The gravitation of the moon plays pivotal roles in the occurrence of the acute myocardial infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a social burden. However, being able to predict AMI could lead to prevention. A previous study showed only the relation between the lunar phase and the occurrence of AMI, but the period it takes for the moon to orbit around the earth and the period of the lunar phase differ. This study investigated the effect of the gravitation of the moon on AMI. Data was comprised of 1369 consecutive patients with first AMI at 5 hospitals from October, 1984 to December, 1997. The universal gravitation of the moon was calculated and compared to the earth onset time of AMI. Universal gravitation of the moon was derived by G*m/d(2) (G: universal gravitation constant, m: the mass of the moon, d: the distance between the center of the moon and the center of the earth). The relationship between m/d(2) and the cases of AMI was determined. There was an increase in cases, when there is a distance of more than 399864 km from the center of the earth to the center of the moon. The gravitation of more than 399864 km was determined to be weaker gravitation. It is confirmed that the number of AMI patients significantly increases at weaker gravitation periods in this multicenter trial. In conclusion, these results suggest that the gravitation of the moon may have an influence on the occurrence of AMI.

Prevalence and clinical course of the juveniles with Brugada-type ECG in Japanese population.

BACKGROUND: Although many studies on Brugada syndrome have been done, with many reports of genetic findings and clinical features, little evidence exists to support the role of this syndrome in sudden cardiac death in a juvenile population. We sought to determine the prevalence and clinical course in children exhibiting Brugada-type ECG in a community-based population. METHODS: Our study population comprised 21,944 subjects (11,282 boys and 10,662 girls) who underwent ECG during their first-year elementary school health examinations between 1992 and 2001 in Izumi City, Osaka. Brugada-type ECG was defined as demonstrating ST-segment elevation (coved or saddle-back type, J wave amplitude > or =0.2 mV) in the right precordial leads. We also divided Brugada-type ECGs into three types according to a consensus report. Type 1: coved ST-segment elevation displaying high J wave amplitude followed by a negative T wave; Type 2: high take-off and gradually descending ST-segment elevation (remaining > or =1 mm) followed by a positive or biphasic T wave; and Type 3: ST-segment elevation of <1 mm of both types. RESULTS: Four subjects showed Brugada-type ECG (0.02%) (2 boys and 2 girls). Only one subject, a girl, met Type 1 criteria (0.005%). No history of structural heart disease was documented in these four subjects. During 6.8 +/- 1.0 years of follow-up, no episode of unexpected sudden death, syncopal attack, and fatal arrhythmia occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Brugada-type ECG in a juvenile population was extremely low. To investigate when the typical Brugada-type ECG might be manifested, it could be necessary to check ECGs after adolescence.

[Long-surviving patient with isolated absent pulmonary valve syndrome: a case report].

A 79-year-old woman was admitted for exertional dyspnea in September 2001. She had begun to experience unusual fatigue from the age of 40 years. Cardiac examination revealed a single S2, Levine grade II/VI presystolic murmur in the 5th left sternal border, and a right parasternal impulse. Echocardiography showed dilated right chambers and absence of pulmonary valve leaflets. Doppler echocardiography at the pulmonary annulus revealed a 'to and fro' pattern. Cardiac catheterization indicated the same diastolic pressures in the pulmonary artery and right ventricle. The diagnosis was absent pulmonary valve syndrome. Administration of a diuretic agent resulted in almost immediate improvement of symptoms. Absent pulmonary valve syndrome, generally associated with tetralogy of Fallot, often causes severe respiratory failure or right heart failure during infancy. A case of such long survival without associated cardiac anomalies is very rare.

Assessment of coronary artery disease with nicorandil stress magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Although dipyridamole and adenosine have been used as vasodilator agents, we believe they are inadequate for vasodilator perfusion magnetic resonance imaging, due to adverse effects (flushing, warmth, headaches, and arrhythmia). Nicorandil, a potassium channel opener, has been reported to increase coronary blood flow and it was associated with fewer adverse effects than adenosine or dipiridamole. We set out to investigate whether the coronary artery stenosis could be assessed by nicorandil stress perfusion magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: First-pass contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images of the left ventricle acquired from 50 patients at rest and during intravenous administration of nicorandil using multi-slice turbo field echo with multi shot echo-planar-imaging. Coronary angiography was performed within 1 week. RESULTS: There was no adverse effects during nicorandil stress in any patients. The overall sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging in identifying patients with significant stenosis of at least one coronary artery were 93.9% (31 of 33 patients) and 94.1% (16 of 17 patients), respectively. The sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging for detecting significant stenosis in the left anterior descending artery was 87.5%; the sensitivity in the left circumflex artery was 80%; the sensitivity in the right coronary artery was 92.3%. Similar sensitivities were observed for all 3 vascular regions, indicating that all myocardial segments were visualized with similar image quality. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that nicorandil stress perfusion magnetic resonance imaging is a safe, feasible technique for assessing coronary artery stenosis severity in a totally-noninvasive manner.

Molecular cloning and mRNA expression of geraniol-inducible genes in cultured shoot primordia of Matricaria chamomilla.

Genes for two geraniol-responsive factors, designated McEREBP1 and McWRKY1, from cultured shoot primordia of Matricaria chamomilla were cloned. The deduced amino acid sequences of these genes were highly similar to those of the family of ethylene-responsive element binding proteins and elicitor-induced DNA-binding proteins containing a WRKY domain, respectively. The levels of McEREBP1 and McWRKY1 mRNAs were maximum when measured 1 h after treatment of the cultured cells with geraniol.