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By making use of high-precision process technology such as organometallic vapor phase growth, dry etching and SOR lithography, a DFB laser array was fabricated as an optical source for the wavelength multiplex optical transmission system. Integration of 20 wavelengths was realized, In this paper, after each constituent technology for device fabrication and the wavelength controllability are discussed in detail, the characteristics of the integrated devices and future perspectives are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe here the synthesis of [14C]-2-(3-chlorophenyloxy)-3-[3-(3-hydroxy)pyridin-4-yl propoxy]pyridine (1), a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor. [14C]-Labeled 1 was prepared in three steps from [14C]-2-bromopyridin-3-ol in an overall yield of 32%. Preparation of [14C]-labeled 2 and 3, two metabolites of 1, is also described. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) is an invasive coronary physiological index that is not inferior to fractional flow reserve- (FFR-) guided revascularization. The indexes of iFR and FFR are similar and closely correlated, but there are a few key differences. Previous studies suggested that patient characteristics and lesion severity could induce discordance between iFR and FFR. This study aimed to clarify the hemodynamics and lesion characteristics that influence discordance between iFR and FFR.Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled 225 patients (304 lesions) who underwent clinically indicated invasive coronary angiography and both iFR and FFR examinations between 2012 and 2017. We included only patients who underwent right heart catheterization and had blood pressure and heart rates recorded immediately prior to iFR and FFR.Results: Discordance (iFR ≤0.89 and FFR >0.8 or iFR >0.89 and FFR ≤0.8) was observed in 80 lesions (26.3%). The heart rate, rate-pressure product, and cardiac index tended to be higher in the iFR ≤0.89 group than in the iFR >0.89 group. These trends were not seen between the FFR ≤0.8 group and FFR >0.8 group. A multivariate analysis showed that independent predictors of iFR ≤0.89 and FFR >0.8 discordance were female sex and higher rate-pressure product. iFR >0.89 and FFR ≤0.8 discordance was rare in hemodialysis patients.Conclusion: Even if iFR is functionally significant in intermediate stenosis, additional FFR evaluations should be considered for women, especially those with a high rate-pressure product, to avoid unnecessary percutaneous coronary intervention. If iFR is not functionally significant with intermediate stenosis in hemodialysis patients, then further FFR evaluations are unnecessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relevance of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 genotype to the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of H1-antihistamines and the level of sedation. Japanese participants in a health screening program were asked to describe any past history of ADRs. Any subjects reporting ADRs induced by H1-antihistamines were then individually interviewed and defined as cases. Excessive daytime sleepiness, which had occurred in the cases as an H1-antihistamine-induced ADR, was assessed by the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), and an ESS score ≥12 was considered hypersomnia. CYP2D6*4, *5, *14, and *10 were genotyped by a panel of polymerase chain reaction techniques. Out of 2,074 participants, 100 cases (M:F = 37:63, mean age 51.9 ± 9.2 years) were eligible for analysis. The most common etiological drug was chlorpheniramine, which is the most frequently used H1-antihistamine in Japan. CYP2D6*10 allele and genotypes were more frequently found in the cases than in the healthy Japanese population in a large study ( P < 0.005 and P = 0.039, respectively), but no difference was observed in the null alleles and genotypes. The ESS scores in 75 cases (M:F=25:50) who had experienced excessive daytime sleepiness were 9.5 ± 5.5 in men and 12.9 ± 6.1 in women ( P < 0.001, cases vs. 34 subjects without symptoms; P = 0.001 men vs. women). The occurrence of hypersomnia increased as the number of CYP2D6 mutant alleles increased ( P = 0.045). The results suggest that the presence of the CYP2D6*10 allele is a risk factor for development of H1-antihistamine-induced ADRs in Japanese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyridinoline (Pyr), one of the mature crosslinks of collagen, was determined in muscular collagen of three species of fish. The amounts of muscular Pyr in red sea bream, yellowtail, and tiger puffer were 3.4, 8.8, and 50.3 mmol/mol collagen, respectively, indicating that the Pyr concentration in muscular collagen differs greatly among fish species. The Pyr concentration in tiger puffer muscular collagen was the greatest, but it was only one-fourth that in rabbit muscle. As in mammalian skin collagen, Pyr was not detected in skin collagen of red sea bream and yellowtail. However, tiger puffer skin contained Pyr (3.75 mmol/mol collagen). The presence of Pyr would have a relationship to some features of tiger puffer skin, such as mechanical strength and thickness. Pyr concentrations in acid-soluble collagen (ASC), pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC), and insoluble collagen (ISC) in muscles of three species of fish were determined. Pyr was found in ISC > PSC > ASC, from the highest to the lowest concentration, and the concentration in ISC was 45-200 times that in ASC. Therefore, Pyr crosslinks that are formed between collagen molecules would have a close relationship to collagen solubility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied pore nucleation and growth of anodic porous alumina with square cells in the initial stage of anodizing by measuring current density transient at constant voltage and by observation of film structure at different stages. The initiation sites of pores were laid out in square lattice patterns using imprinting process. The obtained oxide film was formed by a close-packed array of square cells following the imprinting pattern. The shape of the pore was circular at the surface, but square at the bottom of the film corresponding to the shape of square cell at the steady-state growth stage. At the same time, crystalline particles located at fourfold point of cells were detected. The surface of substrate after removal of oxide film revealed that the crystals were regularly ordered aluminum pillars placed at every fourfold point of cell junction. From these characteristic structures, it is concluded that the unusual arrangement of initiation sites, which is different from ordinary hexagonal cell arrangement, could control the growth of anodic porous alumina significantly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Endovascular treatment (EVT) for peripheral artery disease in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is a common practice in contemporary medicine and its effectiveness is widely acknowledged. However, refractory ulcers can occasionally be encountered, particularly in patients who underwent renal transplantation (RT), even after successful EVT. To date, there have been no data on prognosis reported following EVT for CLTI in RT recipients. We included all RT recipients who underwent EVT in our hospital between 2010 and 2022. We analyzed data from 43 limbs with ischemic ulcerations classified as Rutherford class 5 or 6, which were managed solely with EVT (i.e., no bypass surgery was performed). The primary and secondary outcomes of our study were the incidence of complete wound healing and major adverse limb events (MALE), including clinically driven target vessel revascularization, major amputation, and all-cause death. The median follow-up was 31 months. The mean age of the study population was 64.7 ± 8.7 years, with predominantly male participants (79.1%). The overall wound healing rate was 34.9%. Kaplan-Meier curve revealed that wound healing rates at 1 and 3 years were 33.6% and 40.9%, respectively. The wound healing rates of RT recipients who underwent EVT for CLTI were found to be less than satisfactory., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics.)

