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In addition to the classical actions of hemodynamic regulation, natriuretic peptides (NPs) interact with various neurohumoral factors that are deeply involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. However, their effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is activated under acute high-stress conditions in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), remain largely unknown. We investigated the impact of plasma B-type NP (BNP) on plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-cortisol levels during the acute phase of ACS ischemic attacks. The study population included 436 consecutive patients with ACS for whom data were collected during emergency cardiac catheterization. Among them, biochemical data after acute-phase treatment were available in 320 cases, defined as the ACS-remission phase (ACS-rem). Multiple regression analyses revealed that plasma BNP levels were significantly negatively associated with plasma ACTH levels only during ACS attacks (P < 0.001), but not in ACSrem, whereas plasma BNP levels were not significantly associated with plasma cortisol levels at any point. Accordingly, covariance structure analyses were performed to clarify the direct contribution of BNP to ACTH by excluding other confounding factors, confirming that BNP level was negatively correlated with ACTH level only during ACS attacks (β = -0.152, P = 0.002), whereas BNP did not significantly affect ACTH in ACS-rem. In conclusion, despite the lack of a significant direct association with cortisol levels, BNP negatively regulated ACTH levels during the acute phase of an ACS attack in which the HPA axis ought to be activated. NP may alleviate the acute stress response induced by severe ischemic attacks in patients with ACS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the effectiveness of distortion correction using a nonrigid image registration method in diffusion-weighted imaging, comparing it with readout-segmented echo planar imaging (RS-EPI). Unlike the RS-EPI, the effectiveness of the distortion correction of the nonrigid registration method depended on the slice level, being most accurate at the level of the basal ganglia, lateral ventricle, and centrum semiovale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Anaemia is a risk of worsening heart failure. However, anaemia sometimes remains undetected because the superficial cardiac function does not precisely reflect the adverse impact of anaemia. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) could be helpful in these cases. However, the direct anaemic effects on BNP remain unknown. Herein, we compared the direct effect of anaemia on BNP and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) using an advanced statistical procedure. Design A retrospective study. Setting Secondary care (cardiology), single-centre study. Participants The study consisted of 3756 inpatients, including 684 without ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and 3072 with IHD. Primary and secondary outcome measures Relationship between plasma BNP levels and LVEF values. Results A path model was constructed to simultaneously examine the adverse impact of anaemia on LVEF and plasma BNP, allowing for renal function. The path model revealed that LVEF increased in response to low haemoglobin (Hb), and the phenomenon was prominent in non-IHD (standardised regression coefficients (St.β): -0.264, p<0.001) rather than in IHD (St.β: 0.015, p=0.531). However, the response of BNP was commonly observed in both groups (non-IHD St.β: -0.238, IHD St.β: -0.398, p<0.001, respectively). Additionally, this study showed a direct link between low estimated glomerular filtration rate and high BNP independently of LVEF. Incrementally, Bayesian structural equation modelling in covariance structure analysis clearly supported this result. The scatter plots and simple regression analysis revealed that an adequate blood supply was approximately Hb 110 g/L and over in the non-IHD patients, whereas blood was not supplied in sufficient quantities even by Hb 130 g/L in patients with IHD. Conclusion The current study demonstrated that anaemia was a substantial risk for worsening cardiac overload as estimated by plasma BNP. The anaemic response of LVEF likely changed depending on underlying cardiac disorders (IHD or not). However, the response of BNP was robustly observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) level is a marker of oxidative stress and is linked to progression of arteriosclerosis; however, the clinical factors affecting the oxidised LDL level have not been elucidated. We investigate various factors to identify correlation with MDA-LDL level in high-risk patients requiring catheter intervention. Setting: Secondary care (cardiology), single-centre study. Participants: 600 patients who were admitted to our hospital and underwent cardiac catheterisation. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Blood samples were obtained to measure lipid profiles and MDA-LDL level. Results: With regard to smoking status, MDA-LDL level was significantly higher in ex-smokers/current smokers compared with non-smokers. Of note, there was no improvement of MDA-LDL level even in patients who had quit smoking. Multiple regression analysis showed that MDA-LDL level was positively correlated with LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) level, Brinkman index and male gender. The correlation between smoking status and either MDA-LDL or LDL-C level was investigated in two groups: namely, patients with and patients without statin treatment. In the non- statin group, MDA-LDL level and MDA-LDL/LDL-C ratio were significantly higher in ex-smokers/current smokers compared with non-smokers, while no significant correlation was observed between smoking status and LDL-C level. In contrast, in the statin group, there were no significant correlations between smoking status and any of the cholesterol parameters. Conclusions: We found that MDA-LDL level was affected by multiple factors, such as smoking status, LDL-C level and male gender. The present findings give additional evidence that smoking should be prohibited from a MDA-LDL standpoint. Furthermore, statin therapy might have a beneficial effect on the reduction of MDA-LDL level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent advances in multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) have made it possible to diagnose coronary stenosis with high sensitivity. However, coronary arterial tonus has not been considered when reading MDCT. We hypothesized that MDCT can document fluctuant tonus of the coronary arteries. Methods: The study population consisted of 39 consecutive patients who underwent MDCT twice in our institution with 64-row dual-source MDCT. Measurements were performed with stretched multiplanar reconstruction images using the full width at half maximum method. The coronary arteries were measured at each segment, and the same measurement was performed in the ascending aorta and the left internal thoracic artery (ITA). The percent diameter changes between the first and second measurements were examined in each segment of the coronary arteries and compared with those in the aorta or the ITA. Results: The average percent diameter changes were statistically equivalent between the coronary arteries and the aorta or the ITA. On the other hand, the percent diameter changes in distribution were significantly larger in the coronary arteries than those in the aorta or the ITA. This suggests that the diameter of the coronary arteries is liable to show variation compared to that of other arteries. Conclusion: This study confirmed for the first time that coronary arteries can fluctuate substantially and that these changes can be documented by MDCT. Changes in coronary arterial tonus should therefore be considered when reading MDCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract   Calicotyle japonica n. sp., collected from the uterus, rectal gland, archinephric duct and cloaca of the shortspine spurdog Squalus mitsukurii Jordan & Snyder (Squaliformes) off the Pacific coast of Japan, is described. The new species can be distinguished from C. inermis Woolcock, 1936 by the shape of the male copulatory organ; in C. japonica this is directed anteriorly, is sharply bent in the middle and then increases in width toward the tip, whereas it is long, coiled and uniform in width throughout its entire length in C. inermis. Furthermore, the intestinal caeca have many irregular diverticula on both sides and the vaginal apertures are at the level of the common genital pore in C. japonica, whereas in C. inermis the intestine is smooth and the vaginae open at the level of the oötype. A phylogeny constructed using LSU rDNA data indicates that the new species is grouped with other Calicotyle species; based on this, Gymnocalicotyle Nybelin, 1941 is synonymised with Calicotyle Diesing, 1850. Calicotyle is divided into two major clades, with the new species being grouped with Calicotyle species infecting sharks and the second clade consisting of Calicotyle spp. infecting rays. This suggests that the loss of the hamuli in C. japonica and C. inermis, both parasites of sharks, is a comparatively recent event in the evolution of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background information. Spermatozoa show several changes in flagellar waveform, such as upon fertilization. Ca2+has been shown to play critical roles in modulating the waveforms of sperm flagella. However, a Ca2+-binding protein in sperm flagella that regulates axonemal dyneins has not been fully characterized.Results. We identified a novel neuronal calcium sensor family protein, named calaxin (Ca2+-binding axonemal protein), in sperm flagella of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Calaxin has three EF-hand Ca2+-binding motifs, and its orthologues are present in metazoan species, but not in yeast, green algae or plant. Immunolocalization revealed that calaxin is localized near the outer arm of the sperm flagellar axonemes. Moreover, it is distributed in adult tissues bearing epithelial cilia. An in vitro binding experiment indicated that calaxin binds to outer arm dynein. A cross-linking experiment showed that calaxin binds to β-tubulin in situ. Overlay experiments further indicated that calaxin binds the β-dynein heavy chain of outer arm dynein in the presence of Ca2+.Conclusions. These results suggest that calaxin is a potential Ca2+-dependent modulator of outer arm dynein in metazoan cilia and flagella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of parasitic copepods (Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae), Caligus sclerotinosus Roubal, Armitage & Rohde, 1983, parasitic on red seabream Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel), and Lepeophtheirus longiventralis Yü & Wu, 1932, parasitic on spotted halibut Verasper variegatus (Temminck & Schlegel), are redescribed based on material found on their respective hosts cultured in Japan. Both species are new to Japan. Preliminary observation on the occurrence of L. longiventralis indicates that the larval development takes place on the body surface of the host and only the post-mated female migrates into the host's gill-cavities. Whilst the occurrence of L. longiventralis in Japan can be considered as due to natural causes, the occurrence of C. sclerotinosus is likely due to anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]