The role of device closure of patent foramen ovale in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

One of the most frequent causes of cardiac embolism in cryptogenic stroke is a paradoxical embolus, which originate from systemic venous source though an unidentified patent foramen ovale (PFO). PFO is a common finding in the general population with a prevalence of 25% to 30%. Transcatheter PFO device closure is known to be feasible and safety treatment for such patients. In recent years, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to address the superiority of PFO closure over medical therapy alone in the prevention of stroke recurrence in patients with PFO. In contrast to findings from early 3 RCTs, recent 4 RCTs could successfully show the benefits of PFO device closure compared with medical therapy, with less peri- and postprocedural complication. Based on these data, PFO device closure is recommended to carefully select cryptogenic stroke patients aged from 18 to 65 years, with a high probability of a causal role of the PFO in stroke events. However, it is still uncertain whether PFO closure is superior to oral anticoagulants therapy in these patients. Therefore, further prospective randomized trials are needed to address the efficacy of PFO device closure to oral anticoagulants therapy.

Bilateral internal mammary artery grafts for coronary artery bypass operations in children.

We performed myocardial revascularization with bilateral internal mammary arteries in eight children for coronary artery complications consequent to Kawasaki disease. Subjects included seven boys and one girl, ranging in age from 3 to 13 years (mean age, 8.3 +/- 3.4 years). The body surface area ranged from 0.65 to 1.65 m2 (average, 1.08 +/- 0.35 m2). Three patients had a previous myocardial infarction. The right internal mammary artery was anastomosed to the right coronary artery and the left internal mammary artery was sutured to the left anterior descending artery in all patients. The patients received an average of 2.4 grafts. Magnifying loupes of 3.5 X were used for anastomosis with 8-0 monofilament polypropylene sutures. Subjects were followed up from 12 to 38 months (23 +/- 10.8 months) after operation. All were doing well with no recurrence of angina, and body development was normal, including the sternum and thorax according to chest x-ray films and computed tomography of the chest. Patency of the bilateral internal mammary arteries was 100% in the early (within 1 month) postoperative period and remained so in the late (over 1 year) postoperative period. Anastomotic junctions between the internal mammary artery and the coronary artery developed well angiographically in the late postoperative period. The internal mammary artery is the graft of choice for pediatric myocardial revascularization because of its excellent long-term patency and growth potential. Bilateral internal mammary arteries should be used whenever indicated, and the use of bilateral internal mammary arteries did not adversely influence chest wall development in the children.

Effects of double-filtration plasmapheresis and a platelet-activating factor antagonist on the prolongation of xenograft survival.

Xenotransplantation may be considered a possible solution to the clinical donor-organ shortage. We studied the effects of the removal of preformed natural antibodies against donor tissue by double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) and the administration of a platelet-activating factor antagonist on the prolongation of xenograft survival using the pig-to-dog model. The porcine hearts were perfused with the blood of mongrel dogs. Pairs of animals were divided into four groups: group I (n = 3) was given no pretreatment before perfusion; group II (n = 6) was pretreated by DFPP; group III (n = 3) was given a platelet-activating factor antagonist intravenously at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg 5 minutes before and after perfusion; group IV (n = 5) was pretreated by DFPP and then given a platelet-activating factor antagonist. The titer of natural antibodies was measured by lymphocytotoxicity and hemagglutination. Heart specimens were examined by immunohistochemical staining for deposits of dog antibodies. No immunosuppressive drugs were given in this study. The porcine hearts resumed beating immediately after perfusion in all groups. The mean duration of the graft beating was 17.0 +/- 2.0 minutes for group I, 215.2 +/- 22.6 minutes for group II (p < 0.001 compared with group I), 18.3 +/- 2.1 minutes for group III, and 317.0 +/- 26.5 minutes for group IV (p < 0.001 compared with group II). Immunoglobulin (Ig) M, IgG, complements (C3, C4), and fibrinogen were removed significantly from the perfusing blood, and natural antibody titer was scarcely detectable in groups II and IV after DFPP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Internal thoracic artery grafting for congenital coronary malformations.

We report 2 patients with congenital coronary anomalies (atresia of left main coronary artery and anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery) successfully treated with single or double internal thoracic artery grafting. Because the internal thoracic artery has a potential for circumferential as well as longitudinal development, and because of the uncertainty of ultimate vein graft function, we believe that the internal thoracic artery is the best graft material for the treatment of congenital coronary malformations requiring bypass operation in children, adolescents, or even in adults.

