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K Kagawa

Publications and source records attributed to K Kagawa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma as evaluated by CD34 immunohistochemistry.

To clarify the relationship between angiogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis on progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we quantitatively evaluated angiogenesis by CD34 immunohistochemistry in liver cirrhosis (LC), adenomatous hyperplasia (AH), and HCC, and proliferative activity estimated by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry. Angiogenesis was evaluated by CD34 immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody HPCA-2, and tumor proliferative activity was evaluated using monoclonal antibody MIB-1. We used an image analysis system to assess the microvessel density as the area percentage of the endothelial area. Angiogenesis was generally observed in HCC and there was no significant difference among all clinical stages and histological grades of HCC. On the other hand, the staining of CD34 was partly observed in sinusoids of AH, although no positive staining was seen in any sinusoids of LC. The proliferative activity was significantly correlated with the clinical stage and histological grade of HCC. Our results indicate that the quantitation of angiogenesis does not provide significant prognostic information in HCC, but that it may have diagnostic value in distinguishing HCC from non-HCC. Meanwhile, AH, which is not morphologically diagnosed as cancer, shows positive staining for CD34, suggesting that some portion of AH contains cancerous characteristics.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

Primary cardiac leiomyosarcoma growing rapidly and causing right ventricular outflow obstruction.

Leiomyosarcomas are extremely rare primary cardiac tumors. We report a rapidly growing primary leiomyosarcoma of the right ventricle, which obstructed the right ventricular outflow tract within one month after symptom onset in a 68-year-old man. Two-dimensional echocardiography was useful in diagnosing the extent and progression of the tumor. The tumor was surgically resected on an emergency basis, and the right ventricle and pulmonary artery were successfully reconstructed. Recurrence of the tumor on the right ventricle was observed, and the patient was overcome by sudden dyspnea and died three months after surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Overexpression of GML promotes radiation-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Expression of the GML gene is regulated in a p53-dependent manner and is correlated with the sensitivity of esophageal cancer cells to anti-cancer drugs. To clarify the effect of GML expression on the sensitivity of cancer cells to ionizing radiation treatment, we established cell lines derived from p53-mutant human osteosarcoma HOS and esophageal carcinoma TE10 lines in which GML expression can be induced using the tetracycline-regulable system. Colony formation assay showed that the growth of cells expressing GML are inhibited in response to ionizing radiation, whereas cells not expressing GML were resistant to irradiation. Further investigation demonstrated that GML expression enhances G2/M arrest and apoptosis induced by gamma-irradiation. These results suggest that GML sensitizes cancer cells to ionizing radiation.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1997

