Forty-year durability of a Smeloff-Cutter ball valve prosthesis in the mitral position.

A rare case requiring replacement of an intact Smeloff-Cutter ball prosthesis in the mitral position 40 years after implantation is presented. The Smeloff-Cutter ball valve prosthesis was designed to have two open cages. It has two potential advantages: a relatively large, effective orifice area and its self-washing effect that prevents thrombus formation.

Hydrogen therapy attenuates irradiation-induced lung damage by reducing oxidative stress.

Molecular hydrogen (H(2)) is an efficient antioxidant that diffuses rapidly across cell membranes, reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite, and suppresses oxidative stress-induced injury in several organs. ROS have been implicated in radiation-induced damage to lungs. Because prompt elimination of irradiation-induced ROS should protect lung tissue from damaging effects of irradiation, we investigated the possibility that H(2) could serve as a radioprotector in the lung.

[Aortic regurgitation due to quadricuspid aortic valve; report of a case].

A 66-year-old man was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment for aortic regurgitation. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed the diagnosis of aortic regurgitation due to quadricuspid aortic valve. During operation, we confirmed that the aortic valve consisted of 4 leaflets with almost same size (Hurwitz and Roberts classification type A).

Use of a bioabasorbable bone pin fixation for nasal fractures.

After repairing a nasal fracture, it is customary to provide postoperative support for the nasal bone with intranasal, antibiotic-soaked gauze packing and an external splint. However, in cases of a skull base fracture with liquorrhea, this procedure is generally contraindicated because of the risk of infection. To lessen this risk, the authors used a bioabsorbable pin which is ultimately absorbed by the body through the natural process of hydrolysis.