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Objective: To compare the surgical outcomes of total arch replacement with the outcomes of ascending aorta replacement in patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection., Methods: From April 2002 to May 2014, 90 patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection underwent emergency surgical treatment at our institution. Among them, 16 underwent total arch replacement and 74 underwent ascending aorta replacement. The decision to perform total arch versus ascending aorta replacement was dependent on an intimal tearing site., Results: There were no statistically significant differences in characteristics between the groups with regard to the 2 surgical procedures. Twenty early deaths were reported, but there was no statistically significant difference in mortality rate between the groups. The aortic operation had to be redone in 12 patients. The reoperations were not associated with an increased risk of death or neurological complications. Overall 5-year survival rates were 68% in the ascending aorta replacement group and 59% in the total arch replacement group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups., Conclusions: The surgical outcome and prognosis of ascending aorta replacement is satisfactory among patients undergoing treatment of acute type A aortic dissection.

79-year-old woman, who had undergone resection of a leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava(IVC)[at 68 years old], was admitted to our hospital due to local recurrence of the leiomyosarcoma with extention into the right atrium (RA). She had progressive dyspnea and bilateral edema of the lower extremities. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a tumor that obstructed the IVC. A transthoracic echocardiography showed a large mobile right atrial mass. To prevent sudden death, a reoperation was performed. The tumor in the IVC and the RA was resected under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. A postoperative CT scan showed stenosis of the IVC by residual tumor, and a Z-stent was therefore implanted in the IVC. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and the patient no longer showed any symptoms.

The icosahedral capsid structure of simian virus 40 (diameter, 45 nm) consists of 72 pentameric subunits, with each subunit formed by five VP1 molecules. Electron microscopy, immuno-gold labeling, and ζ -potential analysis showed that purified recombinant VP1 pentamers covered polystyrene beads measuring 100, 200, and 500 nm in diameter, as well as silica beads. In addition to covering spherical beads, VP1 pentamers covered cubic magnetite beads, as well as the distorted surface structures of liposomes. These findings indicate that VP1 pentamers could coat artificial beads of various shapes and sizes larger than the natural capsid. Technology based on VP1 pentamers may be useful in providing a capsid-like surface for enclosed materials, enhancing their stability and cellular uptake for drug delivery systems.