Healing process of myocardial edema in acute perimyocarditis: Observation by speckle-tracking echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance parametric mapping.

This report describes the case of a 42-year-old male patient with acute viral perimyocarditis. The case study serves as a demonstration of the use of speckle-tracking echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in monitoring myocardial changes associated with perimyocarditis. It explores the possibility that regional longitudinal strain (LS) may predict prognosis in the affected areas of the myocardium, and could reflect more advanced areas of myocyte damage within myocardial edema.

Cardiac pseudomass due to enlarged epicardial adipose tissue: Comparison of echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

A 75-year-old woman underwent preoperative echocardiography, which revealed a mass in the left atrium; however, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed no mass. Echocardiography revealed an enlargement of the epicardial adipose tissue in the left atrioventricular groove, therefore a pseudomass. Causes of cardiac pseudomass on echocardiography have been reported. Suspected pseudomasses should be reliably differentiated from a tumor or thrombus, and if new forms are found, the images must be shared for the benefit of clinicians.

Impact of different coronary angioscopic findings on arterial healing one year after bioresorbable-polymer and second-generation durable-polymer drug-eluting stent implantation.

BACKGROUND: The advantage of using bioresorbable-polymer drug-eluting stent (BP-DES) compared with second-generation durable-polymer drug-eluting stent (2G DP-DES) still remains controversial in clinical situations. The purpose of this study to evaluate the degree of re-endothelialization and the prevalence of high-grade yellow-colored plaque (YCP), which might concern arterial healing after BP-DES and 2G DP-DES implantation using a high-resolution coronary angioscopy (CAS). METHODS: In total, 104 DESs (52: 2G DP-DES and 52: BP-DES) were prospectively observed using CAS 12±1 months after coronary intervention. The grade of neointimal coverage (NIC) over the stent was scored on a 4-point scale from 0 (no coverage) to 3 (complete coverage). YCP grade was also scored on a 4-point scale as 0 (white) to 3 (intensive yellow). High-grade YCP was defined as maximum grade ≥2. Moreover, the prevalence of high-grade YCP and the incidence of thrombus were investigated. RESULTS: BP-DES revealed better dominant NIC grade and less NIC heterogeneity than 2G DP-DES (p=0.0001 and p=0.015, respectively). The prevalence of high-grade YCP was lower for BP-DES than for 2G DP-DES (p=0.05). However, the incidence of thrombus was not significantly different (p=0.41). Multivariate analysis identified that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels [odds ratio (OR), 1.03; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.01-1.06, p=0.01] and the usage of BP-DES [OR, 0.36; 95% CI: 0.14-0.91, p=0.03] as independent predictors of high-grade YCP. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with 2G DP-DES, BP-DES was less heterogeneous and well-covered NIC and less prevalence of the high-grade YCP implying optimal arterial healing.

Efficacy and safety of apixaban in a patient with systemic venous thromboembolism associated with hereditary antithrombin deficiency.

A 40-year-old man with progressively worsening dyspnea was admitted to our hospital. On physical examination, pulse oximetry results demonstrated 80% oxygen saturation in room air. The lungs sounded clear, and both extremities appeared normal, without pitting edema. His echocardiography revealed a pressure overload in the right ventricle. Suspecting the presence of pulmonary thromboembolism, we performed an enhanced computed tomography (CT). CT results revealed systemic venous thromboembolism (VTE) involving the superior mesenteric vein, inferior vena cava (IVC), right common iliac vein and pulmonary arteries, as well as splenomegaly and edema of the small intestine with ascites. After insertion of a retrievable IVC filter, we prescribed 10 mg of apixaban twice daily for the first 7 days, followed by 5 mg twice daily as long-term therapy. Confirming no exacerbation of the VTE symptoms, we removed the IVC filter 14 days after admission. Additionally, hereditary antithrombin deficiency was unraveled as the etiology of systemic VTE. Although an enhanced CT at 6 months follow-up showed that almost all previous VTE had dissolved, we decided to prescribe apixaban indefinitely. Fortunately, he has not experienced a recurrence of VTE or any bleeding events to date. .

AST-120, an Adsorbent of Uremic Toxins, Improves the Pathophysiology of Heart Failure in Conscious Dogs.

