Search

Aims The clinical meaning of a trans-stent pressure gradient after DES implantation has not been estimated adequately. We evaluated the usefulness of a fractional flow reserve (FFR) gradient across the stent (ΔFFRstent) for long-term clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a drug-eluting stent (DES). Methods and results FFR pull-back and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were performed after successful PCI in 135 left anterior descending artery lesions. ΔFFRstent was defined as the FFR gradient across the stent. The ΔFFRstent/length was defined as the ΔFFRstent value divided by the total stent length multiplied by 10 [= (ΔFFRstent ÷ stent length) x 10]. Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were the composite of all-cause death, target vessel related myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularisation. Despite successful PCI without significant complications on IVUS, ΔFFRstent >0 was observed in 98.5% of cases. ΔFFRstent ≥0.04 and ΔFFRstent/length ≥0.009 predicted suboptimal stenting defined as final minimal stent area Trans-stent FFR and MACE Conclusion A trans-stent FFR gradient was frequently observed in DES-treated patients despite successful PCI results. ΔFFRstent and ΔFFRstent/length are useful indicators for optimising a DES and are related to long-term outcomes.

The Automated Meteorology–Ice/Indigenous species–Geophysics Observation System (AMIGOS) consists of a set of measurement instruments and camera(s) controlled by a single-board computer with a simplified Linux operating system and an Iridium satellite modem supporting two-way communication. Primary features of the system relevant to polar operations are low power requirements, daily data uploading, reprogramming, tolerance for low temperatures, and various approaches for automatic resets and recovery from low power or cold shutdown. Instruments include a compact weather station, single- or dual-frequency GPS, solar flux and reflectivity sensors, sonic snow gauges, simplified radio-echo sounder, and resistance thermometer string in the firn column. In the current state of development, there are two basic designs. One is intended for in situ observations of glacier conditions. The other supports a high-resolution camera for monitoring biological or geophysical systems from short distances (100 m to 20 km). The stations have been successfully used in several locations for operational support, monitoring rapid ice changes in response to climate change or iceberg drift, and monitoring penguin colony activity. As of August 2012, there are nine AMIGOS systems installed, all on the Antarctic continent or in the surrounding ocean.

Adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival time in dogs receiving adequate local control for appendicular osteosarcoma, but most dogs ultimately succumb to metastatic disease. The fluoroquinolone antibiotic enrofloxacin has been shown to inhibit survival and proliferation of canine osteosarcoma cells in vitro. Others have reported that fluoroquinolones may modulate cellular responses to DNA damaging agents and that these effects may be differentially mediated by p53 activity. We therefore determined p53 status and activity in three canine osteosarcoma cell lines and examined the effects of enrofloxacin when used alone or in combination with doxorubicin or carboplatin chemotherapy. Moresco and Abrams canine osteosarcoma cell lines contained mutations in p53, while no mutations were identified in the D17 cells or in a normal canine osteoblast cell line. The addition of enrofloxacin to either doxorubicin or carboplatin resulted in further reductions in osteosarcoma cell viability; this effect was apparent regardless of p53 mutational status or downstream activity.

The current study attempted to evaluate the association between the IL-10 promoter gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in 105 patients. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms were investigated in the proximal region of the IL-10 promoter gene (-1082/-819/-592). Two haplotypes (1082*A/819*T/592*A [ATA] and 1082*A/819*C/592*C [ACC]) were found in the current study. The overall incidence of IPA was estimated as 14.1+/-4.5% with a median onset at 186 days post-transplant (62 approximately 405 days). An increased occurrence of IPA was noted dependent on the IL-10 haplotype (0% vs 11.5+/-6.4% vs 19.7+/-7.7% for ACC/ACC vs ATA/ACC vs ATA/ATA haplotype, P=0.0307 when comparing ACC with non-ACC haplotype). In a multivariate survival analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model, the IL-10 promoter gene SNPs were identified as an independent predictive factor for the development of IPA (P=0.012, hazard ratio (HR) 9.3), along with an histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical donor (P=0.005, HR 16.3), the CD34+ cell dose transplanted (P=0.004, HR 26.5), and time-dependent chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD; P=0.049, HR 16.0). The IL-10 ACC haplotype was found to have an apparent protective role in the development of IPA after allogeneic transplantation, regardless of HLA-disparity or chronic GVHD.

Photoinduced electron transfer from chlorophyll-a throughtheinterface of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) headgroup of the lipid bilayers was studied with electron magnetic resonance (EMR). The photoproduced radicals were identified with electron spin resonance (ESR) and radical yields of chlorophyll-a were determined by double integration ESR spectra. The formation of vesicles was identified by changes in measured λmax values from diethyl ether solutions to vesicles solutions indirectly, and observed directly with SEM and TEM images. The efficiency of photosynthesis in model system was determined by measuring the amount of chlorophyll-a radical yields which were obtained from integration of ESRspectra.

