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Samples of the carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu were brought to Earth by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. We analyzed 17 Ryugu samples measuring 1 to 8 millimeters. Carbon dioxide–bearing water inclusions are present within a pyrrhotite crystal, indicating that Ryugu’s parent asteroid formed in the outer Solar System. The samples contain low abundances of materials that formed at high temperatures, such as chondrules and calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusions. The samples are rich in phyllosilicates and carbonates, which formed through aqueous alteration reactions at low temperature, high pH, and water/rock ratios of

Recently solar array has become higher in potential and larger in capacitance. Therefore, possibility of collision between space debris and enlarged solar array has been pointed out. Many debris and dust impacts were confirmed on fuselage of the retrieved satellite Space Flyer Unit (SFU) and solar array paddle of satellite Eureca. If space debris collides with the solar array of an orbiting satellite, it may cause generation of high-density plasma by debris impact induced dielectric breakdown of satellite component and the phenomenon called sustained arc. By the short circuits on the solar array, current will not flow into a pay load of the satellite. And the worst event by this discharge is operational end of the satellite. However, any events of discharge phenomenon by debris impact cannot be yet confirmed. But we cannot ignore such possibility of discharge by debris impact. The purpose of this paper is to investigate discharge condition due to debris impact which yields us reduction of electric power of solar array, and to reduce influence of the impact on satellite missions. In this study, a solar array coupon was tested under hypervelocity impact in which a projectile was launched by a two-stage light gas gun installed in Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT).

This paper investigated the mechanism of the condensation of protein molecules on air-liquid interface of bubbles. Electrically charged bubbles were confirmed to have clear advantage of producing protein crystal over general bubbles or conventional vapor diffusion method for the first time. The adsorption force between the protein molecular and air-liquid interface of bubble was successfully measured using force sensing optical tweezers. These findings contribute to the effective production of protein crystal and to the protein crystallography.

Summary Background Endoscopic classifications were reported to reflect the pathophysiology of gastric mucosa. However, relationship between gastric lesions and classifications has not been examined well. Aim To investigate the relationship between endoscopic classifications and cancers or ulcers. Methods In this study, 487 patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Takahashi Clinic and 257 patients with early gastric cancer in Keio University Hospital were enrolled. Results Incidence of reflux oesophagitis was higher in Helicobacter pylori-negative patients. K-form was better in the H. pylori-positive patients. Most cancers in the patients with the closed-type or reflux oesophagitis were of undifferentiated types. Incidences of ulcers were highest in C-2 and C-3 in which the borders of atrophy cross the medial oblique muscle bundle, the border circular muscle bundle or both, and 94% of ulcers in C-2 and C-3 stomach were located along the lesser curvature. Conclusion The predominant existence of undifferentiated types in patients with reflux oesophagitis or closed-type stomach can be useful information for early diagnosis of cancers. The relationship between the Kimura–Takemoto classification and ulcer location may explain why H. pylori infection is related to ulcer formation along the lesser curvature.

We examined a nutritional approach to the therapy of Crohn's disease with an enteral formula ('Enterued', Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) which contains low molecular weight peptides as a protein source. Total protein, albumin, transferrin, prealbumin and retinol-binding protein levels were significantly increased as indices of the nutritional status, when compared with those observed before treatment. White blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein (CRP) as the indices of inflammation levels were reduced significantly after the termination of the treatment, when compared with those observed before treatment. The International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD) assessment scores decreased in all cases, except for one case out of 51 cases evaluated. Deterioration in nutritional status was not observed in any patient, but rather was maintained or improved; 42 out of the total 51 cases (82.4%) exhibited at least moderate improvement. Treatment was discontinued on account of side effects such as abdominal distension, abdominal pain and diarrhoea in five cases (8.1%). The enteral formula 'Enterued', utilizing low molecular weight peptides as a nitrogen source, appears to improve nutritional status and encourage remission of the inflammatory process with minimal side effects.

Glutamine was administered orally to rats with damaged small intestinal mucosa as the result of injury by X-ray radiation at 10 Gy to the abdomen. The healing effects of glutamine on the injured mucosa were studied serially from the day of radiation (Day 0) to Day 4. The rats received two types of isocaloric elemental diet, Gln( + ) containing 2% glutamine and Gln( - ) containing no glutamine, by paired feeding. From Day 2 to Day 4, the wet weight, protein content, and DNA content of the jejunal mucosa were significantly greater in the Gln(+) than in the Gln(-) group. On Day 3, when the damage of the intestinal mucosa was the severest, the crypt cell production rate in the jejunum was significantly higher in the Gln(+) than in the Gln(-) group. The permeability of the intestinal mucosa to 51CrEDTA, administered to the rat stomach through an oro-gastric tube, remained significantly lower in the Gln( + ) group . Light microscopic findings showed that oedema in the lamina propria mucosae of jejunum and fusion of jejunal villi were milder in the Gln(+) group on Day 4. when the mucosal mass began to recover. The arterial and portal blood glutamine concentration, and glutamine extraction by the gut from arterial blood and phosphate-dependent glutaminase activity in the jejunal mucosa, were higher in the Gln(+) than in the Gln(--) group. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was increased in both the jejunum and the ileum from Day 3, but no difference was observed between the two groups. These findings suggest that, after X-ray radiation injury of the intestinal mucosa, the oral administration of the elemental diet containing 2% glutamine improved glutamine metabolism of the body, promoted the proliferation of jejunal epithelium, accelerated the recovery of the mucosal mass and the morphology of villi, and then contributed to maintaining the barrier function of the intestine from an early stage after the injury.

