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Furthermore, they reported that in one cat, the plasma concentrations were significantly lower than the concentrations observed in other cats, although the cat had no abnormalities. In most cats, the changes in S' were correlated with the plasma concentration of pimobendan and ODMP, although the plasma concentration showed individual differences, particularly in the HD group. Discussion In this study, the maximum effects of cardiac systolic function were observed at 60 or 120 min after administration, and there were significant correlations between changes in S' and plasma pimobendan, ODMP, and the sum of pimobendan and ODMP. This study aims to investigate the effects of repeated and multiple-dose pimobendan on cardiac systolic function and the possible correlations between changes in this parameter and the plasma concentrations of pimobendan and ODMP. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: We aimed to clarify the normal values obtained by simultaneous use of shear wave imaging and strain imaging (combinational elastography) in liver and reveal how aging influences them. Methods: In our checkup center, 257 examinees were diagnosed with normal liver based on questionnaires about liver disease and their drinking history, liver function test results, and ultrasound B-mode study findings. We estimated the values of combinational elastography and considered the correlation between the values and age. A multivariate analysis was performed concerning several features and the liver fibrosis (LF) index. We divided examinees into a younger group (< 65 years old) and an older group (≥ 65 years old), and assessed the effect of age on the LF index. Results: The mean shear wave velocity (Vs) of shear wave measurement (SWM) was 1.10 ± 0.17 m/s (range 0.84–1.93), and the mean LF index of real-time tissue elastography (RTE) was 1.371 ± 0.458 (range 0.258–3.173). There was no significant correlation between Vs and age. However, the LF index increased significantly with age. The multivariate analysis showed that age (P < 0.001) and BMI (P < 0.05) significantly affected the LF index. Indeed, the LF index in the older group was significantly higher than that in the younger group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In adult liver, the normal Vs of SWM was 1.10 ± 0.17 m/s, and the normal LF index of RTE was 1.371 ± 0.458. The LF index increased significantly with age in contrast to Vs; therefore, the influence of age should be considered when using combinational elastography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mitral annular disjunction is a structural abnormality of the mitral annulus fibrosus which is often associated with mitral leaflet prolapse. However, few reports have described mitral annular disjunction in mitral valve prolapse (MVP). This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of mitral annular disjunction in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) caused by MVP. Methods: We reviewed 185 consecutive patients with severe MR caused by fibroelastic deficiency (FED) and Barlow's syndrome from March 2009 to December 2010. The upper limit of the disjunction was defined at the level of the posterior scallop's insertion into the left atrial wall, whereas the lower limit was defined at the level of the left atrium's connection to the ventricular myocardium. The distance between the two levels was called mitral annular disjunction. Prolapse sites in FED patients were categorized into anterior leaflet, posterior leaflet, and commissure groups. Patients with a disjunction distance of ≥2 mm were diagnosed with mitral annular disjunction. Results: Annular disjunction was found in 45 patients (24%). Among them, the most common site of prolapse was the posterior leaflet (n = 35, 77.8%). During a median follow‐up of 20.3 years, arrhythmic events and sudden death occurred in seven patients (3.8%). Conclusions: Mitral annular disjunction was detected in 24% of patients with severe MR and in 90% of the patients with Barlow's syndrome. There were significant differences at its sites of prolapse in FED patients. The presence and site of prolapse with mitral annular disjunction should be actively determined in FED patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding polyethylene greatly affects the rheological response of isotactic polypropylene (PP) under uniaxial elongational flow. Though strain hardening in the transient elongational viscosity barely appeared in pure PP, we induced strain hardening by adding low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to PP, even though the blends showed a phase-separated structure. During elongational flow, LDPE droplets dispersed in the PP were deformed in the flow direction. Because LDPE shows marked strain hardening in the elongational viscosity, the deformed LDPE droplets behaved as rigid fibers as the strain increased. Consequently, the PP between the fibrous LDPE droplets experienced excess localized