Analyzing drilling noise in rotational atherectomy: Improving safety and effectiveness through visualization and anomaly detection using autoencoder-A preclinical study.

Background And Aims: As the population of aging societies continues to grow, the prevalence of complex coronary artery diseases, including calcification, is expected to increase. Rotational atherectomy (RA) is an essential technique for treating calcified lesions. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of the drilling noise produced during rotablation as a parameter for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the procedure.

Predictors of In-Hospital Death in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: Factors such as age, vital signs, renal function, Killip class, cardiac arrest, elevated cardiac biomarker levels, and ST deviation predict survival in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the existing risk assessment tools lack comprehensive consideration of catheter-related factors, and short-term prognostic predictors are unknown. This study aimed to clarify in-hospital prognostic predictors in hospitalized patients with AMI.

Requirement of the Ca channel β subunit for sympathetic PKA phosphorylation.

Facilitation of cardiac function in response to signals from the sympathetic nervous system is initiated by the phosphorylation of L-type voltage-dependent Ca channels (VDCCs) by protein kinase A (PKA), which in turn is activated by β-adrenoceptors. Among the five subunits (α, β, α/δ, and γ) of VDCCs, the α subunit and the family of β subunits are substrates for PKA-catalyzed phosphorylation; however, the subunit responsible for β-adrenergic augmentation of Ca channel function has yet to be specifically identified. Here we show that the VDCC β subunit is required for PKA phosphorylation upon sympathetic acceleration.

Investigation of arterial-cardiac-pulmonary interaction.

Pulmonary function and arterial stiffness correlate significantly, attributing to the chronic inflammation of atherosclerosis. However, through the pulmonary or systemic circulation, pulmonary and vascular functions associate hemodynamically with cardiac morphology and function. In the present study, we investigated arterial-cardiac-pulmonary interaction by examining how the pulmonary and vascular functions correlate with the heart.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid combined with optimal statin therapy improves endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease.

Purpose: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has been reported to augment endothelial function and improve clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether EPA could improve residual endothelial dysfunction despite adequate lipid-lowering with statin in CAD patients.

Methods: Eighty patients with established CAD, who had been on statin treatment and had serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels <100 mg/dl, were randomly assigned to receive either 1,800 mg of EPA daily plus statin (EPA group, n = 40) or statin alone (Control group, n = 40).

Aortopulmonary artery fistula: ruptured aneurysm of the distal aortic arch into the pulmonary artery.

Aortopulmonary artery fistula is uncommon, but the clinical outcome is often lethal. A 76-year-old man with a history of acute thoracic aortic dissection 6 years previously was admitted with dyspnea. A chest x-ray showed pleural effusion and pulmonary congestion.

Longitudinal heterogeneity of coronary artery distensibility in plaques related to acute coronary syndrome.

Background: How coronary distensibility contributes to stable or unstable clinical manifestations remains obscure. We postulated that the heterogeneous plaque distensibility is associated with unstable clinical presentations in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods And Results: Seventeen and 19 ACS-related and -unrelated lesions, respectively, were visualized using intravascular ultrasound imaging with simultaneous intracoronary pressure recording.

Developmental switching of perisomatic innervation from climbing fibers to basket cell fibers in cerebellar Purkinje cells.

In early postnatal development, perisomatic innervation of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) switches from glutamatergic climbing fibers (CFs) to GABAergic basket cell fibers (BFs). Here we examined the switching process in C57BL/6 mice. At postnatal day 7 (P7), most perisomatic synapses were formed by CFs on to somatic spines.

Developmental localization of potassium chloride co-transporter 2 (KCC2), GABA and vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) in the postnatal mouse somatosensory cortex.

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) mediates the hyperpolarization of membrane potential, negatively regulating glutamatergic activity in the adult brain, whereas, mediates depolarization in the immature brain. This developmental shift in GABA actions is induced by the expression of potassium chloride co-transporter 2 (KCC2). In this study, we focused on the developing mouse somatosensory cortex, where the barrel structure in layer 4 is altered by the whisker-lesion during the critical period, before postnatal day 4 (P4).

Cadmium and tubular dysfunction marker levels in urine of residents in non-polluted areas with natural abundance of cadmium in Japan.

Objectives: Literature survey has suggested that cadmium (Cd) in the general environment is more abundant in the northern part of the coast on the sea of Japan. The present survey was initiated to examine if the exposure to Cd in the area has been higher than other parts of Japan, and if so, the higher exposure has been associated with tubular dysfunction among the local residents.

Methods: In three prefectures of Akita, Yamagata and Ishikawa in the region, adult women (about 700 subjects per prefecture) were invited to participate in the survey.

N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) as the most sensitive marker of tubular dysfunction for monitoring residents in non-polluted areas.

Alpha(1)-microglobulin (alpha(1)-MG), beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-MG) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) are tubular dysfunction markers often used in cadmium (Cd) epidemiology. The purpose of the present study was to identify the best maker among the above-referred three that correlates most closely with Cd in urine of residents with no known Cd pollution. Survey was conducted in 2007-2008 in three prefectures in Japan.

Developmental localization of potassium chloride co-transporter 2 (KCC2) in the Purkinje cells of embryonic mouse cerebellum.

Developmental shift in GABA actions from depolarization to hyperpolarization occurs as a result of decreasing the intracellular Cl(-) concentration regulated by K(+)-Cl(-) co-transporter 2 (KCC2). To clarify the time-course of the developmental shift on the Purkinje cells, we examined KCC2-localization in the embryonic mouse cerebellum. The KCC2 was first detected within the Purkinje cells in the Purkinje cell layer of the hemisphere at embryonic day 15 (E15) and the vermis at E17, but the ventricular and intermediate zones were negative.

