Comparison of biocompatibility in polysulfone dialysis membranes with different sterilization.

Introduction: Polysulfone (PSf) membrane has been widely used for hemodialysis. A few studies have been reported in which a method of sterilization may affect biocompatibility. In this study, the comparison was made between two PSf membranes in order to evaluate the effect of sterilization from the biocompatibility point of view.

[Ruptured Aneurysm of the Sinus of Valsalva Accompanied with a Bicuspid Aortic Valve in an Elderly Man;Report of a Case].

The combination of ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva and a bicuspid aortic valve is very rare in an elderly person. A 71-year-old man with ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva and a bicuspid aortic valve had undergone an operation. He was admitted to his other hospital because of heart failure.

Comparison of Diagnostic Accuracy between Pulse Volume Recording Parameters and Exercise-Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index in Patients with Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index above 0.9.

The objective of this study was to clarify whether or not pulse volume recoding (PVR) parameters have screening capability equivalent to ankle-brachial pressure index after walking (Ex-ABI) for patients with 0.91 or higher ABI. The subjects were 87 patients (147 limbs) with symptoms of lower extremities with 0.

Utility of Exercise-Induced Zero TBI Sign in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis.

It is uncertain whether exercise-induced zero toe brachial index sign (e-ZETS) is beneficial to prevent advanced perfusion disturbance in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients. In HD patients, we compared the clinical findings and prognoses among 22 toes in a resting zero toe brachial index sign (r-ZETS) group, 22 toes in an e-ZETS group, and 63 toes in a non-e-ZETS group. The hemodynamics of the lower extremities in the e-ZETS group is intermediate between the r-ZETS and non-e-ZETS groups.

Exercise-ankle brachial pressure index with one-minute treadmill walking in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Background: The ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) is widely used as a standard screening method for arterial occlusive lesion above the knee. However, the sensitivity of ABI is low in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Exercise stress (Ex-ABI) may reduce the false negative results.

Robustness of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope to exercise intensity in patients with coronary artery disease.

Oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) and ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope) are widely used as submaximal measurements of cardiopulmonary exercise testing as the evaluator or prognosticator of cardiac diseases. However, very few studies have compared the effects of submaximal exercise on these measurements. A total of 58 patients with coronary artery disease underwent maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a treadmill.

Concentrations of hepatocyte growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor in pericardial fluid and plasma.

Some angiogenic factors, including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have been reported to promote angiogenesis and improve myocardial perfusion in experimental models of ischemic heart disease. These factors are produced in various tissues, including myocardium. We measured the concentrations of HGF, bFGF, and VEGF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasma and in pericardial fluid sampled during open heart surgery (12 patients with ischemic heart disease and 17 with nonischemic heart disease).

Endothelin-1 concentrations in pericardial fluid are more elevated in patients with ischemic heart disease than in patients with nonischemic heart disease.

There is epidemiologic evidence that the prognosis of patients with nonischemic heart failure is better than that for patients with ischemic heart failure. In addition, studies have revealed that patients with ischemic heart failure show a poorer response to medical therapy. However, the pathophysiologic difference between ischemic and nonischemic heart disease is unclear.