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We experienced 2 effective cases of nifekalant hydrochloride. One patient was 76-year-old female who underwent emergent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) because of unstable angina pectoris (AP) and ventricular fibrillation (Vf). Her cardiac function had been decreased preoperatively due to old myocardial infarction (OMI). One day after CABG, she revealed sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and Vf. Although administrations of neither lidocaine hydrochloride nor magnesium sulfate were effective, nifekalant hydrochloride finally stopped the life-threatening arrhythmia without hypotension. Another patient was 77-year-old male who underwent CABG and Dor operation. His cardiac function also had been decreased due to OMI. He revealed VT attack at midnight 3 days after operation. VT attack still appeared at next 2 midnight under lidocaine hydrochloride infusion, but finally it has disappeared after starting a drip infusion of nifekalant hydrochloride. Nifekalant hydrochloride is quite useful as a new therapeutic strategy for uncontrollable VT and Vf and for the patient who has a reduced left ventricular function because it has an inotropic effect.

Mitral valve aneurysm is defined as a localized protrusion of the valve with a different radius from that of the remaining portion of the valve. The medical records and pathological findings of seven patients with mitral valve aneurysm [aged 48-69 years (mean 64), 4 males] and the pathological findings of other 29 Japanese cases were reviewed. All seven patients were diagnosed pathologically as infective endocarditis, but two patients had no documentation of clinical symptoms suggestive of infective endocarditis (latent infective endocarditis). The underlying lesion of the heart was aortic valve disease and/or fibrosal degeneration of the mitral valve. Only 29 of 36 Japanese case reports stated a precise description of the valve pathology. Of these 29 cases, 23 were associated with infective endocarditis, two with rheumatic valvular disease with fusion and/or shrinkage of the chordae tendineae, three with mitral valve prolapse or myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve, and one with aortitis syndrome. Neovascularization was described in eight cases. Neovascularization with thick wall should be considered as post-inflammatory vascularization. This review indicates that patients with latent infective endocarditis and mitral valve aneurysm should be considered as potential candidates for valve surgery.

The performance of open heart surgery in a patient with a tracheostoma can present difficult problems, including mediastinitis and inadequate operative exposure. A 79-year-old man was admitted because of angina pectoris, and had undergone tracheostomy for carcinoma of the larynx 14 years previously. He underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with saphenous vein graft to # 8, 12. A skin incision was made from the angle of Louis to the xiphoid process and carried down through the subcutaneous tissue. The sternum was divided from the xiphoid process to the manubrium and then dislocated from the intact manubrium. Operative time was 165 minutes and arrest time was 64 minutes. Postoperative course was satisfactory and discharged within 24 days after operation. We think that in a case of open heart surgery with a tracheostoma no dissection near a tracheostoma is necessary in order to decrease the risk of postoperative wound infection and mediastinitis.

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the outcome of refractory infected mediastinitis managed primarily with mobilization of pectoral muscle flaps and omental transposition. From January 1992 to December 1995, infected mediastinitis occurred in 11 (2.5%) of 447 consecutive patients. All patients required sternal debridement. The wound was thoroughly irrigated with a solution of 0.5% povidone-iodine in physiological saline after debridement and then the defect was repaired. Reconstruction of the chest wall was attained using pectoral muscle flaps in seven patients and pectoral muscle flaps and omental transposition in four. Antibiotic therapy was provided for 6 weeks or more according to the regimen in North America. No hospital deaths occurred after surgery. Significant early complications occurred in four patients. The reasons for the prolonged hospitalization were a recurrent wound infection, prosthetic valve endocarditis and saphenous vein graft pseudoaneurysm formation caused by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE). Length of stay in ICU after surgical treatment was range 1 to 140 days (an average of 11 +/- 3 days in 9 patients without complications in ICU). Duration between surgical treatment and discharge was range 47 to 300 days (an average of 58 +/- 8 days in 7 patients without significant early complications). At the time of this report, the patients are doing well with no signs of recurrence of infection. The mean follow-up was 28.8 months (range 8 to 48 months). We conclude that single-stage mobilization of pectoral muscle flaps together with omental transposition is very usefull for managing refractory infected mediastinitis. But careful follow-up is needed after this procedure in case of MRSA-caused mediastinitis because of its tendency to recur.

We analyzed the risk of mitral valve re-replacement (re-MVR) in patients over 70-year-old. Surgical and late follow-up results were compared between 14 elderly patients over 70-year-old (group I) and 23 patients aged from 60 to 69-year-old (group II) who underwent re-MVR due to primary tissue failure (PTF). Donation of autologous blood and a rate of replaced valve prosthesis (mechanical/biological) were different between the two groups. There were no differences in the other factors such as clinical profile, preoperative organ function, operative characteristics, post operative relating factors. No operative death occurred in both groups. There was one hospital death in group I (a hospital mortality rate of 7.1%). The cause of death was related to massive cerebral infarction due to anticoagulant-related thromboembolic event. 4-64 months after re-MVR, the improvement of a NYHA function class was I-II in the two groups. With improvement in myocardial protection and intraoperative strategies, the operative risk in patients undergoing re-MVR over 70-year-old has been markedly reduced. Surgical results in aged patients were satisfactory and age alone is not a contraindication for this operation. The re-MVR in aged patients should be done at the early stage of PTF before progress of cardiac failure.

