Coincidence measurements of two quantum-correlated photon pairs widely separated in the frequency domain

Quantum correlation is a key concept characterizing the properties of quantum light sources and is important for developing quantum applications with superior performance. In particular, it enables photon pairs that are widely separated in the frequency domain, one in the visible region, the other in the infrared region, to be used for quantum infrared sensing without direct detection of infrared photons. Here, simultaneous multiwavelength and broadband phase matching in a nonlinear crystal could provide versatile photon-pairs source for broadband infrared quantum sensing. This paper describes direct generation and detection of two quantum-correlated photon pairs produced via simultaneous phase-matched processes in periodic crystals. These simultaneous photon pairs provide a correlated state with two frequency modes in a single pass. To confirm the correlation, we constructed an infrared-photon counting system with two repetition-synchronized fiber lasers. We performed coincidence measurements between two pairs, 980 nm and 3810 nm, and 1013 nm and 3390 nm, which yielded coincidence-to-accidental ratios of 6.2 and 6.5, respectively. We believe that our novel correlated light source with two separate pairs in the visible and infrared region complements a wide-range of multi-dimensional quantum infrared processing applications.

Age and long-term outcomes of patients with venous thromboembolism: From the COMMAND VTE Registry

BACKGROUND

There is still a scarcity of data on the relation between age and long-term clinical outcomes of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE).

METHODS

The COMMAND VTE Registry was a multicenter registry enrolling 3027 consecutive patients with acute symptomatic VTE in Japan between January 2010 and August 2014. We divided the entire cohort into 3 groups: patients aged <65 years (N = 1100, 36.7%), patients aged 65 ≤ and ≤ 80 years (N = 1314, 43.4%), and patients aged >80 years (N = 603, 19.9%).

RESULTS

Discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy during the follow-up period was most frequent in patients aged <65 years (44%, 38% and 33%, P < 0.001). The cumulative 5-year incidences were 12.7%, 9.8% and 7.4% for recurrent VTE, 10.8%, 12.2% and 14.9% for major bleeding, and 23.0%, 31.4%, and 38.6% for all-cause death. Adjusting for cofounders and taking into account the competing risk of all-cause death, the lower risk of patients aged >80 years, and those aged 65 ≤ and ≤ 80 years relative to those aged <65 years remained significant for recurrent VTE (65 ≤ age ≤ 80 years, HR: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.53-0.94, P = 0.02; age > 80 years, HR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.39-0.89, P = 0.01), and the risk remained insignificant for major bleeding (65 ≤ age ≤ 80 years, HR: 1.00, 95%CI: 0.76-1.31, P = 0.98; age > 80 years, HR: 1.17, 95%CI: 0.83-1.65, P = 0.37).

CONCLUSIONS

In the current real-world VTE registry, there was no significant difference in the risk of major bleeding depending on different age groups, while younger patients showed an excess risk for recurrent VTE compared with older patients.

Predictive factors for walking in acute stroke patients: a multicenter study using classification and regression tree analysis

[Purpose] Walking ability should be predicted as early as possible in acute stroke patients. The purpose is to construct a prediction model for independent walking from bedside assessments using classification and regression tree analysis. [Participants and Methods] We conducted a multicenter case-control study with 240 stroke patients. Survey items included age, gender, injured hemisphere, the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, the Brunnstrom Recovery Stage for lower extremities, and "turn over from a supine position" from the Ability for Basic Movement Scale. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale items, such as language, extinction, and inattention, were grouped under higher brain dysfunction. We used the Functional Ambulation Categories to classify patients into independent (four or more the Functional Ambulation Categories; n=120) and dependent (three or fewer the Functional Ambulation Categories; n=120) walking groups. A classification and regression tree analysis was used to create a model to predict independent walking. [Results] The Brunnstrom Recovery Stage for lower extremities, "turn over from a supine position" from the Ability for Basic Movement Scale, and higher brain dysfunction were the splitting criteria for classifying patients into four categories: Category 1 (0%), severe motor paresis; Category 2 (10.0%), mild motor paresis and could not turn over; Category 3 (52.5%), with mild motor paresis, could turn over, and had higher brain dysfunction; and Category 4 (82.5%), with mild motor paresis, could turn over, and no higher brain dysfunction. [Conclusion] We constructed a useful prediction model for independent walking based on the three criteria.

