Significance of monitoring Bio-Intact PTH (1-84) during parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: The Bio-Intact PTH (1-84) assay has recently been developed to specifically measure the intact PTH (1-84) molecule, and in this study we used it to investigate sequential changes in serum Bio-Intact PTH (1-84) levels during parathyroidectomy for secondary HPT.

Material And Methods: The subjects of this study were 70 patients (41 women, 29 men) who underwent parathyroidectomy between April 2002 and March 2005. Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid serum samples were drawn via a peripheral venous catheter after induction of anesthesia (basal), and at 5, 10, and 30 min after diseased glands excision.

Enhanced heterologous production of eicosapentaenoic acid in Escherichia coli cells that co-express eicosapentaenoic acid biosynthesis pfa genes and foreign DNA fragments including a high-performance catalase gene, vktA.

Cellular eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) makes up approximately 3% of total fatty acids in Escherichia coli DH5alpha, a strain that carries EPA biosynthesis genes (pEPADelta1). EPA was increased to 12% of total fatty acids when the host cell co-expressed the vector pGBM3::sa1(vktA), which carried the high-performance catalase gene, vktA. Where this vector was co-expressed, the transformant accumulated a large amount of VktA protein.

Oleamide derivatives suppress the spontaneous metastasis by inhibiting connexin 26.

We previously reported that overexpressing connexin 26 (Cx26) enhances the spontaneous metastasis of mouse BL6 melanoma cells. In contrast, daily intraperitoneal injections of an oleamide derivative named MI-18 potently inhibits the spontaneous metastasis of BL6 cells. In the present study, we chemically synthesized a novel oleamide derivative named MI-22 and found that it also efficiently suppressed the spontaneous metastasis of BL6 cells.

FDTD Simulation of Nonlinear Ultrasonic Pulse Propagation in ESWL.

The extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has come into wide use due to its non-invasive advantage. However, as for the shock wave propagation in human body in relation to practical lithotripsy, there are a few studies on numerical simulation based on models conforming to practical situations. In this paper we report a numerical method of finite difference time domain (FDTD) for analyzing ultrasonic pulse nonlinear propagation in human body tissues and demonstrated it through an experiment of Reichenberger's ESWL in water.

Synthesis, stabilities, and redox behavior of mono-, di-, and tetracations composed of di(1-azulenyl)methylium units connected to a benzene ring by phenyl- and 2-thienylacetylene spacers. A concept of a cyanine-cyanine hybrid as a stabilized electrochromic system.

This paper describes the preparation of two tetracations 4a(4+) and 4b(4+) composed of di(1-azulenyl)methylium units based on a new structural principle of a cyanine-cyanine hybrid for the design of electrochromic materials with two color changes. Di- and monocations 5a(2+), 5b(2+) and 6a+, 6b+ composed of di(1-azulenyl)methylium units were also prepared for the purpose of comparison. The pKR+ values of the tetracations are rather high despite their tetracationic structure, although the stability of these cations decreases with the increase of the number of the existing cation units.

Tissue distribution of Ca2+-dependent activator protein for secretion family members CAPS1 and CAPS2 in mice.

The family of Ca2+-dependent activator proteins for secretion (CAPS) is involved in dense-core vesicle exocytosis. CAPS1/CADPS1 and CAPS2/CADPS2 have been identified in mammals. CAPS1 regulates catecholamine release from neuroendocrine cells, whereas CAPS2 is involved in the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3 from cerebellar granule cells.

High-frequency potentials developed in wavelet-transformed electrocardiogram as a novel indicator for detecting Brugada syndrome.

Background: A reliable alternative method for detecting Brugada syndrome is desirable because the diagnosis of Brugada syndrome using 12-lead ECG is not optimal.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the wavelet-transformed ECG in detecting Brugada syndrome.

Methods: The study consisted of 15 patients with Brugada syndrome and 15 healthy subjects (control group).

Effects of severe smoke inhalation injury and septic shock on global hemodynamics and microvascular blood flow in sheep.