The pathogenesis of nonrheumatic calcification of the mitral valve was investigated by analyzing the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of patients with mitral valvular calcification without any findings suggestive of rheumatic heart disease or infective endocarditis. Calcification of the mitral valve was observed in nine patients, who all had calcified stenotic (aortic valve area1 cm2) bicuspid aortic valve. Calcification of the mitral valve was localized to the basal portion of ventricular aspect of the anterior mitral leaflet and contiguous to that of the aortic valve. Mobility and thickness of the mitral leaflet was normal except for the calcified portion. Calcification of the mitral valve was not contiguous to posterior mitral annular calcification nor was related to direction of aortic regurgitant flow. In patients with calcified stenotic bicuspid aortic valve, calcification of the mitral valve was not associated with location of the two aortic cusps, aortic valve area, aortic valvular peak pressure gradient, direction of the left ventricular outflow, end-diastolic left ventricular outflow tract dimension, end-diastolic dimension of the aortic annulus, incidence of aortic regurgitation, calcification of the aortic arch, or risk factors of atherosclerosis. Six patients with mitral valvular calcification had aortic valve replacement. Preoperative coronary angiogram of these patients was normal. Calcification of the aortic valve was on the ventricular and aortic aspects. The calcification of the aortic valve, anterior mitral ring, or anterior mitral leaflet was not rheumatic in these six patients. Rheumatic disease, risk factors of atherosclerosis, mechanical stress by left ventricular outflow or aortic regurgitant flow, or mitral annular calcification did not appear to be related to mitral valvular calcification. The distribution of aortic and mitral valvular calcification suggested that the calcification of the mitral valve was due to progression of calcification of the bicuspid aortic valve.

A 71-year-old woman with active aortic prosthetic endocarditis due to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) and subannular mycotic aneurysm and paravalvular leakage and acute mitral regurgitation underwent emergent surgical treatment. The mycotic aneurysm was closed using a prosthetic patch after surgical debridement. Re-aortic valve replacement with a 21-mm Hancock II prosthesis was performed at the paraannular position by utilizing the patch. Mitral valve was also replaced with a 27-mm Hancock II prosthesis. Antibiotic therapy was provided by vancomycin combined with rifampicin and gentamicin. The following regimen was given, vancomycin 1 g i.v. q12h for 6 weeks plus gentamicin 80 mg/day i.v. for 4 weeks plus rifampicin 450 mg/day orally for 6 weeks. Vancomycin and gentamicin doses were modified appropriately according to the monitored serum levels in the patient with renal failure. Postoperative course was uneventful. The patient is doing well 11 months after surgery and no recurrence of infection has been seen. We conclude that prompt surgical removal of the infected sources and appropriate antibiotic therapy based on the bacteriology may be the only curative treatment for uncontrolled infection at the active phase of MRSE prosthetic endocarditis.

To solve the problem of diagnosing apocrine carcinoma (APCA) through distinguishing it from benign apocrine metaplasia with atypia (APMA).The study group consisted of five histologically confirmed cases of uncommon infiltrating apocrine carcinoma and a case of noninfiltrating apocrine carcinoma of the breast by aspiration biopsy cytology. The control group consisted of 103 cases of benign apocrine metaplasia with no atypia (APMN), 4 cases of APMA and 34 cases of common-type adenocarcinoma that were encountered in 662 breast aspirations from 1988 to 1992 at Hekinan Municipal Hospital.In APCA the average age of patients (65 +/- 17.7 SD)(mean +/- SD) was more than 20 years older than APMA, and APCA generally measuredor = 2 cm or more in diameter as compared toor = 2 cm in APMA lesions. In APCA the apocrine cells had high cellularity, with the cells occur singly and with syncytia in the background. Numerous degenerated apocrine cells and characteristic cell detritus were found. APCA was also characterized by apocrine cells with more marked nuclear abnormalities, including hyperchromasia and irregular nuclear shape, frequently with irregular nucleoli; more nuclei measureor = 12 micron in diameter than in APMA. These findings, however, were present only to a mild degree in APMA, if at all. APMA may coexist with APCA.If APMA is diagnosed, an open biopsy should be performed to distinguish it from APCA.

Factors involved in the progression of senile aortic valve calcification were evaluated by analyzing the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of patients older than 69 years with senile aortic valve calcification. The patients were divided into three groups; group 1: 46 male and 40 female patients with calcification of one cusp and almost normal pliability of three cusps, group 2: 48 males and 55 female patients with calcification of two or three cusps, mildly reduced pliability of calcified cusps, and aortic valve area (AVA)or = 2.0 cm2, group 3: 26 male and 31 female patients with calcification of two or three cusps, significantly reduced pliability of calcified cusps, and AVAor = 1.5 cm2. There were no significant differences in age, weight, height, left ventricular dimension, or left ventricular wall thickness between these three groups. For male patients, the end-diastolic maximum left ventricular outflow tract dimensions (LVOT) in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 20 +/- 2 mm, 19 +/- 2 mm (p0.01 vs group 1), and 17 +/- 3 mm (p0.001 vs group 1, p0.01 vs group 2), respectively. For female patients, the LVOTs of groups 1, 2, and 3 were 18 +/- 2 mm, 16 +/- 2 mm (p0.001 vs group 1), and 16 +/- 2 mm (p0.001 vs group 1), respectively. Reduction in LVOT was not associated with left ventricular hypertrophy or decrease in dimension of aortic annulus. In female patients, the frequency of mitral annular calcification of group 3 was 61% [p0.05 vs group 1 (35%), p0.01 vs group 2 (25%)].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We experienced aortic valve replacement for 18 patients (4 male and 14 female, ranging from 40 to 81 years old, mean 64 years old) with small aortic annulus with new small prosthesis. Medtronic Hall 20 A (MH 20 A). The average body surface area was 1.47 m2 (range 1.28 to 1.81 m2). One patient was died of lung cancer at 3 months postoperatively. One nonstructural dysfunction and one low cardiac output syndrome was noted during operation. Sixteen survivors with MH 20 A, showed satisfactory clinical results, except for minor thromboembolism, in 2 patients. The MH 20 A had the same function as that of MH 21 A, already reported. We concluded that aortic valve replacement by Medtronic Hall 20 A prosthesis was usefull for the patient with small aortic annulus.

