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A 28-year-old woman experienced severe headache and right homonymous hemianopia after receiving high-dose infliximab for Crohn's disease. Computed tomography showed hemorrhagic infarction in the left temporal and parietal lobes. An angiogram revealed left transverse to sigmoid sinus occlusion and a stagnated Labbe vein. The patient was treated surgically and achieved a good outcome. Inflammatory bowel diseases are known to accompany venous and arterial thrombosis in 1-2% of cases. Recently, infliximab has been suggested to increase this possibility. A case of Crohn's disease presenting with cerebral sinus thrombosis in the remission period during long-term/high-dose use of infliximab is presented. In addition, infliximab-associated thrombosis cases were reviewed.

The efficacy of coronary artery bypass grafting for pregnancy-related spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is controversial, as graft occlusion due to SCAD lesion healing has been reported. Only 24 grafts in 14 cases of coronary artery bypass grafting for SCAD have been reported: 8 of the 9 arterial grafts were occluded, but 9 of the 15 vein grafts were patent. We encountered a case of coronary artery bypass grafting with left internal thoracic artery to the left antero-descending branch due to pregnancy-related SCAD. The patient’s graft revealed good patency immediately postoperatively but string signs 7 months later due to healing of SCAD lesions.

Aortic surgery is often performed in elderly patients, and these patients have a high risk of postsurgical muscle weakness. To reinforce purposeful postsurgical rehabilitation, we aimed to investigate the factors associated with postsurgical muscle weakness in patients who underwent thoracic aortic surgery.This retrospective cohort study analyzed data of consecutive patients who underwent elective thoracic aortic surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, and whose knee extensor isometric muscle strength (KEIS) were measured pre- and postoperatively at University Hospital between January 2012 and December 2018. The primary outcome was percent change in KEIS (% change in KEIS). Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for % change in KEIS.Overall, 218 patients were included. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that mechanical ventilation time, days from initial sitting to 100 m walking, and the number of exercises in the rehabilitation room were associated with % change in KEIS.This study may serve as a reference to stratify patients at risk of postsurgical muscle weakness. The preventive or alternative interventions in patients undergoing thoracic aortic surgery will be assessed in future studies.

Background Intracranial venous hypertension has been associated with a few cases of meningioma secondary to compression of the venous sinus. This is the rare case of small meningioma involving the sigmoid sinus leading to intracranial venous hypertension mimicking venous thrombosis. Case presentation A 39-year-old woman suffered visual dysfunction due to bilateral papilledema. Noncontrast head computed tomography (CT) showed no intracranial space-occupying lesions or hydrocephalus. Cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed high opening pressure. Various image inspections such as three-dimensional CT angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cerebral angiography demonstrated a small 2.5-cm lesion causing subtotal occlusion of the dominant right sigmoid sinus. No improvement of clinical manifestations was observed after medical treatment for 6 months, so right presigmoid craniectomy was performed. Operative findings revealed that the tumor was located predominantly involving the sigmoid sinus. The pathological diagnosis was fibrous meningioma. Postoperative fundoscopic examination showed improvement of bilateral papilledema. Conclusions We treated a patient presenting with intracranial hypertension due to a small meningioma involving the sigmoid sinus. This unusual case suggests that early surgical strategies should be undertaken to relieve the sinus obstruction.

Early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a new therapeutic target. Sulfonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1) is expressed in nerve cells, glial cells, and vascular endothelial cells in EBI. SUR1 promotes intracellular inflow of Na and Ca ions, resulting in cell swelling and depolarization, and finally cell death. Glibenclamide reduced cerebral edema and mortality in a basic study of cerebral ischemia. However, the effects of glibenclamide on EBI have not been fully elucidated. This study examined the inhibitory effect of glibenclamide on EBI.Rats were divided into the sham group, SAH-control group, and SAH-glibenclamide group. The water content of the brain was measured using the dry-wet method. In addition, the brain was divided into the cortex, putamen, and hippocampus, and expression of inflammatory cytokines was evaluated by the polymerase chain reaction method. In addition, microglia in the brain were evaluated immunohistologically.Water content of the brain was significantly decreased in the SAH-glibenclamide group compared to the SAH-control group. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and nuclear factor-kappa B significantly increased in the cerebral cortex after SAH. IL-1β and TNFα in the cortex were significantly decreased in the SAH-glibenclamide group compared to the SAH-control group. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed that SAH causes extensive microglial activation in the brain, which was suppressed by glibenclamide.The present study showed that glibenclamide suppressed cerebral edema and activation of microglia and hypersecretion of inflammatory cytokines. Glibenclamide is a potential therapeutic method which may significantly improve the functional prognosis.