Search for Gamma-Ray Spectral Lines from Dark Matter Annihilation up to 100 TeV toward the Galactic Center with MAGIC

Linelike features in TeV γ rays constitute a "smoking gun" for TeV-scale particle dark matter and new physics. Probing the Galactic Center region with ground-based Cherenkov telescopes enables the search for TeV spectral features in immediate association with a dense dark matter reservoir at a sensitivity out of reach for satellite γ-ray detectors, and direct detection and collider experiments. We report on 223 hours of observations of the Galactic Center region with the MAGIC stereoscopic telescope system reaching γ-ray energies up to 100 TeV. We improved the sensitivity to spectral lines at high energies using large-zenith-angle observations and a novel background modeling method within a maximum-likelihood analysis in the energy domain. No linelike spectral feature is found in our analysis. Therefore, we constrain the cross section for dark matter annihilation into two photons to ⟨σv⟩≲5×10^{-28}  cm^{3} s^{-1} at 1 TeV and ⟨σv⟩≲1×10^{-25}  cm^{3} s^{-1} at 100 TeV, achieving the best limits to date for a dark matter mass above 20 TeV and a cuspy dark matter profile at the Galactic Center. Finally, we use the derived limits for both cuspy and cored dark matter profiles to constrain supersymmetric wino models.

Impact of Heart Rate at Diagnosis on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Data on the impact of heart rate (HR) at diagnosis on clinical outcomes in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) remain scarce. The present study population consisted of 1,532 patients with PE; the patients were divided into 4 groups, including (1) HR <80 beats/min (n = 451, 29%), (2) 80 ≤HR <100 beats/min (n = 620, 40%), (3) 100 ≤HR <110 beats/min (n = 215, 14%), and (4) HR ≥110 beats/min (n = 246, 16%). The cumulative 30-day incidences of all-cause death were significantly higher in the 100 ≤HR <110 and HR ≥110 beats/min groups than in the HR <80 beats/min group. Incidences were 2.7%, 3.6%, 6.6%, and 5.7% (p = 0.04) in the HR <80 beats/min, 80 ≤HR <100 beats/min, 100 ≤HR <110 beats/min, and HR ≥110 beats/min groups, respectively. With the HR <80 beats/min group as reference, the 100 ≤HR <110 and HR ≥110 groups, but not the 80 ≤HR <100 group, were significantly associated with an increased risk of 30-day all-cause death. Hazard ratio was 2.53 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17 to 5.56, p = 0.02) for the 80 ≤HR <100 beats/min group, 2.20 (95% CI 1.02 to 4.84, p = 0.046) for the 100 ≤HR <110 beats/min group, and 1.34 (95% CI 0.67 to 2.79, p = 0.41) for the HR ≥110 beats/min group. The cumulative 30-day incidences of all-cause death in patients with simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index score = 0 were 0.6%, 0.3%, and 0.7% when based on cut-off values of HR ≥110 beats/min, HR ≥100 beats/min, and ≥80 beats/min, respectively. Patients with moderate tachycardia (100 ≤HR <110) seemed to be at comparable risk of 30-day all-cause death to those with HR ≥110 beats/min and at higher risk of 30-day all-cause death than those with HR <80 beats/min; this may suggest a potential benefit of the alternative cut-off value of HR ≥100 beats/min in the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index score for identification of low-risk patients.

