Fatal Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus and Pasteurella multocida Coinfection.

We herein report a case of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) with Pasteurella multilocida bacteremia in a 65-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis who was admitted to our hospital with anorexia and severe fatigue. Laboratory tests revealed pancytopenia and liver and kidney dysfunction. After admission, he developed impaired consciousness, mucosal hemorrhaging, and septic shock. SFTS virus was detected on polymerase chain reaction testing of blood and throat swabs, and Pasteurella multocida was detected on blood culture. Despite being treated with invasive mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, and antibiotics, the patient's condition progressively deteriorated, and he died four days after admission.

[A Case of Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma Producing Interleukin-6 with Stauffer Syndrome].

A 41-year-old male consulted a local doctor with fever and left flank pain. He was introduced to our hospital for a left renal mass detected by ultrasonography. Blood analysis revealed elevated white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, bilirubin and aspartate transaminase. Computed tomography demonstrated a left renal mass (expansive growth), which was 11 cm in maximum diameter and enhanced moderately at the corticomedullary phase. Neither distant metastasis, infectious findings nor hepatobiliary abnormalities were observed. The patient underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with a clinical diagnosis of non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma cT2bN0M0 with Stauffer syndrome. The surgery required 186 minutes of insufflation, and estimated blood loss and specimen weight were 44 ml and 695 g, respectively. There were no complications. Histopathological diagnosis was chromophobe renal cell carcinoma-classic pattern (ChRCC-C), which was producing interleukin-6 in the tumor cytoplasm immunohistochemically. Postoperatively, there was early defervescence with complete resolution of the Stauffer syndrome. No relapse or liver dysfunction has occurred at 5 years after operation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the literature of ChRCC accompanied by Stauffer syndrome.

Inappropriate direct oral anticoagulant dosing in atrial fibrillation patients is associated with prescriptions for outpatients rather than inpatients: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate dosing of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has been associated with clinical safety and efficacy; however, little is known about clinical data associated with an inappropriate DOAC dosing in Japan. In addition, there is no report in which the appropriateness of DOAC dosing between prescription for inpatients and for outpatients was examined. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated in the inappropriate dosing of DOACs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: The retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single Japanese university hospital. Both inpatients and outpatients, who were diagnosed with AF and for whom treatment with either dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, or edoxaban was initiated between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2018, were enrolled in the study. Appropriateness of DOAC dosing was assessed according to the manufacturer's labeling recommendations (dose reduction criteria) of each DOAC. Inappropriate reduced dose, namely, underdosing, was defined as prescription of a reduced dose of DOAC despite the patient not meeting the dose reduction criteria. Inappropriate standard dose, namely, overdosing, was defined as prescription of a standard dose of DOAC despite the patient meeting the dose reduction criteria. Inappropriate DOAC dosing was defined as a deviation of the recommended dose (both underdosing and overdosing). RESULTS: A total of 316 patients (dabigatran, 28; rivaroxaban, 107; apixaban, 116; and edoxaban, 65) were included, with a median (interquartile range) age of 75 (66-81) years and 62.3% male. DOACs were prescribed at an appropriate standard dose in 39.2% of patients, an appropriate reduced dose in 36.7%, an inappropriate standard dose in 2.5%, and an inappropriate reduced dose in 19.3%. Multivariate analysis revealed that the inappropriate dosing of DOACs was significantly associated with prescriptions for outpatients (vs. inpatients; odds ratio [OR] 2.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53-5.62, p < 0.001) and those with higher HAS-BLED scores (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.42-2.51, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that the inappropriate dosing of DOACs occurred in approximately 20% of AF patients, and was more frequent in outpatients (vs. inpatients) and in those with a higher risk of bleeding. It is recommended that pharmacists play a greater role in assisting in the prescription process to help physicians make better decisions.

