Publications by authors named "Kazue Nakashima"

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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