Clinical characteristics, management strategies and outcomes of patients with recurrent venous thromboembolism in the real world

There is a paucity of data on management strategies and clinical outcomes after recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). In a multicenter registry enrolling 3027 patients with acute symptomatic VTE, the current study population was divided into the following 3 groups: (1) First recurrent VTE during anticoagulation therapy (N = 110); (2) First recurrent VTE after discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy (N = 116); and (3) No recurrent VTE (N = 2801). Patients with first recurrent VTE during anticoagulation therapy more often had active cancer (45, 25 and 22%, P < 0.001). Among 110 patients with first recurrent VTE during anticoagulation therapy, 84 patients (76%) received warfarin at recurrent VTE with the median prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) value at recurrent VTE of 1.6, although patients with active cancer had a significantly higher median PT-INR value at recurrent VTE compared with those without active cancer (2.0 versus 1.4, P < 0.001). Within 90 days after recurrent VTE, 23 patients (20.9%) during anticoagulation therapy and 24 patients (20.7%) after discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy died. Active cancer was a major cause of recurrent VTE during anticoagulation therapy as a patient-related factor, while sub-optimal intensity of anticoagulation therapy was a major cause of recurrent VTE during anticoagulation therapy as a treatment-related factor, particularly in patients without active cancer.

Precise pulsed magnetic field mapping using a compact pick-up probe for a pulsed sextupole magnet

A pulsed sextupole magnet was used for beam injection at the KEK-Photon Factory (KEK-PF). During the top-up injection, oscillation of the stored beam was observed. To investigate this issue, a compact pick-up probe has been developed for measuring peak fields around the zero-magnetic-field region where the stored beam passes. The probe has two coils: a main coil and a background coil. The width and length of the main coil are only 3.2 and 5.8 mm, respectively. The voltage signal from the background coil is subtracted from that of the main coil to obtain an effective voltage signal. The results show that the peak field of a pulsed magnet can be measured with a sufficient accuracy for magnetic field mapping. A magnetic field signal with an amplitude of 2.2 × 10^-4 T was measured clearly. The longitudinal field structure that contains the magnetic field generated by the eddy-current effect was observed, which explains the oscillation of the stored beam at the KEK-PF.

Intra-Articular Injections of the Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppress Progression of a Mouse Traumatic Knee Osteoarthritis Model

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine whether the intra-articular injection of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) protects against the progression of murine post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

DESIGN

ADSCs were isolated from human abdomen or buttock adipose tissues. In in vitro study, ADSCs conditioned medium was added to human chondrocytes pre-treated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and resultant gene expression of target inflammatory genes was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A mouse model of knee osteoarthritis was generated by unilaterally transecting the medial meniscus in the right hind limb of 20 female C57BL/6 mice. Mice were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups that received 6 µl intra-articular injections of either phosphate-buffered saline (control) or 2 × 10⁴ cells/μl of ADSCs 14, 28, and 42 days post-surgery. Mice were euthanized 84 days post-surgery and histological and micro-computed tomography evaluation of knee joints were analyzed. Hind limb weight-bearing distribution was measured pre-surgery and 28 and 84 days post-surgery.

RESULTS

Conditioned medium from cultured human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells suppressed the expression of target inflammatory genes in chondrocytes pre-treated with IL-1β, suggesting anti-inflammatory properties (P < 0.01). Histological analyses indicated that the progression of destabilization of medial meniscus-induced knee osteoarthritis was suppressed by the administration of ADSCs compared with control group at medial femorotibial joint in vivo. This protective effect was related to a reduction in articular cartilage loss.

CONCLUSION

The intra-articular injection of ADSCs suppressed articular cartilage loss in a mouse model of knee osteoarthritis, possible through anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Study protocol for a randomised placebo controlled trial of platelet-rich plasma injection to prevent post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

INTRODUCTION

The elevated cytokine levels in patients suffering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture may lead to acute post-traumatic arthritis (APTA) and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Due to its chondrogenerative and anti-inflammatory effect, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is expected to show a positive outcome in APTA and PTOA. The proposed trial aims to quantitatively measure the efficacy of PRP injection in arresting post-traumatic cartilage degeneration among patients after ACL reconstruction.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This will be a single-blind, randomised, prospective, controlled clinical trial designed following the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines. After ACL reconstruction, 80 patients will be randomised to receive either leucocyte-poor PRP injection after joint aspiration or a placebo control group receiving only joint aspiration. Participants (age 20-49 years) will be those who have undergone ACL reconstruction within the past 2 weeks with a body mass index<35 and Kellgren Lawrence osteoarthritis grade<2. The primary outcome will include MRI-T2 values of knee cartilage at 6 months. The secondary outcomes will include pain assessment by Visual Analogue Scale, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, blood and urine test, physical findings, measurements for muscle strength and joint stability.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study was approved by The Independent Ethics Committee for Clinical Trials of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of State-of-the-Art Medicine. Results of the trial and each of the outcomes will be shared via conferences and publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

jRCTb030200391.