Efficacy of a belly board device with CT-simulation in reducing small bowel volume within pelvic irradiation fields.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: Acute and chronic small bowel toxicity associated with pelvic irradiation limits dose escalation for both chemotherapy and radiotherapy for rectal cancer. Various surgical and technical maneuvers including compression and belly board devices (BBD) have been used to reduce small bowel volume in treatment fields. However, quantitative dose volume advantages of such methods have not been reported. In this study, the efficacy of BBD with CT-simulation is presented with dose-volume histogram (DVH) analyses for rectal cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twelve consecutive patients referred to our department with rectal cancer were included in this study. Patients were given oral contrast 1.5 h prior to scanning and instructed not to empty their bladder during the procedure. The initial CT scan without BBD was taken in the prone position with an immobilization cast. A second CT study was performed with a commercially available BBD consisting of an 18-cm thick hard sponge with an adjustable opening (maximum 42 x 42 cm2). All patients were positioned prone over the BBD so that the opening was above the treatment volume and usually extended from the diaphragm to the bottom of the fourth lumbar spine. Image fusion between both sets of CT scans (with and without BBD) was performed using common bony landmarks to maintain the same target volume. The critical structures including small bowel and bladder were delineated on each slice for DVH analysis. On each study, a three-field optimized plan with conformal blocks in beams-eye-view was generated for volumetric analysis. The DVHs with and without BBD were evaluated for each patient. RESULTS: The median age and body weight of 12 patients (4 females and 8 males) were 57.5 years and 82.7 kg, respectively. The changes in posterior-anterior (PA) and lateral separation with and without BBD at central axis slices were analyzed. The changes in lateral separation were minimal (<0.8 cm); however, the PA separation was reduced by 11.3 +/- 3.3% when BBD was used. The reduction in PA separation was directly related to the reduction in small bowel volume. The small bowel volume was significantly reduced with a median reduction of 70% (range 10-100%) compared to the small bowel volume without BBD. The small bowel volume reduction did not correlate either with body weight, age, gender, or sequence of radiation treatment with surgery (pre-op vs. post-op). The DVH analysis of small bowel with BBD showed significant volume reduction at each dose level. For 50% patients, the DVH analysis demonstrated an increase in bladder volume with BBD. All patients treated with the BBD completed their treatment without any break and without significant acute gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: For rectal cancers, small bowel is the dose-limiting structure for acute and chronic toxicity. The use of the BBD should improve the tolerance of aggressive combined modality treatment by reducing the small bowel volume within the pelvis compared to the prone position alone. The BBD provides an easy, economical, comfortable, and noninvasive technique to displace small bowel from pelvic treatment fields. The small bowel volume is dramatically reduced at each dose level. The volume reduction does not correlate with gender, age, weight, pelvic separation, and sequence of radiation treatment vs. surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Initial clinical assessment of CT-MRI image fusion software in localization of the prostate for 3D conformal radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: To assess the utility of image fusion software and compare MRI prostate localization with CT localization in patients undergoing 3D conformal radiation therapy of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After a phantom study was performed to ensure the accuracy of image fusion procedure, 22 prostate cancer patients had CT and MRI studies before the start of radiotherapy. Immobilization casts used during radiation treatment were also used for both imaging studies. After the clinical target volume (CTV) (prostate or prostate + seminal vesicles) was defined on CT, slices from the MRI study were reconstructed to precisely match the CT slices by identifying three common bony landmarks on each study. The CTV was separately defined on the matched MRI slices. Data related to the size and location of the prostate were compared between CT and MRI. The spatial relationship between the tip of urethrogram cone on CT and prostate apex seen on MRI was also estimated. RESULTS: The phantom study showed the registration discrepancies between CT and MRI smaller than 1.0 mm in any pair in comparison. The patient study showed a mean image registration error of 0.9 (+/- 0.6) mm. The average prostate volume was 63.0 (+/- 25.8) cm3 and 50.9 (+/- 22.9) cm3 determined by CT and MRI, respectively. The difference in prostate location with the two studies usually differed at the base and at the apex of the prostate. On the transverse MRI, the prostate apex was situated 7.1 (+/- 4.5) mm dorsal and 15.1 (+/- 4.0) mm cephalad to the tip of urethrogram cone. CONCLUSIONS: CT-MRI image fusion study made it possible to compare the two modalities directly. MRI localization of the prostate is more accurate than CT, and indicates the distance from cone to apex is 15 mm. CT-MRI image fusion technique provides valuable supplements to CT technology for more precise targeting of the prostate cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Interactions between neuronal histamine and halothane anesthesia in rats.

Using an in vivo microdialysis method, we measured the release of histamine in the anterior hypothalamic area (AHy) of rats under several concentrations of halothane anesthesia (1, 0.5, and 0.2%). The release of histamine increased to 341 and 325% at halothane concentrations of 0.5 and 0.2%, compared with the basal level at anesthesia induced by 1% halothane. alpha-Fluoromethylhistidine (100 mg/kg i.v.), a specific and irreversible inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, reduced the histamine release to <35% of the basal value at 1% halothane anesthesia in the AHy, and also decreased the anesthetic requirement for halothane, evaluated as the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), by 26%. Furthermore, pyrilamine (20 mg/kg i.v.), a brain-penetrating H1 antagonist, and zolantidine (20 mg/kg i.v.), a brain-penetrating H2 antagonist, reduced the MAC for halothane by 28.5 and 16%, respectively. Although thioperamide (5 mg/kg i.v.), an antagonist of presynaptic H3 autoreceptor, induced an approximate twofold increase in the level of histamine release in conscious freely moving rats, the same dose of thioperamide had little effect on the release of histamine under 1% halothane anesthesia in the AHy. Furthermore, thioperamide did not change the anesthetic requirement (MAC) for halothane. The present findings indicate that halothane anesthesia inhibits the release of neuronal histamine and that histaminergic neuron activities change the anesthetic requirement (MAC) for halothane through H1 as well as H2 receptors.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗
PubMed1997

