Angiogenic strategy for human ischemic heart disease: brief overview.

In the Western World ischemic coronary disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic approaches mostly aim to restore flow to a localized segment by angioplasty or bypass surgery. Therapeutic angiogenesis and or arteriogenesis describes a strategy where blood vessel formation is induced for the purposes of treating and/or preventing ischemic disease.

Restoration of function after spinal cord transection using a collagen bridge.

The restoration of function of transected adult mammalian spinal cord without living tissue has not been reported previously. We report the first success of functional restoration of transected spinal cord without living tissue. We grafted collagen filaments parallel or transverse to the axis of the spinal cord to bridge 5-mm defects of 47 adult rat spinal cords.

Nerve regeneration along collagen filament and the presence of distal nerve stump.

This article describes the regeneration of severed peripheral nerve axons along collagen filaments in the absence of the distal nerve stump. 22-mm long nerve guides made of collagen filaments were sutured to the proximal ends of severed rat sciatic nerves. The distal ends of the guides were sutured to the distal stumps of the nerves in a group and not sutured in the other.

Critical values of hematocrit and mixed venous oxygen saturation as parameters for a safe cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective: Mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) is high despite a low hematocrit implies that the relationship between oxygen demand and supply is in a safe state. This study was sought to determine the critical values for hematocrit and SvO2 for safe cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: Study 1: To evaluate the limit of hemodilution without cardiopulmonary bypass, normovolemic hemodilution with Dextran 40 (10%) was performed in 14 rabbits.

Preliminary results of intermittent retrograde cerebral perfusion during proximal aortic arch surgery.

Objective: Continuous retrograde cerebral perfusion during aortic arch surgery is associated with cerebral edema. In this report, we describe the clinical use of a new type of intermittent retrograde cerebral perfusion.

Subjects And Methods: Fourteen patients with a Stanford type A dissection were included in this study.

Bridging a 30-mm nerve defect using collagen filaments.

This article describes a 30-mm regeneration of severed peripheral nerve axons along collagen filaments. Two thousand or 4000 31-mm-long collagen filaments were grafted to bridge a 30-mm defect of the rat sciatic nerve. A collagen tube was grafted as a control.

Platelet count is independently associated with insulin resistance in non-obese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between platelet count and insulin resistance in non-obese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients. A total of 163 non-obese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients (112 men and 51 women, aged 36 to 84 years, body mass index [BMI] 16.2 to 26.

Bridging a spinal cord defect using collagen filament.

Study Design: A rat model of spinal cord defect was designed to evaluate the effect of collagen filament implant on nerve regeneration in the spinal cord defect.

Objectives: To bridge a spinal cord defect and restore the function in adult mammals.

Summary Of Background Data: Resection of the spinal cord in mammals is always followed by motor paralysis and loss of voluntary function below the lesion.

Relationship of regional adiposity to serum leptin level in nonobese Japanese type 2 diabetic male patients.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between serum leptin levels and regional adipose fat area, BMI, and the measures of variables including serum insulin in nonobese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: A total of 121 nonobese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients [aged 35 to 83 years, body mass index (BMI) (15.4 to 26.

Porphyromonas gingivalis infection is associated with carotid atherosclerosis in non-obese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether non-obese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients with porphyromonas gingivalis infection have atherosclerotic vascular diseases. A total of 134 non-obese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients (96 men and 38 women, aged 36 to 84 years, body mass index [BMI] 20.1 to 26.

C-reactive protein and insulin resistance in non-obese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and insulin resistance in non-obese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients. A total of 135 non-obese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients (96 men and 39 women, aged 36 to 83 years, with a body mass index [BMI] of 16.2 to 26.

[A new formula to calculate perfusion rate in advanced hemodilution and tepid cardiopulmonary bypass].

Background: During cardiopulmonary bypass, perfusion flow rate is generally calculated only with the patient body surface. Recently, far advanced hemodilution during cardiopulmonary bypass and tepid bypass circulation are common.

Purpose: We have arrived at an appropriate flow rate formula, in which factors like temperature, hemoglobin concentration, the target mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), and the amount of oxygen consumption are included.