Stimulated Rayleigh Scattering Enhanced by a Longitudinal Plasma Mode in a Periodically Driven Dirac Semimetal Cd_{3}As_{2}

Using broadband (12-45 THz) multi-terahertz spectroscopy, we show that stimulated Rayleigh scattering dominates the transient optical conductivity of cadmium arsenide, a Dirac semimetal, under an optical driving field at 30 THz. The characteristic dispersive line shape with net optical gain is accounted for by optical transitions between light-induced Floquet subbands, strikingly enhanced by the longitudinal plasma mode. Stimulated Rayleigh scattering with an unprecedentedly large refractive index change may pave the way for slow light generation in conductive solids at room temperature.

Prognosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Japanese patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator -focus on apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background

Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are at high risk of lethal arrhythmias, and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) are widely used for prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Apical HCM is a phenotype variant of HCM, with hypertrophy predominantly affecting apex, that was initially described 30 years ago. Apical HCM patients may have different clinical prognosis compared with other subsets of HCM. In previous studies, apical HCM patients seem to have a more benign prognosis than other types of HCM. However, little is known about the long-term outcomes of apical HCM patients and there are many unclear points. Moreover, there are few reports about the clinical prognosis in apical HCM patients with an ICD.

Objective

The aim of this study is to identify the difference between the prognosis of apical and the other types of HCM patients with an ICD.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the database of our ICD clinic. All subjects underwent ICD implantation between October 2006 and September 2018. We classified HCM patients into LV outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) and midventricular obstruction (MVO), apical HCM and other non-obstructive types. We divided all the patients into apical and other types of HCM, and examined their background, incidence of appropriate ICD therapies, hospitalization for heart failure, electrical storm and death.

Results

A total of consecutive 64 Japanese HCM patients with an ICD (follow-up period, 86±24 months; age, 65±14 years; male sex, 83%; left ventricular ejection fraction, 56±14%; LV max wall-thickness, 19±7mm; LV apical aneurysm, 9.4%; 5-year risk of SCD, 4.4±2.1) were enrolled in this study. We classified them into 14 apical HCM and 50 other types of HCM patients. The clinical characteristics and major clinical events of these patients are shown in the Table 1. During the follow-up periods, there were no significant differences in the incidence of electrical storm, hospitalization for heart failure and death between the 2 groups (p=0.11; p=0.60; p=0.39). Appropriate ICD therapies occurred in 6 of 14 (43%) patients with apical HCM and 5 of 50 (10%) patients with other types of HCM (p=0.010). The risk factors of patients with apical HCM patients are shown in Table 2.

Conclusions

Appropriate ICD therapy was more prevalent in patients with apical HCM, compared to patients with other types of HCM. Aggressive intervention such as catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation may be considered in patients with apical HCM and higher score of 5-year risk of SCD. Further studies are needed to clarify the manifestations and long-term outcome of apical HCM patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Long-term clinical course and prognostic factors of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients underwent primary prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

Background

For decades, ICD is a well-established therapy for improving prognosis of structural heart disease with severe cardiac dysfunction, and ICD for primary prophylaxis against sudden cardiac death were routinely provided. However, long-term prognosis and clinical course are different in each individual patient with an ICD, and it is moreover unclear what kind of factors might have influences on their clinical outcomes.

Purpose

The aim of this study is to clarify long-term prognosis and predictors of future major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in HFrEF patients with an ICD as primary prophylaxis in Japanese population.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed our ICD database. Patients underwent primary prophylactic ICD implantation from 2006 to 2020 at our institute and met the criteria of ICD recommendation of the latest Japanese guideline. Its requirements are receiving optimal medication therapy, symptomatic heart failure (New York Heart Association classification II or greater), and severe cardiac dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is 35% or less). Additionally, prior NSVT is considered Class I ICD recommendation. In the case of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), ICD implantation was done at least 40 days after myocardial infarction and at least 90 days after revascularization. MACEs were defined as composite outcome of cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, and appropriate ICD therapies.

