Differentiating visceral sensory ganglion organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells.

The ability to generate visceral sensory neurons (VSN) from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells may help to gain insights into how the gut-nerve-brain axis is involved in neurological disorders. We established a protocol to differentiate human iPS-cell-derived visceral sensory ganglion organoids (VSGOs). VSGOs exhibit canonical VSN markers, and single-cell RNA sequencing revealed heterogenous molecular signatures and developmental trajectories of VSGOs aligned with native VSN.

Successful open surgical treatment for persistent type II endoleak following thoracic endovascular aortic repair: a case report.

Background: The occurrence of type II endoleaks after endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm has gradually gained increasing attention. We present a case of a patient with an expanding aneurysm after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for a type II endoleak, in which successful direct ligations of the intercostal artery were performed using a sac incision without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or graft replacement.

Case Presentation: A 62-year-old male patient, previously treated with TEVAR for a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm, presented with ongoing chest discomfort.

Brain hypothyroidism silences the immune response of microglia in Alzheimer's disease animal model.

Thyroid hormone (TH) imbalance is linked to the pathophysiology of reversible dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is unclear whether tissue hypothyroidism occurs in the AD brain and how it affects on AD pathology. We find that decreased iodothyronine deiodinase 2 is correlated with hippocampal hypothyroidism in early AD model mice before TH alterations in the blood.

Percutaneous OxyRVAD in a Patient with Severe Respiratory Failure and Right Heart Failure: A Case Report.

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is often used in cases of severe respiratory failure, especially in patients considered for lung transplantation. However, because many lung diseases can ultimately result in right heart failure, the treatment of secondary right heart failure can present a challenge when the patient is already under VV ECMO support. In such cases, an oxygenated-right ventricular assist device (OxyRVAD) can be used.

Is preoperative intracranial hemorrhage a surgical contraindication in infective endocarditis with stroke?

Background: The optimal timing for surgery in infective endocarditis (IE) with hemorrhagic stroke and neurologic deficits is difficult to decide because of the risk of exacerbating the stroke and provoking intracranial hemorrhagic conversion after surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). This retrospective study aimed to investigate the impact of the presence or absence of preoperative intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) on surgical outcomes in IE with recent stroke.

Methods: The medical records of all patients who underwent open heart surgery for active IE from February 2009 to December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.

Core-Shell Droplet-Based Angiogenic Patches for the Treatment of Ischemic Diseases: Ultrafast Processability, Physical Tunability, and Controlled Delivery of an Angiogenic Cocktail.

The patch-based delivery system has been a promising therapeutic approach for treating various vascular diseases. However, conventional methods face several challenges, including labor-intensive and time-consuming processes associated with patch fabrication or factor incorporation, inadequate physical properties, and uncontrolled release of factors. These limitations restrict the potential applications in clinical settings.

Patient-specific stent for hemolytic anemia due to a kinked ascending aortic graft.

Hemolytic anemia after thoracic aortic surgery is rare. A 69-year-old female patient, who underwent ascending aorta replacement for acute type A aortic dissection 7 years ago, was transferred from another hospital due to hemolytic anemia necessitating regular blood transfusions. After engaging in interdisciplinary discussions, we ruled out alternative medical diagnoses and treatments, ultimately identifying the kinked aortic graft as the primary cause of hemolysis.

Left ventricular assist device implantation combined with hemiarch replacement for severe aortic atherosclerosis.

Implantation of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has emerged as a widely employed therapeutic approach for specifically chosen individuals suffering from severe heart failure. Stroke is a well-known complication of LVAD implantation. Concomitant aortic surgeries in patients requiring LVAD implantation to avoid outflow graft anastomosis to a severe atherosclerotic aorta are unknown.

The Gut-Heart Axis: Updated Review for The Roles of Microbiome in Cardiovascular Health.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and hypertension, are the global leading causes of death, accounting for more than 30% of deaths worldwide. Although the risk factors of CVDs have been well understood and various treatment and preventive measures have been established, the mortality rate and the financial burden of CVDs are expected to grow exponentially over time due to the changes in lifestyles and increasing life expectancies of the present generation. Recent advancements in metagenomics and metabolomics analysis have identified gut microbiome and its associated metabolites as potential risk factors for CVDs, suggesting the possibility of developing more effective novel therapeutic strategies against CVD.

An unusual case of huge fibrotic sac of hematoma at saphenous vein harvest site for coronary artery bypass grafting: a case report.

