The provisional extension to induce complete attachment technique is associated with abdominal aortic remodeling and reduces aorta-related adverse events after aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the efficacy of the provisional extension to induce complete attachment (PETTICOAT) technique for type B and postoperative residual type B aortic dissections compared with the conventional thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) technique. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we compared sequential aortic morphologic changes in consecutive patients with type B and postoperative residual type B aortic dissections treated with the PETTICOAT technique between January 2016 and December 2017 with patients treated with the conventional TEVAR between January 2013 and December 2015. Outcomes included aortic remodeling and aorta-related adverse events for 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were included in this study (24 in the PETTICOAT group, 24 patients in the conventional TEVAR group). Although both groups showed aortic remodeling in the descending thoracic aorta, the PETTICOAT group developed significantly better aortic remodeling in the abdominal aorta compared with the conventional TEVAR group during the observation period. The PETTICOAT group had significantly fewer aorta-related adverse events compared with the conventional TEVAR group (8% vs 54%; P < .001). Aorta-related adverse events more commonly occurred in the poor remodeling group compared with in the good remodeling group (P = .001; hazard ratio, 8.32; 95% confidence interval, 2.26-30.64). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the PETTICOAT technique for aortic dissection may promote aortic remodeling and decrease the incidence of aorta-related adverse events. Additional studies are required to confirm these preliminary findings.

Endocrine-disrupting organochlorine xenobiotics in fish products imported from Asia-an assessment of human health risk.

The sources of endocrine-disrupting persistent organochlorine compounds (OC) are environmental pollutants. Contaminated food is a direct result of environmental pollution, and fish are considered as the main source of OC in the human diet. This study aimed to analyze the contamination of imported fish fillets with organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in the context of potential health risks of consumers in Poland in the light of the new tolerable weekly intake (TWI) values. The tested compounds in fish products were determined by liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GS-MS) method. Despite the detection of almost all pesticides analyzed in the fish fillets tested, the risk factor (hazard quotient) was significantly lower than 1.0, ranging from 0.003 to 0.013. Considering the previous recommended TWI value (14 pg-TEQ/kg bw/week), the estimated weekly intake was lower at 43-53% of TWI. However, according to the new TWI values set by the EFSA in 2018, the estimated weekly intake was about three times higher than the TWI. This raises concerns regarding threats to consumer health.

Oral administration of l-ornithine increases the content of both collagen constituting amino acids and polyamines in mouse skin.

l-Ornithine is found in animals as a free amino acid and is a vital component of the urea cycle in the liver; it is reported to have various functions such as promoting wound healing, promoting growth hormone secretion, hypnotic effects, and so on. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a single oral administration of l-ornithine on 1) the metabolism of amino acids in the liver and skin of mice and 2) the metabolism of polyamines in the skin of mice. To this end, ICR mice were separated into five groups; four groups were administered l-ornithine dissolved in fresh water (3.0 mmol/10 ml/kg) and a fifth group, the control, was not administered l-ornithine. The four groups comprised mice sampled at specific times (30, 60, 120 and 180 min) after oral administration of l-ornithine. We found that metabolism of l-ornithine to l-citrulline was rapid and that l-citrulline concentration remained high in mice sampled at later stages. Similarly, the concentrations of l-proline and glycine, both of which are important components of collagen, also rapidly increased in the skin following l-ornithine treatment. The concentrations of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine), which are known to increase the synthesis of certain proteins and enhance the epidermal barrier function, were also significantly increased in the skin. Our study shows that oral administration of l-ornithine significantly influences the chemical composition of the skin of mice through increases in both amino acids and polyamines after a short period of time.

Plasma exchange for the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy in children is safe and effective in improving both cardiac function and daily activities.

