The relationship between diastolic blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation: the Fushimi AF registry

Background

Hypertension is one of the major risk factors of cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, relationship between diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and cardiovascular events in AF patients remains unclear.

Methods

The Fushimi AF Registry is a community-based prospective survey of AF patients in Japan. Follow-up data were available in 4,466 patients, and 4,429 patients with available data of DBP were examined. We divided the patients into three groups; G1 (DBP<70 mmHg, n=1,946), G2 (70≤DBP<80, n=1,321) and G3 (80≤DBP, n=1,162), and compared the clinical background and outcomes between groups.

Results

The proportion of female was grater in G1 group, and the patients in G1 group were older and had higher prevalence of heart failure (HF), diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic kidney disease (CKD). Prescription of beta blockers was higher in G1 group, but that of renin-angiotensin system-inhibitors and calcium channel blocker was comparable. During the median follow-up of 1,589 days, in Kaplan-Meier analysis, the incidence rates of cardiovascular events (composite of cardiac death, ischemic stroke and systemic embolism, major bleeding and HF hospitalization during follow up) were higher in G1 group and G3 group than G2 group (Figure 1). When we divided the patients based on the systolic blood pressure (SBP) at baseline (≥130 mmHg or <130 mmHg), the incidence of rates of cardiovascular events were comparable among groups. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis including female gender, age (≥75 years), higher SBP (≥130 mmHg), DM, pre-existing HF, CKD, low left ventricular ejection fraction (<40%) and DBP (G1, G2, G3) revealed that DBP was an independent determinant of cardiovascular events (G1 group vs. G2 group; hazard ratio (HR): 1.40, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.19–1.64, G3 group vs. G2 group; HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.01–1.49). When we examined the impact of DBP according to 10 mmHg increment, patients with very low DBP (<60 mmHg) (HR: 1.50,95% CI:1.24–1.80) and very high DBP (≥90 mmHg) (HR: 1.51,95% CI:1.15–1.98) had higher incidence of cardiovascular events than patients with DBP of 70–79 mmHg (Figure 2). However, when we examined the impact of SBP according to 20 mmHg increment, SBP at baseline was not associated with the incidence of cardiovascular events (Figure 3).

Conclusion

In Japanese patients with AF, DBP exhibited J curve association with higher incidence of cardiovascular events.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Aggressive lipid lowering therapy with pitavastatin and ezetimibe improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction: insights from the HIJ-PROPER Study

Aims

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of aggressive lipid-lowering therapy with pitavastatin and ezetimibe in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as compared with those with other classification of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) including non-STEMI (NSTEMI) and unstable angina pectoris (UA).

Methods

This is a post hoc sub-analysis of the HIJ-PROPER study. In the original study, ACS patients with dyslipidemia were randomized to either pitavastatin + ezetimibe therapy or pitavastatin monotherapy. In the present analysis, we divided HIJ-PROPER participants into the STEMI group (n=880) and NSTEMI + UA group (n=841). Cardiovascular events were analyzed between the two groups. The primary endpoint was a composite of major advanced cardiovascular events (MACE; all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, unstable angina pectoris, and ischemia-driven revascularization)

Result

During median follow-up period of 3.4 years, the cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint in STEMI group was 31.9% in the pitavastatin+ezetimibe therapy, compared with 39.7% in the pitavastatin-monotherapy (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62–0.97; p=0.02). However, there was no effect of pitavastatin+ezetimibe therapy on the primary endpoint in the NSTEMI + UA group. Concerning the individual components of the primary endpoint in STEMI group, the percentage of occurrence of all-cause death was significantly lower in the pitavastatin+ezetimibe therapy compared to pitavastatin mono-therapy (14 patients (3.2%) vs. 31 patients (6.9%), respectively; HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23–1.84, p=0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that use of ezetimibe and prevalence of diabetes mellitus at baseline were independent predictors of primary endpoints in STEMI group (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63–0.99; p=0.04 for use of ezetimibe, HR 1.54; 95% CI, 1.22–1.94, p=0.0003 for diabetes mellitus).

Conclusion

Patients with pitavastatin+ezetimibe therapy as compared with pitavastatin-monotherapy had lower cardiovascular event in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Kaplan-Meier curves for primary endpoint

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Adverse outcomes after worsening renal function in patients with atrial fibrillation: the Fushimi AF Registry

Background

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) commonly coexist with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) are recommended for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), and worsening renal function (WRF) as well as CKD is an important issue in using NOAC. However, little is known about the clinical outcomes of patients after WRF.

Purpose

We aimed to investigate outcomes after WRF in AF patients.

Methods

The Fushimi AF Registry is a community-based prospective survey of the AF patients in our city. Follow-up data including prescription status were available for 4,441 patients. Of them, 1,890 patients who have baseline and at least 1 follow-up creatinine clearance (CrCl) measurements, estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula, were analyzed in the present study. WRF was defined as a decrease of ≥20% from baseline CrCl measurement at any time point during follow-up. We evaluated demographics and outcomes after WRF in AF patients.

