Intravenous acetaminophen reduces the length of intubation and rescue analgesics in intensive care unit patients after cardiovascular surgery in Japan: A retrospective analysis.

Objective: After cardiovascular surgery, analgesic and sedative management in the intensive care unit (ICU) significantly affects short- and long-term outcomes of patients. This study aimed to clarify the impact of opioid reduction after acetaminophen administration on the length of intubation and rescue analgesic use after cardiovascular surgery.

Design: This was a case-control study.

[Surgery to Triple Valves for Active Infective Endocarditis Caused by Abiotrophia defectiva:Report of a Case].

We experienced a case of infective endocarditis caused by Abiotrophia defectiva in which aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve surgery was performed. Even if blood cultures are negative, it is important to treat patients with endocarditis considering the possibility that some organisms are difficult to detect via conventional blood culture. Embolism is a complication that should not be overlooked in cases of infective endocarditis, particularly those caused by Abiotrophia defectiva, which tends to cause embolism.

Long distance of spontaneous coronary artery dissection involving LMT in a middle-aged man - Complete rapid healing and clinical usefulness of CABG as a temporizing strategy.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) usually occurs in women, which can result in significant morbidities. A 38 year-old obese man who is currently smoking was referred to our hospital with chest pain. His electrocardiography and echocardiography suggested myocardial infarction in proximal region of left coronary artery.

Videourodyanamic Examination and Tension-free Vaginal Mesh/Transobturator Tape Surgery.

Most pelvic organ prolapse (POP) patients have lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) before and after POP surgery. LUTS of POP patients consist of various storage and voiding symptoms from anatomical causes. Videourodynamic examination for POP patients provides accurate information about morphological findings of the bladder and urethra, and lower urinary tract (LUT) function.

Analysis of the Pressure-Flow Study in Weak Detrusor Patients with Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy.

Objective: Pressure-flow study is a method used to evaluate the degree of bladder outlet obstruction and the strength of detrusor contractility during voiding. However, whether or not the operation for benign prostate hyperplasia should be avoided in detrusor underactivity patients remains controversial. To address this, we performed a retrospective analysis of our pressure-flow study data for benign prostate hyperplasia patients.

Reconstruction of Obliterated Vesicourethral Junction: Use of the Bulbar Urethra as a Continent Valve.

Reconstruction of the obliterated vesicourethral junction is both complex and difficult. Here, we report an innovative method using a mobilized bulbar urethra as a continent valve. Three patients with major problems at the vesicourethral junction underwent continent valve reconstruction.

An extract (THC-002) of Ba-Wei-Die-Huang-Wan inhibits expression of tachykinins, and P2X3 and TRPV1 receptors, and inhibits ATP-induced detrusor overactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Aims: To investigate possible mechanisms of action of THC-002 (HARNCARE), a galenical produced from the traditional Chinese herbal mixture Ba-Wei-Die-Huang-Wan, which has been reported to improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients.

Methods: Forty-five female SHRs were randomly separated into three groups. Two groups were given 20 ml physiological saline solution (PSS) per kg-body weight orally daily for 1 week.

Gosha-jinki-gan reduces transmitter proteins and sensory receptors associated with C fiber activation induced by acetic acid in rat urinary bladder.

Aim: We determined if Gosha-jinki-gan, a traditional Chinese herbal mixture, reduced the presence of the tachykinins neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and substance P, as well as the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and P2X3 purine receptors that are functionally associated with C fibers in the urinary bladder.

Methods: Thirty-six female rats were fed with either a standard diet or one supplemented with 1.08% Gosha-jinki-gan.

Cold environmental stress induces detrusor overactivity via resiniferatoxin-sensitive nerves in conscious rats.

Aims: We determined if cold environmental stress induced detrusor overactivity in conscious rats. We then examined the role of resiniferatoxin (RTX)-sensitive nerves in this response.

Methods: Three days prior to cystometric investigation, the urinary bladders of 12 female rats were cannulated.

Effects of goshajinkigan (niu-che-sen-qi-wan) for resiniferatoxin-sensitive afferents on detrusor overactivity induced by acetic acid in conscious rats.

This study was performed to investigate the effects of goshajinkigan, a traditional Chinese herbal mixture, in conscious rats undergoing continuous cystometry. Systemic resiniferatoxin (RTX) pretreatment can block resiniferatoxin-sensitive (C-fiber) nerve-mediated bladder overactivity, such as that induced by intravesical administration of acetic acid. The effects of pretreatment with goshajinkigan and RTX alone or in combination on acetic acid-induced bladder overactivity in conscious rats were also compared.

[The serum concentration of interleukin-2 in a hemodialysis patient--report from interleukin adjuvant therapy for local recurrent renal cancer].

We started interleukin-2 (IL-2) adjuvant therapy after resection of a repeated local recurrence of renal cell carcinoma in a hemodialysis patient. It is reported that IL-2 is mainly metabolized in proximal tubules of the kidney. To determine the IL-2 concentration, we employed the ELISA method using anti-human IL-2 antibodies.

Prostate-specific antigen, Gleason sum and clinical T stage for predicting the need for radionuclide bone scan for prostate cancer patients in Japan.

Aim: In the present study, we evaluated the relationships between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and bone metastasis, between Gleason sum and bone metastasis, and between clinical T stage and bone metastasis in Japanese patients.

Methods: Between November 1998 and June 2004, we performed ultrasound-guided biopsies on 709 patients (mean age: 70.5 years, range: 39-90).