Microbiological profiles and clinical outcomes of critically ill surgical patients with lower gastrointestinal perforation in Japan: a single-center retrospective observational study.

Background: Lower gastrointestinal perforation (LGP) is a surgical emergency disease that can result in secondary bacterial peritonitis. Microbiological studies on LGP are rare. The present study aimed to ascertain the microbiological profile of LGP in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at our institute after surgery.

Predictive performance of the sequential organ failure assessment score for in-hospital mortality in patients with end-stage kidney disease in intensive care units: A multicenter registry in Japan.

Introduction: There is limited evidence regarding whether the performance of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score differs between patients with and without end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods: We used a multicenter registry (Japanese Intensive care Patient Database) to enroll adult ICU patients between April 2018 and March 2021. We recalibrated the SOFA score using a logistic regression model and evaluated its predictive ability in both ESKD and non-ESKD groups.

Transcriptional, biochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses of CaMKKβ/2 splice variants that co-localize with CaMKIV in spermatids.

Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaMKK) phosphorylates and activates downstream protein kinases, including CaMKI, CaMKIV, PKB/Akt, and AMPK; thus, regulates various Ca-dependent physiological and pathophysiological pathways. Further, CaMKKβ/2 in mammalian species comprises multiple alternatively spliced variants; however, their functional differences or redundancy remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to characterize mouse CaMKKβ/2 splice variants (CaMKKβ-3 and β-3x).

Postoperative nausea and vomiting after artificial joint replacement surgery: comparison between remimazolam and sevoflurane, a propensity score analysis.

Purpose: Remimazolam, a newly synthesized ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine, has not been previously compared with sevoflurane with regard to postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of PONV between remimazolam and sevoflurane among patients undergoing artificial joint replacement surgery.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the electronic medical records of patients who underwent artificial joint replacement surgery at Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital from 2020 to 2022, with a focus on comparing the incidence of PONV among those who received sevoflurane versus remimazolam anesthesia.

Rapid detection of calmodulin/target interaction via the proximity biotinylation method.

Calmodulin (CaM) is known to function as a central signal transducer in calcium-mediated intracellular pathways. In this study, a fusion molecule of a recently developed proximity biotinylation enzyme (AirID) with rat CaM (AirID-CaM) was expressed and purified to near homogeneity using an E. coli expression system to examine the physical interactions between CaM and its target proteins by converting the interaction to biotinylation of CaM targets under nondenatured conditions.

Anesthetic management of primary cardiac tumor in the coronary sinus and right atrium.

The patient presented with complete atrioventricular block and dyspnea. They had a primary cardiac tumor originating in the coronary sinus, a rare site of origin. It filled the sinus and involved the right atrium.

Cardiac Arrest Following Remimazolam-Induced Anaphylaxis: A Case Report.

Remimazolam is a recently approved benzodiazepine sedative. We report a case of a 72-year-old man who experienced a cardiac arrest due to severe anaphylaxis immediately after general anesthesia induction. Based on the results of skin tests, including those for dextran 40, an excipient in the remimazolam solution, and a review of drugs given during 3 anesthetics, remimazolam was identified as the probable causative agent.

Patient-centered outcomes at hospital discharge in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients in Kobe, Japan: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

Background: Apart from saving the lives of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients on mechanical ventilation (MV), recovery from the sequelae of prolonged MV (PMV) is an emerging issue.c METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study among consecutive adult COVID-19 patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in Kobe, Japan, between March 3, 2020, and January 31, 2021, and received invasive MV. Clinical outcomes included in-hospital mortality and recovery from COVID-19 in survivors regarding organ dysfunction, respiratory symptoms, and functional status at discharge.

Ventricular septal rupture with right hypochondrial pain mimicking acute cholecystitis.

A 67-year-old man was admitted for anterior acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) management. He developed a severe acute right subcostal pain with normal cardiac tests. On day 5 of hospitalization, cholecystectomy was performed for suspected acute cholecystitis, but the pain intensified with hemodynamical instability.

The Effect of Changing Arterial Transducer Position on Stroke Volume Measurements Using FloTrac System Version 4.0: A Pilot Experimental Study.

Objectives: We conducted a pilot study using an experimental study protocol to evaluate the measurement error of arterial pulse contour analysis-derived stroke volume due to improper transducer leveling during the passive leg raising test and the impact of such error on the determination of fluid responsiveness.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: A medical-surgical ICU at a tertiary referral center in Kobe, Japan.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in Kobe, Japan: a single-center, retrospective, observational study.

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has placed a great burden on critical care services worldwide. Data regarding critically ill COVID-19 patients and their demand of critical care services outside of initial COVID-19 epicenters are lacking. This study described clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients and the capacity of a COVID-19-dedicated intensive care unit (ICU) in Kobe, Japan.

Longer term hemodialysis-dependent chronic renal failure increases the risk of post-cardiac surgery vasoplegic syndrome.

Purpose: We evaluated whether longer term hemodialysis (HD) is associated with a higher incidence of vasoplegic syndrome (VS) after cardiac surgery.

Methods: This retrospective, single-center cohort study included 562 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac surgery in a tertiary hospital from January 2015 to December 2016. We assessed VS occurrence and its relationship with HD duration and other risk factors.

Interaction between warfarin and short-term intravenous amiodarone in intensive care unit patients after cardiac surgery.

Background: Amiodarone and warfarin are sometimes administered immediately after cardiac surgery. Although the interaction between long-term oral amiodarone and warfarin has been reported, the interaction between warfarin and short-term intravenous amiodarone has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the effect of short-term intravenous amiodarone on the anticoagulant effect of warfarin in patients who underwent cardiac surgery.

[Investigation of the outcomes and complications in right thoracotomy approach for mitral valve reoperation].

Background: Right thoracotomy is an alternative surgical technique for mitral valve reoperation. The purpose of this study is to determine whether right thoracotomy for mitral valve reoperation affects its perioperative outcomes and complications.

Methods: We investigated the perioperative events in consecutive mitral valve reoperations between January 2006 and November 2009.

[Remifentanil prevents hyperglycemia and reduces insulin use during cardiopulmonary bypass in adult cardiac surgery].

Background: Remifentanil may be beneficial in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, by attenuating the neurohumoral stress response to surgical stimulation and inflammation evoked by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: We retrospectively examined blood glucose monitored every 30 minutes during CPB and insulin dose in patients during CPB under remifentanil anesthesia (remifentanil group) and those under low dose fentanyl anesthesia (fentanyl group) in adult cardiac surgery. Furthermore we also investigated incidence of atrial fibrillation within 72 hours after surgery in both groups.

[Perioperative management of living-donor liver transplantation in two patients with severe portopulmonary hypertension].

Liver transplantation for patients with severe portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN) has been associated with high mortality. We conducted perioperative management of two patients with severe PPHTN for living-donor liver transplantation. The first case was a 17-year-old male with biliary atresia.

Midazolam induces expression of c-Fos and EGR-1 by a non-GABAergic mechanism.

Unlabelled: Gene expression changes induced by general anesthetics have not been extensively examined. In this investigation, we treated rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells with IV anesthetics, and assessed expression of immediate early gene products, c-Fos and EGR-1, by immunoblot analysis. Thiopental, ketamine, propofol, and diazepam did not significantly change the expression level of c-Fos and EGR-1.