Prevention of neointimal hyperplasia induced by an endovascular stent via intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective: In-stent restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) due to neointimal hyperplasia is a potential cause of clinical complications, including repeated revascularization and ischemic events. Neointimal hyperplasia induced by an inflammatory response to the stent strut may be a possible mechanism of in-stent restenosis. Intravenous infusion of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been reported to show therapeutic efficacy for cerebral stroke, presumably by an antiinflammatory effect.

Preparation of New Scintillation Imaging Material Composed of Scintillator-Silica Fine Powders and its Imaging of Tritium.

A new scintillation imaging material [scintillator-silica fine powder (FP)] was prepared using silica FPs and scintillator-encapsulating silica nanoparticles (NPs) (scintillator-silica NPs). The wt% values of scintillator-silica NPs on the scintillator-silica FPs were 38, 43, 36 and 44%. Scintillation images of 3H, 63Ni, 35S, 33P, 204Tl, 89Sr and 32P dropped on the scintillator-silica FPs were obtained at about 37 kBq per 0.

Clinical experience of a vacuum-assisted nonroller extra-corporeal circulation system.

We designed a nonroller extra-corporeal circulation system (NRECC) to minimize space requirements and to improve the safety and ease of cardiopulmonary bypass. The NRECC includes a circuit, a centrifugal pump, and a vacuum regulator. The vacuum regulator has five channels, each of which can control negative pressure independently.

Heparin coating extends the durability of oxygenators used for cardiopulmonary support.

Acomparative study was performed between a noncoated and heparin-coated cardiopulmonary support (CPS) systems with the same design and structure (Terumo Corporation, Capiox-SX series) to evaluate whether or not heparin coating extends oxygenator service life. Fifty patients underwent CPS from January 1993 until December 1997, and 54 oxygenators (Capiox-SX series) were used. There were 35 noncoated oxygenators (Group NC) and 19 heparin-coated ones (Group HC).

Clinical study of totally roller pumpless cardiopulmonary bypass system.

We have developed a low negative pressure vacuum suction system in which cardiotomy suction is performed by the negative pressure of the venous reservoir controlled by a vacuum controller. We have employed this vacuum suction system with a centrifugal pump as a totally roller pumpless cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) system. In this study, the clinical availability and hemocompatibility of our totally roller pumpless CPB system were evaluated by a randomized prospective study.

[Mediastinitis treated by an omental transfer following CABG using the right gastroepiploic arterial graft].

We treated four cases with mediastinitis after coronary artery bypass grafting using the right gastroepiploic artery. These four patients were treated with the pedicled omentum. Omental transfer was successful in three cases.

Nafamostat mesilate reduces blood-foreign surface reactions similar to biocompatible materials.

Background: Nafamostat mesilate (FUT-175) is a synthetic serine protease inhibitor that inactivates coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet aggregation. Nafamostat mesilate may suppress the blood-foreign surface reaction similar to biocompatible materials by blocking factor XIIa.

Methods: We performed an in vitro study of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with fresh human blood among the following three groups: standard CPB sets (C), biocompatible CPB sets (B), and standard CPB sets with FUT-175 (10 mg/L) (F).

Nafamostat mesilate reduces blood cell adhesion to cardiopulmonary bypass circuits: an in-vitro study.

Nafamostat mesilate (FUT-175) is a protease inhibitor, working as an inactivator of coagulation, fibrinolysis and platelet aggregation. Although FUT-175 directly blocks contact factors in coagulation, it also may decrease activation of humoral cascade systems when used in cardiopulmonary bypass circuits. We performed an in vitro study using fresh human blood in the following cardiopulmonary bypass circuits: standard circuit (C), biosurfaced circuit (B) and standard circuit containing FUT-175 (F).

[A case of intrathoracic dumb-bell ganglioneuroma and a surgical approach using spinal evoked potentials (SEP)].

A successfully treated case of a seven-year-old girl with a left intrathoracic Dumb-bell ganglioneuroma is reported. The tumor was 10 cm in diameter. Preoperative angiography revealed that the location of tumor was very close to the Adamkiewicz artery.

Cerebral metabolism and function during normothermic retrograde cerebral perfusion.

Retrograde cerebral perfusion through a superior vena cava (SVC) cannula is a new technique used to protect the brain during circulatory arrest. Cerebral blood flow, oxygen consumption, blood sugar consumption and auditory brain stem responses were measured at various rates (100, 200 and 300 ml min-1) of retrograde cerebral perfusion in normothermic mongrel dogs (n = 12, body-weight 13-15 kg). During perfusion about 20% of the perfusate from the SVC was returned via the aorta, while the rest drained into the inferior vena cava.

Retrograde cerebral perfusion through a superior vena caval cannula protects the brain.

Retrograde cerebral perfusion through a superior vena caval cannula is a new technique for protecting the brain during aortic arch operations. In mongrel dogs (n = 10; 13 to 15 kg) we have performed retrograde cerebral perfusion (300 mL/min) by infusing blood through a superior vena caval cannula with aortic and inferior vena caval drainage. We have measured the cerebral tissue blood flow, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide exudation during retrograde cerebral perfusion at normothermia (NT, 37 degrees C) and hypothermia (HT, 20 degrees C) and have compared these values with values obtained in dogs during cardiopulmonary bypass (1,200 mL/min).