A 60-year-old man with asymptomatic Brugada syndrome and neither a history of syncope nor family history of sudden death was admitted because of bronchial asthma. Serum potassium concentration was ...3.8 mmol/L on admission, and decreased to 3.1 mmol/L on the 6th day, probably as a side effect of steroid therapy. The patient was found unconscious on the 7th day, and his serum potassium concentration was 3.4 mmol/L immediately after the episode. On the 8th day, the patient was again found unconscious, and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VT/VF) was documented on electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring. The coved type of ST-segment elevation in leads V1-3 was observed on the ECG after spontaneous recovery of sinus rhythm, and VT/VF associated with Brugada syndrome was diagnosed. The serum potassium concentration decreased to 2.9 mmol/L immediately after the episode, but QT prolongation was not observed during the clinical course. After the correcting the serum potassium concentration, there was no further recurrence of the malignant ventricular arrhythmia and syncope. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator was inserted to prevent sudden death. Hypokalemia that does not induce QT prolongation may contribute to the occurrence of VT/VF in Brugada syndrome. (Circ J 2003; 67: 93 - 95)
Aims: To determine the effect of 2-(6-cyano-1-hexyn-1-yl)adenosine (2-CN-Ado), an adenosine A2A receptor agonist, on retinal ischaemia/reperfusion damage in rats. Methods: Retinal ...ischaemia/reperfusion damage was induced by elevating the intraocular pressure of one eye to 130 mm Hg for 60 minutes and returning it to normal. 7 days later, retinal ischaemia/reperfusion damage was histologically quantified by measuring the thickness of retinal layers. Intraocular pressure was measured by pressure transducer. Results: Retinal ischaemia/reperfusion caused cell loss in the ganglion cell layer and thinning of the inner plexiform and nuclear layer. Both ocular topical and intravenous administration of 2-CN-Ado caused a reduction of retinal ischaemia/reperfusion damage. A selective A2A receptor antagonist, 1,3,7-trimethyl-8-(3-chlorostyryl) xanthine (CSC), but not a selective A1 receptor antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), or a selective A2B receptor antagonist, alloxazine, reduced the protective effect of 2-CN-Ado. While ocular topical administration of 2-CN-Ado caused a sustained reduction of intraocular pressure, intravenous administration of 2-CN-Ado showed a transient ocular hypotensive effect. Conclusions: These results suggest that 2-CN-Ado attenuates retinal ischaemia/reperfusion damage, and at least some of this protective effect of 2-CN-Ado might be mediated via activation of the adenosine A2A receptor.
We report atomic resolution imaging of Cu-planar precipitates in aged Al-Cu alloys, known as Guinier-Preston (GP) zones, by high-angle annular detector dark-field scanning transmission electron ...microscopy. Single layered GP-I zones as small as 2 nm in length were resolved among densely populated GP-I zones, whereas double layered GP zones were clearly identified. The images of GP-II zones showed not only the commonly accepted structure, in which single CU layers are separated by three Al layers, but also a variant, in which double Cu layers are separated by a single Al layer. Keywords:scanning transmission electron microscopy, HAADF-STEM, aged alloy, Guinier-Preston zone
For the surveillance of the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in raw chicken products in Japan, a qualitative method, National Institute of Health Sciences Japan (NIHSJ)-02, ...was developed as an alternative to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 10272-1:2006. In the NIHSJ-02 culture method, the enrichment step is carried out in a reduced volume of Preston broth at 42 +/- 1 degrees C to reduce cost and space, and to prevent the overgrowth of background bacteria. To evaluate the performance of NIHSJ-02, a collaborative study was conducted, and the results obtained by NIHSJ-02 were compared with those obtained using the reference method, ISO 10272-1:2006. Fifteen laboratories participated; each examined 48 minced chicken samples consisting of test samples uninoculated, inoculated with C. jejuni at a low or high level, and inoculated with C. coli at a low level. The average probabilities of detection by NIHSJ-02 across laboratories were 0.033, 0.222, 0.678, and 0.267 in samples uninoculated, inoculated with C. jejuni at a low and high level, and with C. coli at a low level, respectively. Those by ISO 10272-1:2006 were 0.051, 0.128, 0.551, and 0.090. Significantly higher probabilities of detection were determined by NIHSJ-02 compared to ISO 10272-1:2006, except for uninoculated samples. On the other hand, significantly lower frequency of occurrence of background bacteria was observed by NIHSJ-02 (43.1%) compared with ISO 10272-1:2006 (92.6%). NIHSJ-02 showed better performance than ISO 10272-1:2006 with regard to the selective detection of C. jejuni and C. coli in chicken.