An Experimental Study of the Effects of IABP on Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Flow Waveform.

Purpose: Graft evaluation after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is still not sufficient. This study analyzed the flow waveform of coronary arteries and grafts during intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) assist.

Methods: Subjects were eight pigs that underwent off-pump CABG.

High accuracy cross-sectional shape analysis by coherent soft x-ray diffraction.

When the scatterer size is less than 100 wavelengths, the effect of diffraction is large. The analysis of diffraction is important for 3D shape measurement. However, in soft x rays, shapes suitable for rigorous diffraction analysis have been limited to ellipses and periodic structures.

Does Epicardial Adipose Tissue Influence Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation?

Purpose: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with atrial fibrillation. We investigated the effect of EAT on postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery.

Methods: In all, 77 patients underwent scheduled cardiac surgery.

Genetic risk score based on the prevalence of vertebral fracture in Japanese women with osteoporosis.

A genetic risk score (GRS) was developed for predicting fracture risk based on the prevalence of vertebral fractures in 441 Japanese females with osteoporosis. A total of 979 (858 nonsynonymous and 121 silent) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in 74 osteoporosis-susceptibility genes were genotyped and evaluated for their association with fracture prevalence. Four SNPs (protein kinase domain containing, cytoplasmic [; rs4952590], CDK5-regulatory subunit-associated protein 1-like 1 [; rs4712556], wingless-type MMTV-integration site family member 16 [; rs2707466], and G-patch domain-containing gene 1 [; rs10416265]) showed a significant association ( < 0.

Safety of The Direct Oral Anticoagulant Edoxaban for Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery: Pilot Study.

Direct oral anticoagulants have recently been recommended for non-valvular atrial fibrillation, but have rarely been studied in the field of cardiac surgery. We prospectively investigated the safety of edoxaban, a novel oral anticoagulant, for use in cardiac surgery patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF), which is the most common complication of cardiac surgery and can lead to stroke. The subjects were adult cardiac surgery patients with POAF who received oral edoxaban for 2 months in an open-label pilot study.

A case of giant saphenous vein graft aneurysm followed serially after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Saphenous vein graft aneurysm (SVGA) is one of the chronic complications after coronary aorta bypass grafting (CABG) and may be caused by atherosclerosis-like phenomena of the vein graft, weakness around the vein valve, rupturing of the suture of the graft anastomosis, or perioperative graft injury. We describe a case of a large, growing saphenous vein graft aneurysm that was followed serially by chest radiography and computed tomography. Eighteen years after CABG, an SVGA (23 × 24 mm) was incidentally detected.

Autotransplantation for Threatened Cardiac Rupture After Left Ventricular Repair.

A 26-year-old Japanese woman experienced threatened cardiac rupture after mitral valve replacement and debridement of a left ventricular (LV) posterior wall abscess caused by infectious endocarditis. We performed cardiac autotransplantation using the bicaval technique to allow bench repair of the recurrent abscess. A balloon catheter was inflated in the inferior vena cava to obtain a bloodless anastomotic field.

Renin-Angiotensin System Control for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Undergoing Coronary Surgery.

Purpose: We investigated the effectiveness of active renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) control with human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) and an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: A total of 286 consecutive patients with CKD undergoing CABG were divided into three groups: Group C (n = 50) receiving placebo, the hANP group (n = 60) receiving hANP, and the active RAAS control therapy (ARC) group (n = 56) receiving hANP plus an ARB. Renal function, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and RAAS parameters were analyzed.

Cystic Adventitial Disease of the Common Femoral Artery. Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Purpose: Cystic adventitial artery disease is an uncommon non-atherosclerotic peripheral vessel disease. Furthermore cystic adventitial disease of the common femoral artery is an extremely rare entity. We report the case of a 54 year-old man complaining of intermittent claudication who was referred to our vascular service.

An analysis of the relationship between metastases and cachexia in lung cancer patients.

Weight loss and hematogenous metastases are poor prognosis factors in lung cancer patients that can but do not necessarily co-occur. We retrospectively investigated the clinical association between cachexia, tumor characteristics (such as metastatic burden and mutational status), and treatment in lung cancer patients. The medical records of 394 lung cancer patients from two institutions (Columbia University, USA and Tohoku University, Japan) were reviewed.

Biventricular repair of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and severely hypoplastic right ventricle: a case report of a minimum intervention surgical approach.

Background: In patients who have pulmonary atresia with an intact ventricular septum and severe right ventricular hypoplasia, biventricular repair is considered to be impossible and multiple interventions are generally required for definitive repair.

Case Presentation: An initial palliative procedure was performed in a 1-month-old boy to promote right ventricular development by pulmonary valvectomy without disrupting the annulus, and appropriate oxygenation was achieved with a central funnel shunt. The retained annulus caused functional stenosis and prevented unfavorable right ventricular dilatation due to regurgitation.

Current situation regarding central venous port implantation procedures and complications: a questionnaire-based survey of 11,693 implantations in Japan.

Background: We conducted a nationwide questionnaire-based survey to understand the current situation regarding central venous port implantation in order to identify the ideal procedure.

