The present study shows that plasma BNP levels reflect left ventricular EDWS more than any other parameter previously reported, not only in patients with SHF, but also in patients with DHF. The relationship of left ventricular EDWS to plasma BNP may provide a better fundamental understanding of the interindividual heterogeneity in BNP levels and their clinical utility in the diagnosis and management of HF.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small RNAs 21-25 nucleotides in length. Recently, we reported that miRNA 208 (miR-208) is produced exclusively in the rat myocardium and that plasma miR-208 is a biomarker of myocardial injury in rats. In the present study, we assessed the hypothesis that plasma concentrations of myocardial-specific miRNAs can be used to diagnose myocardial injury in humans.

Background-Little is known about the nationwide trend in the survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Japan and the differences in incidence and survival by age group and origin of arrest. Methods and Results-A nationwide, prospective, population-based observation covering the whole population of Japan and involving consecutive OHCA patients with resuscitation attempts was conducted from January 2005 to December 2009. The main outcome measure was 1-month survival with favorable neurological outcome. The nationwide trends in OHCA incidence and outcome by age and origin of arrest were assessed. Multiple logistic regression analysis for bystander-witnessed OHCA was used to adjust for factors that were potentially associated with favorable neurological outcome.

Background-The impact of ongoing efforts to improve the "chain of survival" for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incremental effect of changes in prehospital emergency care on survival after OHCA. Methods and Results-This prospective, population-based observational study involved consecutive patients with OHCA from May 1998 through December 2006. The primary outcome measure was 1-month survival with favorable neurological outcome. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors that were potentially associated with better neurological outcome. Among 42 873 resuscitation-attempted adult OHCAs, 8782 bystander-witnessed arrests of presumed cardiac origin were analyzed. The median time interval from collapse to call for medical help, first cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and first shock shortened from 4 (interquartile range [IQR] 2 to 11) to 2 (IQR 1 to 5) minutes, from 9 (IQR 5 to 13) to 7 (IQR 3 to 11) minutes, and from 19 (IQR 13 to 22) to 9 (IQR 7 to 12) minutes, respectively. Neurologically intact 1-month survival after witnessed ventricular fibrillation increased from 6% (6/96) to 16% (

Background-Previous animal and clinical studies suggest that bystander-initiated cardiac-only resuscitation may be superior to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Our hypothesis was that both cardiac-only bystander resuscitation and conventional bystander CPR would improve outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of Յ15 minutes' duration, whereas the addition of rescue breathing would improve outcomes for cardiac arrests lasting Ͼ15 minutes. Methods and Results-We carried out a prospective, population-based, observational study involving consecutive patients with emergency responder resuscitation attempts from May 1, 1998, through

This study was conducted to assess the determinants of the procedural success and long‐term clinical benefits of percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTCA) of chronic total occlusion (CTO) in recent years. Two hundred and twenty‐six consecutive patients who underwent PTCA of CTO were divided into two groups according to the procedural success (n = 134) or failure (n = 92). Both groups were analyzed in terms of the initial success, predictors of procedural failure, and clinical outcome. The procedural success rate was noted to have improved to more than 70% since 1995. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of calcification, the length of the occlusion and the presence of multivessel disease were independent predictors of procedural failure. Cardiac death and the need for coronary surgery were significantly less frequent in patients with procedural success than in those with procedural failure. In properly selected cases, the success rate of PTCA of CTO is acceptable. Long‐term clinical benefit is suggested by the high rate of freedom from coronary surgery and the low cardiac death rate in the patients who underwent successful revascularization. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 49:258–264, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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In patients with fulminant myocarditis, percutaneous ECMO is a highly effective form of a haemodynamic support. Once a patient recovers from inflammatory myocardial damage, the subsequent clinical outcome is favourable, similar to that observed in patients with acute non-fulminant myocarditis.