Objective-NADH/NADPH oxidase is an important source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the vasculature. Recently, we demonstrated that p22 phox , an essential component of this oxidase, was expressed in human coronary arteries and that its expression was enhanced with the progression of atherosclerosis. The present study was undertaken to investigate its functional importance in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. For this aim, the expression of p22 phox , the distribution of oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL), and the generation of ROS in directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) specimens were examined. Methods and Results-DCA specimens were obtained from patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris. The distribution of p22 phox and of oxidized LDL was examined by immunohistochemistry. The generation of superoxide in DCA specimens was assessed by the dihydroethidium method and lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence. ROS were closely associated with the distribution of p22 phox and oxidized LDL. Not only inflammatory cells but also smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts generated ROS. There was a correlation between ROS and the expression of p22 phox or oxidized LDL. The generation of ROS was significantly higher in unstable angina pectoris compared with stable angina pectoris. Conclusions-ROS generated by p22phox -based NADH/NADPH oxidase likely mediate the oxidative modification of LDL and might play a major role in pathogenesis of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol.

In phytotherapy, essential oils tend to be used daily for a period of days or weeks, rather than in a single application. However, the literature contains very little information on repeated use of essential oils. In this study, we investigated the effects on behavior and the accumulation in the brain and liver of α-pinene, an essential oil component, when inhaled by mice. Animals were individually housed in cages for 1 week. Mice inhaled α-pinene or water vapor (negative control) for 90 min/day for 1 day, 3 days, or 5 days, and they were then submitted to the elevated plus maze test for 10 min. We used gas chromatography with flame ionization detection to quantify concentrations of α-pinene in the brain and liver. There was significant anxiolytic-like activity, which remained constant for the 5 days’ inhalation of α-pinene. On the other hand, the accumulation of α-pinene in the brain and liver peaked on the third day of inhalation. The existence of stress related to the new environment appears to have affected the change in the accumulation of α-pinene in the internal organs, keeping the anxiolytic-like action constant.

Seasonal and long-term changes in surface cover of aquatic plants in a shallow pond, Abstract Seasonal changes in surface cover and long-term floral changes in aquatic plants of a shallow eutrophic pond, Ojaga-ike, as well as the phenology of each species, were studied . Out of ten floating-leaved and submerged plants, the following five species showed a change in surface cover during 1978 : Potamogeton crispus and Elodea nuttallii occupied 53 .5% of the total pond surface in May, Trapa natans and Nelumbo nucifera 79 .1% in July, N. nucifera and Hydrilla verticillata 62 .0% in September and N. nucifera 41 .2% in November . In addition to dramatic seasonal changes in surface cover, long-term floral changes occurred in this pond from 1971 onwards . While Nymphoides indica, Myriophyllum spicatum and H. verticillata decreased in number and in distribution ranges between 1971 and 1978, two newly established plants, N. nucifera and E. nuttallii, have now become dominant . The alteration in dominance may be due to water level fluctuations and interspecific competition for light . Seasonal changes in water quality during the study period are also summarized .

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T-588 has a neuroprotective effect against RGC death caused by elevated IOP and optic nerve crush in the rat.

The purpose of the present study is to assess the effect of nicorandil, a coronary vasodilator with a mechanism of potassium channel opening, on the abnormal myocardial 201Tl perfusion evoked by exercise. Eleven patients who had a history of typical angina, positive exercise electrocardiograms, positive 201Tl scintigraphy, nearly normal coronary arteriograms, and negative coronary vasospasm underwent exercise 201Tl scintigraphies under no medication (baseline test) and administration of nicorandil (nicorandil test). 201Tl was injected at a matched workload in both tests. Nicorandil did not alter heart rate, blood pressure, or the rate-pressure product at the end of the exercise, but it significantly improved the extent score from 0.37 +/- 0.22 to 0.20 +/- 0.15 (p < 0.05) and the severity score from 33.9 +/- 32.2 to 13.5 +/- 16.4 (p < 0.05), and also significantly hastened the 201Tl mean washout rate from 30.5 +/- 14.8% to 37.4 +/- 13.1% (p < 0.05). Anginal symptoms disappeared in 3 of 5 cases and ST depression improved in 5 of 7 cases after nicorandil. We conclude that nicorandil augments coronary flow reserve, possibly due to a reduction of vasotone in the small coronary arteries.

A 26-year-old man underwent cardiac catheterization because of abnormal electrocardiography (QS in leads V 1 to V 3 ) and thallium stress scintigraphy (a fixed defect in the anteroseptal wall). The patient had a history of suspected Kawasaki disease with sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 1 year. Coronary angiography showed no significant aneurysm, occlusion, or stenosis but a mild dilatation with a braid-like appearance at the proximal segment of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) (Figure 1). Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) revealed that this segment was composed of multiple channels. The channels were connected to the septal branch, the diagonal branch, and the distal LAD (Figure 2), suggesting spontaneous recanalization of the thrombotic LAD occlusion due to coronary vasculitis with Kawasaki disease. This lotus root-like appearance detected in vivo by IVUS presumably corresponds to the "arteries within the artery" phenomenon reported in a previous pathological study of Kawasaki disease.

Background-Coronary arterial remodeling, which is a response to the growth of atherosclerotic plaques, is associated with plaque vulnerability. Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) via NAD(P)H oxidase in the vasculature also plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis-based cardiovascular disease. In this study, the relationship between coronary arterial remodeling and ROS generation was examined by comparing preinterventional intravascular ultrasound findings of atherosclerotic lesions to the histochemical findings of corresponding specimens obtained by directional coronary atherectomy. Methods and Results-Predirectional coronary atherectomy intravascular ultrasound images of 49 patients were analyzed.The remodeling index was calculated by dividing the target-lesion external elastic membrane cross-sectional area by the reference-segment external elastic membrane cross-sectional area. Expansive remodeling was defined as a remodeling index of Ͼ1.0. ROS generation and NAD(P)H oxidase p22 phox expression in directional coronary atherectomy specimens were evaluated using the dihydroethidium staining method and immunohistochemistry as the ratio of the positive area to the total surface area in each specimen, respectively. ROS generation and p22 phox expression were significantly greater in lesions with expansive remodeling than in lesions without remodeling (0.18Ϯ0.12 versus 0.03Ϯ0.02, PϽ0.0001, 0.10Ϯ0.08 versus 0.04Ϯ0.05, Pϭ0.0039, respectively). Both ROS generation and p22