Harnessing environmental microbiota for the discovery of novel biocatalytic enzymes using microbial single-cell genome sequencing

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Transplantation of the canine cadaver heart using a core-cooling technique.

We studied whether a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and a core-cooling technique could resuscitate an arrested heart, and whether this procedure benefited canine cadaveric heart transplantation. Donor dogs were subjected to brain death by an intracranial balloon technique, and then, to cardiac arrest conducted by cutting off ventilatory support. In the control group (Group 1; n = 8), arrested hearts were flushed with cardioplegic solution and harvested thereafter without any resuscitation technique. In the experimental group (Group 2; n = 8), arrested hearts were once resuscitated using CPB, and then harvested using a core-cooling technique and cardioplegia. These hearts were transplanted orthotopically. Seven of eight recipients in Group 1 were weaned from CPB, and five of them finally became independent of dopamine administration. All recipients in Group 2 were successfully weaned from CPB, and also became dopamine free eventually. In Group 2, all post-transplantation hemodynamic values such as cardiac output during the period of dopamine administration were equivalent to those of post-brain death period. Chemical analysis of the serum and myocardial muscle demonstrated no difference between groups. We conclude that CPB combined with a core-cooling technique makes it possible to utilize an arrested heart as a donor organ for transplantation.</p

Frequency analysis of electroencephalogram recorded from a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) with a novel method during transportation by truck

In order to obtain information regarding the correlation between an electroencephalogram (EEG) and the state of a dolphin, we developed a noninvasive recording method of EEG of a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and an extraction method of true-EEG (EEG) from recorded-EEG (R-EEG) based on a human EEG recording method, and then carried out frequency analysis during transportation by truck. The frequency detected in the EEG of dolphin during apparent awakening was divided conveniently into three bands (5–15, 15–25, and 25–40 Hz) based on spectrum profiles. Analyses of the relationship between power ratio and movement of the dolphin revealed that the power ratio of dolphin in a situation when it was being quiet was evenly distributed among the three bands. These results suggested that the EEG of a dolphin could be detected accurately by this method, and that the frequency analysis of the detected EEG seemed to provide useful information for understanding the central nerve activity of these animals

INTRAOPERATIVE ANGIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF RECONSTRUCTED ARTERY AND USEFULNESS OF SAPHENOUS VEIN GRAFT BRIDGING IN EARLY THROMBOSIS OCCLUSION AFTER CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY

Early postoperative thrombosis-occlusion of the internal carotid artery after carotid endarterectomy plays a major role in postoperative neurologic morbidity and mortality. To prevent this terrible complication, many surgeons are trying various prophylactic methods such as saphenous vein patch angioplasty, prolonged use of heparin, intraoperative Doppler ultrasound assessment, and so on. However, complete protection from postoperative thrombosis-occlusion is difficult. We have performed 47 carotid endarterectomies on 43 patients in the last three years. In 28 of these endarterectomies, primary closure for arteriotomy was performed, and in 19 cases, endarterectomies were reconstructed with saphenous vein patch angioplasty. An intraoperative angiographical assessment of the reconstructed segment was done in all endarterectomies after the reversing of heparin given during the carotid arterial surgical maneuver, and restenosis, or thrombosis-occlusion, was also checked. In three arteries, restenosis was demonstrated and repair was performed with vein graft angioplasty. Three of 28 arteries recontructed with primary closure and 1 of 19 arteries with vein patch angioplasty showed thrombosis-occlusion. Although vein patch angioplasty was done immediately for the primarily closured arteries, occlusion occurred again in two arteries. One artery with patch angioplasty also reoccluded. For these arteries, saphenous vein graft bridging between common carotid artery with an intact intima and internal carotid artery with an intact intima was performed. Postoperative angiogram showed good blood flow through the vein graft bridge. These results suggest that intraoperative angiography gives important imformation about the reconstructed arterial segment and that saphenous vein bridging is very useful in arteries with thrombosis-occlusion following carotid endarterectomy

Crystal growth modified by pulsed laser irradiation on growing surface in Ba-Cu-O film preparation by laser ablation