We have successfully treated 3 cases of granulocytopenia, using Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) after AC bypass surgery. All cases were male, aged 68, 7554 years old, and underwent AC bypass surgery without transfusion except in case 1. Granulocyte cell counts decreased to 135/mm3 on 39th post-operative days (POD) in case 1, 624/mm3 on 13 rd POD in case 2, and 514/mm3 on 20th POD in case 3. In case 1, 300 micrograms of G-CSF was given intravenously for 3 days. In case 2, 100 micrograms of G-CSF for 1 day and 50 micrograms for 3 days was given subcutaneously, and in case 3, 100 micrograms of G-CSF was also given subcutaneously for 2 days. And their granulocyte cell counts all increased within few days. G-CSF is effective for patients with granulocytopenia after AC bypass surgery, but we need more experiences to know the best way of administration.

To investigate the relationship between distribution of human leukocyte antigen alleles and susceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis among Japanese, we performed serological typing and human leukocyte antigen DP genotyping in 47 Japanese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Serologically, the frequency of human leukocyte antigen DQ3 was significantly higher in the patients than in healthy controls, whereas frequency of DR52 was significantly lower in the patients. Human leukocyte antigen DP genotyping using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction-fragment-length polymorphism method showed that the frequency of human leukocyte antigen DPB1*0501 (85.1%) was significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls but that the frequency of DPB1*0402 was significantly lower in patients. The positive association of human leukocyte antigen DPB1*0501 with primary biliary cirrhosis was stronger than that of serological human leukocyte antigen DQ3, which can be explained by its linkage to DPB1*0501. In addition, three of seven DPB1*0501-negative patients had DPB1*0202, suggesting that the human leukocyte antigen DPB1 amino-acid chain plays an important role in the immunogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis among Japanese patients. Comparative analysis of amino acid sequences from DPB1 alleles indicated that a Leu at position 35 of the DPB1 chain likely contributes to the susceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis among the Japanese.

From March 1986 to September 1991, the right gastroepiploic artery has been used for coronary artery bypass grafting in 200 patients (171 male and 29 female patients, mean age 58 years, range 6 to 80 years. They were followed up from 6 to 70 months with a mean of 27 months. There were 16 reoperations and 176 patients had triple vessel or left main disease. The gastroepiploic artery (182 in situ and 18 free grafts) was anastomosed to 11 anterior descending, 3 diagonal, 26 circumflex, and 160 right coronary arteries. The internal thoracic artery was concomitantly used in 192 patients. The mean number of distal anastomoses was 2.3 with arterial grafts and 3.3 including additional saphenous vein grafts. Postoperative angiography was performed in 152 patients within 6 months after the operation (mean 2 months) and after the operation second angiograms were done sequentially 1 to 5 years (mean 2 years) after the operation in 40 patients. There were 6 early and 4 late deaths. A new Q wave was noted in 4 patients. Duration of the operation and postoperative complications did not increase with the use of the gastroepiploic artery. Relief of angina was noted in 186 patients. Gastroepiploic artery graft patency was 95% (144/152) in the early postoperative period and 95% (38/40) in the late postoperative period. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was done successfully through the in situ gastroepiploic artery graft for anastomotic stenosis in four cases. In stress myocardial scintiscans, performed sequentially preoperatively and in the immediate, 1-year, and 2-year postoperative periods in 11 patients, washout rate of the gastroepiploic artery-grafted area improved from 35% +/- 10% to 45% +/- 15% (p0.05) and was maintained to 43% +/- 6% and 48% +/- 9% at respective periods. In conclusion, the gastroepiploic artery is a suitable conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting in terms of low surgical risk, high patency rate, and excellent patient outcome.

An 80-yr-old female presented with obstructive jaundice. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed a carcinoma in the middle extrahepatic bile duct, and a biliary endoprosthesis was inserted. Exfoliative cytology of the bile and forceps biopsy of the tumor revealed a papillary adenocarcinoma. Surgical resection could not be done because of her cardiovascular complications, and neither chemotherapy nor radiotherapy was administered. Stents were exchanged and cleaned 21 times because of occlusion and cholangitis. Subsequent serial cholangiogram showed a slow growth of the papillary tumor, but local invasion to the adjacent organs or distant metastasis was not observed. The patient survived for 7 yr and 6 months after insertion of the biliary endoprosthesis.

