[Clinical evaluation of heparin concentration and activated clotting time monitoring (HEPCON HMS) system].

The HEPCON HMS system provides both activated clotting time (ACT) and accurate whole blood heparin concentration measurements. We evaluated the impact of heparin and protamine administration using this system on the incidence and treatment of bleeding after performing a cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients were randomly divided into two groups.

[Concomitant composite graft replacement of the aortic root and the aortic arch for type A aortic dissection].

Successful surgical treatment of type A aortic dissection with annuloaortic ectasia (AAE) and severely destroyed aortic root was reported. Between April 1991 and April 1996, 26 patients with type A aortic dissection underwent the surgical treatment in our institute. Among those cases, 4 cases (15%) needed the total aortic root replacement with composite graft.

[Simultaneous surgical treatment for distal aortic arch aneurysm associated with innominate artery aneurysm and coronary artery disease].

The patient was 69-year-old male who admitted to our hospital in November 1995 with the complaint of abnormal shadow on chest C-ray. CT scan and aortogram revealed aneurysms of the distal aortic arch and innominate artery. Seventy-five percent stenosis of the right coronary artery was also found in coronary angiogram.

[Abdominal aortic surgery in Stanford type B chronic dissecting aortic aneurysm].

Three cases of a chronic type B dissecting aneurysm which required abdominal aortic reconstruction are presented. Constriction of the iliac artery due to dissection was found in case 1, in case 2 the left subclavian artery originated from a giant false lumen, and arteriosclerosis obliterans was observed in case 3. The left renal artery originated from a false lumen in all cases.

[A case of successful surgical treatment of recurrent Stanford type A thrombosed aortic dissection].

A 70-year-old female was hospitalized with a complaint of anterior chest pain. Enhanced CT scan demonstrated acute type A aortic dissection with the clotted false lumen. Aortography showed ulcer-like projection in the ascending aorta.

[A case of localized pleural mesothelioma].

Localized pleural mesothelioma is reported. A 62-year-old male had been observed as a patient with old tuberculosis of the left lung for a few decades. For detailed examination of fever of unknown cause and abnormal shadow on the chest X-ray, the patient was introduced to our hospital.

[A case of tricuspid valve endocarditis in a non-addicted adult person without underlying cardiac disease].

A very rare case of tricuspid valve endocarditis which developed in a healthy adult was observed. An 18-year-old man with no history of heart disease nor use of stimulant drugs was diagnosed as having cardiac tumor, introduced to this hospital and admitted. Before the operation, symptoms characteristic to infective endocarditis such as high fever and embolism were not observed, but the tumor was detected in the right ventricle by echocardiography.

[A case of total arch graft replacement for distal aortic arch aneurysm developed around the site of graft patch aortoplasty].

A 65-year-old male underwent graft patch aortoplasty for a sacciform aneurysm of the distal aortic arch. Three years later an aneurysm developed around the site of the graft patch aortoplasty, therefore total arch graft replacement was required. The operation was performed through median sternotomy and left supraclavicular incision.

Effects of lansoprazole plus amoxycillin on the cure of Helicobacter pylori infection in Japanese peptic ulcer patients.

Aim: The effect of lansoprazole plus amoxycillin on curing Helicobacter pylori infection and peptic ulcer recurrence was evaluated.

Method: The study group was composed of 68 patients with gastric ulcers and 51 with duodenal ulcers, all were H. pylori-positive.

Clinical experience of functional electrical stimulation in complete paraplegia.

Percutaneous intramuscular electrodes and a portable multichannel system were used to restore the function of the paralyzed lower extremities in six patients with complete paraplegia. The total number of inserted electrodes was 168. All of the patients could stand, two could walk in parallel bars, and two could walk with a walker.

Clinical use of percutaneous intramuscular electrodes for functional electrical stimulation.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical use of the percutaneous intramuscular electrode in functional electrical stimulation (FES).

Design: Randomized and controlled study.

Setting: A referral center and institutional practice providing outpatient care.

An electrical knee lock system for functional electrical stimulation.

An electrical knee lock system that can be combined with functional electrical stimulation was designed for paraplegic patients. This knee system unlocks the knee electrically and allows knee flexion during the swing phase of the gait. When the knee is extended by electrical stimulation of the knee extensors, the knee is automatically locked by the weight of the locking bar, and the stimulation of the knee extensors is stopped.

An MRI analysis of brain-stem and cerebellar lesions and olivary hypertrophy.

We describe the relations between primary brain stem or cerebellar infarct or haemorrhage and secondary inferior olivary pseudo-hypertrophy (OPH). We identified 17 patients (43.6%) among 39 with brain stem or cerebellar vascular disease who had MRI follow-up more than 3 months after their ictus, with OPH.

