The Association between Decreased Kidney Function and FIB-4 Index Value, as Indirect Liver Fibrosis Indicator, in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects.

Liver fibrosis might be linked to the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there is little information about the association between liver fibrosis and decreased kidney function in middle-aged and older subjects. We aimed to evaluate the influence of liver fibrosis on the incidence or prevalence of CKD stage 3-5 in a retrospective cross-sectional study (Study 1, n = 806) and a 6-year longitudinal study (Study 2, n = 380) of middle-aged and older subjects. We evaluated liver fibrosis using the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index and kidney function using the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of all subjects. All subjects were divided into four groups on the basis of their FIB-4 score quartiles (low to high). In the Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test of Study 1, the eGFR decreased significantly from the lowest group to the highest group (p < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve in Study 2 showed that the cumulative prevalence of CKD stage 3-5 was higher in the third quartile than the other quartiles. Our results suggest that liver fibrosis could be a useful indicator for the prevalence of CKD, even within a relatively healthy population, although liver fibrosis was not an independent risk factor.

Correction to: Randomized trial of an increased dose of calcium channel blocker or angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker as an add-on intensive depressor therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with uncontrolled essential hypertension: the ACADEMIE Study.

In the Original publication of the article, the legend appearing inside the flow chart has been incorrectly published.

Long-term Body Weight Gain After Maturity is Associated With the Incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Independent of Current Body Weight, in Middle-aged and Older Men.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the relationship between long-term body weight gain after maturity and the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: The participants were 303 men without a history of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, kidney dysfunction, or dialysis treatment. Their body weight gain after maturity was examined using a standardized self-administered questionnaire. The participants were divided into two groups based on the presence/absence of a body weight gain of ≥10 kg since 20 years of age. RESULTS: After a 6-year follow-up, the cumulative incidence of CKD was significantly higher in participants with a body weight gain of ≥10 kg than in participants without body weight a body weight gain of ≥10 kg since 20 years of age (log-rank test: P = 0.041). After adjusting for the age, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate levels, smoking and drinking habits, and the presence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia at baseline, the normal body weight participants with a body weight gain of ≥10 kg since 20 years of age was significantly related to the incidence of CKD (hazard ratio 2.47; 95% confidence of interval, 1.02-6.01, P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that long-term body weight gain after maturity in normal body weight participants may be associated with the incidence of CKD, independent of current body weight.

Randomized trial of an increased dose of calcium channel blocker or angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker as an add-on intensive depressor therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with uncontrolled essential hypertension: the ACADEMIE Study.

There is a lack of data on how to treat hypertensive patients with diabetes when treatment with medium doses of calcium channel blocker and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) is insufficient to achieve the target blood pressure (BP). A total of 121 participants with type 2 diabetes and uncontrolled essential hypertension, who were receiving medium doses of amlodipine (5 mg/day) and ARB, were enrolled. Participants were randomized to receive either a high dose of amlodipine (10 mg/day) plus a medium dose of ARB (high-AML) or a medium dose of amlodipine (5 mg/day) plus a high dose of ARB (high-ARB). The depressor effects of these two regimens were monitored using a telemonitoring home BP-measuring system. Fifty-four patients were excluded after an observation period, and the remaining 67 eligible participants were randomized into the two groups; 42 which had a record of their home BP for analysis. The change in morning home systolic and diastolic BP was greater in the high-AML than in the high-ARB (systolic BP; - 7.9 mmHg vs. + 2.7 mmHg; p = 0.0002, diastolic BP; - 3.9 mmHg vs. + 0.6 mmHg; p = 0.0007). In addition, the home systolic and diastolic BP before going to bed and office systolic BP were significantly reduced from week 0 only in the high-AML. An increased dose of amlodipine, but not ARB, reduced home morning BP in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes who were already receiving combination therapy with medium doses of amlodipine and ARB.

Recommendations of Lifestyle Modification According to a Survey of First-Year University Students.