Aortic calcification was evaluated preoperatively by computed tomography (CT) in 136 of 275 candidates for coronary artery bypass surgery (age range, 30-80) years (mean 60.2 years), including 110 men and 26 women), from April 1989 to March 1991. Calcification in the mid-ascending aortic wall was detected in 20 (14.7%) cases, calcification in all regions of the aorta was more common in patients older than 60 years (22.5%, n = 71), than younger (6.2%, n = 65) (p less than 0.01). Atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta was identified intraoperatively in 25 (18.3%) cases. Practically, the specificity of CT findings was excellent (98.3%), but the sensitivity was less satisfactory (72.0%) due to the presence of atherosclerosis without calcification. In cases of arteriosclerosis of the ascending aorta, great care was taken to prevent embolism secondary to a dislodged atheromatous plaque. The "aortic no-touch technique", with in situ internal thoracic artery and right gastroepiploic artery anastomosis under ventricular fibrillation, was performed in 6 cases, a single aortic cross-clamp was applied in 19 cases, and conventional methods were employed when the ascending aorta was normal or the "no-touch" or "single-clamp" procedure could not be used (control, 111 cases). No neurologic complications occurred in the "no-touch" group, while 2 cerebral infarctions occurred in the single-clamp group (10.5%) and the control group (1.8%) respectively. These differences between groups was not significant. Patients with a calcified ascending aorta are at higher risk for neurologic complications of coronary bypass. The risk can be decreased by minimizing surgical trauma to the ascending aorta by the use of "no-touch" techniques.

After aorto-coronary bypass grafts surgery plasma level of myosin light chain I, determined with monoclonal antibodies to myosin light chain I (LC-I), were studied in 12 patients (pts) without electrocardiographical perioperative myocardial infarction. Rest 201Tl myocardial images were collected before and after surgery. LC-I increased and reached peak levels (15 +/- 7 ng/ml) at 91 +/- 29 minutes after the aortic declamp. From peak levels LC-I rapidly decreased with fast half-time disappearance (1.4 +/- 0.9 hours). In 5 pts of 12 pts LC-I recovered to normal range and MB reached maximum levels (34 +/- 23 IU/L) at 18 +/- 9 hours after declamp. In 4 pts 201Tl images showed improvement and in one 201Tl images showed no changes. In 7 pts of 12 pts LC-I decreased to minimum levels (2.7 +/- 0.6 ng/ml) at 12 +/- 6 hours and then gradually increased to peak levels (5.6 +/- 0.9 ng/ml) on day 3 +/- 0.9. MB reached maximum level (61 +/- 20 IU/L) at 3.2 +/- 1 hours. In 201Tl images 3 pts showed suspected new lesion, 2 pts showed no changes and 2 pts showed improvement. No correlation was noted between peak LC-I level and duration of aortic declamp. No significant relation was suspected between early LC-I peak and irreversible myocardial cell injury. From close relationship between aortic declamp and appearance of LC-I peak, it was concluded that LC-I, accumulated during aortic clamp, was washed out by aortic declamp. Relation was suspected between early LC-I peak and myocardial injury during myocardial protection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The nephrotic syndrome is often accompanied by hyperlipidemia associated with an increased risk of accelerated atherosclerosis. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of pravastatin, a novel competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, on the serum lipids and apolipoproteins in patients with this syndrome and marked hyperlipidemia. Eleven adult patients received 10 mg of pravastatin twice daily for 4 to 8 weeks. The total serum cholesterol decreased from 426 +/- 44 to 309 +/- 18 mg/dl (-27.4%, mean +/- S.E.; p less than 0.01) following administration of pravastatin. The serum triglyceride decreased from 332 +/- 122 to 229 +/- 50 mg/dl (-30.9%), although this change was not significant. Despite the fact that the HDL cholesterol level was barely changed (51 +/- 7 to 51 +/- 6 mg/dl), the LDL cholesterol fell from 313 +/- 30 to 211 +/- 16 mg/dl (-32.5%; p less than 0.005), and the LDL to HDL cholesterol ratio fell from 7.57 +/- 1.59 to 4.94 +/- 0.88 (-34.8%; p less than 0.05). These changes caused the atherogenic index to decline from 9.6 +/- 2.4 to 6.1 +/- 1.2 (-36.5%; p less than 0.05). No significant alterations could be found among apolipoproteins A-1, A-2, B, C-2, C-3, and E. During the present study period, pravastatin was well tolerated and did not affect the serum protein, albumin, serum urea nitrogen, creatinine levels, or urine protein excretion. Also, there were no serious adverse effects. Pravastatin appears to be effective for treating patients with hyperlipidemia of the nephrotic syndrome.

We performed coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in a 80-year-old male with calcified ascending aorta and severe varicose veins utilizing the bilateral internal thoracic arteries and the right gastroepiploic artery under fibrillatory arrest without aortic cross-clamp (aortic no-touch technique). After triple coronary artery bypass grafting was completed, heart failure occurred. Additional Bioflow graft to the circumflex artery restored good cardiac function. The aortic no-touch technique is a useful method for CABG in patients with severe calcified ascending aorta. This experience suggests that the Bioflow graft is a helpful conduit at an urgent situation in CABG.

Between June 1983 and July 1989, 25 consecutive chronic dialysis patients with medically refractory angina pectoris underwent revascularization, either percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (21 males and 4 females, mean age of 57 +/- 10 years, and mean duration of dialysis of 3.7 +/- 5.0 years). Patients with single-vessel disease and/or mildly calcified lesions received PTCA (n = 15), while those with multi-vessel disease and/or severely calcified lesions received CABG (n = 10). As controls for PTCA-treated dialysis patients, 208 non-dialysis patients who received initial PTCA in 1988 were used. The mean number of diseased vessels was 2.7 +/- 0.7 for CABG group, and 1.5 +/- 0.8 for PTCA group (p0.01). In both groups, 80% of patients were successfully revascularized. In CABG group, however, 7 of 10 patients had major complications including 2 hospital deaths, while no complications occurred in the PTCA group. During the follow-up period after CABG (35 +/- 30 months), recurrent angina developed in one patient, who was successfully treated with PTCA. In the PTCA group, angiographic success was initially obtained in 16 of 21 lesions (76%), which was significantly lower than that in the control group (92%, p0.05). Follow-up angiography revealed restenosis in 6 of 16 lesions with successful PTCA (38%), similar to that observed in the control group (32%, p = ns). A second PTCA was successful in 5 of 6 patients with restenosis, however, 4/5 patients developed recurrent angina. Three of 4 patients with a second episode of restenosis underwent a third PTCA, and angina recurred in 2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The cases of acute pulmonary thromboembolism after coronary artery bypass surgery have been rarely reported in Japan. We, however, experienced 2 cases of them and lost them against intensive therapy. In Mitsui Memorial Hospital, 6 cases of pulmonary thromboembolism had been diagnosed in 1990 (0.074% in admission patients), four of the cases had occurred following surgical procedures. Its manifestations are deceivingly nonspecific and are difficult to distinguish perioperative myocardial infarction, pericardial tamponade, and pneumothorax, especially in postoperative states. We would like to emphasize that acute pulmonary thromboembolism is getting important problems also in Japan.

Imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) was administered to a total of 67 patients with severe infections complicating hematological disorders and solid tumors. Fifty patients are included in the present analysis of efficacy and 64 in that of safety. 1. Out of 31 patients with hematological disorders, responses were excellent in 10 patients, good in 10 patients, and the efficacy rate was 64.5%. Out of 19 patients with solid tumors, responses were excellent in 8 patients, good in 8 patients and the efficacy rate was 84.2%. 2. For patients whose responses to other antibiotics had been poor, the efficacy rate was 59.3% in the group with hematological disorders and 62.5% in the group with solid tumors. 3. The relationship between the neutrophil count and efficacy was studied in the patients with hematological disorders. The efficacy rate for 8 patients whose neutrophil counts were 500/mm3 or less was 75.0%. 4. For the patients with hematological disorders, the efficacy rate for patients from whom causative organisms were isolated was 70.0% and that for patients for whom they were unknown was 61.9%. 5. Adverse reactions were observed in 3 patients and abnormal laboratory test results in 2 patients. However, they were mild and disappeared after discontinuation of this drug. From these results, IPM/CS is considered to be a useful antibiotic for the treatment of severe infections complicating hematological disorders and solid tumors.

A 70-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of hepatosplenomegaly, fever and elevated serum LDH levels. A biopsy specimen of the liver revealed histiocytic proliferation at the portal triad, and a mild degree of hepatitis. A bone marrow biopsy specimen showed proliferation of histiocytes with minimal immaturity and atypism, and haemophagocytosis by the proliferated histiocytes. Fever, hepatosplenomegaly and elevation of LDH levels all disappeared spontaneously, and presumptive diagnosis of benign reticulosis with haemophagocytosis was made. One year later, fever, hepatosplenomegaly and elevation of LDH levels redeveloped, and the liver and bone marrow biopsy specimen showed proliferation of unequivocally malignant histiocytes. The patient died as a result of disseminated intravascular coagulation with shock 20 d later. We concluded that, in this case, malignant histiocytosis first presented as benign haemophagocytic reticulosis and, 1 year later, there was a typical malignant presentation.

The surgical treatment of the aortic regurgitation with aneurysm of ascending aorta has been considered by Wheat, Bentall and Cabrol as improved combined techniques. 24 cases of the aortic regurgitation with aneurysm of ascending aorta that had been operated in Mitsui Memorial Hospital from November 1975 to August 1990 were examined their late results with the classification of 3 types of operative techniques (aortic valve replacement alone, Bentall's procedure, and Cabrol's procedure). 5 cases of them with aortic valve replacement alone were elected by their aortic angiographic findings, were not significant differences in their late results in the other cases with Bentall's or Cabrol's procedures. So we considered that treatment of the ascending aortic aneurysm with aortic regurgitation would not be necessary to operate with the combined techniques, but their selection of the indication would be limited in the cases that were not widened in aortic ring diameter in their preoperative angiography, and not complicated the systemic diseases such as Marfan's syndrome.

We report two cases simultaneously operated on CABG using rt. GEA and cholecystectomy for silent gallstone detected by routine preoperative examinations. We prefer that two different procedures are performed simultaneously even if gallstone is asymptomatic, for about 50% of silent gallstone is said to become symptomatic within further five years in the literature and the pedicle of rt. GEA may be troublesome during cholecystectomy.

Coronary artery bypass grafting with combined arterial graft using the left internal mammary artery (IMA), right IMA, and the right gastroepiploic artery (GEA) was performed in 45 patients with saphenous vein graft (SVG) (29 patients) or without SVG (16 patients) from February 1989 to October 1989. The left IMA was used in all patients, the right IMA was used in 9 patients, and the GEA was used in 43 patients. Perioperative myocardial infarction was noted in two patients who had hospital deaths. Reopening the chest for postoperative bleeding was performed in two patients, and the cerebral accident was noted in one patient. Fourteen patients were operated on without the requirement for blood transfusion. Studied within 3 postoperative months, all arterial grafts were patent though the patency was 97.7% (43/44) in SVG. It is concluded that the combined arterial graft utilizing the IMAs and GEA can be used safely and effectively.

The long term (10 to 15 years) results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were studied in 20 patients. The duration of follow-up was ranged from 130 to 170 months with mean 146.4 months. Ten out of 20 patients underwent coronary angiography (CAG), which disclosed that the late patency of saphenous vein (SV) grafts was 68.8% (11/16), but 54.5% (6/11) of patent SV grafts showed atherosclerotic changes such as irregularity and localized narrowing. On the other hand, internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts were all patent without any atherosclerotic luminal changes. We recognized that ITA grafts were superior to SV grafts from an angiographic standpoint of view in the long term in Japan.

