Supplementation of fish oil and olive oil in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: This study evaluated whether supplementation with olive oil could improve clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity in patients who had rheumatoid arthritis and were using fish oil supplements.

Methods: Forty-three patients (34 female, 9 male; mean age = 49 +/- 19y) were investigated in a parallel randomized design. Patients were assigned to one of three groups.

Volumetric cine imaging for cardiovascular circulation using prototype 256-detector row computed tomography scanner (4-dimensional computed tomography): a preliminary study with a porcine model.

This is a preliminary demonstration of volumetric cine imaging of cardiovascular circulation in domestic pigs using a prototype 256-detector row computed tomography (CT) scanner. The scan range is approximately 120 mm in the craniocaudal direction, with a 0.5-mm slice thickness.

Myocardial perfusion imaging in pediatric cardiology.

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is an important procedure in pediatric cardiology in terms of evaluating myocardial ischemia, infarction and damage associated with various congenital or acquired heart diseases, such as Kawasaki disease, anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery and complete transposition of the great arteries after arterial switch surgery. This type of imaging can detect myocardial damage in the morphological right ventricle when it functions as a systemic pumping chamber in patients with complex congenital heart diseases after intra-cardiac repair. Myocardial perfusion imaging can also evaluate myocardial damage associated with primary or secondary cardiomyopathy in children.

Functional analysis of SNPs variants of BCRP/ABCG2.

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to identify the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) on its localization, expression level, and transport activity.

Methods: The cellular localization was identified using the wild type and seven different SNP variants of BCRP (V12M, Q141K, A149P, R163K, Q166E, P269S, and S441N BCRP) after transfection of their cDNAs in plasmid vector to LLC-PK1 cells. Their expression levels and transport activities were determined using the membrane vesicles from HEK293 cells infected with the recombinant adenoviruses containing these kinds of BCRP cDNAs.

The novel gene fad104, containing a fibronectin type III domain, has a significant role in adipogenesis.

A novel gene named fad104 (factor for adipocyte differentiation-104), whose expression level quickly increased in the early stage of adipogenesis, was isolated and characterized. The deduced amino acid sequence of fad104 revealed the possible presence of a fibronectin type III domain and transmembrane domain. The expression of fad104 was detected in adipocyte differentiable 3T3-L1 cells but not observed in the non-adipogenic cell line NIH-3T3.

Effects of acute hypovolaemia by furosemide on tracheal transepithelial potential difference and mucus in dogs.

Furosemide is a potent diuretic that affects water transfer across the respiratory epithelium, which is closely related to the transepithelial potential difference (PD). Water is a critical factor that determines mucus transport; an important lung defence mechanism that removes particles and microorganisms from the respiratory system. The aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effects of furosemide and hypovolaemia on tracheal PD and mucus properties.

New intraluminal coronary shunt tube for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Purpose: In cooperation with JMS Co., Ltd. (Hiroshima, Japan), we have developed a new intraluminal coronary shunt tube to allow easier, safer, and more accurate off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG).

Placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) expression is associated with chemosensitivity in human endometrial carcinoma.

Objective: Although treatment for advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma has improved over recent years with the introduction of paclitaxel- and platinum-based chemotherapy, in most, the disease remains incurable because of resistance to chemotherapy. In the previous study, we have shown that placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) is associated with poor prognosis. The objective of this study was to determine whether P-LAP expression affects the chemosensitivity in endometrial carcinoma patients.

The novel gene fad158, having a transmembrane domain and leucine-rich repeat, stimulates adipocyte differentiation.

Adipocyte differentiation is known to be regulated by a complex array of genes known as master regulators. Using a subtraction method, we previously isolated 102 genes that are expressed in the early stage of adipocyte differentiation. One of these genes named fad158 (factor for adipocyte differentiation 158) seems to be a novel gene, since there is no significantly similar gene listed in databases.

[A study on effectiveness of recovery from drug dependence by participates with "DARC"].

The purpose of this study is to make clear changes to participate in "DARC". For this purpose, we made research to use the same measure of previous study for DARC members at fifteen sites in Japan. As a result we found characteristic changes of drug dependents those who participate in DARC.

PYNOD, a novel Apaf-1/CED4-like protein is an inhibitor of ASC and caspase-1.

Recently, a large subfamily of nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-containing proteins that have an N-terminal pyrin-like domain and C-terminal leucine-rich repeats has been described. In this study, we identified PYNOD, a novel member of this family that lacks the leucine-rich repeats. We found that human PYNOD mRNA is expressed in various tissues and at high levels in heart, skeletal muscle and brain.

Effects of C-type natriuretic peptide on ionic currents in mouse sinoatrial node: a role for the NPR-C receptor.

The effects of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on heart rate and ionic currents were demonstrated by recording the ECG from adult mice and performing voltage-clamp experiments on single sinoatrial (SA) node cells isolated from mouse heart. The selective natriuretic peptide type C receptor (NPR-C) agonist cANF (10(-7) M) significantly decreased heart rate in the presence of isoproterenol (5 x 10(-9) M), as indicated by an increase in the R-R interval of ECGs obtained from Langendorff-perfused hearts. Voltage-clamp measurements in enzymatically isolated single pacemaker myocytes revealed that CNP (10(-8) M) and cANF (10(-8) M) significantly inhibited L-type Ca2+ current [ICa(L)].

[Perospirone therapy in elderly patients with schizophrenia].

Perospirone is a novel serotonin-2 and dopamine-2 receptor antagonist (SDA) developed in Japan. Premarketing trials suggested that this agent was effective in reducing positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and had a favorable side-effect profile. However, these trials included only a few elderly patients, so the usefulness of perospirone in this population remains unknown.