BACKGROUND: We analyzed what kind of lifestyle modification first-year university students need based on the results of a health-consciousness survey conducted in first-year students immediately after they entered a university. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional study used a "questionnaire survey on lifestyle and health for promoting health" conducted in Japan in 2015. From among an initial pool of 3,912 students, we excluded 314 due to insufficient data. The remaining 3,598 students (2,206 males and 1,392 females) were divided into four groups according to body mass index (BMI) based on Japan Society for the Study of Obesity "Guidelines for the management of obesity disease 2016": low (18.5 > BMI), less than standard (22.0 > BMI ≥ 18.5), standard or higher (25.0 > BMI ≥ 22.0) and obesity (BMI ≥ 25.0). RESULTS: Females had an ideal body image that was at a lower body weight regardless of their BMI. Males in the low BMI and obesity groups tended to be less aware of health issues. For each level of BMI, and in both males and females, the most frequent report of stress was "sometimes feel". The most frequent method for relieving stress was spending time with friends. Among males, those in the obesity group spent more time with "personal computers, televisions and games, etc." in a sitting position. When students were asked to rank which of their lifestyle habits needed the most improvement, "lack of exercise" was the highest, followed by "irregular schedule" and "dietary habits". In daily living behavior, a significant difference was observed for "exercise" among males, but not females. CONCLUSION: The attitudes of both males and females regarding the importance of physical activity and the necessity of efforts to improve health are presented. Health education for university students based on the attitudes may be useful for the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases for themselves in the future and before they become parents.

The Current Conditions and Lifestyles of Obese University Students.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in Japan remains high, and the onset becomes early. Studies on the current conditions and lifestyles of obese university students may support early interventions to achieve lifestyle modification. METHODS AND RESULTS: The results of periodic health examinations in 32,262 first-year university students revealed that 2,036 (6.3%) were obese. We performed a more detailed examination in 221 of these obese students (165 males and 56 females, age 19 ± 1 years) with study agreement from 2014 to 2016. In this study cohort, the percentage of students who exercised regularly was significantly higher among males than females. Body fat in males with well-exercised was lower than that in males with no exercise. In addition, serum level of high-density cholesterol in males with well-exercised was higher. Among females, there were no significant differences in these parameters between exercisers and non-exercisers. Forty-two obese students (40 males and two females) met the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Among males, levels of body fat, uric acid, liver enzyme and insulin resistance in the MetS group were significantly higher than those in the non-MetS group. The average ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid to arachidonic acid (EPA/AA) was low (0.14). CONCLUSIONS: Although the proportions of students with obesity and/or MetS were not high, the EPA/AA ratio in obese young males was low, which may be associated with a high risk of coronary atherosclerosis. To prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases early intervention to achieve lifestyle modification may be important.

Associations between microalbuminuria and parameters of flow-mediated vasodilatation obtained by continuous measurement approaches.

The associations between microalbuminuria and various parameters of flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) are not completely understood. We retrospectively analyzed 265 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography and in whom we could measure FMD and the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR). Using 15 continuous measurement approaches, we measured FMD as the magnitude of the percentage change in the brachial artery diameter from baseline to peak (bFMD), the maximum FMD rate calculated as the maximal slope of dilation (FMD-MDR), and the integrated FMD response calculated as the area under the dilation curve during the 60- and 120-s dilation periods (FMD-AUC60 and FMD-AUC120). We divided the patients into two groups according to UACR: normoalbuminuria (NOR, n = 211) and microalbuminuria (MIC, n = 54). The MIC group showed a significantly higher percentage of coronary artery disease than the NOR group. FMD-AUC60 and FMD-AUC120, but not FMD-MDR, in the MIC group were significantly lower than those in the NOR group. On the other hand, bFMD in the MIC group tended to be lower than that in the NOR group, but this difference was not significant. A multiple regression analysis indicated that FMD-AUC120 and diabetes mellitus were predictors of MIC. Finally, we defined the cut-off value of FMD-AUC120 for the presence of MIC in all patients as 8.4 mm x second (sensitivity 0.640, specificity 0.588) by a receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. In conclusion, this study provides more definitive evidence for the association of microalbuminuria with endothelial dysfunction. FMD-AUC120 may be a superior marker for MIC.