Results

A total of 148 consecutive patients were enrolled (male, 120 (81%); age, 62.1±11.8 years; LVEF, 23.0±5.86%; left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd), 67.6±9.26mm; paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), 38 (26%); NSVT, 113 (76%); use of class III antiarrhythmic drugs, 48 (32%); ICM, 49 (33%); cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), 63 (43%)). One hundred twenty patients (81%) were programmed with a shock-only zone over 200 beats per minute. The median follow-up duration was 58.5 months. Among those 148 patients, MACEs were occurred to 60 patients (41%). As a result of dividing all patients into two groups by the occurrence of MACE, LVEF and LVDd were worse in MACE(+) group, whereas, MACE(−) had greater number of co morbidities. The results of cox-regression analysis showed LVDd (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03–1.12, p&lt;0.001), AF (HR: 2.88, 95% CI: 1.56–5.31, p&lt;0.001) and ICM (HR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.00–3.16, p=0.049) were the independent predictors of MACEs (Table). However, initial ICD programming was not related to the occurrence of MACE.

Conclusions

The incidence of MACEs in patients with an ICD and severe HFrEF was substantially high in this Japanese population. Etiology of ICM, left ventricle size, and AF were the potential risk factors for future MACEs.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Clinical findings of triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy

Background

Triglyceride (TG) deposit cardiomyovasculopathy (TGCV) is a novel cardiovascular disorder and was recently encoded as an orphan disease in Europe (ORPHA code: 565612). Defective intracellular lipolysis results in TG accumulation in the myocardium and coronary arteries in TGCV. The myocardial washout rate (WR) of iodine-123-β-methyl-p-iodophenylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) is an essential indicator to evaluate myocardial lipolysis in vivo, and decreased WR (&lt;10%) of BMIPP is one of the essential items of diagnostic criteria for TGCV.

Purpose

To clarify clinical findings of TGCV including comorbid conditions and laboratory findings.

Methods

We enrolled 234 patients who underwent BMIPP scintigraphy between September 2015 and July 2019. The distributions of TGCV in each comorbidity, cardiac functions and laboratory findings were investigated.

Results

In total, 104 patients were diagnosed with definitive TGCV. The BMIPP WR of TGCV patients was −1.37±10.6%. TGCV patients had various comorbid conditions, including coronary artery disease (75%), diabetes mellitus (56%), and heart failure (21%). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of TGCV patients was significantly lower than that of non-TGCV patients (38.1±18.0% vs. 43.6±18.9%, p-value=0.026). Moreover, among those who did not take lipid-lowering drugs, there was no difference in the serum TG level between TGCV and non-TGCV patients (TGCV: n=44, 127±84.6 mg/dL, non-TGCV: n=66, 133±70.7 mg/dL, p-value=0.73).

Conclusions

TGCV patients showed multiple coexistence of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, or heart failure with lower LVEF. Serum TG level was not significantly different between TGCV and non-TGCV patients. Serum TG did not affect the intracellular TG accumulation in TGCV patients directly, and this result was consistent with the pathophysiological hypothesis that the TG accumulation in the myocardial cytoplasm is due to intracellular lipase dysfunction.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Impact of right ventricular reserve on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with left ventricular assist device

Background

Right heart failure following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is a major complication which significantly impairs functional capacity and quality of life (QoL). Right ventricular (RV) reserve function may limit exercise capacity and QoL in LVAD patients; however, most patients show normal RV haemodynamics at rest.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate whether RV reserve assessed by the changes of RV function during exercise is correlated with exercise capacity and QoL in patients with LVAD.

