Low T3 Syndrome Is Associated With High Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure

Background

We aimed to clarify the prognosis and pathophysiological parameters of low T3 syndrome in patients with heart failure (HF).

Subclinical Hypothyroidism Is Associated With Adverse Prognosis in Heart Failure Patients

Background

It is widely recognized that overt hyper- as well as hypothyroidism are potential causes of heart failure (HF). Additionally it has been recently reported that subclinical hypothyroidism (sub-hypo) is associated with atherosclerosis, development of HF, and cardiovascular death. We aimed to clarify the effect of sub-hypo on prognosis of HF, and underlying hemodynamics and exercise capacity.

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma with acute respiratory failure due to hemoptysis; report of a case

A 69-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for hemoptysis and dyspnea. Because of his deteriorating respiratory distress, he was intubated and controlled by respirator for 3 days. He was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the lung by the sputum examination and chest computed tomography (CT) revealed an infiltration shadow in the peripheral superior ventral segment (S3) of the right upper lobe. He underwent right upper lobectomy with video-assisted thoracic surgery. Microscopic findings of the resected specimen measuring 10 x 10 x 7 cm revealed mucin-producing bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) with metastases in lymph nodes and the same lobe (S2b). We reported a rare case of BAC with hemoptysis.     

Clinical evaluation of lung cancer patients with only best supportive care

Eighteen cases with only symptomatically treated lung cancer admitted to our hospital from May 2002 to October 2006 were retrospectively investigated clinically. The patients consisted of 10 males and 8 females, aged 50-9 8 years old (mean age 78.1 yo). Clinical stage distribution revealed a higher incidence in the advanced stages. The performance status according to the ECOG classification was predominantly grade 2-4. The average survival time was 5.9 4 months. The cell type was the major prognosticator followed by clinical stage and age. There was a tendency to die early in any case that had a poor whole-body state, such as weight reduction and a feeling of whole body fatigue. There was a tendency for the at home period to be short in cases that required control of pleural effusion, and the survival period was short.     

Antioxidant effect of astaxanthin on phospholipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes

Phospholipid hydroperoxides (PLOOH) accumulate abnormally in the erythrocytes of dementia patients, and dietary xanthophylls (polar carotenoids such as astaxanthin) are hypothesised to prevent the accumulation. In the present study, we conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial to assess the efficacy of 12-week astaxanthin supplementation (6 or 12?mg/d) on both astaxanthin and PLOOH levels in the erythrocytes of thirty middle-aged and senior subjects. After 12 weeks of treatment, erythrocyte astaxanthin concentrations were higher in both the 6 and 12?mg astaxanthin groups than in the placebo group. In contrast, erythrocyte PLOOH concentrations were lower in the astaxanthin groups than in the placebo group. In the plasma, somewhat lower PLOOH levels were found after astaxanthin treatment. These results suggest that astaxanthin supplementation results in improved erythrocyte antioxidant status and decreased PLOOH levels, which may contribute to the prevention of dementia.     

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration treated by resection of the sequestrated segment

Segmentectomy including the sequestrated segment and lobectomy are generally performed for intralobar pulmonary sequestration. We report a case of intralobar pulmonary sequestration of Pryce type III treated by resection of only the sequestrated segment. A 57-year-old man presented with a 5 x 3 cm mass shadow overlapping a cardiac shadow on the left lower lung field on chest radiograph at medical examination. The mass was not connected with the bronchial tree, and was supplied by an aberrant artery arising from the thoracic descending aorta. The mass was suspected to exist in the normal visceral pleura from chest images. The mass was suspected to be an intralobar pulmonary sequestration from the abovementioned findings, and we performed an operation. At the beginning of the procedure, after dissecting the aberrant artery, only the sequestrated segment was performed.     

Comparison Study of Home Catheter Cleaning Methods

Three methods of cleaning urinary catheters for reuse at home by clients on intermittent catheterization programs were studied. Reused catheters were collected from clients, autoclaved, and then incubated in a culture of Escherichia coli broth. Three different isolates of E. coli were used at concentrations ranging from 4.8 × 10⁵ to 1.0 × 10⁸ colony-forming units per milliliter. The catheters were then rinsed with tap water for 1 minute and soaked in one of three cleaning solutions for 30 minutes. The three cleaning solutions studied were 0.6% hydrogen peroxide, bleach in a 1:4 solution with tap water, and betadine in a 1:2 solution with tap water. None of the cleaned catheters showed detectable growth for 48 hours after the cleaning procedure was performed.     

Pseudotumor by asymptomatic pulmonary infarction diagnosed by video-assisted thoracic surgery]

Two cases of asymptomatic pulmonary infarction were diagnosed by open lung biopsy with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Case 1: A pulmonary nodule in right S8b was pointed out in a 62-year-old man undergoing hemodialysis on chest x-ray film and CT. Case 2: A 50-year-old woman had undergone left mastectomy for mammary cancer 3 years previously and total hip replacement 1 year before. Chest X-ray film and CT revealed a pulmonary nodule in the left lower lung field and it was suspected to be metastasis of the mammary cancer. Both cases underwent open lung biopsy by VATS, and asymptomatic pulmonary infarction was revealed. When chest X-ray film shows a nodule in the lower-peripheral lung field in patients with risk factors, pulmonary infarction should be considered.     

Lung abscess which ruptured during the medical treatment of lung abscess; report of a case

63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with fever and cough for about 2 months. Laboratory data showed marked inflammatory changes, and chest computed tomography (CT) scans revealed right-sided hydrothorax, atelectasis of the right middle lobe, and a cystic mass in the right middle lobe. We diagnosed the patients as having lung abscess and empyema. Following the intravenous antibiotic chemotherapy, symptoms and laboratory data showed the improvement, however, on the 11th hospital day, he developed high fever again. A chest CT showed pneumopyothorax suggesting the rupture of lung abscess. Since the chest tube drainage was ineffective, open chest surgery was performed. Curettage of both thoracic and abscess cavity with closure of air leakage successfully cured the pyothorax.