Akira Tsuneto

Incidence and Prognostic Value of Early Repolarization Pattern in the 12-Lead Electrocardiogram

Background— Early repolarization pattern is a common ECG finding characterized by J-point elevation and QRS notching or slurring in the inferior and/or lateral leads, yet little is known about its incidence and long-term prognosis in Asian populations. Methods and Results— We reviewed all the ECG records of the 5976 atomic-bomb survivors who were examined at least once during our biennial health examination in Nagasaki, Japan, between July 1958 and December 2004. We defined early repolarization pattern as ≥0.1-mV elevation of the J point or ST segment, with notching or slurring in at least 2 inferior and/or lateral leads. We assessed unexpected, cardiac, and all-cause death risk by Cox analysis. We identified 1429 early repolarization pattern cases (779 incident cases) during follow-up, yielding a positive rate of 23.9% and an incidence rate of 715 per 100 000 person-years. Early repolarization pattern had an elevated risk of unexpected death (hazard ratio, 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 2.97; P=0.02) and a decreased risk of cardiac (hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.60 to 0.93; P<0.01) and all-cause (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 0.93; P<0.01) death. In addition, both slurring and notching were related to higher risk of unexpected death (hazard ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 4.12; P=0.03), as was early repolarization pattern manifestation in both inferior and lateral leads (hazard ratio, 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.29 to 4.83; P<0.01). Conclusions— Early repolarization pattern is associated with an elevated risk of unexpected death and a decreased risk of cardiac and all-cause death. Specific early repolarization pattern morphologies and location are associated with an adverse prognosis.

Fatty liver incidence and predictive variables

Although fatty liver predicts ischemic heart disease, the incidence and predictors of fatty liver need examination. The objective of this study was to determine fatty liver incidence and predictive variables. Using abdominal ultrasonography, we followed biennially through 2007 (mean follow-up, 11.6±4.6 years) 1635 Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors (606 men) without fatty liver at baseline (November 1990 through October 1992). We examined potential predictive variables with the Cox proportional hazard model and longitudinal trends with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. In all, 323 (124 men) new fatty liver cases were diagnosed. The incidence was 19.9/1000 person-years (22.3 for men, 18.6 for women) and peaked in the sixth decade of life. After controlling for age, sex, and smoking and drinking habits, obesity (relative risk (RR), 2.93; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.33–3.69, P<0.001), low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (RR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.42–2.47; P<0.001), hypertriglyceridemia (RR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.96–3.15; P<0.001), glucose intolerance (RR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.09–2.10; P=0.013) and hypertension (RR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.30–2.04; P<0.001) were predictive of fatty liver. In multivariate analysis including all variables, obesity (RR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.93–3.38; P<0.001), hypertriglyceridemia (RR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.41–2.62; P<0.001) and hypertension (RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.01–1.71; P=0.046) remained predictive. In fatty liver cases, body mass index and serum triglycerides, but not systolic or diastolic blood pressure, increased significantly and steadily up to the time of the diagnosis. Obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and, to a lesser extent, hypertension might serve as predictive variables for fatty liver.

Clinical and pathological features of degenerative mitral valve disease : billowing mitral leaflet versus fibroelastic deficiency

PURPOSE Degenerative mitral valve disease is distinguished with billowing mitral leaflet (BML) or fibroelastic deficiency (FED). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and the pathohistological differences between BML and FED. METHODS A total of 73 patients who diagnosed as degenerative mitral valve disease pathologically after mitral valve surgery for severe mitral regurgitation were enrolled. On the basis of echocardiographic features and gross appearances, they were classified as BML (9 cases) and FED (64 cases). RESULTS In the BML group, multiple segments of the leaflet showed billowing with elongated chordae. Therefore excessive valve tissue needed to be removed by multiple resection and suture. The FED patients had focal myxomatous changes with ruptured chordae, a single resection and suture was frequently employed. In pathological examination, the valve thickness of the BML was nearly twice as thick as the FED, and the mucopolysaccharide accumulation of the Spongiosa in the BML was over 50%, while 30% in the FED. CONCLUSION BML presents the characteristic valve thickening due to its abnormal production of mucopolysaccharide. Since excessive tissue was voluminous in the BML, high-grade plasty techniques, such as combination of multiple resection and chordal reconstruction were required.

