SUMMARYCoronary perforation is an undesirable complication during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We reviewed the cases of overt coronary perforation in our institute and analyzed their clinical backgrounds, the characteristics of the target lesion, management, and clinical outcomes. Between 1991 and 2005, we experienced 12 cases (0.35%) of coronary perforation in a total of 3415 PCI procedures. The perforation occurred during the use of debulking devices in 3 cases, immediately after stenting in 2, immediately after postdilatation of the stent in 2, and during wiring in 3 cases. Restoration was attempted by long inflation of a balloon in 7 cases, implantation of a covered stent graft in 1, and emergency surgical repair in 1 case. Subsequent cardiac tamponade occurred in 3 patients who required pericardiocentesis, and 1 patient died due to congestive heart failure. Administration of protamine was effective in stopping the bleeding in 6 patients, whereas continuation of antiplatelet therapy resulted in no overt rebleeding. Coronary perforation during PCI is a rare complication but is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Intravenous administration of protamine is effective when it is used in conjunction with nonsurgical devices for initial management of perforation. (Int Heart J 2007; 48: 1-9)

The obstacles to the development of therapeutic aptamers for systemic inflammatory diseases, such as nuclease degradation and renal clearance, have not been fully overcome. Here, we report a novel PEGylation method, sbC-PEGylation, which improves the pharmacokinetic properties of RNA aptamers that act against interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in mice and monkeys. sbC-PEGylated aptamers were synthesized by coupling the symmetrical branching molecule 2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropyl phosphoroamidite to the 5′ end of the aptamer, before conjugating two polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules to the aptamer. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that compared with conventionally PEGylated aptamers, the sbC-PEGylated aptamer exhibited excellent stability in the blood circulation of mice and monkeys. In addition, one of the sbC-PEGylated aptamers, 17M-382, inhibited the interleukin-6 (IL-6) production induced by IL-17A in NIH3T3 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of sbC-PEGylated 17M-382 was two times lower than that of non-PEGylated 17M-382. Furthermore, the intraperitoneal administration of sbC-PEGylated 17M-382 significantly inhibited the IL-6 production induced by IL-17A in a mouse air pouch model. Our findings suggest that the novel PEGylation method described in this study, sbC-PEGylation, could be used to develop anti-IL-17A aptamers as a therapeutic option for systemic inflammatory disease.

ZSTK474 demonstrated prophylactic efficacy in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through inhibition of T cell and FLS functions. It was suggested that the inhibitors of PI3K have therapeutic potential for RA.

An Antarctic wintering-over station is a unique environment, as a small isolated society facing extreme survival margins. Psychological surveys have been done over ten years, including the Baum test, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE), Subjective Health Complaints Inventory (SHC), the Two-Sided Personality Scale (TSPS) and medical consultations in Syowa Station, a Japanese Antarctic station to reveal the mental status of team members. Team members experienced fewer physical health risks in Antarctica than in Japan. Wintering-over team members reinterpreted situations positively and accepted their environment, sought instrumental social support, planned ahead, and used active coping skills and humour to overcome difficulties. They did not act out emotionally or deny problems. Individuals exhibited two types of coping, either stability through maintaining a previous lifestyle or flexible adjustment to a new way of life. Positive affect remained constant during the wintering-over period. In living through a harsh reality, team members drew support from the subjective feelings of an “internal relationship” with home or family in their minds. Thus, an Antarctic wintering-over station is an ideal isolated environment for psychological surveys, which can help understand future space travel and group managements in everyday societies.

SummaryErgosterol (ERG) is a sterol found in fungal cell membranes and is not produced by most plants and animals. Thus, ERG is a potential biomarker of fungal invasion in grain. Previously, we developed an analytical method for ERG in grains by ref uxing samples with methanol-alkali, and performed a single laboratory validation of the method. However, the method is not suitable for screening purpose, which needs to be rapid and simple. Therefore a simplified method was developed for analysis of ERG in grains. In this simplified method, ERG was first extracted with methanol by horizontal shaking for hr. After f ltration, ERG was partitioned into hexane, and then analyzed with reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Recoveries of ERG obtained with this shaking method were compared with recoveries obtained with the refluxing method. In maize, recovery of ERG at mg/kg using this new shaking method was % of that of the ref uxing method and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the shaking method and the ref uxing method were . % and %, respectively. In wheat, recovery of ERG at mg/kg by the shaking method was % of that of the ref uxing method, and the RSD of the shaking method and the ref uxing method were . % and . %, respectively. This study demonstrates this simplif ed protocol for ERG analysis in grains to be a suitable method for screening purposes.