Candidate tumor-specific CD8 T cell subsets identified in the malignant pleural effusion of advanced lung cancer patients by single-cell analysis.

Isolation of tumor-specific T cells and their antigen receptors (TCRs) from malignant pleural effusions (MPE) may facilitate the development of TCR-transduced adoptive cellular immunotherapy products for advanced lung cancer patients. However, the characteristics and markers of tumor-specific T-cells in MPE are largely undefined. To this end, to establish the phenotypes and antigen specificities of CD8 T cells, we performed single-cell RNA and TCR sequencing of samples from three advanced lung cancer patients.

Regulation of RIG-I-like receptor-mediated signaling: interaction between host and viral factors.

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs) are RNA sensor molecules that play essential roles in innate antiviral immunity. Among the three RLRs encoded by the human genome, RIG-I and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, which contain N-terminal caspase recruitment domains, are activated upon the detection of viral RNAs in the cytoplasm of virus-infected cells. Activated RLRs induce downstream signaling via their interactions with mitochondrial antiviral signaling proteins and activate the production of type I and III interferons and inflammatory cytokines.

[Cardiac Failure Developing Eleven Years after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting;Report of a Case].

We report a rare case of cardiac failure for intrapericardial hematoma 11 years after coronary artery bypass grafting. A 59-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with cardiac tamponade. Echocardiography and computed tomography scan showed severe compression of the left ventricle(LV) by a large mass sized about 5×8 cm.

Leader-Containing Uncapped Viral Transcript Activates RIG-I in Antiviral Stress Granules.

RIG-I triggers antiviral responses by recognizing viral RNA (vRNA) in the cytoplasm. However, the spatio-temporal dynamics of vRNA sensing and signal transduction remain elusive. We investigated the time course of events in cells infected with Newcastle disease virus (NDV), a non-segmented negative-strand RNA virus.

[Surgical treatment of innominate artery aneurysm using temporary bypass to prevent cerebral ischemia].

A 69-year-old woman had an innominate artery aneurysm that was adjacent to the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery. The patient had a dominant right vertebral artery and an underdeveloped circle of Willis. At surgery, the proximal site of the innominate artery, the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery were clamped with the temporary bypass between the ascending aorta and the distal site of the right brachial artery for maintaining the blood flow to the brain.

Aortic valve repair with autologous pericardium for traumatic aortic valve regurgitation.

We present a case of successful aortic valve repair for traumatic aortic valve regurgitation. A 26-year-old male who had a history of motor-cycle accident months prior to admission, was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment of severe aortic valve regurgitation. Intraoperative inspection revealed a tear in noncoronary cusp, with otherwise preserved valvular anatomy.

Functional characterization of domains of IPS-1 using an inducible oligomerization system.

The innate immune system recognizes viral nucleic acids and stimulates cellular antiviral responses. Intracellular detection of viral RNA is mediated by the Retinoic acid inducible gene (RIG)-I Like Receptor (RLR), leading to production of type I interferon (IFN) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Once cells are infected with a virus, RIG-I and MDA5 bind to viral RNA and undergo conformational change to transmit a signal through direct interaction with downstream CARD-containing adaptor protein, IFN-β promoter stimulator-1 (IPS-1, also referred as MAVS/VISA/Cardif).

Cryosurgical left-sided maze procedure in patients with valvular heart disease: medium-term results.

Purpose: We evaluated medium-term results of the left-sided maze procedure using cryoablation in patients with valvular heart disease.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 111 patients with valvular heart disease who underwent the cryosurgical left-sided maze procedure. The mean follow-up period was 36.

Type I interferon production induced by RIG-I-like receptors.

Type I interferon (IFN) is produced in a variety of tissues in the body in response to viral infections. Recent studies have revealed that cytoplasmic receptors for viral (nonself) RNA are responsible for triggering IFN production. Different viruses activate different sensors.

Retinoic acid-inducible gene-I-like receptors.

Retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I), melanoma differentiation-associated 5 (MDA5), and laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 (LGP2) form a family of DExD/H box RNA helicases. RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) are expressed ubiquitously at low levels, and their expression is induced by treatment with type I interferon (IFN) or a viral infection. RLRs function as sensors for the detection of viral RNA (such as double-stranded RNA) in the cytoplasm to initiate antiviral responses by producing type I and type III IFNs.

Electron beam cine CT-based evaluation of left atrial function after the maze procedure for mitral valve regurgitation.

Objective: There has been little investigation of whether atrial function is equally restored by surgery in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) and atrial fibrillation (AF) compared to patients in sinus rhythm (SR).

Patients And Methods: We evaluated left atrium (LA) volume-time curves obtained from electron beam tomography. The study involved 33 patients who had surgical treatment for MR with or without AF and 11 control patients.

