significantly increased in the patients with and without ventricular tachycardia when compared with the controls. QTd variation, QTd maximum and QTd variability were the only variables that remained significantly increased in the group of patients with documented ventricular tachycardia, compared with those without arrhythmia. Thus, beat-to-beat fluctuations of both the QT interval and QTd may be markers of temporal electrical instability in patients with OHD.

Heterogeneous loss of connexin43 protein in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy with ventricular tachycardia.

INTRODUCTION: Gap junction alterations recently have been implicated in chronic heart failure, but direct evidence between gap junction manifestation in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is lacking. The current study examines whether qualitative changes or altered distribution of gap junctional connexin43 (Cx43) are related to global ventricular function and ventricular arrhythmia in DCM. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated 31 DCM patients (52 +/- 15 years) and 5 control subjects (55 +/- 10 years). Expression of Cx43 proteins was qualitatively and quantitatively determined using immunoconfocal microscopy in right ventricular biopsy specimens from each patient. The expression level of Cx43 protein was defined as the proportion of tissue area occupied by Cx43 (percent tissue area) in each test area. Cx43 immunoreactive signal expressed as percent tissue area was not correlated with the change in left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0.17). Of 31 DCM patients, 23% subsequently developed sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), which allowed retrospective division of the samples into two groups: non-VT and VT. Left ventricular ejection fraction was comparable in both groups, but the percent tissue area in the VT groups was significantly decreased compared with that of the non-VT groups (P = 0.03). Furthermore, Cx43 protein was distributed heterogeneously in the VT groups (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Heterogeneous reduction of Cx43 protein may result in development of malignant ventricular arrhythmia in DCM.

Primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in the renal pelvis.

A primary low-grade lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue arising from the renal pelvis is extremely rare. We present a 77-year-old man with this disease which was difficult to diagnose preoperatively.

Clinical significance of T-wave alternans in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The clinical significance of T-wave alternans (TWA) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is unclear, so SV1+RV5 and QT dispersion on 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECG), the parameters of the left ventricle on echocardiography and the family history of HCM and sudden death were investigated in 53 patients with HCM who experienced TWA. The maximal numbers of successive ventricular ectopic beats (max VE) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) were measured by Holter monitoring. In 13 patients, genetic abnormalities were examined. In 22 patients, the hypertrophy of myocytes, disarray and fibrosis were histopathologically examined using a scoring method. TWA was positive in 27 patients (TWA+ group), negative in 14 (TWA- group) and indeterminate in 12. The ECG and echocardiographic parameters, family history and genetic abnormalities did not significantly differ between the TWA+ and TWA- groups. Max VE, the percentage of patients with NSVT and disarray score in the TWA+ group were significantly higher than those in the TWA- group (3.6+/-3.6 vs 1.3+/-0.7, 37% vs 0%, 1.9+/-1.1 vs 0.7+/-0.5; p<0.05). TWA in HCM correlates with histopathological changes, especially disarray and ventricular tachyarrhythmia, and measuring it may be a noninvasive means of detecting high-risk patients with HCM.

Onset heart rate of microvolt-level T-wave alternans provides clinical and prognostic value in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine the prognostic value of onset heart rate (OHR) in T-wave alternans (TWA) in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). BACKGROUND: One of the current major issues in DCM is to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, the value of the OHR of TWA as a prognostic indicator in DCM remains to be elucidated. METHODS: We prospectively investigated 104 patients with DCM undergoing TWA testing. The end point of this study was defined as SCD, documented sustained ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation. Relations between clinical parameters and subsequent outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-six patients presenting with TWA were assigned to one of the following two subgroups according to OHR for TWA of < or = 100 beats/min: group A (n = 24) with OHR < or = 100 beats/min and group B (n = 22) with 100 < OHR < or = 110 beats/min. T-wave alternans was negative in 37 patients (group C) and indeterminate in 21 patients. The follow-up result comprised 83 patients with determined TWA. During a follow-up duration of 21 +/- 14 months, there was a total of 12 arrhythmic events, nine of which included three SCDs in group A, two in group B and one in group C. The forward stepwise multivariate Cox hazard analysis revealed that TWA with an OHR < or = 100 beats/min and left ventricular ejection fraction were independent predictors of these arrhythmic events (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0152, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The OHR of TWA is of additional prognostic value in DCM.

Clinical characteristics of induced nonclinical ventricular tachycardia in nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

The clinical significance of induced nonclinical ventricular tachycardia (NCVT) in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains controversial. Twenty-eight patients with sustained VT or ventricular fibrillation related to DCM underwent programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) to induce VT. However, VT was not induced in four patients. Based on the morphology of induced ventricular arrhythmia, we classified the remaining 24 patients into NCVT (n = l1 ) and clinical VT (CVT) groups (n = 13), then evaluated the prognosis for a mean follow-up period of 22 months. The cycle length of induced NCVT was significantly shorter than that of induced CVT (277 +/- 38 ms vs 325 +/- 63 ms, P < 0.05). Appropriate antiarrhythmic agents were selected by serial PVS in 36% of the NCVT group and in 38% of the CVT group (4/11 vs 5/13). Among patients who had been treated by PVS guided drug therapy, arrhythmic events were observed in 75% of the NCVT group and 80% of the CVT group (3/4 vs 4/5). The total incidence of sudden death in the NCVT group was higher than that in the CVT group (5/11: 45% vs 4/13: 31%). In conclusion, induced NCVT and CVT are refractory to pharmacological therapy and both have an important characteristic value in DCM.