Comparison between integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound and 64-slice multi-detector row computed tomography for tissue characterization and volumetric assessment of coronary plaques.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the cut-off values of Hounsfield units (HU) for the discrimination of plaque components and to evaluate the feasibility of measurement of the volume of plaque components using multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT).

Methods: Coronary lesions (125 lesions in 125 patients) were visualized by both integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) and 64-slice MDCT at the same site. The IB values were used as a gold standard to determine the cut off values of HU for the discrimination of plaque components.

Reward and non-reward learning of flower colours in the butterfly Byasa alcinous (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae).

Learning plays an important role in food acquisition for a wide range of insects. To increase their foraging efficiency, flower-visiting insects may learn to associate floral cues with the presence (so-called reward learning) or the absence (so-called non-reward learning) of a reward. Reward learning whilst foraging for flowers has been demonstrated in many insect taxa, whilst non-reward learning in flower-visiting insects has been demonstrated only in honeybees, bumblebees and hawkmoths.

'A single night' beneficial effects of adaptive servo-ventilation on cardiac overload, sympathetic nervous activity, and myocardial damage in patients with chronic heart failure and sleep-disordered breathing.

Background: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), including Cheyne-Stokes respiration with central sleep apnea (CSR-CSA), causes a deterioration in the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) and oxygen therapy (O(2)) are useful for improving the CSR-CSA of CHF. The purpose of the present study was to examine the short-term effects of ASV and O(2) on suppressing SDB (CSR-CSA dominant) in CHF, and the accompanying neurohumoral abnormalities (cardiac overload, sympathetic nervous activation, and myocardial damage).

Adaptive servo ventilation improves Cheyne-Stokes respiration, cardiac function, and prognosis in chronic heart failure patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR-CSA) is often observed in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Although cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is effective for CHF patients with left ventricular dyssynchrony, it is still unclear whether adaptive servo ventilation (ASV) improves cardiac function and prognosis of CHF patients with CSR-CSA after CRT.

Methods And Results: Twenty two patients with CHF and CSR-CSA after CRT defibrillator (CRTD) implantation were enrolled in the present study and randomly assigned into two groups: 11 patients treated with ASV (ASV group) and 11 patients treated without ASV (non-ASV group).

Changes in calf muscle deoxygenation after foam sclerotherapy in patients with superficial venous insufficiency.

Objective: This study assessed changes in the calf muscle deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) level during light-intensity exercise after ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) for superficial venous insufficiency.

Methods: UGFS with 1% or 3% polidocanol foam (POL-F) was used to treat unilateral great saphenous vein reflux in 84 patients. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to measure calf muscle HHb levels before and 3 months after UGFS.

Rel A/p65 is required for cytokine-induced myotube atrophy.

Muscle atrophy can be triggered by systemic illnesses that are associated with elevated proinflammatory/catabolic cytokines, which, in turn, are thought to contribute to muscle wasting. In this study, we found that the prototypical NF-κB transcription factor, Rel A (p65), is required for NF-κB activation in C2C12 and L6 myotubes due to treatment with exogenous TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis, but not IL-6. All five cytokines induced atrophy in C2C12 myotubes, and inhibition of p65 reversed atrophy due to TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis, but not IL-6 treatment.

Preliminary report of novel technique for cryopreservation--vacuum-assisted cryoprotectant infiltration.

To date, cryopreservation of large soft tissues has not been successfully achieved because of limitation of cryoprotective agent (CPA) infiltration into the tissue. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a vacuum on the tissue-infiltration of a CPA. An instant pickle-maker was modified for use as a vacuum apparatus, and glycerol was selected as the CPA.

Multiple pilomatricomas in Kabuki syndrome.

Pilomatricoma is a benign tumor of the hair matrix cell that presents predominantly in childhood. Although pilomatricoma occurs spontaneously, multiple pilomatricomas have been described in association with several inherited syndromes. We report on a 28-year-old man with Kabuki syndrome with three pilomatricomas in his head and thigh.

Prospective randomised comparative study of visual foam sclerotherapy alone or in combination with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for treatment of superficial venous insufficiency: preliminary report.

Objective: The aim of the study is to compare ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS: injection of foam sclerosant under ultrasound guidance) of the great saphenous vein (GSV) combined with visual foam sclerotherapy (VFS: injection of foam sclerosant under visual control) for varicose tributary veins and VFS alone in the treatment of GSV reflux.

Design And Methods: A total of 133 limbs in 97 patients with GSV reflux were randomised to receive either VFS alone or VFS combined with UGFS. In both groups, 1% polidocanol foam was used.

Adaptive servo ventilation improves cardiac dysfunction and prognosis in chronic heart failure patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration.

Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) is often observed in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Although adaptive servo ventilation (ASV) is effective for CSR, it remains unclear whether ASV improves the cardiac function and prognosis of patients with CHF and CSR.Sixty patients with CHF and CSR (mean left ventricular ejection fraction 38.

Deep vein thrombosis after total knee or hip arthroplasty is associated with increased preoperative calf muscle deoxygenation as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy.

Objective: To assess whether the preoperative level of deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) in the calf muscle during light-intensity exercise is useful for identifying patients at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after total knee or hip arthroplasty.

Methods: Sixty-eight patients undergoing total knee or total hip arthroplasty were enrolled. The Caprini risk assessment model was used to stratify patients into Caprini 5 to 6, Caprini 7 to 8, and Caprini >8 groups.

