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In this study, using enteric methane emissions, we investigated the metabolic characteristics of Japanese Black cattle. Their methane emissions were measured at early (age 13 months), middle (20 months), and late fattening phases (28 months). Cattle with the highest and lowest methane emissions were selected based on the residual methane emission values, and their liver transcriptome, blood metabolites, hormones, and rumen fermentation characteristics were analyzed. Blood β-hydroxybutyric acid and insulin levels were high, whereas blood amino acid levels were low in cattle with high methane emissions. Further, propionate and butyrate levels differed depending on the enteric methane emissions. Hepatic genes, such as SERPINI2, SLC7A5, ATP6, and RRAD, which were related to amino acid transport and glucose metabolism, were upregulated or downregulated during the late fattening phase. The above mentioned metabolites and liver transcriptomes could be used to evaluate enteric methanogenesis in Japanese Black cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the prognosis of elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. We aimed to examine the association of body weight with the clinical outcomes among Japanese elderly patients with a history of documented AF. This observational study of AF patients from an outpatients clinic in Nagoya University Hospital included 413 patients ≥70 years old (99 obese: BMI ≥25 kg/m; 256 normal weight: BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m; and 58 underweight patients: BMI <18.5 kg/m). The mean age was 77.5 ± 5.6 years. During a mean follow-up of 19.0 months, all-cause death occurred in 23 patients (obese 1 %, normal weight 5.1 %, and underweight 16 %). The major adverse events including all-cause death, stroke or transient ischemic attack, heart failure requiring admission, and acute coronary syndrome were observed in 53 patients (obese 5.1 %, normal weight 13 %, and underweight 26 %). After adjusting for confounding factors, the underweight group had a significantly greater risk for all-cause death [hazard ratio (HR) 2.91, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.12-7.60, p = 0.029], and major adverse events (HR 2.45, 95 % CI 1.25-4.78, p = 0.009) than the normal weight group. In contrast, the obese group had a better prognosis in major adverse events compared with the normal weight group (HR 0.34, 95 % CI 0.13-0.89, p = 0.029). In conclusion, lower BMI was independently associated with poor outcomes among older AF patients. The association between obesity and better prognosis in elderly AF patients was also found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and prognosis in heart failure patients after cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation. Methods: We retrospectively investigated 125 patients (33 overweight [BMI ≥25 kg/m], 75 normal weight [BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m], and 17 underweight patients [BMI <18.5 kg/m]) who underwent CRT-D implantation. The clinical outcome endpoints were all-cause death and appropriate shock therapy. Results: During the follow-up period (mean 3.1 ± 1.8 years), 23 patients died (1 [3.0 %] overweight, 17 [22.7 %] normal weight, and 5 [29.4 %] underweight patients), and appropriate shock events were observed in 14 patients (2 [6.1 %] overweight, 10 [13.3 %] normal weight, and 2 [11.8 %] underweight patients). All patients survived shock therapy. After adjusting for confounding factors, overweight patients had significantly fewer outcomes relating to all-cause death and appropriate shock events (hazard ratio 0.27, 95 % confidence interval 0.08-0.91, p = 0.034) than normal weight patients. However, the prognostic difference between overweight and normal weight patients could be diminished as a result of the successful shock therapies ( p = 0.067). Additionally, prognosis did not differ between overweight and normal weight patients among the responders, but did differ among the non-responders. The underweight patients had a poorer prognosis after CRT-D implantation compared with the other groups. Conclusions: Although high BMI was associated with better outcomes among heart failure patients with CRT-D implantations, the difference in the prognosis between overweight and normal weight patients was reduced because of defibrillator therapy and the improvement in cardiac function provided by CRT-D implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies show that some human malaria parasite species Plasmodium falciparum and P.vivax parasitize erythroblasts; however, the biological and clinical significance of this is unclear. To investigate further, we generated a rodent malaria parasite (P. yoelii 17XNL) expressing GFP-ovalbumin (OVA). Its infectivity to erythroblasts was confirmed and parasitized erythroblasts were capable of initiating malaria infections. Experiments showed that MHC class I molecules were highly expressed on parasitized erythroblasts. As