A case of bioprosthetic mitral valvular dysfunction accompanied by mitral stenosis due to pannus is reported. A 69-year-old woman, whose mitral valve had been replaced with a Hancock bioprosthetic valve in June 1979, underwent the second mitral valve replacement in September 1988 because of valvular dysfunction. The ring and cusps of this Hancock valve was partially covered with hard and milky white pannus which resulted in mitral stenosis. The tear of cusp was observed at the point of contact with pannus, which resulted in mitral regurgitation. Histologically, pannus was consisted of two-layered structure, fibrin and collagen fiber, which demonstrated this over-growth was based on thrombus. Main causes of bioprosthetic valve dysfunction are calcification and tear of cusps. But, valvular dysfunction due to pannus-formation described in this case has been experienced very rarely.

Left ventricular free wall rupture secondary to acute myocardial infarction is almost invariably fatal. This report is the case presentation of a successful repair of left ventricular free wall rupture. A 55-year-old man, with a diagnosis of acute infero-lateral myocardial infarction, was transferred from another hospital to our CCU having recurrent chest pain on the fourth day after infarction. Shortly after admission, he lost his consciousness and fell into cardiogenic shock. Echocardiography showed a large pericardial fluid. He was immediately transferred to the operating room with the diagnosis of the heart rupture. After opening the pericardium containing 200 cc of blood, cardiac tamponade was relieved. The posterolateral portion of the left ventricle was found to be bluishly discolored, with a 8 mm-long tear of epicardium. Using cardiopulmonary bypass, the tear was closed with Teflon-reinforced sutures. The post-operative course was uneventful.

This is a report of the management of a patient with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and ischemic heart disease. High-dose transvenous gamma-globulin therapy (400 mg/kg/day for five days) was started five days prior to operation, yielding an increase in platelet count from 5.8 X 10(4)/mm3 to 12.8 X 10(4)/mm3. Platelet transfusion was used at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass and on the first postoperative day. There were no problems with hemostasis during the operative procedure and the postoperative course was uneventful. We prefer high-dose transvenous gamma-globulin therapy for ITP prior to open heart surgery as a treatment of choice.

The future needs of surgical repair for type III dissecting aneurysms among medically-treated patients were estimated according to the influence of the shapes of false lumina assessed by contrast-enhanced CT scans and by the level of blood pressure control at the time of discharge on the long-term prognoses. Thirty-six patients, 30 males and six females, whose mean age was 61 years, underwent enhanced CT scans at their discharge. Events, including deaths and dissection-related surgery were analyzed by a nonparametric actuarial method of Kaplan and Meier. The changes in CT findings were also studied in 33 patients who underwent follow-up CT scans within a mean interval of 3.5 years. 1. Systolic blood pressure was maintained below 140 mmHg (good control group) in 15 patients, and above 140 mmHg (poor control group) in 18 controls. There were no significant differences between the two groups for event-free survival rates. 2. The shapes of false lumina assessed by enhanced CT scans at the time of discharge were categorized in three types; 21 patients (group A) without false lumina of the aorta, or with a small crescentic false lumen in the thoracic aorta (type a), six patients (group B) with intimal flaps and two contrast-material-filled lumina in the thoracic aorta (type b), and nine patients (group C) with expanded false lumina or a false lumen whose margin was convex towards a true lumen in the thoracic aorta (type c).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

To investigate the existence of heterogeneity of beta-type myosin isozymes (HC beta) in human hearts, immunohistochemical studies using monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) raised against human ventricular myosin heavy chains were performed. Two types of MoAbs recognized some muscle fibers in the atrium, whereas both reacted with all ventricular muscle fibers. Since atrial muscle fibers reactive with each MoAb were found to be clearly different, the existence of two immunologically distinct HC beta (beta 1, and beta 2) was suggested in the atrium. By using affinity chromatography, two molecular variants of HC beta were isolated from the bovine atrium, and differences in the primary structure of beta 1 and beta 2 were confirmed by analysis of peptides produced by chymotryptic digestion. In pressure-overloaded human atria, myofibers containing beta 1 and/or beta 2 increased in accordance with decrement of myofibers containing alpha-type myosin isozyme (P less than 0.01). But they differed in expression during the developmental stage, since beta 2 did not exist in the early embryonic bovine heart, but beta 1 did. Thus, there are two distinct HC beta whose expression is regulated by at least two factors: pressure overload and developmental stage.

This study was undertaken to determine the etiology of non-rheumatic aortic regurgitation (AR) by two-dimensional echocardiography. Dimensions of the aortic root at the levels of the surgical aortic ring (ARDs), sinus of Valsalva (AOD), and anatomical aortic ring (ARD) were measured in 23 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement due to AR with idiopathic aortic root dilatation, in 15 hypertensive patients without AR and in 15 normal controls. The 23 patients with AR were classified as annuloaortic ectasia (AAE) (seven cases) and non-AAE (16 cases) groups. In the AAE group, the ascending aorta and aortic root were markedly dilated and had a pear-like configuration on aortography while the aorta had a normal configuration in the non-AAE group. ARDs was significantly larger in the non-AAE and AAE groups than in the hypertension and normal control groups. AOD and ARD were significantly larger in the hypertension and non-AAE groups than in the normal controls, and those in the AAE group were greater than those in any other group. The end-diastolic shape of the aortic valve in the long-axis view was "Y" shaped in the normal control and hypertension groups, "T" shaped in the non-AAE group, and the patients with AAE showed no cuspal coaptation. AR due to aortic ring dilatation, mainly reported by pathologists, were due to marked degree of ARD dilatation. However, our two-dimensional echocardiographic study showed that moderate dilatation of the entire aortic root in the non-AAE group seemed to be an important factor in the genesis of AR, even without dilatation of ARD.

