Initial Holter Electrocardiogram Index to Predict the Burden of Subsequent Persistent Premature Ventricular Complex in Childhood.

Background: Asymptomatic premature ventricular complex (PVC) in childhood often disappears over time. However, predictive factors for persistent PVC are unknown. We examined predictive factors for persistent PVCs on initial Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) in pediatric patients with asymptomatic PVC.

A case of tachycardia-induced acute kidney injury by renal hypouricemia.

Unlabelled: Idiopathic renal hypouricemia is an autosomal recessive hereditary disease, characterized by hypouricemia and high renal fractional excretion of uric acid, and can be complicated by acute kidney injury after anaerobic exercise. However, no report has suggested tachycardia-induced acute kidney injury complicated with renal hypouricemia. We herein report the case of a 12-year-old female with tachycardia-induced acute kidney injury complicated with renal hypouricemia.

Effects of biventricular shunt on pump characteristics in a maglev total artificial heart.

Severe left ventricular failure can progress to right ventricular failure, necessitating alternatives to heart transplantation, such as total artificial heart (TAH) treatment. Conventional TAHs encounter challenges associated with miniaturization and hemocompatibility owing to their reliance on mechanical valves and bearings. A magnetically levitated TAH (IB-Heart) was developed, utilizing a magnetic bearing.

Dynamic motion analysis of impeller for the development of real-time flow rate estimations of a ventricular assist device.

Implantable ventricular assist devices are used in heart failure therapy. These devices require real-time flow rate estimation for effective mechanical circulatory support. We previously developed a flow rate estimation method using the eccentric position of a magnetically levitated impeller to achieve real-time estimation.

Effects of gravity on flow rate estimations of a centrifugal blood pump using the eccentric position of a levitated impeller.

Implantable ventricular assist devices are a type of mechanical circulatory support for assisting the pumping of the heart. Accurate estimation of the flow rate through such devices is critical to ensure effective performance. A novel method for estimating the flow rate using the passively stabilized position of a magnetically levitated impeller was developed by our group.

Flow rate estimation of a centrifugal blood pump using the passively stabilized eccentric position of a magnetically levitated impeller.

Flow rate estimation for ventricular assist devices without additional flow sensors can improve the quality of life of patients. In this article, a novel flow estimation method using the passively stabilized displacement of a magnetically levitated impeller is developed to achieve sufficient accuracy and precision of flow estimation for ventricular assist devices in a simple manner. The magnetically levitated impeller used is axially suspended by a magnetic bearing in a centrifugal blood pump that has been developed by our group.

Design and Performance of a 1 ms High-Speed Vision Chip with 3D-Stacked 140 GOPS Column-Parallel PEs .

We have developed a high-speed vision chip using 3D stacking technology to address the increasing demand for high-speed vision chips in diverse applications. The chip comprises a 1/3.2-inch, 1.

Clinical effectiveness of four neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir, laninamivir, and peramivir) for children with influenza A and B in the 2014-2015 to 2016-2017 influenza seasons in Japan.

The clinical effectiveness of four neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) (oseltamivir, zanamivir, laninamivir, and peramivir) for children aged 0 months to 18 years with influenza A and B were investigated in the 2014-2015 to 2016-2017 influenza seasons in Japan. A total of 1207 patients (747 with influenza A and 460 with influenza B) were enrolled. The Cox proportional-hazards model using all of the patients showed that the duration of fever after administration of the first dose of the NAI was shorter in older patients (hazard ratio = 1.

Therapeutic efficacy of azithromycin, clarithromycin, minocycline and tosufloxacin against macrolide-resistant and macrolide-sensitive Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in pediatric patients.

Objective: To clarify therapeutic effects of azithromycin, clarithromycin, minocycline and tosufloxacin against macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MRMP) pneumonia and against macrolide-sensitive Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MSMP) pneumonia in pediatric patients.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter observational study was conducted from July 2013 to August 2015. The therapeutic effects of azithromycin, clarithromycin, minocycline and tosufloxacin were evaluated in 59 patients with pneumonia caused by MRMP and in 50 patients with pneumonia caused by MSMP.

Human plasma concentrations of five cytochrome P450 probes extrapolated from pharmacokinetics in dogs and minipigs using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling.

The pharmacokinetics of cytochrome P450 probes in humans can be extrapolated from corresponding data in cynomolgus monkeys using simplified physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. In the current study, despite some species difference in drug clearances, this modeling methodology was adapted to estimate human plasma concentrations of P450 probes based on data from commonly used medium-sized experimental animals, namely dogs and minipigs. Using known species allometric scaling factors and in vitro metabolic clearance data, the observed plasma concentrations of slowly eliminated caffeine and warfarin and rapidly eliminated omeprazole, metoprolol and midazolam in two young dogs were scaled to human oral monitoring equivalents.

Overexpression of acetylcholinesterase gene in rice results in enhancement of shoot gravitropism.

Acetylcholine (ACh), a known neurotransmitter in animals and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) exists widely in plants, although its role in plant signal transduction is unclear. We previously reported AChE in Zea mays L. might be related to gravitropism based on pharmacological study using an AChE inhibitor.

Human plasma concentrations of cytochrome P450 probes extrapolated from pharmacokinetics in cynomolgus monkeys using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling.

1. Cynomolgus monkeys are widely used in preclinical studies as non-human primate species. Pharmacokinetics of human cytochrome P450 probes determined in cynomolgus monkeys after single oral or intravenous administrations were extrapolated to give human plasma concentrations.

