Published Papers - Kusunose Kenya

Ghrelin Protects Heart Against Ischemia-Induced Arrhythmias by Preserving Connexin43 Protein

Soeki Takeshi, Niki Toshiyuki, Bando Sachiko, Hisaoka Sahika, Takeuchi Hidekazu, Kusunose Kenya, Yamaguchi Koji, Hirata Yoichiro, Tomita Noriko, Taketani Yoshio, Iwase Takashi, Yamada Hirotsugu, Wakatsuki Tetsuzo, Akaike Masashi, Kangawa Kenji, Sata Masataka

CIRCULATION   122 ( 21 )   2010.11 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

Bosentan ameliorated exercise-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension complicated with systemic sclerosis.

Shusuke Yagi, Masashi Akaike, Takashi Iwase, Kenya Kusunose, Toshiyuki Niki, Koji Yamaguchi, Kunihiko Koshiba, Sumiko Yoshida, Yuka Sumitomo-Ueda, Ken-ichi Aihara, Yoichiro Hirata, Munkhbaatar Dagvasumberel, Yoshio Taketani, Noriko Tomita, Hirotsugu Yamada, Takeshi Soeki, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Toshio Matsumoto, Masataka Sata

Internal Medicine   Vol.49 ( No.21 ) 2309 - 2312   2010.11 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

　View Summary

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a frequent complication in patients with systemic sclerosis. Bosentan is used in patients with symptomatic PAH; however, it has not been established whether or not bosentan ameliorates the progression of PAH in patients with no PAH-related symptoms. We present a case of systemic sclerosis with no PAH-related symptoms in which bosentan ameliorated exercise-induced PAH evaluated by 6-minute walk stress echocardiography, brachial flow-mediated dilation, and skin temperature of hands and feet. The results suggest that administration of bosentan in patients with early-stage PAH ameliorates pulmonary arterial vasodilatation through improvement of endothelial function.

• Access this article

  DOI
• Search related information
  PubMed

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 2-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Secondary Cardiac Amyloidosis

Kenya Kusunose, Hirotsugu Yamada, Takashi Iwase, Susumu Nishio, Noriko Tomita, Toshiyuki Niki, Koji Yamaguchi, Kunihiko Koshiba, Yoshio Taketani, Takeshi Soeki, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Masashi Akaike, Takao Shoichiro, Masafumi Harada, Noriko Kagawa, Eiji Kudo, Masataka Sata

CIRCULATION JOURNAL ( JAPANESE CIRCULATION SOC )  74 ( 7 ) 1494 - 1496   2010.07 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

• Access this article

  DOI
• Search related information
  PubMed

Effects of Additional Administration of Low-Dose Indapamide on Patients With Hypertension Treated With Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker

Hirotsugu Yamada, Yuichiro Mishiro, Kenya Kusunose, Masataka Sata

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS ( SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC )  15 ( 2 ) 145 - 150   2010.06 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

　View Summary

Background: Low-dose thiazide or thiazide-like diuretics have proven useful for the management of blood pressure in patients older than 65 years (elderly group). However, there are few reports about the antihypertensive effects of antihypertensive diuretic agents in patients younger than 65 years (middle-aged group). So, we evaluated the efficacy of low-dose indapamide on blood pressure. Methods: Indapamide(1 mg) was given daily for 3 months and was then given every other day for 3 months to patients whose hypertension was poorly controlled with angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)-based treatment. Results: After daily administration of indapamide, blood pressure was significantly decreased in both the middle-aged and elderly groups. Blood pressure was not significantly changed by every-other-day administration compared with that observed after daily administration in either group. The rate of attainment of the target blood pressure was 90.3% and 85.7% in the middle-aged and elderly groups, respectively. The serum uric acid levels were reduced after every-other-day administration compared to daily administration but tended to be higher than the levels at the baseline in both groups. Conclusions: The addition of low-dose indapamide is a useful strategy for the management of hypertension, as it reduced blood pressure without marked side effects.

• Access this article

  DOI
• Search related information
  PubMed

Congenital ventricular aneurysm as an unexpected complication of monomorphic premature ventricular contractions.