No study has reported the association between the worsening of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular events in patients with deferred coronary artery lesions. We included patients with deferred lesions, defined as a fractional flow reserve (FFR) value > 0.80 treated with conservative medical therapy. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1, CKD stages 1-2; group 2, CKD stages 3-5; and group 3, CKD stage 5D (hemodialysis), with the clinical outcomes compared. The primary endpoint was the first occurrence of target vessel myocardial infarction, ischemia-driven target-vessel revascularization, or all-cause death. The primary endpoint was noted in 17, 25, and 36 patients in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Within the three groups, the incidence rate of deferred lesions was 7.0%, 10.4%, and 32.4%, respectively. No difference was observed in the incidence of the primary endpoint between groups 1 and 2 (log-rank p = 0.16). However, the patients in group 3 had a significantly higher risk for the primary endpoint than those in groups 1 and 2 (log-rank p < 0.0001). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, the patients in group 3 exhibited a higher incidence of the primary endpoint than those in group 1 (HR: 2.14; 95% CI 1.02-4.49; p < 0.01). Careful management is needed in patients undergoing hemodialysis, even if coronary artery stenosis is considered a deferred lesion., (© 2023. Springer Nature Japan KK, part of Springer Nature.)

This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic influence of statins in relation to the degree of inflammation at the time of endovascular therapy (EVT) for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). This observational study included patients with PAD who underwent EVT, including 285 statin users and 275 statin non-users. They were assigned into four groups depending on C-reactive protein (CRP) level at the time of EVT: low CRP (<0.1 mg/dL), intermediate-low CRP (0.1-0.3 mg/dL), intermediate-high CRP (0.3-1.0 mg/dL), and high CRP (>1.0 mg/dL). A composite of death and major amputation as the primary endpoint was compared between statin users and non-users in each CRP category. Overall, statin users showed a lower event rate than non-users (log-rank, p=0.02). However, the event rates did not differ significantly between statin users and non-users in the low, intermediate-low, and intermediate-high CRP categories. In the high CRP category, statin users showed a lower event rate than non-users (p=0.002). In this population, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that statin use was independently associated with the primary endpoint (hazard ratio: 0.28 [95% confidence interval: 0.14-0.55]). Statins may exert favorable prognostic effects in PAD patients with highly elevated CRP levels, but not in those with low-to-moderate CRP levels., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Symptomatic central venous obstruction (CVO) is sometimes observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Angioplasty is generally performed for salvage purposes, and stent implantation is performed as a last resort to prevent permanent venous occlusion. However, published reports about the clinical outcomes of stenting for CVO have been limited by the small number of included patients and the relatively old generation of analyzed stents. This study aimed to clarify the safety and efficacy of endovascular therapy (EVT) using stents for symptomatic CVO in contemporary practice., Methods: This retrospective review was performed between May 2012 and August 2021. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive 31 lesions (31 patients, 64 ± 10.7 years old) treated with a vascular stent for elastic recoil after balloon angioplasty or recurrent stenosis <3 months after angioplasty. The primary outcome was primary patency, defined as freedom from target lesion revascularization. The secondary outcome was assisted primary patency, defined as freedom from permanent occlusion of the target stents., Results: In all cases, stents were successfully deployed on the target lesions. No EVT-related complications were observed. Self-expandable and balloon-expandable stents were used in 26 and 5 lesions, respectively. The median follow-up period was 18 months (interquartile range, 7-40). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the primary patency rates were 66.1 % at 6 months, 61.7 % at 12 months, and 38.4 % at 24 months after EVT. The assisted primary patency rate was 70.3 % 24 months after EVT. In the multivariate analysis, younger age was the only independent predictor of target lesion revascularization (hazard ratio: 0.92, 95 % CI: 0.85-0.99, p = 0.04)., Conclusions: Stent implantation for CVO that is resistant to standard angioplasty seems safe and effective., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have the following disclosures: Junichi Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Arashi, and Hisao Otsuki belong to a division (Clinical Research Division for Cardiovascular Catheter Intervention) that is financially maintained by donations from Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and Terumo. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests relevant to the contents of this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)