Elsevier Inc.Acta Medica Okayama0009-91204132008Association of elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy134139ENHirokoMatsuuraTakashiMurakamiKazuyoshiHinaKeizoYamamotoHiroshiKawamuraTaijiSogoRyokoShinohataShinichiUsuiYoshifumiNinomiyaShozoKusachi<p>Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients.<br />
Methods: Patients (n=97) were classified into chronic AF (CAF; n=14), paroxysmal AF (PAF; n=18) and normal sinus rhythm (NSR; n=65) groups. The plasma BNP values were analyzed with logarithmic transformation.<br />
Results: The PAF group showed significantly higher plasma BNP levels than the NSR group [mean (range; -1 SD and +1 SD); 248.3 (143.5, 429.5) vs. 78.2 (27.9, 218.8 ng/L), p<0.0001]. The CAF group also showed significantly higher plasma BNP levels than the NSR group [291.1 (161.4, 524.8 ng/L), p<0.0001]. Multivariate analysis with other clinical factors selected association of PAF as one of the factors that increased the plasma BNP level.<br />
Conclusions: The present study indicated that plasma BNP level is clinically useful for identification of nonobstructive HCM patients who have a risk of PAF.</p>No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Okayama University Medical SchoolActa Medica Okayama0386-300X6322009The 3'-untranslated region of ADAMTS1 regulates its mRNA stability7985ENOmer FarukHatipogluSatoshiHirohataKursat OguzYaykasliMehmet ZeynelCilekKadirDemircanRyokoShinohataTomokoYonezawaToshitakaOohashiShozoKusachiYoshifumiNinomiyaOriginal Article10.18926/AMO/31831<p>ADAMTS1 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 1) is an inflammatory-induced gene. We have previously reported that ADAMTS1 was strongly but transiently expressed in the infarcted heart. In this study, we investigated whether a 3'-untranslated region (UTR) affects the mRNA stability of this gene. When stimulated with tissue necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, the expression level of ADAMTS1 mRNA rapidly increased, but the induction of ADAMTS1 mRNA peaked at 6h after stimulation, after which the expression levels of ADAMTS1 mRNA decreased. The 3'-UTR ADAMTS1 mRNA contains multiple adenine and uridine-rich elements, suggesting that the 3'-UTR may regulate gene stability. The addition of actinomycin D, an RNA synthesis inhibitor, demonstrated the decay of induced ADAMTS1 mRNA by TNF-alpha. Furthermore, a region containing multiple AUUUA motifs within the ADAMTS1 3'-UTR destabilized transfected Enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein (EGFP) mRNA expression. These results demonstrated that the ADAMTS1 3'-UTR may regulate the expression of ADAMTS1 mRNA.</p>No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Acta Medica Okayama2008Association of augmentation index of radial pressure wave form with diurnal variation pattern of blood pressure in untreated patients with essential hypertensionENAyakoShinohataNo potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.