The joint impact of habitual exercise and glycemic control on the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in middle-aged and older males.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study evaluated the influence of the joint impact of habitual exercise and glycemic control on the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) during a 6-year follow-up period in middle-aged and older males. METHODS: The study population included 303 males without a history of cardiovascular disease, stroke, renal dysfunction, or dialysis treatment. Their lifestyle behaviors regarding exercise and physical activity were evaluated using a standardized self-administered questionnaire. The participants were divided into four categories according to the performance or non-performance of habitual exercise and the presence or absence of hyperglycemia. RESULTS: After 6 years, 32 subjects (10.6%) developed CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and/or proteinuria). The cumulative incidence of CKD was significantly higher among subjects who did not perform habitual exercise and hyperglycemic subjects (log-rank test: p < 0.05, respectively). According to a Cox proportional hazards model, the hazard ratio (HR) for the incidence of CKD in subjects with a normal glucose tolerance (NGT) who did not perform habitual exercise (HR = 2.82, 95% confidence of interval (CI) = 1.07-7.36, p = 0.034) and that in hyperglycemic subjects who did not perform habitual exercise (HR = 5.89, 95% CI = 1.87-16.63, p = 0.003) were significantly higher in comparison to the subjects with a NGT who performed habitual exercise. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the habitual exercise and good glycemic control and their combination were associated with the incidence of CKD.

Hypertension and hyperglycemia and the combination thereof enhances the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in middle-aged and older males.

AIM: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be an etiologic cause of aging, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and metabolic syndrome. However, the influence of these cardiovascular risk factors and their combination on the development of CKD remains controversial. This retrospective study evaluated the influence of cardiovascular risk factors and their combination on the incidence of CKD during a 6-year follow-up period in middle-aged and older males. METHODS: The subjects were 303 males without a history of cardiovascular disease, stroke, renal dysfunction, or dialysis treatment. A biochemical analysis, blood pressure (BP) analysis, and anthropometry measurements were performed every year, and the classification of CKD was also assessed based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (<60 ml/min/1.73 m2) and/or presence of proteinuria. RESULTS: After 6 years, the incidence of CKD was noted in 32 subjects. According to a multivariable analysis, hypertension (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.95, 95% confidence of interval [CI]: 1.64-9.49, p = 0.002) and hyperglycemia (HR: 3.27, 95% CI: 1.42-7.56, p = 0.006) were significantly associated with the incidence of CKD. According to a Cox proportional hazards model, the HR for the incidence of CKD was significantly higher in the combination of high-normal BP/hypertension and impaired fasting glucose/DM group than in the combination of normotensive and normal glucose tolerance group (HR: 7.16, 95% CI: 2.43-17.25, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the hypertension and hyperglycemia and their combination may be associated with the incidence of CKD.

Effects of Tolvaptan With or Without the Pre-Administration of Renin-Angiotensin System Blockers in Hospitalized Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

We examined whether tolvaptan combined with an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) is more effective than tolvaptan alone in the treatment of patients with heart failure (HF). Sixty-five hospitalized patients with acute decompensated HF were included in this study. They were divided into 2 groups; an ARB/ACE-I group (n = 44, who received ARB or ACE-I before the use of tolvaptan) and a non-ARB/ACE-I group (n = 21). There were no significant differences in patient characteristics including medications at baseline between the non-ARB/ACE-I and ARB/ACE-I groups with the exception of the percentages of hypertension and ischemic heart disease. Urinary volume (UV) at baseline in the ARB/ACE-I group was slightly higher than that in the non-ARB/ACE-I group. The increase in UV after the use of tolvaptan in the non-ARB/ACE-I group was significantly higher than that in the ARB/ACE-I group. The cardiothoracic ratio and the reduction in body weight were similar between the groups after tolvaptan use. Finally, in a logistic regression analysis, a response to the use of tolvaptan was independently associated with the non-use of ARB/ACE-I, but not with age, gender, body mass index, loop diuretic, or human arterial natriuretic peptide. In conclusion, tolvaptan alone might induce an increase in UV in decompensated HF patients without ARB/ ACE-I, although the treatment of HF with ARB/ACE-I is the first choice strategy.