Shusuke Yagi, Masashi Akaike, Mitsunori Fujimura, Takehiko Kimura, Takeshi Nishiuchi, Takashi Iwase, Ken-ichi Aihara, Sumiko Yoshida, Yuka Sumitomo-Ueda, Kenya Kusunose, Toshiyuki Niki, Koji Yamaguchi, Kunihiko Koshiba, Yoichiro Hirata, Munkhbaatar Dagvasumberel, Yoshio Taketani, Noriko Tomita, Hirotsugu Yamada, Takeshi Soeki, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Toshio Matsumoto, Masataka Sata

Internal Medicine   Vol.49 ( No.10 ) 907 - 912   2010.05 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

　View Summary

Congenital ventricular diverticulum (CVD) in adults is a rare cardiac malformation, which includes fibrous type congenital ventricular aneurysm (CVA). CVA is often clinically asymptomatic and shows no abnormality in the electrocardiogram or chest X-ray. However, some cases of sudden death resulting from ventricular tachycardia, cardiac embolism or ventricular rupture have been reported. Therefore, physicians should perform further cardiac imaging studies to detect a CVA if ventricular arrhythmia originating from the left ventricle is observed. Here, we report two successfully followed cases of CVA which were diagnosed from premature ventricular contractions.

• Access this article

  DOI
• Search related information
  PubMed

Ezetimibe ameliorates metabolic disorders and microalbuminuria in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Shusuke Yagi, Masashi Akaike, Ken-ichi Aihara, Takashi Iwase, Kazue Ishikawa, Sumiko Yoshida, Yuka Sumitomo-Ueda, Kenya Kusunose, Toshiyuki Niki, Koji Yamaguchi, Kunihiko Koshiba, Yoichiro Hirata, Munkhbaatar Dagvasumberel, Yoshio Taketani, Noriko Tomita, Hirotsugu Yamada, Takeshi Soeki, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Toshio Matsumoto, Masataka Sata

Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis   Vol.17 ( No.2 ) 173 - 180   2010.02 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

　View Summary

AIM: Ezetimibe, an inhibitor of Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 protein, has been shown to reduce the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. We investigated whether it also has beneficial effects on metabolic disorder and/or renal insufficiency in patients with hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: Ezetimibe was administered to 38 Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia to obtain appropriate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-chol) levels. Age- and sex-matched patients with hypercholesterolemia (n=38) were the controls. We evaluated the effects of ezetimibe before and 4 to 8 weeks after ezetimibe treatment. RESULTS: Ezetimibe significantly decreased LDL-chol levels and metabolic syndrome-related factors, including body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure; homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and urinary albumin excretion, were significantly reduced. In addition, it decreased the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, the urinary excretion of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, a parameter of oxidative stress, and increased the urinary excretion of nitrate and nitrite (NOx). In the controls we observed no such changes. Excepting the decrease in the serum TNF-alpha level, the effects of ezetimibe were not correlated with decreased LDL-chol levels. CONCLUSION: Ezetimibe ameliorated the status of metabolic syndrome and microalbuminuria, reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, and increased nitric oxide bioavailability in a LDL-chol reduction-dependent and -independent manner.

• Access this article

  DOI
• Search related information
  PubMed

Bosentan Ameliorated Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Complicated with Systemic Sclerosis

Shusuke Yagi, Masashi Akaike, Takashi Iwase, Kenya Kusunose, Toshiyuki Niki, Koji Yamaguchi, Kunihiko Koshiba, Sumiko Yoshida, Yuka Sumitomo-Ueda, Ken-ichi Aihara, Yoichiro Hirata, Munkhbaatar Dagvasumberel, Yoshio Taketani, Noriko Tomita, Hirotsugu Yamada, Takeshi Soeki, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Toshio Matsumoto, Masataka Sata

INTERNAL MEDICINE ( JAPAN SOC INTERNAL MEDICINE )  49 ( 21 ) 2309 - 2312   2010 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

　View Summary

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a frequent complication in patients with systemic sclerosis. Bosentan is used in patients with symptomatic PAH; however, it has not been established whether or not bosentan ameliorates the progression of PAH in patients with no PAH-related symptoms. We present a case of systemic sclerosis with no PAH-related symptoms in which bosentan ameliorated exercise-induced PAH evaluated by 6-minute walk stress echocardiography, brachial flow-mediated dilation, and skin temperature of hands and feet. The results suggest that administration of bosentan in patients with early-stage PAH ameliorates pulmonary arterial vasodilatation through improvement of endothelial function.

