Expression of nectin 3: Novel prognostic marker of lung adenocarcinoma.

Background:   We investigated the prognostic significance of the immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecule nectin-3, a regulator of the formation of adherens junctions, in human lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods:   Tumor-tissue samples of 127 patients with surgically resected lung adenocarcinoma were used for analysis of the proteins expression by immunohistochemistry.

Results:   Of the 127 patients, 25% showed membranous expression of nectin-3, and others showed negative or cytoplasmic expression.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on outcomes in Japanese patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background And Purpose: There have been no large-scale studies on the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on outcomes in Japanese patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods And Subjects: A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study was conducted in 14 Japanese centers. All adult patients who underwent isolated CABG from 2007 to 2008 were included (n=1522, mean age: 68.

Free-radical scavenger edaravone inhibits both formation and development of abdominal aortic aneurysm in rats.

Objective: An ideal pharmaceutical treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is to prevent aneurysm formation and development (further dilatation of pre-existing aneurysm). Recent studies have reported that oxidative stress with reactive oxygen species (ROS) is crucial in aneurysm formation. We hypothesized that edaravone, a free-radical scavenger, would attenuate vascular oxidative stress and inhibit AAA formation and development.

[Surgical treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm].

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair is the most invasive aortic surgery, requiring wide aortic exposure and reconstruction of branches of vital organs. Spinal cord ischemic injury( SCII) remains the most devastating complication. There has been a significant improvement in operative mortality and the incidence of SCII during past 2 decades in the treatment of TAAA repair.

Impact of left ventricular afterload on longitudinal dyssynchrony in patients with severe aortic stenosis and preserved ejection fraction.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved ejection fraction (EF) have dyssynchrony and whether it improves after aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods And Results: We studied 30 consecutive patients with severe AS and preserved EF undergoing AVR. For baseline comparison, we studied 17 EF-matched patients with mild-to-moderate AS, and 18 EF-matched normal volunteers.

Endovascular treatment of blunt traumatic abdominal aortic occlusion with kissing stent placement.

Blunt traumatic abdominal aortic dissection is extremely rare and potentially deadly. We present the case of a 62-year-old man involved in a frontal car crash. After emergency undergoing laparotomy for bowel injuries, he was referred to our hospital due to acute ischemia of bilateral lower extremities on day 3 after the trauma.

[Repair versus replacement of mitral valve for treating severe functional mitral regurgitation].

Background: The purpose of this study is to compare mitral valve replacement (MVR) to anuloplasty (MAP) in patients with severe functional mitral regurgitation (FMR).

Methods: Data of 43 patients with significant chronic FMR who underwent mitral valve operations from November 1999 through May 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. This reference group included patients who underwent MVR (n = 18) and MAP (undersized restrictive annuloplasty, n = 25).

Topical application of basic fibroblast growth factor reduces esophageal stricture and esophageal neural damage after sodium hydroxide-induced esophagitis in rats.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of topical application of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) after caustic esophageal injury in rats.

Methods: Thirty-six male rats were randomly divided into three groups. Corrosive esophageal injury was produced by internal application of 30% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution to the distal esophagus.

Antioxidant properties of pioglitazone limit nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen oxidase and augment superoxide dismutase activity in cardiac allotransplantation.

Background: Many non-immunologic factors contribute to the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), chief among them being ischemia-reperfusion injury associated with oxidative stress. We hypothesized that pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ agonist, could attenuate graft oxidant stress in cardiac transplantation.

Methods: Experiments were performed using a murine heterotopic cardiac allotransplantation model.

Recent advancements of total aortic arch replacement.

Objective: Recent advancements in total aortic arch replacement achieved by our approach were presented.

Methods: From January 2002 to December 2010, 321 consecutive patients (mean age 69.8 ± 13.

Aortic regurgitation after valve-sparing aortic root replacement: modes of failure.

Background: Despite the positive clinical results of valve-sparing aortic root replacement, little is known about the causes of reoperations and the modes of failure.

