graduate image

E-brochureMedicine (Cardiovascular)

Master's Program Human Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine
Doctor's Program Medical Science Division, Department of Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Science and Technology

Staff List

Professor KUWAHARA Koichiro
Associate Professor MOTOKI Hirohiko, OKADA Ayako, EBISAWA Soichiro
Senior Assistant Professor SAIGUSA Tatsuya
Assistant Professor KATO Tamon, YOSHIE Koji, MINAMISAWA Masatoshi,
OKANO Takahiro, UEKI Yasushi

Summary of Activity

Cardiovascular medicine is a department treating cardiac and vascular diseases. The heart is an organ that directly connects to life. Therefore, we have to demonstrate our performance in emergent cases. The research area is divided into the following areas: heart failure, arrhythmia, ischemic heart and lower limb disease, and cardiovascular regeneration. With pursuing better cardiovascular disease treatment for the coming super-aging society, we also aim for research on cardiovascular regeneration, which is a dream of human being.

Research Subject

  • ・ Registry research on heart failure in elderly in Nagano prefecture
  • ・ Research for remote monitoring of using cardiovascular implantable electronic devices
  • ・ Registry research on coronary artery diseases in Nagano prefecture
  • ・ Clinical research on the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure patients
  • ・ Molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of heart failure

Outlook for Research

Although, the burden of cardiovascular diseases is increasing due to the aging society, the clinical practice for the elderly is not established in many points. We will uncover these unclear points in both clinical and basic research. While the above research themes are parts of this course, we aim to disseminate research results that will guide future clinical practice.

Major Publications

1. Inazumi H, Kuwahara K, Nakagawa Y, Kuwabara Y, Numaga-Tomita T, Kashihara T, Nakada T, Kurebayashi N, Oya M, Nonaka M, Sugihara M, Kinoshita H, Moriuchi K, Yanagisawa H, Nishikimi T, Motoki H, Yamada M, Morimoto S, Otsu K, Mortensen RM, Nakao K, Kimura T. NRSF-GNAO1 Pathway Contributes to the Regulation of Cardiac Ca2+ Homeostasis. Circ Res. 2021 Online ahead of print.PMID: 34875852

2. Itagaki T, Motoki H, Otagiri K, Machida K, Takeuchi T, Kanai M, Kimura K, Higuchi S, Minamisawa M, Kitabayashi H, Kuwahara K. Inflammation-based assessment for the risk stratification of mortality in patients with heart failure. Sci Rep. 2021 Jul 22;11(1):14989.

3. Kuwahara K. The natriuretic peptide system in heart failure: Diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Pharmacol Ther. 2021 Nov;227:107863.

4. Suzuki S, Motoki H, Kanzaki Y, Maruyama T, Hashizume N, Kozuka A, Yahikozawa K, Kuwahara K. Prognostic impact of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. ESC Heart Fail. 2020 Oct;7(5):2752-2761.

5. Motoki H, Masuda I, Yasuno S, Oba K, Shoin W, Usami S, Saito Y, Waki M, Komatsu M, Ueshima K, Nakagawa Y, Son C, Yonemitsu S, Hiramitsu S, Konda M, Onishi K, Kuwahara K. Rationale and Design of the EMPYREAN Study: Investigation on the Effect of Empagliflozin on Cardiac Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nerve Activity in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. ESC Heart Failure. 2020 Jun 23;7(5): 3134-3141.

6. Motoki H, Nishimura M, Kanai M, Kimura K, Minamisawa M, Yamamoto S, Saigusa T, Ebisawa S, Okada A, Kuwahara K. Impact of inpatient cardiac rehabilitation on Barthel Index score and prognosis in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Int J Cardiol. 2019 Oct 15;293:125-130.

7. An J, Naruse TK, Hinohara K, Soejima Y, Sawabe M, Nakagawa Y, Kuwahara K, Kimura A. MRTF-A regulates proliferation and survival properties of pro-atherogenic macrophages. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2019 Aug; 133:26-35.

8. Minamisawa M, Koyama J, Kozuka A, Miura T, Saigusa T, Ebisawa S, Motoki H, Okada A, Ikeda U, Kuwahara K. Duration of myocardial early systolic lengthening for diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Open Heart. 2018 Dec 4;5(2):e000896.

9. Nishimura A, Shimauchi T, Tanaka T, Shimoda K, Toyama T, Kitajima N, Ishikawa T, Shindo N, Numaga-Tomita T, Yasuda S, Sato Y, Kuwahara K, Kumagai Y, Akaike T, Ide T, Ojida A, Mori Y, Nishida M. Hypoxia-induced interaction of filamin with Drp1 causes mitochondrial hyperfission-associated myocardial senescence. Sci Signal. 2018 Nov 13;11(556): eaat5185

10. Miura T, Miyashita Y, Soga Y, Hozawa K, Doijiri T, Ikeda U, Kuwahara K. .Drug-Eluting versus Bare-Metal Stent Implantation with or without Cilostazol in the Treatment of the Superficial Femoral Artery The DEBATE in SFAStudy. Circ Cardiovasc Interv 2018 Aug;11(8):e006564.

GRADUATE
  • Join us in Shinshu Med. School, NAGANO
  • Short-term Elective Training for Foreign Medical Students
  • Shinshu University
  • GET Global Education Center
  • List of Universities with Partnership Agreements