The effect of imidazoline receptors and alpha2-adrenoceptors on the anesthetic requirement (MAC) for halothane in rats.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidences have documented that several pharmacologic actions of alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists are mediated via activation of not only alpha2-adrenoceptors, but also by imidazoline receptors, which are nonadrenergic receptors in the central nervous system. However, the effect of imidazoline receptors on the anesthesia is not well known, and it is important to clarify the effects of both receptors on anesthesia. METHODS: Seventy-two rats were anesthetized with halothane, and the anesthetic requirement for halothane was evaluated as minimum alveolar concentration (MAC). The MAC for halothane was determined in the presence of dexmedetomidine (0, 10, 20, and 30 microg/kg, intraperitoneally [IP]), a selective alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist with weak affinity for imidazoline receptors. Then, the authors evaluated the inhibitory effect of rauwolscine (20 mg/kg, IP), an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist with little affinity for imidazoline receptors, on the MAC-reducing action of dexmedetomidine (30 microg/kg). Further, the effect of rilmenidine (20, 50, 100, 1000 microg/kg, IP), a selective imidazoline receptor agonist, on the MAC for halothane was also investigated. RESULTS: Dexmedetomidine decreased the MAC for halothane dose-dependently, and this MAC-reducing action of dexmedetomidine was completely blocked by rauwolscine. Rilmenidine alone did not change the MAC for halothane. CONCLUSIONS: The present data indicate that the anesthetic sparing action of dexmedetomidine is most likely mediated through alpha2- adrenoceptors, and the stimulation of imidazoline receptors exerts little effect on the anesthetic requirement for halothane.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1997

Serial histopathologic myocardial findings in a patient with ectopic atrial tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.

A 17-year-old woman was found to have ectopic atrial tachycardia by her physician. Echocardiography and cardiac catheterization revealed findings resembling dilated cardiomyopathy at the time of initial presentation. The tachycardia was controlled with atenolol only at a dose of 50 mg/day. However, at the age of 22, the presence of ectopic atrial tachycardia was once again confirmed. We successfully performed catheter ablation for persistent ectopic atrial tachycardia. Serial echocardiographic findings showed the left ventricular dimension and function appeared to return to normal 1 year postablation. However, despite pharmacologic control and catheter ablation therapy, histopathology revealed myocardial fibrosis presumably representing permanent damage of the heart secondary to tachycardia 1 year postablation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Effects of Albunex infusion on left ventricular inflow velocity in dogs.

This study examined the effects of Albunex (sonicated 5% human serum albumin) infusion on left ventricular inflow velocity by Doppler echocardiography. Left ventricular pressure and left ventricular inflow velocity were recorded simultaneously under eight different conditions in dogs: 1) baseline 1 (control), 2) Albunex 0.2 ml/kg, 3) baseline 2, 4) Albunex 0.5 ml/kg, infusion of dextran 100 ml, 5) baseline 3, 6) Albunex 0.2 ml/kg, 7) baseline 4, and 8) Albunex 0.5 ml/kg. In the normal state (no dextran), Albunex (0.2 ml/kg) caused no hemodynamic changes or inflow velocity changes. In contrast, infusion of Albunex (0.5 ml/kg) caused time velocity integrals of early filling to increase from the baseline (5.51 +/- 1.13 vs 7.19 +/- 1.14 cm, p < 0.05). After dextran infusion (100 ml), Albunex (0.2 ml/kg) caused peak early filling velocity to increase (62.4 +/- 6.9 vs 67.3 +/- 9.4 cm/sec, p < 0.05), and infusion of Albunex (0.5 ml/kg) also caused peak early filling velocity to increase from baseline (64.6 +/- 8.5 vs 73.7 +/- 14.5 cm/sec, p < 0.05). Infusion of Albunex (0.5 ml/kg) after dextran infusion caused increases in left ventricular pressure at the mitral valve opening (12.7 +/- 3.1 vs 15.2 +/- 3.3 mmHg, p < 0.05) and in left atrial driving force (13.5 +/- 3.6 vs 16.7 +/- 5.9 mmHg, p < 0.05). Clinicians should be cautious about using Albunex at doses of greater than 0.2 ml/kg when evaluating the pressure gradient of the left ventricle in patients with elevated left ventricular diastolic pressure. In patients with normal hemodynamics, Albunex infusion at doses of less than 0.2 ml/kg apparently did not affect the velocity measurement.