Preliminary Observations on the Antihypertension Action of Dabigatran Etexilate in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective Multicenter Single-Arm Interventional Study.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, the number of patients with atrial fibrillation continues to grow with the aging of the population. Prevention of cardiogenic cerebral embolism is extremely important in patients with atrial fibrillation. While warfarin has long played a major role for this purpose, a new oral anticoagulant, dabigatran etexilate (dabigatran), has demonstrated superior efficacy and safety in recent years. We conducted a multicenter prospective interventional study to examine whether dabigatran could demonstrate superiority over warfarin in practical clinical situation. METHODS: Among outpatients attending Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital or clinics registered with the Chikushi Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Research Network (Chikushi-JRN), 143 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) were enrolled in this study and followed up for 12 months after initiation of dabigatran therapy. The primary endpoint was occurrence of cerebral embolism or systemic embolism, while secondary endpoints were: 1) Bleeding events; 2) Changes in the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT); 3) Adverse events; and 4) Changes in blood pressure and pulse rate. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, none of the patients developed cerebral or systemic embolism (the primary endpoint). In addition, there were no bleeding events or other adverse events (the secondary endpoints). aPTT remained stable throughout the 12-month observation period. A significant decrease in systolic blood pressure was observed at 1 month after initiation of dabigatran therapy, and blood pressure was reduced up to 12 months. Blood pressure showed a significant decrease in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, but not in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: Dabigatran showed a stable anticoagulant effect, and its safety was confirmed. Dabigatran also reduced blood pressure, which may help to explain why it causes fewer major bleeding events than warfarin.

Potential Impact on Lipoprotein Subfractions in Type 2 Diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, the sodium-glucose cotransporter2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin has been shown to lower cardiovascular risk among diabetic patients. It is intriguing that some SGLT2 inhibitors have been found to increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, while the relevance to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is unknown. Although the inhibitory effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on glucose reabsorption may accelerate compensatory lipid metabolism and subsequently reduce body weight and affect the lipid profile, much remains unclear about this mechanism. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate in detail how canagliflozin affects lipoprotein fractions including LDL and HDL subclasses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a multicenter prospective study. The participants were patients with 22 type 2 diabetes (60.7 ± 11.6 years, 59.1% of men) who had HbA1c ⩾ 7.0% and consented to participate in the study. They were administered 100 mg canagliflozin orally once per day. Biochemistry test and cholesterol levels of 20 lipoprotein fractions (G1-G20) using high performance liquid chromatography methods were examined before and after 12 weeks of treatment period. RESULTS: Significant decreases were observed in the participants' body weight (69.7 to 67.9 kg, P < .001), systolic blood pressure (129.3 to 119.5 mm Hg, P < .01), and HbA1c (8.5% to 7.4%, P < .001). Cholesterol levels in the 20 lipoprotein fractions increased for very large HDL (G14, G15) and large HDL (G16) (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in body weight, improvement of blood glucose levels, and increases in very large HDL and large HDL subclasses were observed after canagliflozin treatment. These beneficial changes might contribute to subsequent suppression of cardiovascular outcomes.

Two Years Efficacy of Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Dilation for In-Stent Renal Artery Restenosis Due to Takayasu Arteritis.

BACKGROUND Endovascular procedures for renal artery stenosis induced by Takayasu arteritis include renal angioplasty (RA); sometimes renal artery bypass surgery may be required. Recently, there have been several reports about the use of drug-coated balloon (DCB) for renal artery stenosis in patients with Takayasu arteritis. CASE REPORT A 19-year-old female was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2012 and was on oral therapy. In 2015, she developed type V Takayasu arteritis, with 90% stenosis of the bilateral common carotid arteries, 90% stenosis of the right renal artery, and 75% stenosis of the infrarenal abdominal aorta. Her abdominal aortic stenosis reduced blood flow to the lower extremities and revascularization was required, so balloon dilatation of the abdominal aorta and renal angioplasty for right renal artery were performed at another hospital in March 2016. However, in-stent restenosis occurred 2 times, we performed renal angioplasty again with DCB. The patient has subsequently shown a stable course without recurrence of hypertension. At 2 years after renal angioplasty with the DCB, her serum renin and aldosterone levels were normal, there was no change of the right renal artery blood flow rate, and the blood pressure was normal. CONCLUSIONS This case suggests that dilation of in-stent restenosis with a DCB is an effective strategy for renal artery stenosis in patients with Takayasu arteritis. It seems desirable to consider expanding the indications for use of DCB to include renal artery stenosis.

