Automated Bowel Sound and Motility Analysis with CNN Using a Smartphone.

Bowel sound (BS) is receiving more attention as an indicator of gut health since it can be acquired non-invasively. Current gut health diagnostic tests require special devices that are limited to hospital settings. This study aimed to develop a prototype smartphone application that can record BS using built-in microphones and automatically analyze the sounds.

Adherence and Cytotoxicity of Candida spp. to HaCaT and A549 cells.

Candida species are opportunistic fungal pathogens that cause superficial or invasive infections. Recently, the incidence of infection by non-Candida albicans species, especially Candida glabrata, has increased. In this study, we analyzed the adhesion and cytotoxicity of various Candida spp.

Finding temporal gene expression patterns for translational research.

Translational research of time-series of gene-expression microarray datasets makes use on gene expression profiles that have been obtained at different points in time. Our web-based multi-user program helps a researcher find temporal patterns like peaks in large pre-selected microarray data sets that include data from different but related studies in publicly available databases. If all studies use the same platform, data can be combined for a meta-analysis type approach.

Randomized comparison of bipolar vs unipolar plus bipolar recordings during atrioventricular junction ablation: importance and efficacy of unipolar recording.

Background: No prior studies have clarified the utility and efficacy of unipolar recording for identifying successful sites for atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation.

Methods And Results: Thirty-six patients underwent radiofrequency (RF) AVJ ablation for drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF) or AF/flutter. AVJ ablation was performed with either bipolar (Bi-group; n=18) or unipolar plus bipolar recording (Uni-group; n=18).

Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias originating from the tricuspid annulus: Prevalence, electrocardiographic characteristics, and results of radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Background: Idiopathic ventricular tachycardias (VTs) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) arising from the tricuspid annulus have been reported.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the prevalence and characteristics of VT/PVCs originating from the tricuspid annulus.

Methods: The ECG characteristics and results of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation were analyzed in 454 patients with idiopathic VT/PVCs.

Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia arising from the mitral annulus: a distinct subgroup of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias.

Objectives: We sought to clarify the prevalence and characteristics of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia or premature ventricular contraction originating from the mitral annulus (MAVT/PVC).

Background: Recent case reports have presented patients with MAVT/PVC.

Methods: Electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics and the results of electrophysiologic investigation and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) were analyzed in 352 patients with symptomatic idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (IVT)/premature ventricular contraction (PVC).

Effect of probucol on repeat revascularization rate after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (from the Probucol Angioplasty Restenosis Trial [PART]).

To address the issue of whether probucol reduces clinical events after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), we surveyed clinical status at 1 year after PTCA of 101 patients who had entered the Probucol Restenosis Angioplasty Trial. Repeat angioplasty at index lesions were required in 5 patients in the probucol group and in 12 in the control group, suggesting that probucol administered beginning 4 weeks before PTCA reduces repeat revascularization rates for 1 year.

Left posteroseptal Mahaim fiber associated with marked longitudinal dissociation.

We report a patient who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation of a left posteroseptal atrioventricular (AV) Mahaim fiber with a marked longitudinal dissociation. During atrial pacing, Wenckebach-type atrioventricular block over the accessory pathway was observed with progressive preexcitation and no change in polarity of the delta waves. The AV conduction curve was discontinuous, with a distinct "jump-up" in local AV conduction time of 84 ms.

Effects of intensive lipid lowering by low-density lipoprotein apheresis on regression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia: Japan Low-density Lipoprotein Apheresis Coronary Atherosclerosis Prospective Study (L-CAPS).

Twenty-five heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemic patients treated with LDL-apheresis and drugs and 11 patients treated with drugs underwent follow-up angiography 2.3 years later. One-hundred thirteen lesions were measured by quantitative angiography.

Is low density lipoprotein apheresis effective for coronary artery disease?

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is one type of therapy currently being used for coronary artery disease; however, there has been no study to compare the effectiveness of this therapy with the effectiveness of other treatments, such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). In this study, we evaluated the clinical results of these three therapies to compare their individual effectiveness for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Forty-four patients with two vessel disease (plasma cholesterol levels > 250 mg/dl) were divided into three groups (L, LDL apheresis; C, CABG; I, PTCA).

