Surgical repair of an asymptomatic giant right coronary artery aneurysm.

Background Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is a rare finding, being mostly diagnosed on angiography or at autopsies. It is defined as being a dilation of the coronary artery that exceeds the diameter of the patient's largest coronary vessel by 1.5 to 2 times.

Thoracic vasculitis presenting as surgical problems.

We present four patients with vasculitis manifesting with unusual clinical or pathological features, generating surgical problems. Two cases presented with pulmonary hypertension, with investigations and radiological evidence prompting clinical suspicion of pulmonary thrombo-embolic disease. First case, with an antecedant history of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), demonstrated following "embolectomy", WG involving the large pulmonary elastic arteries.

Characterization of the effects of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition in the regulation of apoptosis in human small and non-small cell lung cancer cell lines.

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme (COX-2) is overexpressed in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but is not expressed in small cell lung cancer. Selective COX-2 inhibitors have been shown to induce apoptosis in NSCLC cells, an effect which is associated with the regulation of intracellular MAP kinase (MAPK) signal pathways. Our aims were to characterize the effects of COX-2 inhibition by rofecoxib on apoptosis in human NSCLC and small cell lung cancer cell lines.

Variations in battery life of a heart-lung machine using different pump speeds, pressure loads, boot material, centrifugal pump head, multiple pump usage, and battery age.

Electrical failure during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has previously been reported to occur in 1 of every 1500 cases. Most heart-lung machine pump consoles are equipped with built-in battery back-up units. Battery run times of these devices are variable and have not been reported.

Can surgery for cancer accelerate the progression of secondary tumors within residual minimal disease at both local and systemic levels?

Background: Surgical removal remains the principal treatment modality in the management of lung cancer. Our aim is to characterize the effects of tumor removal on subsequent tumor recurrence at both local and systemic levels.

Methods: C57/BL6 mice [10/group] underwent a mammary fat pad inoculation of 3LL cells [5 x 10(5)/animal] and were divided into two groups.

Surgically induced accelerated local and distant tumor growth is significantly attenuated by selective COX-2 inhibition.

Background: Even after apparently curative resection, lung cancer recurrence continues to lead to high mortality levels. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor on local and systemic recurrent tumor growth.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice underwent mammary fat pad inoculation with 3LL cells.

The effects of propofol on lipid peroxidation and inflammatory response in elective coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: To determine whether the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of propofol confer benefit in adult patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting.

Design: Prospective, blinded, randomized, controlled clinical investigation.

Setting: Single-center, university teaching hospital and academic research laboratory.

Aprotinin decreases the incidence of cognitive deficit following CABG and cardiopulmonary bypass: a pilot randomized controlled study.

Purpose: Cognitive deficit after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) has a high prevalence and is persistent. Meta-analysis of clinical trials demonstrates a decreased incidence of stroke after CABG when aprotinin is administrated perioperatively. We hypothesized that aprotinin administration would decrease the incidence of cognitive deficit after CABG.

Coronary grafts flow and cardiac pacing modalities: how to improve perioperative myocardial perfusion.

Objective: Aim of this study was to investigate modifications of coronary grafts flow during different pacing modalities after CABG.

Materials And Methods: Two separate prospective studies were conducted in patients undergoing CABG and requiring intraoperative epicardial pacing. In a first study (22 patients) coronary grafts flows were measured during dual chamber pacing (DDD) and during ventricular pacing (VVI).

Dopexamine increases internal mammary artery blood flow following coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Vasoactive agents and inotropes influence conduit-coronary blood flow following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). It was hypothesized that dopexamine hydrochloride, a dopamine A-1 (DA-1) and beta(2) agonist would increase conduit-coronary blood flow. A prospective randomized double blind clinical trial was carried out to test this hypothesis.

The role of COX-2 inhibitors in lung cancer.

Background: Human lung cancer is a major cause of death worldwide with few known effective therapeutic modalities. The isoenzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is an inducible inflammatory enzyme with increased activity evidenced in lung carcinoma. The objective was to determine the effect of a selective COX-2 inhibitor on proliferation and apoptosis rates in the Lewis lung (3LL) tumor cell line in vitro.