Long-Term Results of Open Mitral Commissurotomy : Effects of Pathologic Features and Surgical Techniques

Of the 174 patients with mitral stenosis (MS) who underwent open mitral commissurotomy (OMC) at Nagasaki University Hospital between 1971 and 1988, the cases of the 50 pure MS patients who underwent OMC alone as the first operation were retrospectively investigated, and the indications for OMC in these MS patients were evaluated. According to the pathological features of the mitral valve (Types I-III) and operative methods used (r: radical OMC, c : conservative OMC), the patients were classified into 4 groups, groups I, IIr, IIc, and III, and we compared the changes in the mitral valve area before and after the operation and the cardiac functions and clinical status in the late postoperative period in these groups. In all groups, the mitral valve area was significantly increased in the early postoperative period, then gradually decreased, but on average it remained larger in the late postoperative period than before the operation. However, significantly larger mitral valve areas were maintained in the late postoperative period than those before the operation only in groups I and IIr. Group IIr showed the highest % increase of the valve areas in the late postoperative period. Furthermore, group IIr maintained the best NYHA cardiac function classes and the highest percentage of normal sinus rhythm on electrocardiograms in the same period. These results suggested that OMC was effective in the Types I and II MS patients, and the complete removal of subvalvular fusions with debridement of calcified foci was considered to be particularly effective for Type II patients to maintain the favorable operative effects and high quality of life for a long period

Complications and Management of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy for Liver Metastasis

Complications and management of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for 79 patients with liver metastasis were studied. Complications were observed in 20 cases (25.3%), who included 8 cases (88.9%) of lapalotomy group and 12 cases (17.6%) of left subclavian group. In lapalotomy group, they were 5 cases of system occlusion, 2 cases of catheter tip dislocation and catheter reinsertion through the left subclavian artery was performed in 4 cases. In left subclavian group, they were 4 cases of system occlusion, 3 cases of catheter tip dislocation, 2 cases of hepatic arterial occlusion and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy was continued with catheter reinsertion in 8 of the 9 cases. It was considered that positive anti-complication measures including catheter reinsertion would contribute to the improvement of therapeutic results

Global population structure, genomic diversity and carbohydrate fermentation characteristics of clonal complex 119 (CC119), an understudied Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) lineage including O165:H25 and O172:H25.

peer reviewedAmong Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains of various serotypes, O157:H7 and five major non-O157 STEC (O26:H11, O111:H8, O103:H2, O121:H19 and O145:H28) can be selectively isolated by using tellurite-containing media. While human infections by O165:H25 STEC strains have been reported worldwide, their detection and isolation are not easy, as they are not resistant to tellurite. Systematic whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analyses have not yet been conducted. Here, we defined O165:H25 strains and their close relatives, including O172:H25 strains, as clonal complex 119 (CC119) and performed a global WGS analysis of the major lineage of CC119, called CC119 sensu stricto (CC119ss), by using 202 CC119ss strains, including 90 strains sequenced in this study. Detailed comparisons of 13 closed genomes, including 7 obtained in this study, and systematic analyses of Stx phage genomes in 50 strains covering the entire CC119ss lineage, were also conducted. These analyses revealed that the Stx2a phage, the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) encoding a type III secretion system (T3SS), many prophages encoding T3SS effectors, and the virulence plasmid were acquired by the common ancestor of CC119ss and have been stably maintained in this lineage, while unusual exchanges of Stx1a and Stx2c phages were found at a single integration site. Although the genome sequences of Stx2a phages were highly conserved, CC119ss strains exhibited notable variation in Stx2 production levels. Further analyses revealed the lack of SpLE1-like elements carrying the tellurite resistance genes in CC119ss and defects in rhamnose, sucrose, salicin and dulcitol fermentation. The genetic backgrounds underlying these defects were also clarified

BioHackathon series in 2011 and 2012: penetration of ontology and linked data in life science domains

The application of semantic technologies to the integration of biological data and the interoperability of bioinformatics analysis and visualization tools has been the common theme of a series of annual BioHackathons hosted in Japan for the past five years. Here we provide a review of the activities and outcomes from the BioHackathons held in 2011 in Kyoto and 2012 in Toyama. In order to efficiently implement semantic technologies in the life sciences, participants formed various sub-groups and worked on the following topics: Resource Description Framework (RDF) models for specific domains, text mining of the literature, ontology development, essential metadata for biological databases, platforms to enable efficient Semantic Web technology development and interoperability, and the development of applications for Semantic Web data. In this review, we briefly introduce the themes covered by these sub-groups. The observations made, conclusions drawn, and software development projects that emerged from these activities are discussed

Serum Wisteria Floribunda Agglutinin-Positive Mac-2 Binding Protein Values Predict the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C after Sustained Virological Response

Measurement of Wisteria floribundaagglutinin-positive human Mac-2 binding protein (WFA+-M2BP) in serum was recently shown to be a noninvasive method to assess liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of serum WFA+-M2BP values to predict the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) by interferon treatment. For this purpose, we retrospectively analyzed 238 patients with SVR who were treated with interferon in our department. Serum WFA+-M2BP values were measured at pre-treatment (pre-Tx), post-treatment (24 weeks after completion of interferon; post-Tx), the time of HCC diagnosis, and the last clinical visit. Of 238 patients with SVR, HCC developed in 16 (6.8%) patients. The average follow-up period was 9.1 years. The cumulative incidence of HCC was 3.4% at 5 years and 7.5% at 10 years. The median pre-Tx and post-Tx WFA+-M2BP values were 1.69 (range: 0.28 to 12.04 cutoff index (COI)) and 0.80 (range: 0.17 to 5.29 COI), respectively. The WFA+-M2BP values decreased significantly after SVR (P 60 years), sex (male), pre-Tx platelet count ( 2.0 COI) were associated with the development of HCC after SVR. Conclusion: Post-Tx WFA+-M2BP (> 2.0 COI) is associated with the risk for development of HCC among patients with SVR. The WFA+-M2BP values could be a new predictor for HCC after SVR