Scatter correction by two-window method standardizes cardiac I-123 MIBG uptake in various gamma camera systems.

Unlabelled: Heart to mediastinum count ratio (H/M) has been commonly utilized as an indicator of myocardial I-123 MIBG uptake. However, normal ranges of H/M were markedly different among various gamma camera systems. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether scatter correction by two-window method standardizes H/M among various gamma camera systems.

Comparison of time- and voltage-dependent K+ currents in myocytes from left and right atria of adult mice.

Consistent differences in K+ currents in left and right atria of adult mouse hearts have been identified by the application of current- and voltage-clamp protocols to isolated single myocytes. Left atrial myocytes had a significantly (P < 0.05) larger peak outward K+ current density than myocytes from the right atrium.

Measurement of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction by quantitative gated SPET, contrast ventriculography and magnetic resonance imaging: a meta-analysis.

All previous validation studies of quantitative gated single-photon emission tomography (QGS) have examined relatively few patients, and the accuracy of QGS thus remains uncertain. We performed a meta-analysis of data from 301 participants in ten studies that compared QGS using technetium-99m-labelled tracers with contrast left ventriculography (LVG), and from 112 participants in six studies that compared QGS with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Linear regression and Bland-Altman analyses were used to evaluate pooled data from individuals across the studies.

Growth of stenotic lesions after balloon angioplasty for pulmonary artery stenosis after arterial switch operation.

Little is known about the growth potential of pulmonary stenotic lesions after balloon angioplasty (BA) in patients after the arterial switch operation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth potential of pulmonary stenotic lesions after BA and assess the midterm results of BA for pulmonary artery stenosis after the arterial switch operation. Thirty-seven patients who had undergone 52 procedures had repeat catheterization at a median of 43 years (range 1.

Fasting plasma ghrelin levels are negatively correlated with insulin resistance and PAI-1, but not with leptin, in obese children and adolescents.

Ghrelin is a novel growth hormone-releasing peptide isolated from human and rat stomach that induces weight gain by increasing food intake and reducing fat utilization. Although recent data indicate that ghrelin is downregulated in human adult obesity, the characteristics of human obesity are heterogeneous, especially in children and adolescents, and depend on the distribution of subcutaneous and visceral fat tissue. We measured fasting plasma ghrelin concentrations by radioimmunoassay in 49 obese Japanese children and adolescents (38 boys and 11 girls; mean age 10.

Voltage-sensitive dye mapping in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts.

An imaging system suitable for recordings from Langendorff-perfused rat hearts using the voltage-sensitive dye 4-[beta-[2-(di-n-butylamino)-6-naphthyl]vinyl]pyridinium (di-4-ANEPPS) has been developed. Conduction velocity was measured under hyper- and hypokalemic conditions, as well as at physiological and reduced temperature. Elevation of extracellular [K(+)] to 9 mM from 5.

Nonobstructive ASD creation to qualify patients for the Fontan operation: effects on pulmonary hypertension due to restrictive left atrioventricular valve and interatrial communication.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to elevated left atrial pressure (LAp) caused by restrictive left atrioventricular valve and interatrial communication sometimes precludes patients with univentricular heart from undergoing the Fontan operation. We have created atrial septal defect (ASD) for such patients to reduce LAp and then pulmonary arterial pressure (PAp) and pulmonary vascular resistance (Rp) in an attempt to qualify the patients for the Fontan repair. This study was performed to clarify the efficacy and limitation of this approach.

Effects of intravenous furosemide on mucociliary transport and rheological properties of patients under mechanical ventilation.

The use of intravenous (IV) furosemide is common practice in patients under mechanical ventilation (MV), but its effects on respiratory mucus are largely unknown. Furosemide can affect respiratory mucus either directly through inhibition of the NaK(Cl)2 co-transporter on the basolateral surface of airway epithelium or indirectly through increased diuresis and dehydration. We investigated the physical properties and transportability of respiratory mucus obtained from 26 patients under MV distributed in two groups, furosemide (n = 12) and control (n = 14).

Possibility of venous return through bone marrow in the free fibular osteocutaneous flap.

The authors report a case of a free fibular graft that was successful as a result of venous return delivered through the bone marrow. A 26-year-old man underwent reconstruction of the left tibia and a soft-tissue defect of the lower leg. A free vascularized fibular bone and skin flap was elevated.

Activation of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase limits triiodothyronine-stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity in osteoblasts.

It has been shown that thyroid hormone stimulates the activity of alkaline phosphatase, a marker of mature osteoblast phenotype, in osteoblasts. In the present study, we investigated whether p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is involved in the thyroid hormone-stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. Triiodothyronine (T(3)) markedly induced the phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase.

The role of C5a in the development of thrombotic glomerulonephritis in rats.

Thrombus formation is the important pathologic finding observed in glomerulonephritis induced by antiglomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies. Although strong deposition of C3 and membrane attack complex (MAC) is observed in this disease, the role of complement has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of complement, especially an anaphylatoxin C5a, in a rat model of thrombotic glomerulonephritis.

Effects of carvedilol on left ventricular function, mass, and scintigraphic findings in isolated left ventricular non-compaction.

A four month old infant with isolated left ventricular non-compaction was treated with carvedilol. Haemodynamic studies and various types of imaging-including echocardiography, radiographic angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and single photon emission computed tomography with (201)Tl, (123)I-beta-methyliodophenylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP), and (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG)-were performed before and 14 months after treatment. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 30% to 57%, and left ventricular end diastolic volume, end systolic volume, and end diastolic pressure showed striking reductions during treatment.