Study of the factors related to atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting: A search for a marker to predict the occurrence of atrial fibrillation before surgical intervention

ObjectiveAtrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery is a frequent complication. In this study we studied various factors in addition to trying to identify a marker that would predict the potential for atrial fibrillation before surgical intervention to prevent its occurrence.MethodsWe targeted 234 cases in which isolated coronary artery bypass grafting had been performed. The items for study included age, EuroSCORE, and maximum values of creatine phosphokinase–MB, troponin I, and angiotensin II after surgical intervention and preoperative values of atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, and C-reactive protein. As fibrotic markers, we measured levels of the sialylated carbohydrate antigen KL-6 in the blood, hyaluronic acid, and pyridinoline cross-linked carboxyterminal telepeptide of type I collagen C. At the time of surgical intervention, a section of the right atrium was extracted, and atrial natriuretic peptide, the sialylated carbohydrate antigen KL-6, hyaluronic acid, and pyridinoline cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen levels were measured.ResultsAtrial fibrillation was observed in 73 (31.2%) cases, and preoperative factors that showed statistically significant differences in the occurrence of atrial fibrillation included age, EuroSCORE, and preoperative values of atrial natriuretic peptide, angiotensin II, the sialylated carbohydrate antigen KL-6, hyaluronic acid, and pyridinoline cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen in the blood. As for intraoperative and postoperative factors, statistically significant differences were observed in the postoperative maximum of angiotensin II, atrial natriuretic peptide of the right atrium, the sialylated carbohydrate antigen KL-6, hyaluronic acid, and pyridinoline cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen levels.ConclusionThe fibrosis of tissue associated with age is believed to be closely related to the occurrence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. This study suggests that the preoperative values of atrial natriuretic peptide, angiotensin II, the sialylated carbohydrate antigen KL-6, hyaluronic acid, and pyridinoline cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen in the blood are useful as a new index for the occurrence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting

The Subaru HSC Galaxy Clustering with Photometric Redshift. I. Dark Halo Masses versus Baryonic Properties of Galaxies at 0.3≤z≤ 1.4

We present the clustering properties of low-$z$ $(z\leq1.4)$ galaxies selected by the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program Wide layer over $145$ deg$^{2}$. The wide-field and multi-wavelength observation yields $5,064,770$ galaxies at $0.3\leq z\leq1.4$ with photometric redshifts and physical properties. This enables the accurate measurement of angular correlation functions and subsequent halo occupation distribution (HOD) analysis allows the connection between baryonic properties and dark halo properties. The fraction of less-massive satellite galaxies at $z\lesssim1$ is found to be almost constant at $\sim20\%$, but it gradually decreases beyond $M_{\star} \sim 10^{10.4}h^{-2}M_{\odot}$. However, the abundance of satellite galaxies at $z>1$ is quite small even for less-massive galaxies due to the rarity of massive centrals at high-$z$. This decreasing trend is connected to the small satellite fraction of Lyman break galaxies at $z>3$. The stellar-to-halo mass ratios at $0.3\leq z\leq1.4$ are almost consistent with the predictions obtained using the latest empirical model; however, we identify small excesses from the theoretical model at the massive end. The pivot halo mass is found to be unchanged at $10^{11.9-12.1}h^{-1}M_{\odot}$ at $0.3\leq z\leq1.4$, and we systematically show that $10^{12}h^{-1}M_{\odot}$ is a universal pivot halo mass up to $z\sim5$ that is derived using only the clustering/HOD analyses. Nevertheless, halo masses with peaked instantaneous baryon conversion efficiencies are much smaller than the pivot halo mass regardless of a redshift, and the most efficient stellar-mass assembly is thought to be in progress in $10^{11.0-11.5}h^{-1}M_{\odot}$ dark haloes.Comment: 33 pages, 16 figures, submitted to Ap

Transgenic Mice for Intersectional Targeting of Neural Sensors and Effectors with High Specificity and Performance