In the intestinal tract, the local synthesis of C3 and components of both the classical (C4) and alternative (factor B) C activation pathway has previously been demonstrated in vivo. However, the cellular source of this local C synthesis has not been identified. In this study, we demonstrated the syntheses of C3, C4, and factor B in the human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2, which is regarded as a good experimental model of normal human intestinal epithelial cells. The results of metabolic labeling experiments indicated that the intra- and extracellular molecular sizes and subunit structures of Caco-2-derived C3, C4, and factor B were compatible with previously reported values for these components in other cells. The functional activities of C3 and C4 in the supernatants were also demonstrated by hemolytic titration assay. Furthermore, C syntheses in this line were independently upregulated by several human cytokines: C3 synthesis was dose-dependently enhanced by the addition of IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha; C4 synthesis was enhanced by the addition of IL-6 or IFN-gamma in the same manner; and the addition of IL-1 beta or IL-6 also induced a dose-dependent increase in factor B synthesis. These enhancing effects were confirmed to be specific for individual cytokines by experiments using anti-human cytokine antibodies. It is likely that intestinal epithelial cells are local production sites of C3, C4, and factor B, and that local C syntheses in the intestine are independently regulated by several cytokines, derived from monocytes/macrophages and T cells resident in the mucosal microenvironment.

1. The Ca2+ current, K+ current, hyperpolarization-activated current, Na(+)-K+ pump current and the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange current were all blocked by appropriate blockers and the remaining time-independent currents were investigated in single pacemaker cells of the rabbit sino-atrial node using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. 2. Exchanging the bathing solution from Tris-hydroxymethyl-aminomethane hydrochloride (Tris) Na+ free to 150 mM-Na+ induced an inward current and the slope conductance of the current-voltage relationship increased from 0.45 +/- 0.18 to 0.87 +/- 0.33 nS (n = 71) at -50 mV. The remaining conductance in Tris Na(+)-free solution was essentially the same when Tris was substituted with tetraethylammonium (TEA) or N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMG). The current density of the Na(+)-dependent inward current obtained by subtracting the current in Tris Na(+)-free from that in 150 mM-Na+ solution was 0.73 +/- 0.21 pA/pF (n = 71) at -50 mV. We called this current the Na(+)-dependent background current. 3. The membrane conductance was reduced by lowering the temperature of the external solution from 36 to 23 degrees C. In Tris Na(+)-free solution, the temperature-sensitive component was outward at all potentials, whereas it showed a reversal potential at around -20 mV in 150 mM-Na+ solution. This reversal potential was interpreted as a sum of the Cs+ efflux and Na+ influx, by comparing the Na(+)-dependent inward currents obtained at 36 degrees C and those at 23 degrees C. 4. Divalent cations (2 mM-Ni2+, 1 mM-Ba2+ or 2 mM-Ca2+) reduced only the outward current in the Tris Na(+)-free solution, while in the 150 mM-Na+ solution, they reduced both the inward and outward components of the current which had a reversal potential of around -10 mV. 5. Amiloride depressed the membrane conductance in 150 mM-Na+, Cs+ or Rb+ external solution, though only at negative membrane potentials, which suggests amiloride has a voltage-dependent effect on the background current. 6. Removal of Cl- from the external solution or the addition of a Cl- channel blocker (4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid disodium salt, DNDS) failed to affect the membrane conductance. 7. When the monovalent cation-dependent inward current was measured by subtracting the current in the Tris solution from those recorded in the various monovalent cation solutions, the current amplitude decreased in the order: Rb+ greater than K+ greater than Cs+ greater than Na+ greater than Li+, which suggests a poor cation selectivity of this current system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

There have been proposed many learning algorithms for VQ based on the steepest descend method. However, any learning algorithm known as a superior one does not always work well. This paper proposes a new learning algorithm with boosting. Boosting is a general method which attempts to boost the accuracy of any given learning algorithm. The proposed method consists of three sub-learners. The first sub-learner is constructed by performing the conventional learning algorithm with data randomly selected from given data space. The second sub-learner is constructed by performing the conventional learning algorithm with data selected with higher probability from data incorrectly learned by the first sub-learner. The third sub-learner is constructed with data for which either the first or the second sub-learner is incorrectly learned. That is, the method attempts to construct different kinds of reference vectors by using different kinds of data sets constructed from the original data set. The output for any input data is given as decision by averaging the outputs of three sub-learners. In order to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, numerical simulations are performed.

