To understand the pathophysiology of hereditary cardiomyopathy, we measured the phosphorylation status of regulatory proteins, troponin I (TnI), troponin T (TnT), myosin light chain 2 (MLC2), and myosin-binding protein C (MyBP-C), and the Ca²⁺-dependence of tension development and ATPase activity in skinned right ventricular trabeculae obtained from cardiomyopathic (TO-2 strain, n = 8) and control (F1B strain, n = 8) hamsters. The Ca²⁺ sensitivities of tension development and ATPase activity (mean ± SD) were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in the TO-2 strain (pCa₅₀ 5.64 ± 0.04 in tension and 5.65 ± 0.04 in ATPase activity) than in the F1B strain (pCa₅₀ 5.48 ± 0.03 in tension and 5.51 ± 0.03 in ATPase activity). No significant differences in their maximum values were observed between TO-2 (40.8 ± 7.4 mN/mm² in tension and 0.52 ± 0.15 μmol/l/s in ATP consumption) and F1B (42.3 ± 8.5 mN/mm² in tension and 0.58 ± 0.41 μmol/l/s in ATP consumption) preparations, indicating that the tension cost (ATPase activity/tension development) in TO-2 was quite similar to that in F1B. The phosphorylation levels of MLC2 and TnI were significantly (P < 0.01) lower in TO-2 than in F1B. These results suggest that the increase in the Ca²⁺ sensitivities of tension development and the ATPase activity in TO-2 hearts result from the decreased basal level of TnI phosphorylation, and these features can be considered to produce the incomplete diastolic relaxation and partly improve the systolic function in TO-2 hearts.

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野生カイツブリ(Tachybaptus ruficollis)一羽が兵庫県下で衰弱のために保護され死亡した。剖検により腺胃漿膜面に付着する多数の線虫(Eustrongylides tubifex)が認められ, 筋層を貫通して内腔に頭部もしくは尾部を露出していた。病理組織学的には線虫が侵入した周囲組織に炎症性細胞浸潤を伴う高度な病変が認められ, 本線虫寄生が野生における死因のひとつになっていると推察された。

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Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPO) associated with non-small cell lung cancer in a 58-year-old man was accompanied by an elevated serum level of growth hormone (GH). HPO rapidly disappeared after resection of the primary tumor and the elevation of serum GH was resolved. Immunohistochemically the tumor contained growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) but not GH. These findings suggest that the high serum GH level due to ectopic GHRH production in the tumor, was a contributing factor in HPO. This is the second reported case of non-small cell lung cancer which was immunohistochemically positive for GHRH associated with HPO.
(Internal Medicine 40: 532-535, 2001)

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Purpose: This study evaluated the effects of water pressure on the mechanical properties and tensile bond strength of autopolymerized resins during polymerization at room temperature using a dental pressure pot with chair-side ease of handling.
Methods: Four different autopolymerized resins (Unifast II, Unifast III, Provinice, and Miky Plus) were used. Specimens were fabricated by the brush-on technique. In the pressure group, specimens were polymerized in a dental pressure pot under 0.2 MPa water pressure at room temperature. In the non-pressure group, specimens were polymerized on bench. The 2 groups were compared for dimensional accuracy, 3-point bending, and tensile bond strength. Data were statistically analyzed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s multiple comparison test at a significance level of α=0.05.
Results: Two-way ANOVA indicated that both resin and pressure had significant effects on the polymerization shrinkage rate (PSR). Interaction between resin and pressure was also significant. The PSR was lower in the pressure group than in the non-pressure group. The PSRs of Unifast II and Miky Plus were greatly improved by pressure polymerization. Significant differences in flexural strength were observed between the 2 groups. The flexural strength significantly increased under pressure. No significant differences in tensile bond strength were observed between the 2 groups.
Conclusion: The dimensional accuracy and flexural strength of autopolymerized resins were significantly improved by the application of water pressure during polymerization. No significant changes in tensile bond strength were observed following pressure application at room temperature.