Background Pituitary apoplexy is an acute clinical syndrome caused by infarction and/or hemorrhage of pituitary adenoma, which typically presents with severe headache, visual deterioration, and endocrine abnormalities. However, temporal lobe seizure (and temporal lobe epilepsy) has not been viewed as a symptom of pituitary apoplexy in the literature. Case Description To elucidate further such a rare complication of temporal lobe seizure, we describe here the rare clinical manifestations of a 55-year-old previously healthy man with pituitary apoplexy harboring headache, combined palsies involving cranial nerves III to VI, endocrinologic disturbances, and temporal lobe seizure. In addition, we discuss the temporal lobe seizure (and temporal lobe epilepsy) associated with pituitary adenoma based on the literature. Conclusions Although further accumulation of clinical data is needed, we would like to emphasize the importance of recognition of temporal lobe seizure caused by pituitary apoplexy, and to suggest that early surgery could be considered as an option in patients displaying such a rare complication.

Postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) is a rare clinical entity associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by heart failure that results in an inability to be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with PCCS and to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality and failure to be weaned from ECMO. From January 2002 to August 2016, 3248 patients underwent cardiac surgery in our hospital. Of these, 29 patients (0.89%) required ECMO because of an inability to be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. The median duration of ECMO support was 144 h (340-52 h) (range 17-818 h). Sixteen patients (55.2%) were weaned from ECMO, and 6 (20.7%) survived to hospital discharge. The multivariate analysis revealed that reoperation [odds ratio (OR): 13.667, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.999-187.056, p = 0.05] and ECMO support duration 130 h (OR: 17.688, 95% CI: 1.324-236.233, p = 0.03) were independent predictors of failure to be weaned from ECMO. Temporarily being weaned from CPB 15 min (OR: 0.027, 95% CI: 0.001-0.586, p = 0.02) was found to be a protective factor. The multivariate analysis revealed that CPB time 270 min (OR: 12.503, 95% CI: 1.058-147.718, p = 0.05) and ECMO support duration 60 h (OR: 12.503, 95% CI: 1.058-147.718, p = 0.05) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. ECMO is an acceptable technique for treating PCCS in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Our data suggest a reevaluation of therapeutic strategies after 60 h and again after 130 h of ECMO support.

Herein we describe four cases of ruptured infected thoracic aortic aneurysm. All patients underwent emergent thoracic endovascular aortic repair to stabilize hemodynamics. After controlling infection, stent graft removal and in situ reconstruction with radical debridement were performed in all but one case. All patients survived during the median 31-month follow-up period, and only one exhibited infection reactivation, which occurred 294 days after initial endoaortic repair. That particular patient underwent open repair. The current cases suggest that emergent bridging endovascular repair for ruptured infected thoracic aortic aneurysm is feasible and, after controlling infection, open repair should be performed as soon as possible. Keywords: Aortic aneurysm, Aortic rupture, Endovascular procedure, Infection control

BACKGROUND The strategy for cardiovascular surgery in dementia patients is controversial, so we aimed to investigate whether preoperative dementia and its severity might affect the outcomes of cardiovascular surgery by evaluating with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Methods and Results: The study group comprised 490 patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. Their preoperative cognitive status was evaluated using the MMSE, and analysis was performed to compare the patients with MMSE score