Results

During the median follow-up period of 2,194 days, mean CrCl decrease of 2.2 ml/min/year was observed and WRF occurred in 981 patients (51.9%). Patients with WRF were significantly more often female (with vs. without WRF; 40.3% vs. 35.4%; p=0.03), older (73.4 vs. 71.1 years of age; p<0.01), more often paroxysmal type (49.9% vs. 47.1%; p<0.01), and more likely to have prior stroke (17.9% vs. 12.7%; p<0.01), heart failure (30.8% vs. 24.8%; p<0.01), diabetes (31.7% vs. 27.1%; p=0.03), and coronary artery disease (19.9% vs. 12.1%; p<0.01) than those without WRF. Co-existing of CKD and mean CrCl at baseline were comparable (37.4% vs. 36.9%; p=0.82, 65.3 vs. 63.5 ml/min; p=0.66, respectively). Mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was significantly higher in WRF patients (3.55 vs. 3.03; p<0.01). On landmark analysis, all-cause mortality occurred in 135 patients (8.6 /100 person-years) after WRF and 82 patients (1.7 /100 person-years) without WRF, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 6.33 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.33–9.50; p<0.01), adjusted by sex, age, body weight, serum creatinine, type of AF, oral anticoagulant prescription and comorbidities. Stroke or systemic embolism occurred in 45 patients after WRF (3.0 /100 person-years) and 78 (1.7 /100 person-years) patients without WRF (adjusted HR 1.60 [95% CI, 1.04–2.49; p=0.03]) (Figure).

Conclusions

AF patients after WRF had higher incidence of various adverse events.

Incidence of Adverse Outcomes

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Other. Main funding source(s): The Practical Research Project for Life-Style related Diseases including Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Mellitus from Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer Healthcare, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Daiichi-Sankyo, Novartis Pharma, MSD, Sanofi-Aventis, and Takeda Pharmaceutical.

Clinical impact of regression from sustained to paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: the Fushimi AF registry

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) commonly progresses from paroxysmal type to sustained type in the natural course of the disease, and we previously demonstrated that the progression of AF was associated with increased risk of clinical adverse events. There are some patients, though less frequently, who regress from sustained to paroxysmal AF, but the clinical impact of the regression of AF remains unknown.

Purpose

We sought to investigate whether regression from sustained to paroxysmal AF is associated with better clinical outcomes.

Methods

Using the dataset of the Fushimi AF Registry, patients who were diagnosed as sustained (persistent or permanent) AF at baseline were studied. Conversion of sustained AF to paroxysmal AF during follow-up was defined as regression of AF. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as the composite of cardiac death, stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure (HF). Event rates were compared between the patients with and without regression of AF. In patients with sustained AF at baseline, predictors of MACE were identified using Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

Among 2,253 patients who were diagnosed as sustained AF at baseline, regression of AF was observed in 9.0% (202/2,253, 2.0 per 100 patient-years) during a median follow-up of 4.0 years. Of these, 24.3% (49/202, 4.6 per 100 patient-years) of the patients finally recurred to sustained AF during follow-up. The proportion of asymptomatic patients was lower in patients with regression of AF than those without (with vs without regression; 49.0% vs 69.5%, p<0.01). The percentage of beta-blocker use at baseline was similar between the two groups (37.2% vs 33.8%, p=0.34). The prevalence of patients who underwent catheter ablation or electrical cardioversion during follow-up was higher in patients with regression of AF (catheter ablation: 15.8% vs 5.5%; p<0.01, cardioversion: 4.0% vs 1.4%; p<0.01, respectively). The rate of MACE was significantly lower in patients with regression of AF as compared with patients who maintained sustained AF (3.7 vs 6.2 per 100 patient-years, log-rank p<0.01). Figure shows the Kaplan-Meier curves for MACE, cardiac death, hospitalization for heart failure, and stroke. In patients with sustained AF at baseline, multivariable Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that regression of AF was an independent predictor of lower MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28 to 0.88, p=0.02), stroke (HR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.88, p=0.02), and hospitalization for HF (HR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.85, p=0.01).

Conclusion

Regression from sustained to paroxysmal AF was associated with a lower incidence of adverse cardiac events.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Plasma natriuretic peptide level is an independent determinant of major clinical outcomes in atrial fibrillation patients without heart failure: the Fushimi AF Registry

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of death, stroke/systemic embolism and heart failure (HF). Plasma natriuretic peptide (NP) level is an important prognostic marker in HF patients. However, little is known regarding the prognostic significance of plasma NP level in AF patients without HF.

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between plasma NP level and clinical outcomes such as all-cause death, stroke/systemic embolism and HF hospitalization during follow-up period in AF patients without HF.