Longitudinal strain of right ventricular free wall by 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography is useful for detecting pulmonary hypertension

AIMS Echocardiography is widely used for screening pulmonary hypertension (PH). More recently developed two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) can assess regional deformation of the myocardium and is useful for detecting left ventricular dysfunction. However, its usefulness to assess right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is not clear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the ability of peak systolic strain (PSS) and post-systolic strain index (PSI) at the RV free wall determined by 2D-STE to detect PH. MAIN METHODS Thirty-six images (27 images from PH patients, nine from patients with connective tissue disease without PH) obtained by 2D-STE were analysed. We investigated the relationship between RV hemodynamics measured by right heart catheterization and PSS, PSI and other echocardiographic parameters reflecting RV overload including RV end-diastolic diameter (RVDd) and tricuspid valve regurgitant pressure gradient (TRPG). KEY FINDINGS PSS, PSI, RVDd and TRPG were all correlated with mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Furthermore, when PSS and MPAP were measured twice, the change in PSS was correlated with the change in MPAP (r=0.633, p=0.037). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified PSS as the only independent factor associated with MPAP ≥ 35mmHg [odds ratio (OR), 1.616; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.017-2.567; p=0.042] and PVR ≥ 400dyn·s·cm(-5) (OR, 1.804; 95% CI 1.131-2.877; p=0.013). Furthermore, the optimal PSS cut-off value to detect an elevated MPAP and PVR was -20.75%, based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. SIGNIFICANCE PSS of the RV free wall might serve as a useful non-invasive indicator of PH.

Swinging Calcified Amorphous Tumors With Related Mitral Annular Calcification

Among cardiac calcified amorphous tumors, the mitral annular calcification-related calcified amorphous tumor is extremely rare. We herein describe 3 surgical cases of swinging calcified amorphous tumor with related mitral annular calcification. The clinical, echocardiographic, and pathophysiologic features are reported here together with a brief review of the literature.

Characteristics and treatment strategies of mitral regurgitation associated with undifferentiated papillary muscle

PurposeIn this report we review our experience of operations on mitral regurgitation associated with abnormal papillary muscles/chordae tendineae of the mitral valves and discussed the clinical characteristics, operative findings, and treatment strategies.MethodsUndifferentiated papillary muscle was defined as a hypoplastic chordae tendineae with anomalous formation of papillary muscles attached to the mitral valves directly. Consecutive 87 patients undergoing surgery for mitral regurgitation at our institution were reviewed and 6 of them had undifferentiated papillary muscle.ResultsThe underlying mechanism of regurgitation was prolapse at the center of the anterior leaflet in 3 cases and tethering, a wide area of myxomatous degeneration, and annular dilatation in one case, respectively. Five patients underwent mitral valve plasty and 1 patient received replacement. Anomalous formation of chordae tendineae was corrected by resection and suture with transplantation at the tip of the leaflet to which abnormal chordae were attached in 2 cases, while resection and suture with chordal shortening was performed in 1 case, and chordal reconstruction using artificial chordae was employed in 2 cases. There was no operative death, and postoperative echocardiography showed no residual regurgitation in any of the cases.ConclusionsMitral regurgitation associated with undifferentiated papillary muscle resulted from prolapse or tethering and impaired flexibility of leaflets. It was possible to successfully treat the patients by mitral valve plasty unless complex congenital cardiac malformation coexisted. Detailed examinations of attached papillary muscle by echocardiography and intraoperative inspection are necessary and surgical techniques should be selected appropriately in each case.

Surgical treatment for chronic type A aortic dissection and aortic regurgitation in a patient with a tracheostoma

We successfully performed aortic root replacement and partial aortic arch replacement by a T-shaped sternotomy at the second intercostal space in a patient who had undergone tracheotomy for respiratory insufficiency and cardiac failure caused by methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia during preservation treatment of chronic type A aortic dissection and aortic regurgitation.

Coronary Artery Pseudoaneurysm due to Medial Mucoid Degeneration Mimicking an Intra-atrial Mass

Coronary artery aneurysms are frequently asymptomatic and may be difficult to diagnose by cardiac imaging. We herein present a case of a coronary artery aneurysm of the right coronary artery due to medial mucoid degeneration mimicking an intra-atrial mass on echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging, with the cause being diagnosed after surgery.

Cardiac Calcified Amorphous Tumors in a Patient with Hemodialysis for Diabetic Nephropathy

Calcified amorphous tumor (CAT) is a rare, non-neoplastic tumor involving calcium deposition in amorphous materials. Although its etiology is unknown, cases have frequently been reported in patients with hemodialysis for chronic kidney disease. We herein describe a case of cardiac CAT in a 64-year-old woman who had been on hemodialysis for diabetic nephropathy for 20 years, and the findings of the present patient, in association with the findings of previous case reports, suggest that end-stage renal disease seems to play an important role in the onset of CAT, especially in CAT formation at the mitral annulus, which appears to differ from CAT occurring at other sites.

Rivaroxaban therapy resulting in the resolution of right atrial thrombosis resistant to ordinary control with warfarin in a patient with atrial fibrillation.

A 72-year-old man with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and metastatic liver and lung cancer after surgery for colon cancer developed thrombosis in the right atrium one month after decreasing the dose of warfarin due to the introduction of double anti-platelet therapy for coronary stent implantation. Restoring the warfarin dose with ordinary control for two months did not result in any changes in the size of the thrombus; however, the subsequent substitution of rivaroxaban (oral treatment with a direct Factor Xa inhibitor) for warfarin ultimately resolved the thrombosis.