[Retroperitoneal Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma with Metaplastic Bone Formation : A Case Report and Review of the Literature].

A 69-year-old female was introduced to our department for a retroperitoneal mass, 25 mm in diameter, in the right perirenal space indicated by computed tomography (CT). On the basis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma was suspected. Because she rejected surgical treatment, we continued imaging surveillance. Subsequently, the mass grew larger, but her intention did not change. At 21 months after initial consultation, CT revealed further increase of the above mass and a new lesion with calcification. Ultimately, she underwent mass resection with concomitant resection of the right kidney. Histological examination showed dedifferentiated liposarcoma with metaplastic bone formation and positive surgical margin, but she refused adjuvant chemotherapy. She has survived 7 months since the operation with no evidence of recurrence.

Fatal community-acquired Bacillus cereus pneumonia in an immunocompetent adult man: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Bacillus cereus is a gram-positive rod bacterium that is responsible for food poisoning. It is naturally widely distributed, and thus often contaminates cultures. Although it is rarely considered responsible, it can cause serious infections under certain conditions. However, lethal infections, especially in immunocompetent patients, are rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A healthy 60-year-old man developed community-acquired B. cereus pneumonia and alveolar hemorrhage unveiled by abrupt chest pain and hemoptysis with no other advance symptoms. B. cereus induced silent alveolar destruction without any local or systemic inflammatory response. Although the lesion resembled lung anthrax, there was no evidence of Bacillus anthracis toxin. CONCLUSIONS: Some isolates of B. cereus can cause anthrax-like fulminant necrotizing pneumonia in immunocompetent patients. If this type of B. cereus were used as a means of bioterrorism, it may be quite difficult to recognize as bioterrorism. We should keep B. cereus in mind as a potential pathogen of fulminant human infectious disease.

Renoprotective Benefit of Tolvaptan in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Patients With Loop Diuretic-Resistant Status.

BACKGROUND: While reduction of accumulated body fluid using loop diuretics is a commonly used therapeutic option for acute heart failure (AHF), some patients, especially those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), show significantly poor treatment response to loop diuretics. Tolvaptan (TLV) has shown effectiveness against AHF in several studies. We have been using TLV for AHF treatment, and it displayed favorable outcome even in patients with CKD. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of TLV in AHF patients. METHODS: Ninety-nine AHF patients who were hospitalized were assessed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: TLV treatment (TLV group, n = 39) and conventional treatment (non-TLV group, n = 60). We retrospectively examined the efficacy of TLV combination therapy for renal insufficiency complications and loop diuretic-resistant AHF patients, and the detail analysis was performed for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in patients. RESULTS: Changes in serum electrolyte levels before and after the treatment were similar in both groups. Although the patients in the TLV group at baseline displayed significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) indicating renal insufficiency probably due to higher dose of loop diuretics, the incidence of worsening renal function (WRF) was significantly lower than those in non-TLV group in HFpEF (TLV: 2.5% vs. non-TLV: 15.4%, P = 0.01). We performed logistic regression analysis and found that TLV was an independent contributing factor for reducing WRF (odds ratio: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.02 - 0.98, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that TLV application in acute stage may be renoprotective for AHF patients with CKD, especially in HFpEF.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection of early gastric cancer via inverted overtube in a patient with situs inversus totalis: a case report.

Background and study aims A 72-year-old man with complete situs inversus presented with early gastric cancer on the lesser curvature wall of the antrum of the stomach. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was selected as a treatment. When the patient was positioned in the left decubitus position, the lesion was hidden by blood and gastric fluid because it was located on the gravitational side. Therefore, we decided to perform ESD with the patient in the right lateral decubitus position and use an inverted overtube, which provided a good endoscopic view without the need to rearrange the endoscopist, assistants, or endoscopic system. ESD was safe and feasible using the inverted overtube.

