Autotaxin concentrations in peritoneal dialysis effluent reflect peritoneal function.

Introduction: Peritoneal equilibration test (PET) has been used to monitor peritoneal function. A more convenient marker would be useful in clinical situations including home medical care. Autotaxin is known to leak into the interstitium as vascular permeability increases during the progression of tissue fibrosis.

Regulation of the circadian rhythmic expression of Sglt1 in the mouse small intestine through histone acetylation and the mRNA elongation factor, BRD4-P-TEFb.

Jejunal sodium/glucose co-transporter (Sglt1) displays circadian expression. The jejunum was collected every 4 h from mice, and we examined histone acetylation and binding of bromodomain-containing protein-4 (BRD4) around of the gene. Histone acetylation increased in the transcribed region of Sglt1 prior to induction of the gene.

Decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate is associated with risk of end-stage renal disease in type 2 diabetes with macroalbuminuria: an observational study from JDNCS.

Background: There is increased interest in surrogate endpoints for clinical trials of chronic kidney disease.

Methods: In this nationwide observational study of 456 patients with type 2 diabetes and clinically suspected diabetic nephropathy followed for a median of 4.2 years, we evaluated the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria at baseline or during follow-up and risk of ESRD.

Mitochondrial-Targeted Antioxidant Maintains Blood Flow, Mitochondrial Function, and Redox Balance in Old Mice Following Prolonged Limb Ischemia.

Aging is a major factor in the decline of limb blood flow with ischemia. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We investigated the role of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) with regard to limb perfusion recovery in aging during ischemia.

Statistical Evaluations of Variations in Dairy Cows' Milk Yields as a Precursor of Earthquakes.

Previous studies have provided quantitative data regarding unusual animal behavior prior to earthquakes; however, few studies include long-term, observational data. Our previous study revealed that the milk yields of dairy cows decreased prior to an extremely large earthquake. To clarify whether the milk yields decrease prior to earthquakes, we examined the relationship between earthquakes of various magnitudes and daily milk yields.

Associations of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors with mortality in hospitalized heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Heart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus (DM) often co-exist. Treatment of DM in HF patients is challenging because some therapies for DM are contraindicated in HF. Although previous experimental studies have reported that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors improve cardiovascular function, whether DPP-4 inhibition improves mortality of HF patients with DM remains unclear.

Resolution of mitochondrial oxidant stress improves aged-cardiovascular performance.

Background: Senescence is a major factor that increases oxidative stress in mitochondria, which contributes toward the pathogenesis of heart disease. However, the effect of antioxidant therapy on cardiac mitochondria in aged-cardiac performance remains elusive.

Objectives: We postulated that the mitochondrial targeting of superoxide scavenging would have benefits in the aged heart.

Senescence marker protein-30 deficiency impairs angiogenesis under ischemia.

Aging decreases collateral-dependent flow recovery following acute arterial obstruction. However, the mechanisms are partially understood, therefore critical management has been lacked in clinical setting. Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) is a novel aging marker, which is assumed to act as an anti-aging factor in various organs.

Predominance of Abdominal Visceral Adipose Tissue Reflects the Presence of Aortic Valve Calcification.

Background. Aortic valve calcification (AVC) is a common feature of aging and is related to coronary artery disease. Although abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) plays fundamental roles in coronary artery disease, the relationship between abdominal VAT and AVC is not fully understood.

Relationship of hyperuricemia with mortality in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction.

Serum uric acid is a predictor of cardiovascular mortality in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. However, the impact of uric acid on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains unclear. Here, we investigated the association between hyperuricemia and mortality in HFpEF patients.

Association of Hypocalcemia With Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease--mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD) are associated with vascular calcification and abnormal electrolytes that lead to cardiovascular disease and mortality. CKD-MBD is identified by imbalances in serum calcium (Ca), phosphate, and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Although the relation of phosphate and PTH with the prognosis of HF patients has been reported, the association of Ca with prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF) and CKD remains unclear.

Beneficial Effects of Positive Airway Pressure Therapy for Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Background: Right-heart dysfunction is associated with poor prognosis in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF). It remains unclear whether sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) treatment using positive airway pressure (PAP) improves right-heart and pulmonary function and exercise capacity and reduces mortality rates of HFpEF patients.

Hypothesis: PAP may improve right-heart and pulmonary function, exercise capacity and prognosis in HFpEF patients with SDB.

