[Sudden Chest Pain due to Early Bioprosthetic Valve Dysfunction:Report of a Case].

We report a case of bioprosthetic valve dysfunction and acute aortic valve regurgitation. The case was a 75-year-old female who had sudden onset chest pain. ST-segment depression in several leads on electrocardiogram( ECG) suggested acute coronary syndrome. Coronary angiography showed no significant stenosis in coronary arteries. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed severe aortic regurgitation, suggesting that angina was caused by myocardial ischemia associated with acute aortic regurgitation. She was diagnosed as having bioprosthetic valve dysfunction, and underwent redo aortic valve replacement. One leaflet of the bioprosthetic valve was torn along the stent post and caused bioprosthetic valve dysfunction. Failed bioprosthetic valve was removed and replaced by a mechanical valve.

[Traumatic Ascending Aortic Injury with Delayed Cardiac Tamponade due to Sternal Fracture].

The case was a 63-year-old male. He had a history of surgery for funnel chest at the age of 23. He overdrank and hit the anterior chest about two weeks before. He complained of persistent chest pain and palpitation, and was admitted because of atrial fibrillation and moderate pericardial fluid. Computed tomography (CT) showed a new sternal fracture, but dislocation and instability was mild. A few days later, sinus rhythm was restored and his heart failure improved. Unfortunately, on the 7th day, he suddenly suffered cardiopulmonary arrest. Ultrasonography revealed cardiac tamponade, and pericardiocentesis yielded 400 ml of bloody pericardial fluid collection. CT demonstrated clot mainly in the anterior pericardium, and emergent operation was performed. Bleeding from the anterior wall of the ascending aorta was repaired by placing one stitch. Postoperatively the patient remained unconscious, and CT of the brain showed hypoxic encephalopathy. After prolonged ventilator management, he was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital. In retrospect, the ascending aorta was close to the sternum in this patient, and sternal fracture might have caused injury of the ascending aorta.

High heat flux reduction to materials using current filaments.

Reducing high electron and ion heat fluxes is one of the critical issues for shielding satellites and spacecraft. One of the ideas for shielding high particle and heat fluxes is to apply an external magnetic field generated by injecting current filaments. In this work, we model a flow of plasma, which includes electrons and ions in a small region, by using two spatial dimensions and three coordinates for velocities (2D3V) Particle-In-Cell (PIC) code to study the effects of the injected current filaments on particle and heat fluxes to the wall. The plasma enters the simulation domain from the source region at the left boundary and is fully absorbed in the conductor wall at the right boundary. Current filaments are injected to change the magnetic field structure of the system. We compare particle density, particle flux, and heat flux with and without injecting the current filaments into the domain in two dimensions. Based on the simulation results, we found that injecting current filaments can reduce the peak fluxes to the wall and transfer some of those fluxes along the wall. Therefore, injecting the current filaments is a good candidate for shielding satellites and spacecraft from high-energy ion and electron fluxes.

A Dicyanomethyl Radical Conjugated with a Pyridylamino Group: Combining Radical-based Dynamic Covalent Chemistry and Coordination Chemistry.

In this work, we aimed to develop a dicyanomethyl radical that undergoes both reversible C-C bond formation/dissociation and metal-ligand coordination reactions to combine dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) based on organic radicals with coordination chemistry. We have previously reported a dicyanomethyl radical conjugated with a triphenylamine (1⋅) that exhibits a monomer/dimer equilibrium between the σ-bonded dimer (12 ). We designed and synthesized a novel dicyanomethyl radical with a pyridyl group as a coordination point (2⋅) by replacing the phenyl group of 1⋅ with a 3-pyridyl group. We showed that 2⋅ is also in an equilibrium with the σ-bonded dimer (22 ) in solution and has suitable thermodynamic parameters for application in DCC. 22 coordinates to PdCl2 in a 2 : 2 ratio to selectively form a metallamacrocycle (22 )2 (PdCl2 )2 , and its structure was clarified by single crystal X-ray analysis. Variable-temperature NMR, ESR, and electronic absorption measurements revealed that (22 )2 (PdCl2 )2 also undergoes the reversible C-C bond formation/dissociation reaction. Ligand-exchange experiment showed that 22 was liberated from (22 )2 (PdCl2 )2 by the addition of another ligand with a higher affinity for PdII . This work demonstrated that DCC based on dicyanomethyl radicals works orthogonally to metal-ligand coordination reactions.

Efficacy of Plasma free Hemoglobin for detecting centrifugal pump thrombosis.

