Right Ventricular Metastasis of Ewing Sarcoma Treated Through Surgical Resection.

A 27-year-old man diagnosed with right ventricular metastasis of Ewing sarcoma was referred to our institution. We surgically resected the metastatic tumor to prevent sudden death and reconstructed the right ventricle and tricuspid valve. He has survived for 1 year postoperatively without recurrence.

[Clinical Analysis of Thoracoscopic Left Atrial Appendage Amputation].

The left atrial appendage (LAA), a major source of thrombus formation, is also a common site for ectopic foci that initiate and maintain atrial fibrillation( AF). Depending on the patient's condition, various methods are available to exclude LAA, and each of these means is associated with advantages and disadvantages. We performed thoracoscopic stand-alone LAA amputation in 47 patients with AF, who were at risk of stroke with or without contraindications to anticoagulation therapy (between March 2017 and November 2022).

[Bilateral Atrial Maze without Left Atrial Incision during Aortic Valve Replacement].

A 77-year-old man had severe aortic stenosis and continuous atrial fibrillation. We performed maze procedure without left atrial incision( Dallas lesion set) during aortic valve replacement for this patient. Dallas lesion set alternates the isolation of mitral isthmus by connecting ablation line beneath left coronary cusp and noncoronary cusp commissure of the aortic valve with ablation from epicardial side of the upper left atrium.

Association between loss of hypercoagulable phenotype, clinical features and complement pathway consumption in COVID-19.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) features a hypercoagulable state, but therapeutic anticoagulation effectiveness varies with disease severity. We aimed to evaluate the dynamics of the coagulation profile and its association with COVID-19 severity, outcomes, and biomarker trajectories.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational study included patients with COVID-19 requiring respiratory support.

Mild elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance predicts mortality regardless of mean pulmonary artery pressure in mild interstitial lung disease.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined by elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP), and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) reflects pulmonary vascular abnormalities. The clinical significance of non-severe PH in patients with various interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of MPAP and PVR for mortality in patients with newly diagnosed ILD.

Physical activity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Longitudinal change and minimal clinically important difference.

Background And Objective: Reference values of physical activity to interpret longitudinal changes are not available in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This study aimed to define the minimal clinical important difference (MCID) of longitudinal changes in physical activity in patients with IPF.

Methods: Using accelerometry, physical activity (steps per day) was measured and compared at baseline and 6-months follow-up in patients with IPF.

Disease progression and changes in KL-6 in patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Background: Little is known about the annual change in Krebs von Lungen-6 (KL-6) and its correlation with forced vital capacity (FVC) in limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (lcSSc-ILD). We aimed to clarify the correlation during the clinical course.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from consecutive patients with lcSSc-ILD.

Continuous positive airway pressure versus high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: A randomized controlled trial.

Background And Objective: The relative effectiveness of initial non-invasive respiratory strategies for acute respiratory failure using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is unclear.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, open-label, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of CPAP and HFNC on reducing the risk of meeting the prespecified criteria for intubation and improving clinical outcomes of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. The primary endpoint was the time taken to meet the prespecified criteria for intubation within 28 days.

Open surgical treatment for aortic arch and coronary artery aneurysms associated with immunoglobulin G4-related disease: a case report.

Background: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4RD) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate containing IgG4-positive plasma cells that can cause aneurysms in various organs and tissues. There have been many reports of IgG4RD aneurysms; however, the surgical procedures adopted remain controversial. Herein, we report a case in which surgical treatment for IgG4-related aneurysms was successful.

Real-World Experience of the Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Molnupiravir and Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir in High-Risk Patients with COVID-19 in a Community Setting.

Molnupiravir (MOV) and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMV/r) are efficacious oral antiviral agents for patients with the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19). However, little is known about their effectiveness in older adults and those at high risk of disease progression. This retrospective single-center observational study assessed and compared the outcomes of COVID-19 treated with MOV and NMV/r in a real-world community setting.

Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features and histologic usual interstitial pneumonia treated with anti-fibrotic versus immunosuppressive therapy.

Background: Therapeutic strategies in patients with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) and histological usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern (IPAF-UIP) have not been thoroughly evaluated. We compared the therapeutic efficacy of anti-fibrotic therapy with that of immunosuppressive treatment for patients with IPAF-UIP.

Methods: In this retrospective case series, we identified consecutive IPAF-UIP patients treated with anti-fibrotic therapy or immunosuppressive therapy.

Validity of direct bilateral axillary arterial cannulation in emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.

Background And Aim Of The Study: To assess the validity and long-term outcomes of direct bilateral axillary arterial cannulation for acute type A aortic dissection.

Methods: Between 2003 and 2020, 208 consecutive patients with acute type A aortic dissection underwent emergency surgical repair. Cardiopulmonary bypass was attempted to establish direct bilateral axillary arterial cannulation and bicaval drainage.

Impact of the no-touch harvesting technique on the vessel diameter of saphenous vein grafts for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objectives: To explore the impact of the no-touch harvesting technique on the vessel diameter of saphenous vein grafts.

Methods: This retrospective, single-center study enrolled 166 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting using saphenous vein grafts. Saphenous vein grafts were harvested conventionally in 83 patients (conventional group) and using the no-touch technique in 83 patients (no-touch group).

Burnout and Turnover Intention in Critical Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: A Cross-sectional Survey.

The prevalence of burnout among critical care professionals during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic varies in different countries. To investigate the prevalence of burnout and turnover intention in Japanese critical care professionals in March 2021. This cross-sectional study used a web-based survey of Japanese critical care professionals working in 15 intensive care units in 15 prefectures.

Two cases of acute respiratory failure following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in post-COVID-19 pneumonia.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination is a very effective method of preventing infection and is recommended for people having recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this novel case report, we describe two patients with post-COVID-19 pneumonia who experienced acute respiratory failure and new bilateral ground-glass opacities several days after receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Both patients were treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy and recovered from the disease successfully.

Intimal-protected adventitial inversion technique accelerates the obliteration of a patent false lumen.

Background And Aims: The optimal procedure for reconstructing the dissected aortic stump for acute type A dissection remains controversial. We routinely used the intimal-protected adventitial inversion technique (iPAIT), a modified adventitial inversion technique, to protect the fragile intima by inserting a graft and assessed the safety and efficacy of this technique.

Methods: Between August 2008 and April 2020, 146 consecutive patients with acute type A dissections underwent thoracic aortic surgery in our hospital.

Fate of dissected arch vessels by adventitial inversion technique for acute type A aortic dissection repair.

Objectives: The adventitial inversion technique is used widely for aortic reconstruction for acute type A aortic dissection, as it easily controls the bleeding at anastomotic sites and closes the patent false lumen. However, this technique for arch vessel reconstruction has not been previously reported. Therefore, we applied the adventitial inversion technique for dissected arch vessel reconstruction to close the patent false lumen.

Feasibility of open chest management with modified negative pressure wound therapy immediately after cardiac surgery.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of open chest management with our modified negative pressure wound therapy immediately after cardiac surgery as a therapy for atypical tamponade.

Methods: Open chest with modified negative pressure wound therapy was performed immediately after cardiac surgery. The surface of the heart and the vessels were covered with non-adherent siliconized gauze.

Weekly nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel and paclitaxel for relapsed small cell lung cancer: A retrospective observational study.

In addition to advanced non-small cell lung cancer, nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) may also harbor potential benefit for patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC), since weekly paclitaxel (PTX) shows modest activity for relapsed SCLC. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of both weekly nab-PTX and PTX for relapsed SCLC.We retrospectively reviewed 52 consecutive relapsed SCLC patients who were treated with weekly nab-PTX or PTX at our hospital.

Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

https://bit.ly/3tpu6Cz