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Tomohiro Sakamoto

Publications and source records attributed to Tomohiro Sakamoto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A Single-Arm Phase 2 Study of Sotorasib Plus Carboplatin and Pemetrexed in Patients With Advanced Nonsquamous NSCLC With KRAS G12C Mutation (WJOG14821L, SCARLET).

INTRODUCTION: The efficacy and safety of sotorasib plus platinum doublet chemotherapy in KRAS G12C-mutated nonsquamous NSCLC (nonsq NSCLC) have been previously reported with a limited follow-up period. METHODS: SCARLET is a single-arm phase 2 study involving chemotherapy-naive patients with KRAS G12C-mutated nonsq NSCLC. The participants received 960 mg daily plus four cycles of carboplatin (area under the curve = 5)/pemetrexed 500 mg/m2, followed by sotorasib/pemetrexed until disease progression. The primary end point was the overall response rate (ORR) and the secondary end points were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and safety. Using plasma samples, next-generation sequencing was performed at baseline, 3 weeks, and during disease progression (the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials number 2051210086). RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled between October 2021 and July 2022 with a median follow-up of 14.8 months. ORR was 88.9% (80% confidence interval [CI]: 78.5%-94.8%, 95% CI: 70.8%-97.6%), median PFS was 6.6 months (95% CI: 5.3-16.7 mo), and median overall survival was 20.6 months (95% CI: 8.1 mo-not estimated). Among patients with programmed death-ligand 1 expression levels of 1% or higher and less than 1%, the ORRs were 82.3 and 100%, respectively, and the median PFS was 7.6 and 9.7 months, respectively. Using plasma samples, patients without KRAS G12C at baseline, without KRAS-related pathway co-alterations, or who cleared KRAS G12C at 3 weeks had better median PFS (16.7, 13.9, 8.7 mo, respectively). Tumor protein 53 mutations and EGFR and MET amplification were detected as acquired resistance. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with KRAS G12C-mutated nonsq NSCLC, sotorasib plus carboplatin/pemetrexed reported favorable efficacy, particularly for patients with less than 1% programmed death-ligand 1, with manageable toxicity.

Humans↗

Pravastatin improved glucose metabolism associated with increasing plasma adiponectin in patients with impaired glucose tolerance and coronary artery disease.

Reduced incidence of type-2 diabetes has been shown in patients treated with pravastatin. Adiponectin can exhibit beneficial effects on glucose metabolism. We investigated whether pravastatin could improve glucose tolerance associated with increasing adiponectin levels in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). This study consisted of 40 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with IGT assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Patients were randomized to receive pravastatin (n=20) or no lipid-lowering medications (control group, n=20) for 6 months, after which OGTT was repeated and adiponectin levels were measured. Pravastatin treatment significantly decreased levels of total cholesterol (16%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (23%) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (37%) (p<0.01, respectively). At 2h in OGTT, pravastatin significantly improved hyperglycemia (-14%) and hyperinsulinemia (-23%). Pravastatin treatment significantly elevated plasma adiponectin levels (35%; p<0.001) but not in the control group. The glucose reduction at 2h post-OGTT was significantly associated with increased levels of adiponectin (r=-0.462; p=0.003). Pravastatin treatment is an independent predictor for improvement of post-loaded hyperglycemia (odds ratio; 5.7; 95% confidence interval 1.7-19.3; p=0.003) and achieved beneficial conversion from IGT to normal glucose tolerance (40%; p=0.03). Pravastatin exhibits beneficial effects on glucose metabolism especially in the postprandial state associated with increasing plasma adiponectin levels in CAD patients with IGT.

Adiponectin↗

Future adverse cardiac events can be predicted by persistently low plasma adiponectin concentrations in men and marked reductions of adiponectin in women after acute myocardial infarction.

There is conflicting information about whether mortality after AMI is higher in women than men. We investigated the significance of plasma adiponectin concentrations on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to delineate any differences between men and women. The study patients consisted of 114 men and 42 women with AMI. The incidence of MACE was significantly higher in women than men during the entire follow-up period (p<0.05). Compared with men for post-AMI MACE, the hazard ratio for women was 5.6 after adjustment for prognostic factors. Killip class (p<0.001) and sex differences (p<0.05) were independent predictors of MACE at 1 year post-AMI. Plasma adiponectin levels in women were significantly higher than men on admission (8.66 microg/mL [range: 6.6-14.08] versus 4.71 microg/mL [range: 3.47-7.27], p<0.0001) and during the post-AMI course (all p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis identified plasma adiponectin level on admission as an independent predictor of MACE in men (p<0.001) and the difference between plasma adiponectin levels at discharge and on admission in women (p<0.05). Patterns of serial changes in plasma adiponectin concentrations are different between men and women and plasma adiponectin concentrations can be used to predict future adverse cardiac events in AMI patients.

