Self-assembling peptide hydrogel scaffold accelerates healing of patellar tendon injury: A histological and biomechanical study.

Although KI24RGDS peptide hydrogel that acts as a cell adhesion has been reported to repair tissue in meniscus injury, its effect on tendon injuries remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of KI24RGDS for tendon repair based on histological and biomechanical evaluation. After introducing defects (length: 10 mm; width: 3 mm) at the centers of rabbits' patellar tendons, and the KI24RGDS group was implanted with KI24RGDS and observed for 8 weeks.

Usefulness of Probing Sensor Device for Evaluating Meniscal Suture and Scaffold Implantation.

Appropriate suture tension is a key factor in successful meniscal repair. This study aimed to clarify the appropriate value of meniscal stabilization with suture repair based on a probing procedure for healthy porcine menisci and a novel meniscal scaffold. After evaluating the reliability of the probing sensor, meniscal vertical tear and partial meniscectomy models were developed, in which suture repair and meniscal scaffold implantation were performed at suture intervals ranging between 20 and 2.

Combined evaluation of Fibrosis-4 index and fatty liver for stratifying the risk for diabetes mellitus.

Aims/introduction: To investigate whether the Fibrosis-4 index can help stratify the risk of diabetes mellitus in patients with fatty liver disease.

Materials And Methods: Based on fatty liver disease and Fibrosis-4 index (cut-off value 1.3), we retrospectively divided 9,449 individuals, who underwent at least two annual health checkups, into four groups stratified by sex: normal; high Fibrosis-4 index without fatty liver disease; low Fibrosis-4 index with fatty liver disease; and high Fibrosis-4 index with fatty liver disease.

Fatty liver with metabolic disorder, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, indicates high risk for developing diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is diagnosed after excluding other liver diseases. The pathogenesis of NAFLD when complicated by other liver diseases has not been established completely. Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) involves more metabolic factors than NAFLD, regardless of complications with other diseases.

Influence of meal intake on pulse wave indices in type 2 diabetes.

Augmentation index (AI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) are available for the assessment of arterial stiffness in clinical practices. However, influences of meal intake on these indices are still poorly understood. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effects of daily meal intake on pulse wave indices in patients with type 2 diabetes.

A case of pulmonary stenosis after a repair for tetralogy of Fallot treated with percutaneous pulmonary valvuloplasty using a triple-balloon technique.

The patient was a 37-year-old female who had undergone a repair for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) at the age of 4 years. Postoperative pulmonary stenosis remained, but she continued to be managed medically. Approximately 3 years ago, at the age of 34, she exhibited a worsening of fatigue and dyspnea during exertion (New York Heart Association III), and was therefore hospitalized for a detailed examination.

The lurking potential of tangential forces: A case of an arteriovenous shunt developed by percutaneous coronary intervention for the septal branch.

We describe the case of a 59-year-old male. His first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a bare metal stent was performed for a 90% stenosis in the mid portion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). However, we performed re-PCI because in-stent restenosis developed during a chronic stage.

Myocardial infarction in a patient with severe aortic stenosis and normal coronary arteriograms: involvement of the circumferential subendocardial wall of the left ventricle.

A case of severe aortic stenosis with normal coronary arteriograms was associated with myocardial infarction involving the circumferential subendocardial wall of the left ventricle. The infarct was caused solely by the severe aortic stenosis and resulted from the extreme disparity between myocardial oxygen supply and demand.

Effect of cilostazol on the ventricular escape rate and neurohumoral factors in patients with third-degree atrioventricular block.

Study Objectives: This study assessed whether the antiplatelet agent cilostazol, which has potent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase type-3 inhibitory activity, affects the ventricular escape rate and neurohumoral factors in patients with third-degree atrioventricular block.

Design: Prospective, but nonrandomized, study.

Setting: Cardiology division of an acute care hospital.

Occurrence of transient U-wave inversion during vasospastic anginal attack is not related to the direction of concurrent ST-segment shift.

Study Objectives: We sought to assess the incidence of transient U-wave inversion during vasospasm of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) with ST-segment depression as opposed to that with ST-segment elevation.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Cardiology division of acute-care hospitals.

A case of metastatic extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma 12 years after surgery.

At the age of 53, a 65-year-old man had been diagnosed with extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma in the retroperitoneum and underwent total tumorectomy. Afterward, he had his serum catecholamine periodically measured in an outpatient clinic. In February 1999, 12 years after surgery, he complained of lower left abdominal pain.