Perfusion Parameter Thresholds That Discriminate Ischemic Core Vary with Time from Onset in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: When mapping the ischemic core and penumbra in patients with acute ischemic stroke using perfusion imaging, the core is currently delineated by applying the same threshold value for relative CBF at all time points from onset to imaging. We investigated whether the degree of perfusion abnormality and optimal perfusion parameter thresholds for defining ischemic core vary with time from onset to imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospectively maintained registry, consecutive patients were analyzed who had ICA or M1 occlusion, baseline perfusion and diffusion MR imaging, treatment with IV tPA and/or endovascular thrombectomy, and a witnessed, well-documented time of onset. Ten superficial and deep MCA ROIs were analyzed in ADC and perfusion-weighted images. RESULTS: Among the 66 patients meeting entry criteria, onset-to-imaging time was 162 minutes (range, 94-326 minutes). Of the 660 ROIs analyzed, 164 (24.8%) showed severely or moderately reduced ADC (ADC ≤ 620, ischemic core), and 496 (75.2%), mildly reduced or normal ADC (ADC > 620). In ischemic core ADC regions, longer onset-to-imaging times were associated with more highly abnormal perfusion parameters-relative CBF: Spearman correlation, r = -0.22, P = .005; relative CBV: r = -0.41, P < .001; MTT: - r = -0.29, P < .001; and time-to-maximum: r = 0.35, P < .001. As onset-to-imaging times increased, the best cutoff values for relative CBF and relative CBV to discriminate core from noncore tissue became progressively lower and overall accuracy of the core tissue definition increased. CONCLUSIONS: Perfusion abnormalities in ischemic core regions become progressively more abnormal with longer intervals from onset to imaging. Perfusion parameter value thresholds that best delineate ischemic core are more severely abnormal and have higher accuracy with longer onset-to-imaging times.

Vacuum Rabi splitting with a single quantum dot in a photonic crystal nanocavity.

Cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) systems allow the study of a variety of fundamental quantum-optics phenomena, such as entanglement, quantum decoherence and the quantum-classical boundary. Such systems also provide test beds for quantum information science. Nearly all strongly coupled cavity QED experiments have used a single atom in a high-quality-factor (high-Q) cavity. Here we report the experimental realization of a strongly coupled system in the solid state: a single quantum dot embedded in the spacer of a nanocavity, showing vacuum-field Rabi splitting exceeding the decoherence linewidths of both the nanocavity and the quantum dot. This requires a small-volume cavity and an atomic-like two-level system. The photonic crystal slab nanocavity--which traps photons when a defect is introduced inside the two-dimensional photonic bandgap by leaving out one or more holes--has both high Q and small modal volume V, as required for strong light-matter interactions. The quantum dot has two discrete energy levels with a transition dipole moment much larger than that of an atom, and it is fixed in the nanocavity during growth.

B(0)-B(0) mixing in unquenched lattice QCD.

We present an unquenched lattice calculation for the B(0)-B(0) transition amplitude. The calculation, carried out at an inverse lattice spacing 1/a=2.22(4) GeV, incorporates two flavors of dynamical quarks described by the O(a)-improved Wilson fermion action and heavy quarks described by nonrelativistic QCD. Particular attention is paid to the uncertainty that arises from the chiral extrapolation, especially the effect of pion loops, for light quarks, which we find could be sizable for the leptonic decay constant, whereas it is small for the B parameters. We obtain f(B(d))=191(10)(+12-22) MeV, f(B(s))/f(B(d))=1.13(3)(+13-2), B(B(d))(m(b))=0.836(27)(+56-62), B(B(s))/B(B(d))=1.017(16)(+56-17), and xi=1.14(3)(+13-2), where the first error is statistical, and the second is systematic, including uncertainties due to chiral extrapolation, finite lattice spacing, heavy quark expansion, and perturbative operator matching.

Dynamical quark effects on light quark masses

Light quark masses are calculated in lattice QCD with two degenerate flavors of dynamical quarks. The calculations are made with improved actions with lattice spacing a = 0.22-0.11 fm. In the continuum limit we find m(M&Smacr;)(ud)(2 GeV) = 3.44(+0.14)(-0.22) MeV using the pi and rho meson masses as physical input, and m(M&Smacr;)(s)(2 GeV) = 88(+4)(-6) MeV or 90(+5)(-11) MeV with the K or straight phi meson mass as additional input. The quoted errors represent statistical and systematic combined, the latter including those from continuum and chiral extrapolations, and from renormalization factors. Compared to quenched results, two flavors of dynamical quarks reduce quark masses by about 25%.