Albumins↗
PubMed1997

Factor VIII Ise (R2159C) in a patient with mild hemophilia A, an abnormal factor VIII with retention of function but modification of C2 epitopes.

We found a patient with mild hemophilia A who had no detectable factor VIII antigen (FVIII:Ag), as shown by two-site ELISA using inhibitor alloantibodies (TK). We then analyzed A2, A2/B, and C2 antigen of the patient's DDAVP-induced FVIII using several anti-FVIII monoclonal antibodies. Factor VIII activity (FVIII:C) was increased from 12 to 42 U/dl by the administration of DDAVP. The DDAVP-induced increases in the A2 and A2/B antigens were 40 and 36 U/dl, respectively. However, the increase in the C2 antigen was only 7.5 U/dl. SSCP analysis and subsequent sequencing demonstrated an Arg to Cys transition at codon 2159. The anti-FVIII:C titer of monoclonal antibody, NMC-VIII/5 which recognized the C2 domain, against normal plasma was 450 Bethesda U/mg of IgG. However, the titer against DDAVP-treated patient's plasma was only 15 Bethesda U/mg. We also tested DDAVP-induced increase in the FVIII:Ag in another mild hemophilia A patient with the same mutation at Arg2159. Increase in his C2 antigen levels was only 19% of those in the A2 and A2/B antigen. We designate this abnormal FVIII as FVIII Ise. Our results show that a missense mutation at Arg2159 to Cys modifies the antigenicity of the C2 domain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Assessment of left atrial operative mean stiffness using simultaneous recordings of left ventricular pressure and M-mode echocardiography of the left atrium and mitral valve.

Left atrial (LA) operative mean stiffness was measured using simultaneous recordings of the left ventricular (LV) pressure and M-mode echocardiography of the LA and mitral valve. The LA operative passive mean stiffness value was obtained during LV systole using LV pressure at the mitral valve opening and the pre-atrial contraction where the LV and LA pressure curves cross each other. Before the LA stiffness measurement, the LA volume calculated by biplane left atriography was compared with the dimension of the LA M-mode echocardiogram at three points (maximum volume, pre-atrial contraction and minimum volume) in another 23 patients (5 normal subjects, 4 patients with angina pectoris, 14 patients with myocardial infarction), and the regression equation was obtained by power fitting (y = ax3+ b). Using this equation, the LA volumes were calculated and used for the measurement of LA operative mean stiffness. Eleven normal subjects (C group), 14 patients with myocardial infarction (ejection fraction: EF > or = 55%; NF group), and 12 patients with myocardial infarction (EF < 55%; F group) were studied. The measured operative mean stiffness values based on the LA dimension and LV pressure [K(D)] were 0.69 +/- 0.40, 1.0 +/- 0.37, and 2.0 +/- 0.61 mmHg/mm, respectively (p < 0.01 in C vs F). The mean stiffness values calculated with LA volume [K(V)] were 0.48 +/- 0.23, 0.42 +/- 0.19, and 0.66 +/- 0.25 mmHg/ml, respectively (p < 0.05 in NF vs F). In F group, both the K(D) and K(V) values were high. The K(D) value can thus be used clinically as an easily obtained index of the LA operative mean stiffness. The high LA operative mean stiffness in F group appeared to be related to the increased LA pressure at the mitral valve opening. This method of measurement of the LA operative mean stiffness can be easily applied and used as a routine measurement providing additional information regarding left ventricular function.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Visual evoked potential and electroencephalogram of healthy females during the menstrual cycle.