SummaryAn increasingly powerful approach for studying brain circuits relies on targeting genetically encoded sensors and effectors to specific cell types. However, current approaches for this are still limited in functionality and specificity. Here we utilize several intersectional strategies to generate multiple transgenic mouse lines expressing high levels of novel genetic tools with high specificity. We developed driver and double reporter mouse lines and viral vectors using the Cre/Flp and Cre/Dre double recombinase systems and established a new, retargetable genomic locus, TIGRE, which allowed the generation of a large set of Cre/tTA-dependent reporter lines expressing fluorescent proteins, genetically encoded calcium, voltage, or glutamate indicators, and optogenetic effectors, all at substantially higher levels than before. High functionality was shown in example mouse lines for GCaMP6, YCX2.60, VSFP Butterfly 1.2, and Jaws. These novel transgenic lines greatly expand the ability to monitor and manipulate neuronal activities with increased specificity.Video Abstrac

Rheumatoid arthritis-like active synovitis with T-cell activation in a case of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease

RATIONALE: Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is a systemic disease with multiple regions of lymphadenopathy and systemic symptoms and associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and collagen diseases. However, few reported have described the coexistence of iMCD and RA and the mechanisms by which iMCD induces arthritis remain elusive. We experienced a rare case of iMCD, wherein the patient exhibited symptoms of polyarthritis with high-grade fever. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 34-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation of a high fever with polyarthritis. The levels of both rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated protein antibody were negative.F-fluorodeoxyglucose/positron emission tomography-computed tomography showed lymphadenopathy with increased fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake. Magnetic resonance imaging and musculoskeletal ultrasonography revealed active synovitis in the hands which was consistent with RA. DIAGNOSES:We diagnosed iMCD based on human herpesvirus 8 negativity, HIV negativity, systemic lymphadenopathy, and pathologic findings of the lymph nodes. The patient did not satisfy the 2010 American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for RA. Cytokine assay showed elevated serum levels of interleukin-17and CXCL10, comparable to those in patients with RA. INTERVENTIONS: We administered 15?mg/d of predonisolone. OUTCOMES:After this treatment, the patient\u27s symptoms showed improvement. As of this writing, we tapered the prednisolone to 7.5?mg/d,and the patient\u27s remission has been maintained for >4 months. LESSONS: The present case suggests that RA-like active synovitis may coexist in iMCD, resulting from aberrant T-cell activation and histologic examination using lymph node biopsy may help enable early diagnosis of iMCD

Synthesis of block copolymers using poly(methyl methacrylate) with unsaturated chain end through kinetic studies

A poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with an unsaturated chain end (PMMA–Y) was used as a macroinitiator in the polymerizations of several monomers to generate block copolymers via addition–fragmentation chain transfer (AFCT). PMMA–Y also worked as a macromonomer to generate branched polymers via propagation. A kinetic study revealed that the occurrence of AFCT and propagation significantly depends on temperature in the styrene polymerization; namely, while propagation was predominant below 60 °C as previously reported, AFCT was predominant at elevated temperatures such as 120 °C as newly revealed in the present work. This new kinetic finding opened up an efficient synthesis of block copolymers of PMMA with polystyrene at an elevated temperature. AFCT was also predominant over propagation in the polymerizations of acrylonitrile and acrylates. Thus, block copolymers of PMMA with polyacrylonitrile and functional polyacrylates were successfully obtained. The polymerization was controlled using iodine transfer polymerization (ITP) for styrene and reversible complexation mediated polymerization (RCMP) for the other monomers. PMMA–Y with different molecular weights were also tested. This approach to obtain block copolymers is practically attractive for the ease of operation.NRF (Natl Research Foundation, S’pore)MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)Accepted versio

Reversible complexation mediated living radical polymerization using tetraalkylammonium chloride catalysts