Ba2YCu3Ox superconducting films were prepared by Nd:YAG laser ablation, equipped with a second (ArF excimer) laser for irradiation onto the growing film surface. The irradiation onto the film during the deposition were delayed for various delay times against the ablation of Ba2YCu3Ox target. The experiment showed that the second laser irradiation within several tens ps around the ablation event induces a change of the crystal orientation. This result suggests that the crystal growth for the laser ablation is determined mainly around this time scale

CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF CEREBRAL SUBCORTICAL CAVERNOUS ANGIOMA AS EPILEPTOGENIC FOCUS

The authors conducted a comparative histological study of two groups of patients with cerebral subcortical cavernous angioma. One group was composed of 5 asymptomatic cases detected accidentally. The other group was composed of 4 patients presenting as epilepsy. The results obtained may be summarized as follows ; 1) Hemosiderin deposit and gliosis were seen in all cases examined ; 2) Granulomatous change was a histological finding associated with epileptogenesis ; 3) The histological changes, starting with proliferation of collagen fibers and leading to hyaline degeneration, calcification, and then hemangioma calcificans, seem to represent a course of spontaneous healing, when viewed from epileptogenesis

How the Post-Fracture Rehabilitation Choice Affects Brain Function in Older People?

Background: We investigated how the type of rehabilitation affects brain function and antioxidant potential. Methods: Twenty-eight patients hospitalized for fall-related fractures were assigned to either a physical therapy group or an occupational therapy group. Cognition was assessed using the Touch Panel-type Dementia Assessment Scale (TDAS) and oxidative stress with serum pentosidine levels. Spectral analysis and coherence analysis were also performed. Results: Changes in TDAS scores and serum pentosidine levels did not differ significantly between the 2 therapies. Power spectral analysis revealed a significant intergroup difference in δ waves. Coherence analysis showed significant intergroup differences in the activities of δ waves and β waves. Conclusions: Cognitive function and antioxidant potential did not differ between the 2 types of rehabilitation. However, the impact on cerebral neuronal activity may have differed

A NEW METHOD OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS

As the treatment of lumbar or lumbosacral stenosis, laminectomy with the preservation of tissues supporting the spine and the embracement of the exposed dura mater with thin silicone rubber to prevent the occurrence of restenosis due to exuberant fibrous tissue formation at the operative site have been performed over a period of seven years. Before the prevention of restenosis with silicone rubber, we had to reoperate in cases which developed recurrent symptoms resulting from restenosis of the lumbosacral canal. This operation that we describe is technically feasible and with practical benefit can be done routinely for spinal decompression not only in the lumbosaral, but also in cervical spinal region without requiring an extensive laminectomy

Association between BRCA Gene Variants and the Response to Modified FOLFIRINOX in Patients with Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

We investigated the effect of modified FOLFIRINOX (mFFX) in unresectable pancreatic cancer by retrospectively analyzing the cases of 43 patients who underwent BRCA testing (germline, n=11; somatic, n=26; both germline and somatic, n=6). The association between BRCA mutations and therapeutic effect was clarified. Six patients tested positive for germline pathogenic variants. Familial pancreatic cancer (33% vs. 3%, p=0.006) and peritoneal disseminated lesions (66% vs. 8%, p<0.001) were significantly more common in patients with germline pathogenic variants. The partial response (PR) rate was 100% in the germline BRCA-positive patients, and 27% in the germline BRCA-negative patients (p<0.001). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was not reached for any germline BRCA-positive patients but was 9.0 months for the germline BRCA-negative patients (p=0.042). Patients with stage IV BRCA-associated pancreatic cancer had better overall survival than those with non-BRCA-associated pancreatic cancer, although the difference was nonsignificant (not reached vs. 655 days, p=0.061). Our results demonstrate that a PR and prolonged PFS can be expected in germline BRCA-positive patients after treatment with mFFX. Our findings also suggest that germline BRCA pathogenic variants may be useful as biomarkers for the therapeutic effect of mFFX in patients with pancreatic cancer