Acute Disease↗

Plasma adiponectin levels are associated with coronary lesion complexity in men with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess whether plasma adiponectin levels correlate with angiographic coronary lesion complexity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). BACKGROUND: Metabolic disorders, including diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, are important risk factors for acute cardiovascular events, and adiponectin is a key molecule of metabolic disorders, with anti-atherogenic properties. Low plasma adiponectin levels are associated with CAD and future incidence of myocardial infarction. The involvement of adiponectin in coronary plaque vulnerability, which may be reflected by angiographic complex lesions, remains to be elucidated. METHODS: We measured plasma adiponectin levels in 207 men (152 with stable CAD and 55 with acute coronary syndromes [ACS]). Coronary lesions were classified as of simple or complex appearance. RESULTS: Plasma adiponectin levels were significantly lower in stable CAD patients with complex coronary lesions (n = 60) than in those with simple lesions (n = 92) (4.14 [range 2.95 to 6.02] vs. 5.27 [range 3.67 to 8.12] microg/ml, p = 0.006). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that adiponectin level was independently associated with complex lesions (odds ratio 0.514, 95% confidence interval 0.278 to 0.951; p = 0.034). Polytomous logistic regression revealed that adiponectin correlated independently with both single and multiple complex lesions. Among patients with ACS, who had lower adiponectin levels than stable CAD patients, those with multiple complex lesions had significantly lower adiponectin than those with a single complex lesion (3.26 [range 2.26 to 4.46] vs. 4.21 [range 3.36 to 5.41] microg/ml, p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma adiponectin levels are significantly associated with coronary lesion complexity in men with CAD. Low adiponectin levels may contribute to coronary plaque vulnerability.

Acute Disease↗

Usefulness of combined white blood cell count and plasma glucose for predicting in-hospital outcomes after acute myocardial infarction.

Admission white blood cell (WBC) count and plasma glucose (PG) have been associated with adverse outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study investigated the joint effect of WBC count and PG on predicting in-hospital outcomes in patients with AMI. WBC count and PG were measured at the time of hospital admission in 3,665 patients with AMI. Patients were stratified into tertiles (low, medium, and high) based on WBC count and PG. Patients with a high WBC count had a 2.0-fold increase in in-hospital mortality compared with those with a low WBC count. Patients with a high PG level had a 2.7-fold increase in mortality compared with those with a low PG level. When a combination of different strata for each variable was analyzed, a stepwise increase in mortality was seen. There was a considerable number of patients with a high WBC count and low PG level or with a low WBC count and high PG level. These patients had an intermediate risk, whereas those with a high WBC count and high PG level had the highest risk, i.e., 4.8-fold increase in mortality, compared with those with a low WBC count and low PG level. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess the predictor for in-hospital mortality using WBC count and PG level as continuous variables and showed that WBC count and PG level were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. These findings suggested that a simple combination of WBC count and PG level might provide further information for predicting outcomes in patients with AMI.

Aged↗

Effects of early statin treatment on symptomatic heart failure and ischemic events after acute myocardial infarction in Japanese.

Statins have been shown to prevent coronary artery disease and to preserve left ventricular function in dilated cardiomyopathy. We hypothesized that early use of statins would decrease cardiovascular events, including heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To examine the effect of statins in Japanese patients with AMI, a prospective, randomized, open-label trial was conducted in 486 patients with normal total cholesterol levels. Patients were randomly assigned to receive any available statin (n = 241) within 96 hours of AMI onset or no statin (n = 245) and were followed for up to 24 months. The primary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal AMI, recurrent symptomatic myocardial ischemia, congestive heart failure, and stroke. Event rate for the primary end point was lower in the statin group than in the nonstatin group (6.1% vs 11.4%, p = 0.0433). The statin group had a lower risk of congestive heart failure and symptomatic myocardial ischemia (p = 0.0154 and 0.0264, respectively). In conclusion, early lipid-lowering therapy with statins decreases recurrent cardiovascular events, in particular, congestive heart failure.

