Effects of short duration morning bright light in healthy elderly subjects. I:Subjective feeling and ophthalmological examinations

Abstract Seven aged subjects aged 61–78 years were exposed to 6000 lx bright light for 30 min during morning hours at their homes for 1 week. Visual analog scale was recorded before bedtime and after rising to assess subjective feelings. Ophthalmological examinations were made before and after light exposure, to exclude pre-existing ocular disorders and to detect ocular damage. Furthermore, ocular fatigue was self-evaluated immediately before and after exposure. Visual analog scale results indicated that alertness reduced significantly before bedtime. Ophthalmological abnormalities were not found after exposure. These findings suggest that short duration morning bright light exposure reduces night-time vigilance.     

Prediction of Optimal Atrioventricular Delay in Patients with Implanted DDD Pacemakers

In patients with an implanted DDD pacemaker (PM), the atrial contribution may be interrupted by too short an atrioventricular (AV) delay, and filling time may be shortened by too long an AV delay. The AV delay at which the end of the A wave on transmitral flow coincides with complete closure of the mitral valve may be optimal. The subjects were 15 patients [70.3+/-12.3 (SD) years old] with an implanted DDD PM. Cardiac output (CO) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were measured by Swan-Ganz catheter. Transmitral flow was recorded by pulsed Doppler echocardiography. AV delay was prolonged stepwise by 25 msc. When the AV delay was set at 155+/-26 ms, the end of the A wave coincided with complete closure of the mitral valve. When the AV delay was prolonged 25, 50, 75, and 100 ms from this AV delay, the interval between the end of the A wave and complete closure of mitral the valve was prolonged 16+/-5, 39+/-6, 65+/-4 and 88+/-5 ms, respectively (r = 0.97, P<0.0001) and diastolic mitral regurgitation was observed during this period. Thus, the optimal AV delay may be predicted as follows: the slightly prolonged AV delay minus the interval between the end of the A wave and complete closure of the mitral valve. When the AV delay was set at 215 ms, there was a significant positive correlation between the predicted optimal AV delay (166+/-23 ms) and the optimal AV delay (CO: 161+/-26 msec, r = 0.93, P<0.0001, PCWP: 161+/-28 msec, r = 0.95, P<0.0001). In conclusion, optimal AV delay can be predicted by this simple formula: slightly prolonged AV delay minus the interval between end of A wave and complete closure of mitral valve at the AV delay setting.     

Ultra-high-molecular-weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) Wing Method for Strong Cranioplasty

We developed a new cranioplasty method that utilizes artificial bone made of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, with a wedge-shaped edge (UHMWPE Wing). This study shows the methods and data of case series and finite element analyses with the UHMWPE Wing. A circumferential wing was preoperatively designed for a custom-made artificial bone made of UHMWPE to achieve high fixed power and to minimize the usage of cranial implants. Here, we present 4 years of follow-up data and finite element analyses for patients treated with the UHMWPE Wing between February 2015 and February 2019. Eighteen consecutive patients underwent cranioplasty using our UHMWPE Wing design. There were no postoperative adverse events in 17 of the patients for at least 18 months. One case of hydrocephalus experienced screw loosening and graft uplift due to shunt malfunction. Placement of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt immediately returned the artificial bone to normal position. Finite element analyses revealed that a model using the UHMWPE Wing had the highest withstand load and lowest deformation. This is the first report on the UHMWPE Wing method. This method may enable clinicians to minimize dead space and achieve high strength in cranioplasty.     

Superoxide dismutase in psoriasis, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell epithelioma: an immunohistochemical study

Monoclonal antibodies against human Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Mn-SOD were used to stain frozen sections of normal and abnormal human skin. In normal human epidermis, the Cu,Zn-SOD antibody almost exclusively stained the basal cells. Mn-SOD antibody weakly stained the whole of the epidermis but more predominantly the basal cell layer. In psoriasis, Cu,Zn-SOD antibody mainly stained the basal cells of the lowest parts of the elongated rete ridges. Basal cells corresponding to the tip of the dermal papillae were weakly stained. Mn-SOD staining was considerably decreased in the psoriatic epidermis. In squamous cell carcinoma, staining with both Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD antibodies was decreased, and single cells positive for Cu,Zn-SOD were scattered throughout the tumour nests. In basal cell epithelioma, Cu,Zn-SOD staining was intense and diffusely distributed throughout the tumour nests, while Mn-SOD staining was absent.     

