Interstitial-fluid shear stresses induced by vertically oscillating head motion lower blood pressure in hypertensive rats and humans.

The mechanisms by which physical exercise benefits brain functions are not fully understood. Here, we show that vertically oscillating head motions mimicking mechanical accelerations experienced during fast walking, light jogging or treadmill running at a moderate velocity reduce the blood pressure of rats and human adults with hypertension. In hypertensive rats, shear stresses of less than 1 Pa resulting from interstitial-fluid flow induced by such passive head motions reduced the expression of the angiotensin II type-1 receptor in astrocytes in the rostral ventrolateral medulla, and the resulting antihypertensive effects were abrogated by hydrogel introduction that inhibited interstitial-fluid movement in the medulla.

[Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass in a Patient with Osteopetrosis and Symptomatic Ischemic Heart Disease:Report of a Case].

Osteopetrosis is a heterogeneous group of heritable conditions. It varies greatly in severity, and fracture treatment remains a matter of controversy due to altered responses to fixation and the risk of osteomyelitis. Therefore, sternotomy outcomes in this condition are unclear.

Application of Passive Head Motion to Generate Defined Accelerations at the Heads of Rodents.

Exercise is widely recognized as effective for various diseases and physical disorders, including those related to brain dysfunction. However, molecular mechanisms behind the beneficial effects of exercise are poorly understood. Many physical workouts, particularly those classified as aerobic exercises such as jogging and walking, produce impulsive forces at the time of foot contact with the ground.

[Intraoperative Aortic Dissection during Mitral Valve Plasty:Report of a Case].

We report the case of a 74-year-old woman who underwent mitral valve plasty for mitral regurgitation. During the surgery, the ascending aorta was dilated and turned dark red after aortic cannulation. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and direct epiaortic echography revealed type A aortic dissection.

Mechanical load regulates bone growth via periosteal Osteocrin.

Mechanical stimuli including loading after birth promote bone growth. However, little is known about how mechanical force triggers biochemical signals to regulate bone growth. Here, we identified a periosteal-osteoblast-derived secretory peptide, Osteocrin (OSTN), as a mechanotransducer involved in load-induced long bone growth.

Early escitalopram administration as a preemptive treatment strategy against spasticity after contusive spinal cord injury in rats.

In the majority of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, spasticity develops in the subacute phase and chronically persists with muscle hypertonia. Among various pathological conditions underlying spasticity, upregulated expression of 5-HT receptors (5-HTR) on the spinal motor neurons due to 5-HT denervation is considered one of crucial factors for hyperexcitability of the spinal circuit. As a 5-HT signal modulator, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are ordinarily prescribed for diseases associated with 5-HT in the CNS, and are known for their ability to increase 5-HT levels as well as to desensitize 5-HTR.

[Giant Left Atrial Myxoma Found with Congestive Heart Failure;Report of a Case].

We report a case of giant left atrial myxoma in a 52-year-old woman who developed congestive heart failure. By echocardiography, not only the myxoma but moderate degree of mitral and tricuspid regurgitation was also found. The tumor was extensively attached to the left atrial endocardium, and was excised completely together with the endocardium.

[Surgical Repair of Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysm Associated with Coronary-pulmonary Artery Fistulae;Report of a Case].

A 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a complaint of chest compression. Coronary angiography revealed a giant coronary artery aneurysm, located in the middle of a coronary-pulmonary artery fistula originating from the right coronary artery. Another fistula was also shown between the left anterior descending artery and the pulmonary artery.

[Severe Calcification on Glutaraldehyde-treated Autologous Pericardium after Mitral Valve Repair by Leaflet Augmentation;Report of a Case].

We report a case of surgical treatment of mitral valve stenosis due to severe calcification on the glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium. A 39-year-old woman presented with progressive dyspnea. She had undergone mitral valve repair by leaflet augmentation with a glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium for mitral regurgitation 3 years before.

Mechanical Regulation Underlies Effects of Exercise on Serotonin-Induced Signaling in the Prefrontal Cortex Neurons.

Mechanical forces are known to be involved in various biological processes. However, it remains unclear whether brain functions are mechanically regulated under physiological conditions. Here, we demonstrate that treadmill running and passive head motion (PHM), both of which produce mechanical impact on the head, have similar effects on the hallucinogenic 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor subtype 2A (5-HT) signaling in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of rodents.

Application of Consistent Massage-Like Perturbations on Mouse Calves and Monitoring the Resulting Intramuscular Pressure Changes.

Massage is generally recognized to be beneficial for relieving pain and inflammation. Although previous studies have reported anti-inflammatory effects of massage on skeletal muscles, the molecular mechanisms behind are poorly understood. We have recently developed a simple device to apply local cyclical compression (LCC), which can generate intramuscular pressure waves with varying amplitudes.

[Surgical Treatment of Right Ventricular Perforation by a Transvenous Electrode Catheter;Report of a Case].