Aged↗

Elevated levels of remnant lipoproteins are associated with plasma platelet microparticles in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus without obstructive coronary artery disease.

AIMS: Platelets participate in the pathogenesis of arterial thrombosis and it has been demonstrated that enhanced platelet activation occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Dyslipidaemia is a common feature of diabetes. We investigated the association between certain lipid fractions and plasma platelet-derived microparticle (PMP) levels in patients with type-2 DM. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured fasting serum levels of remnant-like lipoprotein particles-cholesterol (RLP-cholesterol) and assessed in vivo platelet activation by quantifying the number of PMP in the plasma detected as CD42b-positive microparticles by flow cytometry in Japanese type-2 DM patients without obstructive coronary artery disease who were more slender when compared with Western diabetic patients. The levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, RLP-cholesterol, and plasma glucose were significantly higher in patients with type-2 DM (n = 105) than in non-diabetic patients (n = 92). The plasma levels of PMP were elevated significantly in type-2 DM patients when compared with non-diabetic control subjects [7.41(5.39-10.50) x 10(6) vs. 3.44(2.43-4.41)x10(6), P < 0.001]. We found that RLP-cholesterol levels were the best predictor of PMP in multivariable linear regression analyses (beta = 0.375, P < 0.001). Lipid-lowering medication with bezafibrate successfully reduced levels of both RLP-cholesterol and PMP in patients with type-2 DM (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RLP-cholesterol and platelet microparticles are both elevated in type-2 DM patients when compared with controls. RLP-cholesterol is the primary and only predictor of platelet microparticles in the multivariable analysis, which include several standard atherosclerosis risk factors. This suggested that reducing elevated RLP-cholesterol with lipid-lowering therapy may be an effective strategy to prevent thrombogenic vascular complications in type-2 DM.

Angina Pectoris↗

The effect of 6 months of treatment with pravastatin on serum adiponection concentrations in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease and hypercholesterolemia: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Pravastatin has been reported to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Hypoadiponectinemia is a known risk factor for CAD. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the effects of shortterm pravastatin treatment on serum lipid and adiponectin concentrations in patients with CAD and hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: This was a multicenter, observational pilot study of the effect of 6 months of treatment with pravastatin 10 to 20 mg/d on serum adiponection concentrations in patients with documented CAD and total cholesterol (TC) levels> or =180 mg/dL. Patients from 13 medical centers in Japan were monitored at visits every 4 weeks for assessment of compliance and adverse effects. For the assessment of pravastatin's effects, patients were categorized according to baseline serum adiponectin concentrations: quartile 1 (Q1) = < 4.83 microg/mL; quartile 2 (Q2) = 4.83 to 7.20 microg/mL; (Q4) = > 10.38 microg/mL. The primary end point of the study was the percent change from baseline in adiponectin nectin concentrations at 6 months. Secondary end points were changes in lipids, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). RESULTS: One hundred thirty consecutive patients were enrolled; 11 were excluded and 4 discontinued due to adverse events. Thus, 115 patients were included in the study analyses (83 men, 32 women; mean age, 68 years). No patient had a cardiac event during the 6-month follow-up period. After 6 months of pravastatin treatment, 74 (64.3%) patients had increases in serum adiponectin concentrations. Median (interquartile range) adiponectin concentrations increased significantly from 7.2 (4.8-10.4) mug/mL at baseline to 7.8 (5.4-11.2) microg/mL after 6 months of pravastatin treatment (P<0.001); the mean percent increase from baseline was 16.3%. The percent increase from baseline in serum adiponection concentrations was significantly higher among patients in Q1 (39.3%) compared with those in Q3 (4.5%) and Q4 (6.3%) (P<0.003 and P<0.005, respectively). The relative increase in adiponectin concentrations was significantly correlated with the relative increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (f=0.47; P<0.001). After 6 months of pravastatin treatment, TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels had decreased, by 14.6% and 23.3%, respectively, and HDL-C levels had increased by 14.0% (all, P<0.001). The change in triglycerides (-13.3%) was not statistically significant. Serum hsCRP levels were significantly decreased from baseline after 6 months of pravastatin treatment (P<0.001). HbA1c did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study in Japanese patients with CAD and hypercholesterolemia, 6 months of treatment with pravastatin 10 to 20mg/d was associated with significant increases in serum adiponectin concentrations.