Twenty-three cases with ruptured chordae tendineae (RCT) of the mitral valve and 9 normal control cases were studied by two-dimensional echocardiography. Mitral valve replacement (MVR) was performed in 13 of the 23 cases. The preoperative diagnosis of RCT was proven accurately at operation in all except 2 cases with bacterial endocarditis. Whether RCT occurred in the antero-lateral or in the postero-medial commissural side could be determined perfectly. RCT was observed in the postero-medial side more often than in the anterolateral side, i.e., postero-medial side in 16 (9 operated) and antero-lateral side in 5 (2 operated). This tendency has also been noted in other Japanese reports regardless of the cause of RCT. In the short axis view at the level of the papillary muscles, the area of the posterior papillary muscles was smaller than the area of the anterior papillary muscles in the RCT cases. It is speculated that the smaller size of the posterior papillary muscles has a certain relation with the more frequent RCT in the postero-medial commissural side.

A multicenter cooperative clinical trial was carried out on S6472 (a long-acting preparation of cefaclor (CCL)) to evaluate its effectiveness and safety in the treatment of infectious diseases in the field of otorhinolaryngology. The results are as follows: The clinical efficacy of the drug could be evaluated in 114 patients. An efficacy rate of 65.8% was obtained. The efficacy rate for each disease was found to be 60.0% for acute suppurative otitis media, 12.5% for chronic suppurative otitis media and 44.4% for acute exacerbation of chronic suppurative otitis media. The overall efficacy rate for all cases of suppurative otitis media was 46.4%. The efficacy rate for acute tonsillitis was found to be 93.1%. In the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis, the efficacy of the drug was rated as excellent or good in all cases. The overall efficacy rate for all cases of tonsillitis was found to be 93.9%. In the treatment of other infectious diseases, the efficacy was rated as excellent or good in all cases. When the cases by resistant organisms to CCL were excluded from the evaluation, the overall efficacy rate of the drug was found to be 74.2%. The bacteria could be identified in 106 cases. Regarding the bacteriological efficacy of single infections, its bacterial elimination rate was found to be 81.1% for Gram-positive bacteria including S. aureus, S. epidermidis, etc., while it was 42.9% for Gram-negative bacteria. The overall elimination rate of bacteria in single infections was 73.1%. The bacterial elimination rate for mixed infections was found to be 85.7%, whereas it was 76.8% when the single and mixed infections were combined. Regarding side effects, 1 case each of diarrhea, soft stool and rash, or 3 cases in total (2.4%), were recorded in a total of 123 patients. However, the severity of each side effect was mild. Regarding abnormal laboratory findings, there were 1 case each of an increase in S-GPT, leukopenia and complication of eosinophilia and thrombocytopenia, or 3 cases in total (7.0%). Each of these adverse reactions was, however, transient in nature, and no serious cases were observed. On the basis of the above results, it was concluded that S6472 can provide sufficient clinical efficacy when it is administered at daily dosage of 750 mg or 1,500 mg in 2 divided doses after the breakfast and dinner.

The sensitivity and specificity of the two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic criteria for diagnosing ruptured mitral chordae tendineae (RCT) were assessed in 52 cases with non-rheumatic mitral regurgitation undergoing mitral valve prostheses. At surgery, chordal rupture was confirmed in 38 cases (RCT group), but not in 14 cases (non-RCT group). Four presumptive and three definite findings for diagnosing mitral chordal rupture using 2D echo were evaluated. Mitral valve prolapse with incomplete coaptation of the mitral leaflets in the long-axis view was observed in 32 cases in the RCT group and in four cases in the non-RCT group (sensitivity 84%, specificity 80%). In the short-axis view at the level of the mitral orifice, delayed closure of the involved mitral leaflet was observed in four cases in the RCT group but in none of the non-RCT group (sensitivity 11%, specificity 100%), delayed protodiastolic opening of the involved leaflet in 15 cases of the RCT group and in one of the non-RCT group (sensitivity 39%, specificity 92%), and finally, increased excursion of the involved valve in 27 cases of the RCT group and in three cases of the non-RCT group (sensitivity 71%, specificity 79%). The following three echocardiographic findings were regarded as direct evidence of mitral chordal rupture: Fine echoes with abnormally rapid transverse and/or oblique motion around the mitral orifice in the short-axis view were observed in 13 cases of the RCT group (sensitivity 34%, specificity 100%); echoes with abnormal whip-like motion in the long-axis view in 10 cases (sensitivity 26%, specificity 100%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A case of thyroid cancer causing right ventricular outflow tract obstruction is described. A 72-year-old woman was admitted because of shortness of breath, some ecchymoses, and marked anasarca. Her liver was palpable four fingerbreadths below her costal margin. Laboratory findings included leukocytosis, marked thrombocytopenia, and an increase in fibrinogen degradation products due to disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated a solid mass in the right ventricle, which protruded into the right atrium and main pulmonary artery. Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction and tricuspid regurgitation were demonstrated by contrast echocardiography. These findings were confirmed by CT scans, RI angiography, and contrast angiography. The mass was partially resected from her right ventricle and her tricuspid valve was replaced successfully, but she died of sepsis three weeks after surgery. At autopsy, undifferentiated thyroid cancer and cardiac metastasis were verified. To date, only eight cases with initial symptoms of congestive heart failure due to right ventricular outflow tract obstruction caused by metastatic intracavitary tumors have been reported. Very rarely have cardiac tumors resulted in disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.