Effectiveness of an antioxidant in preventing restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: the Probucol Angioplasty Restenosis Trial.

Objectives: The Probucol Angioplasty Restenosis Trial was a prospective, randomized, controlled study that investigated the effectiveness of probucol therapy in reducing the rate of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

Background: Antioxidants have an inhibitory effect on smooth muscle cell growth in experiments in vitro and in vivo, which suggests a possible pharmacologic effect on restenosis after PTCA.

Methods: One hundred one patients were randomly assigned to receive 1,000 mg/day of probucol or control (no lipid-lowering) therapy 4 weeks before PTCA.

Role of platelets in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in dogs.

We investigated the involvement of circulating platelets in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in canine autoperfused heart-lung preparations using filters to deplete platelets and/or leukocytes. The left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was occluded for 40 min, followed by 40 min reperfusion, in 3 groups: a leukocyte-platelet-depleted (LPD) group, in which both leukocytes and platelets were depleted; a leukocyte-depleted (LD) group, in which leukocytes alone were depleted; and a control group. There were no differences in hemodynamics or arrhythmias among groups before or during coronary occlusion.

Autocrine production of endothelin-1 participates in the glucocorticoid-induced Ca2+ influx into vascular smooth muscle cells.

We determined whether endothelin-1 (ET-1) is associated with glucocorticoid-induced Ca2+ influx into vascular smooth muscle cells by examining the effects of the ETA receptor antagonist FR139317 on dexamethasone-induced 45Ca2+ uptake and dihydropyridine binding by rat A7r5 cells. FR139317 inhibited the dexamethasone-induced 45Ca2+ uptake and [methyl-3H]PN 200-110 binding in a dose-dependent manner. Slot blot analysis revealed that dexamethasone increased protein kinase C-alpha in A7r5 cells and that this effect was also abolished by FR139317.

Relation of angiographically defined coronary artery disease and plasma concentrations of insulin, lipid, and apolipoprotein in normolipidemic subjects with varying degrees of glucose tolerance.

We investigated the association between hyperinsulinemia and changes in lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein that would increase the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) independent of glucose tolerance. A coronary angiogram was recorded in 127 male subjects, including 41 with normal glucose tolerance, 41 with impaired glucose tolerance, and 45 with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Subjects were divided into 2 groups according to results: the group with CAD (n = 94) and the group with normal coronary arteries (n = 33).

Prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty by reducing lipoprotein (a) levels with low-density lipoprotein apheresis. Low-Density Lipoprotein Apheresis Angioplasty Restenosis Trial (L-ART) Group.

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that high plasma lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]) levels are associated with an increase incidence of restenosis after angioplasty. Elective transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed in 66 patients (58 men and 8 women) aged 57 +/- 9 years (mean +/- SD). Two days before and 5 days after angioplasty, all patients underwent low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis with a dextran sulfate cellulose column as an Lp(a) absorbent; 39 patients also received 10 mg of pravastatin and 1,500 mg of niacin daily.

Effects of nicorandil on cell proliferation and cholesteryl ester accumulation in arterial smooth muscle cells in culture.

Ca2+ regulates a variety of cellular mechanisms in vascular cells as well as in platelets. Nicorandil interacts with the intracellular Ca(2+)-activated processes in vascular smooth muscle cells, while Ca2+ channel blockers such as verapamil and diltiazem block voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. The effects of nicorandil are due to the hyperpolarization of the membrane, interference with mobilization of Ca2+ from the intracellular storage sites, and blockade of receptor-operated Ca2+ channels.

[Alterations of skeletal muscle metabolism in patients with congestive heart failure].

The metabolism of the skeletal muscles during exercise and recovery was investigated using phosphocreatinine (PCr) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) in patients with chronic heart failure. PCr/Pi ratio, which is closely related to the ATP/ADP ratio, and the pH were measured by 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) during and after forearm exercise in 9 patients with chronic heart failure, 11 patients with chronic lung disease, and 8 normal subjects. Exercise and recovery scans were recorded every minute for 4 min.

