A simple method of inspection of proximal bleeding in Bentall procedure

A simple method of checking for bleeding from the proximal anastomosis site in Bentall operations is described. After suturing a Carbo-Seal prosthesis to the aortic annulus, using a folding-over technique, the left ventricle is filled with cardioplegic solution through the prosthetic valve, and the heart is massaged to visualize possible leaks at the level of the suture.     

Inactivation of multiple tumor-suppressor genes involved in negative regulation of the cell cycle, MTS1/p16INK4A/CDKN2, MTS2/p15INK4B, p53, and Rb genes in primary lymphoid malignancies

It is now evident that the cell cycle machinery has a variety of elements negatively regulating cell cycle progression. However, among these negative regulators in cell cycle control, only 4 have been shown to be consistently involved in the development of human cancers as tumor suppressors: Rb (Retinoblastoma susceptibility protein), p53, and two recently identified cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p16INK4A/MTS1 and p15INK4B/MTS2. Because there are functional interrelations among these negative regulators in the cell cycle machinery, it is particularly interesting to investigate the multiplicity of inactivations of these tumor suppressors in human cancers, including leukemias/lymphomas. To address this point, we examined inactivations of these four genes in primary lymphoid malignancies by Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction-single- strand conformation polymorphism analyses. We also analyzed Rb protein expression by Western blot analysis. The p16INK4A and p15INK4B genes were homozygously deleted in 45 and 42 of 230 lymphoid tumor specimens, respectively. Inactivations of the Rb and p53 genes were 27 of 91 and 9 of 173 specimens, respectively. Forty-one (45.1%) of 91 samples examined for inactivations of all four tumor suppressors had one or more abnormalities of these four tumor-suppressor genes, indicating that dysregulation of cell cycle control is important for tumor development. Statistical analysis of interrelations among impairments of these four genes indicated that inactivations of the individual tumor-suppressor genes might occur almost independently. In some patients, disruptions of multiple tumor-suppressor genes occurred; 4 cases with p16INK4A, p15INK4B, and Rb inactivations; 2 cases with p16INK4A, p15INK4B, and p53 inactivations; and 1 case with Rb and p53 inactivations. It is suggested that disruptions of multiple tumor suppressors in a tumor cell confer an additional growth advantage on the tumor.     

Cross-sectional area of the posterior extensor muscles of the cervical spine in whiplash injury patients versus healthy volunteers--10 year follow-up MR study

IntroductionLong-term follow-up studies focusing on the posterior extensor muscles in patients suffering from whiplash injury are scarce. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the changes in the posterior extensor muscles 10 years after whiplash injury.MethodsTwenty-three patients who had suffered from whiplash injury in 1994–1996 and had undergone MRI using a 1.5-T superconductive imager participated in this follow-up study (13 males, 10 females, mean age 51.8 years, mean follow-up 11.5 years). In addition, 60 healthy volunteers who had undergone MRI in the same period were included as controls (36 males, 24 females, mean age 47.8 years, mean follow-up 11.1 years). All participants underwent follow-up MRI. The cross-sectional areas of the deep posterior muscles (CSA) including the multifidus, semispinalis cervicis, semispinalis capitis, and splenius capitis were digitally measured at C3-4, C4-5, and C5-6 using NIH image. The long-term changes in the CSA were compared between the two groups. In addition, correlations between the CSA and cervical spine-related symptoms were evaluated.ResultsThe mean total CSA per patient (the sum of the area from C3-4 to C5-6) was 4811.6 ± 878.4 mm² in the whiplash patients and 4494.9 ± 1032.7 mm² in the controls at the initial investigation (p = 0.20), and 5173.4 ± 946.1 mm² and 4713.0 ± 1065.3 mm² at the follow-up (p = 0.07). The mean change in CSA over time was 361.8 ± 804.9 mm² in the whiplash patients and 218.1 ± 520.7 mm² in the controls (p = 0.34). Ten whiplash patients (43.5%) had neck pain and 11 (47.8%) had shoulder stiffness. However, there was no difference in the change in CSA over time between the symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.ConclusionsThere was no significant difference in the change in CSA between whiplash patients and healthy volunteers after a 10-year follow-up period. In both groups, the cross-sectional area slightly increased at follow-up. In addition, there was no association between the change in CSA and clinical symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain. These results suggest that whiplash injury is not associated with symptomatic atrophy of the posterior cervical muscles over the long term.     

Initial clinical experience of early cardiac rehabilitation for very elderly patients over 85 years old following open heart surgery

In this study, we evaluated the initial clinical experience of early cardiac rehabilitation( CR) for very elderly patients over 85 years old after open heart surgery. From September 2007 to January 2011, 7 consecutive patients (85~90 years, mean 85.9 years, male:female=4:3) who underwent cardiac surgery in our institute were selected. Preoperative activity of daily living (ADL) scores were similar in all cases, and 1 patient used a cane for walking. Preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification was class III :3, class IV:4. Three patients were admitted for acute congestive heart failure approximately 1 month prior to surgery. Standard open heart surgery using bioprosthesis was performed: 3 patients underwent mitral valve replacement( MVR), 3 had aortic valve replacement( AVR), and 1 had tricuspid valve replacement (TVR). Postoperative clinical course was uneventful, and the mean time of ventilator support was 12.1 hours. Thereafter, early CR was introduced at the intensive care unit( ICU) in all patients, and the mean time of introduction of early rehabilitation was 1.7 days. In the last 4 cases, early CR was done the 1st day following surgery. CR was effectively performed in all cases without any problems or cardiac events, and all patients improved enough to leave their beds at 3~7 days, a mean of 4.4 days after surgery. The mean hospital stay after surgery was 30.9 days( 23 ~ 42 days), almost all patients were able to walk independently, and ADL scores at discharge were improved. Only 2 patients required a cane for walking. Postoperative NYHA classification was improved to class I :5, class II :2. From these results, early CR for very elderly patients over 85 years old could be a safe and effective tool to improve and maintain the ADL and quality of life following surgical intervention.     

Pulmonary squamous papilloma

We report a rare case of pulmonary squamous papilloma. A 42-year-old woman was referred to our hospital complaining of dry cough. A chest computed tomography (CT) showed a mass shadow in the lower lobe of left lung. Serum concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen (SCC) were elevated to 13.0 ng/ml and 11.8 ng/ml, respectively. The mass was positron emission tomography( PET)-positive, with a maximum standard uptake value( SUVmax) of 11.55, suggesting a malignant neoplasm. Under the guidance of video-assisted thoracoscopy, left basal segmentectomy was performed. Intra-operative diagnosis was a squamous papilloma and no malignancy. Her postoperative course was uneventful. She is currently alive without any sign of recurrence.