We investigated the biochemical characteristics of the 51-kDa protein that is a major mitotic apparatus-associated basic protein of sea urchin eggs (Toriyama, M., Ohta, K., Endo, S., and Sakai, H. (1988) Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 9, 117-128). The amino acid composition of the 51-kDa protein was apparently different from those of tubulin, actin, histones, and myelin basic protein; yet it was similar to those of polypeptide elongation factors 1 alpha (EF-1 alpha). In addition, antibody to EF-1 alpha from yeast cross-reacted with the 51-kDa protein. [3H] GTP binding activity was detected in the phosphocellulose-purified fraction (PC fraction) which predominantly contained the 51-kDa protein and was shown to be specific to GTP, GDP, guanylyl imidodiphosphate, and ITP. Photo-affinity labeling using [alpha-32P]8-azidoguanosine triphosphate (8-azido-GTP) demonstrated that a 51-kDa polypeptide in the PC fraction specifically bound 8-azido-GTP. This GTP-binding polypeptide was bound to a GTP affinity column, could be eluted by the addition of GTP, and was immunoreactive with anti-51-kDa protein antibodies. When the PC fraction was applied to a gel filtration chromatography column, GTP binding activity was completely coeluted with the 51-kDa protein. Furthermore, the PC fraction and the gel filtration-purified fraction had EF-1 alpha activity: [14C]Phe-tRNA transferring activity to ribosomes in the presence of poly(U) and ribosome-dependent GTPase activity. The results indicate that the mitotic apparatus-associated 51-kDa protein is a GTP-binding protein and suggest that it is structurally and functionally related to yeast EF-1 alpha.

The Ross procedure, which includes removal of the malformed aortic valve and replacement of a pulmonary autograft in the aortic position, has increased the number of available treatment options. Recently, dilatation of the autograft pulmonary root after the Ross procedure has been reported as a complication. We report a patient with bicuspid aortic valve malformations and aortic annulus dilatation, who had a saccular-form, true-type, aneurysm in the pulmonary autograft seven months after the Ross procedure. These changes have not been described so far as complication. Pathologically, marked mucoid degeneration was noted in the tunica media of the aneurysm, as well as in the original aortic root. These findings may suggest similar pathological characteristics between the aorta and pulmonary arteries. Hence, the surgical risks accompanying vascular characteristics in patients with congenital aortic valve malformations should be considered.

(S)-α-fluoromethylhistidine (FMH) administered by either i.p. injection or continuous s.c. infusion leads to marked depletion of histamine levels in urine ofMastomys bearing transplantable histamine-producing argyrophilic gastric carcinoid. The continuous s.c. injection of FMH appears to be superior to i.p. injection for suppressing HDC activity in carcinoid cells. FMH administered by either route, however, does not appear to retard the growth of this tumour strain. Among 10Mastomys receiving daily s.c. injection of SMS (500 μg/kg), only 2Mastomys's tumours regressed during treatment, but after termination of SMS, they grew again. In the s.c. infusion groups administered with 200 and 400 μg of SMS, a definite effect of SMS on the tumour growth could not be obtained.

A study of the P-Si/sub x/O/sub y/ N/sub (1-y)/H/sub z/ (y=0 approximately 1) passivation film quality causing aluminum slitlike open metallization is reported. Slitlike open metallization after 150 degrees C, 1000-h aging with various P-Si/sub x/O/sub y/ N/sub (1-y)/H/sub z/ compositions revealed that the higher the deposition temperature and the closer the composition to the oxide (y=1), the more the open failure took place. These results can be explained satisfactorily on the basis of the stress-temperature relation of the two extremes, P-Si/sub x/O and P-Si/sub x/N/sub y/H/sub z/. >

