New evaluation of the tumor immune microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer and its association with prognosis.

Background: A better understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) will facilitate the development of prognostic biomarkers and more effective therapeutic strategies in patients with lung cancer. However, little has been reported on the comprehensive evaluation of complex interactions among cancer cells, immune cells, and local immunosuppressive elements in the TIME.

Methods: Whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing were carried out on 113 lung cancers.

Cardiac tamponade due to rupture of a giant coronary artery aneurysm with a coronary arteriovenous fistula: a case report.

Background: Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is defined as dilatation exceeding 1.5 times the width of the normal adjacent coronary artery segments. CAA usually causes few symptoms, and rupture is rare, but can be lethal due to cardiac tamponade when it does occur.

Neuroprotective effect of pressure-oriented flow regulation and pH-stat management in selective antegrade brain perfusion during total aortic arch repair.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of our selective antegrade brain perfusion (SABP) strategy, which is characterized by moderate hypothermic and low-pressure management under pH-stat using a completely closed cardiopulmonary bypass circuit with a single centrifugal pump.

Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients (median age, 74) underwent total aortic arch replacement using a 4-branched graft. SABP was conducted with individual cannulation in all arch vessels.

Determinants of recurrent tricuspid regurgitation following tricuspid valve annuloplasty during mitral valve surgery.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine risk predictors for recurrent tricuspid regurgitation (TR) following tricuspid valve annuloplasty during mitral valve surgery.

Methods: Ninety-eight consecutive patients underwent tricuspid valve annuloplasty concomitant with mitral valve repair (71 patients), replacement (16 patients), or other procedures over a 10-year period. Fifty-seven patients underwent surgery with a flexible band and 41 with a rigid ring.

Efficacy of Tolvaptan on Fluid Management After Cardiovascular Surgery Using Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of the selective vasopressin V-receptor antagonist tolvaptan in postoperative fluid management after cardiovascular surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A tertiary care center.

Emergency Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery for Patients on Preoperative Intraaortic Balloon Pump.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate early and long-term outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome preoperatively requiring intraaortic balloon pump support who underwent emergency off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Methods: One hundred and fifteen patients on preoperative intraaortic balloon pump receiving emergency off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery over an 11-year period were evaluated. The median age was 71 years (range, 33 to 87).

[Pulmonary Arterioplasty with Autologous Pericardial Patch for Lung Cancer].

Three patients underwent left upper lobectomy with arterioplasty of left pulmonary artery trunk for lung cancer. For pulmonary arterioplasty, wide wedge resection and patch plasty with autologous pericardium was performed. No in-hospital death or no postoperative complications due to arterioplasty was encountered.

[A patient with descending necrotizing mediastinitis successfully treated by cervical, transthoracic, and mediastinoscopic drainage].

A 62-year-old man was admitted to a local hospital for cervical abscess. He was given an antibiotic, but his symptoms worsened. Computed tomographic cervical and chest scan 6 days after hospitalization revealed that left cervical abscess extended to the mediastinum.

[Recurrent mediastinal desmoid tumor treated by surgical resection ; report of a case].

We report a rare case of mediastinal desmoid tumor in a 17-year-old man. The patient was a 17-year old man who had underwent surgery for mediastinal tumor at our hospital 2 years before. The tumor was diagnosed as a solitary fibrous tumor of the mediastinum.

Hemodynamic performance of the Edwards Prima Plus stentless valve at 1 year.

Purpose: The Edwards Prima Plus stentless valve bioprosthesis (EPPSV) is a porcine aortic root cylinder with resected coronary ostia, fixed in glutaraldehyde at low pressure, and chemically treated to prevent calcification. Utilization of this valve was approved in January 2005 in Japan. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early hemodynamic performance of EPPSVs in our experience.

Locally applied cilostazol suppresses neointimal hyperplasia and medial thickening in a vein graft model.

Background: Pathological changes in vein grafts begin immediately after arterial circulation is applied to the grafts. Chemical mediator stimulation and mechanical strain induce neointimal hyperplasia and medial thickening of the vein grafts, resulting in their failure. We investigated the inhibitory effect of locally applied cilostazol, an inhibitor of cyclic adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase III, on neointimal hyperplasia and medial thickening of the grafts.

A case of isolated tricuspid valve infective endocarditis caused by Abiotrophia defectiva.

A 17-year-old man with a history of dental caries was admitted to our hospital because of 1-week high fever. There was no history of previous cardiac disease. He denied drug abuse.

Method of cell transplantation promoting the organization of intraarterial thrombus.

Background: Endovascular aortic repairs have been developed as less invasive treatments for aortic aneurysms. Some aneurismal cavities, however, remain without organization, causing a re-expansion of the aneurysms. We studied cell transplantation into the aneurismal sac to promote the organization of thrombus for the complete healing of aneurysms.

Tenascin-C is an essential factor for neointimal hyperplasia after aortotomy in mice.

Objective: Neointimal hyperplasia at the arterial anastomotic site is a critical problem during cardiovascular surgery. It has been suggested that tenascin-C (TN-C), an extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein, might play an important role in neointimal hyperplasia. In this study, the direct contribution of tenascin-C to neointimal hyperplasia after aortotomy was examined using tenascin-C-deficient (TNKO) mice.

Locally applied cilostazol suppresses neointimal hyperplasia by inhibiting tenascin-C synthesis and smooth muscle cell proliferation in free artery grafts.

Objective: Accumulation of smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix in the intima of artery bypass grafts induces neointimal hyperplasia, resulting in graft failure. We investigated the inhibitory effect of locally applied cilostazol, an inhibitor of cyclic adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase III, on neointimal hyperplasia and the role of tenascin-C synthesis and smooth muscle cell proliferation in free artery grafts. Methods and results We established a distal anastomotic stricture model of free artery graft stenosis using rat abdominal aorta.

Use of a new venous cannula for minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Interest in minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) for cardiac disease continues to increase, because it causes less surgical trauma and produces a better cosmetic appearance. We introduced the transxiphoid approach without sternotomy for correction of congenital heart defects. To improve exposure of the cardiac lesion during MICS, we developed a new venous cannula that is made of wire reinforced silicone, with an inflatable balloon attached at the tip.