Early esophageal cancer with epidermization diagnosed and treated with endoscopic resection.

The patient was a 57-year-old man who had undergone endoscopic submucosal dissection for early esophageal cancer (distance from incisor tooth, 30 cm) when he was 50 years of age. Pathological findings showed squamous cell carcinoma invading the lamina muscularis mucosae and mild lymphatic invasion. Considering the possibility of lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis, we administered radiation chemotherapy (CDDP+ 5-FU, total radiation 41.4 Gy) in the same year. Two years later, follow-up endoscopy revealed a white, flat, elevated lesion in the thoracic esophagus (distance from incisor tooth, 36 cm) that was not stained by Lugol's iodine. A biopsy of this lesion was performed. Although esophageal epidermization was seen, there were no findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion grew slightly during four and a half years of follow-up after identification. We performed a repeat biopsy of the lesion, and the tissue was diagnosed as atypical epithelium, so we performed endoscopic mucosal resection for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma of T1a-LPM with epidermization due to its histological features. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of esophageal cancer accompanied by epidermization.

A Combined Deposition of Lanthanum and ß2-Microglobulin-Related Amyloid in the Gastroduodenal Mucosa of Hemodialysis-Dependent Patients: An Immunohistochemical, Electron Microscopic, and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometric Analysis.

Lanthanum carbonate (LC) is a new type of phosphate adsorbent used to treat patients with hyperphosphatemia caused by chronic kidney diseases. Recent studies have pointed out that lanthanum deposition can be found in the cytoplasm of histiocytes in the gastroduodenal mucosa of these patients. On the other hand, it is well known that patients on long-term hemodialysis can develop deposition of ß2-microglobulin-related amyloid (Aß2M) mainly around joints. However, involvement of the gastrointestinal tract by hemodialysis-associated amyloidosis has been thought to be rare, and therefore only Aß2M, if any, has been reported to accumulate in the vascular walls of the submucosa and muscularis propria. Thus, in contrast to AA amyloid, biopsy from gastrointestinal mucosa has long been considered to have little significance in detecting amyloid. We present unusual histologic findings on biopsy specimens taken from the gastroduodenal mucosa of 7 hemodialysis-dependent patients taking LC for more than a year. These findings were due to a combined deposition of lanthanum and ß2-microglobulin-related amyloid in the cytoplasm of histiocytes. The deposition of amyloid was confirmed by conventional histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy, and that of lanthanum by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. This is the first report of such a peculiar combined deposition of lanthanum and amyloid in the gastroduodenal mucosa of hemodialysis patients. Although the exact mechanism of combination and pathogenesis is unclear, we believe that histologic examination of the gastrointestinal mucosa should be considered in the careful follow-up and observation of hemodialysis patients taking LC.

[Liposarcoma of the Spermatic Cord : A Case Report and Review of the Literature].

A 92-year-old man had noticed enlargement of a mass in the right scrotum and inguinal region for nine months. The patient was introduced to our department for right testicular tumor. Physical examination showed an over fist-sized, hard mass in the right scrotum. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the mass, which consisted of fatty and solid contents. In addition, MRI revealed a bladder tumor simultaneously. Computed tomography revealed no distant metastases. The patient underwent right high orchiectomy with the mass resection and transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT). Pathological examination revealed well- and dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the right spermatic cord, and urothelial cancer of the bladder. Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord is a rare neoplasm. To the best of our knowledge, the present case was the 114 th reported case and oldest in Japan.