Impact of peripheral artery disease on prognosis in hospitalized heart failure patients.

Background: The impact of peripheral artery disease (PAD) on heart failure (HF) prognosis remains unclear.

Methods And Results: A total of 388 consecutive decompensated HF patients were divided into 2 groups based on the presence of PAD: HF with PAD (PAD group, n=101, 26.0%) and HF without PAD (non-PAD group, n=287, 74.

Epicardial adipose tissue reflects the presence of coronary artery disease: comparison with abdominal visceral adipose tissue.

Accumulation of visceral adipose tissue is associated with a risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to examine whether different types of adipose tissue depot may play differential roles in the progression of CAD. Consecutive 174 patients who underwent both computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography were analyzed.

Impact of body mass index on mortality in heart failure patients.

Background: Higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with incident heart failure (HF), but paradoxically associated with better prognosis, recognized as the obesity paradox in HF. However, the impact of BMI on detailed prognosis on HF and the mechanism of obesity paradox remain still unclear.

Materials And Methods: We researched consecutive 648 patients admitted for HF as follows: underweight (BMI < 18·5 kg/m(2) , n = 86), normal (18·5 ≤ BMI < 25, n = 380), overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30, n = 147) and obese (30 ≤ BMI, n = 35) and compared the results from their laboratory tests and echocardiography.

Liver dysfunction assessed by model for end-stage liver disease excluding INR (MELD-XI) scoring system predicts adverse prognosis in heart failure.

Aims: Liver dysfunction due to heart failure (HF) is often referred to as cardiac or congestive hepatopathy. The composite Model for End-Stage Liver Disease excluding INR (MELD-XI) is a robust scoring system of liver function, and a high score is associated with poor prognosis in advanced HF patients with a heart transplantation and/or ventricular assist device. However, the impact of MELD-XI on the prognosis of HF patients in general remains unclear.

Comparisons of prognostic factors between young and elderly patients with chronic heart failure.

Aim: The purpose in the present study was to compare prognostic risk factors between older and younger chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.

Methods: We examined 598 consecutive CHF patients (476 men and 122 women, mean age 61.4 ± 14.

Cardiovascular function and prognosis of patients with heart failure coexistent with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often coexists with heart failure (HF), and is considered to be associated with adverse outcomes in HF patients. However, the features of cardiovascular function and the detailed all-cause mortality of HF with COPD remain unclear.

Methods And Results: Consecutive 378 patients admitted for HF who underwent spirometry were divided into three groups: HF without COPD (non-COPD group, n=272), HF with mild COPD (GOLD I group, n=82), and HF with moderate COPD (GOLD II group, n=24).

Impact of sleep-disordered breathing on myocardial damage and metabolism in patients with chronic heart failure.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has a critical association with mortality and morbidity of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Troponin T is a marker of ongoing myocardial damage and predicts adverse clinical outcomes in patients with CHF. Carnitine plays an important role in the utilization of fatty acids in the myocardium.

Serum cholinesterase is an important prognostic factor in chronic heart failure.

We determine the importance of indicators of nutrition including lymphocyte, total protein, albumin, cholinesterase and body mass index, and compare the prognostic significance in chronic heart failure (CHF). We examined consecutive 465 CHF patients (376 males, age 62 ± 14 years) who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography and blood examination including indicators of nutrition at the same time in our hospital. The patients were followed up [median period 766 days (interquartile range 500-1060)] to register cardiac deaths and rehospitalization due to worsening heart failure.

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T predicts non-cardiac mortality in heart failure.

Background:  Cardiac troponins are independent predictors of cardiac mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). Recently, elevation of troponins was described in non-cardiac diseases such as stroke and infection, among others, but it remains unclear whether high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT) predicts non-cardiac mortality in HF patients.

Methods And Results:  Four-hundred and forty-four consecutive HF patients admitted to hospital for the treatment of decompensated HF were divided into 2 groups based on median hs-TnT: group L (<0.

Unusual Animal Behavior Preceding the 2011 Earthquake off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku, Japan: A Way to Predict the Approach of Large Earthquakes.

Unusual animal behaviors (UABs) have been observed before large earthquakes (EQs), however, their mechanisms are unclear. While information on UABs has been gathered after many EQs, few studies have focused on the ratio of emerged UABs or specific behaviors prior to EQs. On 11 March 2011, an EQ (Mw 9.