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between meteorological factors and the occurrence of aortic dissection.The study included 282 consecutive patients who were admitted to our institute with acute aortic dissection over a 10-year period. The local meteorological data over the same period were analyzed.On the days with occurrences of acute aortic dissection, there were significant differences in the following factors: the minimum and maximum temperature (p 0.0001), difference in the minimum and maximum temperature from the 10-year average, atmospheric pressure (p 0.0001), and difference in atmospheric pressure between the day of occurrence and the previous day. Cut-off values were determined by ROC curve analysis. Univariate analyses identified the following factors as significant predictors of the occurrence of acute aortic dissection: minimum temperature 4.0 °C (OR 2.42, p 0.0001), maximum temperature 15.1 °C (OR 2.23, p 0.0001), atmospheric pressure 1008.9 hPa (OR 1.75, p 0.0001), difference between the minimum temperature and 10-year average 0.3 °C, difference between the maximum temperature and 10-year average 0.44 °C; and the difference in atmospheric pressure between the day of occurrence and the previous day 0.4 hPa. However, the differences of the minimum and maximum temperatures from the 10-year average were the only factors that remained significant in the multivariate analysis. The minimum (RMeteorological factors influenced the occurrence of acute aortic dissection. In particular, a minimum temperature of 4 °C and maximum temperature difference from the 10-year average 0.44 °C was identified as strong risk factors for the occurrence of acute aortic dissection.

Purpose Some studies have reported a relationship between meteorological factors and the occurrence of acute aortic dissection (AAD). Nevertheless, the results of the studies are heterogeneous. Furthermore, whether the absolute values or fluctuation of meteorological factors influence the occurrence of AAD remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the meteorological factors associated with the occurrence of AAD. Methods Two hundred eighty-two consecutive patients (male, n = 178; female, n = 104; average age, 68 years) admitted to our hospital for AAD in the 10 years from September 1st 2008 were included in this study. One hundred fifty-seven patients had type A dissection. The correlation between the clinical data and the local meteorological data over the same period (provided by the National Meteorological Agency) was analyzed. We compared the following factors on days of AAD occurrence and non-occurrence: minimum and maximum temperature, minimum and maximum temperature difference between day of occurrence and previous day, difference between maximum and minimum temperature, atmospheric pressure and atmospheric pressure difference between day of occurrence and previous day (Δatmospheric pressure), and minimum and maximum temperature difference from climatological standard normal (CSN). Cutoff values were determined by ROC curve analyses and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by a logistic regression analysis of meteorological factors with statistically significant differences. Results ignificant differences between the days of AAD occurrence and non-occurrence were observed for minimum and maximum temperature (p The cutoff values were as follows: minimum temperature, 4°C; maximum temperature, 15.1°C; atmospheric pressure, 1008.9hPa; Δatmospheric pressure, 0.4hPa; minimum temperature difference from CSN, 1°C; and maximum temperature difference from CSN, -0.2°C. The univariate logistic regression model showed revealed the following significant predictors of the occurrence of AAD; minimum temperature (OR2.42, p Conclusion Meteorological factors, especially a minimum temperature under 4°C strongly influenced the occurrence of AAD. A maximum temperature difference from CSN of over -0.2°C was also a significant predictor of AAD.

Background Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a neurologic dysfunction that occurs after surgery. POCD persists for a long period, ranging from weeks to months, and affects a patient's quality of life. A 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) has been used to predict postoperative complications after several operations. The present study investigated whether there was an independent association of a low preoperative 6MWD with POCD in patients who underwent cardiac operations. Methods The study included 181 patients who underwent a cardiac operation. The 6MWD was performed prospectively on admission for the operation. POCD was defined as a decrease of 2 points or more in a patient's Mini-Mental State Examination score. POCD developed in 51 (28%) of these patients. Patients were categorized into a POCD or a non-POCD group, and the perioperative variables were compared between the groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for the development of POCD. Results The patients were a mean age of 71.4 years. The POCD group showed a significantly lower 6MWD (median, 400 m) than the non-POCD group (median, 450 m). The 6MWD, intensive care unit length of stay, age, and Mini-Mental State Examination score were identified as independent risk factors for POCD by multivariable analysis. The odds ratio for each increase of 50 m in the 6MWD was 0.807 for POCD. Conclusions The 6MWD is useful in identifying patients with a higher chance of developing POCD after a cardiac operation.

This review was created based on a translation of the Japanese review first reported in the Japanese Journal of Artificial Organs in 2015 (vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 136-140), with some modifications.

