Asymptomatic and isolated accessory mitral valve tissue in an adult

Accessory mitral valve (AMV) tissue is a congenital anomaly that occurs in association with other congenital anomalies, and is an uncommon cause of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. It is usually detected in early childhood when accompanied by symptoms of obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract, and is rarely diagnosed in adults. We present a case of a 53-year-old man who was referred to our institution for evaluation of a systolic heart murmur. Echocardiography disclosed a diagnosis of AMV tissue. This case was uncommon because of the lack of severe obstruction of left ventricular outflow, cardiac symptoms, or other cardiac anomalies. We were able to carry out surgical resection of AMV tissue to avert possible progression of aortic insufficiency and the risk of a cerebrovascular embolization. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and postoperative echocardiography showed no residual accessory mitral tissue.     

Hepatocyte growth factor and transforming growth factor β1 contribute to regeneration of small-for-size liver graft immediately after transplantation

Although the ability of the liver to regenerate to a predetermined size after resection made adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) possible, there is little information regarding the growth regulatory mechanism for a small-for-size graft. Forty-one cases of LDLT were divided into two groups by graft volume to standard liver volume ratio (GV/SLV); small graft group (Group S, GV/SLV<40%, n=16) and non-small graft group (Group NS, GV/SLV>40%, n=25). The regeneration rate (GV at 1 week/harvested GV) and serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), transforming growth factor- (TGF-) and transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-1) were compared between two groups. The regeneration rates in Group S were significantly higher than that of Group NS (217±12% and 178±10%, respectively, P<0.01). The serum HGF levels of Group S were significantly higher than those of Group NS on POD 1. The TGF-1 levels of Group S were significantly higher than those of Group NS on POD 3 and 5. The TGF- levels were not different at any time points studied. These results indicate that a small-for-size graft retains the capacity to regenerate faster by modulation of expression pattern of HGF and TGF-1 immediately after LDLT. After the acceleration of the regenerative response by HGF, subsequent elevation of TGF-1 synergistically controls graft size, regulating uncontrolled proliferation of hepatocytes.     

Exclusion of Transforming Growth Factor-b1 as a Candidate Gene for Myopia in the Japanese

Purpose

To determine whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) gene are associated with high myopia in Japanese. Previous studies have indicated that the gene expression products, regulators of the TGF-β1 gene, are involved in high myopia.

Methods

Genomic DNA samples were obtained from 330 Japanese patients with high myopia and 330 Japanese controls without high myopia who were chosen at random. SNPs were genotyped by the TaqMan system, using primer extension and polymerase chain reaction amplification.

Results

Ten SNPs were identified in the high-myopia patients and controls, with four of the ten SNPs having nonsynonymous changes. However, no statistical differences in the SNPs were detected between the high-myopia cases and the controls.

Conclusions

Sequence variants of the TGF-β1 gene were not associated significantly with high myopia, and further studies are needed to identify which genes are responsible for high myopia.?Jpn J Ophthalmol 2007;51:96–99 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2007

     

Asymptomatic chronic intestinal ischemia caused by idiopathic phlebosclerosis of mesenteric vein

Phlebosclerosis of the mesenteric vein is a rare condition causing chronic intestinal ischemia, it has only been reported in Japan. A 56-year-old man with liver cirrhosis and hepatic tumor presented with phlebosclerosis of mesenteric vein without any abdominal symptoms. He was admitted for examination of suspected hepatic tumor. Abdominal plain x-ray films and computed tomography revealed calcification of the mesenteric vein. Barium enema revealed narrowing and thumbprinting from the cecum to transverse colon. On colonoscopic examination, blue-black vessels were visible in the terminal ileum, and hyperemic nodular mucosa with small irregular ulcers surrounded by dark purple mucosa was found from the cecum to transverse colon. The etiology of mesenteric vein phlebosclerosis is unknown, although a physical mechanism rather than inflammatory changes appear to be involved in this rare and usually progressive condition of chronic intestinal ischemia.     

Facile synthesis of a high electrical and ion conductivity junction-less 3D carbon sponge electrode for self-standing lithium ion battery anode

Lithium ion batteries (LIB) are the most extensively researched and developed batteries. Currently, LIBs are used in various applications such as electric vehicles (EV), hybrid EVs (HEV), plug-in HEVs, and energy storage systems. However, their energy density is insufficient and further improvement is required. In this study, we propose the facile synthesis of a self-standing, junction-less 3D carbon sponge electrode (3DCS) for improving the energy density. A self-standing structure can improve the energy density by reducing non-active materials such as binders and current collectors, in electrodes. We use a kitchenware melamine sponge as the carbon precursor. The utilization of materials mass-produced by existing facilities is crucial for ensuring availability and low costs. Such characteristics are imperative for industrialization. These self-standing 3DCS electrodes, fabricated using available low-cost melamine sponges, demonstrate high charge-rate characteristics with a capacity retention of 81.8% at 4000 mA g⁻¹ and cycle durability with 95.4% capacity retention after 500 cycles, without current collector, binder, and conductive additives. This high availability, low-cost material with excellent characteristics is beneficial for research institutions and companies that do not have facilities.

Conceptual diagram of junction-less 3D carbon sponge electrode.     

Correction to: Detection of acute rib fractures on CT images with convolutional neural networks: effect of location and type of fracture and reader’s experience

Emergency Radiology -     

Tentative diagnostic criteria and disease severity classification for Castleman disease: A report of the research group on Castleman disease in Japan

Objectives: To determine the tentative diagnostic criteria and disease severity classification for Castleman disease (CD) and describe the clinical and pathologic features among human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) negative idiopathic multicentric CD (iMCD) in the Japanese population.

Methods: We established the working groups for the research of CD in Japan and had meetings to discuss and define the tentative diagnostic criteria and disease severity classification for CD. We subsequently analyzed 142 patients classified into iMCD by using the nationwide Japanese patient registry.

Results: We proposed the preliminary diagnostic criteria and disease severity classification for CD based on our discussion. In addition, we made a proposal for the disease activity score. We identified clinical and pathological features of patients with iMCD diagnosed by these diagnostic criteria. In the disease severity classification, 37, 33 and 30% patients were categorized into mild, moderate and severe diseases, respectively.

Conclusion: This is the first proposal for diagnosis and classification of CD by the Japanese group. Further studies are required to validate whether they can distinguish CD from other inflammatory diseases and to determine their sensitivity and specificity.