Japanese multicenter clinical evaluation of the HeartMate vented electric left ventricular assist system.

Implantable left ventricular assist device systems (LVAS) are increasingly being used to bridge patients to heart transplantation because of the limited number of available donor hearts. This prospective, multicenter trial was designed to evaluate the usefulness of the HeartMate vented electric (VE) LVAS as a bridge to transplantation in Japan. Between November 2001 and June 2003, six patients with end-stage heart failure [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV] were supported with the LVAS and five of the six were able to implement the evaluation (one dropped out).

Evaluation of mitral valve prolapse using newly developed real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic system with real-time volume rendering.

The development of a real-time three-dimensional (RT3D) image acquisition system and direct digital links between ultrasound equipment and the data processing computer facilitate improved 3D image reconstruction. However, at present time, it is hard to promptly display 3D images and is also ineffective for a practical use. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of a new transthoracic RT3D echocardiographic system for evaluation of mitral valve prolapse.

[Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with carmofur for colorectal cancer--a multi-institutional randomized controlled study].

The efficacy and safety of preoperative chemotherapy with carmofur (HCFU) for colorectal cancer were evaluated in a randomized controlled study involving 63 institutes in the Kanto area. Patients aged 75 or younger with Dukes' B or C colorectal cancer were eligible if curative surgery was expected. In the end, 326 were eligible from 405 consecutive colorectal cancer patients.