HBV genome integration and genetic instability in HBsAg-negative and anti-HCV-positive hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan.

The aim of this study is to clarify the existence and the form of HCV RNA and HBV DNA genome integration and genetic instability in liver tissue with HBsAg-negative and anti-HCV-positive HCC. We investigated 16 Japanese patients with HBsAg-negative and anti-HCV-positive HCC. HBV genome integration into host cell genome by Southern hybridization and PCR was examined.

URB is abundantly expressed in adipose tissue and dysregulated in obesity.

Dysregulated production of adipocytokines in obesity is involved in the development of metabolic syndrome. URB/DRO1 contains N-terminal signal sequence and is thought to play a role in apoptosis of tumor cells. In the present study, we investigated the expression pattern of URB mRNA in adipose tissue and secretion from cultured adipocytes.

Three different bradycardic agents, zatebradine, diltiazem and propranolol, distinctly modify heart rate variability and QT-interval variability.

Zatebradine, diltiazem and propranolol are all antiarrhythmic agents, and all induce bradycardia, but each is known to have a different initial molecular mechanism: zatebradine is a channel blocker of the hyperpolarization-activated inward current (I(f)); diltiazem is a blocker of the L-type Ca(2+) channel (I(CaL)), and propranolol is a beta-blocker. To further investigate the mechanisms underlying their clinical effects, we studied their effects on heart rate variability (HRV) and QT-interval variability (QTV). To this end, guinea pigs were treated with either zatebradine (1.

Convenient and accurate landing technique for the frozen elephant trunk.

Accurate distal landing is essential to avoid paraplegia while performing the frozen elephant trunk technique (FETT). A 72-year-old man who had a hippocampus-shape aneurysm in the descending aorta was successfully treated by the FETT with a certain and sophisticated method to position the Stent graft precisely using a 16-F nephrostomy balloon catheter. No cerebrospinal complications were observed postoperatively, and computed tomography did not reveal any endleakage.

Aortic root subadventitial hematoma.

A 51-year-old woman was operated on for aortic valve regurgitation 3 months after experiencing chest tightness awakening her from sleep. Intraoperative findings included turbid dark brown pericardial fluid and a nipple-shaped protrusion on the external aspect of the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva. Histologically, the lesion was enclosed by intact media and adventitia, and represented an organized hematoma.