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総胆管結紮切離による閉塞性黄疸ラット(1,7,14,21日目)における網内系機能を,コンドロイチン硫酸鉄コロイド(CSFe)を用いてin vivoおよびin vitroで検討した.CSFe負荷による貧食指数K値は,単開腹ラットに比べ胆管結紮後1日目に低下した後,7日目には回復し21日目には再び低下した.CS⁵⁹Fe負荷後の肝による臓器内取り込み率でも,貧食指数K値と同様の推移を示し,21日目では肺による取り込みが有意に増加した.培養Kupffer細胞の貧食能は,胆管結紮後いずれの時期の黄疸ラットでも単開腹ラットと差は認められなかった.黄疸ラットの血漿opsonin活性は,血漿濃度に比例して上昇し,30%の濃度で無黄疸ラットと有意差が認められた.血漿Fibronectinは単開腹と黄疸ラットで同様に上昇し,有意差は認められなかった.以上から,胆管結紮後1日目や21日目の閉塞性黄疸における網内系機能の低下は,個々のKupffer細胞の機能やopsonin因子以外に原因があると推察された.

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Background: In the absence of obstructive coronary narrowing, impaired coronary flow reserve (CFR) represents coronary microvascular dysfunction. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) allows non-invasive measurement of CFR in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of TTDE-derived CFR (as a marker of microvascular function) in predicting long-term cardiovascular events, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) events, and the development of heart failure (HF). Methods and Results: This study consisted of 272 patients with coronary artery disease not involving obstructive narrowing (≥50%) in the LAD. Patients underwent TTDE examination for CFR measurement in the LAD. During the follow-up period of 4.0±1.9 years, 32 patients (12%) had cardiovascular events. Cox proportional hazard analysis identified lower CFR as an independent risk factor of cardiovascular events (P<0.001), ACS events (P=0.008), and HF development (P=0.003). A CFR less than 2.4 was the best cut-off value for predicting all events (area under the curve=0.82). CFR excellently predicted the development of HF (area under the curve=0.95), but not ACS events (area under the curve=0.67). Conclusions: This TTDE study demonstrated that CFR was a significant and independent determinant of long-term cardiovascular events, ACS events and HF in patients with coronary artery disease. A CFR greater than 2.0 was not suitable to predict a favorable long-term outcome, even in the absence of obstructive coronary narrowing.  (Circ J 2012; 76: 1958–1964)

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Arteriolar dimensions were determined during vasodilated states of natural vasomotion in unanesthetized rabbits using the ear chamber technique. Analysis of 383 arteriolar segments were made in 16 New Zealand white rabbits, 8-9 weeks after implantation of the ear chamber under the conditions of 25.5 ± 0.5°C (room temperature), 33.6 ± 1.4°C (ear surface temperature), 38.3 ± 0.5°C (rectal temperature), 66.5 ± 3.2 mmHg (aortic mean blood pressure) and 238.6 ± 33.0 beats/min (heart rate). Inside diameter (ID) and outside diameter were measured by closed circuit television microscopy using a Vista model 308 video image splitter. Wall thickness (WT) vs. ID, wall-to-lumen ratio (W/L) vs. ID and cross-sectional wall area (CSWA) vs. ID were fitted to the formulae: WT=0.14×ID+3.8 (r=0.76, p<0.001), W/L=4.23÷ID+0.12 (r=0.84, p<0.001) and CSWA=0.57×ID²+11.0×ID+93.7 (r=0.93, p<0.001), respectively. W/L increased rapidly in precapillary arterioles, especially below 30 μm ID, since WT has a finite size while ID does not. This structural property of resistance vessels is important in regulating peripheral resistance, blood flow, and downstream capillary density.