PURPOSE: Several lines of evidence suggest that renal dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular toxicity through the action of uremic toxins. The levels of those uremic toxins can be reportedly reduced by the spherical carbon adsorbent AST-120. Because heart failure (HF) causes renal dysfunction by low cardiac output and renal edema, the removal of uremic toxins could be cardioprotective. METHOD: To determine whether blood levels of the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS) increase in HF and whether AST-120 can reduce those levels and improve HF. We induced HF in 12 beagle dogs by 6 weeks of rapid right ventricular pacing at 230 beats per min. We treated six dogs with a 1-g/kg/day oral dosage of AST-120 for 14 days from week 4 after the start of rapid ventricular pacing. The other six dogs did not receive any treatment (control group). RESULTS: In the untreated dogs, IS levels increased as cardiac function deteriorated. In contrast, plasma IS levels in the treated dogs decreased to baseline levels, with both left ventricular fractional shortening and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure also improving when compared with untreated dogs. Finally, AST-120 treatment was shown to reduce both myocardial apoptosis and fibrosis along with decreases in extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and TGF-ß1 expression and increases in AKT phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: IS levels are increased in HF. AST-120 treatment reduces the levels of IS and improves the pathophysiology of HF in a canine model. AST-120 could be a novel candidate for the treatment of HF.

Comparison of neointimal coverage between durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stents and bioresorbable-polymer everolimus-eluting stents 1 year after implantation using high-resolution coronary angioscopy.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the coronary angioscopic appearance of neointimal coverage (NIC) over durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stents (XIENCE-EES) and bioresorbable-polymer everolimus-eluting stents (SYNERGY-EES) 1 year after implantation. BACKGROUND: XIENCE-EES and SYNERGY-EES have been developed to prevent delayed arterial healing associated with first generation drug-eluting stents. However, the process of arterial healing after XIENCE-EES and SYNERGY-EES implantation has not been clarified. METHODS: Patients who underwent implantation of XIENCE-EES (n = 20) or SYNERGY-EES (n = 20) were enrolled in this study. Coronary angiography and coronary angioscopy were performed 12 ± 1 months after stent implantation. The NIC over the stent was classified into four grades: grade 0, stent struts fully exposed; grade 1, stent struts bulging into the lumen and, still visible; grade 2, stent struts embedded in neointima but still visible; and grade 3, stent struts fully embedded and invisible. Stents exhibiting more than one NIC grade was defined as heterogeneous. Moreover, presence of thrombi was investigated. RESULTS: The distribution of dominant NIC grade (XIENCE-EES: grade 0, 0%; grade 1, 25%; grade 2, 50%; grade 3, 25%; SYNERGY-EES: grade 0, 0%; grade 1, 5%; grade 2, 15%; grade 3, 80%; P = 0.002) and NIC heterogeneity was significantly different (P = 0.004). Thrombi were more frequent in XIENCE-EES than in SYNERGY-EES (40 versus 10%, respectively; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Compared with XIENCE-EES, SYNERGY-EES were well covered by neointima and accompanied by fewer thrombi. These findings implied arterial healing of SYNERGY-EES was better than that of XIENCE-EES.

Rescue Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for a Lethal "Jailed" Septal Perforator Branch to Resolve Delayed Complete Atrioventricular Block.

Delayed complete atrioventricular (AV) block associated with an occluded septal perforator branch (SPB) is an uncommon complication after performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Here we report the case of a 74-year-old man who underwent elective PCI for proximal LAD complicated with occlusion of the first major SPB and developed a complete AV block 78 hours after PCI was performed. The patient received a temporary transvenous pacemaker via the jugular vein and successfully underwent balloon angioplasty of the lethal "jailed" SPB, resulting in recovery from the complete AV block. Permanent pacemaker implantation was avoided. Our findings indicate the importance of postprocedural monitoring and consideration of rescue PCI for an occluded SPB in cases of complicated AV conduction disturbances.

Clinical efficacy of a stent-in-stent procedure for stent fracture in a narrowing anastomosis of femoral-popliteal bypass represented repetitive acute limb ischemia.

A 72-year-old male with sudden onset pain and coldness in his left lower limb was referred to our hospital. An emergency angiography of the lower limbs demonstrated the cause of acute limb ischemia as a subsequent acute thromboembolism at the site of a narrowing anastomosis of femoral-popliteal bypass (FPB). In particular, the site of the narrowing anastomosis had already been fixed using a nitinol stent 4 years previously. We confirmed that the severe stent fracture resulted from misalignment. After local lysis therapy, we decided to deploy another nitinol stent to in-stent restenosis (ISR) lesion of the stent fracture. Final angiography confirmed full patency in FPB without flow delay. Additionally, to maintain the patency of arterial flow, we prescribed aspirin and warfarin. After 2 years of operation, his follow-up ankle-brachial pressure index on the left side remained 0.86 and no ischemic leg pain was observed to date. Stent-in-stent procedure using another nitinol stent for ISR treatment for the narrowing anastomosis in FPB indicated feasible and effective results. .