Primary micropapillary carcinoma of the colon with submucosal invasion: A case report.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: We present a case of invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the colon treated by endoscopic resection following magnifying endoscopy. A 47-year-old woman visited our hospital for follow-up of a positive fecal occult blood test. Colonoscopy revealed a semi-pedunculated reddish polyp, the surface of which showed gentle irregularity, and mild tension in the sigmoid colon. Magnifying colonoscopy with narrow band imaging revealed an irregular surface pattern with heterogeneity in vascular diameter and distribution. Magnifying endoscopic findings using crystal violet staining showed an irregular pit pattern with an expansion of stromal areas. Endoscopic resection of the sigmoid colon tumor was performed, and the histology of the resected specimen primarily revealed a micropapillary component with a small moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma component that massively invaded into the submucosal layer, accompanied by lymphatic invasion, although the tumor was very small (7 mm in diameter, smaller than any in previous reports). Laparoscopy-assisted sigmoidectomy and regional lymph node resection were performed; neither cancer nor lymph node metastases were present. This is the first report of a case with early-stage colonic IMPC observed with magnifying colonoscopy.

Anticoagulant Therapy in a Pregnant Woman with May-Thurner Syndrome.

A 39-year-old woman with a 9-week abdominal pregnancy noted pain in her lower abdomen and left leg. Since successive thrombi were observed extending from the left common iliac vein to the popliteal vein along with a thrombus in the left pulmonary artery, we diagnosed her with pulmonary thromboembolism with deep venous thrombosis (DVT). May-Thurner syndrome may have contributed to DVT in the left leg when the left iliac vein was compressed by the right iliac artery. She underwent anticoagulant therapy with heparin, followed by the subcutaneous injection of heparin at home after discharge. We herein report the case of a pregnant woman with May-Thurner syndrome who safely gave birth.

A relative difference in systolic blood pressure between arms by synchronal measurement and conventional cardiovascular risk factors are associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

It is not known the relationships between a difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP) or diastolic BP (DBP) between arms by synchronal measurement and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD), and between a difference in BP between arms and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. We enrolled 425 consecutive patients (M/F = 286/139, 67 ± 13 year) who were admitted to our University Hospital and in whom we could measure the absolute (|rt. BP - lt. BP|) and relative (rt. BP - lt. BP) differences in SBP and DBP using a nico PS-501(®) (Parama-Tech). We divided all patients into those who did and did not have CAD. The relative differences in SBP between arms in patients with CAD were significantly lower than those in patients without CAD. However, the relative difference in SBP between arms was not a predictor of the presence of CAD. We also divided 267 patients who underwent coronary angiography into tertiles according to the Gensini score (low, middle, and high score groups). Interestingly, the middle + high score groups showed significantly lower relative differences in SBP between arms than the low score group. The mean Korotkoff sound graph in the middle + high Gensini score group was significantly higher than that in the low Gensini score group. Among conventional cardiovascular risk factors and nico parameters, the relative difference in SBP between arms in addition to the risk factors (age, gender, body mass index, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus) was associated with the score by a logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, the relative difference in SBP between arms as well as conventional risk factors may be associated with the severity of coronary arteriosclerosis.

Optimal kissing balloon inflation after single-stent deployment in a coronary bifurcation model.

AIMS: To define the optimal kissing balloon inflation (KBI) after single-stent deployment in a coronary bifurcation model. METHODS AND RESULTS: We deployed stents in main vessels (MV) followed by KBI in various conditions and compared the stent configurations. A) KBI at the operator's discretion vs. under the guidelines of minimal balloon overlapping (MBO). Various stent configurations were observed after the former option, whereas similar maximal dilation points were observed under the MBO guidelines. B) Long balloon overlapping (LBO) vs. MBO with proximal MV dilated by a large balloon. The proximal MV was dilated to an ideal round shape with MBO versus an oval shape with LBO. C) Two-link vs. 3-link stents. Although the 2-link stent was advantageous to open the side branch, it incurred a risk of overdilatation of the proximal struts, whereas the 3-link stent preserved its structure. Computed simulations of coronary flow were analysed in the following left main coronary models: circle with a diameter of 4 and 5.5 mm, ellipse with longitudinal direction and tilt position. They revealed that the overdilated side was exposed to low shear stress regardless of its shape. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal KBI can be achieved with MBO and proximal dilatation by an optimally sized balloon.