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Ouabain-induced tachyarrhythmias in cats can be abolished by bolus injection of NaHCO₃ solution. This effect is consistent, rapid and of short duration. The antiarrhythmic effect appears to be due to high sodium concentration of this solution, as hypertonic NaCl solution with equal concentration of sodium exerts the same effect. Alkalinity and hyper-osmolality cannot account for the antiarrhythmic effect of NaHCO₃ as respiratory alkalosis and mannitol solution with equal osmolality did not relieve the arrhythmias. Overdrive suppression is not responsible for this effect as the heart rate slows down during normalization of the cardiac rhythm. It is postulated that high Na⁺ concentration abolished ouabain-induced arrhythmias by competition with calcium ion in the myocardial cell sarcotubular system thus replacing it. This hypothesis is supported by the known effect of other agents such as sodium-EDTA and magnesium chloride, in digitalis-induced arrhythmias, which exert their antiarrhythmic properties by removal or displacement of calcium in the myocardial cells.

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Although anti-neutrophil antibodies (ANAs) often exist and immunoreaction may be involved in agranulocytosis, few reports have so far described ANA-positive cases of agranulocytosis with an unknown etiology. We herein describe the case of a 69-year-old woman who presented with ANA-positive agranulocytosis. In this case, both the withdrawal of the drugs that had possibly caused neutropenia and the use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) were ineffective treatment measures. Approximately 2 weeks after the discontinuation of the suspected drugs, we initiated corticosteroid pulse therapy; the neutrophil count recovered by day 19 of steroid therapy. High-dose methylprednisolone therapy should thus be considered for patients demonstrating ANA-positive agranulocytosis with an unknown etiology that is refractory to G-CSF treatment.

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Recent studies have demonstrated that deoxycorticosterone sulfate can be formed at extra-adrenal sites, but its actual origin and role are not yet clear. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the origin of deoxycorticosterone sulfate and the usefulness of this steroid for the diagnosis of 11β-hydroxylase deficiency in the early neonatal period. We measured serum deoxycorticosterone sulfate levels during glucocorticoid therapy in an infant with 11β-hydroxylase deficiency. Before therapy, the serum deoxycorticosterone sulfate concentration at 6 days of life was higher than normal. Following glucocorticoid therapy, the serum deoxycorticosterone sulfate concentration showed a marked and dose-dependent suppression, as did the serum deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol levels. These findings suggest that serum deoxycorticosterone sulfate can be used as another specific indicator for the diagnosis of 11β-hydroxylase deficiency in neonates, and that the adrenal glands may play an important role in neonatal deoxycorticosterone sulfate production under the control of ACTH.

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北海道帯広市において森林性鳥獣類による樹洞の利用実態を明らかにするために，利用種および利用数の季節変化を，一年を通して日中と夜間に調査した．樹洞の一次生産者であるキツツキ類3種と，二次利用者である鳥類および哺乳類12種が確認された．樹洞は，日中，夜間ともほぼ一年を通して利用され，利用率が最も高い時期は日中で6月，夜間で7月であったが，利用率の季節変化は日中と夜間で同調していた．二次利用者鳥類による利用は繁殖期（夏）に多く，アカゲラ，コアカゲラ，ゴジュウカラおよびエゾモモンガによる利用は一年を通してみられた．繁殖のためだけでなく，ねぐらや休息のために樹洞を利用する種もみられ，樹洞は多様な鳥獣類によってさまざまな用途で利用されていた．