Virus-infection or 5'ppp-RNA activates antiviral signal through redistribution of IPS-1 mediated by MFN1.

In virus-infected cells, RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) recognizes cytoplasmic viral RNA and triggers innate immune responses including production of type I and III interferon (IFN) and the subsequent expression of IFN-inducible genes. Interferon-beta promoter stimulator 1 (IPS-1, also known as MAVS, VISA and Cardif) is a downstream molecule of RLR and is expressed on the outer membrane of mitochondria. While it is known that the location of IPS-1 is essential to its function, its underlying mechanism is unknown.

Patient-prosthesis mismatch may be irrelevant after aortic valve replacement with the 19-mm Perimount pericardial bioprosthesis in patients aged 65 years or older.

The prevalence of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) and its influence on clinical midterm results were examined in elderly patients whose activity was supposed to be less than that of younger patients. We evaluated valve function and the effects of PPM on the midterm results of the 19-mm Carpentier-Edwards Perimount (CEP) pericardial aortic valve in patients aged 65 years or older. Between August 1996 and May 2005, 51 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with the 19-mm CEP valve.

Triggering antiviral response by RIG-I-related RNA helicases.

TLRs detect several classes of virus-associated molecules, such as ssRNA, CpG-DNA and dsRNA, and transduce signals leading to the production of IFN. Recently discovered cytoplasmic RNA helicases, RIG-I and MDA5, selectively sense viral RNA species. Gene disruption studies revealed the critical but non-redundant function of RIG-I and MDA5 in host antiviral responses.

Viral infections activate types I and III interferon genes through a common mechanism.

Viral infections trigger innate immune responses, including the production of type I interferons (IFN-alpha and -beta) and other proinflammatory cytokines. Novel antiviral cytokines IFN-lambda1, IFN-lambda2, and IFN-lambda3 are classified as type III IFNs and have evolved independently of type I IFNs. Type III IFN genes are regulated at the level of transcription and induced by viral infection.

[Infectious endocarditis associated with multiple mycotic aneurysms; report of a case].

A 68-year-old man was referred to our hospital with infectious endocarditis (IE) of the mitral valve complicated by mycotic aneurysms located in the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). After coil embolization of the SMA aneurysm during angiography, surgical treatment of the MCA aneurysm was carried out. Antibiotic therapy for Enterococcus faecalis was continued throughout this period.

[Multiple myxoma in the left ventricle and the left atrium].

Left ventricular myxoma is particulary rare. Our case is a 77-year-old female. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a giant tumor in the left atrium.

[Left ventricular papillary fibroelastoma associated with chief complaints of palpitation, general fatigue, and feverish].

Papillary fibroelastoma is one of the commonest benign tumor in the heart. In almost all of cases, symptoms never develop and the tumors are usually discovered coincidentally. Even though papillary fibroelastoma is a benign tumor, surgical extirpation is usually indicated for reason of productive serious complications.

Cardioscopic guidance of linear lesion creation for radiofrequency ablation.

Background: The broad use of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is limited by the difficulty inherent in creating transmural linear lesions under fluoroscopy. Therefore, we evaluated cardioscopy as a more accurate method of guiding the catheter for the placement of linear lesions.

Methods: Nineteen swine underwent endocardial ablation to create linear conduction block lesions in the right atrium under cardioscopy (group I, n = 13) or fluoroscopy (group II, n = 6).

A technique for the prevention of hoarseness during surgery for distal aortic arch aneurysm.

Hoarseness occurs frequently after surgery to repair distal aortic arch aneurysms when using only a median sternotomy approach. We describe a useful technique which protects the left recurrent laryngeal nerve during this procedure and reduces the incidence of postoperative hoarseness.

Chronic dissecting aneurysm of the thoracic aorta following minor blunt trauma.

A 64-year-old man admitted for treatment of a thoracic aneurysm had experienced severe back pain 10 years earlier after falling heavily on his forearms. From the night following the fall, hoarseness and pleuritic chest wall pain continued for about 3 months. Preoperative imaging showed a chronic dissecting aneurysm near the aortic isthmus.

[Three-dimensional computed tomography angiography of coronary artery bypass graft with electron beam tomography].

Objectives: Assessment of coronary artery bypass graft patency by three-dimensional reconstructed computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA) derived from electrocardiography-gated contrast-enhanced electron beam tomography (EBT) was evaluated.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients with 99 grafts (45 arterial grafts and 54 venous grafts) underwent 3D-CTA and selective coronary angiography within a 3-week interval. 3D-CTA images of the coronary bypass grafts were compared with the coronary angiography images used as the control.