A Deep Learning-Based Phenotypic Analysis of Rice Root Distribution from Field Images.

Root distribution in the soil determines plants' nutrient and water uptake capacity. Therefore, root distribution is one of the most important factors in crop production. The trench profile method is used to observe the root distribution underground by making a rectangular hole close to the crop, providing informative images of the root distribution compared to other root phenotyping methods. However, much effort is required to segment the root area for quantification. In this study, we present a promising approach employing a convolutional neural network for root segmentation in trench profile images. We defined two parameters, Depth50 and Width50, representing the vertical and horizontal centroid of root distribution, respectively. Quantified parameters for root distribution in rice (Oryza sativa L.) predicted by the trained model were highly correlated with parameters calculated by manual tracing. These results indicated that this approach is useful for rapid quantification of the root distribution from the trench profile images. Using the trained model, we quantified the root distribution parameters among 60 rice accessions, revealing the phenotypic diversity of root distributions. We conclude that employing the trench profile method and a convolutional neural network is reliable for root phenotyping and it will furthermore facilitate the study of crop roots in the field.

Prematurely ruptured dominant follicles often retain competent oocytes in infertile women.

Ovulation consists of a follicle's rupture and subsequent oocyte extrusion, although there is a paucity of evidence regarding whether every follicle's rupture is associated with extrusion of its oocyte. We examined this issue in a large-scale window-of-opportunity study by attempting aspiration of single dominant follicles that were found to have ruptured before a scheduled oocyte retrieval during in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer treatment of infertile women. We were able to aspirate 587 of 1,071 ultrasonographically confirmed post-rupture dominant follicles from 1,071 women (i.e. one dominant follicle per woman) and retrieved 225 oocytes (oocyte recovery ratio: 43.4% of aspirated follicles), which yielded 28 live births (live birth ratio: 11.0% of retrieved oocytes). Interestingly, the live birth ratio for post-rupture dominant follicles was not statistically different from that achieved using regular pre-rupture aspiration of dominant follicles (1,085/8,977, 12.1%). These findings suggest that oocyte extrusion frequently does not occur after follicle rupture in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilisation treatment, although the oocyte retained in the follicle can remain competent for use during that treatment.

Effects of candesartan on cough and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in mildly to moderately hypertensive patients with symptomatic asthma.

BACKGROUND: Candesartan, an AT(1) receptor antagonist, has been reported to have no association with persistent cough in subjects with hypertension, but there has been no study on the safety of its administration to hypertensive patients with symptomatic asthma. The aim of this study was to compare the adverse effects of candesartan and calcium antagonists on cough, pulmonary function, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in these patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty mildly to moderately hypertensive patients with bronchial asthma received either candesartan (n=30) or the calcium antagonists nifedipine or manidipine (n=30) for 6 months. The candesartan group included 5 subjects with a history of ACE inhibitor-induced cough. There were no differences between the 2 groups in patient characteristics, ACE gene polymorphism, pulmonary function, or bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. Control of hypertension was the primary end point; new cough detected by self-administrated questionnaire and an increase in cough frequency by visual analog scale were the second end point. No patient complained of persistent cough. Neither mean visual analog scale score nor pulmonary functions changed during this study. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness had a tendency to improve in the candesartan group, but there was no difference between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence, frequency, and severity of persistent cough, pulmonary functions, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness did not change in either the candesartan or calcium antagonist group. It is suggested that candesartan is as effective and safe as calcium antagonists in the treatment of hypertension associated with symptomatic asthma.

Randomized study of orally administered fluorinated pyrimidines (capecitabine versus S-1) in women with metastatic or recurrent breast cancer: Japan Breast Cancer Research Network 05 Trial.