This prospective, randomized, controlled experimental study looks at the effects on global and regional microvascular blood flow (RMBF) in an ovine model of septic shock after severe smoke inhalation injury. Sixteen sheep were randomized into two groups, a control group (no injury, n = 8) and a smoke/sepsis (SS) group (n = 8), which received an insufflation of 4 sets of 12 breaths of cotton smoke (<40 degrees C) followed by instillation of live Pseudomonas aeruginosa into both lung lobes, according to an established protocol. All sheep were mechanically ventilated with 100% oxygen, and fluid resuscitated with lactated Ringer's solution for the entire duration of the 24-h experimental period to maintain hematocrit at baseline (BL) levels.

[How do self-help agencies work for recovery of drug dependence in Japan?].

DARC (Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center) is the first and largest private half-way house agency for drug addiction in Japan, in which the programs are centered on 12 step meetings and the staff is made up of only those recovered from drug dependence. The purpose of this report is to elucidate how DARC works in the recovery from drug dependence. We made two studies: staff in 30 DARC facilities and 108 users in 7 male residential facilities.

Recombinant production of docosahexaenoic acid in a polyketide biosynthesis mode in Escherichia coli.

The docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) biosynthesis gene cluster (pDHA3) from the DHA-producing Moritella marina strain MP-1 includes the genes pfaA, pfaB, pfaC, and pfaD, which are similar to the genes of polyketide biosynthesis. When this cluster was co-expressed in Escherichia coli with M. marina MP-1 pfaE, which encodes phosphopantetheinyl transferase, DHA was biosynthesized.

Evaluation of fat-free mass by whole-body counter in Japanese healthy young adults.

Whole-body counters (WBCs) are special instruments for measuring internal irradiation doses and are usually housed within or around nuclear facilities in the event of unexpected radiation emergencies. As a substantial proportion of total body potassium (TBK) is found in fat-free mass (FFM), FFM volume can be predicted from WBC-measured (40)K. We screened TBK in Japanese healthy young adults using a WBC and found strong linear correlations between TBK and lean body mass (LBM) and body mass index (r = 0.

Change of diffusion anisotropy in patients with acute cerebral infarction using statistical parametric analysis.

Purpose: We conducted statistical parametric comparison of fractional anisotropy (FA) images and quantified FA values to determine whether significant change occurs in the ischemic region.

Materials And Methods: The subjects were 20 patients seen within 24 h after onset of ischemia. For statistical comparison of FA images, a sample FA image was coordinated by the Talairach template, and each FA map was normalized.

Novel mechanism of postinfarction ventricular tachycardia originating in surviving left posterior Purkinje fibers.

Background: Other than bundle branch reentry and interfascicular reentry, monomorphic postmyocardial infarction (post-MI) reentrant ventricular tachycardia (VT) including the His-Purkinje system has not been reported. Verapamil-sensitive idiopathic left VT includes the left posterior Purkinje fibers but develops in patients without structural heart disease.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe a novel mechanism of reentrant VT arising from the left posterior Purkinje fibers in patients with a prior MI.

A phosphopantetheinyl transferase gene essential for biosynthesis of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from Moritella marina strain MP-1.

A phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase) gene (pfaE), cloned from the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-producing bacterium Moritella marina strain MP-1, has an open reading frame of 861 bp encoding a 287-amino acid protein. When the pfaE gene was expressed with pfaA-D, which are four out of five essential genes for biosynthesis of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) derived from Shewanella pneumatophori SCRC-2738 in Escherichia coli, the recombinant produced 12% EPA of total fatty acids. This suggests that pfaE encodes a PPTase required for producing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which is probably involved in the synthesis of DHA in M.

Recombinant human activated protein C improves pulmonary function in ovine acute lung injury resulting from smoke inhalation and sepsis.

Objective: To investigate the effects of recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) on pulmonary function in acute lung injury (ALI) resulting from smoke inhalation in association with a bacterial challenge.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled, experimental animal study with repeated measurements.

