A Novel Therapeutic Strategy Targeting the Mesenchymal Phenotype of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma by Suppressing LSD1.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive tumor that has a low overall survival; however, no significant treatment advances have been made in the past 15 years. Large-scale molecular studies have identified a poor prognostic subset of MPM linked to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that may contribute toward resistance to chemotherapy, suggesting that EMT could be targeted to treat patients with MPM. Previously, we reported that histone modifiers regulating EMT could be therapeutic targets; therefore, in this study, we investigated whether targeting lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1/KDM1), a histone-modifying enzyme responsible for demethylating histone H3 lysine 4 and lysine 9, could represent a novel therapeutic strategy for MPM.

Functional characterization of archaeal homologs of human nuclear RNase P proteins Rpp21 and Rpp29 provides insights into the molecular basis of their cooperativity in catalysis.

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is a ribonucleoprotein that catalyzes the processing of 5' leader sequences of precursor tRNAs (pre-tRNA). RNase P proteins PhoRpp21 and PhoRpp29 in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii, homologs of human nuclear RNase P proteins Rpp21 and Rpp29 respectively, fold into a heterodimeric structure and synergistically function in the activation of the specificity domain (S-domain) in RNase P RNA (PhopRNA). To elucidate the molecular basis for their cooperativity, we first analyzed binding ability to PhopRNA using a pull-down assay.

Direct reimplantation as an alternative approach for treatment of anomalous aortic origin of the right coronary artery.

Anomalous aortic origin of the coronary artery (AAOCA) is a rare cardiac anomaly associated with myocardial ischemia, infarction, and even sudden death. We report 2 patients presenting with AAOCA of the right coronary artery originating from the left coronary sinus with an initial intramural course. In both patients, we performed uncomplicated direct reimplantation of the right coronary artery into the right coronary sinus.

Characteristics and treatment strategies of mitral regurgitation associated with undifferentiated papillary muscle.

Purpose: In this report we review our experience of operations on mitral regurgitation associated with abnormal papillary muscles/chordae tendineae of the mitral valves and discussed the clinical characteristics, operative findings, and treatment strategies.

Methods: Undifferentiated papillary muscle was defined as a hypoplastic chordae tendineae with anomalous formation of papillary muscles attached to the mitral valves directly. Consecutive 87 patients undergoing surgery for mitral regurgitation at our institution were reviewed and 6 of them had undifferentiated papillary muscle.

A rapid structural degeneration of a porcine mitral valve.

A 73-year-old woman underwent both mitral and aortic valve replacements with porcine heart valve prostheses because of severe mitral regurgitation and severe aortic regurgitation. Ten months after surgery, maximal flow velocity of the aortic valve reached 4.6 m/sec and moderate mitral regurgitation was detected.

Survival and quality of life of octogenarians who underwent mechanical valve replacement at a younger age.

Purpose: Mechanical valve replacement is associated with complications, however, there is little information on the quality of life (QOL) of octogenarians who had undergone mechanical valve replacement at a relatively younger age. We examined survival, valve-related events, and the QOL of octogenarians who had undergone mechanical valve replacement.

Methods: A total of 56 octogenarians who underwent mechanical valve replacement between 1969 and 1997 (age at the time of surgery, 65.

Systolic anterior motion after mitral valve repair: predicting factors and management.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism of systolic anterior motion (SAM) after mitral valve (MV) repair by analyzing the clinical data of patients with MV repair.

Methods: A total of 104 MV repairs were performed for patients with isolated degenerative posterior leaflet prolapse. Eight patients (7.

'Clover technique' for tricuspid regurgitation due to pacemaker lead.

Whilst tricuspid regurgitation (TR) secondary to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common problem, organic TR caused by pacemaker leads is also frequently encountered. In a 63-year-old patient who developed TR attributable to both MR and a pacemaker lead inserted 12 years previously, the regurgitation could not be controlled satisfactorily using a normal ring annuloplasty. Consequently, the 'clover technique' provided an efficient correction to the TR.

Active infective endocarditis after mitral valve repair.

A 22-year-old man was diagnosed with active mitral endocarditis 14 months after mitral valve repair. The responsible organism was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. Transthoracic echocardiography showed an 8-mm patch of vegetation adhering to the anterior part of the artificial ring.

A rare case of infective endocarditis complicated by Trichosporon asahii fungemia treated by surgery.