Great saphenous vein is a conduit commonly used for coronary artery bypass grafting. However, several complications could occur at leg wound site for vein harvesting. Here, we describe a huge sac of hematoma as an uncommon complication of saphenous vein harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Granulomatous inflammation mimicking a hematoma around the replaced ascending aorta in magnetic resonance imaging: a case report.

Background: Granulomatous inflammation results from various causes including infections and allergic reactions. It can appear as high signal intensity in T2-weighted or contrast-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we describe a case of granulomatous inflammation looking like a hematoma on an ascending aortic graft in MRI.

Right Main Bronchus Rupture Presenting with Pneumoperitoneum.

We report the case of a 16-year-old male patient who was involved in a traffic accident and transferred to the emergency department with mild chest pain. We initially did not find evidence of tracheal injury on computed tomography (CT). Within an hour after presentation, the patient developed severe dyspnea and newly developed subcutaneous emphysema and pneumoperitoneum were discovered.

Open Surgical Repair Using the Femoral Vein for a Mycotic Superior Mesenteric Artery Aneurysm.

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) aneurysms are rare and often fatal. A 72-year-old man had previously been admitted to the emergency room with epigastric pain and heart murmur. The echocardiographic diagnosis was vegetation on the aortic and mitral valves, with moderate regurgitation from both valves due to infective endocarditis.

Extracorporeal Life Support in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: A Single Center Experience.

Background: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in patients with hematologic malignancies is considered to have a poor prognosis. However, to date, there is only one case series reported in the literature. In this study, we compared the in-hospital survival of ECLS in patients with and without hematologic malignancies.

Tricuspid Papillary Fibroelastoma Mimicking Tricuspid Vegetation in a Patient with Severe Neutropenia.

We report a 72-year-old male with known myelodysplastic syndrome who presented to the emergency department with a 7-day history of fever and dyspnea. Echocardiography revealed a round echogenic mass 13×16 mm in size attached to the atrial side of the tricuspid valve. Considering the high risk of infective endocarditis in the patient with a low absolute neutrophil count (130/mm(3)), emergency surgery was performed.

Analysis of the monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 -2518 promoter polymorphism in Korean patients with alopecia areata.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels are increased in scalp lesions of patients with alopecia areata (AA), suggesting a role in the development of AA. Recently, a biallelic A/G polymorphism in the MCP-1 promoter at position -2518 has been found, influencing the level of MCP-1 expression in response to an inflammatory stimulus. We investigated whether the presence of these polymorphisms were associated with AA in Korean population.

Topical aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is useful for the treatment of epidermal neoplasia but may also have use in the treatment of inflammatory dermatoses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PDT in the treatment of acne on the face.

Methods: Eight patients with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris on the face were treated with one session of topical aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-PDT using a red light.

Short-term effects of 308-nm xenon-chloride excimer laser and narrow-band ultraviolet B in the treatment of vitiligo: a comparative study.

We compared the clinical efficacy of a short-term intervention of 308-nm excimer laser with that of narrow-band UVB (NBUVB) phototherapy for vitiligo patients to see the early response. Twenty-three symmetrically patterned patches of vitiligo on 8 patients were selected. Vitiligo patches on one side of the body were treated 2 times per week for a maximum of 20 treatments with the excimer laser, and NBUVB phototherapy was used on patches on the other side.

Differential expression of TGF-beta isoforms during differentiation of HaCaT human keratinocyte cells: implication for the separate role in epidermal differentiation.

The three mammalian isoforms of transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta1, beta2, beta3) are potent regulators of cell growth, differentiation, and extracellular matrix deposition. To study their role in skin differentiation, we investigated the expression of TGF-beta isoforms on cell growth and differentiation induction of the human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT by elevating the Ca(2+) concentration. An ELISA and RT-PCR assay revealed secreted TGF-beta 1 protein and TGF-beta 1 mRNA were increased during calcium-induced differentiation.

A case of propylthiouracil-induced pyoderma gangrenosum associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody.

A 27-year-old woman who had been receiving propylthiouracil for 2 years for Graves' disease presented with painful ulceration on the lower limbs which had first appeared 2 weeks previously. Well-circumscribed hemorrhagic ulcerations with ragged borders were noted on both legs. Skin biopsy demonstrated a florid neutrophilic infiltrate and evidence of leukocytoclasis around small blood vessels in the papillary dermis compatible with the diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum.

Acquired perforating dermatosis in patients with chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus.

Acquired perforating dermatosis (APD) is a skin disorder occurring in the patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), diabetes mellitus (DM) or both. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical and histopathological features of APD, and evaluate role of scratching in the pathogenesis of APD. Twelve patients with APD associated with CRF and DM were enrolled in the study.