• Access this article

  DOI
• Search related information
  PubMed

Ezetimibe Ameliorates Metabolic Disorders and Microalbuminuria in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia

Shusuke Yagi, Masashi Akaike, Ken-ichi Aihara, Takashi Iwase, Kazue Ishikawa, Sumiko Yoshida, Yuka Sumitomo-Ueda, Kenya Kusunose, Toshiyuki Niki, Koji Yamaguchi, Kunihiko Koshiba, Yoichiro Hirata, Munkhbaatar Dagvasumberel, Yoshio Taketani, Noriko Tomita, Hirotsugu Yamada, Takeshi Soeki, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Toshio Matsumoto, Masataka Sata

JOURNAL OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND THROMBOSIS ( JAPAN ATHEROSCLEROSIS SOC )  17 ( 2 ) 173 - 180   2010 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

　View Summary

Aim: Ezetimibe, an inhibitor of Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 protein, has been shown to reduce the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. We investigated whether it also has beneficial effects on metabolic disorder and/or renal insufficiency in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Methods: Ezetimibe was administered to 38 Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia to obtain appropriate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-chol) levels. Age-and sex-matched patients with hypercholesterolemia (n = 38) were the controls. We evaluated the effects of ezetimibe before and 4 to 8 weeks after ezetimibe treatment. Results: Ezetimibe significantly decreased LDL-chol levels and metabolic syndrome-related factors, including body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure; homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and urinary albumin excretion, were significantly reduced. In addition, it decreased the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, the urinary excretion of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, a parameter of oxidative stress, and increased the urinary excretion of nitrate and nitrite (NOx). In the controls we observed no such changes. Excepting the decrease in the serum TNF-alpha level, the effects of ezetimibe were not correlated with decreased LDL-chol levels. Conclusion: Ezetimibe ameliorated the status of metabolic syndrome and microalbuminuria, reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, and increased nitric oxide bioavailability in a LDL-chol reduction-dependent and -independent manner.

• Access this article

  DOI
• Search related information
  PubMed

Diagnostic utility of cardiac magnetic resonance for detection of cardiac involvement in female carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Iwase T, Takao S, Akaike M, Adachi K, Sumitomo-Ueda Y, Yagi S, Niki T, Kusunose K, Tomita N, Hirata Y, Yamaguchi K, Koshiba K, Taketani Y, Yamada H, Soeki T, Wakatsuki T, Aihara K, Harada M, Nishitani H, Sata M

Heart Asia   2 ( 1 ) 52 - 55   2010 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

• Access this article

  DOI
• Search related information
  PubMed

Congenital Ventricular Aneurysm as an Unexpected Complication of Monomorphic Premature Ventricular Contractions

Shusuke Yagi, Masashi Akaike, Mitsunori Fujimura, Takehiko Kimura, Takeshi Nishiuchi, Takashi Iwase, Ken-ichi Aihara, Sumiko Yoshida, Yuka Sumitomo-Ueda, Kenya Kusunose, Toshiyuki Niki, Koji Yamaguchi, Kunihiko Koshiba, Yoichiro Hirata, Munkhbaatar Dagvasumberel, Yoshio Taketani, Noriko Tomita, Hirotsugu Yamada, Takeshi Soeki, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Toshio Matsumoto, Masataka Sata

INTERNAL MEDICINE ( JAPAN SOC INTERNAL MEDICINE )  49 ( 10 ) 907 - 912   2010 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

　View Summary

Congenital ventricular diverticulum (CVD) in adults is a rare cardiac malformation, which includes fibrous type congenital ventricular aneurysm (CVA). CVA is often clinically asymptomatic and shows no abnormality in the electrocardiogram or chest X-ray. However, some cases of sudden death resulting from ventricular tachycardia, cardiac embolism or ventricular rupture have been reported. Therefore, physicians should perform further cardiac imaging studies to detect a CVA if ventricular arrhythmia originating from the left ventricle is observed. Here, we report two successfully followed cases of CVA which were diagnosed from premature ventricular contractions.

