Investigation of Stress Levels before the Onset of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Objectives: We hypothesized that patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) would have experienced more stress prior to the onset than they typically did. This study investigated stress levels in patients before the onset of ISSHL.

Materials And Methods: Forty-two patients with ISSHL were investigated.

Self-reported symptoms in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Objective: This study evaluated self-reported symptoms in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL).

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Multicenter clinical investigation in 9 university hospitals.

Contribution of momilactone A and B to rice allelopathy.

Eight cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.) inhibited shoot and root growth of Echinochloa crus-galli when co-cultured with rice seedlings in a bioassay medium. Momilactone A and B were found in the bioassay medium of all rice cultivars, and concentrations of momilactone A and B in the medium were 0.

Noninvasive diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis using microvolt T-wave alternans.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder whose prognosis worsens when the heart is involved, and early diagnosis is important. Endomyocardial biopsy is the most helpful diagnostic examination, but suffers from low sensitivity and low specificity. Microvolt T wave alternans (MVTWA) is utilized in noninvasive examinations to detect beat-to-beat changes in the shape of the T wave at the microvolt level.

Edaravone, a free radical scavenger, in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss with profound hearing loss.

Objective: Edaravone, a free radical scavenger, is a clinical drug that is widely used to reduce neuronal damage after acute cerebral infarction in Japan since 2001. The aim of this study was to investigate whether edaravone could improve treatment result in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) patients with severe hearing loss.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2006, 14 patients of ISSHL with the mean hearing levels equal or over 90dB at the initial visit were treated with edaravone.

Secretion of momilactone A from rice roots to the rhizosphere.

The secretion levels of momilactone A from rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings of eight cultivars into the rhizosphere were compared with the endogenous momilactone A concentrations in their shoots and roots. All rice cultivars contained momilactone A in the shoots and roots, and concentrations differed among the cultivars.

The VA relationship after differential atrial overdrive pacing: a novel tool for the diagnosis of atrial tachycardia in the electrophysiologic laboratory.

Introduction: Despite recent advances in clinical electrophysiology, diagnosis of atrial tachycardia (AT) originating near Koch's triangle remains challenging. We sought a novel technique for rapid and accurate diagnosis of AT in the electrophysiologic laboratory.

Methods: Sixty-two supraventricular tachycardias including 18 ATs (10 ATs arising from near Koch's triangle), 32 atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardias (AVNRTs), and 12 orthodromic reciprocating tachycardias (ORTs) were studied.

'Crystal lattice engineering,' an approach to engineer protein crystal contacts by creating intermolecular symmetry: crystallization and structure determination of a mutant human RNase 1 with a hydrophobic interface of leucines.

A protein crystal lattice consists of surface contact regions, where the interactions of specific groups play a key role in stabilizing the regular arrangement of the protein molecules. In an attempt to control protein incorporation in a crystal lattice, a leucine zipper-like hydrophobic interface (comprising four leucine residues) was introduced into a helical region (helix 2) of the human pancreatic ribonuclease 1 (RNase 1) that was predicted to form a suitable crystallization interface. Although crystallization of wild-type RNase 1 has not yet been reported, the RNase 1 mutant having four leucines (4L-RNase 1) was successfully crystallized under several different conditions.

UV-induced momilactone B accumulation in rice rhizosphere.

UV-irradiation increased the concentration of momilactone B in shoots and roots of rice seedlings, and increasing the irradiation increased the concentration. The concentration in 90-min UV-irradiated shoots and roots, respectively, was 31.8- and 3.

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.

Concentration and release level of momilactone B in the seedlings of eight rice cultivars.

The release levels of a growth inhibitor, momilactone B, from rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings of eight cultivars were compared with the endogenous concentrations of momilactone B in their seedlings. All rice cultivars contained momilactone B in the seedlings, and their concentrations differed between the cultivars.

Possible involvement of momilactone B in rice allelopathy.

Since residues and extracts of rice plants were known to inhibit the germination and growth of several plant species, the possible involvement of a growth inhibitor, momilactone B, in rice allelopathy was discussed. Momilactone B was found in shoots and roots of rice plants over their entire life cycle. The level of momilactone B in shoots and roots increased with rice plant growing until flowering initiation, and then decreased.

Pseudotermination of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia related to isorhythmic atrioventricular dissociation.

Unusual manifestations of the mode of termination were observed in a patient with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). After administration of verapamil during AVNRT, isorhythmic atrioventricular dissociation occurred without termination of the tachycardia. The sinus rate was slightly faster than that of the AVNRT, leading to the P wave preceding the QRS complex with a normal PR interval (e.

Changes in release level of momilactone B into the environment from rice throughout its life cycle.

Momilactone B was released into the neighboring environment from rice throughout its life cycle. The rate of momilactone B release from rice increased until flowering initiation, and then decreased. The release rate of momilactone B at the day of flowering started was 2.

Rice seedlings release momilactone B into the environment.

Since the growth inhibitor momilactone B was found recently in root exudates of rice (Oryza sativa L.), 3-day-old rice seedlings were transferred to hydroponic culture and the level of momilactone B released into the environment from the seedlings was measured. At day 15 after transfer, the level of momilactone B in the culture solution was 1.

[Use of YAG laser combined with mucosal suturing for the treatment of polypoid vocal cord].

To improve low-pitched voices in cases with polypoid vocal cords, YAG laser irradiation combined with a mucosal suturing technique was attempted in 9 female cases with severe polypoid changes in their vocal cords. A YAG laser beam (5 to 10 W) was used to irradiate the upper surface of the polypoid vocal cord. The polypoid content of the cord was gradually coagulated, and the free edge of the cord appeared to slide up toward the burned area.

Characteristics of the electrical activity within the persistent left superior vena cava: comparative view with reference to the ligament of Marshall.

We sought to characterize the electrical activity within the persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC), which normally becomes the ligament of Marshall (LOM) that is known to be related to the genesis of atrial tachyarrhythmias. A 20-pole electrode catheter was used to record the entire activation sequence in the LSVC in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Electrical activity representing the musculature of the LSVC could be recorded up to a level as high as the pulmonary artery.

Isolation and identification of a potent allelopathic substance in rice root exudates.

A search for growth inhibitors in rice root exudates was undertaken in order to clarify the allelopathic system in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Rice seedlings inhibited the growth of cress (Lepidium sativum L.

Osborn waves associated with ventricular fibrillation in a patient with vasospastic angina.

A 52-year-old man with a history of vasospastic angina experienced a severe ischemic episode accompanied by a non-Q wave myocardial infarction. Two episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurred during the acute phase of the event. Osborn waves were observed on the ECG preceding each episode of VF.