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Background Multilineage-differentiating stress enduring (Muse) cells, endogenous reparative pluripotent stem cells, are defined as stage-specific embryonic antigen 3+ (SSEA3+) and CD105+ double-positive cells. We previously reported that intravenously injected Muse cells home to the damaged heart and differentiate into cardiomyocytes and vessels, and reduce the infarct size and improve cardiac function in a rabbit model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (Circ Res 2018), and that endogenous Muse cells are mobilized into the peripheral blood in the acute phase of patients with AMI, which improve left ventricular (LV) function and attenuate LV remodeling in the chronic phase at 6 months (Circ J 2018). However, whether Muse cells are mobilized into the peripheral blood after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods Muse cells in the peripheral blood was measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) as SSEA3+ and CD105+ double-positive cells in patients with coronary artery disease with 75% coronary stenosis who underwent PCI (n=18) with a mean age of 73.0±7.2 (14 male and 4 female). Blood samples were collected from the antecubital vein in patients with coronary artery disease before, and 1 and 24 h after PCI. Since the majority of Muse cells were detected in the monocyte area and few Muse cells if any were detected in the lymphocyte area, we counted the Muse cells in the monocyte area by FACS. The number of Muse cells was expressed as cells per 100 μL of blood, as follows: absolute number of Muse cells (/100 μL) = white blood cells (/100 μL) × monocytes (%) × SSEA3+/CD105+ double-positive cells (%). Results Typical case of SSEA3+/CD105+ double-positive Muse cells measured by FACS shows that majority of Muse cells exist in the monocyte area (Fig, 1-A). The number of Muse cells in the peripheral blood was significantly greater (p Conclusion Muse cells, endogenous pluripotent stem cells, are mobilized into the peripheral circulating blood 1 h and 24 h after PCI in patients with coronary artery disease. Mobilized Muse cells after PCI might be contributing to repair the damaged coronary artery. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

We examined the possibility that AVP and V1a receptors were involved in regulating cortisol production in a 49 year old man with ACTH-independent bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (AIMAH), and investigated the effects of a V1a receptor antagonist. An i.v. injection of a small dose (0.1 or 0.3 U) of AVP, insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, upright posture tests, and oral administration of a V1a receptor antagonist (OPC-21268; 300 mg), and its repeated administration at a dose of 600 mg/day for 8 days were performed. An in vitro study of dispersed cells obtained from resected AIMAH tissue was also conducted. Plasma ACTH, AVP and cortisol levels and 24-h urinary free cortisol excretion were measured in the in vivo studies and cortisol concentrations in incubation media in the in vitro study. Injection of small doses of AVP stimulated cortisol secretion without any elevation of plasma ACTH. Insulin-induced hypoglycaemia caused a rise in plasma AVP followed by an increase in plasma cortisol. Although plasma cortisol levels were not affected by single or repeated administrations of OPC-21268, 24-h urinary free cortisol excretion was significantly decreased by the repeated treatment. In the in vitro study, more cortisol was stimulated by AVP from adrenal cells of the AIMAH tissue than from those of a normal adrenal gland, and this secretion was completely suppressed by OPC-21268. These results suggested that hypersensitivity to AVP may have contributed to overproduction of cortisol in this case of ACTH-independent bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia, and may have contributed to its pathogenesis.

To investigate measurement physiological effect of horticultural activity for nursing home residents, we use thermal camera and psychological and behavioral test. When nursing home residents in dementia was engaged in horticultural activity, we measured thermal camera, video camera and psychological test to identification horticultural system for nursing home residents. It indicated thermal camera can use measurement physiological effect. The forehead section and mouth section was optimized for measure horticultural activity. To investigate integrated ubiquitous nursing care and horticultural activity to present higher QOL for residents, Psychology and behavior scale can be indicated behavior change of residents life.

The interpretation of image information of plants can be possibly done based on image features extracted from the original pictorial image, This research work focused its interest on techniques of non-parametric image extraction, Two different types of non-parametric image features were discussed. First, the textural analysis which can be recognized as one of conventional non-parametric image feature extractors was examined. Secondly, The finite element method was introduced as an information processing tool for image feature extraction. The finite element application in image processing features a unique image data compression which is apparently similar to the function of human retina.

1. 1. Mn2+ (5 mM) completely inhibited the K+ (10–60 mM)-induced ileal tonic tension to the baseline, however, the tension and Mn2+ uptake increased progressively, depending on the K+ concentration of above 35 mM. 2. 2. The L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, D-600 and nifedipine inhibited the tension development and Mn2+ uptake after addition of Mn2+ in the high-K+ (60 mM) medium, however, T-type Ca2+ channel blocker, Ni2+ and amiloride had no effect on it. 3. 3. D-600 and nifedipine inhibited the tension development and Mn2+ uptake in the presence of 5 mM Mn2+ in the Ca2+-free, high-K+ (60mM) medium. 4. 4. The results suggest that Mn2+ penetrates via L-type Ca2+ channels in the ileal cell membrane in a state of prolonged depolarization and activates the contractile elements.