We have applied bipolar dual-lead spinal cord stimulation (SCS) between two cylinder-type electrodes placed on the ventral and dorsal sides of the spinal cord (dual-VD-SCS). A 36-year-old man suffered from burning pain from his right elbow down to his hand after brachial plexus avulsion. The areas with paresthesia induced by conventional SCS did not include the painful hand area. However, dual-VD-SCS completely induced paresthesia in the painful hand area. We speculate that dual-VD-SCS can be applied to stimulate deeper sites of the dorsal column and dorsal horn than conventional SCS and is useful for pain reduction.

Background aims We have confirmed that aortic aneurysm (AA) can be regressed by the administration of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs). We investigated the kinetics of signaling pathways in AA following treatment with BM-MSCs. Methods Angiotensin II-infused apolipoprotein E–deficient mice were treated by intravenous injection of 1 × 10 6 BM-MSCs in 0.2 mL saline (BM-MSCs group, n = 5) or 0.2 mL saline (saline group, n = 5). Mice were sacrificed 2 weeks after injection and subjected to measurements of the incidence of AA and levels of phosphorylated proteins. Levels of proteins in conditioned media of BM-MSCs were also measured. Results The incidence of AA in the BM-MSCs group was reduced (BM-MSC 40% versus saline 100%, P 0.05). Levels of pNF-kB and pSTAT1 were reduced (pNF-kB: 0.28 versus 0.45 unit/mL, P 0.05, pSTAT1: 0.16 versus 0.34, P 0.05), whereas levels of pAkt and pSmad3 were elevated (pAkt: 0.13 versus 0.07, P 0.01, pSmad3: 1.07 versus 0.47, P 0.05) in the BM-MSCs group. The levels of pNF-kB, pAkt, and pSmad3 were correlated with aortic diameters. Trophic factors including IGFPB-3, NRF, Activin A and PDGF-AA were secreted from BM-MSCs (IGFBP-3: 35.2 pg/mL, NRF: 3.1 pg/mL, Activin A: 3.1 pg/mL, PDGF-AA: 0.45 pg/mL). Conclusions Our findings suggested that the therapeutic mechanism of BM-MSC–mediated AA regression could contribute to regulation of the NF-kB, Smad3 and Akt signaling pathways. In addition, paracrine actions by factors including NRF, IGFBP-3, Activin A and PDGF-AA might have affected these signaling pathways.

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of our surgical experiences conducted in collaboration with cardiovascular surgeons at our institution. From May 2002 to December 2015, among 3595 general thoracic surgeries, 75 (2.1%) operations were carried out collaboratively with cardiovascular surgeons at Nagoya University Hospital. We investigated the surgical procedures, manipulated organs, morbidity and mortality, completeness of surgical resection, and prognosis of these 75 cases. The study cohort consisted of 56 males and 19 females, ranging in age from 18 to 79 years (median 60 years). Fifty-eight patients had a malignant disease, and 17 had a benign disease. Out of 75 collaborative surgeries, 53 (71%) were scheduled cases (cardiovascular surgeons’ support was considered to be necessary preoperatively), and 22 (29%) were emergent cases (cardiovascular surgeons’ support was considered to be necessary intraoperatively). No 30- or 90-day mortality was observed. Respiratory failure, defined as the requirement of mechanical ventilation or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for ≥5 days, was the most common morbidity (n = 14, 18%). Forty-three patients (78%) out of 55 with thoracic neoplasms achieved microscopic complete resection. The resection status of the remaining 12 (22%) was microscopic residual tumor. Collaborative surgeries with cardiovascular surgeons at our institution were feasible. High-quality surgeries with a good balance between safety and completeness of resection are important not only for treatment, but also in terms of education for general thoracic surgeons.

We report here a rare case of symptomatic granular cell tumor (GCT) of the sellar region with a large calcification. A 70-year-old woman presented with a sellar mass, accompanied by bitemporal hemianopia. The patient was diagnosed preoperatively as having a craniopharyngioma or a pituitary adenoma, because of the large calcification. The patient underwent surgical tumor resection via endoscopic trans-sphenoidal surgery and was diagnosed pathologically as having GCT. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and her visual field disturbance improved soon after the operation. We briefly discuss the pathological discrimination of GCT and other sellar tumors, since there are many unclear points concerning this rare tumor.