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The present investigation was designed to study the relationship between mechanical and electrophysiological actions on the heart of digitalis and the effects on it of K administration.
Nineteen anesthetized dogs were given acetylstrophanthidin (AS) (30γ/Kg, followed by 1γ/Kg/min. When ectopic tachycardia occurred, sinus rhythm was restored with an infusion of K (5mEq/Kg/hour, for 5min).
As the dose of AS was increased beyond 30-40γ/Kg, ventricular rate during electrically induced atrial fibrillation was reduced and PQ interval prolonged, while PP interval, QT interval and QRS duration showed little changes. Ectopic tachycardia occurred at an average dose of 56.9γ/Kg of AS. The indices of mechanical properties, dp/dt/IIT, max dp/dt and dp/dt (50), began to increase as soon as AS infusion was started and continued to increase during the administration of AS. The dp/dt (50) and PP interval or ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation did not change in parallel. Inotropic activity was not depressed even during ectopic tachycardia. The administration of K eliminated ectopic tachycardia, but caused no changes in the other electrophysiological and mechanical properties of the digitalized heart.
The following conclusions were derived from the experiment. 1) The 2 actions of digitalis, mechanical and electrophysiological ones, are not necessarily related to each other. 2) Digitalis intoxication, represented by ectopic tachycardia, does not mean the depression of the inotropic activity. 3) The administration of K does not affect the inotropic activity of digitalis

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The incidence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) , which is commonly caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, has increased recently in immunocompromised patients and has become the common cause of death in these patients. Antifungal resistance is one of the reasons for treatment failure. Since the first itraconazole-resistant A. fumigatus was reported in 1997, the reports on clinical strains of triazole-resistant A. fumigatus have increased, as well as studies on the resistant mechanisms. In this paper, the known molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance in Aspergillus, especially in A. fumigatus, are reviewed.

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Background: In young children with wheezing or bronchiolitis, especially with respiratory syncitial virus, blood eosinophilia and a high eosinophil cationic protein level in nasal secretions predicts subsequent wheezing in later childhood. However, whether eosinophil activation results from virus-induced inflammation or local eosinophilia per se precedes the onset of wheezing remains unknown. In the present study, we examined the association between the presence of nasal eosinophils during respiratory tract infection (RTI) and subsequent wheezing in young children.
Methods: A total of 35 young children less than 3 years of age who visited our outpatient clinic with rhinorrhea between April and July 2004 were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Subjects who were given diagnoses of allergic rhinitis were excluded. In all the subjects, the presence of eosinophils in nasal secretions was determined. The subjects were followed, and the cumulative incidences of wheezing during the subsequent 2- and 12-month periods were examined.
Results: According to a logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, family history, allergies, and wheezing at entry, young children with nasal eosinophil infiltration during acute RTI had a significantly higher risk of wheezing during the subsequent 2 months, compared with those without nasal eosinophil infiltration (adjusted odds ratio, 27.618, p = 0.016).
Conclusions: Our findings not only suggest that nasal eosinophil testing may serve as a convenient clinical marker for identifying young children at risk for subsequent wheezing, but also shed new light on the role of eosinophils in the onset of wheezing in young children.

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We conducted a cohort study to investigate the effects of coffee and green tea consumption on all-cause mortality in a rural Japanese population.Data were obtained from 2, 855 men and women aged 40-79 years in 1989, and during the subsequent 9.9 years of follow-up.Using the Cox regression model to adjust for potential confounding factors, we calculated the multivariate hazard ratios of death from all causes separately for men and women.The multivariate hazard ratio of mortality for men who consumed two or more cups of coffee per day, compared with those who consumed less than half a cup per day, was 0.43(95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.63), and the ratio for those who consumed half to one cup of coffee per day was 0.70(95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.94).Exclusion of subjects with less than 5 years of follow-up did not substantially change the findings.No other statistically significant associations were identified between consumption of the two beverages and all-cause mortality.For men, multivariate hazard ratios of death from apoplexy showed a significant inverse association with increasing coffee consumption.The effects of habitual coffee consumption and its related factors on health in Japan need to be studied in greater detail.J Epidemiol, 2002;12:191-198