To assess the efficacy and safety of a hemostatic puncture closing device for reducing patient immobilization after cardiac catheterization from a percutaneous femoral artery approach, we conducted a prospective, randomized trial at 4 participating centers. A total of 240 patients (183 men, 57 women, mean age 61 +/- 10 yr; 157 patients underwent diagnostic angiography, 83 patients underwent coronary angioplasty) were randomized to either the device group (n = 120) or the manual compression group (n = 120). There were no statistical differences in age, gender, weight or sheath size between the 2 groups. A 7, 8F sheath was used in 53 patients of the device group and in 43 patients of the manual compression group. One hundred and two patients (85%) in the device group and 96 patients (80%) in the manual compression group received heparin. Protamine was used in one patient of the device group and 23 patients of the manual compression group. Activated clotting time just prior to sheath removal was 206 +/- 64 sec in the device group and 170 +/- 47 sec in the manual compression group (p0.01). Successful placement of the device was achieved in 118 of 120 patients (98%). Time to hemostasis was significantly shorter in the device group (0.8 +/- 3.2 vs 12.2 +/- 5.3 min, p0.01). Time to ambulation could be reduced in the device group (5.3 +/- 3.7 vs 10.9 +/- 5.1 hr, p0.01). The following complication rates occurred in the device group as compared with the manual compression group: hematoma, 16% vs 10%; bleeding, 8% vs 3%; pseudoaneurysm, 0% vs 1%, respectively. None of these differences was statistically significant. These results indicate that early ambulation using a hemostatic puncture closing device is feasible without significantly increasing the risk of peripheral vascular complications.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the possibility of simultaneous evaluation of myocardial perfusion and fatty acid metabolism using a single injection of 123I-beta-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) in patients with acute coronary syndromes.Thirty patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP group) and 15 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI group) were studied. BMIPP dynamic SPECT was performed 2 min after the injection of BMIPP (185 MBq), and images were obtained every 3 min for 15 min with a three-head gamma camera. Conventional BMIPP SPECT was also performed 30 min after the injection. Serial BMIPP and resting 201TI images were compared.A 201TI-BMIPP mismatch between 30-min BMIPP and resting 201TI images was observed in 27 of 30 patients in the UAP group and 8 of 15 patients in the MI group, respectively. However, a 201TI-BMIPP mismatch between early (2-5-min) BMIPP and resting 201TI images was observed in only 2 of 30 patients in the UAP group and in only 2 of 15 patients in the MI group, respectively. The kappa statistics of tracer uptake between early BMIPP and resting 201TI images showed good concordance in UAP (kappa = 0.823) and MI (kappa = 0.765) groups, respectively. These results indicated that initial distribution of BMIPP reflects myocardial perfusion in patients with acute coronary syndromes.Myocardial perfusion and fatty acid metabolism can be evaluated simultaneously using a single injection of BMIPP, when images are taken soon (2-5 min) and long after the injection in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Objective: In order to determine the effect of surgical trauma on neutrophil functions, we set up an experimental abdominal surgical model using rats and analyzed neutrophil functions. In addition, we measured tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant/growth-regulated oncogene (CINC/GRO) and nitric oxide (NO) production.¶Materials and Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, 8 weeks old and weighing 250–270 g, underwent laparotomy (4 rats for each experiment). After the operation, neutrophil chemotaxis was assayed using a modified Boyden chamber, and phagocytosis, active oxygen production and adhesion molecule expression were analyzed by flow cytometry. TNF-α and CINC/GRO levels were quantified by an immuno-dot-blot assay, and NO levels were measured by the Griess method. At the operation, NO inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA, 40 mg) was intraperitoneally administered, and the effect of L-NMMA was studied.¶Results: After the surgical trauma (24–48 h), blood neutrophil counts significantly increased (p

The mechanism for aftereffects of high-intensity dc stimulation on ventricular muscle was studied by using Beeler-Reuter's action potential model. A leak conductance (G/sub pore/ maximal value from 40 to 80 /spl mu/S for 1 cm/sup 2/ of membrane), which mimics reversible dielectric breakdown of the cell membrane by the shock, was incorporated into the model. To simulate resealing process, G/sub pore/ was assumed to decrease after the shock exponentially at a time constant (/spl tau//sub pore/) of 5-50 s. The simulation results are qualitatively consistent with the authors' experimental observations in guinea pig papillary muscle (Amer. J. Physiol., vol. 267, p. H248-58, 1994); they include prolonged depolarization, diastolic depolarization or oscillation of membrane potential leading to a single or multiple spontaneous excitation. The phase-independence and shock intensity-dependence can also be reproduced. Analysis of current components has revealed that: (1) a large inward leak current (l/sub leak/) is responsible for the prolonged depolarization (2) time-dependent decay of outward current (I/sub X1/) in combination with I/sub leak/ and slow inward current (I/sub s/) results in diastolic depolarization or oscillation of membrane potential; (3) spontaneous excitation depends on an activation of I/sub s/. These findings support the authors' hypothesis that strong shocks (>15 V/cm) will produce abnormal arrhythmogenic responses in ventricular muscle through a transient rupture of sarcolemmal membrane.

Restenosis after balloon coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a major limitation of coronary intervention. Multicenter study performed in seven hospitals in Japan showed restenosis rate after PTCA steadily increased from 34% in 1985 to 45% in 1993. To overcome this problem, several new devices have been developed. Currently, directional coronary atherectomy, stent and Rotablator are regarded as promising approaches. After the publication of the results of two large studies that first demonstrated a favorable effect of stent restenosis, the number of stent implantation has dramatically increased. In 1995, the ratio of PTCA to stent implantation was 100:55 in above seven hospitals. The restenosis rate was lower in stent patients compared to PTCA (28% vs. 33%). Interestingly, the restenosis rate of PTCA has decreased after stent became available, which indicates the importance of case selection.

This prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of a single bolus injection of the novel modified tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) E6010 in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction compared with that of native t-PA.E6010 is a novel modified t-PA with a prolonged half-life (t1/2 alphaor = 23 min) compared with native t-PA (t1/2 alpha = 4 min). E6010 can be administered in patients as a single intravenous bolus injection, and early recanalization can be expected.The efficacy of E6010 was compared with that of native t-PA in 199 patients with acute myocardial infarction who were treated within 6 h of onset in a prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter trial. Patients were given either 0.22 mg/kg body weight of E6010 intravenously over 2 min or native t-PA (tisokinase) 28.8 mg or 14.4 million IU (10% of the total dose over 1 to 2 min, the remainder infused over 60 min).The primary end point was the recanalization rate of the infarct-related coronary artery at 60 min after the start of treatment. Time to reperfusion was shorter in the E6010 group than in the native t-PA group. Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 2 or 3 recanalization at 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after administration was observed in 37%, 62%, 74% and 79% (95% confidence interval [CI] 70% to 87%) of the E6010-treated patients and in 14%, 32%, 50% and 65% (95% CI 55% to 74%) of native t-PA-treated patients, respectively (p = 0.032 at 60 min).The present study indicates that, compared with native t-PA, a single bolus injection of E6010 over 2 min produces a higher rate of early recanalization of the infarct-related coronary artery without fatal bleeding complications.

The reproducibility of coronary vasospasm was assessed in nine patients with complete remission of vasospastic angina by medical treatment by reexamination at intervals of mean [+/-SD] 5.7 +/- 0.9 years. Twenty-one segments were defined as spastic, demonstrating more than 90% narrowing after acetylcholine injection at the initial angiography. The degree of spasticity, type of spasm (diffuse or focal) and coronary artery diameter in these segments at the initial and follow-up studies were compared. Of the 21 segments, 17 (81%) still had some spasticity (25%) at the follow-up study and 8 (38%) of these 17 showed spasticity with greater than 90% narrowing. On the other hand, spasm was not reprovoked in 4 (19%) segments. Luminal diameter of the spastic segments decreased significantly at the follow-up study (2.52 +/- 0.83 vs 2.26 +/- 0.62 mm, p = 0.01), but percentage stenosis was not different between the initial and follow-up studies (9.1 +/- 7.2 vs 10.3 +/- 8.0%, NS). The reproducibility of the type of spasm provoked was 83%. Coronary vasospasticity persists to some extent in spite of complete remission of angina by medical treatment, and the type of spasm provoked has high reproducibility. Therefore, the cessation of drug treatment should be done carefully.

The diagnostic value of transesophageal echocardiography was investigated in heart transplant recipients, i.e., four patients who received orthotopic heart transplantation and one patient who received total heart transplantation. Donor-recipient atrial anastomosis was identified in the four patients with orthotopic heart transplantation, but not in the patient with total heart transplantation. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography detected no thrombus or spontaneous echo contrast in any of the patients. Color Doppler transesophageal echocardiography showed trivial mitral regurgitation in all patients. Total heart transplantation resulted in no protruding suture line and normal atrial cavity size. The patient with total heart transplantation showed some difference in the peak flow velocity of the right and left pulmonary veins (left superior pulmonary vein: 48 cm/sec; right superior pulmonary vein: 86 cm/sec), possibly due to stenosis at the suture line between the left atrium and right superior pulmonary vein, or compression of the right superior pulmonary vein by the anastomosis between the superior vena cava and right atrium. Transesophageal echocardiography was helpful for detecting thrombus in the left atrium and left atrial appendage after heart transplantation, and allowed evaluation of the flow pattern in the pulmonary veins and left atrial appendage as well as abnormal flow in the atrium. In conclusion, transesophageal echocardiography is useful in the follow-up of heart transplant recipients.

Background: Since its first introduction to Japan in 1993, the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) has drawn medical educators’ attention as a new evaluation instrument of clinical competence. The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare began subsidizing educational research on OSCEs in 1994.

Angiogenesis plays an important role in various diseases and conditions such as malignant tumor, wound healing, and atherosclerosis. Since cell-to-cell adhesion may play a key role in angiogenesis, we investigated the effect of the cadherin-catenin-cytoskeleton complex on angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Immunofluorescence staining revealed that alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, and plakoglobin were concentrated at cell-cell contacts in HUVECs. Antisense oligonucleotide (AS-oligo), complementary to the region of human plakoglobin was dissolved in saline and applied to the media at 1 mM every 12 h for 4 days, and sense oligonucleotide (S-oligo) was used as control. HUVEC migration from an injury line was enhanced by AS-oligo. Interestingly, HUVECs migrated in line with S-oligo, and in a scattered fashion with AS-oligo. Tube formation on Matrigel occurred earlier with AS-oligo than with S-oligo. These findings indicate that plakoglobin inhibited HUVEC migration and tube formation (angiogenesis) by regulating cell-cell adhesion.