Mid-term outcome after partial left ventriculectomy in pediatric patients.

From May 1998 to April 2000, we performed partial left ventriculectomy (PLV) in 3 pediatric patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). At the time of the surgery, their age ranged from eight months to three years. The first patient eventually had to receive a heart transplant, but all patients treated with PLV are alive to this day.

30 mm regeneration of rat sciatic nerve along collagen filaments.

This paper describes 30 mm regeneration of peripheral nerve axons along collagen filaments; 31-mm-long collagen filaments or collagen tube were grafted to bridge a 30-mm defect of rat sciatic nerve. The mean number and the diameter of regenerated myelinated axons were 330+/-227 and 2.7+/-0.

Expression profile of EFNB1, EFNB2, two ligands of EPHB2 in human gastric cancer.

Purpose: We have previously reported that EPHB2 is overexpressed in gastric cancer; however, the expression profiles of its ligands, EFNB1 and EFNB2, are unknown. This study was designed to investigate the expression of EPHB2 and its ligands, EFNB1 and EFNB2, in human gastric cancer.

Methods: Semi-quantitative RT-PCR using (32)P was performed on human gastric cancer tissues and corresponding normal tissues (29 gastric cancer patients).

Partial left ventriculectomy in pediatric end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective: Although a recent survey on pediatric cardiomyopathy in Japan showed that 48% of patients died despite the medical treatment, pediatric cardiac transplantation is not legal in Japan. We determined the feasibility of partial left ventriculectomy as an alternative to end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy.

Method: We retrospective analyzed partial left ventriculectomy in 4 pediatric patients with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy.

Accessory hepatic vein complicating extra-cardiac total cavopulmonary connection.

We encountered unexpected, severe hypoxia after the right heart bypass operation in a patient with isomerism. A 2-year-old girl with polysplenia had a complex cardiac anomaly consisting of a single atrium, single ventricle, pulmonary stenosis, absence of the right superior vena cava, hemiazygos continuation of the left inferior vena cava, and d-malposition of the great arteries. After a total cavopulmonary shunt, we performed an extra-cardiac total cavo-pulmonary connection with a 14 mm tube graft.

Relationship of regional adiposity to insulin resistance and serum triglyceride levels in nonobese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between insulin resistance and regional abdominal fat area, body mass index (BMI), and serum lipid profile in nonobese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients. A total of 63 nonobese Japanese type 2 diabetic patients aged 45 to 83 years were examined. The duration of diabetes was 8.

Indications for partial left ventriculectomy in pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy.

The purpose of this study was to define the role and indications of partial left ventriculectomy (PLV) in children with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Clinical data were collected by retrospective chart review of children with DCM who were treated from 1997 to 2000. Four patients underwent PLV (PLV group) and 5 patients were managed without PLV (non-PLV group).

Genomic structure of the human beta-PIX gene and its alteration in gastric cancer.

beta-PIX, a newly identified p21-activated kinase (PAK)-interacting exchange factors (PIX), encodes a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho guanosine triphosphatases. Characterization of beta-PIX gene was performed using the BAC Library method. The beta-PIX gene has 17 exons and an A/T polymorphism at the 32nd base upstream of the intron/exon junction of exon 7.

[Surgical treatment of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism caused by a cavernous hemangioma at the lower limb].

A 48-years old man complained of dyspnea and was admitted to the hospital. Chest enhanced CT confirmed the presence of the thrombus in the pulmonary artery. Cardiac catheterization showed severe pulmonary hypertension (mean PAP 75 mmHg).

Hemorrhagic shock due to intrathoracic rupture of an osteosarcoma of the rib.

A 13-year-old girl presented with dyspnea and chest pain. Chest radiography showed a massive left pleural effusion. Computed tomography revealed a tumor of the fourth rib.

Myxomatous degeneration of the ligamentum flavum of the lumbar spine.

Study Design: Report of two cases of acute lumbar nerve root compression caused by myxomatous degeneration of the ligamentum flavum.

Objective: To report a rare cause of acute lumbar nerve root compression.

Setting: Orthopaedic department, Osaka, Japan.