Methods: Questionnaire sheets concerning the number of implantation procedures and the incidence of complications for all procedures completed in 2012 were sent to 397 nationwide designated cancer care hospitals in Japan in June 2013. Venipuncture sites were categorized as chest, neck, upper arm, forearm, and others.

Development and application of a multiplex PCR assay for detection of the Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin-encoding genes cpe and becAB.

Clostridium perfringens causes food-borne gastroenteritis following the consumption of contaminated food by producing C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) in the intestines. Recently, we reported a novel enterotoxin, binary enterotoxin of C.

Changeover Trial of Azilsartan and Olmesartan Comparing Effects on the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System in Patients with Essential Hypertension after Cardiac Surgery (CHAOS Study).

Background: Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) have been widely used to treat hypertension and large-scale clinical studies have shown various benefits. In this study, we compared olmesartan with azilsartan, the newest ARB.

Methods: The subjects were outpatients who were clinically stable after cardiac surgery.

New Treatment for Percutaneous Sites in Patients with a Ventricular Assist Device: Nihon University Crystal Violet Method.

Background: Infection of the percutaneous site of a ventricular assist device (VAD) is a challenging complication. We report our experience with crystal violet Solbase (Nihon University crystal violet method) for prevention of driveline or cannula infections in VAD patients.

Patients And Methods: The crystal violet method was used in 10 patients (prophylaxis in nine and treatment in one).

Assessing potential countermeasures against the dengue epidemic in non-tropical urban cities.

Background: Dengue is a common mosquito-borne viral disease epidemic especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions where water sanitation is not substantially controlled. However, dengue epidemics sometimes occur in non-tropical urban cities with substantial water sanitary control. Using a mathematical model, we investigate what conditions can be important for a dengue epidemic to occur in an urban city such as Tokyo, where vectors are active only in summer and there are little number of vectors around hosts.

Efficacy of Carperitide in Hemodialysis Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Purpose: Recently, performance of cardiac surgery in hemodialysis patients has increased, but the mortality rate is high.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the early and long-term outcomes in 128 dialysis patients who underwent cardiac surgery with or without carperitide infusion and were followed for 2 years. Sixty-three patients received carperitide infusion during surgery and 65 patients did not.

New Treatment for Infection of the NIPRO LVAD Cannula Site: Nihon University Crystal Violet Method.

Driveline and cannula site infections are still a frequent adverse event in patients with a ventricular assist device (VAD), and it is important to treat and prevent them because the spread of local infection may cause sepsis in some cases. We report our experience with a patient in whom infection of the NIPRO LVAD cannula site after implantation of an extracorporeal VAD was controlled by treatment with crystal violet Solbase (Nihon University crystal violet method).

Outcomes of Open Surgical Repair for Type B Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm With Alternative Methods in the Endovascular Stent Era.

We assessed the midterm outcomes of 2 types of open surgical repair for type B dissecting aortic aneurysm (BDA). During the last 4 years, 86 patients with BDA (mean age, 68.5 ± 9.

Primary pericardial synovial sarcoma.

A 57-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with cardiomegaly on a chest roentgenogram. A mediastinal tumor was observed during a chest computed tomographic scan and the patient was diagnosed with pericardial synovial sarcoma as a result of a tumor biopsy. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were carried out, and although the tumor temporarily decreased in size, it subsequently increased and the patient died approximately 3 years following the initial medical examination.

Giant Thrombus Formation Immediately After Mitral Valvuloplasty.

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at risk of cardioembolism.(1,2)) Atrial thrombus formation associated with AF typically occurs in the left atrial appendage (LAA);(3)) therefore, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is important for detection of such a thrombus and measurement of LAA flow velocity.(4,5)) LAA closure is routinely performed during mitral valve surgery in patients with AF to prevent cardiogenic stroke.

Natriuretic peptides for perioperative management of cardiac surgery.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (carperitide) is used to treat heart failure in Japan, while brain natriuretic peptide (nesiritide) is employed in Europe/USA. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery have a complex underlying pathologic state that features increased levels of neurohumoral factors due to activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and/or increased sympathetic activity. We considered that perioperative administration of carperitide could be beneficial for cardiac surgery patients, and we have conducted clinical investigations of its use.

A new device as an open stent graft for extended aortic repair: a multicentre early experience in Japan.

Objectives: Open stent grafting for extended aortic repair has been widely carried out around their world. We reported the effectiveness of a new device as an open stent graft for extended aortic repair.

Methods: A new device was used as an open stent graft in this study.

Safety and efficacy of landiolol hydrochloride for prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery in patients with left ventricular dysfunction: Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery With Landiolol Hydrochloride for Left Ventricular Dysfunction (PLATON) trial.

Objectives: We previously conducted a prospective study of landiolol hydrochloride (INN landiolol), an ultrashort-acting β-blocker, and reported that it could prevent atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. This trial was performed to investigate the safety and efficacy of landiolol hydrochloride in patients with left ventricular dysfunction undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: Sixty patients with a preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 35% were randomly assigned to 2 groups before cardiac surgery and then received intravenous infusion with landiolol hydrochloride (landiolol group) or without landiolol (control group).