CD8+ T cells recognize MHC class I and peptide complexes on target cells and are involved in protection or pathology against malaria, we examined whether erythroblasts are targeted by CD8+ T cells. Purified non-parasitized erythroblasts pulsed with OVA peptides were recognized by OVA-specific CD8+ T cells. Crucially, parasitized erythroblasts isolated from GFP-OVA-, but not GFP- infected-mice, activated OT-I CD8+ T cells, indicating that CD8+ T cells recognize parasitized erythroblasts in an antigen-specific manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the circadian variation of catecholamine has been reported, that of the pulse wave velocity (PWV) has not. Brachial ankle (ba) PWV is associated with well-established indices of central stiffness. It is not known whether arterial stiffness is associated with catecholamine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in baPWV and those on the plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in the morning and evening in hypertensive patients (HPs) and normotensive subjects (NSs). The baPWV and blood pressure (BP) were measured in 14 NSs (14 males, 39 ± 5 years) and 10 HPs (9 males and 1 female, 55 ± 13 years) at 06:00 h, noon, 18:00 h, and midnight, respectively. The plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were measured in 14 NSs and 5 HPs at 06:00 h and 18:00 h, respectively. There was no significant difference in BPs at 06:00 h, noon, 18:00 h, and midnight in either NSs or HPs. The baPWV at 06:00 h was significantly lower than that at noon, 18:00 h, and midnight in NSs ( P = 0.01, 0.04, and 0.0008, respectively). The plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels at 06:00 h were markedly lower than those at 18:00 h in NSs ( P = 0.002 and 0.003, respectively). There were no significant changes in the baPWV of HPs at 06:00 h, noon, 18:00 h, or midnight. The plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels at 06:00 h were notably lower than those at 18:00 h in HPs ( P = 0.004 and 0.01, respectively). Only NSs showed a significant reduction in the baPWV with a decrease in the plasma catecholamine levels in the morning, suggesting that the baPWV of NSs may be correlated with the variation of the plasma catecholamine levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To differentiate acute from chronic damage to the myocardium in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) using DE and T2w MR. Methods: Short-axis T2w and DE MR images were acquired twice after the onset of MI in 36 patients who successfully underwent emergency coronary revascularisation. The areas of infarct and oedema were measured. The oedema-infarct ratio (O/I) of the left ventricular area was calculated by dividing the oedema by the infarct area. Results: The oedema size on T2w MR was significantly larger than the infarct size on DE MR in the acute phase. Both the oedema size on T2w MR and the infarct size on DE MR in the acute phase were significantly larger than those in the chronic phase. The O/I was significantly greater in the acute phase compared with that in the chronic phase ( P < 0.05). An analysis of relative cumulative frequency distributions revealed an O/I of 1.4 as a cut-off value for differentiating acute from chronic myocardial damage with the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 85.1%, 82.7% and 83.9%, respectively. Conclusion: The oedema-infarct ratio may be a useful index in differentiating acute from chronic myocardial damage in patients with MI. Key Points • MR can differentiate reversible from irreversible myocardial damage after myocardial infarction. • MR is a useful modality to noninvasively differentiate the infarct stages. • The O/I is an important index to decide therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method, silver-copper (Ag-Cu) nanoparticles have been synthesized by changing the surface area ratio of the target (SR = SCu/(SAg + SCu)) from 0 to 30%. The peak absorption attributed to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) increased when increasing SR up to 15%, above which it decreased. The peak shifts seem to be induced by the changes in the conductivity and morphology of the Ag-Cu nanoparticles. Additionally, the interplanar spacings of the Ag-Cu nanoparticles prepared at SR = 15% corresponded to the Ag {111}, {200}, {220}, and Cu {111} planes. However, since the interplanar spacings attributed to the Cu {200} and {220} planes were not detected, the Ag-Cu nanoparticles were believed to possess a lattice constant (a) close not to the Cu phase (a = 3.615 Å) but to the Ag phase (a = 4.086 Å). Moreover, confirming the presence of Cu atoms in the nanoparticles using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra, Ag-Cu nanoparticles may be a solid solution in which Cu atoms partially replace Ag atoms in the fcc structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The serine repeat antigen gene family of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf-SERA) consists of nine