Acute effects of beta-blocker with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity on stress-induced cardiac dysfunction in rats

AbstractBackgroundWe have reported that α and β adrenergic blockers could protect against emotional stress-induced cardiac dysfunction but those protective effects of β adrenergic blockers with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA), such as celiprolol, are unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether ISA could relate with this protective effect.Methods and resultsRats medicated with celiprolol (8mg/kg), metoprolol (4mg/kg), or vehicle, were restrained for 30min (immobilization stress: IMO) to reproduce emotional stress, and anesthetized to release stress. We measured the fractional area change (FAC) using an echocardiography (SONOS5500) with s12 probe (frequency: 5–12MHz, frame rate: 120Hz) at the end of IMO and every 10min for 1h. During IMO, FAC in rats with a premedication of metoprolol was lower than in those with a premedication of vehicle or celiprolol. At 20min after IMO, FAC in rats with a premedication of celiprolol was significantly higher than that with a premedication of metoprolol or vehicle (84±9% vs. 65±3% or 60±7%, p<0.05). At 60min after IMO, FAC in rats with a premedication of vehicle or celiprolol recovered, but FAC in rats with a premedication of metoprolol did not.ConclusionAcute premedication with celiprolol could prevent a sudden drop of cardiac function after acute stress such as IMO. ISA might have an important role in preventing stress-induced cardiac dysfunction

Gene expression profiling in rats with depressive-like behavior

Individual differences indicate stronger phenotypes than model animals especially in behavioral studies, and some animals show unexpected behaviors in control and animal model groups. High-throughput analysis including cDNA microarray analysis are more affected by individual differences, because more samples are needed to reduce the difference in multiple factor analysis than single factor analysis such as real-time PCR. We measured the depressive-like behavior of over 100 normal rats in the forced swimming test and selected the rats for control and depression group from them to minimize the individual difference using data of force swimming test. Here, we provided the detail of methods and quality control parameters for the cDNA microarray data. This dataset can reflect the increase of depressive-like behavior. The dataset is deposited in the gene expression omnibus (GEO), series GSE63377

Development of the composition strategies use in argumentative writing scale for undergraduate students

This study developed a scale to capture the conscious use of writing strategies that undergraduate students employ when they write argumentative essays. The questionnaire survey was conducted with 202 undergraduate students. The factor analysis of the responses to the questionnaire indicated four factors: Reader Awareness, Consideration of Opposing Views, Flow of Composition, and Expressing One's Position. The content validity of this structure was examined by comparing the score for the strategy between those with high and low subjective frequency for writing essays, as well as groups separated by high and low levels of student expectations of effectiveness and values towards writing essays. Scores for the Flow of Composition strategy were higher among students reporting a high frequency of writing essays. Additionally, scores for the strategies of Reader Awareness, Consideration of Opposing Views and Flow of Composition were higher for students with greater expectations of effectiveness and values toward writing essays. This indicated a degree of content validity for the scale

Redetermination of di-μ-sulfido-bis­{[(2R)-2-acet­oxy-2-amino­ethane-1-thiol­ato-κ2 N,S]oxidomolybdenum(V)}

The structure of the title compound, [Mo2(C4H8NO2S)2O2S2], has been redetermined. Besides obvious differences between the original [Drew & Kay (1971 ▶). J. Chem. Soc. A, pp. 1851–1854] and the current unit-cell parameters, some packing features of the structure are also different; these findings are the result of significant improvements in the precision and accuracy of the present structure analysis. The two Mo atoms in the dimeric complex have very similar distorted trigonal–bipyramidal environments. Each Mo atom is bonded to an S atom and to an N atom of an l-cysteine ester ligand, to a terminal O atom and to two S atoms which bridge to the adjacent Mo atom [Mo⋯Mo separation = 2.8191 (2) Å]. N—H⋯Ocarbon­yl and N—H⋯Oterminal hydrogen-bonding inter­actions consolidate the crystal packing. During the synthesis, the originally employed l-cysteinate ligand has been converted to the l-cysteinate methyl ester ligand. Since this reaction does not take place without tin(IV) chloride, it is clear that tin(IV) chloride acts as a catalyst for the reaction

A NEW OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE FOR ESOPHAGEAL RECONSTRUCTION USING A LONG GASTRIC TUBE OF 3 CM DIAMETER