Adiponectin↗

Relation between platelet microaggregates and ankle brachial index in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral arterial disease is one of the systemic atherosclerotic diseases, and patients with the disorder are classified in the high risk group of coronary artery disease. A lower ankle brachial index is a frequent finding in peripheral arterial disease. While platelet microaggregates are a significant predictor of adverse clinical outcome in coronary artery disease, the significance of platelet aggregability in peripheral arterial disease has not been elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Small platelet aggregates measured using laser-light scattering and ankle brachial index were determined in 42 patients with both coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial disease (peripheral group), 56 patients with only coronary artery disease (coronary group) and 32 patients without both (control group). RESULTS: The level of small platelet aggregates was increased significantly in the peripheral group (4.3 x 10(4) [range 2.2 x 10(4) to 7.4 x 10(4)]) compared with both the coronary (1.1 x 10(4) [range 0.3 x 10(4) to 5.0 x 10(4)]) and control groups (0.5 x 10(4) [range 0.1 x 10(4) to 0.9 x 10(4)]). There was a significant inverse correlation between log small platelet aggregates and ankle brachial index (n=130, r=-0.422, p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a lower ankle brachial index (<0.90) was an independent determinant of increased levels of small platelet aggregates. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet aggregability was increased in patients with peripheral arterial disease with the degree of platelet aggregation being closely associated with ankle brachial index. It is possible that this change in platelet activity may be one mechanism to explain why a lower ankle brachial index is a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Aged↗

A -786T>C polymorphism in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene reduces serum nitrite/nitrate levels from the heart due to an intracoronary injection of acetylcholine.

We identified a -786T>C polymorphism in the eNOS gene, and this polymorphism was strongly associated with coronary spasm. The present study aimed to elucidate whether the -786T>C polymorphism or acetylcholine (ACh)-induced coronary spasm affects serum nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels. The study population comprised three groups: (i) 26 patients without coronary spasm in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) with the T/T genotype (group A); (ii) 20 patients with coronary spasm in the LAD with the T/T genotype (group B); and (iii) 16 patients with coronary spasm in the LAD with the C/T genotype (group C). Paired blood samples were obtained from the coronary sinus (CS) and the aortic tract (Ao) before and after an intracoronary injection of ACh. Serum NOx and plasma lactate levels were measured. The delta NOx level was calculated as the serum concentration of NOx in the CS minus that in the Ao. We compared lactate extraction ratios (LERs) and delta NOx levels between the three groups. The LERs after the provocation test in groups A, B and C were 18.9+/-2.4%, -0.5+/-3.9% and -13.5+/-4.2%, respectively. The LER in group C was significantly lower than in group B. The delta NOx levels after the provocation test in groups A, B and C were 11.5+/-1.7 micromol/l, 10.4+/-3.5 micromol/l and -2.1+/-4.8 micromol/l, respectively. The delta NOx levels in group C were significantly lower (P<0.05). Although the NOx level was significantly increased after the provocation test in group A (P<0.05), the NOx level was significantly decreased after the provocation test in group C (P=0.001). In group B, the provocation test did not significantly change the delta NOx level. In conclusion, the -786T>C polymorphism reduces the NOx level from the heart due to an intracoronary injection of ACh, and thereby predisposes the patients to severe coronary spasm.

Acetylcholine↗

Sex differences in early mortality of patients undergoing primary stenting for acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Limited information exists regarding the impact of gender on in-hospital outcome after primary stenting for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 2,981 patients (790 women and 2,191 men) participated in the study who were admitted within 24 h after symptom onset and underwent emergency primary stenting for AMI. Compared with men, women were significantly older; had higher incidences of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, Killip class > or =2, and cardiogenic shock; had a higher blood glucose level and a lower serum creatinine level on admission. Other baseline characteristics, including the incidences of ST-segment elevation AMI, anterior infarction, 3-vessel disease, initial or final Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade did not significantly differ between the sexes. The in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher in women than in men (9.4% vs 5.2%, p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, age, Killip class, blood glucose level, serum creatinine level, and final TIMI grade were independent predictors of in-hospital death, but female gender was not (odds ratio 1.01, p=0.69). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that in patients undergoing primary stenting for AMI, women have higher in-hospital mortality than men, but female gender itself is not independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality after adjustment for baseline differences.

