Occurrence of Focal Atrial Tachycardia During the Ablation Procedure Is Associated With Arrhythmia Recurrence After Termination of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

INTRODUCTION: Catheter ablation can terminate persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). However, atrial tachycardia (AT) often arises after termination of AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 215 patients who underwent index stepwise ablation for persistent AF, 141 (66%) patients (64 ± 9 years) in whom AF terminated during the ablation procedure were studied. If AF converted into AT, ablation for AT was subsequently performed. ATs were categorized as focal or macroreentrant AT. We assessed whether type of AT occurring after conversion of AF during the ablation procedure was associated with freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia (AF or AT) during follow-up. Sinus rhythm was directly restored from AF in 37 patients, while 34, 37, and 33 patients had focal AT alone, a mix of focal and macroreentrant AT, and macroreentrant AT alone after termination of AF, respectively. Arrhythmia-free survival rates at 1 year after the index procedure were 30%, 34%, 61%, and 59% in the patients with focal AT alone, a mix of focal AT and macroreentrant AT, macroreentrant AT alone, and direct restoration of sinus rhythm, respectively (P = 0.004). Type of AT occurring during the index procedure was associated with type of recurrent AT (P = 0.03), but the origin of focal AT occurring during the index ablation differed from that of the recurrent AT in 85% of patients. CONCLUSION: In patients who had AF termination by ablation, occurrence of focal AT during the ablation procedure was associated with worse clinical outcome than occurrence of macroreentrant AT, likely due to ATs arising from other foci during follow-up.

Malondialdehyde-Modified Low Density Lipoprotein as Oxidative-Stress Marker in Vasospastic Angina Patients.

Vasospastic angina (VSA) is caused by endothelial dysfunction and hypercontraction of vascular smooth muscle cells. Although oxidative-stress can induce endothelial dysfunction, the relationship of VSA and the oxidative-stress marker malondialdehyde-modified low density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) remains unclear. PURPOSE: Serum MDA-LDL was evaluated in candidate VSA patients.The subjects were 84 patients admitted to our hospital because of chest pain at rest. We stratified the patients into 3 groups; definite VSA, suspected VSA, and unlikely VSA according to a Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) guideline. The patients classified as definite VSA or suspected VSA were considered as "clinical VSA".Forty cases were classified as definite VSA, 35 as suspected VSA, and 9 as unlikely VSA. Thus, clinical VSA was the diagnosis in 75 cases. The patient characteristics showed that the average age of the patients was 60.2 years old (men, 61%). The serum MDA-LDL level of the clinical VSA group (126.3 ± 38.0 U/L) was significantly higher than the unlikely VSA group (98.7 ± 31.1 U/L). Serum MDA-LDL was positively correlated with total cholesterol (T-Chol), lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose. Multivariate analysis showed that serum MDA-LDL was the most predictive marker for making a diagnosis of clinical VSA (Odds ratio 1.064, 95% confidence interval 1.014-1.145, P = 0.008). In a population with positive or borderline ECG change, the positive rate in the acetylcholine provocation test was significantly higher in the MDA-LDL higher group compared to the MDA-LDL lower group (81% versus 37%, P = 0.032).: Serum MDA-LDL might be a useful biomarker of VSA and have additional value for the diagnosis of clinical VSA.

Mechanisms of Diuresis for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure by Tolvaptan.

Tolvaptan, a vasopressin type 2 receptor antagonist, does not affect kidney circulation or cause worsening of renal function (WRF) in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) can be used to evaluate intravascular volume by calculating the ratio of extracellular water (ECW) to intracellular water (ICW). There have been no reports examining the mechanisms of tolvaptan-induced diuresis using BIA. We investigated whether tolvaptan decreases excess volume while maintaining intravascular volume in ADHF patients.Study patients included 29 ADHF patients (age 48-95, men 69%) diagnosed between April 2013 and May 2016 and who underwent BIA before and after treatment. Fifteen patients were treated with tolvaptan in addition to conventional diuresis therapy (tolvaptan group), and 14 patients were treated with conventional diuresis therapy only (control group). In the control group, the numerical value of serum creatinine (Cre) significantly increased from 0.89 ± 0.22 mg/ dL to 1.07 ± 0.29 mg/dL (P = 0.004), and the ECW/ICW significantly decreased from 0.696 ± 0.036 to 0.673 ± 0.032 (P = 0.004). These values were not significantly different from those obtained for the tolvaptan group. Furthermore, regression analysis showed a negative correlation between ΔCre and ΔECW/ICW, which are the differences between values before and after treatment (ΔCre = -0.002-5.668 × ΔECW/ICW, r2 = 0.306, P = 0.002).Our findings suggest that WRF is caused by a reduction in intravascular volume and that tolvaptan treatment can decrease the excess volume while maintaining intravascular volume.

[Bone mineral density, PCB, PCQ and PCDF in Yusho].

We measured bone mineral density of the distal end of radius with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, serum cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen, serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, serum Ca, serum P, blood PCB level, blood PCQ level and blood PCDF level in Yusho. As a result, the osteoporosis group (< 70% of the young adult mean [YAM] bone mineral density [BMD]) was observed in 7.1% of the studied male subjects. And, the moderate group (> or = 70% and < 80% of YAM BMD), 16.1%, the normal (> or = 80% of YAM BMD) group was 76.8%. Also, 42.3% of all female tested subjects observed in osteoporosis group. The moderate group, 19.2%, the normal group was 38.5%. There was no difference in PCB blood level, PCQ, PCDF for men and women in osteoporosis group, moderate group, and in the normal group. Serum cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen increased in the male osteoporosis group, but serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase did not change. This study was inconclusive since the results did not determine the influence that PCB, PCQ, PCDF gave to bone density and bone metabolism.