The inducibility of reentry was compared for four QT patterns in a heart conduction simulation model. Local (L) and gradual (G) QT prolongation models are more susceptible to reentry induction than the no (N) QT prolongation model (reentry induced episodes for N, L, and G numbered 90, 120, and 122, respectively). This increased vulnerability was diminished when the QT interval was prolonged at all simulation sites (reentry induced episodes for the diffuse QT prolongation model, D model, numbered 82). Decreased QT dispersion might be important for the prevention of reentry induction regardless of whether the QT interval is increased.

A 53-year-old man, who had undergone tricuspid valve replacement with Hancock valve and direct closure of a ventricular septal defect when aged 34 years, was admitted with signs of right heart failure. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed bioprosthetic tricuspid valve malfunction with right atrial thrombus. He was treated by tricuspid valve replacement using a Hancock II valve and removal of the right atrial thrombus with remarkable improvement. Transesophageal echocardiography was the most useful method for recognizing the presence of right atrial thrombus and assessing its actual or potential hemodynamic effects.

From 1993 to 1997, nine Japanese heart transplant candidates were accepted by the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, because no donor heart was available in Japan from a brain-dead patient. In all nine heart transplant patients described in this investigation, the preoperative diagnosis was dilated cardiomyopathy. One patient underwent implantation with a Novacor left ventricular assist device (Baxter Japan, Tokyo, Japan) as a bridge to heart transplant. All patients survived surgery and for a long-term period. The actuarial 1-year and 3-year survival curves of these patients were both 100%. The postoperative functional status was New York Heart Association Class 1 in all patients (100%). Immunosuppressive triple drug therapy (azathioprine, steroids, and cyclosporine) was given in seven patients; in two patients, cyclosporine was withdrawn and replaced by FK506 due to refractory rejection. The incidence of acute rejection per patient of more than grade 3 according to the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation was 6% within 3 months and 4.5% in 3-6 months; there was no rejection episode more than 6 months after transplantation. Post-transplant coronary artery disease was seen in two patients. However, no disease progression was seen after diltiazem therapy. These results may encourage heart transplantation in Japan.

Left ventricular lesions in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia have not been well described, and the relationship between the left ventricular lesions and the 12-lead electrocardiographic findings has not been analyzed. This study examined whether the presence of left ventricular lesions and the extent of right ventricular lesions due to arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia are predictable by 12-lead electrocardiographic findings. The 12-lead electrocardiograms during sinus rhythm and left and right ventriculography were studied in 29 patients (27 males and 2 females, mean age 42.6 +/- 15.5 years) diagnosed by the current criteria for this disease. After evaluation, patients were divided into two groups: those with normal left ventricles (normal group) and those with left ventricular wall motion abnormalities (abnormal group). Seventeen of the 29 patients (59%) were classified into the abnormal group. Left ventricular wall motion abnormalities were located in the posterolateral (4 patients), apical (1), and posterolateral and apical regions (12). QS patterns of abnormal Q waves in lead I, aVL or V5, V6 rS patterns (R/S ratio1) in leads I and V6, and/or R or Rs patterns (R/S ratio1) in lead V1 were observed in all patients in the abnormal group, but in none in the normal group. There was a positive correlation between the right ventricular end-diastolic volume index and the number of precordial negative T waves (r = 0.746, p0.0001), and the time from onset of the QRS to the terminal portion of the epsilon wave in lead V1 (r = 0.627, p0.001). The correlation coefficients showed no significant differences between the groups. A left ventricular lesion associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia was not unusual (59%), and our study suggests that the posterolateral and apical regions are the most frequent sites. The presence of these lesions were predictable by the QRS abnormalities. Moreover, regardless of the presence of such a lesion, the extent of the right ventricular lesion is also predictable by the 12-lead electrocardiographic findings.