Increased incidence of bone metastases in hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, we often encounter hepatocellular carcinoma patients with bone metastases. We therefore examined the changes in the incidence of bone metastases in hepatocellular carcinoma from 1978 to 1997 and tried to identify the characteristic clinical features. We also discuss the reasons for the increased incidence of bone metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 673 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma during the period 1978-1997 were studied. Bone metastasis was screened by bone scintigraphy, and bone lesions were confirmed by plain radiography, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. The serum levels of the C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen, which represent osteoclastic bone resorption, were also measured. RESULTS: The incidence of bone metastasis during the decade 1988-1997 was significantly higher than that during the period 1978-1987. The median survival time of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma during 1988-1997 was also significantly longer than that during 1978-1987. Portal thrombus was found in about half of the patients with bone metastases. The most common site of bone metastases was the vertebra followed by the pelvis, rib and skull in that order. All bone lesions depicted by plain radiograph, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging were of the osteolytic type, and the serum levels of C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen were significantly elevated in the patients with bone metastases. CONCLUSIONS: The increased incidence of bone metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma in the decade 1988-1997 is first attributed to the prolonged survival rate of hepatocellular carcinoma patients due to recent progress in both the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to the vertebra through the portal vein-vertebral vein plexuses due to the presence of portal thrombus and/or portal hypertension may be related to a higher incidence of bone metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Both an early diagnosis and timely treatment of bone metastases are thus called for in the follow-up of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

A possible role of VEGF in osteolytic bone metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The incidence of bone metastasis was around 13% in 404 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent treatment at the National Kyushu Cancer Center between 1988-97, which is a high value among various cancers. This is, in part, due to the prolonged survival time of HCC patients in recent years. Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were significantly elevated in HCC patients with bone metastases as compared to those in patients with liver cirrhosis/chronic hepatitis and HCC patients without bone metastasis. VEGF was positively stained in both the primary lesion and bone metastasis of HCC by immunohistochemistry. In the process of bone metastasis, an increase in bone resorption is a crucial step prior to invasion of the bone. VEGF, the most important angiogenic factor, has been shown to stimulate bone resorption through its effects on osteoclasts. Thus, HCC cells reach the bone marrow space, and then secrete VEGF which facilitates osteolytic bone metastasis. VEGF may also facilitate tumor growth in the bone by acting as an angiogenic factor once invasion of the bone is complete. This might be another reason for the high incidence of bone metastasis in HCC.

Efficacy and limitation of a left ventricular assist system in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy accompanying multi-organ dysfunction.

A left ventricular assist system (LVAS, Toyobo CO., LTD., Japan) was used to provide life support for 190 days in a 44-year-old male patient with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy. Before LVAS implantation, heart failure and cardiogenic shock with multi-organ dysfunction progressed despite the use of intra-aortic balloon pumping (18 days), mechanical ventilatory support (15 days), continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (two days) and intravenous administration of catecholamines. Before LVAS implantation, the patient had marked hepatic and renal dysfunction (total bilirubin 6.1, BUN 73 and serum creatinine 3.1 mg/dl). Those functions returned to normal (total bilirubin 1.2, BUN 11 and serum creatinine 0.6 mg/dl) one month after implantation. He was complicated by multiple cerebral embolisms occurring on the 9th, 57th and 175th postoperative days and died 190 days after surgery. Autopsy showed thrombi attaching to the diaphragm of the blood pump and multiple embolisms in the kidney and the spleen. By scanning electron microscopic examination, initial thrombi with attached erythrocytes were seen on the diaphragm surface without intimal lining formation. In conclusion, LVAS support can be useful for patients with end-stage heart disease complicated by multi-organ dysfunction. However, the LVAS may cause thromboembolic complications over the prolonged use.

[Delayed sternal closure; a simple sternal splint].

A simple and inexpensive sternal splint for delayed sternal closure was described. Sternal edges were splinted open using an edge-cut disposable syringe. This method has been employed successfully in 10 patients (one adult, 9 children). This syringe splint is a simple, inexpensive and effective method for delayed sternal closure.

[Reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with patent internal thoracic artery grafts].