Autoantibodies against cardiac proteins play an important role in the development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The efficacy and safety of apheresis such as immunoadsorption (IA) or plasma exchange (PE) to remove such antibodies have been reported in adult DCM patients. However, apheresis for pediatric DCM has not been performed because of technical difficulty due to relatively low blood volume and instability of hemodynamics. As we have experiences of preforming apheresis on hemodynamically unstable children, we have preformed ten courses of PE on seven child DCM patients including both patients in chronic and acute phase to assess the safety and efficacy to PE. Under general anesthesia, the patients were administered PE three times during 3 days as 1 course. Simultaneously, continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) was performed in series with the PE circuit to stabilize hemodynamic status and to minimize the adverse effects of PE. The changes in LVEF, CTR, mBP, the dosage of furosemide and NYHA were assessed before and after the procedure of PE. There were no severe adverse effects such as systemic bleeding or refractory hypotension due to apheresis. Echocardiography showed that mean baseline LVEF was 24.3 ± 7.8%. Mean LVEF significantly increased 1 week after PE to 30.5 ± 12.5%. CTR significantly decreased after PE. Mean BP significantly increased 1 month after PE (54.5 ± 10.7 to 60.7 ± 9.8 mmHg). NYHA improved after PE significantly (NYHA; 3.4 ± 1.1 to 2.5 ± 1.1). PE is safe and effective in improving both cardiac function and daily activities.

Meningitis with septic shock resulting from odontogenic infection misdiagnosed as closed-lock in temporomandibular disorder: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Infections that spread to the pterygomandibular muscle can be misdiagnosed as temporomandibular disorder (TMD) because of the resulting difficulty in opening the mouth. Importantly, infection of the pterygomandibular space can extend to the skull base in the early stages, and a delay in therapeutic intervention can lead to severe complications. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 77-year-old Japanese man with trismus after pulpectomy was referred to our department. This case report describes a rare instance of meningitis with septic shock caused by an odontogenic infection, initially misdiagnosed as TMD due to similar symptoms, leading to life-threatening complications. DIAGNOSIS: The patient was diagnosed with sepsis and meningitis resulting from cellulitis in the pterygomandibular space caused by iatrogenic infection after pulpectomy of the right upper second molar. INTERVENTIONS: After emergency hospitalization, the patient developed septic shock and required blood purification. Subsequently, abscess drainage and extraction of the causative tooth were performed. However, the patient developed hydrocephalus secondary to meningitis and underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting to alleviate the condition. OUTCOMES: The infection was controlled and the patient level of consciousness improved following treatment for hydrocephalus. The patient was transferred to a hospital for rehabilitation on the 106th day of hospitalization. LESSONS: Infections of the pterygomandibular space may be misdiagnosed as TMD, owing to the main symptoms of restricted mouth opening and pain on mouth opening. A prompt and appropriate diagnosis is crucial because these infections can lead to life-threatening complications. A detailed interview, along with additional blood tests and computed tomography (CT) scans, can aid in making an accurate diagnosis.

Superior vena caval approach for resecting intracardially extended Ewing sarcoma.

Intracardiac extension of Ewing sarcoma is extremely rare. Herein, we report the case of a pediatric patient with mediastinal Ewing sarcoma which extended to right atrium via the azygos vein. Surgical resection was performed through longitudinal incision on anterior surface of the superior vena cava under cardiopulmonary bypass. Resection was feasible because the tumor was sufficiently elastic and non-adherent to the inner surface of the heart. The patient was received chemotherapy and proton beam radiation postoperatively and is doing well with no tumor recurrence for 5 years after surgery.

Repeated restraint stress modifies fatty acid and amino acid metabolism in the mouse skin.

In modern society, stress caused by relationships and emotions is one of the greatest social problems. Similar to humans, domestic and captive animals live under various stresses. Several stresses have been associated with skin disorders, such as atopic dermatitis, but there is a lack of reliable and objective indicators for the characterization of this association. This study aimed to define the changes in fatty acid composition and amino acid concentration in the skin following repeated restraint stress in ICR mice. Mice subjected to 30 min of daily restraint stress for 8 days showed changes in the composition of saturated fatty acids, such as an increase in palmitic acid content, which are the substrates of Δ-9 desaturase. Conversely, unsaturated fatty acids decreased with stress treatment, which appeared to be a result of these fatty acids being the substrate of Δ-6 desaturase. Changes in fatty acid composition after stress treatment may be one of the factors that cause skin inflammation. The water-retention capacity may have been lowered by stress treatment because histidine and leucine, which are natural moisturizing factors, were significantly decreased. The collagen content in the skin gradually decreased after repeated stress treatment. Our results indicate that repeated restraint stress may impact skin health through changes in both the fatty acid composition and amino acid concentration in mice.