Human urine and plasma concentrations of bisphenol A extrapolated from pharmacokinetics established in in vivo experiments with chimeric mice with humanized liver and semi-physiological pharmacokinetic modeling.

The aim of this study was to extrapolate to humans the pharmacokinetics of estrogen analog bisphenol A determined in chimeric mice transplanted with human hepatocytes. Higher plasma concentrations and urinary excretions of bisphenol A glucuronide (a primary metabolite of bisphenol A) were observed in chimeric mice than in control mice after oral administrations, presumably because of enterohepatic circulation of bisphenol A glucuronide in control mice. Bisphenol A glucuronidation was faster in mouse liver microsomes than in human liver microsomes.

Simultaneous determination of acidic pesticides in vegetables and fruits by liquid chromatography--tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and efficient method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of 73 multi-class acidic pesticides, such as phenoxy acid and sulfonylurea herbicides, in vegetables and fruits. The sample preparation procedure was carefully optimized for the efficient removal of co-extracted matrix components. The method involves extraction of acidic pesticides with acetonitrile containing hydrochloric acid, removal of water from crude extract by salting out, and sequential cleanup by octadecylsilyl silica gel and silica gel columns.

A limited sampling model to estimate exposure to lenalidomide in multiple myeloma patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to develop a model able to predict the area under the lenalidomide plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients using a limited sampling strategy.

Methods: Forty-six hospitalized Japanese MM patients (25 men and 21 women) participated in this study. On days 3-10 of lenalidomide therapy, whole-blood samples were collected just before oral lenalidomide administration, and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours thereafter.

Safety and efficacy of low-dose liposomal amphotericin B as empirical antifungal therapy for patients with prolonged neutropenia.

Background: Liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) is recommended as an empirical antifungal treatment for patients at increased risk of fungal infections although renal toxicity remains a clinical problem. We therefore conducted a pilot study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-dose L-AmB as an empirical antifungal therapy for patients with prolonged neutropenia.

Methods: High-risk patients with hematological malignancies were eligible to enroll in this study provided they had: exhibited neutropenia for at least 1 week; suffered from high-grade fever for 4 days despite treatment with a broad-spectrum antibacterial; and no identified fever-causing pathogen.

Properties of N-butyl cyanoacrylate-iodized oil mixtures for arterial embolization: in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Purpose: To examine the properties of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and iodized oil (lipiodol [Lip]) in vitro and in vivo for safe and effective embolization.

Materials And Methods: Viscosity, polymerization time, and diffusing capacity were evaluated according to the NBCA/Lip ratio in vitro. Additionally, the effect of the NBCA/Lip ratio on arterial embolization was evaluated in vivo; various ratios of NBCA/Lip were injected into the renal arteries of adult beagles, after which the embolization effect following transcatheter arterial embolization was quantitatively investigated histopathologically and using computed tomography (CT) volumetry.

False-positive human immunodeficiency virus antibody test and autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

A 44-year-old woman was admitted with generalized lymphadenopathy, which was diagnosed as angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL). The patient showed autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and a high antinuclear antibody titer. Moreover, a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1/2 screening test using the particle agglutination method was reactive.

Successful treatment of necrotizing fasciitis in an upper extremity caused by Clostridium perfringens after bone marrow transplantation.

We report a 47-year-old man with acute leukemia who survived a severe case of necrotizing fasciitis caused by Clostridium perfringens involving his right upper extremity. On day 5 after stem cell transplantation, progressive local tissue necrosis led to septicemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of appropriate therapy, including surgical debridement and broad-spectrum antibiotics, were crucial.

Evaluation of correlation between dissolution rates of loxoprofen tablets and their surface morphology observed by scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope.

We observed the surface morphological structures of 60 mg tablets of Loxonin, Loxot, and Lobu using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) to evaluate the dissolution rates. We found a significant difference among the initial dissolution rates of the three kinds of loxoprofen sodium tablets. Petal forms of different sizes were commonly observed on the surface of the Loxonin and Loxot tablets in which loxoprofen sodium was confirmed by measuring the energy-dispersible X-ray (EDX) spectrum of NaKalpha using SEM.

Oral fluoropyrimidines may not reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence in colorectal cancer associated with mesenteric lymph node metastasis.

To clarify the efficacy and problems of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy using oral fluoropyrimidines, the clinicopathological data of 307 colorectal cancer patients treated with or without postoperative chemotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. Patients in the chemotherapy group (n=188) who underwent curative resection were followed by administration of oral fluoropyrimidine. The other 119 patients underwent surgery alone.

Formation of a lamellar compound by reaction of acrylic acid crystallosolvated in highly crystalline beta-chitin.

A lamellar compound resulted from reaction of acrylic acid inside crystalline beta-chitin and the structure was investigated. Beta-chitin acts like a layered crystal, having stacked molecular sheets composed of parallel chains bound in one direction by intermolecular amide hydrogen bonding. Small guest molecules can be inserted between the molecular sheets, and a crystallosolvate can be formed.

Prognostic factors after potentially curative resection in stage II or III colon cancer.

It is important to identify factors that are predictive of outcome after a curative resection in colon cancer in order to optimize adjuvant therapy. To investigate these prognostic factors we conducted a retrospective analysis of our clinicopathological data. A total of 190 patients with a pathological stage II or III colon cancer underwent potentially curative resection with lymphadenectomy at our hospital between 1990 and 1998.