The role and timing of cardiopulmonary bypass in the surgical repair of traumatic cardiac injury.

OBJECTIVES: The management of traumatic cardiac injury (TCI) may require a prompt treatment, including the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) followed by surgical repair. This study evaluated the surgical outcomes among TCI patients. METHODS: From August 2003, 21 patients with TCI were underwent emergent surgical repair. TCI was classified as grade I to VI according to the Cardiac Injury Organ Scale (CIS) of the American Association for Surgery of Trauma, and severity was evaluated using the Injury Severity Score (ISS). RESULTS: Of the 21 patients, the mean age and ISS were 54.8 ± 18.8 years and 26.5 ± 6.3, respectively, including13 blunt and eight penetrating injuries. A CIS grade of IV or greater was observed in 17 patients and unstable hemodynamics in 16. CPB or extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) were used in three patients before they underwent surgery and in seven patients after undergoing sternotomy, including three on whom a canular access route was prepared preoperatively. There was a significant correlation between the preoperative width of pericardial effusion and the use of CPB (p < 0.05). Overall hospital mortality was 14.3%, and 100% in patients with uncontrolled bleeding during surgery. All patients who underwent CPB before or during surgery, in whom a standby canular access route had been established, survived. CONCLUSIONS: TCI is associated with a high mortality rate, and survival depends on efficient diagnosis and the rapid mobilization of the operating room. Preparations for CPB or establishing a canular access route should be made before surgical procedures in cases in which the hemodynamics are unstable.

Durability of Bioprosthetic Valves in Patients on Dialysis.

PURPOSE: This study focused on clarifying the durability of bioprosthetic valves in current practice. METHODS: A total of 238 consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve replacement at a single institution from 2011 to 2020 were reviewed. We evaluated valve-related outcomes such as structural valve deterioration (SVD), especially in dialysis patients who received bioprosthetic valve. RESULTS: Among the tissue valves implanted in 212 patients, 5 SVDs were recorded and 3 valves were replaced. All early valve failures occurred in relatively young dialysis patients and were recorded 3 to 5 years after the initial operation. Freedom from SVD at 6 years was 49.9% in patients on dialysis, compared with 100% in non-dialysis patients. Predictors of better survival in dialysis patients were better preoperative functional class and larger prosthetic valve size. CONCLUSIONS: The durability of bioprosthetic valves in the aortic position was suboptimal in dialysis patients. Mechanical valves can be an option for young, healthy dialysis patients with a large aortic valve annulus.

Orthodontic tooth movement-activated sensory neurons contribute to enhancing osteoclast activity and tooth movement through sympathetic nervous signalling.

OBJECTIVES: Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) increases sympathetic and sensory neurological markers in periodontal tissue. However, the relationship between the sympathetic and sensory nervous systems during OTM remains unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between the sympathetic and sensory nervous systems activated by OTM using pharmacological methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the effects of sympathectomy and sensory nerve injury during OTM in C57BL6/J mice. Capsaicin (CAP) was used to induce sensory nerve injury. Sympathectomy was performed using 6-hydroxydopamine. To investigate the effects of a ß-agonist on sensory nerve injury, isoproterenol (ISO) was administered to CAP-treated mice. Furthermore, to examine the role of the central nervous system in OTM, the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) was ablated using gold thioglucose. RESULTS: Sensory nerve injury and sympathectomy both suppressed OTM and decreased the percent of the alveolar socket covered with osteoclasts (Oc.S/AS) in periodontal tissue. Sensory nerve injury inhibited increases in OTM-induced calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity (IR), a marker of sensory neurons, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) IR, a marker of sympathetic neurons, in periodontal tissue. Although sympathectomy did not decrease the number of CGRP-IR neurons in periodontal tissue, OTM-induced increases in the number of TH-IR neurons were suppressed. The ISO treatment restored sensory nerve injury-inhibited tooth movement and Oc.S/AS. Furthermore, the ablation of VMH, the centre of the sympathetic nervous system, suppressed OTM-induced increases in tooth movement and Oc.S/AS. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that OTM-activated sensory neurons contribute to enhancements in osteoclast activity and tooth movement through sympathetic nervous signalling.

A RAS inhibitor reduces allergic airway remodeling via regulating IL-33-derived type 2 innate lymphoid cells.