Flash visual evoked potential (VEP) and electroencephalogram (EEG) changes during the menstrual cycle were studied using healthy females having regular menstruation, with 21 at the follicular phase (FP) and 23 at the luteal phase (LP). The following results were obtained. (1) The waveforms of Group Mean VEPs of both groups had approximately similar triphasic contours, consisting of 16 components of P 1-N 8 up to 500 msec of latency. (2) Latencies tended to be longer in LP. (3) Interpeak amplitudes tended to be larger in LP, and one VEP interpeak amplitude (P 5-N 7) of long latency component was significantly larger at LP after eliminating the effect of body height by ANCOVA for 2 CH. (4) Quantitative analysis of EEGs between FP and LP resulted in a tendency for increased alpha, and decreased beta power % at LP. Since estrogen increases the VEP amplitude, and decreases the VEP latency and the alpha activity of EEGs, the large VEP amplitude, the tendency for prolonged VEP latency, and the tendency for increased alpha power % at LP observed in this study indicate that the VEP amplitude at LP reflects the effect of estrogen, and that the VEP latency and EEGs at LP reflect the effect of progesterone.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Marked expression of plasma brain natriuretic peptide is a special feature of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: We examined whether plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels are abnormally elevated in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy compared with other cardiac diseases. BACKGROUND: We previously reported that plasma brain and atrial natriuretic peptide levels were elevated in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: We compared plasma concentrations of brain and atrial natriuretic peptide and hemodynamic and echocardiographic data in 50 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (n = 15, mean [+/-SD] intraventricular pressure gradient 37 +/- 16 mm Hg), hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy (n = 15), aortic stenosis (n = 10, mean pressure gradient 41 +/- 18 mm Hg) and hypertensive heart disease (n = 10, mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure 203 +/- 16/108 +/- 11 mm Hg, respectively) and 10 normal subjects. RESULTS: Plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels were higher in the hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy group (397.1 +/- 167.8 pg/ml*) than in the hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy (60.0 +/- 48.1 pg/ml*), hypertensive heart disease (53.9 +/- 31.4 pg/ml*), aortic stenosis (75.4 +/- 54.3 pg/ml*) and normal groups (9.8 +/- 6.4 pg/ml [*p < 0.05 vs. normal group, p < 0.05 vs. hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy group]). Although plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels were higher in the hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy group than the other patient groups, the brain/atrial natriuretic peptide ratio in the hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy group was higher (4.5 +/- 2.3) than those in the other three patient groups (1.1 to 1.4) and the normal group (0.7 +/- 0.5). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index were similar among the four patient groups. The interventricular septal thickness and the ratio of interventricular septal thickness to left ventricular posterior wall thickness were similar between the hypertrophic obstructive and nonobstructive cardiomyopathy groups. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal elevations of plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels are difficult to explain on the basis of hemodynamic and echocardiographic data and are a special feature of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Cytogenetic analyses of hepatocellular carcinoma by in situ hybridization with a chromosome-specific DNA probe.

BACKGROUND: Numerical chromosome analysis has been established in solid tumors by using in situ hybridization (ISH) with a chromosome-specific probe. We analyzed human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by ISH for chromosome 17 and investigated the correlation of its copy number with histologic malignancy, proliferative activity, p53 mutation, and DNA ploidy. METHODS: Chromosome 17 was hybridized with a pericentromere-specific DNA probe directly on the tumor cells isolated from paraffin blocks of 25 surgically resected HCCs. Proliferative activity was measured by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry, p53 mutation was analyzed by p53 immunohistochemistry, and DNA ploidy was estimated by cytofluorometry. RESULTS: Forty-four percent of the 25 HCCs showed numerical abnormality of chromosome 17. Many disomic cases had a less malignant histology, whereas many polysomic cases had a more malignant histology. The Ki-67 positive index of polysomic cases was higher than that of disomic cases. In 22 cases (88.0%), the copy number of chromosome 17 was well matched with DNA ploidy. However, the numerical abnormality of chromosome 17 did not show a significant correlation with p53 mutation. Two of four HCCs that showed histologic heterogeneity were also heterogenous on ploidy pattern and the copy number of chromosome 17. Conversely, there was one case in which only ISH could demonstrate heterogeneity, although the other features exhibited homogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Numerical chromosome abnormalities correlated with the increase of histologic malignancy proliferative activity, and DNA ploidy. Moreover, ISH analysis was useful in assessing the intratumoral heterogeneity in HCC, especially when current methods failed to detect it. Thus, ISH provides information on important biologic features, such as malignant potential and intratumoral heterogeneity, in HCC.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effects of heart rate on flow velocity of the left atrial appendage in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Flow velocity of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is thought to be important in thrombus formation in association with blood stasis and the development of spontaneous echo contrast. The effects of heart rate on peak flow velocity of LAA have not been studied in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Using transesophageal Doppler echocardiography, peak flow velocity of the LAA was measured at the junction between the left atrium and the LAA during left ventricular (LV) systole and diastole in 21 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. In six cases, the average peak flow velocity of the LAA for 10 consecutive beats with moderately long R-R intervals (LI beats) was compared with those of 3-5 consecutive beats with extremely short R-R intervals (SI beats). RESULTS: Average peak flow velocity of the LAA during LV diastole was significantly higher than that during LV systole (26.5 +/- 15.7 vs. 19.3 +/- 10.4 cm/s, p < 0.01). In SI beats, average peak flow velocity of the LAA was significantly lower than that in LI beats (17.1 +/- 12.1 vs. 21.2 +/- 12.9 cm/s, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: An increased heart rate reduced the peak flow velocity of the LAA in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, which would promote blood stasis in the LAA.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Atrial reservoir and active transport function after cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation.

