Elucidation of Substituent-Responsive Reactivities via Hierarchical and Asymmetric Assemblies in Crystalline p-Quinodimethane Derivatives.

We propose a mechanism for substituent-responsive reactivities of p-quinodimethane derivatives with four ester groups through their hierarchical and asymmetric assembly modes. Four asymmetric 7,8,8-tris(methoxycarbonyl)-p-quinodimethanes with a 7-positioned ethoxycarbonyl (2 a(H)), 2'-fluoroethoxycarbonyl (2 b(F)), 2'-chloroethoxycarbonyl (2 c(Cl)), or 2'-bromoethoxycarbonyl (2 d(Br)) were synthesized and crystallized. 2 a(H), 2 b(F) and 2 d(Br) afforded only one shape crystal, while 2 c(Cl) did two polymorphic 2 c(Cl)-α and 2 c(Cl)-β.

Clinical Features of Heart Failure in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in a Regional Japanese Cohort - Results From the Kochi RYOMA Study.

Background: The clinical features of heart failure (HF) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Japan have not been fully elucidated.

Methods and results: In 293 patients with HCM (median age at registration, 65 (57-72) years) in a prospective cardiomyopathy registration network in Kochi Prefecture (Kochi RYOMA study), HF events (HF death or hospitalization for HF) occurred in 35 patients (11.9%) (median age, 76 (69-80) years), including 11 HF deaths during a median follow-up of 6.

Associated factors with poor treatment response to initial glucocorticoid therapy in patients with adult-onset Still's disease.

Background: High-dose glucocorticoids (GC) are first-line treatment for adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD); however, some of the patients remain refractory to initial GC therapy, or rapidly relapse. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors for poor treatment response to initial GC therapy for AOSD.

Methods: Data on newly diagnosed AOSD patients were extracted from our database (n=71, mean age 51.

Clinical significance of new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: There is limited information about the clinical significance of atrial fibrillation (AF), particularly new-onset AF, in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in a community-based patient cohort. This study was carried out to clarify the prevalence and prognostic impact of AF in Japanese HCM patients.

Methods And Results: In 2004, we established a cardiomyopathy registration network in Kochi Prefecture as a prospective study, and finally, 293 patients with HCM were followed.

Sudden Cardiac Death-Relevant Events of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in a Regional Japanese Cohort - Results From the Kochi RYOMA Study.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a most devastating complication of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical features of HCM in patients who experienced SCD-relevant events in an aged Japanese community. In 2004, we established a cardiomyopathy registration network in Kochi Prefecture, and herein report on 293 patients with HCM who are followed as part of the registry.

Predominant tubulointerstitial lupus nephritis with preceding pernicious anemia.

Predominant tubulointerstitial nephritis with negligible glomerular lesions is a rare form of lupus nephritis. Although tubulointerstitial changes occur in two-thirds of patients with lupus nephritis, these lesions were mostly accompanied by glomerulonephritis. Predominant tubulointerstitial lupus nephritis has been reported to be only 13 cases in the literature as far as we surveyed.

Clinical Profile of Thromboembolic Events in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in a Regional Japanese Cohort - Results From Kochi RYOMA Study.

Background: There is limited information about the clinical profiles of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and thromboembolic events in a community-based Japanese patient cohort.

Methods and results: In 2004, we established a cardiomyopathy registration network in Kochi Prefecture that comprised 9 hospitals, and finally 293 patients with HCM were followed. The mean age at registration was 63±14 years, and 197 patients (67%) were men.

Patients' Characteristics and Clinical Course of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in a Regional Japanese Cohort - Results From Kochi RYOMA Study.

Background: There have been few studies on the clinical course of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in a community-based patient cohort in Japan.

Methods and results: In 2004, we established a cardiomyopathy registration network in Kochi Prefecture (the Kochi RYOMA study) that consisted of 9 hospitals, and finally, 293 patients with HCM were followed. The ages at registration and at diagnosis were 63±14 and 56±16 years, respectively, and 197 patients (67%) were male.

Impact of Statins Therapy for Ischemic Heart Disease Patients with Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels Less Than 100 mg/dL.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether the use of statins prevents the progression of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in patients with low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).

Methods: We reviewed data obtained from IHD patients who underwent first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients underwent follow-up coronary angiography (re-CAG) after PCI.

Impaired Tax-specific T-cell responses with insufficient control of HTLV-1 in a subgroup of individuals at asymptomatic and smoldering stages.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1)-specific T-cell immunity, a potential antitumor surveillance system in vivo, is impaired in adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). In this study, we aimed to clarify whether the T-cell insufficiency in ATL is present before the disease onset or occurs as a consequence of the disease. We investigated T-cell responses against Tax protein in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals at earlier stages of HTLV-1-infection, including 21 asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers (ACs) and four patients with smoldering-type ATL (sATL), whose peripheral lymphocyte count was in normal range.

Severe tricuspid regurgitation in the aged: atrial remodeling associated with long-standing atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: Severe idiopathic tricuspid regurgitation (TR) occurs in the aged, but the mechanism of TR is unclear and there is little information on atrial abnormalities associated with this condition. This study retrospectively analyzed patients with severe functional TR presenting with common clinical features suggesting a distinct syndrome.

Methods: Eleven patients with severe functional TR were identified by reviewing the records of 16,235 consecutive patients.

Long-term prognosis of patients with mildly dilated cardiomyopathy.

The long-term prognosis of patients with mildly dilated cardiomyopathy (MDCM) was investigated in 21 patients. MDCM was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 40% and left ventricular end-diastolic volume < or = 120 ml/m2 by left ventriculography. During a follow-up period of 6.