In cases complicated with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the perioperative period in which cardiopulmonary bypass is used may pose a problem due to a rapid decrease in platelet count. In this case, we performed myxoma resection and a Maze procedure on a patient with a left atrial myxoma and atrial fibrillation who was receiving eltrombopag therapy under an ITP diagnosis. Initially, because the cardiology department suspected a left atrial thrombus caused by atrial fibrillation, eltrombopag administration was discontinued and anticoagulation therapy initiated; however, an episode occurred in which the platelet count precipitously fell from 192,000/μl to 71,000/μl over six days. Therefore, a plan was devised preoperatively to ensure stable continuation of ITP treatment, which involved administering a high-dose infusion of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) preoperatively and using subcutaneous injection of romiplostim on the day of surgery. Due to the potential for excessive platelet elevation depending on the timing of eltrombopag reinitiation, the drug was restarted and adjusted at the point when a postoperative decline in platelet count was observed. The operation and postoperative course proceeded with good control and without significant bleeding. Although the patient had a history of sick sinus syndrome noted during preoperative internal medicine admission, postoperative bradycardia persisted; as a result, the patient underwent pacemaker implantation on postoperative day 23. The patient was unaffectedly discharged on postoperative day 34.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondria, which harbor their own genome (mtDNA), have attracted attention due to the potential of mtDNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) as an indicator of mitochondrial dysfunction. Although mtDNA-CN has been proposed as a simple and accessible biomarker for metabolic disorders such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, the underlying mechanisms and the causal relationship remain insufficiently elucidated. In this investigation, we combined longitudinal epidemiological data, animal studies, and in vitro assays to elucidate the potential causal relationship between reduced mtDNA-CN and the development of steatotic liver disease (SLD). METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal study using data from a health examination cohort initiated in 1981 in Yakumo, Hokkaido, Japan. Data from examinations performed in 2015 and 2022 were analyzed, focusing on 76 subjects without SLD at baseline (2015) to assess the association between baseline mtDNA-CN and subsequent risk of SLD development. In addition, 28-day-old SD rats were fed ad libitum on a 45% high-fat diet and dissected at 2 and 8 weeks of age. Blood and liver mtDNA-CN were measured and compared at each feeding period. Additionally, in vitro experiments were performed using HepG2 cells treated with mitochondrial function inhibitors to induce mtDNA-CN depletion and to examine its impact on intracellular lipid accumulation. RESULTS: Epidemiological analysis showed that the subjects with low mtDNA-CN had a significantly higher odds ratio for developing SLD compared to high (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 4.93 [1.08-22.50]). Analysis of the animal model showed that 8 weeks of high-fat diet led to the development of fatty liver and a significant decrease in mtDNA-CN. A further 2 weeks of high-fat diet consumption resulted in a significant decrease in hepatic mtDNA-CN, despite the absence of fatty liver development, and a similar trend was observed for blood. Complementary in vitro experiments revealed that pharmacologically induced mitochondrial dysfunction led to a significant reduction in mtDNA-CN and was associated with increases in intracellular lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that reduced mtDNA-CN may contribute causally to SLD development and could serve as a convenient, noninvasive biomarker for early detection and risk assessment.
Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics* ; Humans ; Male ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Fatty Liver/blood* ; Rats ; Middle Aged ; Longitudinal Studies ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Adult ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Aged ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Hep G2 Cells ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects*

Methods: A total of 209 patients with osteoporosis and 54 with adult spinal deformities were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on pelvic incidence–lumbar lordosis (PI–LL): <20° and ≥20° groups. The sagittal vertical axis (SVA), thoracic kyphosis, PI, pelvic tilt (PT), LL, sacral slope, and pelvic femoral angle (PFA) were measured. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed in 86 patients using the Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ). A new index, PFA–(PI–LL), was defined as spinopelvic–hip mismatch. Correlation coefficients were calculated for each radiographic parameter, and the coefficient of determination (R2) for the relationship of each parameter with SVA was evaluated in both groups. The correlations between SVA, PT, PI–LL, PFA–(PI–LL), and JOABPEQ domain scores were also analyzed. Results: PI–LL correlated with PFA in the PI–LL <20° group (r=0.56, p<0.001) but not in the PI–LL ≥20° group. Among all parameters, PFA–(PI–LL) demonstrated the strongest association with SVA, indicating its superior ability to explain variations in sagittal alignment in both groups and across all patients (all patients, R2=0.77). Significant correlations were observed between the radiographic parameters and JOABPEQ scores across all domains. Conclusions PFA–(PI–LL), which represented spinopelvic–hip mismatch, was a reliable indicator of hip compensatory function in terms of anterior trunk inclination and HRQOL.

