Relationships Between Clinical Characteristics and Decreased Plakoglobin and Connexin 43 Expressions in Myocardial Biopsies From Patients With Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

Reduced expressions of plakoglobin and connexin 43 have been reported in the myocardium of patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). However, the relationships between these expression abnormalities and the clinical features of ARVC remain unknown. The expressions of plakoglobin and connexin 43 in myocardial biopsy specimens from 10 patients with confirmed ARVC, and 13 control patients without ARVC (non-ARVC; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, n = 7; dilated cardiomyopathy, n = 6), were examined by immunostaining to evaluate the relationships between these expressions and the clinical characteristics of ARVC. The ratios of plakoglobin/N-cadherin and of plakoglobin/connexin 43 expressions were significantly lower in the ARVC group than in the control group. Significantly more patients had decreased plakoglobin expression in the ARVC group than in the control group (9/10 versus 7/13; P = 0.0376). Sustained ventricular tachycardia occurred more frequently in patients with ARVC and with decreased expressions of both plakoglobin and connexin 43 than in those with decreased expression of plakoglobin alone (5/5 versus 1/4, P = 0.048). Decreased expressions of both connexin 43 and plakoglobin in the myocardium might be associated with the development of arrhythmia in ARVC

Field Surveys of Tsunami Heights from the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku, Japan Earthquake

We report the results of field surveys conducted by the Earthquake Research Institute, to measure tsunami heights from the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, Japan Earthquake (M 9.0), on March 11. Measurements were taken at 296 points on the Sanriku coasts of Aomori, Iwate, and Miyagi Prefectures, and the Pacific coasts of Ibaraki and Chiba Prefectures. The data are included in the results of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake Tsunami Joint Survey Group. We did not cover the Sendai plain in the southern Miyagi Prefecture because other parties extensively measure there, nor Fukushima Prefecture because of the accident of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. The twelve surveys first sought traces indicating tsunami runup or inundation heights. Reliability was classified into A (most reliable based on clear physical evidence and eyewitness accounts), B (mostly based on natural traces), and C (least reliable based on equivocal evidence). Most physical evidence obtained after June was not significant; therefore, reliance was mostly placed on eyewitness accounts. Locations and relative heights above sea level were measured using handheld GPS receivers, auto-level, or total station. The measured heights were corrected for differences in tide level between measurement time and tsunami arrival time. The results are shown on table and four regional maps; however, the details of each measurement, including locations shown on 1:25,000 maps and photographs of evidence are shown in the Appendix. Along the northern Sanriku coast (Aomori and Iwate), most of the 141 heights range between 10m and 30m. Runup heights exceeding 30m were measured at one location in Noda Village and nine locations in Miyako City. On the southern Sanriku coast in Miyagi, most of the 76 measurements range between 4 and 20 m. On the Ibaraki coast, 36 measurements range from 2.8 to 8.1 m, and the heights generally decease toward the south. On the Chiba coast, 43 measurements range from 0.7 to 7.9 m, with the maximum height near Iioka, Asahi City