[Detection of enteric pathogen bacteria with the PCR method from mixed fecal specimens of food handlers].

We developed an assay for rapid, specific detection of Shigella, Salmonella, and verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 using the direct PCR analysis of mixed human fecal specimens. In this study, the sensitivity of the direct PCR assay for 50 mixed human fecal specimen was found to be 1.3, 0.

Comprehensive analysis of intravascular ultrasound and angiographic morphology of culprit lesions between ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Some plaques lead to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), whereas others cause non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). We used angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to investigate the difference of culprit lesion morphologies in ACS.

Methods: Consecutive 158 ACS patients whose culprit lesions were imaged by preintervention IVUS were enrolled (STEMI=81; NSTEACS=77).

Intravascular ultrasound morphology of culprit lesions and clinical demographics in patients with acute coronary syndrome in relation to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at onset.

Despite current standards of care aimed at achieving targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), many patients remain at high residual risk of cardiovascular events. We sought to assess the LDL-C-dependent differences in culprit intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) morphologies and clinical characteristics in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Eighty-six consecutive ACS patients whose culprit lesions imaged by preintervention IVUS were divided into two groups based on the fasting LDL-C level on admission: a low-LDL-C group (LDL-C <2.

Neointimal tissue component assessed by tissue characterization with 40 MHz intravascular ultrasound imaging: comparison of drug-eluting stents and bare-metal stents.

Objectives: The present study used iMap IVUS system to compare neointimal tissue components between DES and bare-metal stents (BMSs).

Background: Drug-eluting stents (DESs) can cause impaired arterial healing, which constitutes the most important pathological substrate underlying late DES thrombosis. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-based tissue characterization allows for the in vivo identification of neointimal tissue components.

Coronary plaque component in patients with vasospastic angina: a virtual histology intravascular ultrasound study.

Background: Coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease. However, tissue components of coronary plaque in patients with vasospastic angina (VSA) have been unknown. This study used virtual histology (VH)-intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to elucidate the tissue component of spastic coronary arteries and its gender differences in patients with VSA.

[Direct PCR detection of food-borne bacteria from mixed human feces].

Mixed human feces were evaluated for simultaneous direct PCR detection of 3 food-borne bacteria--verotoxin-producing bacteria, Salmonella, and Shigella. Mixed feces concentrated approximately 2.5% in distilled water, were heated at 95 degrees C for 5 min.

Premenopausal woman with acute myocardial infarction caused by spontaneous coronary artery dissection and potential association with coronary vasospasm.

A 45-year-old premenopausal woman presented with acute myocardial infarction (MI). An intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) revealed that her distal right coronary artery was occluded by spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). She did not have any specific condition related to SCAD.