Produced ß-hydroxybutyrate after ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB) administration may contribute HMB function in mice.

ß-Hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB) is an intermediate in the metabolism of the branched-chain amino acid leucine. HMB has several demonstrated effects on skeletal muscle function, some of which are contradictory. In addition, the effect of exogenous HMB intake on the levels of intermediate metabolites is not known. Therefore, we investigated changes in HMB metabolites after oral HMB administration in mice. First, ICR mice were treated with either distilled water or HMB (0.215 g/10 mL/kg). Sampling was performed at 0, 1, 6, 12, and 24 h after administration. Next, ICR mice were given distilled water or HMB (0.215 g/10 mL/kg/d) for 10 d. Mice given HMB shown a significant increase in liver ß-methylcrotonyl-CoA and increased ß-hydroxybutyrate in plasma and the gastrocnemius muscle 1 h after HMB administration. Mice administered HMB for 10 d showed significantly decreased food intake and body weight; however, the relative weight of the gastrocnemius muscle was significantly increased. These results may be attributed to an increase in ß-hydroxybutyrate resulting from exogenous HMB, since ß-hydroxybutyrate inhibits food intake and suppresses skeletal muscle catabolism. In conclusion, ß-hydroxybutyrate, a metabolite of HMB, was found to play an important role in the function of HMB.

A first case of meningitis/encephalitis associated with SARS-Coronavirus-2.

Novel coronavirus (SARS-Coronavirus-2:SARS-CoV-2) which emerged in Wuhan, China, has spread to multiple countries rapidly. We report the first case of meningitis associated with SARS-CoV-2 who was brought in by ambulance due to a convulsion accompanied by unconsciousness. He had never been to any foreign countries. He felt generalized fatigue and fever (day 1). He saw doctors nearby twice (day 2 and 5) and was prescribed Laninamivir and antipyretic agents, His family visited his home and found that he was unconsciousness and lying on the floor in his vomit. He was immediately transported to this hospital by ambulance (day 9). Under emergency transport, he had transient generalized seizures that lasted about a minute. He had obvious neck stiffness. The specific SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in the nasopharyngeal swab but was detected in a CSF. Anti- HSV 1 and varicella-zoster IgM antibodies were not detected in serum samples. A brain MRI showed hyperintensity along the wall of right lateral ventricle and hyperintense signal changes in the right mesial temporal lobe and hippocampus, suggesting the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 meningitis. This case warns the physicians of patients who have CNS symptoms.

Comparison of efficacy between continuous hemodiafiltration with a PMMA high-performance membrane dialyzer and a PAN membrane hemofilter in the treatment of septic shock patients with acute renal failure.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) with a high-performance membrane dialyzer made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA-CHDF) in the treatment of septic shock patients with acute renal failure (ARF) is clinically relevant. 30 patients were treated with PMMA-CHDF. 13 patients treated with CHDF used a hemofilter made of polyacrylonitrile membrane (PAN-CHDF). Systolic blood pressure significantly increased in the PMMA-CHDF group following 24 h of treatment (p < 0.01), whereas it did not improve in the PAN-CHDF group. Urine volume significantly increased in the PMMA-CHDF group following 24 h of treatment which was more than in the PAN-CHDF group (p < 0.05). 28-day survival was 83.3% in the PMMA-CHDF group and 30.8% in the PAN-CHDF group, respectively (p < 0.01). We can assume that PMMA-CHDF in the treatment of septic shock patients with ARF is clinically relevant.