Assessment of Angiographic Coronary Calcification and Plaque Composition in Virtual Histology Intravascular Ultrasound

Objectives

We assessed the relation between coronary plaque composition and angiographic calcification by using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH‐IVUS).

Background

The plaque vulnerability according to angiographic calcification is unclear.

Methods

Subjects were 140 consecutive patients (145 lesions) undergoing VH‐IVUS before percutaneous coronary intervention. Subjects were divided into 4 groups: no calcification group (n = 27), spotty group (n = 65) that had calcium deposits under 90° in grayscale IVUS, intermediate group (n = 37) had calcium deposits with 90° or more and under 180°, and extensive group (n = 16) had calcium deposits with 180° or more.

Results

The number of VH thin‐cap fibroatheromas in spotty group was significantly larger than no calcification group, intermediate group, and extensive group (0.66 ± 0.71 vs 0.22 ± 0.42 [P < 0.01], 0.32 ± 0.48 [P < 0.05], 0.13 ± 0.34 [P < 0.01], respectively). Spotty group without angiographic calcification had significantly larger %necrotic core than with angiographic calcification (24.5 ± 6.7% vs 19.9 ± 7.2%, P < 0.05). Intermediate group without angiographic calcification had significantly larger necrotic core area than with angiographic calcification (2.5 ± 0.9 mm² vs 1.7 ± 0.9 mm², P < 0.05). Extensive group with angiographic calcification had significantly larger %dense calcium than without angiographic calcification (18.3 ± 4.0% vs 13.4 ± 4.4%, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Lesions with spotty calcification was highly vulnerable in VH‐IVUS. Spotty or intermediate plaque calcification without angiographic calcification was more vulnerable than those with angiographic calcification. Extensive plaque calcification with angiographic calcification had more dense calcium than those without angiographic calcification.

     

Antitumor Activity of D-Mannosamine In Vitro: Cytotoxic Effect Produced by Mannosamine in Combination with Free Fatty Acids on Human Leukemia T-Cell Lines

Cytotoxic effects of mannosamine and free fatty acids on humanmalignant T-lymphoid cell lines derived from patients with T-cellleukemia were investigated. The combination of mannosamine andan unsaturated fatty acid (oleate or linoleate) produced morestriking cytotoxic effects on malignant lymphoid cells thanon normal human lymphocytes. The amino sugars glucosamine ormannosamine in the combination caused a synergistic cytotoxiceffect, while the other carbohydrates (N-acetylmannosamine,N-acetylglucosamine, or mannose) had little effect. On the otherhand, the effect of saturated fatty acids (palmitate or stearate)in the same system was nil. An unsaturated fatty acid (oleate)caused an increase in lipid fluidity of the surface membranein MOLT-4 lymphoid cells, which possess higher lipid fluidityin combination with mannosamine, while saturated fatty acidshad no effect on the fluidity properties of the membrane lipids(even in the presence of mannosamine). The relationship betweenmannosamine and unsaturated fatty acids in cytolysis was discussed.     

Longitudinal change in youth suicide mortality in Okinawa after World War II: A comparative study with mainland Japan

Abstract Okinawa prefecture has a unique socio-cultural status in Japan including the experience of having been occupied by the USA from the end of World War II to 1972. In this study, the longitudinal change in youth suicide mortality for those aged 10–29 years in Okinawa (1960–90) was compared with that for the same sex-age groups in mainland Japan (1950–90). In contrast with mainland Japan, no dramatic change in the youth suicide mortality was observed in Okinawa in the 1960s. The rise and fall of teenage suicide mortality in Okinawa during the 1970–80s might be associated with 'reversion anxiety', rather than with the traumatic experience of World War II itself. This seems to be inconsistent with previous speculation regarding the change in youth suicide mortality in mainland Japan. The suicide mortality for men aged 20–29 in Okinawa was significantly higher than that for the same sex-age group in mainland Japan through the observed period. The possible effects of the USA occupation, economic anomie or migration on the suicide in Okinawa should be further examined.     

Recto-peritoneal fistula following transperineal prostate biopsy

A recto-peritoneal fistula is an extremely rare complication after prostate biopsy. We report herein on a peritonitis arising from a recto-peritoneal fistula 5 days after undergoing prostate biopsy. To our knowledge, this is the first case of recto-peritoneal fistula following transperineal needle biopsy of the prostate in the published literature.     

Establishment of Two Ph1 Chromosome-Positive Cell Lines, KPB-M8 and KPB-M15

Two new Philadelphia (Ph¹) chromosome-positive cell lines, designatedKPB-M8 and KPB-M 15, were established from the peripheral bloodof two patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blasticcrisis. Both cell lines were characterized by blastic appearance,the presence of acid phosphatase activity, Fc-receptor, andC₃. and reactivity to monoclonal antibodies such as OKM1, MCS2,MY906, MY4 and MY7. These results indicate that KPB-M8 and KPB-M15cells are of an undifferentiated blast nature. Both cells retainedPh¹ chromosome, and showed numerical and structural changesupon chromosomal analysis. These cell lines should provide auseful source for studying differentiation of hemopoietic cells.     

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO IDIOPATHIC AZOOSPERMIA IN JAPANESE MEN IS LINKED TO HLA CLASS I ANTIGEN

Purpose

Approximately 15 to 20% of infertile men have azoospermia. In the Y chromosome a deletion, termed the azoospermic factor, has been found in some cases of idiopathic azoospermia. We investigate the relationship of factors in autosomal chromosomes (HLA class I antigens) to spermatogenesis failure in idiopathic azoospermia.

Materials and Methods

We evaluated 65 infertile Japanese men with idiopathic azoospermia. The frequency of the HLA allele reported in 1,216 healthy Japanese men was used as a control. HLA class I typing was performed by the National Institutes of Health standard serological method or polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer analysis. Allele frequencies were calculated. We determined statistical significance in the frequency of each allele in patients and controls using the chi-square test. The relationship of HLA antigens to idiopathic azoospermia was expressed as relative risk.

Results

In Japanese men with idiopathic azoospermia the frequency of HLA-A33, B13 and B44 was significantly increased compared with controls. The relative risk of HLA-B44 was 8.4, an extremely high value compared with that of other diseases and HLA antigens.

Conclusions

We suggest that HLA class I antigens are important genetic markers that represent a risk factor for idiopathic azoospermia.