Dyssynchrony during acute phase determined by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography predicts reverse cardiac remodeling and improved cardiac function after reperfusion therapy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether parameters of dyssynchrony from real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) can predict cardiac remodeling in patients of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after reperfusion therapy.

Methods: The subjects were 41 AMI patients after reperfusion therapy who underwent RT-3DE within 2 weeks from onset and at 6 months thereafter. End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), ejection fraction (EF), and the change rate of these parameters were derived during the acute and chronic phases.

Validation of the Japanese Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire.

The Japanese Society for Bone and Mineral Research developed the Japanese Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JOQOL) to evaluate the disease-specific Health-Related QOL, which is specific for osteoporosis of Japanese patients. JOQOL was revised in 2000; it consisted of 38 items with the scale graded from 0 to 4 and a total full score of 152. To elucidate the reliability and validity of the revised JOQOL, we enrolled 193 postmenopausal women as subjects and diagnosed them as having osteoporosis or osteopenia.

Circulating acylated ghrelin level decreases in accordance with the extent of atrophic gastritis.

Purpose: We attempted to clarify the significance of atrophic change of gastric mucosa for reduction of plasma ghrelin concentration irrespective of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection.

Methods: Plasma acylated (acyl-)ghrelin concentration in 220 subjects, both with and without atrophic gastritis, was measured with an enzyme immunoassay kit. The extent of atrophic change of gastric mucosa was assessed and graded endoscopically.

Impact of trough serum level on radiographic and clinical response to infliximab plus methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from the RISING study.

This study is a prospective, randomized, double-blind study to compare the efficacy and safety of 10 mg/kg infliximab with those of 3 mg/kg infliximab treatment in methotrexate-refractory rheumatoid arthritis patients. After the patients received 3 mg/kg infliximab infusion at weeks 0, 2, and 6, they were randomly assigned to be administered 3, 6 or 10 mg/kg infliximab every 8 weeks from week 14 to 46. Mean American College of Rheumatology improvement (ACR-N) at week 54, the primary endpoint, was 51.

Beneficial Effects of Cocoa in Perivascular Mato Cells of Cerebral Arterioles in SHR-SP (Izm) Rats.

As previously reported, the cerebral arterioles are surrounded by unique perivascular Mato cells. They contain many inclusion bodies rich in hydrolytic enzymes, and have strong uptake capacity. They are thus considered scavenger cells of vascular and neural tissues in steady-state.

Accuracy of three-dimensional echocardiography in patients with prior anteroseptal myocardial infarction.

Background: Echocardiography is the most feasible modality for monitoring cardiac volume and function. However, conventional two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) is frequently not accurate in measuring cardiac performance in cases of abnormal left ventricular wall motion, because of the geometric assumptions. Quantitative gated scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging are reliable modalities, but are expensive and not feasible for repetitive use.

Resuscitation of preterm infants with reduced oxygen results in less oxidative stress than resuscitation with 100% oxygen.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the level of inhaled oxygen during resuscitation on the levels of free radicals and anti-oxidative capacity in the heparinized venous blood of preterm infants. Forty four preterm infants <35 weeks of gestation with mild to moderate neonatal asphyxia were randomized into two groups. The first group of infants were resuscitated with 100% oxygen (100% O(2) group), while in the other group (reduced O(2) group), the oxygen concentration was titrated according to pulse oximeter readings.

Current and future perspectives on the TARGET system: the registration system for Glivec established by the JSH.

Since hematology is a highly specialized field, an individual physician may not have much direct treatment experience with a given disease. Therefore, the Japanese Society of Hematology (JSH) has discussed establishing a registry of hematologic disorders, in order to contribute to improving the quality of treatments and clinical outcomes in this field. As a first step, the Timely and Appropriate Registration System for GLIVEC Therapy (TARGET), a registration system for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients treated with imatinib, was established in October 2003.

Effect of interleukin-2 on synthesis of B cell activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

B cell activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) is a cytokine, indispensable for B cell survival, maturation, and activation. Over-expression of BAFF leads to lupus like disease in mice and the serum level of BAFF is elevated in human lupus. However, little is known about BAFF synthesis and its regulation.

