Beneficial effect of quinapril in patients with angiotensin-converting enzyme D allele after coronary stenting.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T Sone.
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The molecular cytogenetic organization of 17S ribosomal RNA genes (17S rDNA), a part of the 45S rDNA repeat, was investigated on the chromosomes of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha using fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). The numbers of 17S rDNA loci visualized in female and male chromosomes were ten and nine. respectively. This heterogeneous localization was due to the presence of an additional 17S rDNA locus on the X chromosome and its absence on the Y chromosome. The signal on the X chromosome covered almost the entire region of its long arm. The other nine signals were observed on the same loci of respective autosomes in both sexes. Southern hybridization analysis revealed an additional band including 17S rDNA exclusively on EcoRI digested female genomic DNA supporting the existence of an additional 17S rDNA locus on the X chromosome.
BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of viral lower respiratory tract infection that can be a life-threatening disease in infants and children. This study was conducted to look for independent risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus-associated lower respiratory tract infection (RSV-LRI) that required oxygen supplementation or mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Medical records of patients younger than 4 years hospitalized with RSV-LRI at Shizuoka Red Cross Hospital from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1999 were reviewed. The patients were compared using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 157 patients were hospitalized with RSV-LRI at Shizuoka Red Cross Hospital from the study time period. Of these, 20 patients (12.7%) were diagnosed with severe RSV-LRI. Subjects younger than 3 months of age had an odds ratio (OR) of 59.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) 14.7_244.0) for the dependent variable of severe RSV-LRI (P<0.0001). Subjects with a history of congenital heart disease also had an OR of 99.2 (95% C1 8.5-1160.1) (P<0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Infants younger than 3 months without any underlying diseases may be at high risk for severe RSV-LRI. Respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis is needed not only for high-risk patients, but for healthy early infants.
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Mating experiments between Magnaporthe grisea Japanese rice pathogens and Guy11, a hermaphroditic fertile rice pathogen, were done aimed at identification of avirulence genes. A cross named cross 2107 with thirty-six random progenies was obtained. Segregation analyses of genetic markers found that the cross was less suitable for genetic analysis. Backcrosses with cross 2107 progenies and Guy11 were done and another cross named cross 5307 with sixty-five progenies was obtained. A locus controlling kasugamycin resistance named Ksg1R was identified and used for a model case of genetic mapping. Bulked segregant analysis was done to find adjacent RAPD markers for mapping of the gene. Three adjacent markers to Ksg1R were obtained and a genetic map around the Ksg1R was made, but these markers were not located on a single chromosome. These results suggest that genetic analysis to identify a gene locus is available in cross 5307. Infection assay of parental strains of cross 5307 to Japanese differential rice cultivars suggested the possibility of genetic analysis of cultivar specificity toward four rice cultivars: Aichi-asahi, Kusabue, Tsuyuake, and K59.
Although the smoking prevalence among women is significantly low compared to that among men in Japan, the prevalence in young Japanese women has been steadily increasing recently. The relationship between the prevalence of smoking among the general population and various social factors was investigated with a special emphasis regarding the influence of household size on the smoking prevalence of young Japanese women. Thirty-one thousand and six hundreds twenty-seven subjects of 20 years and older were randomly selected from the general population of Japan. The Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan planned and conducted the survey. Subjects were divided into male and female, and smoking prevalence was investigated in terms of age, place of residence, occupation and household size factors. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. Multiple logistic regression analyses suggested that for men there was a strong relationship between becoming a smoker and living in a municipality with a smaller population, and that for women who were living in a municipality with a larger population. For women, as the size of a household increased from living alone to a two- or three-generation household, the tendency to becoming a smoker decreased, but this tendency was not observed among men. As to reasons for quitting smoking, more women than men living in two- and three-generation households gave "family's advice" as a major reason (p < 0.01). The steady replacement of the traditional three-generation household by smaller households in Japan may lead to an increase in the number of young women who smoke.
PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to clarify the factors that influence the rate of patient-carriage by ambulances in Japanese Prefectures. METHOD: The study was conducted using data on cases of patients with mild conditions carried by ambulances in Japanese prefectures in 1993, concentrating the factors that influence the rate of usage. The cases were analyzed focusing on three major types of medical emergencies (accounting for 93.4% of the total): sudden illnesses, traffic accidents and general injuries. SPSS for Windows was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Data analysis by age group and type of medical emergency showed a positive correlation (r > 0.7) for the rate of cases with mild conditions carried by ambulances in all age groups (early childhood, adolescence, adult and senior) and the three major types of medical emergencies. Particularly, a strong correlation (r > 0.9) was observed with regard to patients suffering from sudden illnesses and general injuries. Multiple regression analysis showed that the rate for patients with mild cases carried by ambulances was higher in prefectures where; (1) there were more cases of administrative litigation related to individuals' rights, and (2) there were many nuclear families that tended to lack the capacity for family care. In addition, it also became evident that the rate for patients with mild injuries from traffic accidents was higher in prefectures where; (1) the rate for male-driver license holders for small- and medium-size cars was higher, and (2) the ratio of numbers of vehicles to total roadway area was higher. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that factors unrelated to medical emergencies have a major influence on use of ambulance. Reevaluation of policy in order to promote appropriate utilization is necessary.
