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Optimal antithrombotic strategy for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been under debate. The actual prescription trend of antithrombotic therapy for these patients remains unclear, especially in chronic phase.Patients with AF having at least a 1-year history of PCI were retrospectively evaluated in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016. A total of 266 patients were finally enrolled in this study. The proportion of patients prescribed with oral anticoagulants (OACs) gradually increased over the study period (56%, 67%, 73%, and 74% in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016, respectively). According to the type of OACs, the proportion of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), launched in 2011, increased compared with warfarin (DOAC versus warfarin = 3% versus 64% in 2012, 24% versus 49% in 2014, and 32% versus 42% in 2016). Single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) with OAC was the most popular prescription every year, and its proportion increased over the study period (41%, 44%, 55%, and 59%, respectively). The proportion of OAC monotherapy gradually increased (2%, 3%, 8%, and 9%, respectively), whereas that of triple therapy, i.e., dual antiplatelet therapy with OAC, gradually decreased (14%, 22%, 8%, and 5% in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016, respectively).Antithrombotic therapy trends for AF patients with a history of PCI were changing every year. The prescription rate of triple therapy gradually decreased, in contrast, that of OAC monotherapy gradually increased from 2010 to 2016. However, the evidence for OAC monotherapy in these patients remains insufficient.

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Propolis is a natural product collected from several plants by honeybees and mixed with beeswax and salivary enzymes. In animal models, propolis suppressed IgE-mediated allergies. However, there is no clinical evidence that propolis prevents human atopic sensitization, to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess whether propolis supplementation for lactating women increases or decreases the level of total IgE and antigen-specific IgE in the serum of their offspring (i.e., atopic sensitization) at the time of their first birthday. In addition, whether propolis supplementation improves or worsens nonspecific symptoms (e.g., eczema) in the lactating women and their offspring was also investigated. This trial is registered with UMIN000020794. Eligible pairs of mothers and their offspring (n=80) were randomized to two groups: propolis (n=40) and placebo (n=40). Participants were evaluated every month, and 31 (78%) of the propolis group and 23 (58%) of the placebo group underwent blood tests at the first birthday of the offspring. Total IgE ≥ 10 UA/ml was seen in 26 (84%) infants whose mothers were given propolis, which was not significantly different from the 19 (86%) given placebo (P=0.80). Total IgE as a continuous variable was not significantly different between the propolis and placebo groups (P=0.70). Antigen-specific IgE levels for mites, egg white, cow's milk, and wheat, as both dichotomous and continuous variables, were not significantly different between the two groups. Both in mothers and their offspring, there were no significant differences in the subjective improvements of nonspecific symptoms between the two groups. Except for one mother who had transient and mild nausea, none of the other mothers or their offspring developed severe adverse events during the follow-up period. In conclusion, compared with placebo, Brazilian propolis supplementation did not influence the risk of atopic sensitization in infants and neither did it improve nor worsen nonspecific symptoms in either mothers or their infants.

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BACKGROUND: Although remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is shown to preserve kidney function in patients at high risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), the effect in patients at low-moderate risk remains unknown. The preventive effects of RIPC in patients not at high risk of CI-AKI were examined, and biomarkers with anticipated roles in renal protection via RIPC investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty patients who had moderate chronic kidney disease and who underwent angiography were randomly assigned to the control (n=30) or RIPC (intermittent arm ischemia, n=30) group. The baseline characteristics in the 2 groups did not differ significantly. CI-AKI was evaluated by measuring urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP). Biomarkers were measured before and 24 and 48 h after angiography. Twenty-four hours after angiography, the percent change in urinary L-FABP level in the RIPC group was significantly smaller than in the control group (41.3±15.6 vs. 159±34.1%, P=0.003). L-FABP-based CI-AKI developed in 8 control patients (26.9%) vs. only 2 patients in the RIPC group (7.7%), suggesting that RIPC prevents CI-AKI. Factors contributing to CI-AKI were analyzed. Neither high-sensitivity C-reactive protein nor pentraxine-3 level differed significantly between the 2 groups, while the percent change in asymmetrical dimethy larginine (ADMA) level and blood derivatives of reactive oxidative metabolite levels were significantly smaller in the RIPC group. CONCLUSIONS: RIPC alleviates CI-AKI in patients at low-moderate risk. This effect might be mediated partly by decreasing oxidative stress and plasma ADMA level.

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BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate whether short-duration adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy improves cardiac function in heart failure (HF) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive HF patients (n=86) were divided into 3 groups: group A, ASV for a mean of ≥4 h; group B, ASV for ≥1 to <4 h per day; and group C, no ASV or ASV <1 h. The frequency of ASV use did not significantly differ between groups A (79.3±19.2%) and B (70.9±17.4%). After 6 months, a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), significant decrease in plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and decrease in LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) were observed in groups A (LVEF, 5.0±8.1%; BNP, -24.9±33.7%; LVEDV, -6.2±10.1%) and B (LVEF, 3.5±5.5%; BNP, -16.5±24.6%; LVEDV, -5.1±8.2%) as compared with group C (LVEF, -1.5±6.0%, P=0.004, P=0.017; BNP, 2.8±10.2%, P=0.002, P=0.017; LVEDV, 0.8±9.1%, P=0.031, P=0.043). Significant correlation was seen between the total ASV time and changes of LVEF (r=0.369, P=0.002), BNP (r=-0.445, P<0.001), and LVEDV (r=-0.374, P=0.001). Admission rate was lower in groups A (4.1%) and B (7.1%) than in group C (25%, log-rank test; P=0.042, P=0.045). Multivariate analysis showed that the frequency of ASV use was a strong parameter for the improvement of LVEF (coefficient=0.284, standard error=0.035, P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Even a short-duration of ASV therapy may improve cardiac function in HF patients.

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BACKGROUND: Impaired cardiac function and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) are associated with progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in heart failure (HF) patients. Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy improves cardiac function in HF patients regardless of the SDB severity through hemodynamic support and prevention of repetitive hypoxic stress. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that ASV therapy improves renal function in HF patients with SDB. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 59 consecutively enrolled HF patients, 43 with moderate-to-severe SDB underwent ASV therapy. HF patients were divided into the ASV-treated group (n = 27) and the non-ASV-treated group (n = 16). Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), echocardiographic parameters, and inflammatory biomarkers were measured before and 12 months after ASV initiation. Improvement in the eGFR was found in the ASV-treated group, but not in the non-ASV-treated group. There was a positive correlation between the increases in eGFR and left ventricular ejection fraction (r = 0.488, p = 0.001). The changes in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were negatively correlated with change in the eGFR (r = -0.416, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: ASV therapy could improve renal dysfunction in HF patients through hemodynamic support. Additionally, prevention of SDB with the use of ASV therapy could exert anti-inflammatory effects, which could contribute to the improvement of renal function in HF patients.

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BACKGROUND: This study tested the hypothesis that adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy improves the prognosis of heart failure (HF) patients, regardless of the severity of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). METHODS AND RESULTS: 88 consecutive patients were divided into 4 groups based on ASV therapy and SDB severity. The incidence of HF, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were followed for 12 months. Fewer HF events, together with an increase in LVEF and a decrease in BNP, occurred in ASV-treated patients with both non-to-mild and moderate-to-severe SDB. CONCLUSIONS: ASV therapy improves the short-term prognosis in HF-patients, regardless SDB severity.

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