Purpose: IL-33 is known to induce corticosteroid-resistant eosinophilic inflammation and airway remodeling by activating type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s). Although the RAS signal pathway plays an important role in IL-33-induced ILC2s activation and airway remodeling, it is not known if RAS inhibitors are effective against refractory asthma. We examined the effects of the RAS inhibitor XRP44X in refractory asthma. Methods: RAS activity were examined by BAL fluid and T-cells isolated from spleen cells in Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp)-sensitized/challenged acute allergic airway inflammation model. A chronic allergic airway inflammation mouse model was generated by challenged with Dp. XRP44X and/or fluticasone were administrated nasally to different experimental groups. The effects of nasal simultaneous administration of XRP44X or fluticasone were assessed in mice administrated with IL-33 or Dp. Results: RAS activity in CD4+ T cells stimulated by Dp were suppressed by XRP44X. Although fluticasone and XRP44X only improved allergic airway inflammation in mice, XRP44X in combination with fluticasone produced further improvement in not only eosinophilic inflammation but also bronchial subepithelial thickness. XRP44X suppressed IL-5 and IL-13 production from ILC2s, although this effect was not suppressed by fluticasone. IL-33-induced airway inflammation resistant to fluticasone was ameliorated by XRP44X via regulating the accumulation of lung ILC2s. Conclusion: The RAS signal pathway plays a crucial role in allergen-induced airway remodeling associated with ILC2s. XRP44X may have therapeutic potential for refractory asthma.

Lysophosphatidic Acid Regulates the Differentiation of Th2 Cells and Its Antagonist Suppresses Allergic Airway Inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a prototypic member of a large family of lysophospholipids, has been recently shown to play a role in immune responses to respiratory diseases. The involvement of LPA in allergic airway inflammation has been reported, but the mechanism remains unclear. OBJECT: We analyzed the biological activity of LPA in vitro and in vivo and investigated its role in allergic inflammation in mice using an LPA receptor 2 (LPA2) antagonist. METHODS: We used a murine model with acute allergic inflammation, in which mice are sensitized and challenged with house dust mite, and analyzed airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), pathological findings, Th2 cytokines, and IL-33 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung homogenates. The effect of LPA on Th2 differentiation and cytokine production was examined in vitro using naive CD4+ T cells isolated from splenocytes. We also investigated in vivo the effects of LPA on intranasal administration in mice. RESULTS: The LPA2 antagonist suppressed the increase of AHR, the number of total cells, and eosinophils in BALF and lung tissue. It also decreased the production of IL-13 in BALF and IL-33 and CCL2 in the lung. LPA promoted Th2 cell differentiation and IL-13 production by Th2 cells in vitro. Nasal administration of LPA significantly increased the number of total cells and IL-13 in BALF via regulating the production of IL-33 and CCL-2-derived infiltrating macrophages. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that LPA plays an important role in allergic airway inflammation and that the blockade of LPA2 might have therapeutic potential for bronchial asthma.

Mural vegetation in left ventricular apex caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

A 77-year-old male on chronic haemodialysis was admitted for repeated episodes of stroke and a high fever. The patient's blood culture was positive for Staphylococcus aureus and echocardiogram results revealed moderate mitral valve regurgitation, small masses in the left atrial appendage and a 20-mm mobile, spherical structure attached to the apical cavity of the left ventricle. Surgery was conducted to successfully excise these masses and pathological investigation confirmed the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. The attachment of mobile, spherical vegetation to the apex of the left ventricle is a rare manifestation of infective endocarditis.

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus with cerebellar vasculitis and obstructive hydrocephalus requiring decompressive craniectomy.

A 36-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was admitted to our hospital due to increasing disease SLE activity. Despite the intensification of immunosuppressive treatment, headache newly developed and worsened. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed spreading of a high-intensity area along the sulci of the bilateral cerebellar hemispheres. She was diagnosed with neuropsychiatric SLE and methylprednisolone (mPSL) pulse therapy was started. However, consciousness disorder due to cerebellar oedema with obstructive hydrocephalus appeared and required decompressive craniectomy. The histological findings of the biopsy specimens from cerebellar vermis were compatible with features of vasculitis. She was successfully treated adding intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy.