The association between changes in lifestyle behaviors and the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in middle-aged and older men.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate whether changes in lifestyle behaviors are correlated with the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: The subjects consisted of 316 men without a history of cardiovascular disease, stroke, or renal dysfunction or dialysis treatment. The following lifestyle behaviors were evaluated using a standardized self-administered questionnaire: habitual moderate exercise, daily physical activity, walking speed, eating speed, late-night dinner, bedtime snacking, skipping breakfast, and drinking and smoking habits. The subjects were divided into four categories according to the change in each lifestyle behavior from baseline to the end of follow-up (healthy-healthy, unhealthy-healthy, healthy-unhealthy and unhealthy-unhealthy). RESULTS: A multivariate analysis showed that, with respect to habitual moderate exercise and late-night dinner, maintaining an unhealthy lifestyle resulted in a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) for the incidence of CKD than maintaining a lifestyle (OR 8.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-15.40 for habitual moderate exercise and OR 4.00; 95% CI, 1.38-11.57 for late-night dinner). In addition, with respect to bedtime snacking, the change from a healthy to an unhealthy lifestyle and maintaining an unhealthy lifestyle resulted in significantly higher OR for incidence of CKD than maintaining a healthy lifestyle (OR 4.44; 95% CI, 1.05-13.93 for healthy-unhealthy group and OR 11.02; 95% CI, 2.83-26.69 for unhealthy-unhealthy group). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that the lack of habitual moderate exercise, late-night dinner, and bedtime snacking may increase the risk of CKD.

The Change in Body Weight During Hospitalization Predicts Mortality in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: In our experience, the change in body weight (BW) during hospitalization varies greatly in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF). Since the clinical significance of a change in BW is not clear, we investigated whether a change in BW could predict mortality. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 130 patients (72 males; aged 68 ± 10 years) who were hospitalized due to acute decompensated HF and followed for 2 years after discharge. The change in the BW index during hospitalization (ΔBWI) was calculated as (BW at hospital admission minus BW at hospital discharge)/body surface area at hospital discharge. RESULTS: The patients were divided into quartiles according to ΔBWI, and the 2-year mortality rates in the quartiles with the lowest, second, third and highest ΔBWI were 18.8%, 12.1%, 3.1% and 9.1%, respectively. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis after adjusting for variables with a P value less than 0.05, ΔBWI was independently associated with 2-year mortality (P = 0.0002), and the quartile with the lowest ΔBWI had a higher relative risk (RR) for 2-year mortality than the quartile with the highest ΔBWI (RR: 7.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.03 - 53.99, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, ΔBWI was significantly associated with 2-year mortality after discharge, which indicates that ΔBWI might be a simple predictor of prognosis in acute decompensated HF.

Depressor and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers in Metabolic and/or Hypertensive Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Randomized, Prospective Study (DIAMOND Study).

BACKGROUND: We compared the efficacy and safety of azilsartan to those of olmesartan in a prospective, randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Forty-four hypertensive patients who had coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled. We randomly assigned patients to changeover from their prior angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) to either azilsartan or olmesartan, and followed the patients for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Office systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the azilsartan group was significantly decreased after 12 weeks. SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) after 12 weeks in the azilsartan group were significantly lower than those in the olmesartan group. The percentage of patients who reached the target BP at 12 weeks (78%) in the azilsartan group was significantly higher than that at 12 weeks (45%) in the olmesartan group. There were no significant changes in pentraxin-3, high-sensitively C-reactive protein or adiponectin in blood after 12 weeks in either group. Although serum levels of creatinine (Cr) in the azilsartan group significantly increased, these changes were within the respective normal range. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the ability of azilsartan to reduce BP may be superior to that of prior ARBs with equivalent safety in hypertensive patients with CAD.

Associations between parameters of flow-mediated vasodilatation obtained by continuous measurement approaches and the presence of coronary artery disease and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