The usefulness of electrophysiologic study and Holter monitoring for predicting the long-term efficacy of amiodarone was investigated in 31 patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and organic heart disease. Patients underwent both electrophysiologic study and Holter monitoring before and during oral administration of amiodarone. These patients were followed up and the difference in the prognosis according to the results of these two tests was examined. During a follow-up period of 887 +/- 678 days, sustained VT recurred in 13 patients and sudden cardiac death in 3. Sustained VT recurred in only one of 11 patients in whom amiodarone was determined effective by electrophysiologic study whereas recurrent VT and/or sudden death occurred in 15 of 20 patients in whom amiodarone was determined ineffective (p0.01). Eight of 18 patients in whom amiodarone was determined effective by Holter monitoring, and 8 of 13 in whom it was determined ineffective, suffered recurrent VT and/or sudden cardiac death. Amiodarone was judged effective in 7 patients by both tests (group I) and in 15 by either electrophysiologic study or Holter monitoring (group II). In the remaining nine patients, amiodarone was ineffective by both tests (group III). Recurrent VT or sudden death occurred in none of the patients in group I (0%), in nine group II (60%) and seven in group III (78%). The prognoses of the three groups were significantly different: group I vs II; p0.05, group II vs III: p0.05, and group I vs III; p0.005. The combination of the two drug tests, electrophysiologic study and Holter monitoring, is a useful method for the prediction of the long-term efficacy of amiodarone in patients with sustained VT and underlying heart disease. Patients in whom amiodarone was determined ineffective in both tests, are at high risk for VT recurrence and sudden death, and interventional therapy is recommended.

The usefulness and problems of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) were examined in patients with reduced heart function. Of 36 patients who received ICD for refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF), VT and/or VF was associated with underlying heart disease in 26 patients, and VF without underlying heart disease in 10. Of the former 26 patients, 13 with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 30% were assigned to group A, 13 with LVEF of greater than 30% to group B, and the other 10 with idiopathic VF to group C. Intraoperative death, cardiac death due to heart failure, sudden death, functional status of the ICD, exacerbation of heart failure symptoms and complications were compared between the three groups. There were no intraoperative deaths in any of the groups. During the median follow-up period of 36 +/- 22 months, there was only one sudden death in group A. There were no significant differences between the three groups. There were five cardiac deaths in group A, but none in groups B or C. The cardiac death-free rates 12, 24, and 36 months after implantation in group A were 83%, 60% and 50%, respectively. These values significantly differed from those in groups B and C (p0.05). The number of patients who received defibrillation therapy was higher in group A (p0.05). Defibrillation therapy was administered earlier in group A than in groups B and C (p0.05). The incidence of exacerbation of heart failure after implantation was 69%, 23% and 0% in groups A, B, and C, respectively. In group A, defibrillation therapy was administered in all patients with exacerbation of heart failure. The administration of defibrillation therapy significantly differed from that in patients without exacerbation of heart failure (p0.05). Exacerbation of heart failure during the postoperative acute stage occurred in both patients in group A in whom an epicardial lead system was used, but not in the four patients in group B or five in group C (p0.05). There were no differences in the incidence of other complications between the three groups. In group A, patients with reduced heart function, ICD greatly decreased the risk of sudden death. However, heart failure mortality remained high. Therefore, ICD may have limitations for improved prognosis. In group A patients, defibrillation therapy was administered in all patients with exacerbation of heart failure or death due to heart failure. In patients with reduced heart function, treatment for heart failure and prophylaxis of VT and/or VF should be administered.

The relationship between coronary vasospasticity and the development of atherosclerotic lesion was studied in 24 patients with vasospastic angina. All patients had no organic stenosis initially and underwent follow-up coronary angiography at 66 +/- 9 months after the initial examination. The coronary artery diameter was measured with the contour detection method. The spastic and non-spastic sites were identified at the initial coronary angiography with the acetylcholine provocation test. The change of the luminal diameter (delta LD) and the ratio of the change of luminal diameter (% delta LD) were compared at the spastic and the non-spastic sites. The follow-up examination showed significant decreases of coronary artery diameter in both the spastic (2.35 +/- 0.67 vs 2.16 +/- 0.58 mm, p0.001) and non-spastic sites (2.66 +/- 0.91 vs 2.54 +/- 0.84 mm, p = 0.02). However, delta LD and % delta LD were not different between the spastic and non-spastic sites (delta LD: -0.19 +/- 0.40 vs -0.12 +/- 0.46 mm, NS; % delta LD: -6.7 +/- 14.8% vs -3.2 +/- 17.0%, NS). In conclusion, coronary vasospasticity does not promote the development of atherosclerotic lesion.

