Tohoku university school of medicine

The Department of Evidence-based Cardiovascular Medicine was founded in October 2007 to develop clinical evidence in Japanese patients with cardiovascular diseases. We are now conducting four clinical trials as the followings; (1) Chronic heart failure analysis and registry in the Tohoku district 2 (The CHART-2 study), (2) Supplemental benefit of ARB in hypertensive patients with stable heart failure using Olmesartan (The SUPPORT trial), (3) Beneficial effects of cholesterol absorption inhibitor, ezetimibe, on impaired endothelial function in patients with Metabolic syndrome (EZET-trial), and (4) Beneficial effects of erythropoietin on patients with chronic heart failure.

①Hiroaki Shimokawa: 2006 Jeffrey M. Hoeg Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Award for Basic Science and Clinical Research Apr. 29, 2006 Awarded for his outstanding contribution to furthering understanding of the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and the development of novel strategy for coronary artery disease.

②Shiba N, et al. Chronic heart failure in Japan: Implications of the CHART studies. Vascular Health and Risk Management 2008;4:103-113. January, 2008 Review of trials regarding chronic heart failure in Japan

③Tada T, Shiba N, et al. Prognostic value of anemia in predicting sudden death of patients with diastolic heart failure. Int J Cardiol. 2007 Jul 20. [Epub ahead of print] July, 2007 Original article describing the prognostic importance of anemia in CHF patients.

④Shiba N, et al. Prognostic importance of chronic kidney disease in Japanese patients with chronic heart failure. Circ J. 2008;72:173-178. February, 2008 Original article revealing the close relationship between CHF and CKD.

⑤Watanabe J, Shiba N, et al. Prognostic value of plasma brain natriuretic peptide combined with left ventricular dimensions in predicting sudden death of patients with chronic heart failure. J Card Fail. 2005;11:50-55. February, 2005 Original article describing the importance of BNP in CHF patients.

Epidemiology, Megatrial, Prospective cohort study, Randomized controlled trial, Chronic heart failure, Cholesterol absorption inhibitor, Anemia, Sudden death, Metabolic syndrome, Dyslipidemia