Expression of cytokine and adhesion molecule mRNA in atherectomy specimens from patients with coronary artery disease.

Coronary arteriosclerosis is an underlying condition in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and stable angina pectoris (SAP), and is also related to restenosis (RS) following coronary intervention. To investigate the pathogenesis of this condition, a quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to determine relative levels of mRNA for interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 using directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) specimens. Eleven patients with AMI, 7 with UAP, 10 with SAP and 6 with RS following a previous coronary intervention underwent DCA.

A comparison of ultrastructural changes on endomyocardial biopsy specimens obtained from patients with diabetes mellitus with and without hypertension.

The pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy is unknown. The synergistic, or enhanced, effect of hypertension on pathological changes in the heart of diabetic patients has been highly suspected. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the myocardial changes related to diabetes mellitus with and without hypertension, using biopsy specimens.

[Post operative mediastinitis: the experience of two cases after graft replacement of the ascending aorta].

A mediastinitis after a graft replacement of the ascending aorta is serious complication and sometimes could be lethal. We have experienced two cases of such a condition, recently. In both cases, the debridement of the mediastinum and omental transposition were performed.

An adult case of Bland-White-Garland syndrome with collaterals from the bronchial artery.

We report herein an adult case of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (Bland-White-Garland syndrome; BWG syndrome). The patient had chest discomfort during exercise and signs of mitral regurgitation. We diagnosed him as having BWG syndrome by angiography, and performed surgical treatment.

[Usefulness of myocardial imaging by 123I-MIBG in assessment of diabetic neuropathy].

In diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy, it is suggested that there is a reduced uptake of 123I-MIBG in the heart. We compared the difference of myocardial 123I-MIBG accumulation between 4 diabetic patients with triopathy and 6 patients without it. In all 10 patients, coronary angiography and 201Tl imaging (rest and 4 hours later) were performed.