This work reports the first use of organic chloride salts as catalysts for reversible complexation mediated living radical polymerization. Owing to the strong halogen-bond forming ability of Cl−, the studied four tetraalkylammonium chloride catalysts (R4N+Cl−) successfully control the polymerizations of methyl methacrylate, yielding polymers with low dispersities up to high monomer conversion (>90%). Benzyldodecyldimethylammonium chloride is further exploited to other methacrylates and yields low-dispersity block copolymers. The advantages of the chloride salt catalysts are wide monomer scope, good livingness, accessibility to block copolymers, and good solubility in organic media. Because of the good solubility, the use of the chloride salt catalysts can prevent agglomeration of catalysts on reactor walls in organic media, which is an industrially attractive feature. Among halide anions, chloride anion is the most abundant and least expensive halide anion, and therefore, the use of the chloride salt catalysts may lower the cost of the polymerization.National Research Foundation (NRF)Submitted/Accepted versionThis work was partly supported by National Research Foundation (NRF) Investigatorship in Singapore (NRF-NRFI05-2019-0001)

Synthesis of core-crosslinked star polymers via organocatalyzed living radical polymerization

Core-crosslinked star polymers were prepared using organocatalyzed living radical polymerization via a “grafting-through” approach. A PBA homopolymer, an amphiphilic PMMA–PPEGA block copolymer, and a hard-soft PMMA–PBA block copolymer were synthesized as macroinitiators, where PBA is poly(butyl acrylate), PMMA is poly(methyl methacrylate), and PPEGA is poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate). The macroinitiators were utilized in the polymerizations of crosslinkable divinyl monomers, generating core-crosslinked star polymers in 40–80% yields. The PMMA–PBA block copolymer macroinitiator was synthesized from a PMMA with an unsaturated chain end (PMMA–Y) via an addition-fragmentation chain transfer method. The ease of the handling of PMMA–Y is an advantage of the use of PMMA–Y. One-pot synthesis of a PBA star was also successful, giving a star in a relatively high yield (73%). The one-pot synthesis offers a practical approach for synthesizing a core-crosslinked star. The present approach is free from metals and odorous compounds, which is an attractive feature of the present approach.National Research Foundation (NRF)Accepted versionThis work was partly supported by National Research Foundation (NRF) Investigatorship in Singapore (NRF-NRFI05-2019-0001)

The Subaru HSC Galaxy Clustering with Photometric Redshift. I. Dark Halo Masses versus Baryonic Properties of Galaxies at 0.3≤z≤ 1.4

We present the clustering properties of low-z (z ≤ 1.4) galaxies selected by the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program Wide layer over 145 deg2. The wide-field and multiwavelength observation yields 5,064,770 galaxies at 0.3 ≤ z ≤ 1.4 with photometric redshifts and physical properties. This enables the accurate measurement of angular correlation functions, and the subsequent halo occupation distribution (HOD) analysis allows us to identify the connection between baryonic and dark halo properties. The fraction of less-massive satellite galaxies at z ≲ 1 is found to be almost constant at ∼20%, but it gradually decreases beyond ${M}_{\star }\sim {10}^{10.4}{h}^{-2}{M}_{\odot }$. However, the abundance of satellite galaxies at z > 1 is quite small even for less-massive galaxies due to the rarity of massive centrals at high-z. This decreasing trend is connected to the small satellite fraction of Lyman break galaxies at z > 3. The stellar-to-halo mass ratios at 0.3 ≤ z ≤ 1.4 are almost consistent with the predictions obtained using the latest empirical model; however, we identify small excesses from the theoretical model at the massive end. The pivot halo mass is found to be unchanged at {10}^{12.0\mbox{--}12.2}{h}^{-1}{M}_{\odot } at 0.3 ≤ z ≤ 1.4, and we systematically show that ${10}^{12}{h}^{-1}{M}_{\odot }$ is a universal pivot halo mass up to z ∼ 5 that is derived using only the clustering/HOD analyses. Nevertheless, halo masses with peaked instantaneous baryon conversion efficiencies are much smaller than the pivot halo mass regardless of redshift, and the most efficient stellar-mass assembly is thought to be in progress in {10}^{11.0\mbox{--}11.5}{h}^{-1}{M}_{\odot } dark halos