A 49-year-old man presented with subclavian steal phenomenon and severe stenosis of LMT. His SSP was composed of severe stenosis of the innominate artery, and the greater part of the blood supply to the right subclavian artery was through the collateral circuit of the vertebral arteries and the internal thoracic arteries. We performed replacement of the innominate artery with a prosthetic graft and coronary artery bypass using LITA in one-stage surgery.

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by thrombocytosis and malfunction of platelets. Both thrombosis and bleeding due to thrombocytosis may occur. An 81-year-old female patient complicated with ET underwent mitral valve replacement using a bioprosthetic valve due to severe mitral regurgitation. She had been diagnosed and treated with the hydroxycarbamide for ET. The hydroxycarbamide had been interrupted 14 days before the surgery, to prevent infection and delayed wound healing. At hospitalization for surgery, her platelet count rose to 1,290,000/μl from 790,000/μl. Readministration of a half dose of the hydroxycarbamide lowered the platelets to her original level. During the operation, more heparin was necessary to control activated coagulation time for cardiopulmonary bypass. She was discharged unaffectedly on 25 POD.

A 71-year-old man with double vessel disease (left anterior descending artery and right coronary artery) was surgically treated by off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. He had undergone pre-sternal subcutaneous gastric tube reconstruction and mediastinal radiation therapy 19 years previously due to esophageal cancer. The gastric tube prevented the median sternotomy that is commonly necessary for cardiac surgery. In cases with difficulties of median sternotomy, left anterolateral thoracotomy and the use of the subclavian artery as inflow root for bypass grafting are available. Both radial arteries were harvested as graft conduit, because of prospective severe adhesion of left internal thoracic artery due to previous radiation. The radial artery was anastomosed on the back side of the left subclavian artery with side-to-end fashion. Y-shaped composite graft was made with the other arterial graft. Both ends were anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery and the right posterior descending branch on the beating heart status without cardiopulmonary bypass. Intra-operative SPY images showed good patency of both bypass grafts. The post-operative course was eventful. The catheter angiography revealed all graft patency 5 years after the surgery.

A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to cerebellum infarction. He had undergone replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta because of aortitis syndrome 2 years ago. Electrocardiogram showed complete atrioventricular block. Echocardiography showed aortic annular abscess and vegetation on the prosthetic aortic valve. A pulmonary autograft was transplanted of the aortic root (Ross operation) after complete resection of the infected sites. The postoperative course was uneventful. The ross operation was considered to be a treatment of choice for prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis.

The efficacy of Landiolol hydrochloride (Onoact^®) for the treatment of arrhythmia was studied in 10 adult patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery. Onoact was continuously infused at a mean rate of 0.018 mg/kg/min initially and followed by 0.01 mg/kg/min. After the initiation of Onoact infusion, supra-ventricular tachycardia was eliminated in 5 out of 6 patients, and ventricular tachycardia disappeared in all 4 patients. The decrease in systemic blood pressure was not significant. Low-dose continuous infusion of Onoact was safe and effective even in patients just after cardiovascular surgery.

The efficacy of Landiolol hydrochloride (Onoact^®) for the treatment of arrhythmia was studied in 10 adult patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery. Onoact was continuously infused at a mean rate of 0.018 mg/kg/min initially and followed by 0.01 mg/kg/min. After the initiation of Onoact infusion, supra-ventricular tachycardia was eliminated in 5 out of 6 patients, and ventricular tachycardia disappeared in all 4 patients. The decrease in systemic blood pressure was not significant. Low-dose continuous infusion of Onoact was safe and effective even in patients just after cardiovascular surgery.