Methods

The Fushimi AF Registry is a community-based prospective survey of AF patients in our city. The inclusion criterion of the registry is the documentation of AF at 12-lead electrocardiogram or Holter monitoring at any time, and there are no exclusion criteria. We started to enroll patients from March 2011, and follow-up data were available for 4,466 patients by the end of November 2019. From the registry, we excluded 1,220 patients without a pre-existing HF (defined as having one of the following; prior hospitalization for HF, New York Heart Association class ≥2, or left ventricular ejection fraction <40%). Among 3,246 AF patients without HF, we investigated 1,189 patients with the data of plasma BNP (n=401) or N-terminal pro-BNP (n=788) level at the enrollment. We divided the patients according to the quartile of each plasma BNP or NT-pro BNP level and compared the backgrounds and outcomes between these 4 groups stratified by plasma NP level.

Results

Of 1,189 patients, the mean age was 72.1±10.2 years, 454 (38%) were female and 684 (58%) were paroxysmal AF. The mean CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score were 1.6±1.1 and 2.9±1.5, respectively. Oral anticoagulants were prescribed in 671 (56%) at baseline. The median (interquartile range) BNP and N-terminal pro-BNP level were 84 (38, 176) and 500 (155, 984) pg/ml, respectively. Patients with high plasma NP level were older, and demonstrated lower prevalence of paroxysmal AF, higher CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores and higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease and oral anticoagulants prescription (all P<0.01). A total of 165 all-cause death, 114 stroke/systemic embolism and 103 HF hospitalization occurred during the median follow-up period of 5.0 years. Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that higher plasma NP level was significantly associated with the incidences of all-cause death, stroke/systemic embolism and HF hospitalization in AF patients without HF (Figure 1A). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that plasma NP level could stratify the risk of clinical outcomes even after adjustment by type of AF, CHA2DS2-VASc score, chronic kidney disease and oral anticoagulant prescription (Figure 1B).

Conclusion

Plasma NP level is a significant prognostic marker for all-cause death, stroke/systemic embolism and HF hospitalization in AF patients without HF, suggesting the importance of measuring plasma NP level in AF patients even without HF.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Impact of comprehensive management on clinical outcomes in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease: HIJ-CREATE sub-study

Background

There are limited data on the effects of blood pressure (BP) control and lipid lowering in secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. We report a secondary analysis of the effects of BP control and lipid management in participants of the HIJ-CREATE, a prospective randomized trial.

Methods

HIJ-CREATE was a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial that compared the effects of candesartan-based therapy with those of non-ARB-based standard therapy on major adverse cardiac events (MACE; a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure, stroke, and other cardiovascular events requiring hospitalization) in 2,049 hypertensive patients with angiographically documented CAD. In both groups, titration of antihypertensive agents was performed to reach the target BP of <130/85 mmHg. The primary endpoint was the time to first MACE. Incidence of endpoint events in addition to biochemistry tests and office BP was determined during the scheduled 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60-month visits. Achieved systolic BP and LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) level were defined as the mean values of these measurements in patients who did not develop MACEs and as the mean values of them prior to MACEs in those who developed MACEs during follow-up.

Results

During a median follow-up of 4.2 years (follow-up rate of 99.6%), the primary outcome occurred in 304 patients (30.3%). Among HIJ-CREATE participants, 905 (44.2%) were prescribed statins on enrollment. Kaplan–Meier curves for the primary outcome revealed that there was no relationship between statin therapy and MACEs in hypertensive patients with CAD. The original HIJ-CREATE population was divided into 9 groups based on equal tertiles based on mean achieved BP and LDL-C during follow-up. For the analysis of subgroups, estimates of relative risk and the associated 95% CIs were generated with a Cox proportional-hazards model (Figure 1). The relation between LDL cholesterol level and hazard ratios for MACEs was nonlinear, with a significant increase of MACEs only in the patients with inadequate controlled LDL-C level even in the patients with tightly controlled BP.

Conclusions

The results of the post-hoc analysis of the HIJ-CREATE suggest that clinicians should pay careful attention to conduct comprehensive management of lipid lowering even in the contemporary BP lowering for the secondary prevention in hypertensive patients with CAD.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are associated with increased cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome receiving contemporary lipid-lowering therapy

Background

This study aimed to elucidate whether high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) at 3-month follow-up for patients receiving contemporary lipid-lowering therapy after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) could predict cardiac events.

Methods

The HIJ-PROPER study was a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial comparing intensive lipid-lowering therapy (pitavastatin + ezetimibe) and conventional lipid-lowering therapy (pitavastatin monotherapy) after ACS. For the present analysis, the entire cohort was divided into three groups according to HDL-C levels at 3-month follow-up (Group 1, HDL-C ≤43 mg/dL; Group 2, 43–53.6 mg/dL; Group 3; HDL-C ≥53.6 mg/dL). Baseline characteristics and the incidence of the primary endpoint (a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, unstable angina pectoris, or ischemia-driven revascularization) were compared among the three groups.