Immunohistochemical localization of lysyl oxidase in normal human skin

Lysyl oxidase (EC 1.4.3.13), a copper-dependent enzyme which catalyses the formation of aldehyde cross-links, and acts primarily on collagen and elastin, is known to be increased during wound healing and in fibrotic disorders including liver cirrhosis and atherosclerosis, and to be decreased in some hereditary connective tissue diseases and in malignant cell lines. A recent study showed that lysyl oxidase might possess tumour suppressor activity as an antioncogene for ras. Little is known about the localization of this enzyme in human skin. In this study, we determined immunohistochemically the localization of lysyl oxidase in normal skin of young and elderly subjects obtained from sun-exposed and unexposed regions of the body. All skin samples tested had similar distributions of lysyl oxidase. The enzyme was present both extracellularly and intracellularly. Extracellularly, a few granular aggregates of immunoreactants were observed along collagen and elastic fibres. These granules were more common in the adventitial portion of the dermis than in the reticular portion. Of all sun-exposed and unexposed regions studied, the skin of the face displayed the greatest amount of extracellular immunoreactants. Immunopositive granules were observed intracellularly in fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, arrector pili muscles and some keratinocytes. These findings provide evidence that, as suggested in recent reports, lysyl oxidase may have a variety of intracellular functions.     

Ventricular Late Potential in Patients with Apparently Normal Electrocardiogram; Predictor of Brugada Syndrome

Backgrounds: Brugada syndrome can be overlooked due to its dynamic change in its electrocardiogram (ECG) manifestation. We hypothesized that positive ventricular late potential (VLP) in patients with nonspecific ECG would predict the inducible coved ST elevation (type‐1 Brugada ECG) and the patients at high risk. Methods: Thirty‐four patients of nonspecific ECG without structural heart disease were eligible for this study. All patients were referred for evaluation of syncopal episodes and/or cardiac arrest and/or frequent episodes of ventricular premature contractions. We assessed the correlation between baseline VLP and the alteration to a drug‐induced type‐1 Brugada ECG, and also evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of positive VLP in normal ECG subjects for the appearance of a drug‐induced type‐1 Brugada ECG. Results: Twenty‐one patients presented positive VLP and 13 patients showed negative VLP. Parameters of VLP (fQRSd, RMS₄₀, LAS₄₀) presented significant correlation with the alteration to a type‐1 ECG by pilsicainide. VLP demonstrated high sensitivity and negative predictive value for the prediction of type‐1 Brugada ECG. Furthermore, in their follow‐up, at least two cases of ventricular fibrillation were recognized in 21 of positive VLP patients with apparently normal ECGs. Conclusions: VLP in apparently normal ECG can predict the alteration to a drug‐induced type‐1 Brugada ECG and unmask the patients at risk. (PACE 2010; 33:266–273)     

A Randomized Comparison of the Straight Linear Approach with Electrogram Mapping Focal Approach in Selective Slow Pathway Ablation

HAYASHI, M., et al. : A Randomized Comparison of the Straight Linear Approach with Electrogram Mapping Focal Approach in Selective Slow Pathway Ablation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the anatomic linear approach in selective AVN slow pathway ablation, in comparison to the widely used electrogram mapping focal approach. It remains undetermined whether or not anatomic linear ablation has a greater potential for eliminating slow pathway conduction than does focal ablation. Fifty consecutive patients (21 men, 29 women, age  56 ± 14  years) with common type AVNRT were randomly assigned to the linear approach (25 patients) or local electrogram mapping approach (25 patients). A linear lesion was created between the tricuspid annulus, at the midlevel of the coronary sinus (CS) ostium, and the anterior aspect of the CS infundibulum. In 22 (88%) patients in the linear group, the AVNRT was successfully eliminated by  1.5 ± 0.8  linear RF applications without any complications. All 25 patients in the focal group satisfied the endpoint criteria after  3.8 ± 2.4  focal RF deliveries. The success rate did not significantly differ between the two groups. Out of the 22 patients with a successful outcome in the linear group, 17 (77%) attained complete abolition of the slow pathway conduction, whereas this was observed in only eight (32%) patients in the focal group (  P < 0.005  ). The session time was significantly shorter in the linear group. Recurrence of the tachycardia was not documented in any patient during a mean follow-up of  18 ± 8  months except one with residual slow pathway conduction in the focal ablation group. In conclusion, the anatomic linear approach can be performed safely and possesses a greater potential for slow pathway interruption compared to the electrogram mapping focal approach.