gene members. By sequence similarity search, 45 genes were identified to be homologous to the Pf-SERA genes in the ongoing seven Plasmodium genome sequencing project databases for the species: P. reichenowi, P. vivax, P. knowlesi, P. yoelii, P. berghei, P. chabaudi, and P. gallinaceum. In combination with additional PCR-based sequencing, we found that almost all SERA genes in each species were aligned in a tandem cluster and sandwiched between two conserved hypothetical protein genes, except for P. reichenowi, which could not be confirmed. The minimum and maximum numbers of clustered genes were 2 and 12 for P. gallinaceum and P. vivax, respectively. The best tree of the maximum likelihood analysis demonstrated that all Plasmodium SERA homologues, except for SERA1 of P. gallinaceum (Pg-SERA1), can be classified into four groups, represented by Pf-SERA5, Pf-SERA6, Pf-SERA7, and Pf-SERA8. Genes in the Pf-SERA8 group, although highly divergent and distantly related to the sequences of other groups, were not pseudogenes. P. berghei SERA5, the counterpart of Pf-SERA8, was expressed in the mosquito stage. P. gallinaceum lacks the orthologues to Pf-SERA5, Pf-SERA6, and Pf-SERA7, suggesting that P. gallinaceum diverged from a common ancestor of all eight Plasmodium species examined before gene duplication(s) occurred to generate these paralogous groups. Here, we reveal an evolutionary trail of SERA gene cluster in the genus Plasmodium and discuss a phylogeny of Plasmodium species from the viewpoint of the evolution of a multigene family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In postmenopausal women, it has been reported that the plasma estrogen levels diminish immediately after menopause, and that this phenomenon affects left ventricular (LV) function and volumes. However, the effects of age on LV function and volumes for a relatively short period in the postmenopausal women remain to be established. Electrocardiographically gated-myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has recently provided accurate estimations of perfusion, cardiac systolic and diastolic functions. We investigated the age-related changes in LV function and volumes in postmenopausal women using electrocardiographically gated-myocardial scintigraphy.Methods: Twenty-two consecutive healthy postmenopausal women (mean age of 63.8 +/- 9.4 years, from 42 to 77 years) without cardiac disease underwent stress/rest technetium-99m tetrofosmin gated-myocardial SPECT with 16 frames per cardiac cycle at baseline and follow-up (1.0 +/- 0.3 years later). LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV volumes were calculated by QGS software. Fourier series were retained for the analysis of the volume curve. From this volume curve, we derived the following diastolic indices: peak filling rate (PFR) and time to PFR (TPFR).Results: End-systolic volume index (ESVI) significantly decreased at postexercise (p = 0.02) and tended to decrease at rest (p = 0.06) from the baseline to the follow-up study. LVEF significantly increased at both postexercise (p = 0.01) and rest (p = 0.03) from the baseline to the follow-up study. The TPFR at rest tended to be prolonged from the baseline to the follow-up study (p = 0.07). The absolute increase in LVEF at postexercise tended to decrease with age [4.8% (50s) vs. 3.4% (60s) vs. 1.2% (70s)].Conclusions: An age-related change in cardiac performance is apparent at an approximately 1 year follow-up in postmenopausal women. In particular, the increase in LV systolic function tends to show the greatest value in the 50s subjects among the 3 generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a survey of malaria diagnoses and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) testing in remote areas of Cambodia. Blood specimens from 670 people were collected by the finger-prick method. Of these people, 24.9% were found to have malaria, and 7.0% of people were G6PD deficient. In the Khmer, the largest ethnical population in Cambodia, the G6PD deficiency rate of males was 12.6% (25/199) whereas the rates in the minorities of the Tum Pun and the Cha Ray were 1.1% (1/93) and 3.2% (2/63), respectively. Of the G6PD-deficient subjects, 97.9% (46/47) were G6PD Viangchan (871G>A), and only one case (2.1%) was G6PD Union (1360C>T). Since G6PD Mahidol (487G>A) is common in Myanmar according to our previous study, the current finding suggests that the Cambodian population is derived from homogeneous ancestries and is different from the Myanmar population. All G6PD Viangchan cases were linked to two other mutations of 1311C>T and IVS-11 nt93T>C in the G6PD gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) has been recently proposed as an effective technique to cure atrial fibrillation (AF).Aims Of the Study: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a novel technique utilizing a computerized three-dimensional mapping system (QMS2) with a multielectrode basket catheter (MBC) for PVI and to reveal the relation between the style of breakthrough and