Safety and feasibility of high-dose administration of nicorandil before reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction.

The efficacy and safety of high-dose nicorandil therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have not yet been clarified. This is a prospective study including 30 patients who received nicorandil at 0.06 mg/kg/h [standard dose nicorandil (SDN) group] and 32 patients who received a bolus injection of nicorandil 0.2 mg/kg followed by a continuous infusion at 0.2 mg/kg/h [high-dose nicorandil (HDN) group]. The benefits and adverse events were assessed during acute phase and 12-month follow-up period. There were no significant differences between the groups in blood pressure, heart rate or urine volume 2, 6 and 24 h after drug administration, although blood pressure decreased during acute phase. The percentages of patients who required dose reduction or discontinuation of nicorandil were 34.4 and 16.7 % in HDN and SDN groups, respectively (p = 0.11). In HDN group, subgroup analysis revealed that the TIMI frame count (TFC) was significantly lower in patients in whom the treatment was started within 12 h compared to those more than 12 h (17.0 vs. 21.0, p = 0.017) and in patients with baseline WBC elevation compared to those without it (16.5 vs. 22.0, p = 0.029). A TFC of >20 was significantly associated with being in HDN group [odds ratio (OR) 0.27; 95 % confidence interval, CI 0.07-0.89], onset-to-balloon time (OR 1.06; 95 % CI 1.01-1.16), and ∑creatine kinase (OR 7.27; 95 % CI 1.40-57.83). There were no significant differences in incidences of cardiovascular death, rehospitalization, and target lesion revascularization between the groups. HDN therapy may improve coronary microcirculation in patients with AMI.

Potential risk of provisional stenting in left main coronary artery bifurcation in multivessel-related acute coronary syndrome.

We present a case of an elderly man suffering from an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with preshock vital signs and remarkable ST-T wave depression in leads V4-V6, and ST elevation in lead aVR. Coronary angiography showed total occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA) and impending occlusion in the distal left main coronary artery (LMCA) with a tandem lesion in the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD). After insertion of an intra-aortic balloon pump both the LAD and left circumflex artery (LCX) were dilated alternatively; and cross-over stenting in the LMCA bifurcation was subsequently performed. However, total occlusion of the LCX occurred and it caused acute hemodynamic collapse and ventricular fibrillation storm. Immediate installation of percutaneous cardio-pulmonary support system allowed stent deployment to be performed in the RCA and subsequent reopening of the LCX that led to a return to sinus rhythm. The patient recovered almost normal left ventricular wall motion and previous activity without any neurological deficit within 2 weeks. Provisional stenting in ACS in the LMCA bifurcation with multivessel disease has a potential risk of acute hemodynamic collapse; a planned two-stent deployment strategy may assure a higher rate of safety in such cases.

Systolic dysfunction in urban Japan.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF), which can be caused by left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), is a growing problem in developed countries with a large aging population. The aim of the present study was to characterize outpatients with LVSD in the adult population (45-84 years) in an urban Japanese community (Niigata City), and delineate their characteristics in comparison with those in a rural one (Sado). METHODS AND RESULTS: Over a 5-year period, 1,297 patients (67% males) with LVSD (defined as ejection fraction < or =50%) were extracted from 87,953 echocardiography records available in 15 hospitals in Niigata City. The proportion of LVSD increased progressively with age (p-for-trend <0.0001), reaching 1-2% in those aged > or =75 years. The prevalence of comorbidities was noticeable (47% had hypertension, 41% myocardial ischemia, 34% atrial fibrillation, 33% previous hospitalization because of congestive HF, 27% cerebral stroke). In comparison with Sado, Niigata patients were younger, with a higher prevalence of comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cerebral stroke). CONCLUSIONS: As the proportion of LVSD cases increases progressively with age, it is expected to simulate a future epidemic. The differences between patients' characteristics and disease patterns in urban and rural communities may favor individually tailoring preventive strategies for HF in these areas.