Characterization of polymer-polymer type charge-transfer (CT) blend membranes for fuel cell application.

The data presented in this article are related to polymer-polymer type charge-transfer blend membranes for fuel cell application. The visible spectra of the charge-transfer (CT) blend membranes indicated formation of CT complex in the blend membranes, and behavior of CT complex formation by polymers was clarified by Job plot of the visible spectra. The effect of fluorine for membrane property and fuel cell performance of CT blend membranes were evaluated by F NMR and overvoltage analysis, respectively.

K-134, a phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor, improves gait disturbance and hindlimb blood flow impairment in rat peripheral artery disease models.

K-134, a phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) inhibitor with anti-thrombotic and anti-hyperplastic activity, is being developed for the treatment of intermittent claudication. We assessed the efficacy of K-134 against gait disturbance in two rat experimental peripheral arterial disease (PAD) models: the bilateral laurate-induced PAD model and femoral artery ligation model. In the laurate-induced peripheral arterial disease model, 1 week of repeated oral administration of K-134 significantly improved gait disturbance.

A phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor, K-134, improves hindlimb skeletal muscle circulation in rat models of peripheral arterial disease.

Objective: Cilostazol is a phosphodiesterase (PDE)3 inhibitor used to treat peripheral arterial disease with intermittent claudication, as there is clinical evidence that it improves treadmill exercise capacity. However, details of the mechanism underlying this enhanced walking capacity remain to be elucidated.

Methods: Based on the hypothesis that PDE3 inhibitors improve peripheral microcirculation in the hindlimbs via vascular smooth muscle relaxation and antiplatelet effects, we examined the effects of a more potent and selective PDE3 inhibitor, K-134, in rat models of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Electromagnetic interference with a bipolar pacemaker by an induction heating (IH) rice cooker.

Electromagnetic fields may interfere with normal pacemaker function. Despite new device designs and bipolar leads, electromagnetic interference (EMI) remains a concern when pacemaker recipients are exposed to various household appliances. We report the observation of EMI by an induction heating (IH) rice cooker in a patient with sick sinus syndrome who was the recipient of a bipolar dual chamber-pacing system.

Promotion of corneal epithelial wound healing in vitro and in vivo by annexin A5.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of annexin A5, a calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein, on corneal epithelial wound healing.

Methods: The effect of annexin A5 on migration of rabbit corneal epithelial (RCE) cells in vitro was examined in scrape-wounded cell monolayers. The effect of annexin A5 on the release of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) from cultured RCE cells was determined by zymography, fluorogenic assay of PA activity, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Up-regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in corneal epithelial cells induced by wounding.

Purpose: To investigate the possible role of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in corneal epithelial wound healing by examining its expression both in the rabbit corneal epithelium in situ and in rabbit corneal epithelial (RCE) cells in vitro.

Methods: The rabbit cornea was subjected to mechanical wounding, and frozen sections of the tissue were subsequently prepared and subjected both to immunostaining with antibodies to uPA and to in situ zymography for the detection of PA activity. RCE cell monolayers were also subjected to scrape wounding, after which they were immunostained for uPA.

Simultaneous assessment of wall motion and coronary flow velocity in the left anterior descending coronary artery during dipyridamole stress echocardiography.

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the feasibility and clinical meaning of simultaneous assessment of wall motion and coronary flow velocity (CFV) reserve in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) by transthoracic approach for detecting LAD stenosis during dipyridamole stress echocardiography.

Background: Coronary flow reserve plays an important role, which can be evaluated by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography during vasodilator stress.

Methods: Dipyridamole stress test was performed in 110 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

Usefulness of orthostatic self-training for the prevention of neurocardiogenic syncope.

To clarify the effectiveness of an orthostatic self-training program for the prevention of neurocardiogenic syncope, twenty-four consecutive head-up tilt induced syncopal patients (12 men, 12 women; mean age 34 +/- 20 years) were treated with an orthostatic self-training program. The syncope was induced by head-up tilt testing (+ 80 degrees for 30 minutes) with or without the use of isoproterenol in all patients reproducibly. The hemodynamics during the syncope were of the cardioinhibitory type in 4, vasodepressor type in 7, and mixed type in 13 patients.