Aim: Recently, much attention has been focused on partial thrombosis of the false lumen in patients with acute aortic dissection. However, its effect on clinical outcomes in these patients, especially in case of acute type A aortic dissection, has not been clearly elucidated. This study evaluated the influence of the false lumen status, including partial thrombosis, on short-term clinical outcomes in acute type A aortic dissection patients without urgent surgical treatment. Methods: Sixty-two patients (29 males, mean age 73 ± 13 years) with acute type A aortic dissection who did not receive urgent surgical treatment at four hospitals were enrolled. Patients were divided into three groups based on the false lumen status on enhanced computed tomography image (complete thrombosis, n = 28; partial thrombosis, n = 27; patent, n = 7). Patients with partial thrombosis were further divided into two groups (thrombus-dominant, n = 15; flow-dominant, n = 12). Results: The short-term mortality rate (in-hospital and 30-day) was significantly higher in patients with a patent false lumen, while no significant difference was seen between the other two groups. Patients with flow-dominant partial thrombosis had significantly higher short-term mortality rate than those with thrombus-dominant partial thrombosis (in-hospital, p = 0.001 and 30-day, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The short-term mortality rate in acute type A aortic dissection patients without urgent surgical treatment was lower in patients with partial thrombosis of the false lumen than in those with a patent false lumen. Furthermore, patients with flow-dominant partial thrombosis had higher mortality rate than those with thrombus-dominant partial thrombosis.

Despite the recognition of the usefulness of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD), preoperative predictive factors for the long-term outcome of STN-DBS are not sufficiently established. We performed this study to determine such predictive factors. The subjects were 66 patients who were classified into two groups on the basis of their activities of daily living (ADL) evaluated five years after the STN-DBS surgery: 33 patients were assigned to the independent ADL group (group I) and the remaining 33 patients to the dependent ADL group (group D). Group I patients showed a Schwab and England (S&E) scale score of more than 70 during the off-period, indicating that these patients can maintain their independent ADL all the time. Group D patients showed a score of 70 or lower during the off-period, indicating that these patients cannot maintain their independent ADL for an entire day. We studied the differences in the preoperative state between these two groups. Statistically significant differences were noted in PD onset age, age at surgery, preoperative unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale (UPDRS) part I score, part II score, total subscore for axial symptoms in part III, mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score and S&E score. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the significant independent variables related to long-term independent ADL were the age at surgery, MMSE score and preoperative S&E scale score during the off-period. The PD onset age, age at surgery, preoperative high-level ADL, cognitive function, and axial symptoms are important predictive factors for the long-term outcome of STN-DBS.

OBJECTIVES: Aortic repair with aortic tailoring of the false lumen can preserve the true lumen and intercostal arteries naturally. It is a useful surgical strategy to prevent paraplegia. However, aortic remodelling of tailored segments in a late phase after surgery is another concern. This study investigates the destiny of aortic remodelling of tailored aorta. METHODS: From June 2004 to April 2013, 21 consecutive patients underwent aortic tailoring operation for chronic type B aortic dissecting aneurysm. The mean age at operation was 60 ± 10 years (range, 43–77). The tailored aortic segments were followed by serial CT scanning with the mean follow-up period of 46 ± 32 months (range, 2–103). RESULTS: There were no operative deaths but paraplegia in 1, stroke in 1 and reversible renal failure in 2 patients. There were two late deaths: one due to pneumonia and the other due to aneurysmal rupture of the abdominal aorta. Eighteen patients revealed a completely thrombosed false lumen and no expansion of the tailored aorta, with it remaining less than 40 mm in diameter during follow-up. However, 3 cases were associated with a patent false lumen and 2 cases revealed aortic events. The aortic event-free rate at 5 years was 95 ± 5.1% in all patients and 66 ± 27% in patients in the patent false lumen group. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic tailoring is a useful surgical technique for chronic type B aortic dissection. Paraplegia and ischaemia of other visceral organs could less likely occur. Patients with a completely thrombosed false lumen revealed no aortic events; however, a patent false lumen was associated with a high risk of aortic events.