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The total lipid and fatty acid compositions of tissues and the stomach contents of three subtropical marine fish species, subfamily Caesioninae, Caesio diagramma and C. tile, and family Siganidae ...Siganus canaliculatus, were investigated to clarify the differences between these species. Triacylglycerols (TAG) were the dominant depot lipids of the three species, whereas wax esters were found as a minor component. In particular, muscle lipids were found to contain mainly glycerol derivatives such as TAG and phospholipids. The major fatty acids identified in the three species were 16∶0, 18∶0, 18∶1n−9, and 22∶6n−3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA). In addition, noticeable levels of 16∶1n−7, 18∶1n−7, 20∶4n−6 (arachidonic acid, AA), and 20∶5n−3 (eicosapentaenoic acid) were found. DHA was the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the muscle and viscera lipids of the three species. The high DHA levels in the lipids of all the organs were found to be higher than those of the lipid extracted from the stomach contents of the three fishes. In addition, the specimens of S. canaliculatus contained significantly higher levels of AA in its tissues than did the other two species. A high AA content is unusual since such high levels of n−6 PUFA are rarely found in higher marine organisms. These levels may be due to its characteristic feeding pattern, because S. canaliculatus prefer and mainly feed on seaweed, which often contains high amounts of n−6 PUFA, such as linoleic acid (18∶2n−6) and AA.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) can be caused by mutations in 9 different genes encoding sarcomere proteins expressed in cardiac muscle. To date, only 13 different mutations in the cardiac ...troponin T (cTnT) gene have been reported to cause HC. Clinical characteristics and prognosis associated with mutations of this gene have not been well characterized owing to the small size and composition of affected families. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristic phenotype of patients with HC caused by a novel cTnT gene mutation, Lys273Glu. Two hundred Japanese probands with HC were screened for mutations in the cTnT gene. The Lys273Glu missense mutation was present in 9 persons from 2 unrelated pedigrees. They exhibited different cardiac morphologies: 1 had a dilated cardiomyopathy-like feature, 7 had left ventricular hypertrophy with normal left ventricular systolic function, and the 6 of them had asymmetric septal hypertrophy. A 1-year-old boy was not evaluated with echocardiography. The mean maximum wall thickness was 18.0 ± 5.5 mm (range 8 to 24). There were 7 histories of sudden death in 1 of the 2 families. The Lys273Glu substitution in the cTnT gene shows a high degree of penetrance (100% in persons aged >20 years), a high incidence of sudden death, and a partial transition from hypertrophic to dilated cardiomyopathy. Because the location of a mutation appears to influence the development of a phenotype, we suggest that the precise definition of the disease-causing mutation can provide important prognostic information about affected members.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
In order to establish a plan for occupational dose reduction at operating plants, outage inspection works that involve high-dose exposure were selected and a determination of the major causes of ...high-dose exposure made by plant-by-plant comparison of doses received during inspection works. The comparison was made to investigate the relationship between exposure and the volume of objects to be inspected, working time and man-hour of each work process and ambient dose rates at work areas. In parallel with this, an analysis has also been carried out on 400 data items in a questionnaire survey conducted on relevant individuals, including foremen, radiation safety personnel, on-site workers and plant designers regarding ideas for dose reduction methods. With combination of these two analyses, matters that require improvement will be highlighted, then modification of equipment or revision of work procedures necessary for occupational dose reduction will be planned by plant designers through review.
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