Uniform Plane Graphs

This paper presents two special classes of plane graphs characterized by the sequences M(v) and W(e). M(v) is the circular sequence consisting of the numbers of vertices on the meshes around vertex v ; and W(e) is the sequence consisting of the numbers of vertices on the meshes to the right and the left of edge e and also of the degrees of the head and the tail of e. A graph is called uniform with respect to M(v) or W(e) if its vertices all have the same M(v), or if its edges all have the same W(e), respectively. It is shown that if such a uniform plane graph exists for the given M(v) or W(e), the numbers of its vertices, edges and meshes are uniquely determined. Then, the conditions on M(v) or W(e) for the existence of a graph are investigated. Tables of plane graphs which are uniform with respect to M(v) or W(e) are presented. Besides regular polyhedrons, there are thirteen types of graphs which are uniform with respect to M(v), and only four graphs which are uniform with respect to W(e)

Detection and management of cardiomyopathy in female dystrophinopathy carriers

Regular health checkups for mothers of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy have been performed at National Hospital Organization Tokushima Hospital since 1994. Among 43 mothers participated in this study, 28 dystrophinopathy carriers were identified. Skeletal and cardiac muscle functions of these subjects were examined. High serum creatine kinase was found in 23 subjects (82.1%). Obvious muscle weakness was present in 5 (17.8%) and had progressed from 1994 to 2015. Cardiomyopathy was observed in 15 subjects (60.0%), including dilated cardiomyopathy-like damage that was more common in the left ventricular (LV) posterior wall. Late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac MRI was found in 5 of 6 subjects, suggesting fibrotic cardiac muscle. In speckle tracking echocardiography performed seven years later, global longitudinal strain was decreased in these subjects, indicating LV myocardial contractile abnormality. These results suggest that female dystrophinopathy carriers should receive regular checkups for detection and treatment of cardiomyopathy, even if they have no cardiac symptoms

ICTP and vulnerable plaque

Evaluation of atherosclerotic plaques depends on invasive intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS). Carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) is produced by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-dependent digestion of type I collagen. Because vulnerable plaques are rich in type I collagen and MMPs from macrophages, we examined the association between serum ICTP and coronary plaques in patients with coronary disease. We recruited 46 men and 17 women without renal failure or bone diseases affecting serum ICTP, who underwent coronary IVUS. Serum ICTP levels were higher in patients with coronary plaques containing more than 10% necrotic core area than in patients with less than 10% necrotic core area. A positive correlation was found between serum ICTP and necrotic core area. Only serum ICTP was positively correlated with necrotic core area by multivariate analysis (p<0.05). These results suggest that serum ICTP can be used as a non-invasive marker of vulnerable plaques in atherosclerotic patients

マッショウ タンカクキュウ サイボウ オ モチイタ マッショウ ドウミャク ヘイソクショウ ニ タイスル アラタナ ケッカン シンセイ リョウホウ ノ ココロミ

Earlier studies have shown that bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell（BM-MNC）implantation induces therapeutic angiogenesis in patients with peripheral arterial disease（PAD）. However, the invasiveness of bone marrow collection limits clinical application of BM-MNC implantation.We performed peripheral blood-derived mononuclear cell（PB-MNC）implantation in ischemic limbs of five patients with PAD. After implantation, clinical symptoms such as rest pain and numbness were relieved in four patients. Maximal walking distance markedly increased from 160 m to 915 m in one patient. Non-healing ulcers were cured after repeated cell implantation in one patient with Burger disease. There was no adverse event. These findings suggest that PB-MNC implantation is a safe and noninvasive strategy for therapeutic angiogenesis for the treatment of severe PAD