Use of the specific binding ratio distribution to characterise multiple system atrophy in advanced iodine-123-labelled N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane serotonin transporter imaging.

Objectives: Sudden death in multiple system atrophy (MSA) is caused by decreased serotonergic innervation, but there is no routine test method for this decrease. In addition to dopamine transporters, iodine-123-labelled N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane (I-FP-CIT) binds serotonin transporters (SERTs). We noted a binding potential to quantify the total quantity of I-FP-CIT binding to its receptors.

Delivering the News of an Intraoperative Death; Literature Based Guidance from the AATS Wellness Committee.

Objectives: Fortunately, operating room deaths and unexpected deaths are infrequent occurrences. However, when they occur, the surgeon is called upon to deliver this news to family and loved ones. There is a paucity of literature on this topic and little guidance preparing cardiothoracic surgeons for this important but difficult situation.

Surgical Outcomes of Patients With Heterotaxy Syndrome - The Japanese Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery Database.

Background: Cardiac malformations are a major component of heterotaxy syndrome and result in significant mortality and morbidity. This multicenter nationwide Japanese study evaluated mortality and morbidity after initial surgical palliation for patients with heterotaxy syndrome and determined predictors for mortality and morbidity among patients enrolled in the study.

Methods And Results: The Japanese Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery Database (JCCVSD) collects clinical data from 119 domestic institutions specializing in congenital heart disease, covering almost all major congenital heart surgery programs in Japan.

Minimally invasive cardiac surgeries in 2021: annual report by Japanese society of minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Purpose: Although minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) procedures are widely performed throughout Japan, nationwide data regarding treated cases are limited. Up-to-date results for cardiovascular surgery are vital for quality control in clinical practice. Presented here is the 2021 annual report based on data from the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database (JCVSD).

Successful launch of robot-assisted mitral valve repair in Japan under universal health coverage.

Objectives: We compared the clinical outcomes of mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation via the robot-assisted approach and small right thoracotomy approach 3 years after the reimbursement of the robot-assisted approach in Japan.

Methods: Patients who underwent isolated mitral valve repair by minimally invasive approach between 2018 and 2020 from the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database were included. Patients in the robot-assisted approach group were matched to the small right thoracotomy approach group based on propensity scores estimated from patient and surgical characteristics.

Descriptive analysis of long-term survival after aortic valve replacement for dialysis patients: importance of renal pathologies and age.

Objectives: This study analyzed the long-term survival of dialysis patients undergoing AVR using the Japanese National Clinical Database with additional survival data.

Methods: De-novo AVR for dialysis-dependent patients between 2010 and 2012 who were registered in the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database were included. Concomitant aortic surgery and transcatheter aortic valve replacement were excluded.

Open Versus Zone 0/1 Endovascular Aortic Repair for Arch Aneurysm: A Propensity Score-Matched Study from the National Clinical Database in Japan.

Background: Although open surgical repair (OSR) is the gold standard for treating arch aneurysms, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) may be a less invasive alternative. However, it remains unclear which of the 2 methods yields better outcomes. In this study, we compared the perioperative outcomes of both procedures for arch aneurysms using a nationwide surgical database.

Current status of surgical treatment for acute aortic dissection in Japan: Nationwide database analysis.

Objective: To clarify the current status of surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection (AAD) in Japan through the Japan Cardiovascular Database analysis.

Methods: In total, 7194 patients who underwent surgical treatment for AAD in 2021, including type A (TAAAD) (n = 6416) and type B (TBAAD) (n = 778), were investigated.

Results: The median age was 70 years, with patients older than age 80 years constituting 21.

Annual Report for 2019 by the Japanese Association for Coronary Artery Surgery.

Purpose: Continuous annual reporting on coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgical practice is key for quality control and improvement of clinical results. In this report, Japanese nationwide features and trends in the extent of coronary artery disease and the characteristics of those undergoing CABG procedures in 2019 are presented. Clinical results of related ischemic heart disease are also presented.