• Access this article

  DOI
• Search related information
  PubMed

Long-Term Local Inflammatory Response After Coronary Artery Stenting: Bare Metal vs Sirolimus-Eluting vs Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent

Wakatsuki Tetsuzo, Niki Toshiyuki, Kusunose Kenya, Yamaguchi Koji, Koshiba Kunihiko, Yagi Shusuke, Tomita Noriko, Taketani Yoshio, Iwase Takashi, Yamada Hirotsugu, Soeki Takeshi, Akaike Masashi, Sata Masataka

CIRCULATION   120 ( 18 ) S994   2009.11 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

Prognostic Value of Changes in Transmitral Flow Velocity Pattern During Leg Positive Pressure in Mild Heart Failure: A Clinical Application of "Preload Stress Echocardiography"

Yamada Hirotsugu, Kusunose Kenya, Nishio Susumu, Tomita Noriko, Endo Keisuke, Takashima Hiromitsu, Mimura Chihiro, Niki Toshiyuki, Yamaguchi Koji, Koshiba Kunihiko, Taketani Yoshio, Yagi Shusuke, Iwase Takashi, Soeki Takeshi, Wakatsuki Tetsuzo, Akaike Masashi, Sata Masataka

CIRCULATION   120 ( 18 ) S728   2009.11 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

Long-Term Local Inflammatory Response After Coronary Artery Stenting With Drug-Eluting Stent

Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Toshiyuki Niki, Kenya Kusunose, Koji Yamaguchi, Kunihiko Koshiba, Shusuke Yagi, Noriko Tomita, Yoshio Taketani, Takashi Iwase, Hirotsugu Yamada, Takeshi Soeki, Masashi Akaike, Masataka Sata

CIRCULATION ( LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS )  120 ( 18 ) S914 - S914   2009.11 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

Clinical Utility of Single-Beat E/e ' Obtained by Simultaneous Recording of Flow and Tissue Doppler Velocities in Atrial Fibrillation With Preserved Systolic Function

Kenya Kusunose, Hirotsugu Yamada, Susumu Nishio, Noriko Tomita, Toshiyuki Niki, Koji Yamaguchi, Kunihiko Koshiba, Shusuke Yagi, Yoshio Taketani, Takashi Iwase, Takeshi Soeki, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Masashi Akaike, Masataka Sata

JACC-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING ( ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC )  2 ( 10 ) 1147 - 1156   2009.10 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

　View Summary

OBJECTIVES We evaluated the usefulness of the ratio of the early diastolic transmitral flow velocity (E) to the mitral annular velocity (e') calculated from simultaneously recorded E and e' in atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND The ratio of the E to the e' (E/e') has been reported as a useful index even in AF patients. However, E and e' were measured during different beats in the previous studies. METHODS Fifty-six AF patients with preserved systolic function (mean age 66 +/- 11 years) underwent routine echocardiographic study. The E/e' was calculated from the E and e' simultaneously recorded by the dual Doppler echocardiography. A single-beat E/e' was calculated from simultaneously recorded E and e' when the preceding RR interval/pre-preceding RR interval = 1. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were also examined. Twenty-one patients underwent simultaneous pulmonary artery catheterization. RESULTS The single-beat lateral E/e' correlated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) (r = 0.74, p < 0.001). The single-beat lateral E/e' of >= 11 could predict elevated PCWP (>= 15 mm Hg) with a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 90%. The single-beat lateral E/e' also correlated well with the log BNP concentration. The single-beat lateral E/e' of >= 9.2 predicted a plasma BNP level of >= 200 pg/ml with 88% sensitivity and 84% specificity. CONCLUSIONS The single-beat lateral E/e' correlated with plasma BNP level and PCWP in AF patients with preserved systolic function. In addition, the single-beat lateral E/e' (>= 11) was a good predictor of elevated PCWP (>= 15 mm Hg). Dual Doppler echocardiography offers an advantage of providing the single-beat lateral E/e' correctly even in AF patients, for the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function. (J Am Coll Cardiol Img 2009; 2: 1147-56) (C) 2009 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation

• Access this article

  DOI
• Search related information
  PubMed

Bosentan, an Endothelin Receptor Antagonist, Improves Systemic Sclerosis-Related Peripheral Circulation Insufficiency Through Regulation of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Nitric Oxide Bioavailability

Yagi Shusuke, Akaike Masashi, Iwase Takashi, Aihara Ken-ichi, Yoshida Sumiko, Sumitomo-Ueda Yuka, Kusunose Kenya, Niki Toshiyuki, Yamaguchi Koji, Koshiba Kunihiko, Taketani Yoshio, Tomita Noriko, Yamada Hirotsugu, Soeki Takeshi, Wakatsuki Tetsuzo, Matsumoto Toshio, Sata Masataka

ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY   29 ( 7 ) E49 - E50   2009.07 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

Change of Tricuspid Annular Velocity Pro. le by the Treatment of Left-sided Heart Failure With Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension Determined by Pulsed Tissue Doppler Imaging

Nishio Susumu, Yamada Hirotsugu, Kusunose Kenya, Tomita Noriko, Niki Toshiyuki, Yamaguchi Koji, Koshiba Kunihiko, Yagi Shusuke, Iwase Takashi, Soeki Takeshi, Wakatsuki Tetsuzo, Akaike Masashi, Sata Masataka

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY   53 ( 10 ) A236   2009.03 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

The Mitral L-Wave Predicts Adverse Response to Volume Overloading in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Yamada Hirotsugu, Kusunose Kenya, Nishio Susumu, Tomita Noriko, Niki Toshiyuki, Yamaguchi Koji, Koshiba Kunihiko, Yagi Shusuke, Iwase Takashi, Soeki Takeshi, Wakatsuki Tetsuzo, Akaike Masashi, Sata Masataka

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY   53 ( 10 ) A235   2009.03 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome Associated with Patent Foramen Ovale and Aortic Ectasia

Kenya Kusunose, Hirotsugu Yamada, Takashi Todoroki, Susumu Nishio, Toshiyuki Niki, Koji Yamaguchi, Kunihiko Koshiba, Shusuke Yagi, Takashi Iwase, Takeshi Soeki, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Masashi Akaike, Tetsuya Kitagawa, Masataka Sata

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY-A JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ULTRASOUND AND ALLIED TECHNIQUES ( WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC )  26 ( 1 ) 114 - 117   2009.01 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

　View Summary

A 59-year-old man was admitted for dyspnea on exertion and edema. The patient did not have any pulmonary diseases that could cause dyspnea. Transesophageal echocardiography on the tilting bed with contrast infusion revealed a right-to-left shunt through the patent foramen ovale. Therefore, he was diagosed as platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome due to the patent foramen ovale. Surgical closure was done and all of his symptoms had improved. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 26, January 2009).

• Access this article

  DOI
• Search related information
  PubMed

ENHANCED MACROPHAGE INFILTRATION IN EPICARDIAL ADIPOSE TISSUE IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE.

Hirata Yoichiro, Niki Toshiyuki, Kusunose Kenya, Yamaguchi Koji, Yagi Shusuke, Koshiba Kunihiko, Iwase Takashi, Yamada Hirotsugu, Soeki Takeshi, Wakatsuki Tetsuzo, Akaike Masashi, Kurobe Hirotsugu, Chikugo Humio, Hori Takaki, Kitagawa Tetsuya, Sata Masataka

JOURNAL OF VASCULAR RESEARCH   46   166   2009 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

Local Hypercoagulability and Endothelial Dysfunction after Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation: Implication for Late Stent Thrombosis

Koji Yamaguchi, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Toshlyuki Niki, Kenya Kusunose, Kunihiko Koshiba, Syusuke Yagi, Takashi Iwase, Hirotsugu Yamada, Takeshi Soeki, Masashi Akaike, Masataka Sata

CIRCULATION ( LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS )  118 ( 18 ) S651 - S651   2008.10 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (bulletin of university, research institution)