PURPOSE: Capecitabine and S-1 are orally administered fluorinated pyrimidines with high-level activity against metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This randomized, multicenter, phase II study compared the activities and safeties of the oral fluoropyrimidines, capecitabine and S-1, in breast cancer patients. METHODS: Patients with MBC were randomly assigned to receive capecitabine 825 g/m(2) twice daily on days 1-21 every 4 weeks or S-1 40-60 mg twice daily, according to body surface area, on days 1-28 every 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: A total of 142 patients were enrolled and randomized to either capecitabine (N = 73) or S-1 (N = 69). Median PFS (progression-free survival) was 1.2 years for capecitabine and 1.3 years for S-1, with a hazard ratio (S-1/capecitabine) of 0.85 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.52-1.38) (P = 0.48 by log-rank). The confirmed objective response rates were 24.0 % for capecitabine and 23.1 % for S-1 (P = 0.938). The most common treatment-related adverse events were grade 1-2 in intensity. Thrombocytopenia (S-1: 9.2 %, capecitabine: 1.4 %; P = 0.040) and nausea (S-1: 26.2 %, capecitabine: 14.1 %; P = 0.079) were more frequent in the S-1 group, while hand-foot syndrome occurred more often in the capecitabine group (S-1: 10.8 %, capecitabine: 25.4 %; P = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study demonstrate that both S-1 and capecitabine are effective and well-tolerated treatments in patients with MBC, while their adverse events were different. They are both convenient, orally administered drugs, making them attractive agents for use in outpatient treatment.

Effect of adenoviral vector infection on cell proliferation in cultured primary human airway epithelial cells.

Although recombinant adenoviruses are used as vectors for delivering therapeutic genes to the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, the effects of these vectors on the kinetics of airway epithelial cell growth have not been investigated. We tested whether E1, E3-deleted Ad vectors (Ad5-CMV-lacZ) affect the kinetics of cell proliferation of human airway epithelial cells in primary culture. There was a dose-dependent relationship between the vector multiplicity of infection (moi) and the efficiency of Ad-mediated lacZ gene transfer. Growth curves of cells exposed to vector were shifted to the right as compared to vehicle in a dose-dependent manner. The vector-induced slowing of cell proliferation resulted from both (i) increased apoptotic cell death and (ii) lower recruitment into S phase. UV inactivation of the vector genes abolished the effects on cell proliferation. These data demonstrate that as the moi of vectors is increased to achieve effective gene transfer, apoptosis and slowing of the cell cycle of infected cells increases concomitantly. The identification and inactivation of these vector effects on human airway cells may be important for reducing the toxicity of adenovirus vectors for gene therapy of CF airways.

Age changes in visceral content of glutathione in the senescence accelerated mouse (SAM).

Free radical formation is known to play a role in the aging processes. However, it is still disputable whether the scavengers of free radicals including glutathione (GSH) decrease during aging. The senescence accelerated mice (SAM) are known to show age-related disorders. Some of these syndromes were thought to be closely associated with oxidative damages. Using the two strains of SAM, SAM-R/1 and SAM-P/2, we examined age-related changes in GSH content in the tissues and its oxidation. In the eye, GSH levels were significantly decreased at the age of 16 months in SAM-P/2 and female SAM-R/1. The ratio of oxidized glutathione to total GSH increased, indicating GSH may play an important role in the eyes. But there were no remarkable age-related changes in GSH contents of other tissues such as liver, kidney and lung in both SAM-R/1 and SAM-P/2. These data suggest that the GSH level of the tissues in general can not be a proper indicator for senescence.

The effects of aging on the function of alveolar macrophages in mice.

In order to determine whether the function of alveolar macrophages (AM) is modulated by aging, we measured the TNF-alpha production, phagocytic function, and surface antigen expression of AM from young and old mice. When AM were primed by IFN-gamma (500 units/ml) and triggered by LPS (100 micrograms/ml), TNF-alpha production by AM was significantly smaller in old mice as compared with young mice (young mice: 161.7 +/- 28.2 units/ml; old mice: 89.3 +/- 13.6 units/ml, P < 0.05). The percentage of AM which phagocytosed latex particles (more than one particle) in old mice was significantly lower than in young mice (young: 78.1 +/- 2.5%; old: 62.8 +/- 3.4%, P < 0.05). Ia antigen expression of the AM was significantly higher and asialo-GM1 antigen expression was significantly lower in old mice than in young mice (Ia: young, 0.030 +/- 0.005; old, 0.092 +/- 0.024, P < 0.05; asialo-GM1: young, 0.-9 +/- 0.01; old, 0.75 +/- 0.07, P < 0.01). These results suggest that alveolar macrophage function is at least decreased in part with aging in mice.