We investigated the associations between the parameters of flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) obtained by continuous measurement approaches and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. The subjects consisted of 282 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) and in whom we could measure FMD. Using continuous measurement approaches, we measured FMD as the magnitude of the percentage change from brachial artery diameter from baseline to peak (bFMD), the maximum FMD rate calculated as the maximal slope of dilation (FMD-MDR), and the integrated FMD response calculated as the area under the dilation curve during the 60- and 120 s dilation periods (FMD-AUC60 and FMD-AUC120). We divided the patients into two groups, the CAD group and the non-CAD group, and defined the severity of coronary atherosclerosis according to the Gensini score. The CAD group showed significantly lower %FMD, FMD-MDR, FMD-AUC60, and FMD-AUC120. Gender, smoking, dyslipidemia (DL), and diabetes mellitus (DM), in addition to FMD-AUC120, were identified as significant independent variables that predicted the presence of CAD by a multivariate logistic regression. In addition, a multiple regression analysis indicated that gender, DL, and hypertension, in addition to FMD-AUC120, were predictors of the Gensini score. Finally, we defined the cutoff value of FMD-AUC120 for the prediction of CAD in all patients as 11.1 (sensitivity 0.582, specificity 0.652) by a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. In conclusion, FMD-AUC120 as assessed by continuous measurement approaches may be a superior marker for evaluating the presence of CAD and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

The Association Between Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors and the Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Middle-Aged and Older Men.

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in middle-aged and older men. METHODS: The subjects included 445 men without a history of cardiovascular disease, stroke, or dialysis treatment, who were not taking medications. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors were evaluated using a standardized self-administered questionnaire and were defined as follows: 1) lack of habitual moderate exercise, 2) lack of daily physical activity, 3) slow walking speed, 4) fast eating speed, 5) late-night dinner, 6) bedtime snacking, and 7) skipping breakfast. The participants were divided into four categories, which were classified into quartile distributions based on the number of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (0-1, 2, 3, and ≥4 unhealthy behaviors). RESULTS: According to a multivariate analysis, the odds ratio (OR) for CKD (defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and/or proteinuria) was found to be significantly higher in the ≥4 group than in the 0-1 group (OR 4.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51-14.40). Moreover, subjects' lack of habitual moderate exercise (OR 3.06; 95% CI, 1.13-8.32) and presence of late-night dinner (OR 2.84; 95% CI, 1.40-5.75) and bedtime snacking behaviors (OR 2.87; 95% CI, 1.27-6.45) were found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of CKD. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that an accumulation of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, especially those related to lack of habitual moderate exercise and presence of late-night dinner and bedtime snacking may be associated with the prevalence of CKD.

Recent Patient Characteristics and Medications at Admission and Discharge in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: To improve the clinical outcome of heart failure (HF), it is important to evaluate the etiology and comorbidities of HF. We previously reported the baseline clinical characteristics and medications in hospitalized patients with HF in years 2000 - 2002 (group 2000) and 2007 - 2009 (group 2008). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 158 patients who were hospitalized due to HF between 2012 and 2014 (group 2013) in the Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka University Hospital. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and medications at admission and discharge, and compared the findings in group 2013 to those in group 2000 and group 2008. RESULTS: The major causes of HF were ischemic heart disease, hypertensive cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, and dilated cardiomyopathy. The New York Heart Association classification in group 2013 was significantly higher than those in group 2000 and group 2008. There was no difference in the level of brain natriuretic peptide at admission between group 2008 and group 2013. Tolvaptan began to be administered in group 2013. The median dose of furosemide just before the use of tolvaptan was 40 mg/day. At discharge, group 2013 showed higher rates of ß-blocker and aldosterone antagonist. There was no difference in the frequency of loop diuretics. The dose of carvedilol at discharge was only 6.2 ± 4.0 mg/day. Antiarrhythmic drugs and ß-blocker were used more frequently in HF with reduced ejection fraction (EF) than in HF with preserved EF. CONCLUSIONS: We may be able to improve the clinical outcome of HF by examining the differences in the clinical characteristics and medications at admission and discharge in hospitalized patients with HF.

The accumulation of healthy lifestyle behaviors prevents the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in middle-aged and older males.

