The Results of a New Distal Protection Method in Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion of the Superficial Femoral Artery

Aims. To determine the efficacy of a new distal protection method in SFA CTO interventions. Methods and Results. From June 2003 to February 2009, ninety-two consecutive, chronic total occlusions of superficial femoral arteries were treated with catheter-based intervention using a bidirectional approach. Nine of these cases were managed with our original, distal protection method, based on symptoms, angiographic images, wire resistance, and intravascular ultrasound images. The average age was 73 years; eight patients were male. The mean occlusion length was 17.1 cm. A distal protection balloon was inserted from the retrograde sheath in the popliteal artery and placed distal to the occluded lesion after successful wire crossing. Lesion dilatation with a balloon was performed antegradely and debris was removed by 6Fr. guiding catheter. Debris was retrieved from all lesions, consisting mainly of thrombus. Where we decided not to use the distal protection method, there was no distal thromboembolism. Conclusion. In SFA-CTO intervention, the risk of distal embolization is 10%, which can be anticipated and eliminated by the distal protection method

Przezskórna ablacja opornego na farmakologiczne leczenie ustawicznego migotania komór w przebiegu ostrego incydentu wieńcowego

Mężczyznę w wieku 77 lat przyjęto do szpitala z powodu ostrego incydentu wieńcowego, ciężkiej niewydolności serca oraz nawracających epizodów migotania komór. Pojedyncze przedwczesne skurcze komorowe wywoływały częstoskurcz komorowy, który powtarzalnie przechodził w migotanie komór. W wyniku zastosowania ablacji tylno-przegrodowej części lewej komory, gdzie poprzednio rejestrowano podwójne potencjały pochodzące z włókien Purkinjego, wyeliminowano dodatkowe przedwczesne skurcze komorowe. Po zabiegu ustąpiły objawy „burzy elektrycznej” serca, a podczas wykonywanej po ablacji programowanej stymulacji komór nie wywołano żadnej tachyarytmii. Dodatkowe przedwczesne skurcze komorowe stały się mechanizmem wyzwalającym, a zarazem również substratem dla powstania częstoskurczu komorowego oraz migotania komór w przebiegu ostrego incydentu wieńcowego współistniejącego z niewydolnością serca. (Folia Cardiologica Excerpta 2006; 1: 492-496

Genomic regions involved in yield potential detected by genome-wide association analysis in Japanese high-yielding rice cultivars

BACKGROUND: High-yielding cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.) have been developed in Japan from crosses between overseas indica and domestic japonica cultivars. Recently, next-generation sequencing technology and high-throughput genotyping systems have shown many single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are proving useful for detailed analysis of genome composition. These SNPs can be used in genome-wide association studies to detect candidate genome regions associated with economically important traits. In this study, we used a custom SNP set to identify introgressed chromosomal regions in a set of high-yielding Japanese rice cultivars, and we performed an association study to identify genome regions associated with yield. RESULTS: An informative set of 1152 SNPs was established by screening 14 high-yielding or primary ancestral cultivars for 5760 validated SNPs. Analysis of the population structure of high-yielding cultivars showed three genome types: japonica-type, indica-type and a mixture of the two. SNP allele frequencies showed several regions derived predominantly from one of the two parental genome types. Distinct regions skewed for the presence of parental alleles were observed on chromosomes 1, 2, 7, 8, 11 and 12 (indica) and on chromosomes 1, 2 and 6 (japonica). A possible relationship between these introgressed regions and six yield traits (blast susceptibility, heading date, length of unhusked seeds, number of panicles, surface area of unhusked seeds and 1000-grain weight) was detected in eight genome regions dominated by alleles of one parental origin. Two of these regions were near Ghd7, a heading date locus, and Pi-ta, a blast resistance locus. The allele types (i.e., japonica or indica) of significant SNPs coincided with those previously reported for candidate genes Ghd7 and Pi-ta. CONCLUSIONS: Introgression breeding is an established strategy for the accumulation of QTLs and genes controlling high yield. Our custom SNP set is an effective tool for the identification of introgressed genome regions from a particular genetic background. This study demonstrates that changes in genome structure occurred during artificial selection for high yield, and provides information on several genomic regions associated with yield performance. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-346) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Validation of ozone data from the Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES)

The Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES) onboard the International Space Station provided global measurements of ozone profiles in the middle atmosphere from 12 October 2009 to 21 April 2010. We present validation studies of the SMILES version 2.1 ozone product based on coincidence statistics with satellite observations and outputs of chemistry and transport models (CTMs). Comparisons of the stratospheric ozone with correlative data show agreements that are generally within 10%. In the mesosphere, the agreement is also good and better than 30% even at a high altitude of 73km, and the SMILES measurements with their local time coverage also capture the diurnal variability very well. The recommended altitude range for scientific use is from 16 to 73km. We note that the SMILES ozone values for altitude above 26km are smaller than some of the correlative satellite datasets; conversely the SMILES values in the lower stratosphere tend to be larger than correlative data, particularly in the tropics, with less than 8% difference below similar to 24km. The larger values in the lower stratosphere are probably due to departure of retrieval results between two detection bands at altitudes below 28km; it is similar to 3% at 24km and is increasing rapidly down below

オオムギ ノ ニコチアナミンゴウセイコウソイデンシ ヲ イカクソクトクイテキプロモーター ト トモ ニ ドウニュウ シタ ケイシツテンカンタバコ ノ カイセキ

ニコチアナミン合成酵素をタバコの維管束で特に発現させるために,シロイヌナズナのキシラナーゼ遺伝子(AtXyn1)のプロモーター-オメガ配列-オオムギのニコチアナミン合成酵素遺伝子(hvnas1)の翻訳領域をつないだものをタバコに導入した。ニコチアナミンの蓄積量は形質転換タバコの特に若い葉で増加した。これら形質転換体のニッケル耐性はベクターのみで形質転換したものよりわずかに高かった。ニコチアナミン含量にかかわらず,hvnas1を導入したタバコの地上部全体の鉄含量は通常の栽培条件でベクターのみのものに比べて増加した。In order to express nicotianamine (NA) synthase in tobacco plants, particularly in their vascular bundles, we introduced the AtXyn1 promoter : : Ω-hvnas1 open reading frame cassette into tobacco plants. The accumulation of NA was increased, particularly in the young leaves of transgenic tobacco plants. The Ni tolerance of these plants was slightly higher than that of vector control plants. The Fe content of the whole shoots of the AtXyn1 promoter : : Ω-hvnas1 transgenic tobacco plants increased under normal conditions regardless of NA contents, compared with the vector control plants

Demonstration of a hidden interaction between the aortomitral continuity and the conduction system in a case of idiopathic left ventricular outflow tract ventricular tachycardia

We describe a case of idiopathic left ventricular outflow ventricular tachycardia. Monomorphic ventricular arrhythmia (VA) with a right bundle branch block morphology and an inferior axis was induced through exercise or isoproterenol infusion. During VA bigeminy, a spiked presystolic potential (PP) preceding the VA with a qrS pattern in the unipolar electrogram was recorded at the aortomitral continuity (AMC). Radiofrequency catheter ablation eliminated the VA despite the persistence of sinus-PP bigeminy. Furthermore, these PP rates were dependent on the preceding sinus rhythm rates. The present case suggests a hidden interaction between the AMC and the conduction system

Rehabilitation strategy for hip fracture, focused on behavioral psychological symptoms of dementia for older people with cognitive impairment: A nationwide Japan rehabilitation database.