Public awareness, knowledge of availability, and readiness for cancer palliative care services: a population-based survey across four regions in Japan.

Background: This study explores the distribution of public awareness, knowledge of availability, and readiness for palliative care services, and the perceived reliability of information resources as part of a nationwide palliative care implementation intervention in Japan (Outreach Palliative Care Trial of Integrated Regional Model [OPTIM]).

Methods: A cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted, and 3984 responses were used in the final analysis.

Results: A total of 63.

Outcomes of ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for varicose veins of the lower extremities: a single center experience.

Objective: Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is increasing in popularity as a method to treat varicose veins of the lower extremities. In 2001, we began using ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy to treat varicose veins of the lower extremities. The outcomes of our treatment are described in this study.

Automated versus manual measurement of the QT interval and corrected QT interval.

Background: The International Conference on Harmonization E14 Guideline specifies detailed assessment of QT interval or corrected QT interval prolongation when developing new drugs. We recently devised new software to precisely measure the QT interval.

Methods And Results: The QT intervals of all leads for a selected single heart beat were compared between automated measurement with the new software from Fukuda Denshi and manual measurement.

Both stimulation of GLP-1 receptors and inhibition of glycogenolysis additively contribute to a protective effect of oral miglitol against ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rabbits.

Background And Purpose: We previously reported that pre-ischaemic i.v. miglitol reduces myocardial infarct size through the inhibition of glycogenolysis during ischaemia.

Foam sclerotherapy for spouting haemorrhage in patients with varicose veins.

The bleeding from various veins can be intense and may be mistaken for arterial haemorrhage. Several fatal cases are reported due to delay of treatment and inappropriate first aid. We describe five cases of haemorrhage from varicose veins that were treated with foam sclerotherapy.

Factors predicting development of post-thrombotic syndrome in patients with a first episode of deep vein thrombosis: preliminary report.

Objective: To investigate the indicative parameters reflecting the progression of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in patients with a first episode of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Design And Methods: The patients' initial risk factors were assessed at presentation. Venous occlusion, and reflux and reflux parameters were evaluated at 6 months using venous duplex scanning.

Postconditioning effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is mediated through activation of risk pathway and opening of the mitochondrial KATP channels.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been reported to improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction. However, whether postinfarct acute effect of G-CSF is mediated through the same signaling pathways as those of ischemic postconditioning is still unclear. We examined the postinfarct acute effect of G-CSF on myocardial infarct size and its precise molecular mechanism.

Antidiabetic drug voglibose is protective against ischemia-reperfusion injury through glucagon-like peptide 1 receptors and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt-endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway in rabbits.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) reportedly exerts a protective effect against cardiac ischemia. We hypothesized that the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor voglibose, an unabsorbable antidiabetic drug with cardioprotective effects, may act through stimulation of GLP-1 receptors. The results of the present study suggest oral administration of voglibose reduces myocardial infarct size and mitigates cardiac dysfunction in rabbits after 30 minutes of coronary occlusion and 48 hours of reperfusion.

Split-face comparison study of cryogen spray cooling versus pneumatic skin flattening in skin tightening treatments using a long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser.

Background: Nd:YAG pulsed lasers are used for non-ablative skin tightening treatment. A common drawback of this procedure is pain, which is often intolerable. Pneumatic skin flattening (PSF) is a new technology which alleviates pain in laser treatments.

Advanced chronic venous insufficiency is associated with increased calf muscle deoxygenation.

Objective: To determine the temporal relationship between changes in calf muscle deoxygenated haemoglobin (HHb) measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during light-intensity exercise and clinical stages of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

Design And Methods: Calf muscle HHb level was obtained in 168 limbs of 158 patients with various clinical stages of CVI. Clinical manifestations were categorised according to the CEAP classification (CEAP, clinical, etiological, anatomical and pathophysiological), and the patients were divided into two groups: early CVI (C(0-3),E(p)(,s),A(s)(,d,p),P(r)(,o)) and advanced CVI (C(4-6),E(p)(,s), A(s)(,d,p),P(r)(,o)).

Anomalies of the arterial tree that coexist with arteriovenous malformations in the lower extremity.

Several previous reports have documented arteriovenous malformations associated with anomalies of the arterial tree. We report two cases in which a malformation on the foot coexisted with arterial variants of the popliteal artery. Careful therapeutic planning was required to avoid jeopardising perfusion to the distal area.

Compression sclerotherapy for primary valvular insufficiency -from liquid to foam-.

The history of sclerotherapy of varicose veins of lower extremities dates back to 1840's. The use of stronger sclerosants thereafter led to serious complications, and the use of sclerotherapy decreased for varicose veins. However, sclerotherapy again became popular after introduction of safer sclerosant and compression sclerotherapy.

Inhibition of anticancer drug efflux transporter P-glycoprotein by rosemary phytochemicals.

The effects of dietary antioxidative and chemopreventive rosemary phytochemicals on the function of the human drug efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (MDR1, ABCB1) and multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1, ABCC1) were investigated using P-glycoprotein-overexpressing human carcinoma KB-C2 cells and human MRP1 gene-transfected KB/MRP cells. The effects of natural phytochemicals found in rosemary such as carnosic acid, carnosol, rosmarinic acid, and ursolic acid were investigated. The accumulation of daunorubicin or rhodamine 123, fluorescent substrates of P-glycoprotein, in KB-C2 cells increased in the presence of carnosic acid, carnosol, and ursolic acid in a concentration-dependent manner.