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INTRODUCTION: We previously reported that the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) was higher in patients undergoing scheduled transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) than in patients undergoing abdominal ultrasonography (AUS); however, intergroup patient backgrounds differed significantly in that report. PURPOSE: We tested the hypothesis that TTE could detect AAA as effectively as AUS. DESIGN: A propensity score-matching analysis of a cross-sectional study was adopted as the design for this study. METHODS: We enrolled 7,619 and 15,433 patients scheduled to undergo TTE with additional evaluation of abdominal aorta at the end of the routine study and AUS, respectively, from 2009 to 2010 in our hospital, as reported. A propensity score for profiles of patients who underwent TTE or AUS was developed to adjust for potential confounding bias. Consequently, 4,388 patients in each group were matched for analyses. RESULTS: In propensity-matched patients, AAA was detected in 59 patients of the TTE group and in 48 patients of the AUS group; the prevalence of AAA detection did not differ significantly between TTE and AUS groups (P = 0.331). Positive associations were observed between AAA detection and male sex (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 3.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.05-5.15; P < 0.001), older age (adjusted OR: 1.029; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04; P < 0.001), and the presence of ischemic heart disease (adjusted OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.04-3.03; P = 0.033) and hypertension (adjusted OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.38-3.37; P = 001). CONCLUSION: TTE detected AAA with comparable efficacy as AUS in propensity-matched groups who underwent scheduled TTE and AUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms responsible for the development of apical aneurysms in cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are currently unclear but likely involve multiple factors. Here, we present a case of HCM with marked subendocardial fibrosis involving the apical and proximal portions of the left ventricle. A 71-year-old man with left ventricular hypertrophy presented with signs and symptoms of heart failure. The presence of asymmetrical left ventricular hypertrophy and bilateral, thickened ventricular walls with an apical aneurysm on transthoracic echocardiography suggested a diagnosis of HCM with ventricular dysfunction. No intraventricular pressure gradients with obstruction were identified. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and endomyocardial biopsies showed subendocardial fibrosis involving the apical aneurysm and proximal portion. Whereas LGE in a transmural pattern is commonly observed in HCM apical aneurysms, subendocardial LGE, as noted in the present case, is a relatively rare occurrence. Thus, the present case may provide unique insights into the adverse remodeling process and formation of apical aneurysms in cases of HCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imaging features of chronic periaortitis resemble those of infected aneurysms. Two illustrative cases of chronic periaortitis, in which the etiologies were caused by IgG4-related disease, are presented. The first case involved a 68-year-old man who presented with vague discomfort in his lower abdomen. The second case was a 42-year-old man who presented with a fever of 38°C and persistent, vague chest discomfort. Both cases demonstrated an increased amount of connective tissue around the aorta in computed tomography images and low intensity in the T2-weighed sequence and high intensity in the diffusionweighed sequence, suggesting the presence of inflammation, in the magnetic resonance imaging. Negative blood cultures, elevated IgG4 levels, and pathological findings confirmed the diagnosis as chronic periaortitis due to IgG4-related disease. This is a newly recognized syndrome of unknown etiology, characterized by a fibroinflammatory condition, tumefactive lesions, and a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate rich in IgG4-positive plasma cells. Both cases were successfully treated with corticosteroids. Infected aneurysms need to be carefully differentiated from this syndrome in view of the similar imaging features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus is considered an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. High hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, which indicate poor glycemic control, have been associated with occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. There are few parameters which can predict cardiovascular risk in patients with well-controlled diabetes. Low 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) levels are considered a clinical marker of postprandial hyperglycemia. We hypothesized that low 1,5-AG levels could predict long-term mortality in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with relatively low HbA1c levels. Methods: The present study followed a retrospective observational study design. We enrolled 388 consecutive patients with ACS admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit at the Juntendo University Hospital from January 2011 to December 2013. Levels of 1,5-AG were measured immediately before emergency coronary angiography. Patients with early stent thrombosis, no significant coronary artery stenosis, malignancy, liver cirrhosis, a history of gastrectomy, current steroid treatment, moderately to severely reduced kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate<45 ml/min/1.73 m2; chronic kidney disease stage 3B, 4 and 5), HbA1c levels ⩾ 7.0% and those who received sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor therapy were excluded. Results: During the 46.9-month mean follow-up period, nine patients (4.5%) died of cardiovascular disease. The 1,5- AG level was significantly lower in the cardiac death group compared with that in the survivor group (12.3 ± 5.3 vs. 19.2 ± 7.7 μg/ml, p < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that low 1,5-AG levels were associated with cardiac mortality (p = 0.02). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that 1,5-AG levels were an independent predictor of cardiac mortality (hazard ratio 0.76; 95% confidence interval 0.41-0.98; p = 0.03). Conclusion: Low 1,5-AG levels, which indicate postprandial hyperglycemia, predict long-term cardiac mortality even in ACS patients with HbA1c levels < 7.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. However, the clinical significance of omega-6 PUFAs in acute cardiovascular disease remains unknown. Methods: We enrolled 417 consecutive patients with acute cardiovascular disease admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit at Juntendo University Hospital between April 2012 and October 2013. We investigated the association between serum PUFA levels and long-term mortality. Blood samples were collected after an overnight fast, within 24 h of admission. We excluded patients who received eicosapentaenoic acid therapy and those with malignancy, endstage kidney disease, chronic hepatic disease, and connective tissue disease. Results: Overall, 306 patients (mean age: 66.4±15.0 years) were analysed. During the follow-up period of 2.4±1.2 years, 50 patients (16.3%) died. The dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) levels, arachidonic acid (AA) levels, and DGLA/AA ratio were significantly lower in the nonsurvivor group than in the survivor group (DGLA: 23.2±9.8 vs. 31.5±12.0 μg/ml, AA: 151.1±41.6 vs. 173.3±51.6 μg/ml, and DGLA/AA: 0.16±0.05 vs. 0.19±0.06, all p < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that survival rates were significantly higher in the higher DGLA, AA, and DGLA/AA groups than in their lower counterparts (DGLA and AA; p < 0.01, DGLA/AA; p = 0.01), although omega-3 PUFAs were not associated with prognosis. Furthermore, in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), survival rates were significantly higher in the higher DGLA, AA, and DGLA/AA groups than in their lower counterparts (DGLA and AA; p < 0.01, DGLA/AA; p = 0.04). However, among patients with acute coronary syndrome, none of the PUFA levels were associated with prognosis. Among patients with ADHF, after controlling for confounding variables, DGLA and DGLA/AA were associated with long-term mortality [DGLA: hazard ratio (HR), 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.88-0.99; p = 0.01 and DGLA/AA: HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.77-0.97; p < 0.01], whereas AA was not associated with prognosis. Conclusion: Low omega-6 PUFA levels, particularly DGLA, and a low DGLA/AA ratio predict long-term mortality in patients with acute cardiovascular disease and ADHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stratifying patients at a high risk for readmission and mortality before their discharge after acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is important. Although sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is prevalent in patients with chronic heart failure, only few studies have investigated the impact of SDB on hospitalized patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction after ADHF. Thus, we assessed the prevalence of SDB using nocturnal pulse oximetry and the relation between SDB and clinical events in this patient group. One hundred consecutive patients with LV systolic dysfunction who were hospitalized for ADHF were enrolled in the study. Predischarge nocturnal oximetry was performed to determine if they had SDB (defined as an oxygen desaturation index of ≥5 events/hour with ≥4% decrease in saturation level). Data on death and readmission for ADHF were collected. Forty-one patients had SDB. Complete outcome data were collected in the mean follow-up period of 14.2 months during which 33 events occurred. On multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, the presence of SDB was a significant independent predictor of postdischarge readmission and mortality (hazard ratio 2.93, p = 0.006). In conclusion, SDB, as determined by predischarge nocturnal oximetry, is prevalent and is an independent predictor of the combined end point of readmission and mortality in hospitalized patients with LV systolic dysfunction after ADHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]