AIM: This study was retrospectively designed to evaluate the influence of healthy lifestyle behaviors on the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) during a 5-year follow-up period in middle-aged and older males. METHODS: The subjects included 252 males without a history of cardiovascular disease, stroke, renal dysfunction and/or dialysis treatment who were not taking any medications. Their lifestyle behaviors were evaluated using a standardized self-administered questionnaire and defined as follows: (1) habitual moderate exercise, (2) daily physical activity, (3) fast walking speed, (4) slow eating speed, (5) no late-night dinner, (6) no bedtime snacking and (7) no skipping breakfast. The participants were divided into four categories, which were classified into quartile distributions according to the number of healthy lifestyle behaviors (7-6, 5, 4 and ≤3 groups). RESULTS: After 5 years, the incidence of CKD [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) and/or proteinuria] was observed in 23 subjects (9.1%). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the cumulative incidence of CKD significantly decreased according to an increase in the number of healthy lifestyle behaviors (log-rank test: p = 0.003). According to a multivariate analysis, habitual moderate exercise [hazard ratio (HR) 0.20, 95% confidence of interval (CI) 0.06-0.69, p = 0.011] and no bedtime snacking (HR 0.19, 95 % CI 0.08-0.48, p = 0.004) were significantly associated with the incidence of CKD. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the accumulation of healthy lifestyle behaviors, especially those related to habitual moderate exercise and no bedtime snacking, is considered to be important to reduce the risk of CKD.

Association Between a Ban on Smoking in a Hospital and the In-Hospital Onset of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is an important cardiovascular risk. We hypothesized that a ban on smoking in a hospital could decrease the in-hospital onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Our hospital provided separate facilities for smokers and nonsmokers from 1981 to 2002. From 2002 to 2006, we began to introduce smoke-free zones throughout the entire building. During this period, smoking areas and smoking tables were abolished, until the entire hospital became a non-smoking area in 2007. We registered patients who experienced an in-hospital onset of AMI from January 2002 to June 2014. Patients with an in-hospital onset of AMI were defined as those who had AMI but were not under the care of the Departments of Cardiology or Emergency. We observed 25 patients (males/females, 16/9; average age, 70 years) with an in-hospital onset of AMI from 2002 to 2014. RESULTS: The incidence of in-hospital AMI significantly decreased as the stages of non-smoking areas progressed (P for trend 0.010). Six of the 25 patients died after AMI. The death group showed significantly higher serum levels of peak creatine kinase and lower levels of hemoglobin. In addition, 10 of the 25 patients developed in-hospital AMI after surgery. Anti-coagulant therapy was canceled before an operation in three patients. After an operation, advanced anemia was seen in four patients. In addition, there were no differences in the patient characteristics between the smoking and non-smoking groups except for dyslipidemia. CONCLUSION: The spread of a non-smoking policy significantly decreased the in-hospital onset of AMI in our hospital, which suggests that not only direct smoking but also passive smoking is important target for reducing in-hospital AMI.

Increased carotid artery plaque score is an independent predictor of the presence and severity of coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: Carotid ultrasonography is noninvasive and effective for the assessment of atherosclerotic lesions. The relationship between carotid ultrasound findings and presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) was examined in Japanese patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Subjects were 116 patients who underwent carotid ultrasonography and coronary angiography. In carotid ultrasonography, mean-intima-media thickness (IMT), common carotid artery max IMT, bifurcation max IMT, plaque number, and plaque score (PS). The coronary angiographic data was obtained in the same period as carotid ultrasonography was performed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of coronary artery stenosis (CAS and non-CAS) and CAS group was further categorized into three groups, 1 vessel disease (1VD), 2VD, and 3VD. Physical findings, biochemical data, and carotid ultrasonogram data between the groups were compared. Items showing a significant difference between CAS and non-CAS were age, gender (male), incidence of diabetes and dyslipidemia, fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and all carotid ultrasound findings. All of the above parameters also showed a significant difference between four different severity groups. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which factors predict the presence and/or severity of CAS. High PS showed the strongest predictive value for both and followed by low HDL-C and high FBS. The cut-off value of PS obtained by receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting the presence of CAS was 1.9. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of PS by carotid ultrasonography together with other risk factor assessment was clinically relevant to predict the presence and severity of CAS.

Left main coronary trunk connecting into right atrium with an aneurysmal coronary artery fistula.

Congenital coronary artery fistula (CAF) is an infrequent vascular anomaly that establishes a direct link between an epicardial coronary artery and a cardiac chamber, major vessels, or other vascular structures. In this case there was an aneurysmal-CAF between a left main trunk and the right atrium, which was initially diagnosed as a Kawasaki disease by transthoracic echocardiography and subsequently confirmed by coronary angiography and multi-slice CT angiography. A multi-slice CT angiography might well become the modality of choice for the characterization of these rare congenital anomalies.