Orbital-dependent modifications of electronic structure across the magnetostructural transition in BaFe2As2.

Laser angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is employed to investigate the temperature (T) dependence of the electronic structure in BaFe2As2 across the magnetostructural transition at T{N} approximately 140 K. A drastic transformation in Fermi surface (FS) shape across T{N} is observed, as expected by first-principles band calculations. Polarization-dependent ARPES and band calculations consistently indicate that the observed FSs at k{z} approximately pi in the low-T antiferromagnetic state are dominated by the Fe3d{zx} orbital, leading to the twofold electronic structure.

A novel cardiac myosin-binding protein C S297X mutation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Mutations in the cardiac myosin-binding protein C gene (MYBPC3) have been reported to be associated with delayed expression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and a relatively good prognosis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical manifestations in patients with familial HCM caused by a novel nonsense mutation, S297X, in MYBPC3.

Methods: We analyzed the sarcomere protein genes in 93 probands with HCM.

Plasma adiponectin levels and left ventricular remodeling in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Adiponectin, which is an adipose-derived protein with antiatherosclerogenic activities, has been reported to be elevated in patients with heart failure. However, there are no reports on the significance of adiponectin in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The purpose of this study was to elucidate the clinical significance of plasma adiponectin levels in HCM patients.

Hemolytic anemia in a patient with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

A 66-year-old woman was referred for further evaluation and treatment of normocytic and normochromic anemia with hemoglobin level of 8.6 g/dL. A peripheral blood smear showed fragmented erythrocytes.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the elderly.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a relatively common genetic cardiac disorder with heterogeneous morphological, functional and clinical features. Although the risk of sudden death and incapacitating symptoms in young patients has been focused upon, the disease has been found with increasing frequency in elderly patients. However, there have been few studies on clinical features of HCM in the elderly.

[A case of filter wire protection induced carotid artery stenosis after CAS].

A 64-year-old man with asymptomatic severe ICA stenosis was treated by conventional CAS with Angioguard XP filter wire system. Follow-up angiography was performed six months later, to demonstrate severe localized stenosis in the part where the filter was deployed. Following angiography, stent-assisted angioplasty was performed successfully.

QTc prolongation and antipsychotic medications in a sample of 1017 patients with schizophrenia.

Many antipsychotic drugs cause QT prolongation, although the effect differs based on the particular drug. We sought to determine the potential for antipsychotic drugs to prolong the QTc interval (>470 ms in men and >480 ms in women) using the Bazett formula in a "real-world" setting by analyzing the electrocardiograms of 1017 patients suffering from schizophrenia. Using logistic regression analysis to calculate the adjusted relative risk (RR), we found that chlorpromazine (RR for 100 mg=1.

Serum cardiac troponin I is related to increased left ventricular wall thickness, left ventricular dysfunction, and male gender in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a sensitive and specific marker of myocardial injury. However, a systematic evaluation of cTnI in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients has not been performed.

Hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to evaluate cTnI and determine its relationship to clinical features in HCM.

Slowly progressive neuronal death associated with postischemic hyperperfusion in cortical laminar necrosis after high-flow bypass for a carotid intracavernous aneurysm.

The authors report a rare case of slowly progressive neuronal death associated with postischemic hyperperfusion in cortical laminar necrosis after radial artery/external carotid artery-middle cerebral artery bypass graft surgery for an intracavernous carotid artery aneurysm. Under barbiturate protection, a 69-year-old man underwent high-flow bypass surgery combined with carotid artery sacrifice for a symptomatic intracavernous aneurysm. The patient became restless postoperatively, and this restlessness peaked on postoperative Day (POD) 7.

Clinical profiles of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with apical phenotype--comparison of pure-apical form and distal-dominant form.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with an apical phenotype, in which hypertrophy of the myocardium predominantly involves the apex of the left ventricle, is not uncommon in Japan, but its morphologic variations are not well recognized. The aim of this study was to investigate if these variations have different clinical characteristics although they are still confused to be the same.

Methods And Results: Patients with the apical phenotype were divided into 2 groups, the "pure-apical" form and the "distal-dominant" form, and their clinical profiles were compared.

Three new diterpenoids from the fruit of Vitex agnus-castus.

Three new labdane-type diterpenoids, viteagnusins F, G, and H, were isolated from the hexane extract of fruit (chasteberry) of Vitex agnus-castus L. (Verbenaceae) along with seven known compounds including four labdane-type diterpenoids, one norlabdane-type diterpenoid, one aromadendrane-type sesquiterpenoid, and one flavonoid. The chemical structures of the three new labdane-type diterpenoids were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data as well as chemical evidence.

Role of MGAT2 and DGAT1 in the release of gut peptides after triglyceride ingestion.

