Synthesis of Polythiophen Cluster in Lattice Space of Hexagonal Faujasite

Encapsulation of thiophen and bithiophen in two kinds of hexagonal faujasites (Na-EMT and H-EMT) with various concentration of Cu(2+) ions have been investigated and characterized by means of themoanalytic and spectroscopic methods. From the results, it was found that the progress of polymerization of thiophen and bithiophen in the lattice space depended on Cu(2+) contents, and the encapsulation of thiophen in Na-EMT and H-EMT with Cu(2+) ions yielded polythiophen clusters with electron states of bipolaron. On the other hand, polythiophen clusters synthesized by the encapsulation of bithiophen in H-EMT were found to be mostly polaron states

Arterial Stiffness, Physical Activity, and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Gene Polymorphism in Older Subjects

An increase in arterial stiffness with advancing age is associated with several pathological states, includinghypertension and arteriosclerosis. Regular exercise improves the aging-induced increase in arterial stiffnessand has a protective effect against these diseases. However, not all individuals respond to exerciseto the same extent. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is involved in the regulation of basal blood pressure,blood flow, and vascular tone. The present study was designed to clarify whether gene polymorphisms inANP-related genes affect exercise-induced improvements in arterial stiffness. We performed a cross-sectionalstudy of 291 healthy middle-aged and older Japanese subjects (63±1 years), examining the relationshipbetween daily physical activity–induced improvements in arterial stiffness, estimated by brachial-anklearterial pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and the gene polymorphisms of valine32methionine (V32M: 664G>A)in exon 1 of ANP and asparagine521aspartic acid (N521D: 1780A>G) in exon 8 of the ANP clearance receptor(NPR-C). The baseline baPWV was significantly lower in the active group, but no differences were seen inblood pressure. Active subjects with the ANP-VV genotype had significantly lower baPWV and higherplasma ANP levels compared with inactive subjects, but there were no variations related to the VM+MMgenotype. Additionally, baPWV and plasma ANP levels were negatively correlated in ANP-VV genotypesubjects, but were not correlated in VM+MM individuals. Our results suggest that ANP polymorphismin older Japanese subjects may affect the cardiovascular response to regular exercise

Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation in Acute Myocardial Infarction

[Background] It remains controversial whether long‐term clinical impact of newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) in the acute phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is different from that of prior AF diagnosed before the onset of AMI. [Methods and Results] The current study population from the CREDO‐Kyoto AMI (Coronary Revascularization Demonstrating Outcome Study in Kyoto Acute Myocardial Infarction) Registry Wave‐2 consisted of 6228 patients with AMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. The baseline characteristics and long‐term clinical outcomes were compared according to AF status (newly diagnosed AF: N=489 [7.9%], prior AF: N=589 [9.5%], and no AF: N=5150 [82.7%]). Median follow‐up duration was 5.5 years. Patients with newly diagnosed AF and prior AF had similar baseline characteristics with higher risk profile than those with no AF including older age and more comorbidities. The cumulative 5‐year incidence of all‐cause death was higher in newly diagnosed AF and prior AF than no AF (38.8%, 40.7%, and 18.7%, P<0.001). The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality of newly diagnosed AF and prior AF relative to no AF remained significant with similar magnitude (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.12–1.54; P<0.001, and HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.14–1.52; P<0.001, respectively). The cumulative 5‐year incidence of stroke decreased in the order of newly diagnosed AF, prior AF and no AF (15.5%, 12.9%, and 6.3%, respectively, P<0.001). The higher adjusted HRs of both newly diagnosed AF and prior AF relative to no AF were significant for stroke, with a greater risk of newly diagnosed AF than that of prior AF (HR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.56–2.69; P<0.001, and HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.00–1.78; P=0.048, respectively). The higher stroke risk of newly diagnosed AF compared with prior AF was largely driven by the greater risk within 30 days. The higher adjusted HRs of newly diagnosed AF and prior AF relative to no AF were significant for heart failure hospitalization (HR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.35–2.22; P<0.001, and HR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.82–2.74; P<0.001, respectively) and major bleeding (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.23–1.73; P<0.001, and HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.15–1.60; P<0.001, respectively). [Conclusions] Newly diagnosed AF in AMI had risks for mortality, heart failure hospitalization, and major bleeding higher than no AF, and comparable to prior AF. The risk of newly diagnosed AF for stroke might be higher than that of prior AF

Effect of Heart Failure on Long‐Term Clinical Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients With Severe Coronary Artery Disease

[Background] Heart failure might be an important determinant in choosing coronary revascularization modalities. There was no previous study evaluating the effect of heart failure on long‐term clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) relative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). [Methods and Results] Among 14 867 consecutive patients undergoing first coronary revascularization with PCI or isolated CABG between January 2011 and December 2013 in the CREDO‐Kyoto PCI/CABG registry Cohort‐3, we identified the current study population of 3380 patients with three‐vessel or left main coronary artery disease, and compared clinical outcomes between PCI and CABG stratified by the subgroup based on the status of heart failure. There were 827 patients with heart failure (PCI: N=511, and CABG: N=316), and 2553 patients without heart failure (PCI: N=1619, and CABG: N=934). In patients with heart failure, the PCI group compared with the CABG group more often had advanced age, severe frailty, acute and severe heart failure, and elevated inflammatory markers. During a median 5.9 years of follow‐up, there was a significant interaction between heart failure and the mortality risk of PCI relative to CABG (interaction P=0.009), with excess mortality risk of PCI relative to CABG in patients with heart failure (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.28–2.42; P<0.001) and no excess mortality risk in patients without heart failure (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.80–1.34; P=0.77). [Conclusions] There was a significant interaction between heart failure and the mortality risk of PCI relative to CABG with excess risk in patients with heart failure and neutral risk in patients without heart failure

Development of a New Bioartificial Liver Support System Using a Radial-flow Bioreactor

There is an increasing number of patients with severe liver disease that requires whole organ transplantation or living-related split liver transplantation. This has resulted in a shortage of donor organs, which is particularly problematic and still awaits resolution. Bioartificial liver (BAL) support systems have been developed with the aim of supporting patients with life-threatening liver disease until their liver recovers. Here, we describe a high performance three-dimensional rat hepatocyte culture system using a radial-flow bioreactor (RFB) with a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) membrane as a small-scale BAL support system. Hepatocytes from male Sprague-Dawley rat livers were isolated and divided into two groups as follows. Group A: isolated hepatocytes were maintained in culture medium as controls; and group B: isolated hepatocytes were injected into the medium chamber of the RFB-PVA culture system. Sampling was carried out every 48 h to analyze the concentrations of ammonia and albumin in the medium. Light and electron microscopic examination of hepatocytes explanted from the PVA membrane was also performed. Albumin production and urea synthesis by cells in group B were both significantly higher than in group A. Hematoxylin-Eosin staining of the cells in group B showed that three-dimensional cell masses were attached to the PVA membrane. It also showed that the cells were stably proliferating in the porous spaces of the PVA. Scanning electron microscopic images of group B also showed clusters of hepatocytes attached to the PVA membrane. Hepatocyte clusters growing in the RFB-PVA culture system retained their biological function and were stable in the porous spaces of the PVA membrane. This cell culture system may be useful for the development of new BAL support systems