Novel positive inotropic agents: synthesis and biological activities of 6-(3-amino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-2(1H)-quinolinone derivatives.

A series of 6-(3-amino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-2(1H)-quinolinones has been synthesized and evaluated for positive inotropic activity on the canine heart. Some of these derivatives have a potent activity with none or negative chronotropic effect in isolated, blood-perfused dog heart preparations. They also display a high selectivity for positive inotropic effect over chronotropic and vasodilatory effects in anesthetized dogs. (+/-)-6-[2-Hydroxy-3-[(3-methoxybenzyl)amino]propoxy]-2(1H)-quinolinone (39) and (+/-)-6-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropoxy]-2 (1H)-quinolinone (40) were further investigated in conscious dogs. After iv administration, they did not affect heart rate or mean blood pressure at the dose producing a 50% increase in the peak of the first derivative of the left ventricular pressure. The compounds (39, OPC-18750, and 40, OPC-18790) are the most promising agents with desirable biological activities, and now are currently undergoing clinical evaluation.

Characterization of a novel nonpeptide vasopressin V(2)-agonist, OPC-51803, in cells transfected human vasopressin receptor subtypes.

We discovered the first nonpeptide arginine-vasopressin (AVP) V(2)-receptor agonist, OPC-51803. Pharmacological properties of OPC-51803 were elucidated using HeLa cells expressing human AVP receptor subtypes (V(2), V(1a) and V(1b)) and compared with those of 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP), a peptide V(2)-receptor agonist. OPC-51803 and dDAVP displaced [(3)H]-AVP binding to human V(2)- and V(1a)-receptors with K(i) values of 91.9+/-10.8 nM (n = 6) and 3.12+/-0.38 nM (n = 6) for V(2)-receptors, and 819+/-39 nM (n = 6) and 41.5+/-9.9 nM (n = 6) for V(1a)-receptors, indicating that OPC-51803 was about nine times more selective for V(2)-receptors, similar to the selectivity of dDAVP. OPC-51803 scarcely displaced [(3)H]-AVP binding to human V(1b)-receptors even at 10(-4) M, while dDAVP showed potent affinity to human V(1b)-receptors with the K(i) value of 13.7+/-3.2 nM (n = 4). OPC-51803 concentration-dependently increased cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) production in HeLa cells expressing human V(2)-receptors with an EC(50) value of 189+/-14 nM (n = 6). The concentration-response curve for cyclic AMP production induced by OPC-51803 was shifted to the right in the presence of a V(2)-antagonist, OPC-31260. At 10(-5) M, OPC-51803 did not increase the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in HeLa cells expressing human V(1a)-receptors. On the other hand, dDAVP increased [Ca(2+)](i) in HeLa cells expressing human V(1a)- and V(1b)-receptors in a concentration-dependent fashion. From these results, OPC-51803 has been confirmed to be the first nonpeptide agonist for human AVP V(2)-receptors without agonistic activities for V(1a)- and V(1b)-receptors. OPC-51803 may be useful for the treatment of AVP-deficient pathophysiological states and as a tool for AVP researches.

Influences of chronic tobacco smoke inhalation on aging and oxidant-antioxidant balance in the senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM)-P/2.

We studied the influences of chronic tobacco exposure on aging and oxidant-antioxidant balance in two different strains of mice, hitherto called SAM (senescence-accelerated mice). One is a senescence-prone strain, "SAM-P/2," and another is a senescence-resistant strain, "SAM-R/1." We used 100 male mice--20 young (12 weeks of age) mice and 30 mature (24 weeks of age) mice from each strain. Half of each series were housed in a Hamburg II machine and exposed to tobacco smoke inhalation for five weeks. The result was that fewer of the mature SAM-P/2 survived compared with the mature SAM-R/1 after chronic tobacco inhalation. The grading of senility in the mature SAM-P/2 was also significantly higher than that in the mature SAM-R/1. The reduction of glutathione contents of blood and liver after tobacco exposure in the mature SAM-P/2 was greater than that in the young SAM-P/2 and the mature SAM-R/1. Moreover, oxygen radical generation of total blood cells stimulated by phorbol-myristate-acetate or opsonized zymosan showed a greater increase in the mature SAM-P/2 compared to the young SAM-P/2 and the mature SAM-R/1. These results indicate that the senescence-prone strain (SAM-P/2) was more susceptible to tobacco smoke exposure than the resistant strain (SAM-R/1). The impaired oxidant-antioxidant balance in the SAM-P/2 may therefore contribute to the process of senescence acceleration.