Methods

We prospectively examined 20 consecutive LVAD patients who were admitted to our university hospital between June 2020 and November 2021 after excluding those who were unable to perform exercise (n=8). All patients underwent invasive exercise right heart catheterisation with simultaneous echocardiography in the supine position. RV stroke work index (RVSWI) was calculated as 0.0136 × stroke volume index × (mean pulmonary artery pressure [mPAP] − right atrial pressure [RAP]) at rest and during exercise. Exercise capacity and QoL were assessed by 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and peak oxygen consumption (VO2) in cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and the EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), respectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median ΔRVSWI (RVSWI change from rest to peak exercise) of 1.45 (interquartile range [IQR] −0.31 to 8.25) g/m2.

Results

Patients were predominantly male (75%) and the median age was 47 (IQR 38–60) years. Patients with lower ΔRVSWI had significantly higher change on RAP (P=0.019), but significantly lower change on mPAP (P&lt;0.001) compared to those with higher ΔRVSWI. There were no significant differences in age, gender, primary aetiology of heart failure, type of LVAD devices, or echocardiographic parameters including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and RVSWI at rest between the groups. ΔRVSWI during exercise were positively correlated with 6MWD (R=0.69, P&lt;0.01) and peak VO2 (R=0.66, P&lt;0.01) (Figure A). In addition, ΔRVSWI during exercise were positively correlated with the EQ-VAS (R=0.48, P=0.031). On the other hand, there was no significant correlation between RVSWI at rest and 6MWD (R=−0.11, P=0.63) and peak VO2 (R=0.13, P=0.95), and the EQ-VAS (R=0.11, P=0.61). During a median follow-up period of 312 (IQR 176–369) days, adverse events occurred in 3 patients (15%), including 1 death and 2 hospitalisations for major bleeding and right heart failure. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the adverse events more frequently occurred in patients with lower ΔRVSWI compared to those with higher ΔRVSWI (Figure B).

Conclusions

ΔRVSWI was positively correlated with 6MWD, peak VO2 and EQ-VAS irrespective of RV function at rest. Our findings suggest that the assessment of RV reserve function using ΔRVSWI would be useful for risk stratification in patients with LVAD.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Real-time high-spectral-resolution mid-infrared spectroscopy with a signal-to-noise ratio of ten thousand

We developed a mid-infrared spectroscopy system with high spectral resolution and a high signal-to-noise ratio using an extremely high-order germanium immersion grating. The spectroscopic system covers wavelengths from 3 to 5 µm and has a spectral resolution of 1 GHz with a single-shot bandwidth of 2 THz. We proposed a method of improving the signal-to-noise ratio and achieved a ratio of over 3000 with a data acquisition rate of 125 Hz in the presence of fluctuations in the light source and environment. A signal-to-noise ratio of 10,000 was achieved with 0.1-s integration for 100-µW mid-infrared light.

Causes of long-term mortality in patients with venous thromboembolism in the real world: From the COMMAND VTE registry

INTRODUCTION

There is still a scarcity of data on causes of long-term mortality in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The COMMAND VTE Registry is a physician-initiated, retrospective, multicenter cohort study in which consecutive 3027 patients with acute symptomatic VTE among 29 centers in Japan were included between January 2010 and August 2014. We investigated detailed causes and risk factors for long-term mortality.

RESULTS

During a median observation period of 1218 days, a total of 764 patients died, and the prevalence of active cancer was higher in patients who died than in patients alive (61 % versus 10 %, P < 0.001). The cumulative incidences of cardiac death, pulmonary embolism (PE)-related death, bleeding death, cancer death, and non-cardiovascular non-cancer death were 2.2 %, 2.9 %, 2.0 %, 16.1 %, and 6.7 % at 5 years, respectively. The incidence of cancer death increased gradually, which was the most common cause of long-term death. Among patients without active cancer, the incidence of PE-related death increased rapidly and became a plateau beyond the acute phase, whereas the incidence of non-cardiovascular non-cancer death kept increasing, which became most common in the long term. The separate multivariable analysis among patient with and without active cancer identified independent risk factors of all-cause death including a few patient characteristics among patients with active cancer and several patient characteristics among patients without active cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer was the most common cause of long-term mortality, while non-cardiovascular non-cancer death became most common among patients without active cancer.