The incidence of reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting (reCABG) is recently increasing. However, there has been no report of reCABG in patients with patent internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts in Japan. We performed reCABG in three such patients with patent ITA grafts. The first patient was a 49-year-old male who had undergone a 2 CABG (left ITA-LAD, SVG-DX 1), 8 years and 7 months prior to the 2nd operation, he received a re 2 CABG (GEA-RCA, RITA-SVG-DX 1) with a patent prior LITA-LAD graft. The second patient was a 65-year-old female who had undergone CABG in which the LITA had been erroneously anastomosed to the DX 2 in place of the LAD. Three year later, the reCABG (RITA-LAD) was performed with a patent prior LITA-DX 2 graft. The third patient was a 51-year-old male who had undergone 3-CABG (RITA-LAD, LITA-DX, SVG-RCA). The RITA was closed most probably due to technical errors and his angina recurred. Tree year after the first operation, he received a re 3-CABG (GEA-LAD, SVG-RCA, SVG-OM) with a patent prior LITA-DX graft. In each patient, PTCA had been tried twice, twice and once prior to redo operations. Their post-redo courses were uneventful, and they were discharged free from angina. In such cases it is important to manage with care the patent ITA grafts at reoperation. Biplane ITA angiograms are quite helpful to evaluate the course of grafts in relation to the sternum. To cover the ITA graft with a GORE-TEX membrane may also be useful for easy identification of the graft at redo operations.

[Clinical experiences with a new membrane oxygenator with low priming volume (D702 MASTER FLO 51), studies during pulsatile and constant flow perfusion].

The newly developed oxygenator "D702" is a compact hollow fiber membrane oxygenator with a priming volume of 170 ml. The maximum flow allowance is 4 liters per/minute. We used this oxygenator in 16 patients (11 infants and children, and 5 adults) undergoing various open heart surgery, and function of this oxygenator was studied. Pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass was performed in 8 patients and nonpulsatile constant flow perfusion was employed in the remaining 8 patients. Our clinical experience showed excellent maintenance of PaO2 and PaCO2 during both pulsatile and constant flow bypasses. A low pressure drop was encountered across the membrane oxygenator, and therefore, this oxygenator is applicable for pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass. The D702 is a very useful and applicable for a wide range of patients from infants to adults with a small body structure.

[Coronary artery bypass surgery with internal mammary artery grafts: clinical and angiographic results].

We report clinical and angiographic results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery in 307 patients. IMA grafts can be utilized in the wide ranges of patient ages and/or coronary lesions including left main trunk disease, and have good adaptive capability to coronary flow demand with very low probability of atherosclerotic changes. Postoperative (5.2 +/- 4.4 months) patency rates for IMA grafts and SVG were 96% and 86%, respectively; a significant difference (p less than 0.001). From the benefits of this graft, the use of IMA has become a routine procedure in our CABG surgery and the rate of multiple bypasses with IMA grafts has increased recently. The late cardiac events have significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased in patients with the IMA graft than in those without it. We believe that the use of IMA has improved the quality of CABG in Japanese patients and this operative modality can bring better late results than multivessel PTCA.

[The change process of sex-role attitudes in female high school students].

The present study examined how changes would occur in sex-role attitudes of female high school students. Six hundred (600) randomly sampled female high school students from a metropolitan area completed a questionnaire. Partial Order Scalogram Analysis (POSA) was conducted for three variables: complaint against sex discrimination, interest in women's independence, and attitude toward women's achievement in the public arena. POSA found two separate change routes for sex-role attitudes. In the first, the complaint process, increasing complaint against sex discrimination led to positive attitude toward women's achievement in the public arena, which in turn to heightened interest in women's independence. For the second, the interest process, heightened interest in women's independence was followed by positive attitude toward women's achievement, and then by more complaint against sex discrimination. Results also suggested not only that the complaint process was facilitated by external factors like discrimination, and that the interest process by increasing interest in self. But students in the last stage of both processes experience sex-role conflict.

Surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma with a tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium.

We experienced surgical treatment on two patients having renal cell carcinoma with a tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium. In these patients, we performed nephrectomy, dissection of lymph nodes and removal of a tumor thrombus using cardiopulmonary bypass. One died of multiple organ failure 42 days postoperatively; the other was discharged from the hospital and is currently doing well 12 months after the operation. Cardiopulmonary bypass combined with hypothermia and low blood flow significantly facilitated removal of the tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium without the risk of pulmonary embolism or brisk hemorrhage.

Changes in platelet, granulocyte, and complement activation during cardiopulmonary bypass using heparin-coated equipment.