Acute Disease↗

Long-term efficacy of edaravone in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The effect of edaravone, a free radical scavenger, on long-term prognosis and its efficacy with regards to scavenging injurious free radicals in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was examined. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and one initial AMI patients were randomly assigned to receive 30 mg edaravone (n = 50) or a placebo (n = 51) intravenously just before reperfusion. The infarct size, using serum biomarkers and Q-wave formations, and the incidence of reperfusion arrhythmia between the groups were compared. Cardiovascular event-free curves were estimated by using the Kaplan - Meier method. In addition, the serum thioredoxin levels, an oxidative stress marker, to assess the antioxidant effect of edaravone was determined. In all cases, successful reperfusion was obtained within 6 h after the onset of symptoms. Infarct size and reperfusion arrhythmia were significantly attenuated in the edaravone group compared with the placebo group (p = 0.035 and p = 0.031). The cumulative event-free rate was significantly higher in the edaravone group than in the placebo group (p = 0.045). Serum thioredoxin levels were significantly lower in the edaravone group than in the placebo group throughout the acute phase. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that the edaravone administration just prior to reperfusion might reduce oxidative stress and improve the long-term clinical outcomes of AMI patients.

Acute Disease↗

Elevated plasma osteopontin levels were associated with osteopontin expression of CD4+ T cells in patients with unstable angina.

BACKGROUND: Plaque instability in patients with unstable angina (UA) is associated with stimulated CD4+ T cells, so the present study investigated whether there is a relationship among plaque instability, osteopontin and CD4+ T cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 51 consecutive patients with UA, 60 patients with stable angina (SA), and 39 patients with chest pain syndrome (CPS). Osteopontin-producing CD4+ T cells were quantified by flow cytometry. Plasma osteopontin levels (ng/ml) were measured by ELISA and were higher in patients with UA (792.0 +/- 316.7) than in those with SA (626.0 +/- 195.0, p < 0.005) or CPS (594.7 +/- 239.4, p < 0.005). The frequency (%) of osteopontin-producing CD4+ T cells was higher in patients with UA (26.7 +/- 13.3) than in those with SA (19.5 +/- 11.1, p < 0.05) or CPS (16.6 +/- 9.0, p < 0.005). Furthermore, the plasma osteopontin level correlated with the frequency of osteopontin-producing CD4+ T cells (r = 0.327, p = 0.0004), as did the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level (r = 0.360, p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: The plasma osteopontin levels are elevated in patients with UA, accompanied by an increase in the number of osteopontin-production of circulating CD4+ T cells. Circulating CD4+ T cells may play a role through osteopontin in the pathophysiology of UA.

Aged↗

Acute myocardial infarction induced by cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy for malignant melanoma: a case report.

A 61-year-old woman with stage IV malignant melanoma suffered acute myocardial infarction during the third course of chemotherapy with cisplatin, dacarbazine, nimustine hydrochloride and tamoxifen citrate, despite no serious problem occurring during the first and second courses of chemotherapy. Since this patient, excluding menopause, had no significant risk factor for coronary heart disease before the start of chemotherapy, the infarction was likely to be attributable to the chemotherapy regimen. Chemotherapy should be used cautiously in patients with coronary risk factors before treatment is begun.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Direct effects of aldosterone on cardiomyocytes in the presence of normal and elevated extracellular sodium.

It is now recognized that aldosterone is potentially cardiotoxic, although its local effects in the heart are not well understood. We examined the effects of aldosterone on cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in the presence of normal and elevated extracellular Na+ ([Na+]o). We evaluated the intracellular volume of cardiomyocytes in the presence of normal (141 mEq/liter) and elevated (146 mEq/liter) [Na+]o by measuring cell size. Intracellular Na+ was measured using sodium-binding-benzofuran-isophthalate as a fluorescent sodium indicator, and cardiac hypertrophy was assessed using B-type natriuretic peptide transcription and (3)H-leucine incorporation. Cardiomyocytes shrank in the presence of 146 mEq/liter Na+ due to the increased extracellular osmolarity at early phase. Aldosterone (10(-7) mol/liter) mitigated the shrinkage by stimulating Na+ uptake by the cells. This effect of aldosterone was blocked by SM 20220, a Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) inhibitor, but not by eplerenone, a mineralocorticoid receptor blocker. Seventy-two hours of exposure to aldosterone in the presence of 146 mEq/liter Na+ led to increases in cardiomyocyte size, 3H-leucine incorporation, and B-type natriuretic peptide and NHE1 transcription that were significantly greater than were seen in the presence of 141 mEq/liter Na+. All but the last were blocked by either eplerenone or SM 20220; the increase in NHE1 transcription was blocked only by eplerenone. Aldosterone exerts a beneficial effect via NHE1 to block cardiomyocyte shrinkage in the presence of elevated [Na+]o at early phase, but long-time exposure to aldosterone in the presence of elevated [Na+]o leads to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via genomic effects mediated by the mineralocorticoid receptor.