Evaluation of conventional circulatory assist devices. Intraaortic balloon pumping, venoarterial bypass, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

This study was undertaken to reveal the limitations and problems with the conventional mechanical circulatory assist devices by analyzing the results in 70 cases; intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP group, n = 42), venoarterial bypass pumping (VAB group, n = 18), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO group, n = 10). The IABP could significantly prevent the development of postoperative low cardiac output state, and the best survival rate (62 percent) was obtained in the coronary arterial disease group. In the VAB group, eight (44 percent) cases were weaned, and four (22 percent) cases survived. These conventional assist devices could, though with limitations, certainly support the circulation and/or provide a period for it to recover, otherwise bridging the patients to new methods. The early decision not only for initiation of mechanical assist devices but also for moving to more definite procedures will improve the results with such devices.

Prevention of free radical-induced myocardial injury by allopurinol. Experimental study in cardiac preservation and transplantation.

To determine the role of free radical-induced injury during heart preservation and transplantation, we harvested hearts from 28 mongrel dogs (12.5 to 16.5 kg), divided them into four groups, and orthotopically transplanted them. A group of seven hearts were orthotopically transplanted immediately after excision (group A). A second group of seven animals received allopurinol pretreatment (50 mg/kg/day) for 72 hours, and the hearts were orthotopically transplanted immediately after excision (group B). A third group of seven hearts were transplanted after continuous perfusion with oxygenated modified Collins solutions at 4 degrees C, pH 7.4, and a pressure of 20 mm Hg for 18 hours (group C). A fourth group of seven animals received allopurinol pretreatment (50 mg/kg/day) for 72 hours, and the hearts were orthotopically transplanted after perfusion with modified Collins solutions in the same manner as group C hearts (group D). The generation of free radicals, estimated by measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (malondialdehyde) in the coronary effluent, stayed at low levels during perfusion in groups C and D and also remained at low levels during operational ischemia in group A and B. During reperfusion, their levels abruptly and significantly increased and were associated with a corresponding increase in creatinine kinase MB isoenzyme (malondialdehyde levels at 30 minutes' reperfusion: A, 2.25 +/- 0.43; B, 1.55 +/- 0.25 nmol/ml/100 gm wet weight [p less than 0.05 versus group A]; C, 2.67 +/- 0.28; D, 1.77 +/- 0.27 nmol/ml/100 gm wet weight [p less than 0.05 versus group C]). In the allopurinol pretreatment groups, allopurinol significantly slowed the appearance of malondialdehyde and the release of creatinine kinase MB isoenzyme during reperfusion. Furthermore, cardiac functions during reperfusion, expressed as percent of control (mean +/- standard deviation), were significantly better in the allopurinol pretreatment groups than in the untreated groups: maximum first derivative of left ventricular pressure: A, 76.4 +/- 9.5; B, 99.7 +/- 14.3 [p less than 0.05 versus group A]; C, 25.2 +/- 2.6; D, 42.7 +/- 7.9 [p less than 0.05 versus group C]). These results indicate that (1) the generation of oxygen free radical is not significant during perfusion with modified Collins solutions nor during operational ischemia, but only during reperfusion, and (2) allopurinol reduces free radical-induced injury during reperfusion. Allopurinol has potential application in the prevention of reperfusion injury during heart transplantation.