INTRODUCTION: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is widely used as an indicator of pump thrombosis in a centrifugal pump. However, due to the low specificity of LDH, pump thrombosis is difficult to detect in the clinical environment. We measured plasma free hemoglobin (pfHb) with the portable device in ICU. The goal of this investigation is to evaluate its diagnostic ability for pump thrombosis. METHODS: We enrolled 31 consecutive patients who needed Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy and pfHb was determined with HemoCue® plasma/Low Hb photometer. Pump thrombosis was analyzed macroscopically at the timing of pump explantation or exchange. Also, we divided the pump thrombosis into a grading scale by the place of thrombosis. RESULTS: The median of peak pfHb was significantly lower in the none thrombus group (0.03 g/dL) than that of in the thrombus group (0.05g/dL) (p = 0.01). In our grading criteria, pfHb was significantly higher when the thrombus is existing near the shaft (p = 0.015). Contrary, no significant difference was found for LDH.The ROC analysis of pfHb revealed an AUC of 0.77 for detecting pump thrombosis with the best statistical cutoff value at 0.05 g/dL (specificity, 78%; sensitivity, 77%). Also, ROC analysis of LDH was performed (AUC, 0.44; cutoff value, 1200 IU/L; specificity, 59%; sensitivity, 54%) and compared with pfHb. AUC was significantly higher in pfHb (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Our results showed the efficacy of pfHb for detecting centrifugal pump thrombosis.

Outcomes of dogs with progressive myelomalacia treated with hemilaminectomy or with extensive hemilaminectomy and durotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of extensive hemilaminectomy and durotomy (EHLD) to control progressive myelomalacia (PMM) in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Twenty-eight client owned dogs that underwent EHLD (n = 10) or HL alone (n = 18). METHODS: After diagnosis by MRI, dogs were immediately treated with HL alone or EHLD at the site of intramedullary hyperintensity on T2-weighted (T2W)-MRI. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Follow-up data were collected via telephone interviews with the referring veterinarian and a standardized questionnaire. Postoperative survival outcome between groups was compared (log-rank test) by using Cox's proportional hazard analysis with baseline characteristics entered as covariates. RESULTS: The survival rate was higher in the EHLD group (P = .03) compared with the HL-alone group. Eleven of 18 dogs treated with HL survived, while seven of 18 dogs died (median, 5 days after surgery). In the EHLD group, 10 of 10 dogs survived postoperatively. Baseline characteristics were not associated with postoperative survival outcomes. According to multivariate analysis, EHLD was the independent factor associated with an increase in survival rate (P = .0002). CONCLUSION: EHLD durotomy at the intramedullary hyperintense region on T2W-MRI improved the survival rate of dogs with PMM compared with dogs treated with standard HL. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides evidence that supports treatment with EHLD in dogs with PMM. Additional prospective studies are required.

Warfarin-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis after mitral valve replacement.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are rare diseases that cause acute destruction of the epithelium of the skin and mucous membranes, almost always attributable to drugs. However, warfarin-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis is extremely rare. We report the case of 71-year-old woman who died due to destructive erosion all over her skin and mucous membranes. She had received a mitral valve prosthesis, and warfarin was prescribed for antithrombotic therapy. A lymphocyte transformation test for drug hypersensitivity and the clinical history confirmed this phenomenon as warfarin-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Correction to: Trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and eribulin mesylate versus trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and a taxane as a first-line or second-line treatment for HER2-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer: study protocol for a randomized controlled, non-inferiority, phase III trial in Japan (JBCRG-M06/EMERALD).

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and eribulin mesylate versus trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and a taxane as a first-line or second-line treatment for HER2-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer: study protocol for a randomized controlled, non-inferiority, phase III trial in Japan (JBCRG-M06/EMERALD).

