Managing postoperative atrial fibrillation after open-heart surgery using transdermal β blockers.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after open-heart surgery is a non-negligible complication. We aimed to describe the efficacy of a transdermal patch of bisoprolol for managing POAF and flutter in thoracic surgical procedures.

Methods: We analyzed the data of 384 patients who underwent open-heart surgery at our hospital and received oral bisoprolol to prevent POAF.

A strategy to enable rapid healing and prevent recurrence of venous ulcers.

Introduction: Venous ulcers are often intractable.

Objective: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the effectiveness of endovenous ablation, compression therapy, moist wound healing, and skin care in the management of venous ulcers.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight consecutive patients (10 male, 18 female; mean age, 70.

Feasibility of incompetent perforator vein excision using stab avulsion.

Objectives: Whether incompetent perforator veins (IPVs) require treatment remains controversial. We retrospectively evaluated the feasibility of IPV excision performed using the stab avulsion technique without ligation and sutures in patients undergoing endovenous ablation (EA).

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study.

In vivo recellularization of xenogeneic vascular grafts decellularized with high hydrostatic pressure method in a porcine carotid arterial interpose model.

Autologous vascular grafts are widely used in revascularization surgeries for small caliber targets. However, the availability of autologous conduits might be limited due to prior surgeries or the quality of vessels. Xenogeneic decellularized vascular grafts from animals can potentially be a substitute of autologous vascular grafts.

Strategy to prevent nerve injury and deep vein thrombosis in radiofrequency segmental thermal ablation of the saphenous veins using a new objective pain scale.

Objective: We evaluated the benefit of local anesthesia including tumescent anesthesia and active walking soon after surgery in preventing nerve injury and deep vein thrombosis caused during endovenous ablation.

Methods: Endovenous ablation was performed in 1334 consecutive patients. Varicectomy was performed using the stab avulsion technique.

Generating an agricultural risk map based on limited ecological information: A case study using Sicyos angulatus.

In this study, we propose a method for estimating the risk of agricultural damage caused by an invasive species when species-specific information is lacking. We defined the "risk" as the product of the invasion probability and the area of potentially damaged crop for production. As a case study, we estimated the risk imposed by an invasive weed, Sicyos angulatus, based on simple cellular simulations and governmental data on the area of crop that could potentially be damaged in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

Phylogeography of mugwort (Artemisia indica), a native pioneer herb in Japan.

Many phylogeographic studies of various tree species have been conducted to elucidate the locations of refugia and the colonization patterns during the Pleistocene. However, only a few large-scale phylogeographic studies have been conducted on herbaceous plants, especially scarce on herbs that are adapted to disturbance. Artemisia indica is a fast-growing perennial herb found in open habitats.

Flat fibrin thrombus deposition on tissue valve after aortic valve replacement.

Bioprosthetic valves have a lower thrombogenicity than mechanical valves, thus long-term systemic anticoagulation can be avoided. Herein, we present an extremely rare case of fibrin thrombus formation on tissue valve, which was observed during the second operation 2 years after the initial operation by chance. This report gives us a word of caution regarding the thrombus formation on the bioprosthetic valves that could be unaware of the presence for the long term.