Hiroaki Shimokawa

TL;DR: Vulnerable plaques that are likely to rupture or erode have evidence of inflammation, together with thin fibrous caps and large lipid cores, and the platelet-rich thrombus, developed in association with pro-coagulant-vulnerable blood, can release vasoconstrictor substances such as serotonin and thromboxane A2 that may induce vasoconSTriction at the site of plaque rupture or in the …

TL;DR: It is concluded that the beating myocardium counteracts myogenic tone by releasing transferable vaso active signals that affect the endothelium and the vascular smooth muscle, and that the signals are solely mediated by the activation of K(ATP) channels, unlike the rapid pacing-induced vasoactive factors.

TL;DR: Clinical value of combination therapy with RAAS inhibitors and β-blocker is not well established in HF with preserved EF (HFpEF), and the heterogeneity of diagnostic criteria and baseline characteristics of HFpEF need further evidence for the combination therapy.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors briefly summarise the recent advances in the understanding of pathophysiology and diagnosis of epicardial coronary artery spasm and coronary microvascular dysfunction.