Methods: From October 1999 to June 2010, 101 patients underwent valve-sparing aortic root replacement using the David reimplantation technique. The definition of aortic root repair failure included the following: (1) intraoperative conversion to the Bentall procedure; (2) reoperation performed because of aortic regurgitation; and (3) aortic regurgitation equal to or greater than a moderate degree at the follow-up.

Neurological outcomes after immediate aortic repair for acute type A aortic dissection complicated by coma.

Background: Management of acute type A aortic dissection (AADA) complicated by coma remains controversial. We analyzed our experience in managing AADA complicated by coma to determine the relationship of duration of preoperative coma to postoperative neurological recovery.

Methods And Results: Between September 2003 and October 2010, 181 patients with AADA were treated, including 27 presenting with coma (Glasgow Coma Scale <11) on arrival.

Patch annulo-aortoplasty in an adult patient with congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis and a small aortic annulus.

A 39-year-old woman with familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia had supravalvular and valvular aortic stenosis. Modified Nick's procedure and aortic valve replacement was performed to relieve both the supravalvular and annular stenoses. At surgery, the ascending aorta was found to be narrowing at the level of the sinotubular junction, which was compatible with congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in an octogenarian with situs inversus and dextrocardia: report of a case.

Dextrocardia associated with situs inversus totalis is a rare condition. A small number of patients with the condition have been reported after undergoing myocardial revascularization. We experienced a case of this rare disorder in an 83-year-old man.

Successful surgical management for aortic and mitral stenosis in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: a case report.

A 72-year-old woman with a known history of homozygous familial hyperlipidemia (IIa) was referred to our hospital for an operation necessitated by aortic and mitral stenosis and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Computed tomography and cardiac catheterization revealed a heavily calcified aortic root and mitral annulus as well as a high-grade stenosis of the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries. Double aortic and mitral valve replacement concomitant with replacement of ascending aorta, maze III procedure, and coronary artery bypass were performed.

Hybrid management of ruptured isolated superior mesenteric artery dissecting aneurysm.

A 70-year-old woman, with history of asymptomatic isolated superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection was admitted for acute abdominal pain. Computed tomography showed ruptured isolated SMA dissection. Endovascular treatment was chosen over surgical repair because of prior abdominal surgeries.

Lack of neurologic improvement after aortic repair for acute type A aortic dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion: predictors and association with survival.

Background: Surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion remains challenging. This study evaluated predictors of lack of neurologic improvement after aortic repair for acute type A dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion and assessed relationship with survival.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 41 consecutive patients operated on between 1999 and 2008 for acute type A dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion.

Fighting spinal cord complication during surgery for thoracoabdominal aortic disease.

Paraplegia or paraparesis after otherwise successful thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic reconstruction is a devastating complication for both patient and physician. Various strategies have been developed to minimize the incidence of neurological complications after aortic surgery. The incidence of spinal cord ischemia and subsequent neurological complications has been correlated with (1) the duration and severity of ischemia, (2) failure to establish a spinal cord blood supply, and (3) reperfusion injury.

Endovascular tubular stent-graft placement for isolated iliac artery aneurysms.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and mid-term outcomes of endovascular tubular stent-graft placement for repair of isolated iliac artery aneurysms (IAAs).

Materials And Methods: Between January 2002 and March 2010, 20 patients (7 women and 13 men; mean age 74 years) underwent endovascular repair of 22 isolated IAAs. Two patients underwent endovascular repair for bilateral aneurysms.

Left atrial extension of metastatic lung tumor via pulmonary vein: report on the first case of Ewing sarcoma.

Extension of metastatic lung tumors into the left atrium via pulmonary veins is rare. Here, we report the first case of Ewing sarcoma exhibiting such extension. A 31-year-old man with pulmonary metastasis from Ewing sarcoma presented with a mass in the left lung, extending to the left atrium through the left inferior pulmonary vein.

The fate of bioprostheses in middle-aged patients: the Japanese experience.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Although the trend of bioprosthesis use has been evaluated extensively, the durability of currently available bioprostheses has not been determined in middle-aged patients. The study aim was to determine the long-term fate of bioprostheses implanted in patients aged < 60 years.

Methods: Valve implantation data were collected from 43 centers in Japan.