the network of the PV musculature.Methods: Sixty-five consecutive patients with frequent AF attacks underwent PV mapping with a 31-mm MBC, and a three-dimensional color animation of the potential map was constructed by the QMS2. The animation color schema was arranged to minimize the low-amplitude left atrial (LA) potentials and emphasize the high-amplitude PV potentials (PVPs). The longitudinal PVP map enabled us to recognize the true breakthroughs and reveal the network of the PV musculature.Results: A total of 205 PVs (65 left superior PVs, 65 right superior PVs, 57 left inferior PVs and 18 right inferior PVs) were mapped and successful PVI was achieved in all PVs, except one that had no PVPs, with a mean radiofrequency duration of 7 +/- 5 minutes per PV. In about 90% of the PVs, a final radiofrequency application eliminated all the distal PVPs simultaneously because the PVI was performed at the appropriate LA-PV junction. A single segmental breakthrough was detected in 17 PVs, single broad breakthrough in 83 PVs, multiple separate breakthroughs with a distal connection between the PV musculatures extending from each separate breakthrough in 88 PVs and multiple separate breakthroughs without that connection in 16 PVs. During the follow-up period, fifty-one (78%) patients were free of symptomatic AF without any antiarrhythmic drugs after multiple procedures (thirty-three (51%) of those patients after the first procedure) and no PV stenosis was found.Conclusions: Computerized three-dimensional potential mapping can be useful for PVI because it can not only identify the true breakthrough, but can also confirm the elimination of the breakthroughs by the change in the activation sequence through the network of the PV musculature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a survey of malaria diagnoses and treatments in remote areas of Myanmar. Blood specimens from more than 1,000 people were collected by the finger-prick method, and 121 (11%) of these people were found to be glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient. Of these 121, 50 consented to analysis of theG6PDgenome. We read theG6PDsequences of these subjects and found 45 cases of G6PD Mahidol (487G>A), two of G6PD Coimbra (592C>T), two of G6PD Union (1360C>T), and one of G6PD Canton (1376G>T). Taken together with data from our previous report, 91.3% (73/80) of G6PD variants were G6PD Mahidol. This finding suggests that the Myanmar population is derived from homogeneous ancestries and are different from Thai, Malaysian, and Indonesian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to determine the effects of antiarrhythmic agents on global left ventricular (LV) function during exercise in patients with chronic LV dysfunction. Thirty-five patients with LV dysfunction [LV ejection fraction (LVEF) < 45%] and ventricular arrhythmias were studied. They were randomly classified into 3 groups: patients who received a single oral dose of 6 mg/kg disopyramide phosphate (n = 12), those who received a single oral dose of 4 mg/kg mexiletine hydrochloride (n = 12), and those who received a single oral dose of 4 mg/kg pilsicainide hydrochloride (n = 11). First, all patients were subjected to baseline rest and peak exercise, equilibrium-gated cardiac-pool scintigraphy with 99mTc-human serous albumin of 740 MBq (baseline data). Second, on a separate day, they were given drugs once, and were subsequently subjected to rest and peak exercise equilibrium-gated cardiac-pool scintigraphy. Exercise LVEF and peak ejection rate (PER) after administration were significantly lower in the disopyramide and pilsicainide groups than in the mexiletine group (p < 0.05, respectively). The changes in LVEF and PER from rest to peak exercise after administration were significantly less than the baseline changes in those in the disopyramide and pilsicainide groups (p < 0.05, respectively). However, no significant changes in functional parameters were recognized in the mexiletine group. Due care should be taken when disopyramide and pilsicainide are administered to patients with chronic LV dysfunction since they reduce systolic LV function during exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrafine γ-alumina (γ-Al2O3) powders have been successfully produced by laser ablation (aluminum target, Nd:YAG laser, 1.06 μm, 7 ns, filter-target distance 6 cm, oxygen flow rate 1 l/min, pressure 200 Torr, fluence ∼16 J/cm2). The structural properties of the Al2O3 powders have been studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and Brunauer, Emmet, Teller analysis. The behavior of luminous plume in background oxygen has been investigated by streak and fast photography, and emission spectroscopy. Stoichiometric γ-Al2O3 powder has been obtained at an oxygen pressure of 200 Torr, with a diameter of 11.8 nm and a specific surface area of 160 m2/g. At lower oxygen pressures the average diameter decreased to 6.1 nm, and the surface particle area increased to over 300 m2/g, but the powder composition was altered