The aim is to investigate the relationship between a positive outcome on rehabilitation after hip fracture and behavioral psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) transition during rehabilitation. This study is a retrospective cohort study based on the Japan Rehabilitation Database. We recruited 756 subjects 65 years of age or older from 31 hospitals in the database. All subjects were in the hospital as patients undergoing rehabilitation for hip fracture. Functional independence measure (FIM), walking ability, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and BPSD were measured both at the beginning and at the end of rehabilitation. MMSE for 23 or under was defined as the cognitive-impaired group. MMSE for 24 or over was used as the cognitively intact group. Cognitive impaired participants were divided into four groups: participants presented no BPSD both at the beginning of rehabilitation and at the end of rehabilitation (Group (-/-)), participants presented BPSD at the beginning of rehabilitation but resolved at the end of rehabilitation (Group (+/-)), participants had no BPSD at the beginning of rehabilitation but appeared at the end of rehabilitation (Group (-/+)) and participants had sign of BPSD both at the beginning of rehabilitation and at the end of rehabilitation (Group (+/+)). The endpoints were waking ability, FIM gain. As results, one hundred thirty-seven cognitive-impaired older people patients out of 471 (29.1%) suffered from BPSD at the beginning of rehabilitation. FIM gains in cognitively intact group, Group (-/-), Group (+/-), Group (-/+) and Group (+/+) were 24.8 ± 18.7, 17.5 ± 16.9, 27.3 ± 19.7, 17.8 ± 12.2 and 12.2 ± 17.2, respectively. The Group (+/-) was significantly connected to a positive outcome for rehabilitation. The present study suggested that the management of BPSD can lead to better functional recovery during rehabilitation

Mechanism of the drug interaction between valproic acid and carbapenem antibiotics in monkeys and rats. Drug Metab Dispos 32:1383–1391.

ABSTRACT: The Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan banned coadministration of carbapenems, such as panipenem/betamipron (PAPM), meropenem (MEPM), and valproic acid (VPA) because clinical reports have indicated that the coadministration caused seizures in epileptic patients due to lowered plasma levels of VPA. In this study, we have clarified the mechanism of the drug-drug interaction using PAPM In vitro experiments using monkey liver slices suggested that the apparent synthetic rate of VPA glucuronide (VPA-G) increased in the presence of carbapenems. However, no such increase was observed in the experiment using monkey liver microsomes. Although no increase of uridine 5-diphosphate Dglucuronic acid was found in monkey liver slices in the presence of carbapenems, potent inhibitory activity of carbapenems for the hydrolysis of VPA-G was found in monkey and rat liver homogenate. In vivo hydrolysis of VPA-G was clearly shown by the existence of VPA in plasma after dosing of VPA-G to rats, and its inhibition by carbapenems was also clearly shown by the negligible levels of VPA in rat plasma after coadministration of carbapenems and VPA-G. These results clearly indicate one of the important causes of drug interaction as follows: carbapenems would inhibit the hydrolytic enzyme, which is involved in the hydrolysis of VPA-G to VPA, resulting in a decrease of plasma concentration of VPA. The increased incidence of convulsions or epileptic fits due to interaction between carbapenem antibiotics, such as panipenem/betamipron (PAPM) and meropenem (MEPM), and the antiepileptic valproic acid (VPA) was first reported clinically in 1997 Materials and Methods Chemicals. VPA (sodium valproate) was supplied by Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO). [Carbonyl-14 C]-VPA (55 mCi/mmol, 99% pure by thin-layer chromatography) was supplied by Muromachi Chemical Co. (Tokyo, Japan). Doripenem (S-4661) was synthesized by Shionogi Research Laboratories. PAPM was supplied by Sankyo Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan). MEPM was supplied by Sumitomo Pharmaceutical Co. (Osaka, Japan). All other chemicals were of analytical grade. 14 C-VPA-G was extracted with methanol from SEP-PAK C18 in which urine and bile, obtained after intravenous administration of 14 C-VPA to rats, were applied, and the methanol extract was condensed and applied to a TLC plate. The TLC plate was developed with the solvent mixture of ethyl acetate/acetic acid/water (4:1:1). The 14 C-VPA-G fraction on the TLC plate, visualized by radioluminography using BAS 2000 (Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), was scrapped and extracted with methanol, and then used as substrate. Animals. Male and female cynomolgus monkeys were purchased from Keary Japan Co., (Wakayama, Japan), CLEA Japan, Inc., (Osaka, Japan), and Japan SLC, Inc. (Shiguoka, Japan) and raised at Shionogi Laboratories. Male monkeys used were 4 to 5 years old (weight, 5.4ϳ6.6 kg) and female monkeys used were 10 to 17 years old (weight, 3.0ϳ4.2 kg). Male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks old) were purchased from CLEA Japan, Inc. and raised at Shionogi Laboratories, and then were used at 8 to 9 weeks of age (weight, 275ϳ366 g)