Quenched light hadron spectrum

We present results of a large-scale simulation for the flavor nonsinglet light hadron spectrum in quenched lattice QCD with the Wilson quark action. Hadron masses are calculated at four values of lattice spacing in the range a approximately 0.1-0.05 fm on lattices with a physical extent of 3 fm at five quark masses corresponding to m(pi)/m(rho) approximately 0.75-0.4. The calculated spectrum in the continuum limit shows a systematic deviation from experiment, though the magnitude of deviation is contained within 11%. Results for decay constants and light quark masses are also reported.

[The effects of rhodamine 123 on the cell growth of the cultured cells derived from urogenital carcinoma].

Rhodamine 123 (Rh123) is a red fluorescence dye, which is accumulated more and retained longer in the mitochondria of malignant transformed cells. In this study, the suppressive effects on the growth of cultured urogenital carcinoma cells (PC-3 and LNCaP from prostate carcinoma, T-24 from bladder cancer, and SV-HUC-1 human ureteral transitional cell transformed by SV virus in vitro, ACHN, YCR-1 and RCF213 from renal cell carcinoma) were examined. The cell growth of PC-3, LNCaP, T-24 and SV-HUC-1 was suppressed significantly in a dose dependent manner, but that of cells derived from renal cell carcinoma was not suppressed. The uptake and elimination of Rh123 in PC-3, ACHN and YCR-1 were not significantly different. When administered with verapamil and buthionine sulfoximine, which are reported to be chemical modulators of anticancer agents, Rh123 suppressed the growth of ACHN and YCR-1 significantly. Rh123 seems to have an anticancer effect against the urogenital carcinomas, and the role of Rh123 with hyperthermia, photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy requires further investigation.

Pharmacokinetics of temocapril and enalapril in patients with various degrees of renal insufficiency.

Temocapril is a novel ACE inhibitor that is cleared via dual excretion routes in humans. Borderline or mildly hypertensive patients with normal renal function [group 1, creatinine clearance (CLCR) > 70 ml/min (4.2 L/h), n = 12], moderate renal impairment [group 2, CLCR 30 to 70 ml/min (1.8 to 4.2 L/h), n = 12] or severe renal impairment [group 3, CLCR < 30 ml/min (1.8 L/h), n = 12] received a single oral dose of either temocapril 1 mg (n = 6, each group) or enalapril 5mg (n = 6, each group). These 2 drugs gave similar values for the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of the active diacids. The maximum plasma concentration of enalapril diacid was increased 2- and 6-fold in moderate and severe renal impairment, respectively, whereas that of temocapril diacid was not altered. The AUC of enalapril diacid increased 13-fold at CLCR values < 30 ml/min, but that of temocapril diacid increased only 2-fold. The duration of plasma ACE inhibition due to enalapril was greatly prolonged by the impairment of renal function, whereas that due to temocapril was affected very little. Urinary recovery of temocapril diacid was decreased markedly in patients with severe renal dysfunction, most probably because the diacid was excreted through the biliary route. On the other hand, urinary recovery of enalapril diacid remained fairly high even in patients with severe renal impairment, because of extremely high plasma diacid concentrations resulting from the lack of biliary excretion. These observations suggest that temocapril is beneficial in the treatment of hypertension in patients with severely impaired renal function.

Effects of pravastatin on serum lipids and apolipoproteins in hyperlipidemia of the nephrotic syndrome.

The nephrotic syndrome is often accompanied by hyperlipidemia associated with an increased risk of accelerated atherosclerosis. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of pravastatin, a novel competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, on the serum lipids and apolipoproteins in patients with this syndrome and marked hyperlipidemia. Eleven adult patients received 10 mg of pravastatin twice daily for 4 to 8 weeks. The total serum cholesterol decreased from 426 +/- 44 to 309 +/- 18 mg/dl (-27.4%, mean +/- S.E.; p less than 0.01) following administration of pravastatin. The serum triglyceride decreased from 332 +/- 122 to 229 +/- 50 mg/dl (-30.9%), although this change was not significant. Despite the fact that the HDL cholesterol level was barely changed (51 +/- 7 to 51 +/- 6 mg/dl), the LDL cholesterol fell from 313 +/- 30 to 211 +/- 16 mg/dl (-32.5%; p less than 0.005), and the LDL to HDL cholesterol ratio fell from 7.57 +/- 1.59 to 4.94 +/- 0.88 (-34.8%; p less than 0.05). These changes caused the atherogenic index to decline from 9.6 +/- 2.4 to 6.1 +/- 1.2 (-36.5%; p less than 0.05). No significant alterations could be found among apolipoproteins A-1, A-2, B, C-2, C-3, and E. During the present study period, pravastatin was well tolerated and did not affect the serum protein, albumin, serum urea nitrogen, creatinine levels, or urine protein excretion. Also, there were no serious adverse effects. Pravastatin appears to be effective for treating patients with hyperlipidemia of the nephrotic syndrome.