Overexpression of human S100B exacerbates brain damage and periinfarct gliosis after permanent focal ischemia.

Background And Purpose: We have previously demonstrated that augmented and prolonged activation of astrocytes detrimentally influences both the subacute and chronic phases of cerebral ischemia. Furthermore, we have suggested that the astrocyte-derived protein S100B may be important in these pathogenic events. However, the causal relationship between S100B and exacerbation of brain damage in vivo remains to be elucidated.

Association between Total Antioxidant Capacity in Breast Milk and Postnatal Age in Days in Premature Infants.

This study aimed to consider the significance of breast milk in preventing oxidative stress by comparing total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in breast milk and formula milk for premature infants, demonstrating the relationship between TAC in breast milk and postnatal age in days. We used the biological anti-oxidant potential test, a new method to measure TAC in breast milk. Breast milk for premature infants were stored at -20 degrees C and thawed within 48 h of collection.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis due to zonisamide associated with reactivation of human herpesvirus 6.

Background: Recently, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) reactivation has been frequently observed in patients with drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome or drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms but not in patients with other types of drug eruptions, eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). This finding suggests that there is a close relationship between HHV-6 reactivation and drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome.

Observations: A 71-year-old man who was not immunocompromised developed TEN because of zonisamide therapy.

Conservative sequences in 3'UTR of TCRzeta mRNA regulate TCRzeta in SLE T cells.

We have demonstrated that T-cell receptor zeta (zeta) mRNA with a 562-bp deleted alternatively spliced 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) observed in T cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can lead to a reduction in zeta and TCR/CD3 (J. Immunol., 2003 & 2005).

Increased expression of long pentraxin PTX3 in inflammatory bowel diseases.

The aims of this study were to investigate the expression of pentraxin-3 in inflamed gastrointestinal tissue in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases and to elucidate the usefulness of plasma pentraxin-3 level as an inflammation marker in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Pentraxin-3 immunoreactivity was found in infiltrating neutrophils and vessels in the inflamed gut. Plasma pentraxin-3 concentration in patients with active inflammatory bowel diseases was significantly higher than that of normal subjects and patients with inactive inflammatory bowel diseases.

Postmarketing surveillance of the safety profile of infliximab in 5000 Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: A large-scale postmarketing surveillance (PMS) study was carried out to determine the safety profile of infliximab in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The PMS study was performed for all patients with RA who were treated with infliximab. They were consecutively registered in the PMS study at the initiation of infliximab treatment and were prospectively monitored with all adverse events noted for a period of 6 months.

Prospective study of low-dose cyclosporine A in patients with refractory lupus nephritis.

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of low-dose cyclosporine A (CsA) in patients with refractory lupus nephritis. Nine patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who had lupus nephritis resistant to previous treatment with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants other than CsA were enrolled in a prospective, open-label study. All patients initially received 2.

N-terminal hamartin-binding and C-terminal GAP domain of tuberin can separate in vivo.

The Eker rat is an animal model of renal carcinogenesis and carries a transposon insertion in the Tsc2 (tuberous sclerosis-2) gene. We previously generated transgenic Eker rats and identified coding sequences in the Tsc2 gene that are responsible for suppression of renal carcinogenesis in Eker rats. Tsc2-RGH, a transgene that expresses the carboxy terminal region (amino acids 1425-1755) of the Tsc2 product (tuberin), partially suppressed renal carcinogenesis.

TCRzeta mRNA splice variant forms observed in the peripheral blood T cells from systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. Tyrosine phosphorylation and protein expression of the T-cell receptor zeta chain (zeta) have been reported to be significantly decreased in SLE T cells. In addition, zeta mRNA with alternatively spliced 3' untranslated region (zetamRNA/as-3'UTR) is detected predominantly in SLE T cells, and aberrant zeta mRNA accompanied by the mutations in the open reading frame including zeta mRNA lacking exon7 (zetamRNA/exon7-) is observed in SLE T cells.