Effects of inhaled anticholinergic drug on dyspnea and gas exchange during exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

To elucidate the effect of oxitropium bromide (OTB), an anticholinergic drug, on dyspnea and gas exchange during exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), we performed the cycle exercise test on 19 patients with COPD (mean age, 72.0 +/- 1.9 years; mean FEV1, 1.28 +/- 0.07 L) before and after inhalation of OTB, 300 micrograms, or placebo, 300 micrograms, in randomized fashion. Spirometry was performed immediately before and 30 min after inhalation of either OTB or placebo. Dyspnea during exercise was evaluated using the Borg scale (BS) and the slope of the regression between BS and oxygen uptake (VO2) during exercise (Borg scale slope: BSS). Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was continuously monitored by pulse oximeter during and after exercise. We also measured the recovery time, which was defined as the time to recover decreases in SaO2 after exercise. After OTB, spirometric indices were improved (delta FEV1 16.8 +/- 0.9 percent) and maximal VO2 during exercise increased significantly (from 986 +/- 46 ml/min to 1,156 +/- 55 ml/min, p < 0.01), but not after placebo. The maximal scores of BS and the BSS were significantly decreased after OTB, but not after placebo. Although the SaO2 at rest and during exercise did not differ with or without either OTB or placebo, the recovery time after OTB (77.3 +/- 6.8 s) was significantly shorter than that before administration (98.4 +/- 14.6 s) (p < 0.01). We conclude that the inhaled OTB produces small but significant improvement both in dyspnea during exercise and in exercise performance in stable COPD and may contribute to improve the quality of life in some patients with COPD. However, gas exchange during exercise of COPD patients is little affected by OTB.

Magnetic resonance evaluation of patency of stented polytetrafluoroethylene graft connecting right atrium to pulmonary artery.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate late postoperative patency of a stented polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft, which had been used to connect the right atrium to the pulmonary artery in a patient with tricuspid atresia. The MRI depicted patency, luminal size, course, and geometric morphology of the conduit.

Development of a new experimental model for total exclusion of the right heart without the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass.

A new experimental model for the total exclusion of the right heart was successfully developed in mongrel dogs without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. A Y-shaped conduit was constructed with tube grafts spirally stented on the exterior (10 mm in diameter), and each upper limb of the conduit was provided with a 30F cannula. The foot of the conduit was anastomosed with the main pulmonary artery in an end-to-side way with a side clamp. After a closed atrioseptostomy was performed with a special knife of our design, the upper limbs of the graft were connected to the superior and inferior venae cavae by a cannulation method. The operative procedure was completed by tightening the occluding snares around the venae cavae and ligating the root of the pulmonary artery and azygos vein. Thus, without any use of the right atrium, venous blood from the venae cavae was totally diverted to the pulmonary circulation via the conduit, and only the coronary venous return was shunted to the left atrium. Five consecutive dogs tolerated the operative procedure. No pressure gradients were observed between the pulmonary arteries and venae cavae. The circulation with this model was able to be sufficiently sustained with mean pulmonary arterial pressures of about 25 mm Hg, and no significant changes were shown in the left ventricular pump function from the preoperative state. However, the decrease in the mean pulmonary artery pressure to 20 mm Hg resulted in severe circulatory failure, and two of the five dogs succumbed to this condition. Our new model will be useful for studying the hemodynamic characteristics of the circulation after operations that result in total exclusion of the right heart.

Consturction of new right ventricle on the epicardium: a possible correction for underdevelopment of the right ventricle.

By covering almost the entire right ventricular free wall and the anterior wall of the left ventricle with a Teflon cloth, we constructed a new chamber on the epicardium of a canine heart. An aortic homograft with the aortic valve was anastomosed to the right atrium as an inlet of this chamber. Another aortic homograft was sutured to the main pulmonary artery as an outlet. Pressure produced in this chamber ranged 25 to 55 mm. Hg and its first derivative was 450 to 1,870 mm. Hg per second. Thus this chamber had an excellent capability of epicardium will yield more physiological benefits to patients with an agenetic or hypoplastic right ventricle than do the current surgical procedures, in which a conduit is interposed between the right atrium and the main pulmonary artery. The procedures proposed could pressurize the pulmonary circulation and produce a pulsatile flow.

Coarctation restenosis after isthmosubclavioplasty. A consideration on operative procedure and intraluminal balloon angioplasty.