Results

The primary endpoint was reported in 34.8%, 30.1%, and 24.6% of patients in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The incidence of the primary endpoint was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 3 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19–1.9; p=0.001). Irrespective of the treatment regimen, Group 1 had a significantly higher rate of the primary endpoint than Group 3 (pitavastatin + ezetimibe therapy: HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.12–2.22; p=0.01 and pitavastatin monotherapy: HR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.05–1.98; p=0.02). These trends remained even after adjustment for baseline characteristics and lipid profiles.

Conclusions

Lower levels of HDL-C at 3-month follow-up are associated with higher incidence of the cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome receiving contemporary lipid-lowering therapy.

HDL-C levels and Cardiovascular events

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Heparan sulfate deficiency leads to hypertrophic chondrocytes by increasing bone morphogenetic protein signaling

OBJECTIVE

Exostosin-1 (EXT1) and EXT2 are the major genetic etiologies of multiple hereditary exostoses and are essential for heparan sulfate (HS) biosynthesis. Previous studies investigating HS in several mouse models of multiple hereditary exostoses have reported that aberrant bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling promotes osteochondroma formation in Ext1-deficient mice. This study examined the mechanism underlying the effects of HS deficiency on BMP/Smad signaling in articular cartilage in a cartilage-specific Ext^-/- mouse model.

METHOD

We generated mice with a conditional Ext1 knockout in cartilage tissue (Ext1-cKO mice) using Prg4-Cre transgenic mice. Structural cartilage alterations were histologically evaluated and phospho-Smad1/5/9 (pSmad1/5/9) expression in mouse chondrocytes was analyzed. The effect of pharmacological intervention of BMP signaling using a specific inhibitor was assessed in the articular cartilage of Ext1-cKO mice.

RESULTS

Hypertrophic chondrocytes were significantly more abundant (P = 0.021) and cartilage thickness was greater in Ext1-cKO mice at 3 months postnatal than in control littermates (P = 0.036 for femur; and P < 0.001 for tibia). However, osteoarthritis did not spontaneously occur before the 1-year follow-up. matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and adamalysin-like metalloproteinases with thrombospondin motifs(ADAMTS)-5 were upregulated in hypertrophic chondrocytes of transgenic mice. Immunostaining and western blotting revealed that pSmad1/5/9-positive chondrocytes were more abundant in the articular cartilage of Ext1-cKO mice than in control littermates. Furthermore, the BMP inhibitor significantly decreased the number of hypertrophic chondrocytes in Ext1-cKO mice (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

HS deficiency in articular chondrocytes causes chondrocyte hypertrophy, wherein upregulated BMP/Smad signaling partially contributes to this phenotype. HS might play an important role in maintaining the cartilaginous matrix by regulating BMP signaling.

Long-term prognostic significance of dispersion of ventricular repolarization in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis

Background

Although the presence of cardiac involvement is recognised as a determinant of worse clinical outcomes in sarcoidosis patients, the determinants of adverse outcomes in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) have not been well understood. T-peak to T-end interval (TpTe) on the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) was proposed as a marker of dispersion of ventricular repolarisation. Prolonged TpTe to QT interval ratio (TpTe/QT) represents a period of potential vulnerability to reentrant ventricular arrhythmias. Notably, prolonged TpTe/QT has been associated with increased risk of mortality in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congenital long-QT syndrome, and Brugada syndrome. However, its prognostic implication in patients with CS is unclear.

Purpose

We sought to investigate whether TpTe/QT was associated with long-term clinical outcomes in patients with CS.

Methods

A total of 108 consecutive CS patients between August 1986 and March 2019 in two academic hospitals who had ECG data before initiation of immunosuppressive therapy were examined. We excluded patients who received pacemaker (n=15) or cardiac resynchronization therapy (n=3) at the time of ECG. Ultimately, 90 CS patients were included in this study. All standard 12-lead ECGs were recorded at 25 mm/s with an amplification of 10 mm/mV. TpTe was measured from the peak of T wave to the end of T wave which defined as the intersection of the tangent to the down slope of the T wave and the isoelectric line. Lead V5 was selected for the analyses. If V5 is not suitable for analyses, V4 was selected. The primary outcome was the composite of advanced atrioventricular block (AVB), ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF), heart failure hospitalisation and all-cause death.