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Previously, we showed that four mutated acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes derived from rice and Arabidopsis (W548L/S627IOsALS, S627IOsALS, W574L/S653IAtALS and S653IAtALS) confer high levels of resistance to pyrimidinylcarboxylate type ALS inhibitors (Kawai et al. 2008). Mutated ALS genes of rice were obtained from rice cells cultured in the presence of an ALS-inhibitor. The mutated ALS genes of Arabidopsis, which have the same amino acid substitutions as those of rice, have been generated artificially. Here, we demonstrate that these mutated genes function as effective selectable markers for transformation of Arabidopsis. Specifically, we studied expression of the mutated ALSs in Arabidopsis and their effect on the sensitivity of transgenic Arabidopsis plants to the ALS inhibitors. Our results show that the degree of resistance to the ALS inhibitors of transformants expressing Arabidopsis mutated ALSs was greater than those of transformants expressing rice mutated ALSs. The amino acid sequences of ALSs derived from monocotyledonous plants and those derived from dicotyledonous plants were clearly divided into two clusters in a phylogenetic tree. Based on these results, it would be preferable to use rice and Arabidopsis mutated ALS genes for generating monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous transgenic plants, respectively. Moreover, our findings are particularly useful when generating transgenic plants with a known ALS nucleotide sequence. In such cases, their own ALS gene carrying these mutations could be used as a selectable marker because amino acid residues at the point of mutation are conserved among plant species.

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　成人発症の軟口蓋穿孔の原因は, 結核や梅毒などの感染, Wegener 肉芽腫症に代表される血管炎, NK/T 細胞悪性リンパ腫といった悪性腫瘍など多彩であるが, 発症原因が不明なものは過去に報告がない. 今回我々は発症原因が不明な軟口蓋穿孔を経験したので文献的考察を加えて報告する. 症例は68歳女性で, 鼻咽腔逆流と開鼻声を主訴に当科を紹介受診した. 穿孔の原因検索を約4ヵ月にわたって行ったが原因の同定に至らず, 本人の症状を改善させることを目的として push back 法による穿孔閉鎖を行った. 術後1年間の経過で再穿孔はなく機能も良好に保たれているが, 今後も当面の間慎重な経過観察を行う方針である.

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被験者に高脂肪食 (含有脂肪量40g) およびコーヒー豆マンノオリゴ糖 (MOS) パウダ3.0gを摂取した後, 血中中性脂肪濃度の経時的変化について調べた.血中中性脂肪濃度は, MOS群およびプラセボ群ともに試験食摂取直後から, 急激な上昇を示し, 摂取後120-180分でピークに達した.MOS摂取群では, プラセボ群と比べて摂取後120分から300分まで低下傾向を示し, 摂取後180分で有意に低下した (p<0.05) .この結果は, MOSの摂取が, 脂質吸収の抑制に関与している可能性が示唆された.

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The objective of the present study was to analyze the activation and expression patterns of upstream and downstream factors of PGC-1α to determine whether antioxidant (AO) supplementation inhibits mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscles as an adaptation to endurance training, as well as to analyze changes in endurance capacity based on such findings. For this objective, 24 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were allocated into 4 groups (vehicle-sedentary, V-Sed; vehicle-exercise, V-EX; antioxidant-sedentary, AO-Sed; antioxidant-exercise, AO-EX) of 6 rats each. The rats were then treated with vitamin C (500 mgkg⁻¹ body weightd⁻¹) or a placebo for 8 wk, and a swimming program was implemented in some rats during the last 4 wk of this period. Immediately after the last training session, blood was collected from the tail of each rat, and TBARS was measured to test the effect of vitamin C as an AO. As a result, increased oxidative stress from exercise was inhibited by vitamin C supplementation. Analysis of whether reduced oxidative stress by vitamin C supplementation also inhibited mitochondrial biogenesis within skeletal muscles showed that phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and AMPK, along with levels of PGC-1α, NRF-1, mtTFA, and mitochondrial electron transport enzymes, increased after endurance training in spite of vitamin C supplementation. Moreover, running time, distance, and total work increased significantly in the exercise group as compared to those in the sedentary group, regardless of vitamin C supplementation. These results indicate that mitochondrial biogenesis and endurance capacity increase as a result of endurance training, regardless of AO supplementation.

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