A surgical case of solitary severe tricuspid regurgitation mimicking constrictive pericarditis.

Background: It has been reported that severe tricuspid regurgitation may demonstrate constrictive pericarditis-like hemodynamics. In this article, we report a surgical case of solitary severe tricuspid regurgitation in which the hemodynamic features are consistent with constrictive pericarditis.

Case Presentation: The patient was a 78-year-old man with chronic atrial fibrillation and tricuspid regurgitation.

[Dysphagia and Aspiration Pneumonia Caused by Kommerell's Diverticulum and the Vascular Ring Associated with Right-sided Aortic Arch:Report of a Case].

We report a case of an 80-year-old man complaining of dysphagia followed by aspiration pneumonia. Computed tomography of the chest revealed Kommerell's diverticulum associated with the right-sided aortic arch and the vascular ring which was formed by the aortic arch, the left subclavian artery, the ductus arteriosus, and the pulmonary artery around the esophagus and the trachea. Enlargement of the diverticulum was considered to be the cause of dysphagia.

Effect of Diquafosol Ophthalmic Solution on Airflow-Induced Ocular Surface Disorder in Diabetic Rats.

Purpose: To examine the effect of 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution (DQS) on ocular surface disorders in diabetic model rats maintained in a continuous airflow condition.

Methods: Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a spontaneous model of type 2 diabetes, were exposed to constant airflow for 8 weeks. After the establishment of the animal model in this environment, DQS or saline was instilled six times a day into GK rat eyes for 6 weeks.

Aortic valve aneurysm associated with infective endocarditis: case report and review of literature.

Although there are several mitral valve aneurysm reports, studies on aortic valve aneurysm are extremely rare. This paper describes an uncommon case of a large saccular aortic valve aneurysm associated with infective endocarditis. A 37-year-old man was hospitalized in our hospital with fever and dyspnea.

[Papillary fibroelastoma of the left ventricular outflow tract].

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma is an uncommon tumor, and especially the one located in the left ventricular outflow tract wall is rare. The patient is a 69-year-old female. Multi-detector-row computed tomography (MDCT) revealed a 20×15 mm tumor attached to the left ventricular outflow tract wall under the left coronary cusp.

Role of leukotriene B4 in 5-lipoxygenase metabolite- and allergy-induced itch-associated responses in mice.

We investigated the role of leukotriene (LT) B(4) in 5-lipoxygenase metabolite- and allergy-induced itch-associated responses using SA6541, an LTA(4) hydrolase inhibitor. Itch-associated responses were induced by intradermal injection of 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HPETE), a precursor of 5-lipoxygenase metabolites, and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in ICR mice. By screening molecules related to arachidonic acid metabolism or pruritus, SA6541 was found to be a specific inhibitor of LTA(4) hydrolase.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a rare but life-threatening complication. Early surgical intervention, as well as appropriate antimicrobial therapy, is usually necessary. Recently, problems have arisen regarding infection with P.

Influence of coronary artery disease on operative mortality and long-term survival after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Purpose: This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the effects of coronary artery disease (CAD) on short- and long-term survival after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair.

Methods: One hundred consecutive patients underwent elective AAA repair between 1991 and 2002. Coronary angiography was performed in all patients, revealing significant coronary artery lesions in 47 (47%).

Diquafosol elicits increases in net Cl- transport through P2Y2 receptor stimulation in rabbit conjunctiva.

The purpose of the present study was to understand the mechanisms of action of diquafosol, a stable derivative of uridine 5'-triphosphate, on Cl(-) transport across the isolated rabbit conjunctiva. Rabbit conjunctivas were isolated and mounted in a modified Ussing chamber. Under short-circuit conditions, the effects were determined of mucosal (tear) side diquafosol application on the short-circuit current (Isc).

P2Y(2) receptor elicits PAS-positive glycoprotein secretion from rabbit conjunctival goblet cells in vivo.

We investigated in vivo whether UTP and ATP increased periodic acid and Schiff's reagent (PAS)-positive glycoprotein release from rabbit conjunctival goblet cells. Fifty microL of UTP or ATP at the concentrations of 0.003, 0.

Novel noninvasive sensitive determination of tear volume changes in normal cats.

We describe a novel, high-resolution and noninvasive method for measuring tear volume changes in cats. The method entails photographing at the lid margin the tear meniscus area defined by instillation of 0.1% fluorescein solution into the cul-de-sac.

Early angiographic and clinical results of branch conduits attached proximally to left internal thoracic arteries.

Background: We assessed the characteristics of composite branch conduits attached proximally to an in-situ left internal thoracic artery (LITA).

Methods: Sixty nine patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using composite branch conduits. Overall 35 distal LITAs, 4 RITAs, 18 radial artery grafts (RAG), and 13 inferior epigastric artery grafts (IEA) (both the distal LITA and IEA were used in one patient) were used.

INS365 suppresses loss of corneal epithelial integrity by secretion of mucin-like glycoprotein in a rabbit short-term dry eye model.

P2Y2 receptor agonists, like UTP and ATP, stimulate mucin secretion from goblet cells in vitro. Therefore, mucin stimulants could be good candidates for the treatment of dry eye syndrome because mucin increases the tear film stability and protects against desiccation of ocular surface. INS365 is a more stable P2Y2 receptor agonist than UTP.