The long-term results of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a mechanical valve (AM), mitral valve replacement with a biological valve (MB), and tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) with a biological valve (TB) operated upon from 1977 to 1988 were retrospectively analysed. A total of 899 patients received 1117 valves (381 AM, 633 TB, 103 TB) with a follow-up 3778 patient-years and 4582 valve-years. A significant incidence of thromboembolism, hemorrhage, and endocarditis was not found among AVR, MVR, TVR, or multiple valve replacement. We found a significantly decreased incidence of survival rate in multiple valve replacement compared with AVR or MVR, and a significantly increased incidence of reoperation in MB compared with AM and TB. We use AM and TB in any adult patients as a first choice. However, we prefer a mechanical valve in the mitral position except in patients over 65 years old, who have a short life expectancy, in whom anticoagulation is thought to be difficult, and who desire a biological valve.

Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic and clinical characteristics of patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) due to abnormal reinsertion of chordae tendineae (looping) in the middle scallop of the posterior leaflet were described and compared with those of patients with chordal rupture of the posterior leaflet. Twenty-five patients with posterior mitral valve prolapse who underwent mitral valve replacement were studied. They were categorized in three groups; 14 patients with MR due to ruptured chordae tendineae (RCT) of the posterior leaflet (RCT group); three patients with looping of the chordae tendineae in the middle scallop of the posterior leaflet (looping group); and eight patients with both RCT and looping (looping + RCT group). It was difficult to distinguish the looping group from the other two groups by their 2D echocardiographic findings, which were characteristic of those of RCT. However, the following findings were more frequently encountered in the patients with looping than in those without: 1) aberrant or absent systolic coaptation with salient arc of the posterior leaflet, observed in six of the RCT group (43%), two in the looping group (67%) and seven in the looping + RCT group (88%); 2) with thickened edges of the posterior leaflet, shown in three of the RCT group (21%), two of the looping group (67%) and five of the looping + RCT group (63%) in the long-axis view, and also noticed in four of the RCT group (29%), two of the looping group (67%) and six of the looping + RCT group (75%) in the short-axis view. In the clinical history, the onset of a heart murmur, congestive heart failure and surgical treatment occurred at significantly younger ages in the looping group than in the RCT group. As for hemodynamic parameters, pulmonary hypertension was significantly milder in the looping group than in the RCT group. In conclusion, although 2D echocardiographic findings of patients with looping were similar to those of patients with RCT, it seemed possible to differentiate the looping group from the RCT group by the 2D finding of a prolapsed posterior mitral valve with a salient arc and a thickened edge. It was also suggested that the looping of chordae tendineae in the middle scallop of the posterior leaflet was congenital in origin.

108 patients who underwent redo median sternotomy between January 1975 and April 1988 were studied to determine factors affecting risk of cardiac reoperations. (1) Seventeen of 108 patients died, yielding an overall mortality of 15.7%. (2) Preoperative diagnosis had a significant correlation with mortality, which was higher with prosthetic valve endocarditis (50.0%) than with all other indications for reoperation. (3) Operative mortality was related to pre-reoperation functional class: 8.7% for New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II, 9.8% for class III and 27.8% for class IV. (4) Based on the degree of urgency, elective reoperation had a mortality of 5.4%, while emergency procedures carried a mortality of 61.5%. (5) Cardiac catheterization information was available in 53 patients. The pulmonary artery pressure was higher in the died group. There were no significant differences in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac index between the survived and died. (6) Operation time, aortic cross clamp time and pump run were significantly longer in the died than in the survived group. The died had more blood loss during operative procedure. To decrease operative mortality, technical improvement and increased experience were necessary for surgeons. We prefer to free entirely pericardial adhesion to facilitate mobilization and evacuate air, and to make intra-cardiac procedure more easier and safety. Furthermore early reoperation before irreversible deterioration occurs was necessary since myocardial function was found to be a major determinant of surgical results.

Between April, 1979, and November, 1986, 20 patients underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) in the small aortic anulus with either 19 mm St. Jude Medical valve prosthesis or 19 mm Duro-Medics valve prosthesis, which are relatively new, low-profile bileaflet valve prostheses. There were two male and 18 female patients ranging from 35 to 69 years old (mean, 54.7 years). Average body surface area was 1.37 +/- 0.11 m2 (range 1.20 to 1.55 m2). One patient died of arrhythmia at 22 postoperative day. The 19 survivors have been followed up for as long as 61 months (mean, 31.2 months). There were two late complications, cerebral infarctions, and event free ratio was 0.85 at five years. All long-term survivors were in New York Heart Association Functional Class I (15 patients) and Class II (three patients). Preoperative and postoperative echocardiograms demonstrated significant decreases in mean left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd) (48.9 +/- 8.3 mm vs 42.2 +/- 5.7 mm; p less than 0.01) and in left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVDs) (32.2 +/- 8.2 mm vs 25.7 +/- 4.9 mm; p less than 0.01). Mean left ventricular wall thickness was decreased to 24.5 +/- 3.7 mm from 25.8 +/- 6.4 mm. The average peak systolic gradient at rest with Doppler ultrasound was 26.0 +/- 9.3 mmHg (range nine to 36 mmHg). Though transprosthetic gradient did occur in patients who received 19 mm low-profile bileaflet valves in narrow aortic roots, progressive prosthetic stenosis was not observed and small aortic prostheses provide acceptable palliation for long-term results clinically.