TdIF1 recognizes a specific DNA sequence through its Helix-Turn-Helix and AT-hook motifs to regulate gene transcription

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Successful treatment of ascites accumulation and diarrhea associated with protein-losing enteropathy with oral equine placenta extract supplementation in a dog: A case report

Background: Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is characterized by leakage of serum proteins into the intestinal lumen, indicating hypoproteinemia. Immunosuppressive agents are the mainstay of treatment, but in many cases, patients are forced to taper off early owing to the induction of liver damage. Case Description: An 8-year-old, non-spayed female Chihuahua presented with diarrhea and ascites effusion lasting 2 weeks. Based on the results of radiography and blood tests, a diagnosis of PLE was made. Prednisolone (3 mg/kg semel in die [SID]) and MitoMax (200 mg/day) were administered, but ascites accumulation and diarrhea did not improve. Thus, azathioprine (2 mg/kg/day) was added, but there was no improvement, and liver damage developed. The liver injury did not improve immediately, but diarrhea and ascites effusion improved after serum total protein and serum albumin levels increased after they had decreased. Subsequent tapering of prednisolone from 3 mg/kg SID to 1 mg/kg SID, combined with MitoMax (200 mg/day) and equine placenta extract (eqPE) (2 ml/day), resulted in no recurrence of ascites or diarrhea. Conclusion: In canine PLE with prolonged diarrhea and ascites effusion, supplementation with eqPE may be considered a reasonable additional therapeutic strategy

Multi-Region and Multi-Component Thermal Fluid Analysis of Hydrothermal Oxidative Decomposition Reactor

To elucidate the corrosion mechanism of a hydrothermal oxidation decomposition reactor for the treatment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a coupled thermal fluid analysis of the heat transfer between two mixtures of fluids with different physical properties and the reactor body was executed using OpenFOAM. Based on the analysis results, we propose a method to evaluate the corrosion risk at the solid-liquid interface by focusing on three factors: (1) the corrosion temperature of reactor vessel, (2) the amount of fluid deposition that causes corrosion, and (3) the wall shear stress on the solid-liquid interface. Variation of corrosion risk with operating conditions of the reactor is discussed

Thermal Fluid Coupled Analysis of Hydrothermal Destruction Reactor

Multi-regionally coupled analysis of thermal fluid flow and heat conduction of solid using OpenFOAM is carried out to clarify the behavior of hydrothermal oxidative destruction reactor of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Internal fluid of the reactor assumes a single-phase hot water without chemical reactions considering temperature dependence of thermophysical properties. Compressible Navier-Stokes equation with buoyancy force and energy equation with gravity term are alternately solved for the thermal fluid analysis. In order to consider conjugate heat transfer between the internal fluid and the reactor vessel, two-regionally coupled analysis of the fluid and vessel was executed by chtMultiRegionFoam solver in the OpenFOAM. To verify coupling effect, the multi-regionally coupled analyses results were compared with thermal fluid analysis of the internal fluid or heat conduction analysis of the vessel

Clinical Significance of Septal Malalignment for Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defect

Background. Septal malalignment is related to erosion and device embolization in transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD), but limited information is available. Objectives. This study aimed to assess clinical significance of septal malalignment and to determine appropriate evaluation of ASD diameter, including the selection of device size. Methods. Four hundred and seventeen patients with ASD who underwent transcatheter closure were enrolled. Septal malalignment was defined as separation between the septum primum and the septum secundum on transesophageal echocardiography. Results. One hundred and eighty-four patients had septal malalignment. The frequency of septal malalignment increased with age reaching around 50% in adult patients. Septal malalignment was related to aortic rim deficiency. The distance of separation between the septum primum and the septum secundum was 5 +/- 2 mm (range, 1-11 mm). In patients with septal malalignment, the ASD diameter measured at the septum primum was 19 +/- 6 mm, while the ASD diameter measured at the septum secundum was 16 +/- 6 mm. There was a difference of 4 +/- 2 mm (range, 0-8 mm) between the ASD diameter measured at the septum primum and that measured at the septum secundum. For transcatheter closure, the Amplatzer Septal Occluder device size 2-3 mm larger and the Occlutech Figulla Flex II device size 4-7 mm larger than the ASD diameter measured at the septum primum were frequently used. During the study period, erosion or device embolization did not occur in all of the patients. Conclusions. Septal malalignment is highly prevalent in adult patients with aortic rim deficiency. The measurement of ASD diameter at the septum primum can be valuable for the selection of device size in patients with septal malalignment

Effects of Statin versus the Combination of Ezetimibe plus Statin on Serum Lipid Absorption Markers in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background. The use of statins is essential for aggressive lipid-lowering treatment in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with dyslipidemia. Recently, elevation of sitosterol, a lipid absorption marker, was reported to be associated with premature atherosclerosis. The purpose of the present study was to examine the impact of ezetimibe, a selective intestinal cholesterol transporter inhibitor, in ACS patients. Methods. A total of 197 ACS patients were randomized to pitavastatin + ezetimibe (n=100) or pitavastatin (n=97). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and sitosterol levels were evaluated on admission and after 12 weeks. Results. After 12 weeks, the pitavastatin + ezetimibe group showed a significantly greater decrease of sitosterol (baseline versus after 12 weeks; 2.9 ± 2.5 versus 1.7 ± 1.0 ng/mL, P<0.001) than the pitavastatin group (2.7 ± 1.5 versus 3.0 ± 1.4 ng/mL). The baseline sitosterol level was significantly higher in patients with achieved LDL-C levels ≥ 70 mg/dL than in patients with levels < 70 mg/dL (3.2 ± 2.5 versus 2.4 ± 1.3 ng/mL, P=0.006). Conclusions. Ezetimibe plus statin therapy in ACS patients with dyslipidemia decreased LDL-C and sitosterol levels more than statin therapy solo. Sitosterol Elevation was a predictor of poor response to aggressive lipid-lowering treatment in ACS patients

Value of late gadolinium enhancement by magnetic resonance in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis: characteristic findings and clinical utility

73rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society 2009年03月 Osak

Impact of Right Ventricular Dilatation in Patients with Atrial Septal Defect

Objective. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between right ventricular (RV) volume and exercise capacity in adult patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) and to determine the degree of RV dilatation for transcatheter ASD closure. Background. RV dilatation is an indication of transcatheter ASD closure; however, few studies have reported the clinical significance of RV dilatation. Methods. We enrolled 82 consecutive patients (mean age, 49 +/- 18 years; female, 68%) who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise test before ASD closure. The relationship between RV volume and peak oxygen uptake (VO2) was evaluated. Results. The mean RV end-diastolic volume index was 108 +/- 27 ml/m(2) (range, 46 to 180 ml/m(2)). The mean peak VO2 was 24 +/- 7 ml/min/kg (range, 14 to 48 ml/min/kg), and the mean predicted peak VO2 was 90 +/- 23%. There were significant negative relationships of RV end-diastolic volume index with peak VO2 (r = -0.28, p= 120 ml/m(2) was related to the reduction in peak VO2. This criterion of RV dilatation may be valuable for the indication of transcatheter ASD closure