The patient was a 58-year-old male. He consulted our hospital because of weight loss and fever. Computed tomography (CT) revealed renal infarction.

Surgical repair for a coronary-pulmonary artery fistula with a saccular aneurysm of the coronary artery.

The patient, a 69-year-old woman, had been diagnosed with a heart murmur. A chest X-ray at a local clinic had shown an abnormal shadow. Since CT revealed a 3-cm-diameter mass close to the pulmonary artery, we performed a coronary angiography and diagnosed her as having a coronary artery aneurysm associated with a coronary-pulmonary artery fistula.

Triple-valve treatment for prosthetic valve endocarditis occurring 20 years after implantation of a Carpentier-Edwards pericardial bioprosthesis in the aortic valve.

A 68-year-old woman had undergone aortic valve replacement and open commissurotomy 20 years previously. At the beginning of 2008, fever, cold, and heart failure symptoms were noted. On blood culture, Streptococcus oralis was detected three times.

The efficacy of human atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with renal dysfunction undergoing cardiac surgery.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of carperitide (human atrial natriuretic peptide [h-ANP]) in perioperative management in patients with renal dysfunction, especially its kidney-protecting effects.

Patients And Methods: The subjects were 18 patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with a preoperative serum creatinine (Cr) level of 1.2 mg/dl or more.

A case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy complicated by ventricular septal perforation.

The patient was a 73-year-old female who developed chest pain and dyspnea 16 days after her husband passed away. ST segment elevation was detected on V2-5 by electrocardiography and emergency coronary arteriography was done for suspected acute myocardial infarction. No coronary arterial stenosis was present and ventricular septal perforation and takotsubo cardiomyopathy were diagnosed by left ventriculography.

Comparison of the effects of aortic valve replacement using 19-mm Carpentier-Edwards Perimount bioprosthesis and 19-mm Medtronic Mosaic bioprosthesis.

Objective: Short (< or =3 months)- and middle (> or =4 months)-term results of aortic valve replacement (AVR) using 19-mm Carpentier-Edwards Perimount (CEP) bioprosthetic valves and 19-mm Medtronic Mosaic (MM) bioprosthetic valves in patients with small aortic annulus were compared.

Patients And Methods: At our facility, AVR was performed using bioprostheses in 110 patients from April 1999 to March 2006. Of these patients, 40 were treated using 19-mm CEP (Group C), and 9 using 19-mm MM (Group M).

Mitral valve repair in patients with infective endocarditis.

Background: The goal of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of mitral valvle repair in patients with infective endocarditis (IE).

Methods And Results: Twenty-one patients who had undergone mitral valve surgery for IE were reviewed. Valve repair was performed in 8 patients with active and in 6 patients with healed endocarditis: 6 of these 14 patients were New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or IV preoperatively.

Risk factors of posterior pericardial annuloplasty for isolated posterior leaflet prolapse.

Background: Posterior autologous pericardial annuloplasty is an option in mitral valve repair. However, the durability of posterior pericardial annuloplasty remains controversial.

Methods: From June 1999 to July 2004, 49 patients (18 male and 31 female; mean age, 64 +/- 12 years) with isolated posterior leaflet prolapse received posterior autologous pericardial annuloplasty.

Combined aortic and mitral valve repair in active infective endocarditis.

We describe a case of successful combined repair of the aortic and mitral valves for an indication of active infective endocarditis involving both valves. Mitral valve repair was achieved by vegetation debridement, fixation of the anterior mitral commissure, resection and suturing of the posterior mitral leaflet, and posterior annuloplasty with autologous pericardium. Aortic valve repair was achieved by vegetectomy and commissural plication.

Thrombus removal with a temporary vena caval filter in patients with acute proximal deep vein thrombosis.

Between September 1999 and January 2001 we performed thrombus removal with the use of a temporary vena caval filter in 11 patients who had acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis. To facilitate thrombus removal, 5 patients initially received catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy (thrombolysis group), and the other 6 received surgical thrombectomy (thrombectomy group). Residual thrombus was confirmed after initial catheter-directed thrombolysis in all patients in the thrombolysis group, and thrombolysis was continued in the ward.

Biocompatibility of poly2methoxyethylacrylate coating for cardiopulmonary bypass.

The systemic inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may contribute to the development of postoperative complications. Heparin-coated circuits and poly2methoxyethylacrylate (PMEA)-coated circuits have been developed to reduce the risk of such complications. We compared the biocompatibility of these circuits.