Triglyceride ingestion releases gut peptides from enteroendocrine cells located in the intestinal epithelia and provides feedback regulations of gastrointestinal function. The precise mechanisms sensing lipids in the intestinal wall, however, are not well characterized. In the current study, we investigated the release of gut peptides following oral triglyceride loading in mice deficient for monoacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (MGAT2KO) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1KO), enzymes that sequentially re-synthesize triglyceride to secrete as chylomicron at the small intestine.

Clinical impact of atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Results from Kochi RYOMA Study.

Background: There have been few studies of the clinical features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in a community-based patient cohort in Japan.

Methods And Results: Cardiomyopathy registration was established in Kochi Prefecture and named the Kochi RYOMA (registry of myocardial diseases) study, consisting of 9 hospitals that registered 261 patients with a diagnosis of HCM. At registration, 74 patients (28%) had documented paroxysmal or chronic atrial fibrillation (AF).

Five new steroidal glycosides from the stems of Solanum sodomaeum.

Besides 12 known glycosides, five new steroidal glycosides have been isolated from the stems of Solanum sodomaeum L. (Solanaceae). The chemical structures of these five glycosides were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data as well as chemical evidence, and the structure of one known steroidal glycoside was corrected.

Two new acyclic diterpene glycosides from fruits of Habanero, Capsicum chinense.

Four acyclic diterpene glycosides were extracted from Habanero, the fruits of Capsicum chinense JACQ., which is known as one of the hottest peppers in existence. Two of these glycosides were identified as capsianoside XIII and capsianoside XV.

Tributyltin-induced Ca(2+) mobilization via L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels in PC12 cells.

The effects of tributyltin (TBT) on cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](c)) and cell viability were investigated in nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells. TBT concentration dependently increased [Ca(2+)](c) with an EC(50) value of 0.07μM.

Utility of tissue Doppler imaging to predict exercise capacity in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: comparison with B-type natriuretic peptide.

Background: Recent reports suggest that left ventricular diastolic function assessed by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels can relate to functional status in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, it is unclear which is more useful to predict the exercise capacity in HCM patients without systolic impairment and/or atrial fibrillation, TDI or BNP levels.

Purpose: The present study directly compared the clinical relevance of assessing diastolic function using TDI and measuring the plasma BNP level in patients with HCM.

Detection and characterization of bovine torovirus from the respiratory tract in Japanese cattle.

Bovine torovirus (BToV), a member of the Coronaviridae family, is a causative agent of diarrhea in cattle, but it may also possess tropism for the respiratory tract. However, no surveys concerning with the relation between respiratory symptoms and the detection of BToV have been conducted in wide range. Among 311 nasal samples, BToV gene products were detected in seven samples (rBToV-1 to -7) derived only from calves with respiratory symptoms, suggesting that BToV may be a predisposing factor and/or causative agent for bovine respiratory disease.

Schizophrenic patients have a preference for symmetrical rectangles: A comparison with preferences of university students.

Objective. We examined figure preferences of 26 schizophrenic patients and a control group of 53 controls (university students). Methods.

Five new diterpenoids, viteagnusins A--E, from the fruit of Vitex agnus-castus.

Two new halimane-type diterpenoids, viteagnusins A and B, and three new labdane-type diterpenoids, viteagnusins C, D, and E, were isolated from the fruit of Vitex agnus-castus L. (Chasteberry, Verbenaceae) along with two known diterpenoids. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data.

Improvement in prognosis of dilated cardiomyopathy in the elderly over the past 20 years.

Background And Purpose: Although dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) had a poor prognosis in the past, recent studies have shown better survival. However, little is known about the improvement of prognosis in the elderly. This study sought to clarify the changes in prognosis in elderly patients with DCM over the past 20 years.

A new lignan glucoside from the stems of Callicarpa japonica Thunb. var. luxurians Rehd.

A new lignan glucoside (1) was isolated from the stems of Callicarpa japonica Thunb. var. luxurians Rehd.

Studies on the constituents of Gueldenstaedtia multiflora.

From the whole plants and the roots of Gueldenstaedtia multiflora, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, five new oleanane glycosides and one lupane glycoside were isolated together with eight known oleanane glycosides and a medicarpin derivative. These structures were determined based on MS and 2D-NMR spectra.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with mild left ventricular remodeling: echocardiographic assessment using left ventricular wall motion score.

Objectives: The present study sought to investigate the echocardiographic features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with mild left ventricular (LV) remodeling, particularly in relation to wall motion abnormalities.

Methods: Among the 137 consecutive patients with HCM, 13 patients (mean age 52 +/- 13 years) who progressed to mild LV systolic dysfunction (LV ejection fraction (LVEF) of 35-50%) were studied. By reviewing the echocardiograms of these patients, wall motion score index (WMSI) was scored using 16 segments model.