by the presence of some unreacted aluminum. The measurements on plume expansion revealed initial plume velocities of 0.04–0.18 cm/μs, slowing down with pressure and distance. Emission spectroscopy indicates the presence of both neutral and ionized species, the most prominent lines being Al(I) 394.4 and 396.1 nm, Al(I) 358.7 nm, Al(III) 360.1 and 361.2 nm and Al(II) 466.7 nm; in time, only Al(I) 394.4 and 396.1 nm lines persisted for more than 2 μs. Much weaker lines could be observed for O(II) ions. γ-Al2O3 (0.9 g) powders have been obtained for 1 kWh (laser output energy), with a powder collection efficiency of ∼75%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Nepal, we tested 300 males for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity. Two subjects were G6PD deficient (0.67%). Compared with normal controls, G6PD activity was 12% and 26%, respectively. The hemoglobin concentration of these two subjects was normal. We extracted genomic DNA from whole blood and read all sequences of G6PD. Both subjects had the same replacement of 563C>T, which was classified as G6PD Mediterranean. The amino acid might change from Ser to Phe at codon 188. These subjects also had a replacement of 1311C>T, which caused no replacement of an amino acid. A similar replacement pattern of G6PD Mediterranean is described from persons living in Mediterranean countries and Middle East countries. However, G6PD Mediterranean found in India and Pakistan has no replacement at nucleotide 1311. Thus, these two subjects in Kathmandu, Nepal, would be closer to people in Middle East countries than people in India. This is the first study of molecular analysis for G6PD deficiency in Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is known that malaria parasites proliferate in the midgut of mosquito vector, their detailed behaviors, from gamete maturation to formation of next generation sporozoite, have not been fully understood at cellular or molecular level. This is mainly attributed to technical difficulties of dissection and whole-mount observation, of delicate and opaque mosquito body contents. In addition, blood pigment surrounding parasites immediately after blood meal also complicates tracing mosquito-stage parasites. Recent revolutionary studies have overcome such negative factors in tissue observation by clearing organisms. CUBIC reagents succeeded to remove both light scattering and blood pigment from various mouse tissues, and to whole-organ image fluorescence-labeled cell structures. In this study, we utilized the advanced version of CUBIC technology and high sensitivity fluorescent markers for see-through observation of mosquito vector after engulfment of rodent malaria parasites to clarify their behaviors during mosquito stage. As a result, we succeeded to visualize oocysts, sporozoites, female gametes and ookinetes in the mosquito bodies without any dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the mutation tendency of a mutator rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei, with proofreading-deficient DNA polymerase δ. Wild-type and mutator parasites were maintained in mice for over 24 weeks, and the genome-wide accumulated mutations were determined by high-throughput sequencing. The mutator P. berghei had a significant preference for C/G to A/T substitutions; thus, its genome had a trend towards a higher AT content. The mutation rate was influenced by the sequence context, and mutations were markedly elevated at TCT. Some genes mutated repeatedly in replicate passage lines. In particular, knockout mutations of the AP2-G gene were frequent, which conferred strong growth advantages on parasites during the blood stage but at the cost of losing the ability to form gametocytes. This is the first report to demonstrate a biased mutation tendency in malaria parasites, and its results help to promote our basic understanding of Plasmodium genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, are frequently observed in patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, the correlation between malaria intestinal pathology and intestinal microbiota has not been investigated. In the present study, infection of C57BL/6 mice with P. berghei ANKA (PbA) caused intestinal pathological changes, such as detachment of epithelia in the small intestines and increased intestinal permeability, which correlated with development with experimental cerebral malaria (ECM). Notably, an apparent dysbiosis occurred, characterized by a reduction of Firmicutes and an increase in Proteobacteria. Furthermore, some genera of microbiota correlated with parasite growth and/or ECM development. By contrast, BALB/c mice are resistant to ECM and exhibit milder intestinal pathology and dysbiosis. These results indicate that the severity of cerebral and intestinal pathology coincides with the degree of alteration in microbiota. This is the first report demonstrating that malaria affects intestinal microbiota and causes dysbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]