We describe a case of a six-month-old boy in whom an aortic coarctation restenosis had developed three months after isthmosubclavioplasty. The restenosis was successfully relieved by means of intraluminal balloon angioplasty. At the isthmosubclavioplasty operation, extensive mobilization of the aorta to facilitate the anastomosis should be avoided. From anatomic and operative viewpoints, coarctation restenosis after the isthmosubclavioplasty operation was considered to be amenable to the intraluminal balloon angioplasty.

Total correction of Ebstein's anomaly by replacement with a biological aortic valve without plication of the atrialized ventricle.

For the surgical management of Ebstein's anomaly, the preferred operation will be Hardy's procedure, which preserves the patient's valve. However, we have encountered 3 cases of this disease in which the downward displacement of the tricuspid valve was so severe and the functioning right ventricle was so small that Hardy's method could not be adapted without causing tricuspid regurgitation and making the right ventricular chamber more narrow. We treated these patients by replacing the tricuspid valve with an inverted aortic valve with a stent and not plicating the atrialized ventricle. The results have been proved satisfactory through about 7 years' follow-up, suggesting that our technique will be remarkably effective as a radical corrective operation for Ebstein's anomaly with severe intracardiac abnormalities.

Successful extended hypothermic cardiopulmonary preservation for heart-lung transplantation.

The inability to obtain sufficiently extended hypothermic organ preservation is a major restriction on clinical heart-lung transplantation. We used core cooling, nonrecirculating retrograde heart perfusion, and lung immersion with liposomal recombinant human superoxide dismutase in an attempt to provide effective 12-hour cardiopulmonary preservation. Donor dogs supported by cardiopulmonary bypass were rapidly cooled to 15 degrees C with cardioplegic arrest, and heterotopic heart and unilateral left lung transplantations were performed. In control dogs (n = 7), hearts and lungs, harvested after core cooling and cardioplegic arrest, were transplanted with a total mean ischemic time of 88 +/- 5 minutes. In group II (n = 7), heart-lung blocks were similarly excised but preserved at 4 degrees C for 12 hours (756 +/- 30 minutes) and then transplanted. During preservation, the lungs were immersed in hyperosmolar extracellular solution. For the heart, retrograde coronary sinus perfusion was performed with intracellular solution containing perfluorochemicals at a temperature of 4 degrees C and a rate of 30 ml/hr for 12 hours. In group III (n = 7), donor organs were similarly excised and preserved for 12 hours (726 +/- 39 minutes), except that liposomal recombinant human superoxide dismutase was administered during harvest, preservation, and reperfusion. Myocardial function, assessed by the ratio of end-systolic pressure to end-systolic dimension, after the 12-hour preservation period in both experimental groups was similar to that of the control group 4 and 6 hours after transplantation. The mean arterial oxygen capacity of the transplanted left lung during ventilation with an inspired oxygen concentration of 40% was also similar in each group. In contrast, the 12-hour preservation of pulmonary function assessed by pulmonary vascular resistance, the accumulation of extravascular lung water, and histologic evidence of alveolar wall injury, interstitial edema, and perivascular hemorrhage were significantly impaired in the absence of liposal recombinant human superoxide dismutase. These findings suggest that successful extended cardiopulmonary preservation for heart-lung transplantation is possible with core cooling, nonrecirculating retrograde heart perfusion, and hypothermic lung immersion incorporating liposomal recombinant human superoxide dismutase.

Serial evaluation of cardiac function with aortic regurgitation caused by serious aortic lesions. A preliminary comparative study with isolated chronic aortic incompetence.

Clinical and hemodynamic appearances of aortic regurgitation caused by serious aortic lesions (AR-Ao-group) seemed more deteriorated than those with isolated chronic aortic regurgitation (AR-group). Often postoperative course and operative outcome are smooth and satisfactory in the AR-Ao-group. To support this observation, serial changes of left ventricular (LV) function and LV sphericity were evaluated before and after operation in ten cases in the AR-Ao-group and compared with those in the AR-group. Before operation, there were no significant differences in LV function between the two groups. Postoperative improvement of LV sphericity and LV function were statistically better in the AR-Ao-group. The LV function reserve was considered sufficiently retained in the AR-Ao-group. Results with this study supported that clinical observation. Therefore, the total correction, at the same time of aortic incompetence and aortic lesions is recommended.