Prulifloxacin (PUFX), a new quinolone antimicrobial agent, was administered to a total of 122 patients and carriers to investigate its clinical efficacy, safety and usefulness in infectious enteritis (bacillary dysentery, enteritis caused by Salmonella spp. and enteropathogenic E. coli, cholera and so on). In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of UFX (active compound) was determined against each clinical isolate, and compared with that of ciprofloxacin (CPFX), ofloxacin (OFLX), tosufloxacin (TFLX) and nalidixic acid (NA). The correlation between the concentration of UFX in feces and the change of the fecal microflora were also investigated when PUFX was administered to the patients with acute infectious enteritis. A daily dose of 400 mg of PUFX was administered orally in two divided doses (morning and evening) for 5 days, with the exception of 7 days administration against salmonella enteritis and 3 days administration against cholera. 84 cases were adapted for evaluating the usefulness. The clinical efficacy was 100% in all the enteritis except salmonella enteritis, in which it was 88.9% (8/9 cases). On the bacteriological efficacy, the elimination rate was 100% in all isolates except Salmonella spp., in which it was 75.0% (12/16 cases). As for the adverse effect, uriticaria in moderate degree was observed in 1 (0.9%) of 109 cases. Abnormal changes in laboratory findings were seen in 3 (3.0%) of 100 cases, consisting of 1 with eosinophilia and 2 with elevated S-GPT, although they were all slight in degree. The usefulness rate was 65.5% (55/84 cases) for "very useful" and 95.2% (80/84 cases) for "very useful" and "useful". MIC90 of UFX against Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., E. coli and V. cholerae, was 0.025, 0.05, 0.025 and 0.05 microgram/ml, respectively. These values were the same as those of CPFX and TFLX, and superior to OFLX and NA. UFX concentrations in feces followed by administration of PUFX in 3 cases with acute infectious enteritis were higher than that of MIC90 of UFX against Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., E. coli and V. cholerae. The changes of the fecal microflora, which influence the efficacy and safety of PUFX, were not observed.

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of detection of angina-related coronary arteries in patients with unstable angina pectoris. Twenty patients with unstable angina pectoris underwent 123I-BMIPP scintigraphy at rest. A mean duration from last anginal attack to 123I-BMIPP scintigraphy was 408 +/- 3.2 days. Seventeen of 20 angina-related coronary territories were detected by reduced 123I-BMIPP uptake. The sensitivity and specificity for detection of angina-related coronary arteries were 85% and 95%, respectively. The decrease in myocardial uptake of 123I-BMIPP agreed with the decrease in regional wall motion by using ultrasonic echocardiography. 123I-BMIPP scintigraphy may be useful for detection of angina-related coronary artery in a routine clinical examination in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

1. The Na(+)-K+ pump current (Ip) was studied in sino-atrial (SA) node cells of rabbits using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. 2. With 50 mM Na+ in the pipette solution ([Na+]pip), changing the external K+ concentration (-K+-o) from 0 to 5.4 mM caused the holding current to shift in an outward direction and reach a new steady state. The current-voltage relationships obtained by subtraction of current traces recorded at 0 mM Ko+ from those recorded at 5.4 mM Ko+ revealed time-independent and voltage-dependent characteristics. The external K(+)-induced current was completely blocked by external application of 10 microM ouabain, indicating the existence of Ip in SA node cells of rabbit heart. 3. Ip increased as [K+]o increased. With 30 mM Na+pip, Ip at 0 mV was activated by [K+]o with non-linear least-squares fit parameters for the Hill equation of K0.5 of 1.4 mM and a Hill coefficient (nH) of 1.2 (n = 7). 4. The cation dependence of the K+ site of the Na(+)-K+ pump was examined using various monovalent cations. The sequence was K+ > or = Rb+ > Cs+ > > > Li+. 5. Ip at 0 mV also increased as [Na+]pip was increased from 10 to 150 mM at 5.4 mM Ko+, with a K0.5 value of 14 mM and a nH of 1.3 (n = 54). 6. Ip at 0 mV was reduced by lowering the temperature from 37 to 25 degrees C with 30 mM Na+pip and 5.4 mM Ko+. The temperature coefficient (Q10) for Ip was 2.1 (n = 27). 7. With 10 mM Na+pip and 5.4 mM Ko+, the half-activation voltage of Ip was -52 +/- 16 mV and the current at this voltage was 22.5 +/- 3.5 pA (n = 10), indicating that Ip contributes significantly to the background outward current during the normal pacemaker potential of SA node cells.

A clinical study was carried out on pazufloxacin (PZFX) in 137 patients including shigellosis, Salmonella enteritis, enteropathogenic Esherichia coli enteritis and cholera, and carriers of these pathogens. Antibacterial activity of PZFX against clinical isolates, fecal concentration of PZFX and effects of PZFX on fecal microflora were also investigated. The overall clinical efficacy rate was 97.2%. The bacteriological efficacy rates were 98.2% against Shigella spp., 81.8% against Salmonella spp., 50% against Vibrio cholerae O1, and 100% against E. coli, V. parahaemolyticus, Aeronomas spp., Plesionomas shigelloides and V. cholerae non-O1, respectively. Side effect (epigastralgia) was observed in 1 of 130 cases (0.8%). The rate of abnormal laboratory findings was 11.2% (11/98). These were mainly elevation of GOT and/or GPT and increased eosinophils. The clinical usefulness rate was 95.2%. The MIC90 values of PZFX against Shigella spp., Salmonella spp. and E. coli were 0.025, 0.025 and 0.025 micrograms/ml, respectively. The results of fecal drug concentration and the effects on fecal microflora in one patient were compatible with those obtained in healthy volunteers.