The use of a biventricular assist device for postcardiotomy profound biventricular failure

A 58-year-old woman who could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass was treated with a biventricular assist device (BVAD) using a centrifugal pump for the left side and a pneumatic pulsatile pump for the right side. At the initiation of the BVAD support, predominant right ventricular failure was recognized and therefore weaning was begun from the left side. The left ventricular assist device was discontinued after 87 h and the patient was finally weaned from the right ventricular assist device after 205 h. Despite the complete recovery of cardiac function, the patient developed renal failure followed by an intractable infection and died of multiple organ failure on the 59th postoperative day (POD).     

定量组织速度成像技术评价阿霉素诱导兔心肌病模型：与常规经胸超声心动图比较

目的:采用定量组织速度成像技术评价阿霉素诱导兔心肌病模型,并与常规经胸超声心动图比较其评估优势。方法:实验于2005-06/2006-08在大连医科大学完成。①实验分组及处理:取纯种新西兰白兔22只,雌雄不限,随机分成阿霉素组12只,给予阿霉素每次2mg/kg,以1g/L耳缘静脉注射,每周1次,注射8周;对照组10只每周注射2mL/kg生理盐水,共8周。②实验评估:每周应用HPSonos5500型彩色多普勒超声诊断仪(美国Agilent公司生产)对两组兔心脏进行左室收缩末期和舒张末期内径明、室间隔厚度、E峰、射血分数、左室短轴缩短率等常规超声参数测量,使用GEVivid7型彩色多普勒超声诊断仪(美国GE公司生产)进行收缩期和舒张期峰值速度、收缩期加速度定量组织速度成像参数测定。结果:22只兔进入统计。①对照组1～12周各参数与阿霉素组基础状态下比较无明显差异(P>0.05)。②第4周阿霉素组二尖瓣环运动的平均收缩期和舒张期峰值速度、收缩期加速度较基础状态明显减低(P均<0.05)。③第7周阿霉素组二尖瓣环运动的收缩期和舒张期峰值速度、收缩期加速度较基础状态明显减低(P<0.01),E峰较基础状态明显减低(P<0.05)。④第8周阿霉素组二尖瓣环运动的收缩期和舒张期峰值速度、收缩期加速度较基础状态明显减低(P<0.01),E峰较基础状态明显减低(P<0.01),左室收缩末期和舒张末期内径明显增大(P<0.05)。⑤第12周阿霉素组二尖瓣环运动的收缩期和舒张期峰值速度、收缩期加速度较基础状态明显减低(P<0.01),左室收缩末期和舒张末期内径明显增大(P<0.01),室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度明显变薄(P<0.05),射血分数、左室短轴缩短率和E峰明显减低(P<0.01)。结论:定量组织速度成像参数可有效评价阿霉素诱导心肌病模型兔心肌的病理变化,较常规超声参数更敏感。     

Effect of Cry-consensus peptide, a novel recombinant peptide for immunotherapy of Japanese cedar pollinosis, on an experimental allergic rhinitis model in B10.S mice.

BACKGROUND: We are developing an immunotherapeutic peptide, Cry-consensus peptide, for Japanese cedar pollinosis. Cry-consensus peptide is a recombinant polypeptide containing six major human T-cell epitopes derived from both Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, two major allergens of Japanese cedar pollen. We examined the effect of Cry-consensus peptide on an allergic rhinitis model in B10.S mice, which have one common T-cell epitope in the Cry-consensus peptide. METHODS: B10.S mice were sensitized with Cry j 1/alum, then the Cry-consensus peptide was administered subcutaneously once a week for 5 weeks from the last sensitization. Histamine was dropped in both nostrils (10 microL per nostril) of each mouse on the day before continuous intranasal instillation of Cry j 1. Soon after the final challenge with Cry j 1, the mice were observed for 5 minutes for the resulting number of sneezes. In addition, serum levels of Cry j 1-specific IgE and IgG2a antibody, eosinophil infiltration in nasal tissue, and Cry j 1-specific cytokine production from splenocytes were evaluated. RESULTS: Cry-consensus peptide markedly inhibited Cry j 1-induced sneezes, eosinophil infiltration, and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity in nasal tissue. Cry-consensus peptide inhibited the production of anti-Cry j 1 IgE (Th2-mediated) and significantly enhanced anti-Cry j 1 IgG2a (Th1-mediated). In cytokine production from splenocytes, Cry-consensus peptide significantly decreased in IL-4/IFN-gamma and IL-5/IFN-gamma ratios. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that Cry-consensus peptide effectively controlled allergic responses, which results from shifting from a Th2-dominated to a Th1-dominated immune response.     