Irbesartan (Irb) is an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist widely used in humans to treat hypertension. Age-related diseases such as hypertension are increasingly being diagnosed in dogs and there is the need for new drugs. The PK/PD of Irb was tested in Beagle dogs. Ten healthy Beagles were orally administered two dose rates (2 and 5 mg/kg), according to a cross over study design. Blood collections for PK analysis and systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart and respiratory rate, mucous membranes colour, capillary refill time and temperature evaluations were performed at scheduled intervals. The drug plasma concentration was dose dependent. The dogs administered 5 mg/kg showed a significant reduction in SBP, while in those receiving 2 mg/kg, this parameter was minimally affected. A counter clockwise hysteresis showed no direct correlation between SBP and plasma concentrations. The minimum effective concentration was theorized to be within the range 550-800 ng/mL. Although further studies are necessary, 5 mg/kg seems to be the more appropriate dose to obtain a hypotensive effect in Beagle dogs.

The mathematical model described in Part I[14] was extended to include the minor element behavior inside a flash-furnace shaft during flash smelting of copper concentrate. The volatilization of As, Sb, Bi, and Pb was computed, and experiments were carried out for Sb and Pb in a laboratory flash furnace. Satisfactory agreement between the predicted and measured results was obtained for antimony and lead. From the computational results, the behavior of each minor element was predicted for various target matte grades. The model predictions show that the elimination of As and Bi to the gas phase increases sharply at about 0.3 m from the burner; however, that of the Sb increases gradually along the flash-furnace shaft, and that of lead occurs suddenly at about 0.6 m from the burner. The predicted results also show that the elimination increases for Bi and Pb as the target matte grade increases; however, it is relatively independent of the target matte grade between 50 and 60 pet Cu for As and Sb. At higher target matte grades above 60 pet Cu, the elimination of As and Sb decreases as matte grade increases.

Two congenic strains, C57BL-KitW and C57BL-KitS, were generated. The KitW allele originated from strain WB-KitW and the KitS allele from Mus spretus. The KitW/KitS males showed hybrid sterility with small testes, but the females were fertile. The development of the seminiferous tubules of KitW/KitS males stopped before the spermatocyte stage and they were almost free of sperm. The Kit gene is located at position 42 on chromosome 5. We investigated in the C57BL-KitS congenic strain which part of the chromosomal region adjacent to the KitS allele is introduced from SPR into a C57BL background. The region between positions 42 and 44 was derived from SPR. Eleven amino acid substitutions of the KitS cDNA were detected by comparison with the sequence data of the +Kit cDNA from C57BL; seven were in the extracellular domain, one in the transmembrane domain, two in the kinase I domain, and one in the carboxy-terminal tail. The Kit mRNA derived from both KitW and KitS alleles was expressed in the sterile testes of KitW/KitS males.

Benzothiazole (BT) is present in tobacco smoke and widely used for industrial and pharmaceutical purposes. In this study we have investigated the influence of BT on the activities of hepatic cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) and UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDP-GT), sulphotransferase and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. We also examined if BT would change the metabolism and toxification of acetaminophen (AA) through modulation of metabolizing enzymes. Benzothiazole (1 mmol kg(-1), p.o., 5 days) markedly increased the enzyme activities of P4501A1, 1A2, 2B1, 3A4, 2E1, UDP-GT and GST in liver. Pretreatment with BT significantly decreased the amount of total AA recovered in bile to 68.5% of controls, mainly as a consequence of reduced AA-glucuronide conjugate (35.3% of controls), whereas the AA-glutathione conjugate (AA-GS) was augmented to 1.6-fold. After pretreatment with BT, potentiation of the hepatotoxicity by AA (400 mg kg(-1), i.p., 24 h) was observed by measuring serum alanine aminotransferase activities in ICR mice. These results indicate that: BT is a potent inducer of P450s and phase II metabolizing enzymes; and the increase of AA-GS conjugate and aggravation of AA hepatotoxicity by BT may be related to induction of P450s.

The Tdho allele is an X-linked dominant, embryonic male-lethal mouse mutation that occurs between embryonic day (E) 12.5 and E14.5. The lethal cause and responsible gene have not been identified until now. The cause of lethality in Tdho male embryos was examined with respect to the defect of hematopoiesis.Suppression subtractive hybridization and Northern blot analysis were performed on E12.5 male Tdho and normal mouse embryos. In addition, histochemical examinations and blood cell counts of normal and mutant E12.5 embryos were carried out.Diminished expression of embryonic globin genes (zeta and epsilon globins) in the blood of E12.5 Tdho male embryos were documented by use of Northern blot analysis and subtractive hybridization. Increased apoptosis of yolk sac-derived erythrocytes was found in E12.5 Tdho male embryos. Furthermore, diminished numbers of anucleated erythrocytes were observed in E12.5 mutant embryos.A defect of embryonic hematopoiesis in Tdho mice was suggested as one of the possible causes of embryo lethality.