Glucocorticoids increase Ca2+ influx through dihydropyridine-sensitive channels linked to activation of protein kinase C in vascular smooth muscle cells.

To clarify whether protein kinase is associated with glucocorticoid-induced Ca2+ influx into vascular smooth muscle cells, we investigated the effects of protein kinase inhibitors on dexamethasone-induced 45Ca2+ uptake and dihydropyridine binding in A7r5 cells. Protein kinase C inhibitors (staurosporine and UCN-01) abolished the dexamethasone-induced 45Ca2+ uptake and [methyl-3H]PN 200-110 binding. In contrast, KT5720 and KT5823, which are more specific inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and cGMP-dependent protein kinase, respectively, did not affect the effects of dexamethasone.

Effects of probucol on impaired cardiac performance and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Plasma lipids and cardiac performance were studied in diabetic rats treated with probucol. Male Wistar rats were rendered diabetic with a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 75 mg/kg). Nondiabetic control rats received the vehicle alone.

31P-nuclear magnetic resonance evidence of abnormal skeletal muscle metabolism in patients with chronic lung disease and congestive heart failure.

The development of 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has enabled direct and non-invasive measurements of muscle metabolism. Serial measurements of the phosphocreatine/inorganic phosphate (PCr/Pi) ratio, which is closely related to the adenosine triphosphate/adenosine diphosphate (ATP/ADP) ratio and pH during and after forearm exercise were performed in 11 patients with chronic lung disease (CLD), nine patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and eight control subjects. As compared with control subjects, the PCr/Pi ratio in the patients with CLD or CHF was lower during the recovery period and significantly lower at three and 4 min exercise.

In vitro characterization of two types of LDL apheresis module and effect of repetitive LDL apheresis on plasma cholesterol levels and aortic atherosclerosis in heterozygous WHHL rabbits.

In vitro filtration was used to characterize and compare the function of two types of LDL apheresis module: membrane filtration (module M: pore diameter, 0.04 micron; effective surface area, 0.1 m2) and LDL adsorption (module A: a column containing 20 ml of polyvinyl alcohol gels fixed with polyacrylic acid).

Effects of pretreatment with 2-O-octadecylascorbic acid, a novel free radical scavenger, on reperfusion-induced arrhythmias in isolated perfused rat hearts.

The effects of pretreatment with 2-O-octadecylascorbic acid (CV-3611), a novel liposoluble free radical scavenger, on reperfusion-induced arrhythmias were studied in isolated perfused rat hearts (n = 15 per group). The hearts were subjected to 10 min of coronary artery occlusion and 3 min of reperfusion. Pretreatment with CV-3611 (5 and 20 mg/kg) reduced the incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF; reversible plus sustained) from its control value of 93% to 47% (p less than 0.

Effect of a leukocyte-platelet removal filter on ischemia induced reperfusion injury.

The effect of leukocyte and platelet depletion on reperfusion injury using a leukocyte-platelet removal filter (LRF) in intracoronary thrombolysis is reported. To better define the usefulness of LRF in evaluating the effectiveness of intracoronary thrombolysis with this device, several cardiovascular variables were examined in rabbits during ischemia followed by reperfusion. The rabbits underwent cytoapheresis with LRF (n = 5) and were compared with controls without LRF (n = 5).

Metabolic risk factors in the normolipidemic male patients with angiographically defined coronary artery disease.

The relationship of plasma lipid and apolipoprotein (apo) concentrations and plasma insulin response to oral glucose load to angiographically determined coronary artery disease (CAD) was investigated in 65 normolipidemic (plasma cholesterol less than 230 mg/dl and plasma triglyceride less than 150 mg/dl) males. According to the results of coronary angiography, the patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with normal coronary artery, NCA group (n = 21); and patients with coronary artery disease, CAD group (n = 44). No significant differences in concentrations of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride were observed between the CAD and NCA groups.