Atlanto-axial rotatory fixation: Improved demonstration using spiral CT

Atlanto-axial rotatory fixation (AARF) is an uncommon condition which is often missed at presentation because of its rarity and the relative subtlety of plain film X-ray findings, but early detection and appropriate management are vital for a cure. We describe three cases in which the use of spiral computed tomography scanning with 3D and sagittal reconstructions greatly aided diagnosis and management. The 3D images gave a more graphic picture of the overall alignment of the upper cervical spine and the skull base, while the sagittal reconstructions demonstrated the presence or absence of compensatory atlanto-occipital subluxation. The literature is briefly reviewed.     

Psychiatric disorders among patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy

We examined the incidence rates of psychiatric disorders in end-stage renal failure patients on hemodialysis (HD) based on 4-year long-term follow-up. Among various psychiatric disorders, the frequency of three psychiatric disorders, dementia, delirium, and major depression, was relatively high. One-year incidence rate of whole psychiatric disorders was 10.6% (7.1% in non-aged and 13.7% in aged). One-year incidence rate of dementia in aged patients was 4.2% (dementia of the Alzheimer's disease, 0.5%; multi-infarct dementia, 3.7%). One-year incidence rate of multi-infarct dementia in aged HD patients was 7.4 times as large as that in the elderly general populations, suggesting that aged HD patients tend to exhibit multi-infarct dementia. The high incidence rate may be closely related to advanced arteriosclerosis and other medical conditions. Psychiatric management is required for ESRD patients with three major psychiatric disorders, dementia, delirium, and major depression, in particular for aged patients with multi-infarct dementia who has received long-term HD therapy.     

Sequential use of internal thoracic artery in myocardial revascularization: mid- and long-term results of 430 patients(1)

BACKGROUND: There is still controversy about early and late results of sequenital use of internal thoracic artery (ITA) in coronary artery bypass (CAB) operations.METHODS: In this study, we report on a series of 430 consecutive patients who underwent CAB operations between 1986 and 1998, with the use of at least one sequential ITA graft. The patients, 379 men and 51 women had a mean age of 56.4 years (range 29-80 years). Both ITA grafts were used in 227 (52.8%) patients. A total of 1744 (mean 4.05 per patient) distal coronary anastomoses were performed: 1172 of which (mean 2.72) were arterial and 980 (mean 2.28) were sequential ITA anastomoses.RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality was 1.8% (n=8 patients). Perioperative myocardial infarction occurred in 12 patients (2.8%) and five of them (1.2%) were confined to the sequential ITA grafted area. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 13 years (mean 63+/-37.7 months) for 372 patients (86.5%). Nine patients died during follow-up period. According to Kaplan-Meier method, 5 and 10 year survival rates were 95.6 and 93.4%, respectively. Coronary angiography was performed in 64 patients (17.2%) after a mean of 33 months. In 31 of these patients angiography was performed due to return of symptoms. Overall patency rate of sequential ITA anastomoses was 91.7% (111/121). Two patients underwent repeat CAB operations.CONCLUSION: Sequential use of ITA grafts was not associated with the increased perioperative mortality and morbidity and has the potential to improve the long-term results of CAB surgery because of excellent patency rates of sequential ITA anastomoses.