It has been shown that ureter ligation increases the biliary excretion of acetaminophen (AA) conjugates, mainly as the sulfate in rats. This study was conducted to examine the effect of nephrotoxicants-that induce renal damage without liver injury on the biliary and urinary excretion of AA metabolites. Renal damage was produced in male S.D. rats, 1 day after dosing with 200 mg/kg p.o. of hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (HCBD), or 3 day after the dosage of 7.5 mg/kg iv of cisplatin (CIS). Renal damage without liver injury was confirmed by measuring serum enzymes, creatinine and BUN levels. AA and its metabolites were measured for 3 hr by HPLC in rats injected iv with 150 mg/kg of AA. The excreted amounts of AA-glucuronide (AA-G), AA-sulfate (AA-S) and AA-glutathione into bile were reduced to 57, 18 and 73% of control rats, respectively, by HCBD. HCBD pretreatment also altered the urinary excretion of AA-G, AA-S and AA-mercapturate to 75, 14 and 118% of controls. CIS drastically reduced the urinary excretion of AA metabolites, whereas this compound significantly enhanced the biliary excretion of AA-S. However, CIS did not cause an increase in the percentage of the dose excreted as AA-G in bile. Both HCBD and CIS caused marked elevations in the blood concentrations of AA-G and AA-S. These findings suggest that: 1) not all renal malfunction results in increased biliary excretion of AA metabolites to compensate for the lack of renal elimination, and 2) the selective reduction in biliary and urinary excretion of AA-S by HCBD appears to occur by mechanism(s) other than through alteration of AA and its metabolites.

Purpose: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality in patients with end stage renal disease. This study aimed to evaluate pattern of LV remodeling according to dialysis modality in patients with end stage renal disease. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated change in LV mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT) and LV geometry, assessed by 2D transthoracic echocardiography, in patients starting dialysis while hospitalized from 2000 to 2012. Patients were classified into hemodialysis (HD) group and peritoneal dialysis (PD) group. Follow-up duration of performing echocardiogram was 11.6±4.5 months. LV geometry was divided into 4 groups as normal LV geometry, concentric remodeling, concentric LVH and eccentric LVH according to LVMI and RWT using cutoff values of 131 (men) or 100 (women) g/m2 for LVMI and 0.45 for RWT, both men and women. The multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the independent predictors of change in LV geometry among the patients who showed the change of LV geometry. Results: 74 patients with HD (age 54.9±13.0 years, 50.0% male) and 34 patients with PD (age 48±15.1 years, 58.8% male) were enrolled. Before initiation of dialysis, there were no significant difference of ejection fraction, LVMI, RWT (56.1±14.0% vs. 55.8±14.2%, p=0.898; 169.0±47.9g/m2 vs. 168.5±57.3g/m2, p=0.964; 0.46±0.1 vs. 0.46±0.1, p=0.937, respectively). There was no difference of geometry distribution between two groups (4.1% vs. 5.9% concentric remodeling, 51.4% vs. 50.0% concentric LVH, 37.8% vs. 32.4% eccentric LVH, respectively). Follow-up echocardiogram revealed that LVMI and RWT in both groups were not significantly different (166.4±44.4g/m2 vs. 154.5±49.0g/m2, p=0.221; 0.47±0.10 vs. 0.48±0.12, p=0.287). LVMI and RWT showed no significant difference over time in both groups (p=0.63 vs. p=0.22; p=0.31 vs. 0.93, respectively). However, the geometric change of LV was significantly different between two groups. Change to eccentric LVH from the other LV geometries was significantly higher in PD group (37.8% vs. 87.5%, p=0.001, Odds ratio [OR] 11.5, 95% Confidence interval [CI] 2.3-58.3). Change to concentric LVH from the other geometries was not significantly different. PD was associated with increase of LVMI (OR 2.88 95% CI 0.86-9.96). HD was associated with reduction of LVMI (OR 1.89 95% CI 0.94-3.97). Conclusion: Otherwise there was no difference in prevalence of LV geometry pattern at the time of initiating dialysis, PD was an independent predictor for LVMI increment and HD was an independent predictor for LVMI reduction.

The behavior of minor elements in bath and flash smelting processes for coppermaking has been investigated. Particular attention has been paid to the conditions of high oxygen enrichment in the case of bath smelting and converting. A computer simulation has been carried out to predict the distribution behavior of Pb, Zn, Bi, Sb, and As in recently proposed copper smelting and converting processes with submerged oxygen injection. The technique of stepwise equilibrium modeling was used. The predicted minorelement behavior under high oxygen enrichment was compared with that in the Noranda process (normally 42% oxygen enrichment in smelting and 24% in converting) and in the reverberatory process using air. The effects of various operating parameters such as temperature, the final matte grade in smelting, the initial matte grade in converting, and the O/Fe ratio in slag on the behavior of minor elements are discussed.