deformation, which increased the apparent elongational viscosity. Furthermore, adding the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) increased the drawdown force—defined as the force required for uniaxial stretching of a molten polymer in the nonisothermal condition. This behavior comes from the rapid crystallization of HDPE, which causes the deformed HDPE particles to act as rigid fibers in the molten PP and enhances the PP crystallization, which increases the elongational stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The clinical significance of papillary muscle hypertrophy and its electrocardiography (ECG) findings has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ECG findings and papillary muscle hypertrophy and to confirm the importance of papillary muscle measurements on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Methods and Results: Of the 237 consecutive patients who showed left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) pattern on a 12‐lead ECG, TTE data were available for 101 patients. The patients were divided into the two groups according to the presence (ECG‐LVH [strain pos] group, n = 60) or absence (ECG‐LVH [strain neg] group, n = 41) of LV strain pattern (study 1). The prevalence of papillary muscle hypertrophy using TTE was significantly higher in the ECG‐LVH (strain neg) group than in the ECG‐LVH (strain pos) group (P = .0002). Of the 42 cases with papillary muscle hypertrophy, 5 cases (12%) showed isolated papillary muscle hypertrophy with normal geometry. ECG data were prospectively analyzed for 36 patients who were diagnosed with papillary muscle hypertrophy by TTE (study 2). The prevalence of LV strain pattern was significantly higher in patients with LV wall hypertrophy than in those without LV wall hypertrophy (P = .04). Of the 25 cases with papillary muscle hypertrophy, 6 cases (24%) showed normal geometry and 4 cases (16%) showed ECG abnormality. Conclusions: Isolated papillary muscle hypertrophy can cause ECG abnormalities such as LV high voltage and LV strain pattern. Particular attention must be paid to the papillary muscle during echocardiographic examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mitral annular disjunction is a structural abnormality of the mitral annulus fibrosus and is pathologically defined by a separation between the atrial wall-mitral valve junction and the left ventricular attachment. Mitral annular disjunction can cause hypermobility of the mitral valve apparatus and is often associated with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and characteristics of mitral annular disjunction in the patients referred to an echocardiography laboratory and to compare these with previously reported pathological data. Methods and results: We retrospectively studied 1439 patients (mean age 65 ± 17 years, 58% male) referred to our echocardiography laboratory from 6 January 2014 to 31 March 2014. The echocardiographic parameters were compared between the patients with and without mitral annular disjunction. There were 125 cases (8.7%) with mitral annular disjunction, of which 15 (12%) also had MVP. The number of MVP patients in the group with mitral annular disjunction was significantly larger than in the group without mitral annular disjunction ( p < 0.0001). The grade of mitral regurgitation was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: Mitral annular disjunction was detected not only in patients with a myxomatous mitral valve but also in normal cases. The number of MVPs was significantly larger in patients with mitral annular disjunction than patients without mitral annular disjunction. Further investigation is needed to clarify the clinical significance of the mitral annular disjunction detected by routine echocardiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a relatively new method to detect regional myocardial dysfunction. To assess left ventricular (LV) regional myocardial dysfunction using STE in Duchenne muscular dystrophy model dogs (CXMDJ) without overt clinical signs of heart failure. Methods: Six affected dogs, 8 carrier dogs with CXMDJ, and 8 control dogs were used. Conventional echocardiography, systolic and diastolic function by Doppler echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), and strain indices using STE, were assessed and compared among the 3 groups. Results: Significant differences were seen in body weight, transmitral E wave and E' wave derived from TDI among the 3 groups. Although no significant difference was observed in any global strain indices, in segmental analysis, the peak radial strain rate during early diastole in posterior segment at chordae the tendineae level showed significant differences among the 3 groups. Conclusions: The myocardial strain rate by STE served to detect the impaired cardiac diastolic function in CXMDJ without any obvious LV dilation or clinical signs. The radial strain rate may be a useful parameter to detect early myocardial impairment in CXMDJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mast