A normal pattern of mitral inflow predicts a better prognosis following cardiovascular events in early advanced-age patients.

Although a mitral inflow pattern usually changes from a normal pattern to an abnormal relaxation pattern as part of the aging process in healthy people, some early advanced-age individuals maintain a normal pattern. We investigated whether a normal pattern of mitral inflow predicts a better prognosis following cardiovascular (CV) events in early advanced-age patients. We enrolled 425 patients aged 60-65 years with 0.6 < E/A < 1.5. Patients were divided according to their mitral inflow pattern, i.e., a normal pattern group (E/A ≥ 1.0, n = 77) and an abnormal relaxation pattern group (E/A < 1, n = 348), and were evaluated the relationship with CV events. Multivariate regression analysis found that the normal inflow pattern was associated with odds ratios of 0.859 for body mass index (BMI; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.778-0.937), 0.529 for hypertension (0.303-0.924), and 0.325 for heart rate (0.228-0.463). During the follow-up period (4.9 ± 1.8 years), the adjusted-hazard ratio was significantly lower in the normal pattern group (HR: 0.119, 95% CI 0.016-0.910). Kaplan-Meier curves showed a higher event-free rate for the normal pattern group than for the abnormal relaxation pattern group (p = 0.0292). Normal inflow pattern in early advanced-age patients predicts a better prognosis following CV events.

Novel assays to monitor gene expression and protein-protein interactions in rice using the bioluminescent protein, NanoLuc.

Luciferases have been widely utilized as sensitive reporters to monitor gene expression and protein-protein interactions. Compared to firefly luciferase (Fluc), a recently developed luciferase, Nanoluciferase (NanoLuc or Nluc), has several superior properties such as a smaller size and stronger luminescence activity. We compared the reporter properties of Nluc and Fluc in rice (Oryza sativa). In both plant-based two-hybrid and split luc complementation (SLC) assays, Nluc activity was detected with higher sensitivity and specificity than that with Fluc. To apply Nluc to research involving the photoperiodic regulation of flowering, we made a knock-in rice plant in which the Nluc coding region was inserted in-frame with the OsMADS15 gene, a target of the rice florigen Hd3a. Strong Nluc activity in response to Hd3a, and in response to change in day length, was detected in rice protoplasts and in a single shoot apical meristem, respectively. Our results indicate that Nluc assay systems will be powerful tools to monitor gene expression and protein-protein interaction in plant research.

Acute and chronic effects of mokuboito in a patient with heart failure due to severe aortic regurgitation.

Medical treatment for heart failure is still limited in patients with symptomatic aortic regurgitation (AR). Here we report the effects of mokuboito used in combination with standard medical therapy for heart failure in an inoperable patient with symptomatic severe AR. We observed acute effects of mokuboito in decreasing systemic vascular resistance and increasing cardiac output, as well as its chronic effects in improving New York Heart Association class, plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels, and left ventricular diastolic function. Given its efficacy, the use of mokuboito might be an additional treatment for patients with heart failure.

A case of left ventricular aneurysm caused by localized myocardial infarction.

A 73-year-old man was hospitalized for unstable angina pectoris with no history of myocardial infarction. After undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, left ventriculography incidentally revealed a cavity in the anterior wall, and echocardiography found the cavity wall to be dyskinetic. Myocardial contrast echocardiography revealed that the wall of the cavity was surrounded by myocardial tissue with low perfusion. Furthermore, radial strain in the wall of the cavity was low. Myocardial scintigraphy showed a localized defect on the anterior wall. The patient was finally diagnosed as true aneurysm after asymptomatic and localized myocardial infarction, and has since been followed up by echocardiography in the outpatient clinic.

[Genotoxicity studies of stevia extract and steviol by the comet assay].

The genotoxicity of steviol, a metabolite of stevia extract, was evaluated for its genotoxic potential using the comet assay. In an in vitro study, steviol at 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 micrograms/ml did not damage the nuclear DNA of TK6 and WTK1 cells in the presence and absence of S9 mix. In vivo studies of steviol were conducted by two independent organizations. Mice were sacrificed 3 and 24 hr after one oral administration of steviol at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg. DNA damage in multiple mouse organs was measured by the comet assay as modified by us. After oral treatment, stomach, colon, liver, kidney and testis DNA were not damaged. The in vivo genotoxicity of stevia extract was also evaluated for its genotoxic potential using the comet assay. Mice were sacrificed 3 and 24 hr after oral administration of stevia extract at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg. Stomach, colon and liver DNA were not damaged. As all studies showed negative responses, stevia extract and steviol are concluded to not have DNA-damaging activity in cultured cells and mouse organs.