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab (Tmab), pertuzumab (Pmab), and taxane has been a standard first-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic human epidermal growth factor (HER2)-positive breast cancer (HER2+ mBC) but has some safety issues due to taxane-induced toxicities. This has led to ongoing efforts to seek less toxic alternatives to taxanes that are equally effective when used in combination with Tmab plus Pmab. This study aims to show the non-inferiority of eribulin, a non-taxane microtubule inhibitor, against taxane, as a partner for dual HER2 blockade. METHODS/DESIGN: This multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, phase III study will involve a total of 480 Japanese women with HER2+ mBC who meet the following requirements: (1) age 20-70 years; (2) no prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (excluding trastuzumab-emtansine) for mBC; (3) ≥ 6 months after prior neoadjuvant or adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy; (4) presence of any radiologically evaluable lesion; (5) left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 50%; (6) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0 or 1; (7) adequate organ function; and (8) life expectancy of at least 6 months. They will be randomized 1:1 to receive eribulin (1.4 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8) or taxane (docetaxel 75 mg/m2 on day 1 or paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15) in combination with Tmab (8 mg/kg then 6 mg/kg) plus Pmab (840 mg then 420 mg) on day 1 of each 21-day cycle. The treatment will be continued until disease progression or unmanageable toxicity. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival as per investigator according to RECIST v1.1 criteria. Key secondary endpoints include objective response rate, overall survival, quality of life and safety. Non-inferiority will be tested with two margins of 1.33 and 1.25 in a stepwise manner. If non-inferiority is shown with a margin of 1.25, superiority will then be tested. DISCUSSION: If this study shows the non-inferiority, or even superiority, of Tmab, Pmab, and eribulin against the existing taxane-containing regimen, this new regimen may become a standard first- or second-line treatment option for HER2+ mBC in Japan. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03264547. Registered on 28 June 2017.

Cryptic Diversity in the Aphid-Parasitizing Wasp Protaphidius nawaii (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Discovery of Two Attendant-Ant-Specific mtDNA Lineages.

The parasitoid wasp Protaphidius nawaii parasitizes the aphid Stomaphis japonica, which is obligatorily attended by several species of ants of genus Lasius. Subgenus Lasius or Dendrolasius ants use different defense strategies to protect the aphids that they attend (Lasius, shelter building; Dendrolasius, aggressive attack). We performed molecular phylogenetic analysis based on partial mitochondrial DNA sequences of P. nawaii and found that the parasitoid wasp consists of two highly differentiated genetic lineages. Although these two lineages distributed sympatrically, one tends to parasitize aphids attended by ants of subgenus Lasius, and the other parasitizes aphids attended by ants of subgenus Dendrolasius. The two lineages of P. nawaii appear to exhibit different oviposition behaviors adapted to the different aphid-protection strategies of the two ant subgenera.

MicroRNA-205-5p inhibits three-dimensional spheroid proliferation of ErbB2-overexpressing breast epithelial cells through direct targeting of CLCN3.

We previously reported that microRNA-205-5p (miR-205-5p) is significantly decreased in the ErbB2-overexpressing breast epithelial cell line MCF10A-ErbB2 compared with control cells. In this study, we identified a direct target of miR-205-5p, chloride voltage-gated channel 3 (CLCN3). CLCN3 expression was induced by ErbB2 overexpression; this induced expression was then reduced to control levels by the transfection of the miR-205-5p precursor. In RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation with Ago1/2/3 antibody, CLCN3 was significantly enriched in 293T embryonic kidney cells with miR-205-5p mimic transfection compared with negative control mimic transfection. In luciferase reporter assays using CLCN3 3'-UTR constructs, the miR-205-5p mimic significantly decreased reporter activity of both wild-type and partial mutant constructs in MCF10A-ErbB2 cells. In contrast, no inhibitory effects of the miR-205-5p mimic were detected using the complete mutant constructs. Since miR-205-5p expression in exosomes derived from MCF10A-neo cells was substantially higher than in exosomes derived from MCF10A-ErbB2 cells, we next investigated whether an exosome-mediated miR-205-5p transfer could control CLCN3 expression. To this end, exosomal miR-205-5p derived from MCF10A-neo cells was functionally transferred to MCF10A-ErbB2 cells, which served to decrease the expression of CLCN3. To assess the roles of CLCN3 in breast cancer, we next performed three-dimensional (3D) spheroid proliferation analyses using MCF10A-ErbB2 cells treated with MCF10A-neo-derived exosomes or CLCN3 shRNA stably expressing SKBR3 and MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells. Our results showed that both treatment with MCF10A-neo-derived exosome and CLCN3 shRNA expression suppressed 3D spheroid proliferation. Collectively, these novel findings suggest that CLCN3 may be a novel direct target of miR-205-5p and this CLCN3/miR-205-5p interaction may serve a pivotal role in regulating breast cancer cellular proliferation under physiological conditions.

Effect of an artificial ring on mitral valve function.

