A New Technique for Aortic Annular and Outflow Enlargement: Combined Y-Incision and Nicks Procedures.

In the valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (ViV-TAVR) era, implanting a larger-sized valve during the initial aortic valve replacement is important. For smaller aortic annuli, combining aortic annular and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) enlargement is essential. The Y-incision procedure helps achieve implantation of a 2-size larger valve.

Early Clinical Results for a New Self-Organizing Hybrid Fabric in Congenital Cardiac Surgery.

Background: We have developed a new hybrid warp-knit fabric for induction of in situ tissue regeneration that has shown appropriate antideterioration properties and expandability in preclinical studies. This study was performed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of this fabric in the early postoperative period after congenital cardiac surgery.

Methods: The fabric comprises biodegradable (complete degradation period, 2-3 years) and nonbiodegradable yarns coated with cross-linked gelatin.

Plug Closure for Ascending Aortic Pseudoaneurysms After TAVI Using Self-Expandable Valve.

A 90-year-old man received a diagnosis of ascending aortic pseudoaneurysms after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using an Evolut PRO valve (Medtronic). Plug closure of the pseudoaneurysms was successfully performed, and the symptoms improved after the procedure. However, on postoperative day 4, the patient experienced sudden massive hemoptysis and died.

Histone deacetylase 6 inhibition prevents hypercholesterolemia-induced erectile dysfunction independent of changes in markers of autophagy.

Background: Erectile dysfunction is a condition with a rapidly increasing prevalence globally with a strong correlation to the increase in obesity and cardiovascular disease rates.

Aim: The aim of the current study is to investigate the potential role of tubacin, a histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibitor, in restoring erectile function in a hypercholesterolemia-induced endothelial dysfunction model.

Methods: Thirty-nine male C57Bl/6 J mice were divided into 3 groups.

Endothelial activating transcription factor 3 promotes angiogenesis and vascular repair in the mouse retina.

Ischemia and pathological angiogenesis in retinal vascular diseases cause serious vision-related problems. However, the transcriptional regulators of vascular repair remain unidentified. Thus, the factors and mechanisms involved in angiogenesis must be elucidated to develop approaches for restoring normal blood vessels.

Bioengineering strategies for regeneration of skin integrity: A literature review.

Objective: The skin is a complex organ that includes various stem cell populations. Current approaches for non-healing skin defects are sometimes inadequate and many attempts have been made to regenerate skin integrity. The aim of this review is to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application of skin integrity regeneration.

Efficacy of Dynamic Chest Radiography for Evaluating Surgical Treatment of Diaphragmatic Paralysis.

Dynamic chest radiography (DCR) is a novel radiographic technique that evaluates the thoracic movement from inspiration to expiration. Here, we report the efficacy of DCR in the surgical treatment of diaphragmatic paralysis. A 60-year-old woman presented with phrenic nerve palsy after anterior mediastinal resection.

Morphology-Based Risk Analysis of Catheter-related Thrombus After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Understanding the development of central venous catheter-related thrombus (CVCRT) is vital for the prevention of adverse events caused by thrombi after cardiac surgery in children. However, the risks associated with CVCRT remain controversial. This study analyzed the risk factors of CVCRT based on a detailed evaluation of its morphometric features and severity.

Multiple Lung Resections for Metastases from Pheochromocytoma to Reduce Catecholamine Production.

A pheochromocytoma is a malignant tumor with metastatic potential. Moreover, the cardiovascular effects of abnormal amounts of catecholamines resulting from pheochromocytoma impact prognosis. Resection of the primary tumor is useful for reducing catecholamine production; however, the significance of resection of metastases remains unclear.

Preoperative Computed Tomography Virtual Simulation for HeartMate 3 Implantation in Small Children.

An implantable ventricular assist device became smaller and has been used for small body size patients. However, it is still challenging to determine whether it is implantable for pediatric patients. The preoperative computed tomography virtual simulation provided spatial information among the pump, intracardiac structures, and extracardiac structures, which was very useful to assess the implantability for borderline children.

Efficacy of Surgical Treatment for Thymoma-Related Stiff Person Syndrome.

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a neurologic disorder, some cases of which are associated with malignant disease. Here, we report a case of thymoma-associated SPS that was successfully treated with surgical resection. A 57-year-old man with progressive muscle stiffness and weakness was diagnosed with thymoma-related SPS.

Factors associated with ABCDEF bundle implementation for critically ill patients: An international cross-sectional survey in 54 countries.

Objectives: This study investigated the implementation of the ABCDEF bundle and the factors associated with its implementation according to national income levels.

Methods: This study is cross-sectional research. We conducted a secondary analysis of an international 1-day point-prevalence study that investigated the implementation of the ABCDEF bundle in critically ill patients.

Single-particle tracking of polymer aggregates inside disordered porous media.

The diffusion motions of individual polymer aggregates in disordered porous media were visualized using the single-particle tracking (SPT) method because the motions inside porous media play important roles in various fields of science and engineering. In the aggregates diffused on the surfaces of pores, continuous adsorption and desorption processes were observed. The relationship between the size of the aggregates and pore size was analysed based on diffusion coefficients, moment scaling spectrum (MSS) slope analysis, and diffusion anisotropy analysis.

Energy loss and adults with congenital heart disease: a novel marker of cardiac workload beyond right ventricular size.

Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction after biventricular repair is critical in most adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). Conventional 2D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurement is considered as a 'gold standard' for RV evaluation; however, addition information on ACHD after biventricular repair is sometimes required. The reasons why adjunctive information is required is as follows: (I) to evaluate the severity of cardiac burden in symptomatic patients with normal RV size and ejection fraction (EF), (II) to determine the optimal timing of invasive treatments in asymptomatic ones, and (III) to detect proactively a potential cardiac burden leading to ventricular deterioration, from a fluid dynamics perspective.

Pleomorphic Carcinoma Arising at Previous Resection Margins of Ground-Glass Opacities.

Pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung is highly malignant and occurs mostly in the upper lobes of smokers; however, no reports exist of new occurrences from the resection margins of the previous ground-glass opacities. In our case, a 73-year-old man underwent an initial partial resection of the left upper lung for ground-glass opacities, with progressive thickening of the resection margin during the following 10 months. Radical resection was performed, resulting in the diagnosis of a newly arising pleomorphic carcinoma from previously resected margins.

A Case with Left Hemiplegia after Cerebral Infarction with Improved Walking Ability Through Robot-assisted Gait Training Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for Foot Drop.

Unlabelled: Yamaguchi A, Kanazawa Y, Hirano S, Aoyagi Y. A Case with Left Hemiplegia after Cerebral Infarction with Improved Walking Ability Through Robot-assisted Gait Training Combined with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for Foot Drop. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2024; 15: 88-93.

Effectiveness of breast pumps in early postpartum breastfeeding for women after cesarean section: A systematic review.

Aim: We sought to assess the effectiveness of using a breast pump for nipple stimulation to promote breastfeeding in the early postpartum period after c-section in women with full-term infants.

Methods: Selection criteria were individual and cluster randomized control trials and quasi-randomized control trials that compared using a breast pump combined with standard care to promote breastfeeding in the early postpartum period after c-section with standard care. In this systematic review, guided by the Cochrane Handbook, we conducted comprehensive searches across databases such as Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO (Search: April 22, 2024).

Thioxanthone Synthesis from Thioureas through Double Aryne Insertion into a Carbon-Sulfur Double Bond.

Thioxanthone synthesis from -silylaryl triflates and thioureas is disclosed. Double aryne insertion into the C═S double bond of thioureas and subsequent hydrolysis realized the facile preparation of thioxanthones. A simple reaction procedure and good accessibility of -silylaryl triflates allowed us to synthesize a wide range of highly functionalized thioxanthones.

In Vitro Selection of Collagen-Binding Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Containing Genetically Encoded Mussel-Inspired Adhesive Amino Acids.

Protein immobilization technology is important in medical and industrial applications. We previously reported all-in-one in vitro selection, wherein a collagen-binding vascular endothelial growth factor (CB-VEGF) was identified from a fusion library of random and VEGF sequences. However, its interaction chemistry is mainly limited to the interaction established by the 20 canonical amino acids.

Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing of Zebrafish Olfactory Epithelium Identifies Odor-Responsive Candidate Olfactory Receptors.

Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful method to comprehensively overlook gene expression profiles of individual cells in various tissues, providing fundamental datasets for classification of cell types and further functional analyses. Here we adopted scRNA-seq analysis for the zebrafish olfactory sensory neurons which respond to water-borne odorants and pheromones to elicit various behaviors crucial for survival and species preservation. Firstly, a single-cell dissociation procedure of the zebrafish olfactory rosettes was optimized by using cold-active protease, minimizing artifactual neuronal activation.

Abaloparatide Enhances Bone Regeneration in Extraction Socket Dental Implant Defects: An Experimental In Vivo Study.

Objective: Abaloparatide (ABL) is a synthetic parathyroid hormone-related protein analog developed as an anabolic drug to treat osteoporosis. ABL increases bone mineral density (BMD) of the long bones and spine; however, the influence of ABL on alveolar bone regeneration remains unknown. This study assessed the effects of systemic ABL administration on tooth extraction socket healing and dental implant osseointegration in a preclinical rodent model.

Emotional analysis of operating room nurses in acute care hospitals in Japan: insights using ChatGPT.

Aim: This study aimed to explore the emotions of operating room nurses in Japan towards perioperative nursing using generative AI and human analysis, and to identify factors contributing to burnout and turnover.

Methods: A single-center cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2023 to February 2024, involving semi-structured interviews with 10 operating room nurses from a national hospital in Japan. Interview transcripts were analyzed using generative AI (ChatGPT-4o) and human researchers for thematic, emotional, and subjectivity analysis.

Efficacy of tranilast in preventing exacerbating cardiac function and death from heart failure in muscular dystrophy patients with advanced-stage heart failure: a single-arm, open-label, multicenter study.

Background: Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 2 (TRPV2) functions as a stretch-sensitive calcium channel, with overexpression in the sarcolemma of skeletal and cardiac myocytes leading to detrimental calcium influx and triggering muscle degeneration. In our previous pilot study, we showed that tranilast, a TRPV2 inhibitor, reduced brain natriuretic peptide levels in two patients with muscular dystrophy and advanced heart failure. Building on this, we performed a single-arm, open-label, multicenter study herein to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tranilast in the treatment of advanced heart failure in patients with muscular dystrophy.