The effects of heparin-coated cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) systems on platelet, granulocyte, and complement activation were investigated during cardiopulmonary bypass. Thirty patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery with a heparin-coated (Carmeda Bio-Active Surface, CBAS, Medtronic, U.S.A.) CPB system (HC group, n = 10), a heparin-coated oxygenator and uncoated CPB circuit (HO group, n = 10), or an uncoated system (UC group, n = 10). In the HO group, plasma C3a (1667 +/- 632 ng/ml) and C4a (1088 +/- 319 ng/ml) concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than in the UC group (2846 +/- 1045 ng/ml and 1494 +/- 480 ng/ml, respectively) 10 min after the administration of protamine, but there were no significant differences in the platelet or granulocyte counts. In the HC group, granulocyte elastase concentrations 120 min after the onset of CPB (365 +/- 177 micrograms/L) and 10 min after the administration of protamine (676 +/- 314 micrograms/L) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than in the other 2 groups (820 +/- 341 and 893 +/- 303 micrograms/L and 1365 +/- 595 and 1,258 +/- 622 micrograms/L). In addition, the increase in the plasma C3a concentration in the HC group 60 (p < 0.05) and 120 min after the onset of CPB (p < 0.05) was significantly less than in the other 2 groups. The C3a and C4a concentrations 10 min after the administration of protamine were significantly (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05) less in the HC group than in the UC group. Platelet counts 10 min after the administration of protamine were significantly higher (p < 0.05) and plasma beta-thromboglobulin concentrations during CPB were significantly lower in the HC group than in the other 2 groups 5 (p < 0.05), 60, and 120 min (p < 0.005) after the onset of CPB. Postoperative blood loss during the first 12 h in the HC group was significantly (p < 0.05) less than that in the UC group. The heparin-coated oxygenator and uncoated CPB circuit reduced complement activation but demonstrated no significant effects on the platelet and granulocyte systems. However, the heparin-coated CPB circuit (with all components making blood contact) reduced platelet, granulocyte, and complement activation and significantly reduced postoperative blood loss. Therefore, heparin coating of CPB systems improves biocompatibility.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis extending into the right atrium.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis, also called benign leiomyoma, is a rare tumour that originates from a uterine myoma and spreads intravenously. A 54-year-old woman who had experienced faintness after a hysterectomy for uterine myoma 10 years earlier presented with this lesion. Ultrasonographic, computed tomographic and angiographic examination revealed a long tumour that originated in the uterus and extended into the right atrium through the right internal iliac vein and inferior vena cava. On the basis of a diagnosis of intravenous leiomyomatosis the neoplasm was extirpated by a one-stage cardiotomy and laparotomy with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass. Retrospective histological analysis of the excised uterus revealed tumorous thrombosis in the venous cavity of the tunica muscularis. Some 26 cases in which open-heart surgery has been undertaken for intracardiac tumour thrombosis have been reported. These and the case described here are reviewed and analysed. In the present case, a full view of the tumour was obtained before surgery, and the lesion removed by a one-stage procedure using median sternotomy (cardiotomy) and laparotomy. Reports of one-stage procedures are few; only eight (30%) of 27 cases.

[A successful operation of isolated levocardia with left atrial isomerism, polysplenia and tetralogy of Fallot].

A four-year-old boy who had isolated levocardia associated with left atrial isomerism, polysplenia and tetralogy of Fallot underwent successful corrective surgery. In addition, these anomalies were complicated by interrupted inferior vena cava, azygos continuation, and total anomalous hepatic venous connection. Because of these systemic venous anomalies, cardiopulmonary bypass presented us some problems of venous cannulations. We used 4 direct venous cannulations; i.e., superior vena cava, persistent left superior vena cava through coronary sinus, azygos vein and hepatic vein. Reports of total correction in patients with isolated levocardia associated with tetralogy of Fallot are rare, and we report the case with some reviews of the related literature.

[Surgical repair of bilateral atrioventricular valves in corrected transposition of the great arteries].

The patient was a 50-year-old man who had an SLL-type corrected transposition of the great arteries (C-TGA) accompanied by significant regurgitation of the bilateral atrioventricular valves, atrial septal defect (ASD), persistent left superior vena cava, atrial fibrillation, and ventricular extrasystoles. The systemic tricuspid valve was repaired with a 28 mm Carpentier-Edwards ring (C-E ring) for the mitral valve, while the systemic mitral valve was repaired with a 32 mm C-E ring for the tricuspid valve. Simultaneously, the associated ASD was closed. Although mild tricuspid valve regurgitation persisted postoperatively, his general condition greatly improved. The report of valve repair for both atrioventricular valves in C-TGA is rare, and only 6 such cases have been reported in the Japanese literature.