Results

During a median follow-up period of 4.70 (interquartile range [IQR] 2.06–7.23) years, adverse events occurred in 21 patients (23.3%), including 2 advanced AVB, 12 VT/VF, 4 heart failure hospitalisation and 3 all-cause death. Events group had higher TpTe/QT compared to no events group (0.231 [IQR 0.193–0.261] vs. 0.282 [IQR 0.263–0.304] P&lt;0.001). Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that the primary outcome, especially VT/VF or sudden cardiac death more frequently occurred in patients with higher TpTe/QT (≥0.242, the median) compared to those with lower TpTe/QT (Figure 1). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that higher TpTe/QT was independently associated with increased subsequent risk of adverse events (hazard ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.17, P=0.014) even after adjustment for age, sex and left ventricular ejection fraction. Furthermore, the optimal cut-off value of TpTe/QT for the discriminatory of primary outcome was 0.257, and c-index was 0.77 (95% CI 0.64–0.89).

Conclusions

Higher TpTe/QT was associated with worse long-term clinical outcomes in patients with CS. Our findings indicate the importance of assessing TpTe/QT for risk stratification in patients with CS.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Role of PD-L1 Expression during the Progression of Submucosal Gastric Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is a prognostic marker for gastric cancer that correlates with tumor diameter and depth of penetration. But the role of PD-L1 and mechanism(s) employed in the initial phase of invasion in early gastric cancer is yet to be understood.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to elucidate the role of PD-L1 during the progression of gastric cancer, specifically invading the submucosa beyond the lamina muscularis mucosa.

METHODS

Using 107 patients with pathological submucosal gastric cancer, we determined the expression of PD-L1 based on the staining of the cell membrane or cytoplasm of tumor cells in the central and invasive front of the tumor. Samples were categorized into 3 groups based on the intensity of PD-L1 expression. CD8+ lymphocytes expressing PD-1 and CD163+ macrophages were used to determine the number of cell nuclei at the invasive front, similar to PD-L1. CMTM6 levels were determined and used to stratify samples into 3 groups.

RESULTS

PD-L1 expression was higher in the invasive front (26.2%) than in the central portion of the tumors (7.4%; p < 0.001). Moreover, lymphatic and vascular invasion were more frequently observed in samples with high levels of PD-L1 (lymphatic invasion: 60.7 vs. 35.4%, p = 0.0026, and vascular invasion: 39.3 vs. 16.5%, p = 0.0018). There was no correlation between PD-L1 expression and the levels of PD-1, CD8, CD163, and CMTM6.

CONCLUSIONS

PD-L1-expressing cancer cells at the invasive front of gastric cancer influence the initial stages of tumor invasion and lymphovascular permeation in early-stage gastric cancers. Immune checkpoint signaling may be the driving force in the invasive front during the invasion of the submucosa beyond the lamina muscularis mucosa.

The relationship between sucrose intake in coffee or tea, and root or coronal caries in an elderly Japanese population

OBJECTIVES

Few studies have examined the effect of sucrose intake in coffee or tea (SCT) on dental caries, especially root caries, in elderly people. The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations between SCT and the prevalence of root or coronal caries in community-dwelling elderly Japanese.

METHODS

Participants were 370 elders aged 75 years from a larger cohort study of elders in Niigata City, Japan. Dietary habits during the preceding month were assessed with a validated brief self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ). The caries examination was conducted using mirror and ball-pointed periodontal probes under artificial light. Poisson regression analysis was performed to analyze the prevalence-rate ratios (PRRs) between SCT and the root or coronal caries. The number of root or coronal caries was selected as the dependent variable for the analysis. Then, SCT (tertiles labeled low, medium and high) and other 4 variables were selected as independent variables.

RESULTS

The PRRs between the number of root caries lesions and SCT were signifi cantly higher in the second (medium intake, 1.38, p ⟨ 0.001) and third tertiles (high intake, 2.07, p ⟨ 0.001). Similar tendencies were seen for the number of coronal caries lesions (PRRs in the second and third tertiles 1.74 and 2.46, respectively, both p ⟨ 0.001).

CONCLUSION

A significant positive relationship was observed between sucrose in coffee and tea and the number of coronal or root caries lesions in community-dwelling elderly Japanese.

Clinical features of anti-transcription intermediary factor 1γ (TIF1γ)-positive dermatomyositis with internal malignancy and investigation of the involvement of TIF1γ expression in tumors in the pathogenesis of cancer-associated dermatomyositis

