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Raman scattering helps in defining the properties of lead zirconate thin films which are synthesized by radio frequency magnetron sputtering on platinum-coated silicon. The Raman peaks spread out, background intensity enhances and the intensity of Raman peaks reduces more quickly than in ceramic or powder samples, when the Zr concentration is strengthened. During the experiment, the substrate is nor heated and post-deposition annealing does not occur.

Raman scattering profiles from PbTiO3 thin films grown by radio frequency sputtering on silicon substrates with subsequent thermal treatment were presented. The Raman spectra of the sample exhibited a relatively high background intensity and broad Raman lines. The Raman frequencies shifted to low frequencies in a manner akin to the hydrostatic pressure effect on single crystal materials. This behavior indicated that the thin film was made up of grains subject to stress from neighboring grains with different orientations.

This study compared the hemodynamic effects of enhanced external counterpulsation and intra-aortic counterpulsation in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Results demonstrated similarity between these 2 methods, except enhanced external counterpulsation had a transient effect of increasing right atrial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and cardiac index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) is present in both the heart and kidneys, and plays a crucial role in maintaining intracellular Ca 2+ homeostasis in cells in these organs. This study aimed to investigate the impact of M201-A on RyR2, as well as studying its effects on cardiac and renal functions in preclinical and clinical studies., Experimental Approach: Following the administration of M201-A (1,4-benzothiazepine-1-oxide derivative), we monitored diastolic Ca 2+ leak via RyR2 and intracellular Ca 2+ concentration in isolated rat cardiomyocytes and in cardiac and renal function in animals. In a clinical study, M201-A was administered intravenously at doses of 0.2 and 0.4 mg·kg -1 once daily for 20 min for four consecutive days in healthy males, with the assessment of haemodynamic responses., Key Results: In rat heart cells, M201-A effectively inhibited spontaneous diastolic Ca 2+ leakage through RyR2 and exhibited positive lusi-inotropic effects on the rat heart. Additionally, it enhanced natriuresis and improved renal function in dogs. In human clinical studies, when administered intravenously, M201-A demonstrated an increase in natriuresis, glomerular filtration rate and creatinine clearance, while maintaining acceptable levels of drug safety and tolerability., Conclusions and Implications: The novel drug M201-A inhibited diastolic Ca 2+ leak via RyR2, improved cardiac lusi-inotropic effects in rats, and enhanced natriuresis and renal function in humans. These findings suggest that this drug may offer a potential new treatment option for chronic kidney disease and heart failure., (© 2024 The Authors. British Journal of Pharmacology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Pharmacological Society.)

Background and Aims: The efficacy and safety of early sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) initiation after acute heart failure (AHF) has not been demonstrated outside North America. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of in-hospital Sac/Val therapy initiation after an AHF episode on N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level in Japanese patients., Methods: This was an investigator-initiated, multicentre, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint pragmatic trial. After haemodynamic stabilization within 7 days after hospitalization, eligible inpatients were allocated to switch from angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker to Sac/Val (Sac/Val group) or to continue angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (control group). The primary efficacy endpoint was the 8-week proportional change in geometric means of NT-proBNP levels., Results: A total of 400 patients were equally randomized, and 376 (median age 75 years, 31.9% women, de novo heart failure rate 55.6%, and median left ventricular ejection fraction 37%) were analysed. The per cent changes in NT-proBNP level geometric means at Weeks 4/8 were -35%/-45% (Sac/Val group) and -18%/-32% (control group), and their group ratio (Sac/Val vs. control) was 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.68-0.94; P = .008) at Week 4 and 0.81 (95% confidence interval 0.68-0.95; P = .012) at Week 8, respectively. In the pre-specified subgroup analyses, the effects of Sac/Val were confined to patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% and were more evident in those in sinus rhythm and taking mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. No adverse safety signal was evident., Conclusions: In-hospital Sac/Val therapy initiation in addition to contemporary recommended therapy triggered a greater NT-proBNP level reduction in Japanese patients hospitalized for AHF. These findings may expand the evidence on Sac/Val therapy in this clinical situation outside North America., Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT05164653) and Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs021210046)., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Detailed effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on blood pressure (BP) in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at a high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not fully understood. In this post-hoc sub-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized EMBLEM trial for Japanese patients with T2D and CVD, 105 participants (empagliflozin N = 52, placebo N = 53) were included, and office systolic/diastolic BPs and mean arterial pressure (MAP) over 24 weeks were estimated using mixed-effects models for repeated measures. Empagliflozin therapy, compared to placebo, reduced systolic/diastolic BPs (mean group difference in change from baseline to week 24; -5.9 [95% confidence interval (CI), -10.4 to -1.4] mmHg/-2.9 [95% CI, -6.2 to 0.4] mmHg) and MAP ( - 3.8 [95% CI, -7.0 to -0.7] mmHg). The systolic BP reduction was almost consistent across differing background clinical characteristics and usage status of anti-hypertensive medications., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Japanese Society of Hypertension.)

Background : We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the feasibility of paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) angioplasty for de novo lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by comparing with drug-eluting stent (DES) placement. Methods : By a systematic literature search, nine (five randomized controlled, two retrospective propensity-score matched, and two retrospective baseline-balanced) studies comparing the midterm clinical and angiographic outcomes after PCB angioplasty and DES placement were included, yielding 974 and 1130 ACS cases in PCB and DES groups, respectively. Major adverse cardiac event (MACE) was defined as a composite of cardiac mortality (CM), all-cause mortality (ACM), myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and target lesion revascularization (TLR). Late luminal loss (LLL) and bleeding events (BLD) were also estimated. Results : The frequencies of MACE in PCB and DES groups were 8.42% and 10.62%, respectively. PCB angioplasty had no significant impacts on all of MACE (risk ratio: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.68-1.18, p = 0.44), CM, ACM, MI, TVR, TLR, BLD, and LLL, compared to DES placement in random-effects model. Conclusions : The present systematic review and meta-analysis showed the feasibility of PCB angioplasty for the de novo lesions in patients with ACS in comparison with DES placement by the emergent procedures.

Balloon-based catheter ablation is a valuable option for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) because contiguous lesions can be created to achieve pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), and the method is less dependent than traditional ablation methods on the operator's skill and experience. Cryoballoon ablation is used universally worldwide, with its efficacy and safety being comparable to the efficacy and safety of standard radiofrequency ablation, and the procedure can be completed in a relatively short time. Hot balloon ablation was developed in Japan. The balloon maintains its compliance even during the energy delivery, and a large areal ablation lesion is created. Furthermore, the hot balloon system is the only system for which oesophageal cooling is a standard feature. Laser balloon ablation, which is performed under direct endoscopic vision, has proven to be effective and safe for achieving a PVI. The laser balloon system provides an improved field of view and automated circumferential ablation for a rapid and effective PVI. The authors have reviewed the currently available balloon systems as used for AF ablation, i.e., PVI, and have provided detailed insight and perspectives on the currently available cryoballoon and hot balloon technologies, plus laser balloon technology., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)