cells have key functions as effectors of immunoglobulin E–mediated allergic inflammatory diseases. Allergen stimulation induces Ca2+ influx and elicits the secretion of inflammatory mediators from mast cells. Here we show that the Ca2+-binding endoplasmic reticulum protein STIM1 is critical to mast cell function. STIM1-deficient fetal liver–derived mast cells had impaired Ca2+ influx mediated by the high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor FcεRI and activation of the transcription factors NF-κB and NFAT. Mast cells lacking STIM1 also had much less degranulation and cytokine production after FcεRI stimulation. In addition, alterations in STIM1 expression affected the sensitivity of immunoglobulin E–mediated immediate-phase anaphylactic responses in vivo. Thus, STIM1 is key in promoting the Ca2+ influx that is essential for FcεRI-mediated mast cell activation and anaphylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To describe use of coil embolization to occlude residual flow through a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) after incomplete surgical ligation. Study Design Clinical study. Animals Dogs (n=4) with continuous murmur after surgical ligation of PDA. Methods After PDA ligation, residual ductal flow through the PDA was visible on color-flow Doppler examination and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter remained increased. Coil embolization by an arterial approach was performed to achieve complete occlusion of the PDA. Results Embolization coils were delivered without complications and hemodynamically successful occlusion was achieved. Doppler-visible flow resolved in 2 dogs within 3 months after embolization. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter indexed to body weight decreased in all dogs. Conclusions Transcatheter coil embolization appears to be a safe and minimally invasive procedure for complete occlusion of residual PDA flow after incomplete surgical ligation. Clinical Relevance Transcatheter coil embolization should be considered for correction of hemodynamically significant residual shunts in dogs that have incomplete PDA occlusion after open surgical ligation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depletion of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) stores induces store-operated Ca2+ (SOC) entry across the plasma membrane (PM). STIM1, a putative Ca2+ sensor in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), has been recently shown to be necessary for SOC channel activation. Here we show that STIM1 dynamically moves in tubulovesicular shape on the ER and its subcompartment in resting living cells, whereas, upon Ca2+ store depletion, it is rapidly redistributed into discrete puncta that are located underneath, but not inserted into the PM. Normal constitutive movement of STIM1 is mediated through the coiled-coil and Ser/Thr-rich C-terminal domains in the cytoplasmic region of STIM1, whereas subsequent inducible puncta formation further requires the sterile α motif domain protruding into the ER lumen. Each of these three domains (coiled-coil, Ser/Thr-rich, and sterile α motif) was essential for activating SOC channels. Hence, our findings based on structure-function experiments suggest that constitutive dynamic movement of STIM1 in the ER and its subcompartment is obligatory for subsequent depletion-dependent redistribution of STIM1 into puncta underneath the PM and activation of SOC channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac mortality in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has recently become important, because risk of respiratory failure has been reduced due to widespread use of the respirator. The cardiac involvement is characterized by distinctive electrocardiographic abnormalities or dilated cardiomyopathy, but the pathogenesis has remained obscure. In research on DMD, Golden retriever-based muscular dystrophy (GRMD) has attracted much attention as an animal model because it resembles DMD, but GRMD is very difficult to maintain because of their severe phenotypes. We therefore established a line of dogs with Beagle-based canine X-linked muscular dystrophy in Japan (CXMDJ) and examined the cardiac involvement. Methods: The cardiac phenotypes of eight CXMDJ and four normal male dogs 2 to 21 months of age were evaluated using electrocardiography, echocardiography, and histopathological examinations. Results: Increases in the heart rate and decreases in PQ interval compared to a normal littermate were detected in two littermate CXMDJ dogs at 15 months of age or older. Distinct deep Q-waves and increase in Q/R ratios in leads II, III, and aVF were detected by 6-7 months of age in all CXMDJ dogs. In the echocardiogram, one of eight of CXMDJ dogs showed a hyperechoic lesion in the left ventricular posterior wall at 5 months of age, but the rest had not by 6-7 months of age. The left ventricular function in the echocardiogram indicated no abnormality in all CXMDJ dogs by 6-7 months of age. Histopathology revealed myocardial fibrosis, especially in the left ventricular posterobasal wall, in three of eight CXMDJ dogs by 21 months of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