Anti-transcription intermediary factor 1γ (anti-TIF1γ) antibody (Ab) is significantly associated with internal malignancies in adult patients with dermatomyositis (DM). Although pathogenesis of cancer-associated DM is unknown, TIF1γ overexpression in tumors has been considered to be critical for the development of DM. The objective of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics of patients with anti-TIF1γ Ab-positive DM and elucidate risk factors that are potentially associated with internal malignancy. In addition, we compared the expression of TIF1γ in tumor tissues of patients with anti-TIF1γ Ab-positive DM, anti-TIF1γ Ab-negative DM and without DM in order to investigate the pathogenesis of cancer-associated DM. We analyzed 77 Japanese patients with DM, and found 19 patients to be positive for anti-TIF1γ Ab. Patients with anti-TIF1γ Ab-positive DM were older and presented heliotrope rash and flagellate erythema more frequently than patients without anti-TIF1γ Ab (P < 0.05). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and rapidly progressive ILD, as well as palmar violaceous erythema, were less frequent in patients with anti-TIF1γ Ab than in patients without. Furthermore, internal malignancy and dysphagia were significantly more frequent in the anti-TIF1γ Ab-positive group (P < 0.01). Male sex and dysphagia were significantly associated with internal malignancy in patients with anti-TIF1γ Ab-positive DM (P < 0.01 and <0.05, respectively). Using immunohistochemistry, we examined the TIF1γ expression in tumors of 11 patients with cancer-associated DM (anti-TIF1γ Ab-positive, nine; anti-TIF1γ Ab-negative, two) and 25 patients without DM. TIF1γ was highly expressed in all tumors, and there was no significant difference in TIF1γ expression between patients with and without DM. Furthermore, TIF1γ expressions in tumors were similar irrespective of the presence of anti-TIF1γ Ab. These results suggest that anti-TIF1γ antibody may not be simply induced by overexpression of TIF1γ in tumors in patients with DM, but that other mechanisms may exist.

An abdominal spacer that does not require surgical removal and allows drainage of abdominal fluids in patients undergoing carbon ion radiotherapy

Abdominal spacers are useful for maintaining the distance between the target tumors and surrounding tissues, such as the gastrointestinal tract, in patients treated with carbon ion radiotherapy. Surgical intervention to remove the spacers is sometimes necessary because of abdominal infections triggered by long-term spacer placement or intestinal perforation. Therefore, spacers that do not require surgical removal and provide effective drainage against abdominal infections are urgently needed. This study aimed to develop a spacer that could be removed non-surgically and one that provides the therapeutic effect of drainage in patients who receive carbon ion radiotherapy for abdominal tumors. A novel fan-shaped spacer was constructed from a film drain that was folded along the trigger line. Simple withdrawal of the trigger line caused the film drain to fold and the holding lines to become free. We performed laparoscopy-assisted insertion with pneumoperitoneum and blind removal of the spacer fourteen times using a porcine model. Saline in the abdominal cavity was effectively aspirated using the spacer. Our novel fan-shaped spacer could be removed safely without surgery and was able to drain fluid effectively from the abdominal cavity.

Prognostic significance of β2-adrenergic receptor expression in patients with surgically resected colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

The β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) is highly expressed in various human cancers. The prognostic significance of its expression in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic role of β2AR expression in patients with surgically resected CRC.

METHODS

One hundred and forty-seven patients with surgically resected CRC were examined using immunohistochemistry. The expression of β2AR was assessed in the specimens of resected primary tumors.

RESULTS

β2AR was expressed in 52.3% of the patients' tumors. β2AR expression was significantly associated with T factor, N factor, and tumor cell proliferation (Ki-67 labeling index). Univariate analysis demonstrated that T factor, N factor, tumor stage, lymphatic permeation, vascular invasion, perineural invasion, β2AR expression, and Ki-67 labeling index were significant prognostic factors for worse disease-free survival (DFS); all but T factor were also significant predictors for worse overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis confirmed that expression of β2AR was a significant prognostic marker for predicting worse DFS and OS.

CONCLUSION

β2AR expression was identified as a significant independent prognostic factor in patients with surgically resected CRC.

Significance of RAS mutations in pulmonary metastases of patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

RAS/BRAF mutations of colorectal cancer (CRC) play a crucial role in carcinogenesis and cancer progression and need to be considered for the therapeutic strategy choice. We used next-generation-sequencing (NGS) technology to assess RAS/BRAF mutation differences between primary CRC and corresponding pulmonary metastases (PMs).

METHODS

We examined the mutation statuses of the KRAS 12/13/61/146, NRAS 12/13/61/146, and BRAF 600 codons in genomic DNA from fresh-frozen or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues derived from 34 primary lesions and 52 corresponding PMs from 36 patients with CRC.

RESULTS

We found RAS mutations in 76% (26/34) of primary CRC lesions and in 86% (31/36) of PMs. While 27% (7/26) of the primary CRC RAS mutations were heterogeneous, all the RAS mutations in PMs were homogeneous. Of the mutations in PMs, 71% (22/31) were KRAS G>A transitions, of which 82% (18/22) were KRAS G12D or G13D. The RAS mutation discordance between primary tumors and PMs was 12.1% (4/33). RAS mutations with the same genotyping were detected in all synchronous and metachronous PMs from 9 patients. We found no BRAF mutations in either primary or pulmonary tissues.

CONCLUSION

Our NGS analysis suggests that RAS mutations of PM of patients with CRC are more common than initially thought. The presence of KRAS mutations in CRC specimens, especially G12D or G13D mutations, seems to promote PM formation.