Developmental expression of GABA transporter-1 and 3 during formation of the GABAergic synapses in the mouse cerebellar cortex.

In the brain, gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), released extrasynaptically and synaptically from GABAergic neurons, plays important roles in morphogenesis, expression of higher functions and so on. In the GABAergic transmission system, plasma membrane GABA transporters (GATs) mediate GABA-uptake from the synaptic cleft in the mature brain and are thought to mediate diacrine of cytosolic GABA in the immature brain. In the present study, we focused on two GATs (GAT-1 and GAT-3) in the mouse cerebellar cortex, which are widely localized in neural and glial cells.

Extrasynaptic localization of GABA in the developing mouse cerebellum.

In the adult brain, gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is synaptically released and mediates inhibitory transmission. Recent studies have revealed that GABA is a trophic factor for brain development. To reveal the distribution of GABA and its secretion mechanisms during brain development, we investigated the immunohistochemical localization of two molecules, GABA and vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT), which is a GABAergic vesicle protein, in the developing mouse cerebellum by means of newly developed antibodies.

GABAergic signaling in the developing cerebellum.

In the adult central nervous system (CNS), GABA is a predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter that regulates glutamatergic activity. Recent studies have revealed that GABA serves as an excitatory transmitter in the immature CNS and acts as a trophic factor for brain development. Furthermore, synaptic transmission by GABA is also involved in the expression of higher brain functions, such as memory, learning and anxiety.

Morphological development and maturation of the GABAergic synapses in the mouse cerebellar granular layer.

In the adult central nervous system (CNS), gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is a predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter, which regulates glutamatergic activity. Recent studies have revealed that GABA serves as an excitatory transmitter in the immature CNS, and is involved in brain morphogenesis. To elucidate how GABA exerts its effect on immature neurons and how GABAergic synapses are formed, we examined both development of pre- and post-synaptic elements of the GABAergic synapses formed between granule and Golgi cells in the mouse cerebellar granular layer.

Transient expression of GABAA receptor alpha2 and alpha3 subunits in differentiating cerebellar neurons.

In the adult mammalian brain, synaptic transmission mediated by gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) plays a role in inhibition of excitatory synaptic transmission. During brain development, GABA is involved in brain morphogenesis. To clarify how GABA exerts its effect on immature neurons, we examined the expression of the GABAA receptor alpha2 and alpha3 subunits, which are abundantly expressed before alpha1 and alpha6 subunits appear, in the developing mouse cerebellum using in situ hybridization.

Tetraspanin protein CD9 is a novel paranodal component regulating paranodal junctional formation.

The axoglial paranodal junction is essential for the proper localization of ion channels around the node of Ranvier. The integrity of this junction is important for nerve conduction. Although recent studies have made significant progress in understanding the molecular composition of the paranodal junction, it is not known how these membrane components are distributed to the appropriate sites and interact with each other.

Normal formation of the postsynaptic elements of GABAergic synapses in the reeler cerebellum.

Synaptic transmission mediated by gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) plays an important role in inhibition of glutamatergic excitatory transmission and expression of higher brain functions, such as memory, learning and anxiety. To elucidate mechanisms underlying formation of the postsynaptic elements for GABAergic transmission, we employed the reeler mutant mice in this study. In the reeler cerebellum, abnormal cytoarchitecture and an aberrant environment affect the formation of neural networks and maturation of neurons.

Prospective endoscopic follow-up results of reconstructed gastric tube.

Background/aims: Recent advances in the treatment of esophageal cancer have afforded better prognosis for patients. Despite the increased need to monitor the progress of patients with reconstructed digestive tracts over the long-term, no reliable prospective studies have yet been conducted. This prospective study determined secondary disease of the reconstructed gastric tube after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Development of astrocytes in the lamina cribrosa sclerae of the mouse optic nerve, with special reference to myelin formation.

In the mouse optic nerve, the optic nerve fiber layer in the retina, the optic papilla and the lamina cribrosa sclerae (LCS) just after penetrating the eyeball failed to generate myelin, whereas the optic nerve proper in the orbit was occupied by myelinated nerve fibers. The present study investigated development of the architecture of LCS, where the axons develop from unmyelinated to myelinated type, to elucidate how the initial part of axons was unmyelinated. At the LCS of the adult optic nerve, well developed astrocytes densely formed a cytoplasmic mesh-like frame through which unmyelinated fibers passed.

Distal extension of climbing fiber territory and multiple innervation caused by aberrant wiring to adjacent spiny branchlets in cerebellar Purkinje cells lacking glutamate receptor delta 2.

Organized synapse formation on to Purkinje cell (PC) dendrites by parallel fibers (PFs) and climbing fibers (CFs) is crucial for cerebellar function. In PCs lacking glutamate receptor delta2 (GluRdelta2), PF synapses are reduced in number, numerous free spines emerge, and multiple CF innervation persists to adulthood. In the present study, we conducted anterograde and immunohistochemical labelings to investigate how CFs innervate PC dendrites under weakened synaptogenesis by PFs.

Vav3 is regulated during the cell cycle and effects cell division.

Vav3 is a member of the family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors implicated in the regulation of Rho GTPases. Although the exact in vivo function of Vav3 is unknown, evidence from several studies indicates a role distinct from Vav2 or Vav1. Here we report that the expression of Vav3 is regulated during the cell cycle.