[Utility of the Filter Extraction Method for Detecting Anticancer Drug Contamination in Air].

The filter extraction method is a new, simple method for evaluating anticancer drug contamination in air. The method involves installing a filter in the exhaust port of an exhaust duct on a facility's air conditioner, then collecting and measuring fine particles of the antineoplastic agents adsorbed onto the filter. In this study, we analyzed the utility of maintaining continuous filter extraction for measuring cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil contamination.

[Right Atrial Thrombus which was Difficult to Differentiate from Tumor;Report of a Case].

We report a case of a 79-year-old woman with a right atrial mass. She had a history of hypertension, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and chronic atrial fibrillation. Computed tomography and transthoracic echocardiography showed a 31×31 mm mass in the right atrium.

[Two Cases of Quadricuspid Aortic Valve].

We report 2 cases (a 59-year-old man and a 61-year-old man) of quadricuspid aortic valve that had aortic regurgitation. Preoperative transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography was useful for diagnosing definitely and deciding treatment plan. Their aortic valves were type F in each according to the Hurwitz-Roberts classification.

[Left ventricular outflow tract pseudoaneurysm complicated with prosthetic valve endocarditis after aortic valve replacement].

A rare case of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) pseudoaneurysm complicated with prosthetic valve endocarditis was reported herein. A 78-year-old male previously underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a bioprosthesis. Four years after the initial operation, he presented with prolonged high fever and bloody sputum.

[Successful repair of left ventricular laceration due to traumatic broken ribs].

A 27-year-old woman was hospitalized by emergency due to multiple blunt trauma by traffic accident. Computed tomography (CT) showed pericardial effusion. Because hematothorax and pericardial effusion appeared alternatively, thoracocentesis and pericardiocentesis were performed.

Clinical features of selenium deficiency in infants receiving long-term nutritional support.

Objective: Selenium deficiency is a known complication in patients requiring long-term nutritional support; however, the clinical features of selenium deficiency in infants have not been completely described. We describe the clinical features of selenium deficiency in infants.

Methods: Six infants with selenium deficiency were studied retrospectively, with a focus on the period of nutritional support, the clinical symptoms, and the chronologic changes in serum selenium concentrations before and after the administration of selenite.

Identification of a novel SEREX antigen, SLC2A1/GLUT1, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

We have carried out SEREX (serological identification of antigens by recombinant cDNA expression cloning), and identified SLC2A1 (solute carrier family 2/facilitated glucose transporter, member 1) as an antigen recognized by serum IgG antibodies in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The levels of serum anti-SLC2A1 antibodies (s-SLC2A1-Abs), examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using bacterially expressed glutathione-S-transferase-SLC2A1 fusion protein, were significantly higher in patients with esophageal SCC than in healthy donors. When using a cut-off level as the mean + 2x standard deviations of healthy donors, a total of 12 (21%) out of 57 SCC patients were revealed as positive for s-SLC2A1-Abs.

Serological identification of tumor antigens of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Autoantibodies are often detected in the patients with esophageal cancer. We applied serological analysis of recombinant cDNA expression libraries (SEREX) to a case of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in order to identify tumor antigens. A cDNA library derived from an esophageal cancer cell line was bacterially expressed and screened for interaction with antibodies in five allogeneic sera of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Serological identification of TROP2 by recombinant cDNA expression cloning using sera of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

We applied serological analysis of recombinant cDNA expression libraries (SEREX) to cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to identify tumor antigens. One of the clones identified was TROP2, which is known as calcium signal transducer. To evaluate the clinical significance of serum anti-TROP2 antibodies (s-TROP2-Abs) in patients with esophageal SCC, the presence of s-TROP2-Abs was analyzed by Western blotting using bacterially expressed TROP2 protein.

Concomitant David's operation and total arch replacement for acute type A aortic dissection.

A 61-year-old man complained of chest pain and developed congestive heart failure due to massive acute aortic regurgitation. Computed tomographic scan demonstrated Stanford type A aortic dissection from the aortic root to common iliac arteries. David's aortic valve sparing operation and total aortic arch replacement were applied to the patient, because the aortic dissection was extended into two aortic commissures and all arch vessels, though the tear was present at the proximal ascending aorta.

[Outcome of aortic arch surgery in patients aged 70 years or older: axillary artery cannulation and selective cerebral perfusion supports].

Objectives: Axillary artery cannulation, selective cerebral perfusion and replacement of the ascending and arch aorta with an elephant trunk were evaluated to reduce cerebral complications in aortic arch surgery in patients with aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection involving the aortic arch.

Methods And Results: A total of 45 patients(18 with acute A type aortic dissection and 27 with chronic aortic aneurysm involving the aortic arch) aged 70-92 (mean age 74) years underwent total aortic arch replacement from March 1996 to May 2002. There were three operative deaths in patients with acute A type aortic dissection caused by massive cerebral infarction, bleeding and myocardial infarction, and one hospital death of sepsis.