P5390Adipolin/C1q/Tnf-related protein 12 attenuates adverse cardiac remodeling in a mouse model of myocardial infarction

Background

Ischemic heart disease is one of leading causes of death worldwide. Obesity is closely linked to the development of cardiovascular diseases including ischemic heart disease. Adipose tissue produces various secretory bioactive proteins called as adipokines, and dysregulation of adipokine production contributes to the pathogenesis of obesity-related complications. Previously we identified adipolin, also referred to as C1q/Tnf-related protein12, as an insulin-sensitizing adipokine that is down-regulated in obesity. Here, we investigated the effects of adipolin on cardiac remodeling in a mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI).

Method

Male adipolin-knockout (APL-KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to the permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery to create MI. Echocardiographic and histological analyses were performed to evaluate cardiac function and myocardial remodeling at 4 weeks after MI. Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Cardiomyocyte cross sectional area was evaluated by Wheat Germ Agglutinin staining. Perivascular fibrosis was assessed by Masson's trichrome staining. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were used as cultured cardiac myocytes for in vitro study.

Results

APL-KO mice exhibited increased ratios of the heart weight/body weight and lung weight/body weight after MI compared with WT mice. APL-KO mice showed increased left ventricular diastolic diameter and decreased fractional shortening after MI compared with WT mice. APL-KO mice had increases in myocardial apoptosis, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and perivascular fibrosis at the remote zone of infarct hearts as compared with WT mice. Treatment of cultured cardiomyocytes with adipolin protein reduced apoptosis in response to 24 hours of hypoxia. Treatment with adipolin protein also increased the phosphorylation of Akt in cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of PI3 kinase/Akt signaling by LY294002 reversed the anti-apoptotic effects of adipolin in cultured cardiomyocytes.

Conclusion

Our data indicate that adipolin prevents pathological myocardial remodeling after chronic ischemia, at least in part, by suppressing myocardial apoptosis through an Akt-dependent mechanism.

P3771Validation of risk scoring system predicting for progression of atrial fibrillation: the Fushimi AF Registry

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risks of thromboembolism and death. Progression from paroxysmal to sustained types (persistent or permanent) of AF is sometimes seen in clinical practice. We recently reported that progression of AF was associated with increased risk of clinical adverse events in Japanese AF patients. However, risk stratification schemes of predicting the progression of AF has not been fully established.

Methods

The Fushimi AF Registry, a community-based prospective survey, was designed to enroll all of the AF patients in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, which is a typical urban district of Japan with a population of 283,000. Follow-up data were available for 4,454 patients. We investigated the risk factors of AF progression and validated the performance of various risk scoring systems predicting for progression of AF, such as APPLE, BASE-AF2, HATCH, and MB-LATER score, using data from 995 paroxysmal AF patients (mean age; 72.6±11.4 years, female; 42.2%, mean CHA2DS2-VASc score; 3.26±1.67) whose echocardiogram data were obtained at baseline.

Results

Of 995 AF patients, during the median follow-up of 1,477 days, progression from paroxysmal to sustained AF occurred in 160 patients (16.1%; 4.0 per 100 person-years). On a multivariate model, we indicated that history of AF ≥2 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28–2.61), left atrial diameter ≥40 mm (OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.02–2.08), daily drinker (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.24–2.81), and cardiomyopathy (OR 2.58; 95% CI 1.17–5.69) were significantly associated with higher incidence of AF progression. Our model had better predictive potential for AF progression (area under curve [AUC] 0.612; 95% CI 0.566–0.658) than the APPLE (AUC 0.553; 95% CI 0.508–0.598; p=0.06), BASE-AF2 (AUC 0.571; 95% CI 0.526–0.617; p=0.04), CHADS2 (AUC 0.508; 95% CI 0.462–0.554; p<0.01), CHA2DS2-VASc (AUC 0.501; 95% CI 0.453–0.548; p<0.01), HATCH (AUC 0.502; 95% CI 0.456–0.548; p<0.01), and MB-LATER (AUC 0.528; 95% CI 0.483–0.572; p<0.01) score.

Conclusion

We identified 4 risk factors which may be useful to predict for progression of AF in Japanese patients. External validation of our model in other cohorts is needed.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Boehringer, Bayer, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo, Novartis, MSD, Sanofi and Takeda. Japan Agency for Medical Research

P5431The relationship between pulse rate and the risk of cardiac events in patients with atrial fibrillation: the Fushimi AF registry

Background

Relationship between pulse rate (PR) and cardiac events in patients with sustained (persistent and permanent) atrial fibrillation (AF) in routine clinical practice remains unclear.

Methods

The Fushimi AF Registry is a community-based prospective survey of the AF patients in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. Follow-up data were available for 4,454 patients, and we obtained PR at baseline in 2,209 patients of 2,248 sustained AF patients. We divided these patients into four groups based on their PR; G1 (PR≥100 bpm, n=249), G2 (80 bpm≤PR<100 bpm, n=821), G3 (60 bpm≤PR<80 bpm, n=986), and G4 (PR<60 bpm, n=153), and examined the relationship between PR and cardiac events (composite of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure (HF)).

