Characteristics of longitudinal changes in quality of life and associated factors in patients post cardiac and thoracic aortic surgery: insights from a prospective cohort study.

Background: Although quality of life (QOL) is an outcome of postoperative cardiac rehabilitation (CR), its course and related factors from postoperative hospitalization to the post-discharge period have not been adequately investigated. Additionally, the EuroQol-5Dimension-5Level (EQ-5D-5L) index score has not been characterized over the same period. We aimed to characterize QOL changes assessed by the EQ-5D-5L, over the period from hospitalization to 1 year post-discharge, in patients post-cardiac and thoracic aortic surgery, and investigate the factors associated with these temporal changes.

Aortic Replacement for a Crawford II Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm With a Right-Sided Descending Aorta: A Case Report.

A 53-year-old woman was diagnosed with a Crawford II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm involving the right-sided descending aorta. The patient underwent aortic replacement via a thoracoabdominal approach. The right-sided descending thoracic aortic aneurysm was excluded.

A Novel Predictive Score Model for Successful Weaning From Mechanical Circulatory Support in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock.

Background: Clinical evidence regarding predictors of successful weaning from mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is lacking. This study aimed to create a simple risk score to predict successful weaning from MCS in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Methods And Results: This retrospective single-center cohort study included 114 consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or IMPELLA between January 2013 and June 2023.

Regeneration of Nonhuman Primate Hearts With Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiac Spheroids.

Background: The clinical application of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) for cardiac repair commenced with the epicardial delivery of engineered cardiac tissue; however, the feasibility of the direct delivery of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs into the cardiac muscle layer, which has reportedly induced electrical integration, is unclear because of concerns about poor engraftment of CMs and posttransplant arrhythmias. Thus, in this study, we prepared purified human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac spheroids (hiPSC-CSs) and investigated whether their direct injection could regenerate infarcted nonhuman primate hearts.

Methods: We performed 2 separate experiments to explore the appropriate number of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs.

[Chronic Kidney Disease:Key Points for Intraoperative and Postoperative Management].

Chronic kidney disease( CKD) is a challenge in cardiac surgery in elderly patients, making intraoperative and postoperative management critical. Although sodium glucose co-transporter 2( SGLT2) inhibitors have nephroprotective effects, it's important to discontinue them three days before surgery and resume them when food intake is possible. Nephroprotective perioperative management of CKD stage 3-4 patients requires different approaches at each stage, with blood pressure control and nutritional counseling being key.

Mature human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes promote angiogenesis through alpha-B crystallin.

Background: Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) can be used to treat heart diseases; however, the optimal maturity of hiPSC-CMs for effective regenerative medicine remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the benefits of long-term cultured mature hiPSC-CMs in injured rat hearts.

Methods: Cardiomyocytes were differentiated from hiPSCs via monolayer culturing, and the cells were harvested on day 28 or 56 (D28-CMs or D56-CMs, respectively) after differentiation.

Mechanism of sac expansion without evident endoleak analyzed with X ray phase-contrast tomography.

Objective: Synchrotron radiation-based X ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) was used in this study to evaluate abdominal aorta specimens from patients with sac expansion without evidence of an endoleak (endotension) following endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The aim of this study was to analyze the morphologic structure of the aortic wall in patients with this condition and to establish the cause of the endotension.

Methods: Human aortic specimens of the abdominal aorta were obtained during open repair, fixed with formalin, and analyzed among three groups.

Intimal Sarcoma after Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

A 72-year-old man, who was treated 10 years earlier with endovascular aortic aneurysm repair, presented with a fever. Considering the concern of stent graft infection, the patient was treated with antibiotics, but his condition did not improve. He underwent stent graft resection and reconstruction with a Dacron graft.

Intracoronary transplantation of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes: Inefficient procedure for cardiac regeneration.

Advances in stem cell biology have facilitated cardiac regeneration, and many animal studies and several initial clinical trials have been conducted using human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (PSC-CMs). Most preclinical and clinical studies have typically transplanted PSC-CMs via the following two distinct approaches: direct intramyocardial injection or epicardial delivery of engineered heart tissue. Both approaches present common disadvantages, including a mandatory thoracotomy and poor engraftment.

Central extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with left-ventricular vent for fulminant myocarditis: a retrospective study.

Purpose: Fulminant myocarditis presents as acute severe heart failure and requires mechanical cardiocirculatory support. Left-ventricular (LV) decompression is necessary for the successful recovery of these patients. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the functional outcomes of providing central extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with LV decompression for the treatment of refractory fulminant myocarditis.