In ileal longitudinal muscle 5Mm Mn2+ inhibited completely the K+ (60 Mm)-induced tonic tension to the base line; however, the tension progressively increased to above the level of original tonic response evoked by K+ after 3 h in the presence of Mn2+. Tetrodotoxin (5 × 10−5 m) had no influence on the tension development in the presence of Mn2+ in the high-K+ medium. Mn2+ also increased the tension in a high-K+, Ca2+-free medium. The Ca2+ antagonist, gallopamil (10−6 m) inhibited the development of tension in the presence of Mn2+ in the high-K+ medium. The 45Ca uptake determined by the lanthanum method remained unchanged from control levels after 3 h of the 5 Mm Mn2+ application in the high-K+ medium in spite of the development of the tension. The manganese uptake in the high-K+ medium, increased in accordance with the increase of duration of 5 Mm Mn2+ application. Gallopamil inhibited manganese uptake in the high-K+ medium. These results suggest that Mn2+ firstly reduces K+-induced tension by inhibition of Ca2+ influx; subsequently, Mn2+ ions accumulate in the intracellular compartments through voltage-operated Ca2+ channels and may activate contractile proteins in the ileal muscle.

The objective of this Phase III double-blind parallel-group controlled study was to examine the superiority of amlodipine 10 mg once daily (the amlodipine 10 mg group) to amlodipine 5 mg once daily (the amlodipine 5 mg group) in 305 Japanese outpatients with essential hypertension whose systolic blood pressure (SBP) had not reached the therapeutic target levels (

1. Mn2+ (5 mM) inhibited completely the K+ (60 mM)-induced ileal tonic tension to the base line, however, the tension increased progressively to the above level of the original K+ tonic response after 3 hr of the Mn2+ application at 37 degrees C. 2. At 30, 32 or 34 degrees C, the tensions which developed after 3 hr of the addition of 5 mM Mn2+ in the high-K+ medium was 0, 21, 48% of their original K+ tonic levels, respectively. 3. The tension development and manganese uptake in the presence of Mn2+ in the high-K+ medium was highly dependent on the temperature in very narrow range of 32-37 degrees C in the suspending medium.

Paddy soil and sediment samples collected from the Vellar River watershed, Tamil Nadu state, South India from December, 1987 to January, 1989 were analysed to understand the comprehensive behaviour of organochlorine insecticides (HCH and DDT) in the tropical environment. HCH (BHC) showed higher levels in soil during wet season, reflecting the application of technical HCH largely during the flowering season of rice. On the other hand, DDT residues were low and did not show a significant seasonal trend in soil or sediment, indicating small quantities of DDT utilized at present for agricultural purposes in India. When compared to soil, the residue levels in sediments are low and the seasonal variation is less pronounced. This indicates that in tropical watersheds, the relative flux of residues into the aquatic environment is smaller than the amount volatilized to the atmosphere.

Pharmacokinetics of prednisolone (PSL) was investigated in 10 patients treated with long-term intermittent regimen of PSL administration, 4 consecutive days administration a week. In 8 patients (group I; 3 of nephrotic syndrome, 2 of SLE, and each of Crohn's disease, aortitis syndrome, and hemolytic anemia), PSL was initially administered daily until the therapeutic effects were achieved (daily period), and this was followed by consecutive 4 days administration (on-day) and consecutive 3 days discontinuation (off-day) of PSL every week (intermittent period), keeping the weekly dose of PSL in the preceding daily regimen. In 2 patients (group II) with multiple myeloma and idiopathic thromocytopenic purpura, respectively, PSL was started with the intermittent regimen of PSL without preceding daily period. In group I, pharmacokinetic studies by respective oral and i.v. administrations of 40mg PSL and of 25.6mg PSL hemisuccinate (equivalent to 20mg of PSL) were performed before treatment, in daily period and both on on-day and off-day within the same week during intermittent period. In one patient of group II, study only by intravenous PSL administration was performed before treatment and in intermittent period. In another patient of group II, studies by oral and intravenous PSL administration were performed only in an intermittent period. PSL was measured by radioimmunoassay. Paired t-test was used for the comparison. In each case of group I, there was no difference in Cmax, Tmax, or AUCp.o. after oral administration of PSL among 4 periods tested, before treatment, daily period, on-day and off-day during intermittent period. On the intravenous PSL administration, increase in AUCi.v., prolongation of half-life, and decreases in MCR and bioavailability on on-day of intermittent period were observed in comparison with those before treatment, respectively. Only bioavailability among these parameters on on-day was increased compared with that in daily period. On the other hand, on off-day of intermittent period, decrease in AUCi.v. and increase in MCR were observed compared with those on on-day within the same week. When each parameter on off-day was compared with that of daily period, decrease in AUCi.v. and increases in MCR and bioavailability on off-day were observed. Vd did not differ each other among these 4 periods. Remarkable finding was the fact that MCR fluctuated regularly in 4 periods of this therapy regimen, i.e., significant decrease in daily period compared with before treatment, no significant difference between on-day and daily period, and the increase on off-day compared with that on on-day or in daily period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)