We report a case of surgical treatment of iatrogenic right ventricular perforation. An 86-year-old woman with sick sinus syndrome was treated by insertion of transvenous electrode catheters. She was transferred to our hospital due to chest pain 9 days after the insertion.

[Surgery of Papillary Adenoma;Report of a Case].

A 59-year-old man consulted our hospital because of an abnormal shadow on a chest X-ray without any symptoms. A chest computed tomography (CT) revealed growing pulmonary nodule in the right lower lobe. Benign lung tumor was suspected and the patient underwent right lower lobe partial resection.

Therapeutic strategy for acute pleural empyema: comparison between retrospective study and prospective study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficiency of therapeutic strategy for acute pleural empyema.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 121 acute empyema patients and evaluated the therapeutic strategy for acute pleural empyema. Then, we prospectively reviewed 114 acute pleural empyema patients based on the strategy.

Repetitive transient paraplegia caused by painless acute aortic dissection.

Case: Making a precise diagnosis of type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) presenting with atypical symptoms might be challenging for clinicians. Misdiagnosis and misuse of thrombolytic therapy can have devastating consequences.

Outcome: Herein, we report a case of painless type A AAD complicated by transient leg paresthesia, which was successfully treated with surgery.

Cardiac tamponade due to rupture of a giant coronary artery aneurysm with a coronary arteriovenous fistula: a case report.

Background: Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is defined as dilatation exceeding 1.5 times the width of the normal adjacent coronary artery segments. CAA usually causes few symptoms, and rupture is rare, but can be lethal due to cardiac tamponade when it does occur.

Local cyclical compression modulates macrophage function and alleviates immobilization-induced muscle atrophy.

Physical inactivity gives rise to numerous diseases and organismal dysfunctions, particularly those related to aging. Musculoskeletal disorders including muscle atrophy, which can result from a sedentary lifestyle, aggravate locomotive malfunction and evoke a vicious circle leading to severe functional disruptions of vital organs such as the brain and cardiovascular system. Although the significance of physical activity is evident, molecular mechanisms behind its beneficial effects are poorly understood.

Effects of Treadmill Training Combined with Serotonergic Interventions on Spasticity after Contusive Spinal Cord Injury.

Spasticity usually emerges during the course of recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI). While medications and physical rehabilitation are prescribed to alleviate spastic symptoms, the insufficiency of their effects remains an important problem to be addressed. Given the challenges associated with increasing the dose of medication, we hypothesized that a combination therapy with medication and physical rehabilitation can be effective.

Chd7 Collaborates with Sox2 to Regulate Activation of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells after Spinal Cord Injury.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) act as a reservoir of new oligodendrocytes (OLs) in homeostatic and pathological conditions. OPCs are activated in response to injury to generate myelinating OLs, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we show that chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7 (Chd7) regulates OPC activation after spinal cord injury (SCI).

The impact of global left ventricular afterload on left ventricular reverse remodeling after aortic valve replacement.

Background: Conventional indices such as prosthetic valve effective orifice area (EOA) or transvalvular pressure gradients (TPG) may be unreliable in predicting left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling after aortic valve replacement (AVR). We hypothesized that the global LV afterload, including valvular and arterial impedance, could influence LV reverse remodeling after AVR.

Methods: Twenty-three consecutive aortic-stenosis patients (mean age, 76 ± 6.

Neuroprotective effect of pressure-oriented flow regulation and pH-stat management in selective antegrade brain perfusion during total aortic arch repair.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of our selective antegrade brain perfusion (SABP) strategy, which is characterized by moderate hypothermic and low-pressure management under pH-stat using a completely closed cardiopulmonary bypass circuit with a single centrifugal pump.

Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients (median age, 74) underwent total aortic arch replacement using a 4-branched graft. SABP was conducted with individual cannulation in all arch vessels.

Determinants of recurrent tricuspid regurgitation following tricuspid valve annuloplasty during mitral valve surgery.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine risk predictors for recurrent tricuspid regurgitation (TR) following tricuspid valve annuloplasty during mitral valve surgery.

Methods: Ninety-eight consecutive patients underwent tricuspid valve annuloplasty concomitant with mitral valve repair (71 patients), replacement (16 patients), or other procedures over a 10-year period. Fifty-seven patients underwent surgery with a flexible band and 41 with a rigid ring.

Substrate Stiffness Influences Doxorubicin-Induced p53 Activation via ROCK2 Expression.

The physical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM), such as stiffness, are involved in the determination of the characteristics of cancer cells, including chemotherapy sensitivity. Resistance to chemotherapy is often linked to dysfunction of tumor suppressor p53; however, it remains elusive whether the ECM microenvironment interferes with p53 activation in cancer cells. Here, we show that, in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, extracellular stiffness influences p53 activation induced by the antitumor drug doxorubicin.

The swimming test is effective for evaluating spasticity after contusive spinal cord injury.

Spasticity is a frequent chronic complication in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the severity of spasticity varies in patients with SCI. Therefore, an evaluation method is needed to determine the severity of spasticity.