Measurement of lysophospholipase D/autotaxin activity in human serum samples

OBJECTIVES: Lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD)/autotaxin regulates the blood levels of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), and we designed a serum lysoPLD assay for use in clinical laboratory testing. DESIGN AND METHODS: LysoPLD activity was assessed based on the amount of choline released with lysophosphatidylcholine as the substrate. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: It was confirmed that the lysoPLD assay can be applied to clinical laboratory testing. The serum lysoPLD activity in healthy female subjects was significantly higher than that in the male subjects.     

Noninvasive prediction of complications with anteroseptal acute myocardial infarction by left ventricular Tei index.

BACKGROUND: Tei index has been proposed as a noninvasive and simple index that enables the evaluation of global left ventricular (LV) function and prediction of patient prognosis. However, its use to predict complications with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is not fully investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not LV Tei index allows noninvasive prediction of complications with AMI. METHODS: In all, 80 consecutive patients with anteroseptal AMI were enrolled. LV Tei index was measured at the time of admission as (a - b)/ b , where a is the interval between cessation and onset of mitral filling flow and interval b is the aortic flow ejection time. Subsequent complications including cardiac death, shock, congestive heart failure, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation/flutter, advanced atrioventricular block requiring pacing, pericardial effusion, and LV aneurysm during the 30 days after the onset of AMI were prospectively evaluated and compared with the initial Tei index at admission. RESULTS: Complications developed in 31 of 80 (39%) patients with AMI. The Tei index was significantly increased for patients with complications compared with those without them (0.69 +/- 0.16 vs 0.50 +/- 0.11, P < .0001). When Tei index > or = 0.59 was used for the criteria, the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy to predict subsequent complications were 77%, 86%, and 85%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with anteroseptal AMI, LV Tei index at arrival to the hospital in the acute phase allows noninvasive prediction of subsequent complications.     

Social adaptation of children with congenital fecal dysfunction: from the viewpoint of the mother-child relationship

Excretory dysfunction associated with congenital anal anomalies (a generic term that includes anal atresia and Hirschsprung's disease) is presumed to greatly affect the psychology of the affected children. In this study, we conducted a survey on the psychological status of children with excretory dysfunction, and investigated the relationship between the affected children and their families in addition to their social life. Four children with fecal dysfunction due to a congenital anal anomaly and their mothers were interviewed. The results of psychological tests in the children and mothers along with our findings in the interviews with the children and mothers, were included in the data analysis. We found that regardless of the degree of excretory dysfunction, the child's state of mind was influenced by whether the mother exhibited warmth or criticism towards her child and whether there was a support system for the mother and child. We suggest that psychiatric consultation is necessary for these children.     

Foxc1 and Foxc2 deletion causes abnormal lymphangiogenesis and correlates with ERK hyperactivation

The lymphatic vasculature is essential for maintaining interstitial fluid homeostasis, and dysfunctional lymphangiogenesis contributes to various pathological processes, including inflammatory disease and tumor metastasis. Mutations in FOXC2 are dominantly associated with late-onset lymphedema; however, the precise role of FOXC2 and a closely related factor, FOXC1, in the lymphatic system remains largely unknown. Here we identified a molecular cascade by which FOXC1 and FOXC2 regulate ERK signaling in lymphatic vessel growth. In mice, lymphatic endothelial cell–specific (LEC-specific) deletion of Foxc1, Foxc2, or both resulted in increased LEC proliferation, enlarged lymphatic vessels, and abnormal lymphatic vessel morphogenesis. Compared with LECs from control animals, LECs from mice lacking both Foxc1 and Foxc2 exhibited aberrant expression of Ras regulators, and embryos with LEC-specific deletion of Foxc1 and Foxc2, alone or in combination, exhibited ERK hyperactivation. Pharmacological ERK inhibition in utero abolished the abnormally enlarged lymphatic vessels in FOXC-deficient embryos. Together, these results identify FOXC1 and FOXC2 as essential regulators of lymphangiogenesis and indicate a new potential mechanistic basis for lymphatic-associated diseases.     

Circaseptan variation in case-fatality rate for patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (Takashima Stroke Registry 1988–2003)

We explored the circaseptan variation in 28-day case-fatalities for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) across days of the week. Data were obtained from the Takashima Stroke Registry, which covers approximately 50 000 residents of central Japan. There were 169 first-ever SAH cases registered during the period 1988–2003 (68 in males, 101 in females). We divided the SAH cases into two groups according to the day on which the SAH occurred: “weekend” and “weekday”. The 28-day case-fatality rate and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) for weekday fatalities by entering all relevant patient-level variables into the model. The 28-day case-fatality rate for SAH was higher on weekdays (51.7%) than on weekends (32.6%; odds ratio 2.19; 95% CI: 1.10–4.49). The differences in fatality rate persisted after adjustment for age, sex, severity, family history of stroke and patient history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, drinking and smoking. We observed a circaseptan variation in fatalities from SAH, with higher fatality rates during weekdays in our study population.