Association of plasma free-3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl (ethylene)glycol, natural killer cell activity and delirium in postoperative patients.

We measured and compared levels of plasma free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl (ethylene)glycol (pMHPG), a major metabolite of noradrenaline, and natural killer (NK) cell activity in 26 patients prior to their undergoing an operation for cardiovascular diseases; 11 of whom expressed delirium and 15 who did not. In conclusion, we found that pMHPG levels before an operation were higher in patients with postoperative delirium than in the patients without, while NK cell activity showed no difference between the two groups. It is possible that hyperactivity of noradrenargic neurons is connected with the development of postoperative delirium.

Inferior vena cava injury after catheterization: report of a case.

We present a patient with retroperitoneal hematoma suspicious of inferior vena cava injury after catheterization for hemodialysis. Emergency computed tomography revealed extensive retroperitoneal hematoma and inferior vena cava angiography revealed extravasation. Emergent laparotomy was performed and repaired the perforation of inferior vena cava.

Feasibility of cryopreserved tracheal xenotransplants with the use of short-course immunosuppression.

Objective: We evaluated the feasibility of discordant xenotransplantation of the cryopreserved trachea with intermittent immunosuppression to help solve the shortage of donor tracheas.

Methods: Two experiments were performed with heterotopic transplantation models in 14 guinea pigs and 85 rats. So that the minimal dose of FK506 for viable fresh xenografts could be determined, FK506 was given in escalating doses (0, 1.

Limit of warm ischemia time before cryopreservation in rat tracheal isografts.

Background: The viability of cadaveric tracheal grafts undergoing cryopreservation is still unclear. We evaluated the limit of warm ischemia time before cryopreservation in rat tracheal isografts.

Methods: Each isograft was harvested from donor rats 0 to 48 hours (0, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 48 hours) after circulatory arrest, immersed in the preservative solution, and stored in a deep freezer until reaching -80 degrees C and then was kept in liquid nitrogen for 3 months.

St. Jude Medical prosthetic aortic valve malfunction due to pannus formation.

According to the literature, the incidence of pannus formation with the St. Jude Medical prosthetic aortic valve has been reported at 0.03% and 0.