Background : Pituitary apoplexy is an acute clinical syndrome caused by infarction and/or hemorrhage of pituitary adenoma, which typically presents with severe headache, visual deterioration, and endocrine abnormalities. However, temporal lobe epileptic seizure has not been viewed as a symptom of pituitary apoplexy in the literature. Case presentation : To elucidate further such a rare complication of temporal lobe epilepsy-like seizure, we describe here the rare clinical manifestations of a 55-year-old previously healthy male with pituitary apoplexy harboring headache, combined palsies involving cranial nerves III to VI, endocrinologic disturbances, and temporal lobe epilepsy-like seizure. In addition, we discuss the temporal lobe epilepsy associated with pituitary adenoma based on the literature. Conclusion : Although further accumulation of clinical data is needed, we would like to emphasize the importance of recognition of temporal lobe epilepsy-like seizure due to pituitary apoplexy, and to suggest that early surgery should be considered as an option in patients displaying such a rare complication.

We report a rare complication in a patient with Parkinson's disease who underwent deep brain stimulation(DBS)surgery. The patient was a 60-year-old woman who presented with frontal lobe signs, including ataxic gait and memory disturbance, that were caused by the unexpected migration of a burr hole cap into the brain three to four months after surgery. The patient had no incidence of a head injury prior to development of symptoms. The patient underwent surgery to extract the migrated cap from the frontal lobe, and her symptoms improved several months after the operation. The cap serves to fix the DBS lead to the skull using an adjunctive burr hole ring. It was intraoperatively confirmed that only the cap detached from the ring, and no cap or ring defects were detected in a postoperative quality check by the manufacturer. We have previously utilized a burr hole ring and cap, which are packaged along with the DBS electrode, when employing the product made by Medtronic Inc. No previous report has described the cap packed in the official DBS kit to have migrated into the intracranial space. It seems unlikely that the cap migration into the intracranial space would occur without the cap and/or ring breaking through either traumatic injury or from manufacturing defects. It is important to consider the migration of a burr hole cap into the intracranial space in the absence of head injury as a possible device complication after DBS surgery.

BACKGROUND The brain tumor has a highest mortality rate among childhood malignant tumors. Development of peripheral blood stem cell transplant combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy improved the survival rate of patients with pediatric brain tumor drastically late years. Because of its complicated treatment plan, neurosurgeons cannot readily manage these aggressive therapies which require minute whole body control including prevention of lethal infection due to bone marrow suppression. Even if such treatment is effective and patient survives, the aftereffects may reduce patient’s QOL. PURPOSE We report outcomes of the patients with CNS tumor after multimodality treatment. In addition, we introduce the activity contents by the in-hospital children brain tumor multi-disciplinary medical treatment team organized in March 2016. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 29 patients (under 15 years old) diagnosed as CNS tumors with total of 43 tumor surgeries between January 2001 and December 2019. RESULTS The histopathological diagnoses were 7 germ cell tumor, 7 astrocytic tumor, 4 ependymal tumor, 4 medulloblastoma, 2 craniopharyngioma, 2 AT/RT and 3 others. The mean age at first surgery was 7.4 y.o. (range: 0.3–14.8). Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy were performed in 22 cases out of 29. There were 15 survivors (11 ambulant, 3 W/C, 1 bedridden), 12 deaths, 2 lost follow-ups. Mean follow-up period was 66 months (range: 1–206). CONCLUSION To improve outcomes, we hold on a regular basis of team meeting, discuss treatment plan, and share information. Recently, we also care issues of the patients, such as fertility and palliative medicine.