Atrial reservoir function has not been studied after successful cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation. Using transthoracic and transesophageal Doppler echocardiography, we measured flow velocity-time integrals of the systolic forward (Sa), diastolic forward (Da), and diastolic reversed (rAa) waves of flow velocity waveforms in the pulmonary vein and the superior vena cava, and those of the early diastolic (Ea) and late diastolic (Aa) waves of the transmitral and transtricuspid flow velocity waveforms. The left and right atrial storage fractions (LASF, RASF), indexes of atrial reservoir function, were determined as the ratios of the atrial storage volume to the ventricular stroke volume; (Sa - rAa)/(Sa - rAa + Da). The left and right atrial active contraction fractions (LAACF, RAACF), indexes of atrial active transport function, were also determined as the ratios of the atrial active contraction volume to the left ventricular stroke volume; Aa/(Ea + Aa). These indices were evaluated periodically in 12 patients with non-valvular chronic atrial fibrillation before and 1-4 days after direct current cardioversion of atrial fibrillation; in 8 of the patients, the indices were also evaluated 1-3 months after the cardioversion. An additional 10 patients in sinus rhythm served as controls. Both the LASF and RASF were low during atrial fibrillation; the values increased significantly 14 days after successful cardioversion (P < 0.01 P < 0.01), and continued to increase at 1-3 months. The LASF and RASF values 1-3 months after cardioversion were comparable to those in control subjects. Both the LAACF and RAACF also increased significantly from 1-4 days to 1-3 months after cardioversion (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), becoming comparable to those in control subjects. During the 3 months after successful cardioversion of non-valvular chronic atrial fibrillation, left and right atrial reservoir function and left and right atrial active transport function increased progressively, becoming comparable to values in the control subjects.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Globin digest, acidic protease hydrolysate, inhibits dietary hypertriglyceridemia and Val-Val-Tyr-Pro, one of its constituents, possesses most superior effect.

Globin digest (GD), prepared from globin by acidic protease treatment, suppressed the elevation of serum triglyceride level in not only total but also chylomicron fraction after oral administration of olive oil. By screening with this lowering activity, we concluded that Val-Val-Tyr-Pro (VVYP) would be most effective constituent having hypotriglyceridemic action in GD. The mode of their action was dose dependent and did not show species specificity. Neither the repression of peristaltic movement of intestine nor the delaying of gastric emptying was caused by intake of GD or VVYP, however, the excretion of administered lipid was much more than that of control. Furthermore, administration of GD caused more prominent activation of hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) and the increase of hepatic free fatty acid (FFA) concentration in early phase after administration of fat. From these results, it could be elucidated that GD, and also VVYP, inhibited fat absorption from digestive tract and enhanced activity of HTGL, so that more rapid clearance of dietary hypertriglyceridemia was caused.

Amino Acid Sequence↗