OBJECTIVES: Conventional thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction is effective for early reperfusion but has the disadvantage of a higher rate of bleeding complications. The purpose of this study is to elucidate efficacy and safety of a combined approach using a bolus injection of low dose of mutant tissue plasminogen activator (mt-PA) with heparin and aspirin to ensure definite antithrombin and antiplatelet efficacy, followed by back-up percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA). METHODS: Patients with acute myocardial infarction aged < 80 years who were admitted to our institution within 3 hr of onset of symptoms were immediately treated with oral aspirin 330 mg and intravenous heparin 5,000 IU and were randomized to receive an intravenous bolus of mt-PA (monteplase) 15,000 IU/kg (thrombolytic group, n = 25) or no mt-PA (control group, n = 21), followed by angiography with PTCA if indicated. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in patient characteristics, time from onset to hospital arrival, time to initial angiography, or infarct-related arteries. Significantly more patients had Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 3 and grade 2/3 at the initial angiography in the thrombolytic group than in the control group (32.0% vs 4.8%, 68.0% vs 14.3%; p = 0.020, p = 0.0003, respectively). PTCA was performed in 88% of the thrombolytic group (stenting employed in 64%) and 95.5% of the control group (stenting in 57%), and the success rate was 95.5% and 100%, respectively. No acute or subacute coronary occlusion was found in either group. Bleeding complications occurred in only one patient in the thrombolytic group, which was bleeding associated with vomiting, and no difference was found in other complications between the two groups. Radionuclide ventriculography using quantitative gated single photon emission computed tomography showed left ventricular end-diastolic volume and left ventricular end-systolic volume tended to be smaller, and the ejection fraction after 3 months of treatment tended to be higher in the thrombolytic group. Myocardial salvage volume was significantly higher in the thrombolytic group. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid thrombolysis using a low dose of mt-PA with aspirin and heparin promoted significantly early reperfusion. Also, successful reperfusion is achievable at higher rates with back-up PTCA without an increase in complications.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated public relations activity in a community health program in order to develop effective strategies to attract the public attention for the program. METHODS: An intervention study was conducted on public relations for "Nutrition Seminar for Citizens," sponsored by the Health Department of Machida City, Tokyo, in October, 1999. One ward in the city was selected as an intervention area, and another ward which had similar demographic and geographic characteristics was chosen as a control area. Two target populations were defined; one was women in their 20s to 60s (#1) and the other was those who had previously never utilized community health programs sponsored by the city (#2). Handbills were used as the medium for public relations for the seminar. These announced the time, place and content of the nutrition seminar and were designed by authors with special attention to catchphrases, colors and fonts. Handbills were distributed in the intervention area through elementary schools, local voluntary organizations and local health volunteers. In addition, the authors directly handed them out to people in front of two supermarkets in the town. The sources of seminar information were requested from the participants of the Nutrition Seminar with a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: 1. The percentage of participants who received the seminar information from handbills was higher than that of those who used monthly newsletters from the city as a source of information. 2. The percentage of participants from the intervention area was higher than that from the control area. 3. Regarding target populations #1 and #2, there were no differences in participation rates between the intervention and control area. 4. Among the four distribution routes, the local voluntary organization route was the most effective for attracting participants. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that handbills can be an effective medium for pubic relations to increase the number of participants in community health programs. Also, local voluntary organizations can play a crucial role in information transfer in the community because of their high credibility. On the other hand, we could not reach specified target populations with the medium. Further surveys are needed to establish optimal media and routes to reach appropriate target populations in health programs.
In diagnostic criteria of osteoporosis proposed by WHO, the severe osteoporosis is defined as a patient with a value for BMD or BMC more than 2.5SD below the young adult mean value in the presence of one or more fragility fractures. When severe fragility fracture occurs from the second to forth lumbar vertebra, the lumbar BMD could be over-estimated. On the other hand, when the lumbar BMD is markedly low, the demarcation of bone contour is incomplete, and the precision of the BMD measurement decreases. Thus, in the severe osteoporosis it is necessary to be careful in the diagnosis with bone mass using DXA.
Primary osteoporosis is diagnosed by diagnostic criteria, eg. whether non-traumatic vertebral body is or not, or the severity of low bone mass. As a diagnostic imaging of osteoporosis, grading of radiographic osteopenia, and Singh index in the upper end of femur are well-known. Vertebral fracture associated with osteoporosis shows wedge, fish or flat deformity, but it is necessary to differentiate from Schmorl node and so on. DXA is a main stream of bone mineral quantification method, and its image is expressed the distribution of bone mineral density per unit area.