Differences of the effect of annuloplasty rings on the mitral annulus and leaflets, and differences between types of annuloplasty rings are not well known. We analyzed annular motion and leaflet movement with a rigid or flexible ring and without a ring using an isolated swine working heart model. Hearts of 10 swine (weight: 40-50 kg) were used for a rigid ring (n=5) and a flexible ring (n=5). Four ultrasound crystal tips were fixed around the annulus and an annuloplasty ring was implanted in the isolated heart. In the working heart mode, measurement of mitral annular dimension was acquired by sonomicrometry. Images of mitral valve motion were acquired by a high-speed video camera. The same analyses were performed after removing the artificial ring. The antero-posterior diameter of the diastole distance was significantly reduced in the flexible ring (21.59±0.71 mm) and rigid ring (15.93±1.88 mm) compared with no ring (23.51±2.01 mm). The flexible ring made the transverse diameter shrink significantly more than did the rigid ring. The contraction range of the transverse diameter was significantly smaller in the flexible ring compared with no ring. The duration of opening to closing of the mitral leaflet with the rigid (124.7±4.4 ms) and flexible rings (107.9±3.5 ms) was significantly shorter than that with no ring (168±36.5 ms). Annuloplasty rings allow simplicity of leaflet motion, regardless of the type of artificial ring. In a flexible ring, the mitral annulus shows a vertically long shape, suggesting preservation of posterior annular movement.

Feline neurological diseases in a veterinary neurology referral hospital population in Japan.

Many of the reports summarizing neurological disorders in cats considered only a limited disease group(s). There is only one large-scale survey on neurological disorders in cats based on the histopathological viewpoint. We described the localizations and frequencies of neurological diseases in a large population of cats that were referred to the Kyoto Animal Referral Medical Center between 2009 and 2016. We attempted to determine the localization of lesions at the time of the examination in each case and to classify the disease etiologies of these 276 cats with neurological disorders retrospectively. There were 174 cases with lesions in the brain region, 14 cases with lesions in the cervical cord region, 34 cases with lesions in the thoracolumbar cord region, and 54 cases with lesions in the peripheral neuromuscular region. High morbidity rates were observed in cases of idiopathic epilepsy and intracranial tumor in the brain region, spinal cord infarction in the cervical cord region, spinal cord infarction and spinal cord tumor in the thoracolumbar cord region, and peripheral vestibular dysfunction arising from otitis media/interna in the peripheral neuromuscular region. It was suggested that there is a higher number of brain diseases than spinal cord and peripheral neuromuscular diseases in cats. Idiopathic and neoplastic diseases were common in the brain region, vascular diseases were common in the spinal cord region, and infectious diseases were common in the peripheral neuromuscular region.

[Video Assisted Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm Repair].

An 80-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of subacute myocardial infarction with moderate mitral regurgitation. Though he recovered well and went home within 2 weeks, the transthoracic echocardiography revealed rapid growing aneurysmal changes at the left ventricular posterior wall. We made diagnose of a pseudoaneurysm by the multi detector-row computed tomography, and planed a surgical treatment. Following the cardiac arrest, an endoscope was inserted into the left ventricle, we inspected the relation between the mitral valve and papillary muscles to detect proper suture lines and to avoid the mitral regurgitation. The defect of the left ventricular wall was repaired with 2-layer bovine pericardial patches reinforced with fibrin glue. His postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged from hospital on 12th postoperative day. We consider that inspections of intra-ventricle apparatus with the endoscope are useful to prevent the mitral valve insufficiency and keep the optimal left ventricle shape.

Mitochondrial Genomics Reveals Shared Phylogeographic Patterns and Demographic History among Three Periodical Cicada Species Groups.

The mass application of whole mitogenome (MG) sequencing has great potential for resolving complex phylogeographic patterns that cannot be resolved by partial mitogenomic sequences or nuclear markers. North American periodical cicadas (Magicicada) are well known for their periodical mass emergence at 17- and 13-year intervals in the north and south, respectively. Magicicada comprises three species groups, each containing one 17-year species and one or two 13-year species. Within each life cycle, single-aged cohorts, called broods, of periodical cicadas emerge in different years, and most broods contain members of all three species groups. There are 12 and three extant broods of 17- and 13-year cicadas, respectively. The phylogeographic relationships among the populations and broods within the species groups have not been clearly resolved. We analyzed 125 whole MG sequences from all broods and seven species within three species groups to ascertain the divergence history of the geographic and allochronic populations and their life cycles. Our mitogenomic phylogeny analysis clearly revealed that each of the three species groups had largely similar phylogeographic subdivisions (east, middle, and west) and demographic histories (rapid population expansion after the last glacial period). The mitogenomic phylogeny also partly resolved the brood diversification process, which could be explained by hypothetical temporary life cycle shifts, and showed that none of the 13- and 17-year species within the species groups was monophyletic, possibly due to gene flow between them. Our findings clearly reveal phylogeographic structures in the three Magicicada species groups, demonstrating the advantage of whole MG sequence data in phylogeographic studies.

Effect of hypoxia on progesterone production by cultured bovine early and mid luteal cells.

