Application of tissue Doppler imaging technique in evaluating early ventricular contraction associated with accessory atrioventricular pathways in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

To examine the feasibility of a tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) technique for evaluating the early contraction sites in Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, we analyzed the time-sequential changes in ventricular wall motion in WPW syndrome by TDI. Fifty patients with WPW syndrome were examined by the TDI system in which the high-speed scanning technique allowed for a frame rate up to 38 frames/sec. Among 42 patients in whom the acceptable images were obtained by TDI, the early contraction, which was represented by a red or blue spot appearing on the subendocardial side at the time of the delta wave in the electrocardiogram, was demonstrated in 25 of 29 patients with left-sided accessory pathways.

Dramatic enhancement of the specific expression of the heart-type fatty acid binding protein in rat brown adipose tissue by cold exposure.

To understand the difference in energy metabolisms in brown (BAT) and white (WAT) adipose tissues, we examined the steady-state transcript levels of the heart-type and adipose-type fatty acid binding proteins (H-FABP and A-FABP, respectively) by Northern blot analysis. The transcript of H-FABP in rat BAT was increased about 100-fold by cold exposure, whereas that in WAT was negligible, and was increased only slightly by cold exposure. The transcript of A-FABP was observed in both BAT and WAT, the level being slightly greater in WAT.

Structural features of the gene encoding human muscle type carnitine palmitoyltransferase I.

We isolated a human muscle type of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPTI-M) genomic clone and determined its entire nucleotide sequence. By comparison of the nucleotide sequence of the genomic clone with that of cDNA, we determined the intron/exon junctions. For detection of the exon(s) in the 5'-region of the CPTI-M gene, we isolated cDNA clones corresponding to the 5'-region of its transcript by 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5'-RACE method).

Gastric juice levels of lactoferrin and Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Recently, in vitro studies suggested that lactoferrin (Lf) might play an important role in the physiopathology of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis. However, whether Lf is present in the gastric juice and its relationship with H. pylori infection have not as yet been reported.

Relation of lactoferrin levels in gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori infection and with the degree of gastric inflammation.

Objectives: Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding glycoprotein present in milk, lacrimae, saliva, and gastroduodenal secretions. In vitro studies disclosed contradicting results regarding the relation of Lf with Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the gastric mucosal concentration of Lf and HP infection of the stomach.

Evolution of pulmonate gastropod mitochondrial genomes: comparisons of gene organizations of Euhadra, Cepaea and Albinaria and implications of unusual tRNA secondary structures.

Complete gene organizations of the mitochondrial genomes of three pulmonate gastropods, Euhadra herklotsi, Cepaea nemoralis and Albinaria coerulea, permit comparisons of their gene organizations. Euhadra and Cepaea are classified in the same superfamily, Helicoidea, yet they show several differences in the order of tRNA and protein coding genes. Albinaria is distantly related to the other two genera but shares the same gene order in one part of its mitochondrial genome with Euhadra and in another part with Cepaea.

Efficient gene expression in mammalian clock pacemaker cell in vitro by an adenovirus vector.

An efficient modified adeno system to express foreign genes to the central nervous system was developed recently. This modified recombinant adenoviral vectors can be used successfully to deliver lacZ to the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) which is composed of mammalian clock pacemaker. The expression of lacZ in the primary culture of SCN was dose-dependent and higher enough in nearly 100% of these cells.

Essentially minimal sequence for substrate recognition by tRNA (guanosine-2')-methyltransferase from Thermus thermophilus HB27.

Transfer RNA (guanosine-2'-)-methyltransferase (Gm-methylase, EC.2.1.

[Chemotherapy for advanced adenocarcinoma of the skin: experience with combination chemotherapy and a review of the literature].

Sweat gland carcinomas are rare malignant tumors of the skin, in addition, the diagnosis of primary sweat gland carcinoma is often difficult. Primary treatment consists of wide surgical excision with regional lymph node dissection, and the tumor is generally not radiosensitive. It has a potential for rapid growth and metastasis.

Antinociceptive effects of repeated systemic injections of calcitonin in formalin-induced hyperalgesic rats.

Calcitonin (CT) produces long-lasting analgesia in patients suffering from painful diseases following repeated systemic injections, but there have been only a few contradictory reports on the antinociceptive action of systemic injections of CTs in animal experiments. This study was conducted to elucidate an antinociceptive action of systemic CT in rats. An injection of dilute formalin induced hyperalgesia for about 2 h.

An arginine-213 to glycine mutation in human extracellular-superoxide dismutase reduces susceptibility to trypsin-like proteinases.

Molecular genetic studies of extracellular-superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) have shown that individuals with high serum EC-SOD content have a single base substitution generating the exchange of glycine for arginine-213 (R213G) in the heparin-binding domain of this enzyme [Sandström, J. et al. (1994) J.

Isolation and characterization of cDNA and genomic clones encoding human muscle type carnitine palmitoyltransferase I.