Development, validation, and comparison of gene analysis methods for detecting EGFR mutation from non-small cell lung cancer patients-derived circulating free DNA.

The feasibility and required sensitivity of circulating free DNA (cfDNA)-based detection methods in second-line epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) treatment are not well elucidated. We examined T790M and other activating mutations of EGFR by cfDNA to assess the clinical usability. In 45 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring activating EGFR mutations, cfDNAs were prepared from the plasma samples. EGFR mutations in cfDNA were detected using highly sensitive methods and originally developed assays and these results were compared to tissue-based definitive diagnoses. The specificity of each cfDNA-based method ranged 96-100% whereas the sensitivity ranged 56-67%, indicating its low pseudo-positive rate. In EGFR-TKI failure cohort, 41-46% samples were positive for T790M by each cfDNA-based method, which was comparable to re-biopsy tissue-based T790M positive rates in literature. The concordance of the results for each EGFR mutation ranged from 83-95%. In eight patients, the results of the cfDNA-based assays and re-biopsy-derived tissue-based test were compared. The observed overall agreement ranged in 50-63% in T790M, and in 63-100% in activating EGFR mutations. In this study, we have newly developed three types of assay which have enough sensitivity to detect cfDNA. We also detected T790M in 44% of patients who failed prior EGFR-TKI treatment, indicating that cfDNA-based assay has clinical relevance for detecting acquired mutations of EGFR.

Early surgery with aggressive surgical approach to improve 6-month outcomes in patients with active infective endocarditis: contribution of cerebral preoperative magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the hypothesis that early surgery for infective endocarditis (IE) attenuates the rate of death or embolic events and does not increase the rate of relapse or postoperative valvular dysfunction (PVD) at 6 months. METHODS: 21 consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment of IE were prospectively included. We assessed 6-month postoperative clinical outcomes by comparing early surgery (Group E, surgery within 72 h) and conventional treatment (Group C). Nine patients (43%) were assigned to Group E based on a combination of preoperative evaluation parameters, including the findings of cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which was performed in all patients with left-sided IE. RESULTS: Six surgical plans (5 advancements and 1 postponement) were modified by routine MRI. Although preoperative echocardiography did not confirm all annular invasions, the rate of periannular infection, which was treated by pericardial annular patch plasty (56%) in patients with native-valve IE, was higher in Group E than C (P = 0.006). Early surgery based on MRI findings resulted in no postoperative embolic events or cerebral bleeding. The 6-month mortality rate was 0% in both groups, although the calculated 6-month IE mortality rate was 49.2 ± 25% and 28.8 ± 18%, respectively. No recurrence of IE or PVD occurred in Group E. The 6-month rate of freedom from composite events was 100% in Group E. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive treatment (periannular resection and disuse of a prosthetic annuloplasty ring) and optimal antibiotic therapy based on intraoperative microorganisms, even in patients who underwent early surgery, reduced the 6-month relapse and PVD rates.

Detection of patients at high risk for nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia after cardiovascular surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a rare but life-threatening complication after cardiovascular surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential for a chance to cure. The aim of this study is to identify the independent risk factors for NOMI based on the evaluation of 12 cases of NOMI after cardiovascular surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 12 patients with NOMI and 674 other patients without NOMI who underwent cardiovascular surgery in our hospital. We reviewed the clinical data on NOMI patients, including their characteristics and the clinical course. In addition, we performed a statistical comparison of each factor from both NOMI and non-NOMI groups to identify the independent risk factors for NOMI. RESULTS: The median duration between the cardiac surgery and the diagnosis of NOMI was 14.0 (10.3-20.3) days. The in-hospital mortality of NOMI patients was 75.0%. Age (p < 0.05), peripheral arterial disease (p < 0.001), postoperative hemodialysis (p < 0.001), intraaortic balloon pump (p < 0.05), norepinephrine (NOE) > 0.10γ (p < 0.0001), percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (p < 0.001), sepsis (p < 0.05), loss of sinus rhythm (p < 0.05), prolonged ventilation (p < 0.0001), and resternotomy for bleeding (p < 0.05) showed significant differences between NOMI and non-NOMI groups. In the multivariate logistic regression model, prolonged ventilation [odds ratio (OR) = 18.1, p < 0.001] and NOE > 0.10 µg/kg/min (OR = 130.0, p < 0.0001) were detected as independent risk factors for NOMI. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified the risk factors for NOMI based on the evaluation of the 12 cases of NOMI after cardiovascular surgery. This result may be useful in predicting NOMI, which is considered difficult in clinical practice. For the patient with suspected of NOMI who has these risk factors, early CT scan and surgical exploration should be performed without delay.