Results

Proportion of female and symptomatic AF were more in G1 group, and diastolic blood pressure was higher in G1 group, despite that systolic blood pressure was similar between the four groups. Prevalence of anemia was higher in G1 group, and that of chronic kidney disease was higher in G4 group. Prevalence of HF and left ventricular dysfunction tended to be higher in G1 group but not statistically significant. Beta-blockers and non-dihydropyridine calcium blockers were more often prescribed in G1 group. During the median follow-up of 1,449 days, cardiac events occurred in 399 patients (358 hospitalization for HF and 41 cardiovascular death). In Kaplan-Meier analysis, the incidence of cardiac events were comparable between the four groups (p=0.3). The incidence of all cause death (p=0.06) and stroke or systemic embolism (p=0.4) was also similar between the four groups. The incidence of cardiac events did not differ between the four groups when we divided the patients based on the presence of HF at baseline, and the incidence of cardiac events was also comparable between the four groups after adjusting potential confounders. However, when we examined the impact of PR according to 10 bpm increment, patients with very low PR (<50 bpm) (hazard ratio [95% confidence intervals], 2.22 [1.04–4.15]) and very high PR (≥110 bpm) (hazard ratio [95% confidence intervals], 1.67 [1.00–2.64]) had higher incidence of cardiac events than patients with PR of 70–79 bpm (Figure). Furthermore, we acquired the annual follow-up data of PR. Mean PR during the follow-up periods was not different between patients with cardiac events and those without (with vs without, 79.5±15.3 bpm vs 79.7±12.7 bpm; p=0.8), whereas maximum PR was less in patients with cardiac events (85.2±17.5 bpm vs 89.3±16.2 bpm; p<0.0001). Patients with maximum PR<60 bpm showed higher incidence of cardiac events, and the incidence of cardiac events was the lowest in patients with maximum PR of 80 to 99 bpm (maximum PR<60 bpm: 31.3%, 60–79 bpm: 24.5%, 80–99 bpm: 14.5%, 100 bpm: 16.1%; P<ehz746.03881).

Conclusion

PR did not appear to have strong impact on cardiac events in patients with sustained AF. However, low PR might be a risk for developing cardiac events.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, AMED (15656344, 16768811), Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer Healthcare, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb

P3755Left atrial enlargement as an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke in Japanese atrial fibrillation patients: pooled analysis of five major Japanese atrial fibrillation registries

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of ischemic stroke. It remains unknown whether left atrial diameter determined by routine trans-thoracic echocardiography is a risk factor for ischemic stroke in non-valvular AF (NVAF) patients.

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of left atrial enlargement (LAE) on the incidence of ischemic stroke in a large-scale cohort of Japanese NVAF patients.

Methods

We combined the data of 5 major AF registries in Japan, J-RHYTHM Registry, Fushimi AF Registry, Shinken Database, Keio interhospital Cardiovascular Studies, and Hokuriku AF Registry. After excluding patients without echocardiographic data, 7,672 NVAF patients were analyzed in the present study (mean age, 69.3±12.3 years; mean CHADS2 score, 1.6±1.3). We compared clinical characteristics and the incidence of ischemic stroke between NVAF patients with LAE (left atrial diameter >45 mm; LAE group) and those without (non-LAE group).

Results

The mean left atrial diameter was 43.1±8.6 mm, and the LAE group accounted for 40.0% (n=3,066) of the entire cohort. Compared with non-LAE group (60.0%, n=4,606), the LAE group was older (LAE vs. non-LAE; 70.3±12.0 vs. 68.0±12.5, p<0.01), more often non-paroxysmal type (73.7% vs. 32.1%, p<0.01), had higher CHADS2 (1.86±1.34 vs. 1.46±1.29, p<0.01) and CHA2DS2-VASc (3.02±1.83 vs. 2.53±1.78, p<0.01) scores, and more frequently received oral anticoagulant (72.9% vs. 55.0%, p<0.01).

During the median follow-up period of 774.5 days (interquartile range: 567–1466 days), ischemic stroke occurred in 241 patients (131 vs. 110 patients; 1.52 vs. 0.82 per 100 person-years). In Kaplan Meier analysis, LAE was associated with a higher incidence of ischemic stroke (unadjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42–2.36; log rank p<0.01) (Figure). LAE was independently associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke (adjusted HR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.25–2.11; p<0.01) after adjustment by the components of CHADS2 score and the use of oral anticoagulant, on multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis.

Conclusion

In this large-scale cohort of Japanese patients with AF, LAE was an independent predictor of ischemic stroke, suggesting that this simple echocardiographic parameter could refine thromboembolic risk stratification of NVAF patients.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, AMED