The anthors have successfully prepared a 3 cm diameter gastric tube with a more favorable blood supply than the conventional one by performing interrupted suture each of the mucosal layers and seromuscular layers of the stomach separately with pyloromyotomy as a drainage procedure. This gastric tube caused no clavicular pressure on the anastomotic portion through a retrosternal route, so that we could perform end-to-end anastomosis between the cervical esophagus and the gastric tube in a region higher than the clavicle. We report in this paper the clinical findings of our procedure : it was effective in preventing postoperative complications such as suture insufficiency and passage disturbance other than postoperative complaints due to dumping and reflux esophagitis, etc

Prognostic significance of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy for primary prevention: Analysis of the Japan cardiac device treatment registry database

BackgroundWhether nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) is a marker of increased risk of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTAs) remains to be established in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT‐D) for primary prevention.MethodsAmong the follow‐up data of the Japan cardiac device treatment registry (JCDTR) with an implantation date between January 2011 and August 2015, information regarding a history of NSVT before the CRT‐D implantation for primary prevention had been registered in 269 patients. Outcomes were compared between two groups with and without NSVT: NSVT group (n = 179) and No NSVT group (n = 90).ResultsThere was no significant difference with regard to age, gender, and NYHA class between the two groups. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 25.6% in the NSVT group and 28.0% in the No NSVT group (P = .046). The rate of appropriate therapy at 24 months was 26.0% and 18.4% in the NSVT and No NSVT groups (P = .22), respectively. Survival free from heart failure death was reduced in the NSVT group, as compared with the No NSVT group, with the rate of 90.2% vs 97.2% at 24 months (P = .030). A multivariate analysis identified a history of NSVT, anemia, and no use of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin‐receptor blocker (ARB) as predictors of heart failure death.ConclusionsNSVT appears to be a surrogate marker of severe heart failure rather than a substrate for subsequent sustained VTAs in patients with CRT‐D for primary prevention

Urinary excretion of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid in middle-aged and elderly general population of Japan

Nagoya University, Department of Medical Technology金沢大学附属病院薬剤部Limited data are available on the background levels of exposure to synthetic pyrethroid (PYR) in Japan, despite their frequent application for agriculture and indoor extermination and possible effects of chronic and/or low-dose PYR exposure on human health. This study was conducted to describe the level and distribution of one of the major PYR metabolites, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), in urine samples collected from a general population in Japan. The subjects were 535 individuals (184 men and 351 women; 61.5±9.8 years of age, mean±S.D.) residing in a town in Hokkaido, a dairy and agricultural area. Urinary 3-PBA was found detectable in 98% of samples above the limit of detection of 0.02 μg/l. The geometric mean values of urinary 3-PBA in occupationally exposed farmers (n=87) and the remaining general group without occupational exposure (n=448) were 0.38 and 0.29 μg/l, respectively, ranging from <LOD to 17.09 μg/l. No significant differences in urinary 3-PBA concentrations were shown between these two groups. Moreover, 3-PBA concentrations were found comparable to those reported in some countries. The present study is, to our knowledge, the first report of a biological monitoring study of urinary 3-PBA, which elucidated the background environmental exposure level of PYR in the Japanese general population without occupational exposure. Further nationwide studies covering different seasons and age distribution are needed to monitor the urinary 3-PBA levels in Japan

Clinical Study A Randomized Prospective Study of Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy with Low-Dose Sodium Phosphate Tablets versus Polyethylene Glycol Electrolyte Solution

Optimal bowel preparation is essential for the safety and outcome of colonoscopy. A solution containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) is often used as a bowel cleansing agent, but some patients are intolerant of PEG, and this may lead to discontinuation of colonoscopy. Sodium phosphates (NaP) tablets are designed to improve patient acceptance and compliance. The objective of this study was to compare bowel preparation efficiency and patient acceptance of a 30 NaP tablet preparation (L-NaP) and a 2 L PEG preparation. Patients were randomized into either the L-NaP or PEG group. The primary endpoint was the efficiency of colon cleansing as assessed by a validated four-point scale according to the Aronchick scale by endoscopists and was verified by blinded investigators. The secondary endpoints were patients&apos; tolerability and acceptance. Colon-cleansing efficiency was not significantly different between the two preparations. However, patients&apos; overall judgment was significantly in favor of L-NaP, reflecting better acceptance of L-NaP than PEG. Additionally, more patients favored L-NaP over PEG in a hypothetical future occasion requiring colonoscopy