A major role of the corpus luteum (CL) is to produce progesterone (P4). The CL has immature vasculature shortly after ovulation, suggesting it exists under hypoxic conditions. To elucidate the mechanism involved in regulation of luteal cell function during CL development, we compared the effect of hypoxia on P4 production by cultured bovine early and mid luteal cells. Luteal cells obtained from early and mid CL were incubated under different O2 concentrations (20% and 3%) with or without hCG (1 U/ml) for 6 h and 24 h. After 6 h of culture in the presence of hCG, P4 production was not affected by hypoxia whereas decrease in its production by mid luteal cells was observed. After 24 h of culture, P4 production was significantly decreased by hypoxia in both stages of luteal cells regardless of the use of hCG. At 6 h of culture, hypoxia increased mRNA expression of hydroxyl-Δ-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3ß- and steroid Δ-isomerase 1 (HSD3B1) in early luteal cells, and decreased mRNA expression of cytochrome P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage (CYP11A1) enzyme in mid luteal cells. At 24 h of culture, mRNA expressions of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR), CYP11A1, and HSD3B1 were not affected by hypoxia in both stages of luteal cells. The overall results suggest that early luteal cells maintain P4 production under hypoxic conditions, and hypoxia-induced HSD3B1 may support this P4 production in the bovine early CL.

The periodical cicada four-year acceleration hypothesis revisited and the polyphyletic nature of Brood V, including an updated crowd-source enhanced map (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Magicicada).

The periodical cicadas of North America (Magicicada spp.) are well-known for their long life cycles of 13 and 17 years and their mass synchronized emergences. Although periodical cicada life cycles are relatively strict, the biogeographic patterns of periodical cicada broods, or year-classes, indicate that they must undergo some degree of life cycle switching. We present a new map of periodical cicada Brood V, which emerged in 2016, and demonstrate that it consists of at least four distinct parts that span an area in the United States stretching from Ohio to Long Island. We discuss mtDNA haplotype variation in this brood in relation to other periodical cicada broods, noting that different parts of this brood appear to have different origins. We use this information to refine a hypothesis for the formation of periodical cicada broods by 1- and 4-year life cycle jumps.

Solid-state reduction of silica nanoparticles via oxygen abstraction from SiO4 units by polyolefins under mechanical stressing.

Metal oxides with an oxidation number lower than the highest often exhibit attractive functional properties. However, conventional chemical or thermal reduction of the stable oxides is often laborious and cannot be stopped at an appropriate level of reduction. Therefore, we here try to explore non-conventional reduction processes in a solid-state without external heating. Unique features of reduction processes of SiO2 toward suboxides, SiO x (1 ≤ x < 2), were made possible by milling fumed silica nanoparticles with polyolefins (POL), i.e., polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) and a fluorine-containing one, polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). We mainly examined the electronic and coordination states of Si by Si2p XPS spectra and 29Si MAS NMR, respectively. They significantly differ from a similar commercial product obtained via a thermal route. Judging from the chemical shift of 29Si MAS NMR as a criterion of the degree of reduction of SiO2, the function of POL as a reductant is in the order PP ≈ PE > PVDF. Since the present solid-state reaction is free from the formation of unstable gaseous SiO as an intermediate, the products are free from the Si component in a Q0 state close to that of metallic Si. From these results we conclude that the present silicon suboxides obtained by co-milling silica with POL are closer to those defined as a random bonding model of SiO, than a random mixture model, the former being unachievable by a thermal process. The main mechanism of the present solid-state reduction is the oxygen abstraction from the SiO4 units by the polarized POL, with its simultaneous oxidative decomposition up to the state of carbon. The reaction process is simple and scalable so that it may offer a new affordable fabrication method of silicon suboxides.

Giant biatrial myxoma with two different gross findings.

We experienced a giant biatrial myxoma concomitant with hepatocellular carcinoma. Most of myxomas originate from the left atrium, and biatrial myxomas are extremely rare. Excision of the giant cardiac tumor was performed to avoid risks of life-threatening complications. The resected mass was grossly composed of two parts with the border of interatrial septum and with the shape of peanut shell. Although microscopic examinations revealed enlarged vessels, hemorrhages and hemosiderosis in the left part and high cellularity with chronic inflammation in the right part, spindle-shaped cells in a loose myxoid stroma were observed in both parts of the tumor, consistent with the diagnosis of myxoma. His second operation for hepatic cancer was successfully performed following 1 month after the first operation. Surgical treatment should be considered for giant atrium tumor which has risk of life-threatening complications even if patients have another cancer.