With a cDNA probe encoding rat muscle type carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPTI), we isolated cDNA and genomic clones encoding the human homologue and deduced the primary structure of human muscle type CPTI. By Northern analysis, we confirmed the dominant expression of this isoform in heart and skeletal muscle.

Clinical and pathological features of cutaneous malignant melanoma: a retrospective analysis of 124 Japanese patients.

A review of mainly histopathologic factors associated with the survival of patients with malignant melanoma was carried out in a retrospective study of 124 Japanese patients treated at the National Cancer Center Hospital between July 1962 and December 1992. There were 60 females and 64 males, and the median follow-up period was 52.7 months (range, 1.

Genomic structure and transcription of a murine odorant receptor gene: differential initiation of transcription in the olfactory and testicular cells.

We have characterized genomic structure and transcription of a murine odorant receptor (OR) gene, MOR23. This gene has two distinct transcriptional initiation regions, which are differentially utilized in the olfactory and testicular cells. We have found that the MOR23 gene has an intron within the 5'-untranslated region upstream of the coding sequence.

Effects of Mg2+ on Ca2+ waves and Ca2+ transients of rat ventricular myocytes.

It has been shown that the occurrence of the transient inward current, which is responsible for triggered activity, was often associated with propagating regions of increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), i.e., the "Ca2+ wave.

Biomechanical analysis of the development of human bipedal walking by a neuro-musculo-skeletal model.

A new computer simulation method, using a neuro-musculo-skeletal model, is used to clarify the process of acquisition of erect bipedal walking during human ontogeny. Walking was autonomously generated as a dynamic interaction called 'mutual entrainment' between the neural oscillation and the pendular movement of differently proportioned bodies. Walking patterns of humans with 8 different sets of alternative body proportions, varying from those of 8-month-old children to those of 22 years old adults, were simulated.

Substitution of glycine for arginine-213 in extracellular-superoxide dismutase impairs affinity for heparin and endothelial cell surface.

Extracellular-superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) levels in sera divide into two discontinuous groups: a low-level group below 400 ng/ml and a high-level group above 400 ng/ml [Adachi, Nakamura, Yamada, Futenma, Kato and Hirano (1994) Clin. Chim. Acta 229, 123-131].

Primary hyperparathyroidism associated with multiple myeloma.

A 73-year-old woman was diagnosed as primary hyperparathyroidism. Hypercalcemia recurred after parathyroidectomy, though serum calcium concentration temporarily resumed to normal. Hypercalcemia was eventually shown to be due to multiple myeloma.

A cellular form of prion protein (PrPC) exists in many non-neuronal tissues of sheep.

A cellular form of the prion protein (PrPC) is thought to be a substrate for an abnormal isoform of th eprion protein (PrPSc) in scrapie. PrPC is abundant in tissues of the central nervous system, but little is known about the distribution of PrPC in non-neuronal tissues of sheep, the natural host of scrapie. This study investigated the tissue distribution of PrPC in sheep.

Intracellular sodium concentration in diabetic rat ventricular myocytes.

We measured intracellular NA+ concentration ([Na+]i) of diabetic rat ventricular myocytes using sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate (SBFI). We used diabetic rats at 8 weeks after the injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg i.v.

Myocardial velocity gradient as a new indicator of regional left ventricular contraction: detection by a two-dimensional tissue Doppler imaging technique.

Objectives: This study was performed to assess a new indicator of regional left ventricular contraction determined by a two-dimensional tissue Doppler imaging technique.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that instantaneous tissue motion velocity can be noninvasively assessed by tissue Doppler imaging. However, quantitative assessment of regional left ventricular contraction is still difficult because of the effects of the Doppler angle of incidence and parallel motion of the whole heart.

Solitary renal melanoma? A case with long survival after initial treatment.

A case of a solitary melanocytic renal tumor with no apparent primary lesion or metastasis is reported. Pathologically the tumor was composed of cells with brown pigmentation that strongly reacted to monoclonal antibody HMB-45 immunohistochemically. Few mitotic figures, mild nuclear atypia and nucleolar prominence were observed.

Creatine kinase kinetics in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

One feature of the diabetic cardiomyopathy is the appearance of contractile dysfunction as the workload increases. We hypothesized that this resulted from an impaired creatine kinase/phosphocreatine system and therefore examined the creatine kinase kinetics at both low and high workloads. Creatine kinase flux (by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance saturation transfer method), cardiac performance, and oxygen consumption were measured in control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat hearts.

Restriction endonuclease analysis of bovine herpesvirus type 1 isolates from calves with fatal encephalitis: comparison with vaccine virus.

Meningo-encephalitis in feedlot cattle sporadically occurred in the Tokachi area in northern Japan. The calves had been vaccinated intranasally with a mixed live-vaccine (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease virus, and parainfluenza 3 virus) for which intramuscular inoculation was indicated. Two additional live vaccines, bovine adenovirus type 7 and bovine respiratory syncytical virus, had been inoculated simultaneously.