.Purpose. This study was conducted to investigate hemodynamic and cardiac stability during anesthesia induction and intubation, using propofol plus fentanyl, propofol plus ketamine, and propofol plus fentanyl and ketamine.Methods. Forty-five adult patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups according to the agents used for induction: propofol (2 mg/kg) plus fentanyl (3 μg/kg) (PF), propofol (2 mg/kg) plus ketamine (0.1 mg/kg) (PK), and propofol (2 mg/kg) plus fentanyl (3 μg/kg) plus ketamine (0.1 mg/kg) (PFK). Hemodynamic responses were assessed by measuring changes in blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and cardiac output (CO; using dye dilution combined with pulse dye densitometry [PDD]).Results. BP and HR changes during the induction of anesthesia tended to be greater in the PK group than in the PF and PFK groups. After the injection of propofol, the cardiac index (CI) fell significantly below baseline values in the PF and PFK groups, but remained unchanged in the PK group. After tracheal intubation, BP and HR increased significantly only in the PF and PK groups, and reached a level significantly above baseline values only in the PK group. The CO responses to tracheal intubation were: PK group > PF group > PFK group.Conclusion. A combination of propofol plus fentanyl plus ketamine would provide greater reduction of fluctuations in hemodynamic variables associated with induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation than combinations of propofol plus fentanyl or propofol plus ketamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The case of a 77-year-old woman with hepatitis C virus infection with a 5-year history of muscle weakness and mild disturbance of gait is reported. Steroid therapy did not improve her symptoms. She developed HCV-related liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and muscle biopsy revealed inclusion body myositis. Immunohistochemistry showed that the nonstructural region of HCV and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, a marker of DNA damage by reactive oxygen species, were present in striated muscle cells of this patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two cDNA clones of myrosinase (thioglucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.3.1) were isolated from radish (Raphanus sativus) seedlings. Both clones were identified as MB (B type myrosinase) from their sequence homology at the amino acid level to MBs cloned from other Brassicaceae species. The tissue distribution of gene expression and enzyme activity of myrosinase corresponded well to the site of glucosinolate accumulation in different tissues of radish. The myrosinase-glucosinolate system was localized in the cotyledons in the seedlings and in the peel of the root in the mature plant. Tissue printing analysis showed that myrosinase mRNA and activity were localized in the epidermis and vascular cambium that were present in the peripheral part of the root but few signals were detected in the parenchyma inside of the vascular cambium. Since the myrosinase-glucosinolate system is known to be a defense system in higher plants, the localization of the myrosinase-glucosinolate system in the peel of the root may act to protect the sink organ from the attack of herbivores or pathogens in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Summary 1. The aim of the present study was to establish a new schedule of active avoidance response in rats to estimate the central effects of second-generation histamine H1 receptor antagonists. 2. With the new schedule, a rat was placed into a dark room. A sliding door was opened after a delay of 5 s and, unless the animal moved into the lit room, an electric shock was delivered for 3 s. With the conventional schedule, the sliding door was opened immediately after the rat was placed into the dark room. 3. Ketotifen, at a dose of 50 mg/kg, showed no significant effect on the retrieval of active avoidance response with the conventional schedule. However, with the new schedule, the drug caused significant inhibition of retrieval of the response, even at a dose of 10 mg/kg. 4. Epinastine showed no significant effect on retrieval of the active avoidance response, even at a dose of 50 mg/kg with the new schedule. 5. Cetirizine, at a dose of 50 mg/kg, caused a significant effect, indicating that cetirizine, at this dose, markedly inhibits memory retrieval. 6. Both olopatadine and loratadine had potent effects; at doses of 20 and 50 mg/kg, respectively, these agents showed significant inhibitory effects on retrieval of the response. 7. In conclusion, we have developed a new schedule of active avoidance response that can be used to estimate the central effects of second-generation histamine H1 receptor antagonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]