A multicenter, open-label, phase II trial of S-1 plus carboplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVES: The clinical benefit of chemotherapy and the appropriate regimen for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) remain unclear. To fulfill this unmet medical need, we conducted a phase II study to elucidate the efficacy of S-1 in combination with carboplatin (CBDCA) in NSCLC patients with ILD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 33 advanced or recurrent NSCLC patients with ILD were prospectively enrolled in this multicenter, open-label, phase II study. Every 4 weeks, CBDCA at a dose of AUC 5 on day 1 and S-1 at a dose of 80 mg/m2 daily for 14 days were administered. The primary endpoint was the investigator-assessed objective response rate. RESULTS: The median age at initiating chemotherapy was 70. Sixteen patients (48.5%) had squamous cell carcinoma histology. With respect to the types of ILD, the usual interstitial pneumonia pattern was dominant (66.7%). The median number of cycles administered was 3, and the overall response rate and disease control rate were 33.3% and 78.8%, respectively. The median progression-free survival, the median survival time and the 1-year survival rate were 4.8 months, 12.8 months and 51.4%, respectively. Acute exacerbation of ILD caused by chemotherapy was noted in 2 patients (6.1%). CONCLUSION: This is the first prospective study designed to evaluate the efficacy of a specific chemotherapeutic regimen as the primary endpoint in patients with advanced NSCLC with ILD. The combination of S-1 with CBDCA may be a treatment option for advanced NSCLC patients with ILD (The clinical trial registration number: UMIN000011046).

Neutrophils induce smooth muscle hyperplasia via neutrophil elastase-induced FGF-2 in a mouse model of asthma with mixed inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is traditionally characterized by chronic allergic inflammation, including eosinophilia and elevated Th2 cytokines. Recently, IL-17-derived neutrophil infiltration was shown to correlate with asthma severity and airway remodelling. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of IL-17-derived neutrophils in airway remodelling in chronic bronchial asthma. METHODS: We utilized house dust mite antigen-induced mouse models of asthma. Intranasal sensitization and chronic antigen challenge caused a mixed allergic inflammation that included eosinophils and neutrophils (Mix-in group). We neutralized IL-17 and fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) and investigated the mechanism of airway remodelling in the Mix-in group. RESULTS: The Mix-in group displayed neutrophilic infiltration and high levels of IL-17 in lung tissue. The Mix-in group also exhibited more bronchial smooth muscle hyperplasia. IL-17 neutralization decreased the magnitude of all of these effects in the Mix-in group. Antibody arrays revealed an increase in FGF-2 in the Mix-in Group relative to the Eo-ip group, and FGF-2 elevation was associated with smooth muscle hypertrophy/hyperplasia. High concentrations of neutrophil elastase enhanced E-cadherin/ß-catenin signalling in bronchial epithelial cells. Neutrophil elastase inhibitor treatment decreased FGF-2 production and E-cadherin/ß-catenin signalling, which inhibited smooth muscle hyperplasia. CONCLUSION: The IL-17/neutrophil axis may play an important role in airway remodelling by contributing to smooth muscle hypertrophy/hyperplasia in mixed allergic inflammation and accordingly represents an attractive therapeutic target for severe asthma.

A case of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma with malignant phenotypes induced by ZEB1-associated epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Imaging and pathological studies revealed NSCLC, not otherwise specified (NOS), at clinical stage T3N1M0 stage IIIA. We started radiotherapy alone because of obstructive pneumonia and end-stage renal disease, but the tumors progressed rapidly and resulted in death due to air obstruction by pharyngeal metastasis. The cancer was diagnosed as pleomorphic carcinoma in an autopsy. Viable lung tumor cells, which were resistant to radiotherapy, and the pharyngeal metastasis had mesenchymal phenotypes and expressed ZEB1 but not SNAI1. These observations indicated that ZEB1-associated epithelial-mesenchymal transition has malignant features including resistance to radiotherapy and aggressive metastatic potential. ZEB1-associated EMT may be an important mechanism to understand the pathophysiology of pleomorphic carcinoma.