[Chemotherapy of prostatic cancer].

CDDP combined chemotherapy was performed in 55 cases out of 229 prostatic cancer patients who were treated in Nara Medical University and Nara Prefectural Nara Hospital between January 1979 and August 1989. The previously untreated 33 patients received chemotherapy with anti-androgen treatment as an initial treatment, as well as 7 cases of unresponsive to antiandrogen treatment, 14 relapsing cases and one case with recurrence after total prostatectomy. The major regimens of chemotherapy were cis-diammine dichloroplatinum (CDDP) alone in 16 cases, PVB regimen (bleomycin or peplomycin + vincristine + CDDP) in 19 cases, and CAP regimen (cyclophosphamide + adriamycin + CDDP) in 16 cases. Complete response was not achieved or partial response was observed in 20 cases (34%), no change was seen in 20 cases (34%), and progression was seen in 19 cases (32%). Among each evaluable lesion, effects (CR + PR) were observed in 40% in the prostate, in 18% in the bone lesions, in 44% in the soft tissue lesions, and in 42% in the prostatic tumor marker. The 7-year survival rate of the chemotherapy group (35.6%) was better than that of the antiandrogen treatment group (26.6%) in stage D patients, but was not significant statistically When evaluated by the regimen, a partial response was observed in 56% of CDDP alone, in 21% of PVB regimen, and in 38% of the CAP regimen. However, there was no significant difference in survival rate among the regimens. As an adverse effect, myelosuppression and renal toxicity seemed to be dose limiting factors of CDDP combined chemotherapy for advanced prostatic cancer patients.

[Study on the swine glomerulopathy resembling human IgA nephropathy].

Naturally occurring swine glomerulopathy was investigated and its glomerular tissue injury was compared with that of human IgA nephropathy. Mild proteinuria (30%) and microhematuria (17%) was found in 30 six-month-old swine. Serum creatinine level was 1.8 +/- 0.4 (mean +/- SD) mg/dl. Light microscopy (LM) disclosed diffuse or focal glomerulopathy with mesangial enlargement and hemispherical deposits in six-month-old swine. Electron microscopy revealed dense deposits in the mesangial, para-mesangial and sub-endothelium areas. On immunofluorescence+ (IF) staining findings, granular deposits of IgA (97%), IgG (97%), IgM (80%), C3 (100%), and mycoplasma hyorhinis (MH) antigen (90%) were found in the mesangial areas and along the capillary walls. One three-month-old pig and one five-year-old Goettingen mini pig were also found to have granular deposits of immunoglobulin and MH antigen in the glomerulus. In contrast, no glomerular lesion was found in all 4 new-born pigs and 4 fetal pigs by LM and IF study. In six-month-old swine anti-nuclear factor and anti-DNA antibody were negative, and no pathological lesion was found in the liver by LM. And IgA and MH antigen containing circling immune complexes were positive in sera by Raji cell assay, and moreover IgA and MH antigen was found co-depositing by the double stain techniques. These findings suggest that swine glomerulopathy is similar in appearance to human IgA nephropathy and MH antigen may contribute to the development of this nephropathy.

Production of monoclonal antibody against human prostatic adenocarcinoma and its immunohistochemical properties.

We have generated a monoclonal antibody against prostatic adenocarcinoma, PC-Ab (IgM) was derived from a fusion using the fresh prostatic tissue of adenocarcinoma as the immunogen. Initial screening was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on the soluble fraction of the immunogen. The specific analysis was performed by the avidin-biotin-complex immunoperoxidase method on paraffin-embedded sections of normal, benign and malignant neoplastic tissues from the prostate and various organs. PC-Ab reacted with well differentiated adenocarcinoma (83.3%), moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (92.2%), and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (90.2%), respectively. According to classification by stage, the reaction rates with stage T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 77.3%, 80.0%, 95.2%, 91.3% and 92.9%, respectively but no significant differences in the stages were seen among these groups. PC-Ab reacted with the epithelium of the normal prostate and benign prostatic adenoma, and human fetal tissues. Molecular weight and isoelectric point of the antigen recognized by this PC-Ab was estimated to be 57,000 daltons and 7.0, respectively. These results indicate that PC-Ab reacts with the antigen associated with human prostatic adenocarcinoma.