Background: The number of cardiovascular surgeries among hemodialysis patients is increasing according to the growing population of hemodialysis patients; however, the clinical outcome has not yet been clarified, especially in thoracic aortic surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the early and late outcomes of thoracic aortic surgery in hemodialysis patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 700 consecutive open thoracic aortic surgeries from 2002 to 2014. We identified 21 patients receiving preoperative hemodialysis (group HD) and 679 patients not receiving preoperative hemodialysis (group N). The patients were predominantly male, had diabetes mellitus and cardiogenic shock, and had less hyperlipidemia and elective surgery in group HD. The early and late outcomes were compared between 21 patients in each group using a propensity-score matched analysis. Results: The hospital stay and intensive care unit stay were significantly longer in group HD even after matching. The 30-day mortality and inhospital mortality showed no significant differences, whereas the rate of postoperative pneumonia was significantly higher in group HD compared with the matched group N (p = 0.0067). The 1-year, 3-year, and 7-year survival rates in group HD were 73.4%, 45.7%, and 30.5%, respectively, which were significantly poorer than that of group N both in the prematched (p < 0.001) and matched analyses (p = 0.0027). Conclusions: Considering the various operative risks associated with hemodialysis patients, the early mortality rate is acceptable, even after the association with many respiratory complications. Although hemodialysis patients have a compromised prognosis after surgery, excessive hesitation to perform thoracic aortic surgery may be avoided.

Primary cardiac angiosarcomas are frequently found at a large size with infiltration into the adjacent heart structure owing to their asymptomatic characteristics until an advanced stage. Therefore, extensive resection is often required to achieve a good prognosis. We herein report a case of entire circumferential resection of the right atrium surrounded by angiosarcoma and excellent three-dimensional reconstruction of the right atrium.

In the original publication of the article, author group affiliation was published incorrectly.

Doublecortin (DCX)-immunoreactive (-ir) cells play important roles in adult cortical remodeling. We previously reported that DCX-ir cells decrease after transient global brain ischemia (GBI) in the cingulate cortex (Cg) of rats. In the present study, we examined the changes of DCX-ir cells from the acute to the chronic phase after GBI in rats. Transient GBI was induced by a four-vessel occlusion model as described previously. Thirty-six rats were divided into six groups: day 7 after sham operation (Group Sham+A), day 7 after 3 min GBI (Group GBI3+A), day 7 after 10 min GBI (Group GBI10+A), day 90 after sham operation (Group Sham+C), day 90 after 3 min GBI (Group GBI3+C), and day 90 after 10 min GBI (Group GBI10+C). The numbers of DCX-ir cells per unit area (mm

The reported number of transcatheter aortic valve replacement-associated infective endocarditis (TAVR-IE) cases has been increasing worldwide, but information about the incidence and clinical features of fungal TAVR-IE is quite limited. We present a patient who acquired TAVR-IE caused by Candida parapsilosis four month after TAVR, who was successfully treated redo-aortic valve replacement and prolonged antifungal therapy.

Doublecortin (DCX)-immunoreactive (-ir) cells play important roles in adult cortical remodeling. We previously reported that DCX-ir cells decrease after transient global brain ischemia (GBI) in the cingulate cortex (Cg) of rats. In the present study, we examined the changes of DCX-ir cells from the acute to the chronic phase after GBI in rats. Transient GBI was induced by a four-vessel occlusion model as described previously. Thirty-six rats were divided into six groups: day 7 after sham operation (Group Sham+A), day 7 after 3 min GBI (Group GBI3+A), day 7 after 10 min GBI (Group GBI10+A), day 90 after sham operation (Group Sham+C), day 90 after 3 min GBI (Group GBI3+C), and day 90 after 10 min GBI (Group GBI10+C). The numbers of DCX-ir cells per unit area (mm2) were investigated in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and retrosplenial cortex (RS). A two-way factorial analysis of variance regarding the time of GBI (sham, GBI3, GBI10) or the period after GBI (day 7, day 90) was employed in each area. Regarding the time of GBI, there were significant differences in both the ACC and the RS (p < 0.001, respectively). Regarding the period after GBI, there was no significant difference in the ACC, whereas a significant difference was found in the RS (p = 0.005). In each area and in each phase, the numbers did not change in GBI3 (one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey test) and decreased in GBI10 (p < 0.005). The numbers in the RS from the acute phase to chronic phase did not change in the sham and GBI3, and decreased in GBI10 (independent t-test, p < 0.001). However, histochemical staining with Fluoro-Jade B suggested that neuronal cell death did not occur in both the ACC and the RS in all groups. The present findings indicate that the cortical remodeling potential in the Cg decreases in the acute phase after GBI, and continues to decrease until the chronic phase.