Aberrant increases in protein phosphatase 1(PP1) activity have been shown to be associated with inefficient sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca^{2+} cycling, leading to cardiac dysfunction in the failing heart. In the present study, we investigated whether BNP promoter-inducible suppression of PP1β would ameliorate progression of pressure overload-induced heart failure in mice, a clinically relevant animal model. An Adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) vector encoding PP1βshRNA and a negative control (NC) shRNA driven by a brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) promoter with an emerald green fluorescent protein expression (EmGFP) cassette were used to test the hypothesis. AAV9 vectors (AAV9-BNP-EmGFP-PP1βshRNA and AAV9-BNP-EmGFP-NCshRNA) were introduced into the in vivo heart via the tail vein injection (4x10^{11} GC/mice) in 8-week-old C57BL6J mice, followed by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) 2 weeks after the AAV9 vector injection. Post TAC cardiac function was sequentially assessed every 2 week by echocardiography, followed by hemodynamic assessment at 1 month. AAV9-BNP-EmGFP-PP1βshRNA treatment suppressed myocardial PP1β expression by 15% compared with the NCshRNA group (p<0.001). The fractional shortening (%FS) of the left ventricle in the PP1βshRNA-treated group was significantly larger than the NCshRNA-treated group (21%±1.0% vs. 15%±0.01, p<0.01). The ratios of heart weight (HW) / body weight (BW) and lung weight (LW) / BW in the PP1βshRNA group were significantly smaller than those of the NCshRNA group (HW/BW: 9.20±0.49 vs. 10.6±0.45 mg/g

Background The lipid-lowering therapy by statins may stabilize and reduce coronary plaques. We compare the effect of strong or moderate statins on the coronary plaque characteristics by using 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Methods and Results We analyzed 13 subjects with non-calcified coronary plaques(NCP)as determined by MDCT. Pitavastatin(PTV:2mg/day)or pravastatin(PRA:10mg/day)were randomly administered. MDCT were performed at 0, 6 and 12 months after lipid-lowering therapy. In PTV group(n=6),CT density of NCP increased by 35.6 ± 28.8 HU after 6 months(p=0.037)and by 30.6 ± 29.8 HU after 12 months(NS).NCP area was decreased by 35.9 ± 15.2 % after 6 months and by 41.0 ± 16.5 % after 12 months(both P=0.001).In PRA group(n=7),CT density of NCP did not significantly increased after 6 months(NS)and after 12 months(NS).NCP area was not significantly decreased at 6 months(NS),but decreased by 23.1 ± 16.7 % at 12 months(P=0.001). Conclusions Serial CT angiography revealed that the regression of NCP occurs rapidly by strong lipid lowering therapy compared to the moderate statin therapy.

Background: Angiotensin II (AngII) increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces glomerular sclerosis. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated inflammation enhances the renal impairment in renal inflammatory diseases. The relationship between TLR4 and AngII-induced glomerular sclerosis is unknown.Methods: Mice lacking TLR4 function (Tlr4^{lps-d}) and wild-type (WT) mice were randomized into groups treated with AngII, norepinephrine (NE) or a sub-depressor dose of the AngII receptor blocker irbesartan along with AngII for 2 weeks. We then assessed the expressions of NADPH oxidase and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and the inflammatory cell recruitment in the glomeruli. We also evaluated the mesangial matrix proliferation and ROS.Results: AngII and NE equally increased the systolic blood pressure compared to the control mice (p<0.05). In the WT mice treated with AngII, we observed glomerular sclerosis, an increase in NADPH oxidase, MCP-1 and the infiltration of macrophages as well as ROS content in the glomeruli compared to the control mice (p<0.05), whereas the Tlr4^{lps-d} mice showed little effects of AngII on these indices. In addition, the sub-depressor-dose irbesartan treatment reversed these changes. NE had little effects on these indices. Conclusions: TLR4 plays an important role in AngII-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and glomerular sclerosis through the AT1 receptor.

Aims: To clarify the usefulness of preservative-free ophthalmic preparations equipped with a filter. Methods: A total of 1,615 samples of in-use ophthalmic preparations were examined for microbial contamination. Results: Of 1,094 samples of preservative-containing ophthalmic preparations, 31 (2.8%) showed microbial contamination. Of 289 samples of preservative-free ophthalmic preparations without a filter, 6 (2.1%) were contaminated, consisting of 4 (13.8%) of 29 samples of hospital preparations and 2 (0.8%) of 260 samples of commercially available new quinolone antimicrobial agents. On the other hand, the microbial contamination rate in preservative-free ophthalmic preparations equipped with a filter was 0% (0 of 232 samples).The major contaminants detected in these preservative-containing ophthalmic preparations and preservative-free ophthalmic preparations without a filter were glucose-nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli such as Pseudomonas fluorescens, Acinetobacter spp., and P. aeruginosa, coagulase (-) staphylococci, and Candida spp. The contaminant level was 10-99 colony forming units (CFU)/mL in 37.8% (14 of 37 samples), and 10^2 - 10^6 CFU/mL in 62.2% (23 of 37 samples). Conclusions: Preservative-free ophthalmic preparations equipped with a filter not only have zero risk of the oculotoxic effects of preservatives, but are also safe in terms of their lack of microbial contamination.

We investigated the relationship between myocardial oxidative stress and cardiac sympathetic hyperactivity in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) compared with acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: In 10 TC patients and 10 AMI patients, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization were conducted, and plasma catecholamines and urinary (U) 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as a marker of oxidative DNA damage were taken for one week from onset. Results: On admission, the coronary sinus (CS) had significantly higher norepinephrine (NE) and 8-OHdG levels than the aortic root (Ao) and peripheral blood vessels. Circulating catecholamines in TC patients tended to be higher than those in AMI patients