A case of interstitial pneumonia associated with anti-PL-7 antibody in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

A 65-year-old female had been treated rheumatoid arthritis (RA), interstitial pneumonia (IP) and nephrotic syndrome with prednisolone and cyclosporine. She was emergently admitted to our hospital due to the worsening exertional dyspnea and severe hypoxemia. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed new diffuse ground-glass opacities (GGOs) with slight consolidations along with bronchovascular bundle were observed in addition to pre-existing reticular shadows in both lungs with lower lobe-predominance. An acute exacerbation (AE) of pre-existing IP triggered by an infection was suspected, and the treatment with antibiotics and corticosteroid pulse therapy improved her general condition and chest radiological findings. Because some auto-antibodies associated with acute/subacute onset IP have recently become available in clinic, we examined those including anti-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (ARS) antibodies, and found that she was positive for anti-PL-7 antibody. We diagnosed her anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS) without symptom of myositis, and her IP was considered to be ASS-related. The careful consideration is necessary to precisely diagnose and treat the patients with RA-associated interstitial lung diseases as the several etiologies may be overlapped in the same patient. J. Med. Invest. 65:147-150, February, 2018.

Clinical features and outcome of acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia associated with connective tissue disease.

Acute exacerbation (AE) of interstitial lung disease is reported to be developed in not only idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis but also connective tissue disease-associated interstitial pneumonia (CTD-IP). As the significance of AE of CTD-IP has not been so widely recognized, its clinical feature is not fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the incidence, clinical features and outcome of AE of CTD-IP. We retrospectively reviewed admitted cases in our department with medical record from 2011 to 2015. Among 155 patients with CTD-IP, 10 (6.5%) cases developed AE (6 rheumatoid arthritis, 2 polymyositis/dermatomyositis, 1 systemic lupus erythematosus, 1 Sjögren syndrome), and one died of AE within 30 days. Median survival time after the onset of AE was 169 days in all 10 patients. The treatment with immunosuppressant just before AE onset might improve the prognosis of AE. The median survival time after the onset of AE was significantly longer in patients showing good response to corticosteroid compared with those with poor response to corticosteroid (805 days and 45 days, respectively) (p <0.05), suggesting that there are some cases in CTD-IP, showing the good response to corticosteroid even when AE was complicated. J. Med. Invest. 63: 294-299, August, 2016.

Experimental tooth movement-induced osteoclast activation is regulated by sympathetic signaling.

Experimental tooth movement (ETM) changes the distribution of sensory nerve fibers in periodontal ligament and the bone architecture through the stimulation of bone remodeling. As the sympathetic nervous system is involved in bone remodeling, we examined whether ETM is controlled by sympathetic signaling or not. In male mice, elastic rubber was inserted between upper left first molar (M1) and second molar (M2) for 3 or 5 days. Nerve fibers immunoreactive for not only sensory neuromarkers, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), but also sympathetic neuromarkers, such as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were increased in the periodontal ligament during ETM. To elucidate the effect of the sympathetic signal mediated by ETM, mice were intraperitoneally injected with a ß-antagonist, propranolol (PRO: 20 µg/g/day), or a ß-agonist, isoproterenol (ISO: 5 µg/g/day) from 7 days before ETM. PRO treatment suppressed the amount of tooth movement by 12.9% in 3-day ETM and by 32.2% in 5-day ETM compared with vehicle treatment. On the other hand, ISO treatment increased it. Furthermore, ETM remarkably increased the osteoclast number on the bone surface (alveolar socket) (Oc.N/BS) in all drug treatments. PRO treatment suppressed Oc.N/BS by 39.4% in 3-day ETM, while ISO treatment increased it by 32.1% in 3-day ETM compared with vehicle treatment. Chemical sympathectomy using 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA: 250 µg/g) showed results similar to those for PRO treatment in terms of both the amount of tooth movement and osteoclast parameters. Our data showed that blockade of sympathetic signaling inhibited the tooth movement and osteoclast increase induced by ETM, and stimulation of sympathetic signaling accelerated these responses. These data suggest that the mechano-adaptive response induced by ETM is controlled by sympathetic signaling through osteoclast activation.