Association between postoperative delirium and heart rate variability in the intensive care unit and readmissions and mortality in elderly patients with cardiovascular surgery.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV), a parameter of the autonomic nervous system activity (ANSA), and postoperative delirium and postoperative events. This retrospective cohort study included elderly patients aged 65 years or older who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiovascular surgery. ANSA was measured using HRV parameters for 1 h at daytime and 1 h at night-time before ICU discharge.

Left Coronary Cusp with Fenestration Adherent to the Aortic Wall.

An aortic valve with a coronary cusp adherent to the aortic wall is a rare anomaly. Furthermore, an adherent coronary cusp with fenestration is even rarer. Here, we report a case of aortic valve regurgitation with an adherent and fenestrated left coronary cusp.

Decreased activities of daily living at discharge predict mortality and readmission in elderly patients after cardiac and aortic surgery: A retrospective cohort study.

Recently, activities of daily living (ADL) were identified as a prognostic factor among elderly patients with heart disease; however, a specific association between ADL and prognosis after cardiac and aortic surgery is not well established. We aimed to clarify the impact of ADL capacity at discharge on prognosis in elderly patients after cardiac and aortic surgery.This retrospective cohort study included 171 elderly patients who underwent open operation for cardiovascular disease in a single center (median age: 74 years; men: 70%).

Another route of CO gas excretion independent of red blood cells in human lungs.

We demonstrated pulmonary arteriolar blood flow-mediated CO gas excretion in rabbit lungs. The shear stress stimulation produced CO gas in cultured human endothelial cells of pulmonary arterioles via the activation of F/F ATP synthase. To confirm the findings in human subjects undergoing the operation with heart-lung machines, we aimed to evaluate the effects of a stepwise switch, from a partial to a complete cardiopulmonary bypass, of the circulatory blood volume (BV, 100% = 2.

Strategies to improve outcomes for acute type A aortic dissection with cerebral malperfusion.

Objectives: We aimed to identify predictors of postoperative permanent neurological deficits (PNDs) and evaluate the early management of cerebral perfusion in patients undergoing surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection with cerebral malperfusion.

Methods: Between October 2009 and September 2018, a total of 197 patients with acute type A aortic dissection underwent aortic replacement. Of these, 42 (21.

Increased predominance of the matured ventricular subtype in embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in vivo.

Accumulating evidence suggests that human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes can affect "heart regeneration", replacing injured cardiac scar tissue with concomitant electrical integration. However, electrically coupled graft cardiomyocytes were found to innately induce transient post-transplant ventricular tachycardia in recent large animal model transplantation studies. We hypothesised that these phenomena were derived from alterations in the grafted cardiomyocyte characteristics.

Skeletal muscle quality affects patient outcomes in acute type A aortic dissection.

Objectives: Although skeletal muscle quantity is linked to surgical outcomes, quality remains unexamined. In this study, we evaluated whether skeletal muscle quality and quantity could predict surgical outcomes in acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).

Methods: Skeletal muscle quality and quantity were evaluated using computed tomography (CT) values and the psoas muscle mass index, respectively.

T Cell-Specific Adaptor Protein Regulates Mitochondrial Function and CD4 T Regulatory Cell Activity In Vivo following Transplantation.

The T cell-specific adaptor protein (TSAd), encoded by the gene, is an intracellular molecule that binds Lck to elicit signals that result in cytokine production in CD4 T effector cells (Teff). Nevertheless, using Sh2d2a knockout (KO; also called TSAd) mice, we find that alloimmune CD4 Teff responses are fully competent in vivo. Furthermore, and contrary to expectations, we find that allograft rejection is accelerated in KO recipients of MHC class II-mismatched B6.

Establishment of a Healthcare System for Patients With Adult Congenital Heart Disease in Collaboration With Children's Hospital - The Nagano Model.

Background: Despite the best efforts of pediatricians, healthcare for adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD) has proven challenging because of the increased numbers. This study presents the process of establishing an ACHD care system as a collaborative effort between Shinshu University Hospital and Nagano Children's Hospital.

Methods and results: Establishing an outpatient clinic for transition, a cooperation agreement for in-patient care between the 2 hospitals, and quality management of diagnostic imaging and educational meetings for adult cardiologists were the 3 major challenges.

Analysis of surgical treatment of Masaoka stage III-IV thymic epithelial tumors.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to elucidate the outcomes after surgical resection of Masaoka stage III-IV thymic epithelial tumors.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with Masaoka stage III-IV thymic epithelial tumor who underwent surgical resection from January 1995 to January 2017. The clinicopathological features, surgical procedures, and postoperative outcomes were investigated.

Impact of Frailty on Outcomes in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

Background: Although frailty is used to predict morbidity and mortality, its effect on the outcomes of acute type A aortic dissection has not been examined. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the role of frailty in predicting postoperative morbidity and mortality of patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was undertaken for all patients (n = 310) undergoing aortic surgery between May 2004 and March 2017.