Setting: Investigational intensive care unit at a university hospital.

Positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation increases extravascular lung water due to a decrease in lung lymph flow.

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is used to improve gas exchange, increase functional residual capacity, recruit air spaces, and decrease pulmonary shunt in patients suffering from respiratory failure. The effect of PEEP on extravascular lung water (EVLW), however, is still not fully understood. This study was designed as a prospective laboratory experiment to evaluate the effects of PEEP on EVLW and pulmonary lymph flow (QL) under physiologic conditions.

Quality control of photosystem II. Cleavage of reaction center D1 protein in spinach thylakoids by FtsH protease under moderate heat stress.

When spinach thylakoids were subjected to moderate heat stress (40 degrees C for 30 min), oxygen evolution was inhibited, and cleavage of the reaction center-binding protein D1 of photosystem II took place, producing 23-kDa N-terminal fragments. The D1 cleavage was greatly facilitated by the addition of 0.15 mM ZnCl2 and 1 mM ATP and was completely inhibited by 1 mM EDTA, indicating the participation of an ATP-dependent metalloprotease(s) in the D1 cleavage.

Mapping-guided ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus: a novel simplified approach to radiofrequency catheter ablation of isthmus-dependent atrial flutter.

Background: Because the anatomic features of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) are complex, radiofrequency (RF) energy requirements for CTI ablation may vary at each point within the CTI. Conventionally, multiple-site mapping has been required for determining CTI conduction block.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a more efficacious method for ablation of isthmus-dependent atrial flutter.

First clinical case of boron neutron capture therapy for head and neck malignancies using 18F-BPA PET.

Background: We investigated the application of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) to suitable cancers other than glioblastoma and melanoma. Head and neck malignancies were consequently selected as adaptable cancers. We reported the clinical results of our first case treated and discussed several advantages to the application of BNCT to head and neck tumors.

Vitamin E attenuates acute lung injury in sheep with burn and smoke inhalation injury.

Introduction: A decrease in alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) plasma levels in burn patients is typically associated with increased mortality. We hypothesized that vitamin E supplementation (alpha-tocopherol) would attenuate acute lung injury induced by burn and smoke inhalation injury.

Materials And Methods: Under deep anesthesia, sheep (33 +/- 5 kg) were subjected to a flame burn (40% total body surface area, third degree) and inhalation injury (48 breaths of cotton smoke, < 40 degrees C).

The inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase in ovine sepsis model.

Excessive NO has been shown to play a major role in the pathogenesis of multiple organ dysfunctions in septic condition. Burn injury, especially if it is associated with smoke inhalation, is often complicated by subsequent development of pneumonia or sepsis that determine the outcome. In the present study, we developed an ovine sepsis model, created by exposing sheep to smoke inhalation followed by instillation of bacteria into the airway, that closely mimics human sepsis and pneumonia.

Clinical features of emergency electrocardiography in patients with acute myocardial infarction caused by left main trunk obstruction.

Background: To diagnose left main trunk (LMT) infarction by 12-lead standard electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important emergency technique, but the features in LMT infarctions have not been clarified.

Methods And Results: The study enrolled 140 subjects who were divided into 4 groups according to the location of the culprit artery: 35 with LMT, 35 with left anterior descending artery (LAD), 35 with right coronary artery and 35 with left circumflex artery. Various parameters obtained from the ECGs were analyzed.

Induction of centrosome amplification in p53 siRNA-treated human fibroblast cells by radiation exposure.

Centrosome amplification can be detected in the tissues of p53(-/-) mice. In contrast, loss of p53 does not induce centrosome amplification in cultured human cells. However, examination of human cancer tissues and cultured cells has revealed a significant correlation between loss or mutational inactivation of p53 and occurrence of centrosome amplification, supporting the notion that p53 mutation alone is insufficient to induce centrosome amplification in human cells, and that additional regulatory mechanisms are involved.