Aldosterone↗

Stabilization of carotid atheroma assessed by quantitative ultrasound analysis in nonhypercholesterolemic patients with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether intensive cholesterol-lowering therapy with statins in nonhypercholesterolemic patients is effective in improving echolucency of vulnerable plaques assessed by ultrasound with integrated backscatter (IBS) analysis. BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic plaque stabilization is a promising clinical strategy to prevent cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). There is a correlation between coronary and carotid plaque instability, and echolucent plaques are recognized as vulnerable plaques. METHODS: Consecutive nonhypercholesterolemic patients with CAD were randomly assigned Adult Treatment Panel-III diet therapy (diet group; n = 30) or pravastatin (statin group; n = 30). Echolucent carotid plaques were monitored by measuring intima-media thickness (IMT) and echogenicity by IBS for six months. RESULTS: Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were significantly decreased in the statin group (from 197 +/- 15 mg/dl to 170 +/- 18 mg/dl [p < 0.001]; from 131 +/- 14 mg/dl to 99 +/- 14 mg/dl [p < 0.001]; and from 0.11 [0.04 to 0.22] mg/dl to 0.06 [0.04 to 0.11] mg/dl [p < 0.05]; respectively), whereas only total cholesterol was moderately reduced (from 193 +/- 24 mg/dl to 185 +/- 22 mg/dl [p < 0.05]) and LDL-C and triglycerides insignificantly reduced in the diet group. Significant increases of echogenicity of carotid plaques were noted in the statin group but not in the diet group (from -18.5 +/- 4.1 dB to -15.9 +/- 3.7 dB [p < 0.001] and from -18.2 +/- 4.0 dB to -18.9 +/- 3.5 dB [p = 0.13]; respectively) without significant regression of plaque-IMT values in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Statin therapy is rapidly effective in increasing echogenicity of vulnerable plaques without regression of plaque size in nonhypercholesterolemic patients with CAD. Quantitative assessment of carotid plaque quality by ultrasound with IBS is clinically useful for monitoring atherosclerotic lesions by evaluating vulnerability of atheroma.

Atherosclerosis↗

Prognostic usefulness of serum uric acid after acute myocardial infarction (the Japanese Acute Coronary Syndrome Study).

Serum uric acid (UA) levels reflect circulating xanthine oxidase activity and oxidative stress production. Hyperuricemia has been identified in patients who have congestive heart failure and is a marker of poor prognosis in such patients. We investigated the relation between serum UA levels and Killip's classification suggestive of the severity of heart failure and whether hyperuricemia influences mortality of patients who have acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Using the Japanese Acute Coronary Syndrome Study database, we evaluated 1,124 consecutive patients who were hospitalized within 48 hours of onset of symptoms of AMI from January to December 2002. There was a close relation between serum UA concentration and Killip's classification. Patients who developed short-term adverse events had high UA concentrations. Serum UA levels, Killip's class, age, and peak creatine phosphokinase level were significant predictors of long-term mortality. The hazard ratio for patients in the highest quartile of UA was 3.7 compared with those in the lowest quartile for death after AMI after adjustment for independent factors that were related to mortality. The combination of the best UA cutoff (447 micromol/L) for predicting survival based on receiver-operating characteristics analysis and Killip's class significantly predicted the prognosis of acute and long-term AMI-related complications. In conclusion, our results suggest that hyperuricemia after AMI is associated with the development of heart failure. Serum UA level is a suitable marker for predicting AMI-related future adverse events, and the combination of Killip's class and serum UA level after AMI is a good predictor of mortality in patients who have AMI.

Aged↗