[A case report on concomitant graft replacement of the total aortic root and the transverse aortic arch for type A acute aortic dissection associated with annuloaortic ectasia].

A 49-year-old man with type A acute aortic dissection associated with annuloaortic ectasia (AAE) underwent the concomitant graft replacement of the total aortic root and the transverse aortic arch. This operation was performed with an aid of extracorporeal circulation, blood cardioplegia, selective cerebral perfusion and open distal anastomosis. The operative technique consisted of total aortic root replacement using a composite graft and total arch replacement using four vessel graft.

[An operative case of bilateral coronary arteries fistulae to pulmonary artery associated with a giant saccular aneurysm].

We reported an operative case of bilateral coronary artery fistulae to pulmonary artery associated with a giant saccular aneurysm, the largest of which measured 30 x 30 mm. The patient was a 75 year old female who had anginal pain due to coronary steal phenomenon. A continuous murmur was detected.

Split posterior tibial tendon transfer for varus deformity of hindfoot.

Sixteen patients (23 feet) who underwent split posterior tibial tendon transfers were evaluated. The patients were seen on a followup basis for a minimum of 1 year postoperatively. The causes were spastic cerebral palsy in 13 feet, spastic-athetoid cerebral palsy in 3 feet, hydrocephalus in 3 feet, and other diseases in 4 feet.

Changes in muscle force following therapeutic electrical stimulation in patients with complete paraplegia.

Changes in muscle force following therapeutic electrical stimulation (TES) in 5 patients with complete paraplegia were evaluated by computed tomography, Cybex II, a strain-gauge transducer, and manual muscle testing. The stimulation parameters included a frequency of 20 Hz, a pulse width of 0.2 ms, and an output voltage of -15 V.

Immunohistochemical localization of transforming growth factor-beta receptors I and II in inflammatory bowel disease.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta inhibits cell proliferation and stimulates cell differentiation. For the signal transduction of TGF-beta, receptors I and II are required. The present study discloses the immunohistochemical localization of TGF-beta receptors I and II in inflammatory bowel disease.

Restoration and analysis of standing-up in complete paraplegia utilizing functional electrical stimulation.

Objective: Restoration of stand-up motion in patients with complete paraplegia utilizing multichannel functional electrical stimulation, and analysis of the restored motion.

Design: Nonrandomized control trial.

Setting: General community, a referral center, institutional practice, and ambulatory care:

Patients: Twelve volunteer samples were used for the collection of normal data.

Role of Helicobacter pylori in chronic gastritis: a prospective study.

We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic gastritis in a Japanese population. H. pylori was found in 67% of patients positive for mononuclear cell (MN cell) infiltration and in 75.

Clinical efficacy of lansoprazole in eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

A randomized, single-blind study was designed to assess the effect of lansoprazole alone and lansoprazole plus amoxicillin on the healing and eradication rates in Helicobacter pylori-associated peptic ulcer disease. Seventy-nine patients with gastric ulcers and 54 patients with duodenal ulcers were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Group 1 received lansoprazole 30 mg daily for 8 weeks for gastric ulcers or 6 weeks for duodenal ulcers.

[Therapeutic and functional electrical stimulation for paraplegics].

The first objective of this study was to compare the cross-sectional areas of muscles and muscle force before and after 6 months of therapeutic electrical stimulation (TES) by using computed tomography (CT), Cybex II, a strain-gauge, and manual muscle test (MMT) in 5 complete paraplegics. The stimulation parameters were a frequency of 20 Hz, a pulse width of 0.2 ms, and an output voltage of -15V.

[A case report of pseudocoarctation associated with aneurysm of the distal aortic arch].

A 42-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for abnormal shadow in the left superior mediastinum on chest X-ray. Her blood pressure was 120/70 mmHg in the left arm and 134/72 in the right. Aortography revealed pseudocoarctation of the aortic arch distal to the left carotid artery with two aneurysm, and showed elongation between the left carotid artery and the left subclavian artery.

[A case report of unroofed coronary sinus with repeated congestive cardiac failure].

We reported a 64-year-old woman with frequent cardiac failure due to unroofed coronary sinus complicated with tricuspid regurgitation (TR). We performed direct suture closure of unroofed coronary sinus and tricuspid annuloplasty with a Carpentier ring (34 T). Immediately after the operation, large amount of pleural effusion accumulated owing to acute left ventricular failure.

[A case of cardiomyoplasty with synchronous stimulated latissimus dorsi muscle].

In December, 1988, a 57-year-old man sustained an acute myocardial infarction. He suffered from progressive cardiac failure, despite bed rest and intensive medical treatment. Finally, he developed hepatic and renal failure.