Late outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting with or without mitral repair for moderate or moderate-severe ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Background: Operative indication of the additional mitral repair for moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) in the setting of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is still unclear.

Methods: This study was designed as the nation-wide multi-center retrospective analysis with additional survival data. CABGs without past heart surgery registered in 2014 and 2015 were included.

Time course changes in insulin sensitivity during cardiac surgery: A retrospective study on intraoperative glycemic management using an artificial pancreas.

Introduction: Glycemic control is essential for improving the prognosis of cardiac surgery, although precise recommendations have not yet been established. Under a constant blood glucose level, the insulin infusion rate correlates with insulin resistance during glycemic control using an artificial pancreas (AP). We conducted this retrospective study to elucidate changes in intraoperative insulin sensitivity as a first step to creating glycemic control guidelines.

Mechanical vs Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients on Dialysis: Long-term Outcomes.

Background: Using the Japan National Clinical Database and additional data, this study is an analysis of long-term survival of dialysis-dependent patients who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods: Dialysis-dependent patients who underwent de novo AVR between 2010 and 2012 and who were registered in the database were included. Concomitant aortic surgery and transcatheter aortic valve replacement were excluded.

Incidence and outcomes of surgical site infection after cardiovascular surgery (complete republication).

Objectives: Surgical site infection in cardiovascular surgery had a great effect on postoperative outcomes. This study examined the current status of surgical site infection and postoperative outcomes used the registered data of the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database.

Methods: From the registry, we extracted 53,186 cases of thoracic cardiovascular surgery performed under median sternotomy in 2018.

Postoperative outcomes of valve reoperation are associated with the number of previous cardiac operations.

Objective: This study compared operative mortality and morbidity based on the number of previous cardiac operations to identify whether this was a risk factor for outcomes after valve reoperation.

Methods: Among valve surgery patients in the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database (2013‒2015), 4436 patients who underwent valve reoperation with a previous cardiac surgery were included. Patients were divided into three groups based on the number of previous cardiac operations (NPO1, NPO2, and NPO3+).

Phenotype-genotype correlation in aldosterone-producing adenomas characterized by intracellular cholesterol metabolism.

Aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) is histologically composed of clear and compact tumor cells. KCNJ5- mutated APAs were reported to be associated with higher plasma aldosterone concentration and more abundant clear tumor cells containing lipid droplets than non-KCNJ5- mutated APAs. However, the association among cholesterol uptake and/or synthesis, cellular morphology and genotypes has remained unknown.

Contemporary surgical management of complete atrioventricular septal defect with tetralogy of Fallot in Japan.

Objectives: Complete atrioventricular septal defect with tetralogy of Fallot is a rare and complex heart disease. This study aimed to describe contemporary management approaches for this heart disease and the outcomes.

Methods: Data were obtained from 46 domestic institutions in the Japan Cardiovascular Database (2011-2018).

The Association of Cholesterol Uptake and Synthesis with Histology and Genotype in Cortisol-Producing Adenoma (CPA).

Cortisol-producing adenoma (CPA) is composed of clear and compact cells. Clear cells are lipid abundant, and compact ones lipid poor but associated with higher production of steroid hormones. mutation ( mt) in CPA patients was reported to be associated with more pronounced clinical manifestation of Cushing's syndrome.

Visualization of calcium channel blockers in human adrenal tissues and their possible effects on steroidogenesis in the patients with primary aldosteronism (PA).

Voltage-gated L-type calcium channel (CaV) isoforms are well known to play pivotal tissue-specific roles not only in vasoconstriction but also in adrenocortical steroidogenesis including aldosterone biosynthesis. Alpha-1C subunit calcium channel (CC) (CaV1.2) is the specific target of anti-hypertensive CC blockers (CCBs) and its Alpha-1D subunit (CaV1.