Bone metabolic markers increase in blood or urine, when bone formation or bone resorption accelerates. Reference values of bone metabolic markers are determined in male or female, and in pre- or post-menopause, respectively. Values of bone metabolic markers in most patients with primary osteoporosis were distributed within a reference value, mean+/-1.96 SD. When measured values exceeded a reference values, we should survey a possibility of abnormal calcium or bone metabolism such as primary hyperparathyroidism, renal osteodystrophy, hyperthyroidism and Paget's disease of bone or bone metastasis associated with malignant tumor.
The deficiency of calcitonin, CT, which has an inhibitory effect of bone resorption might be related to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Therefore, in this paper, in regard to the sex difference, the changes with aging, and the comparison with patients with osteoporosis and normal controls, the basal value and the secretion capacity of CT concentrations in the blood, and the metabolic clearance rate, MCR, and the production rate, PR, of CT have been reviewed.
A total of 935 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from male immature sexual organ were determined, of which 600 ESTs were assembled into 110 non-redundant groups, resulting in 445 unique EST sequences. Of these, 244 sequences shared significant similarities to known nucleotide or amino acid sequences in other organisms. The remaining 201 unique sequences showed no significant matches and thus are likely to be novel transcripts. ESTs from male and female immature sexual organs of a liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha, were compared to characterize gene expression patterns during sex differentiation. Ninety-nine male ESTs turned out to be common genes found also in the female library. Interestingly, one of the ESTs found only in male shows a significant similarity to the transformer-2 gene involved in sex determination in Drosophila. In female, several unique lectin ESTs were found that are not present in the male library.
This study evaluated the role of adrenomedullin in patients with vasospastic angina pectoris. Adrenomedullin may be involved in regulating a basal tone of the coronary artery in these patients.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy and precision of "deep-forehead" temperature with rectal, esophageal, and tympanic membrane temperatures, compared with blood temperature. METHODS: We studied 41 ASA physical status 1 or 2 patients undergoing abdominal and thoracic surgery scheduled to require at least three hours. "Deep-forehead" temperature was measured using a Coretemp thermometer (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan). Blood temperature was measured with a thermistor of a pulmonary artery. Rectal, tympanic membrane, and distal esophageal temperatures were measured with thermocouples. All temperatures were recorded at 20 min intervals after the induction of anesthesia. We considered blood temperature as the reference value. Temperatures at the other four sites were compared with blood temperature using correlation, regression, and Bland and Altman analyses. We determined accuracy (mean difference between reference and test temperatures) and precision (standard deviation of the difference) of 0.5 degrees C to be clinically acceptable. RESULTS: "Deep-forehead" temperature correlated well with blood temperature as well as other temperatures, the determination coefficients (r2) being 0.85 in each case. The bias for the "deep-forehead" temperature was 0.0 degrees C, which was the same as tympanic membrane temperature and was smaller than rectal and esophageal temperatures. The standard deviation of the differences for the "deep-forehead" temperature was 0.3 degrees C, which was the same as rectal temperature. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that the "deep-forehead" temperature has excellent accuracy and clinically sufficient precision as well as other three core temperatures, compared with blood temperature.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to elucidate the long-term prognostic importance of angiographic no-reflow phenomenon after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND: Angiographic no-reflow phenomenon, a reduced coronary antegrade flow (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] flow grade < or =2) without mechanical obstruction after recanalization, predicts poor left ventricular (LV) functional recovery and survival in the early phase of AMI. We hypothesized that angiographic no-reflow phenomenon also predicts long-term clinical outcome. METHODS: We studied 120 consecutive patients with their first AMI treated by PTCA without flow-restricting lesions. The patients were classified as either no-reflow (n = 30) or reflow (TIMI-3) (n = 90) based on post-PTCA cineangiograms to follow up (5.8 +/- 1.2 years) for cardiac death and nonfatal events. RESULTS: Patients with no-reflow had congestive heart failure (p < 0.0001), malignant arrhythmia (p = 0.038), and cardiac death (p = 0.002) more often than did those with reflow. Kaplan-Meier curves showed lower cardiac survival and cardiac event-free survival (p < 0.0001) in patients with no-reflow than in those with reflow. Multivariate analyses disclosed that no-reflow phenomenon was an independent predictor of long-term cardiac death (relative risk [RR] 5.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.85 to 14.9, p = 0.002) and cardiac events (RR 3.71, 95% CI 1.79 to 7.69, p = 0.0004). At follow-up, survivors with no-reflow had higher end-diastolic and end-systolic LV volume indices and plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels, and lower LV ejection fractions (p = 0.0002, p < 0.0001, p = 0.002, p < 0.0001, respectively) than did those with reflow, indicating that no-reflow may be involved in LV remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: Angiographic no-reflow phenomenon strongly predicts long-term cardiac complications after AMI; these complications are possibly associated with LV remodeling.
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