N-(p-Coumaroyl)serotonin (C) and N-feruroylserotonin (F) with antioxidative activity are present in safflower oil. The protective effects of C and F were investigated in perfused guinea-pig Langendorff hearts subjected to ischemia and reperfusion. Changes in cellular levels of high phosphorous energy, NO and Ca2+ in the heart together with simultaneous recordings of left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) were monitored by an nitric oxide (NO) electrode, fluorometry and 31P-NMR. The rate of recovery of LVDP from ischemia by reperfusion was 30.8% in the control, while in the presence of C or F a gradual increase to 63.2 or 61.0% was observed. Changes of transient NO signals (TNO) released from heart tissue in one contraction (LVDP) were observed to be upside-down with respect to transient fura-2-Ca2+ signals (TCa) and transient O2 signals detected with a pO2 electrode. At the final stage of ischemia, the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and the release of NO increased with no twitching and remained at a high steady level. The addition of C increased the NO level at the end of ischemia compared with the control, but [Ca2+]i during ischemia decreased. On reperfusion, the increased diastolic level of TCa and TNO returned rapidly to the control level with the recovery of LVDP. By in vitro EPR, C and F were found to directly quench the activity of active radicals. Therefore, it is concluded that the antioxidant effects of two derivatives isolated from safflower play an important role in ischemia-reperfusion hearts in close relation with NO.

Primary mediastinal liposarcomas are extremely rare malignancies that remain asymptomatic until large and, even then, initial symptoms are nonspecific. We report a 48-year-old man followed up for asymptomatic multiple bullae who suffered progressive weight loss and dyspnea on exertion. Radiography and computed tomography of the chest showed a large mass with calcified nodules in the left pleural cavity and giant bullae in the right pleural cavity. Previous computed tomography of the chest showed a small tumor of mediastinal adipose tissue with calcified nodules. Tumor growth was calculated at about 500 times the tumor volume per 3.6 years. We completely resected the mediastinal tumor and conducted a bullectomy through a median sternotomy. The microscopic pathological diagnosis was well-differentiated/sclerosing liposarcoma. The man underwent no postoperative adjunctive irradiation and remains well 8 months after surgery.

A 56-year-old man presented with late cardiac tamponade appearing on 9 postoperative day after weaning from percutaneous cardiopulmonary support. He had been referred to our hospital for congestive heart failure. He underwent aortic valve replacement and fell into postcardiotomy low output syndrome. He could not be weaned from extracorporeal circulation, and we had to use an intraaortic balloon pump and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support. On postoperative day 9, percutaneous cardiopulmonary support was successfully withdrawn without problems, but he showed signs of superior vena cava syndrome after the cannulas were removed. An echocardiogram also showed cardiac tamponade. When the wound was reopened, a lot of old clots had compressed the right atrium and, after clot removal, the patient's hemodynamic state improved markedly. It is important to be aware that percutaneous cardiopulmonary support may conceal hemodynamic deterioration due to cardiac tamponade and to take care that a patient does not experience hemodynamic deterioration after percutaneous cardiopulmonary support withdrawal.

Acute type A aortic dissection presents a surgical emergency because conservative therapy is not effective in the majority of instances. Enhanced CT-scan of the chest is commonly available and is considered to be an optimal diagnostic method for this disease. The operative strategy is to resect the primary tear to close the entry site of the aortic dissection and replace it with a tubular Dacron graft. Therefore, the existence of the entry site is important in determining the operative procedure.Based on the numerical value of the enhanced CT-scan inspection, the present study seeks to preoperatively identify the location of the presumed entry site in aortic dissection. From May 1996 to June 1999, 21 consecutive patients (Marfan's syndrome excluded) with acute type A aortic dissection underwent surgical treatment.Nineteen patients were preoperatively examined by enhanced CT-scan: 11 men and 8 women, with a mean age of 61 years.CT-scan slices used for early diagnosis were of the ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending aorta, and thoracoabdominal aorta. The largest diameters of the whole and true lumen were measured from cross-sectional aortic images with a personal computer, and the areas of the whole and true lumen were obtained by the manual tracing method. The true ratio was calculated for the largest diameter and area of the whole lumen. The nineteen patients were divided into two groups according to the location of the entry site based on the operating views. Seven patients with the entry site in the ascending aorta were classified as group A, and twelve patients with the entry site further in the aortic arch and descending aorta were classified as group B. Comparisons were performed by non-parametric analysis. Moreover, a discriminant analysis was applied to evaluate the classification between the two groups. The ratio of the largest diameter of the true lumen in group A at the level of the ascending and descending aorta was significantly greater than that in group B (75.0+11.3 vs. 59.7+14.0 %, 82.7+8.6 vs. 70.1 + 11.4%).Linear discriminant analysis resulted in the correct classification rate of 68.2%, and 77.3%, respectively.The ratio of the area of the true lumen in group A at the level of the aortic arch was also significantly greater than in group B (65.4+17.3 vs. 45.7+15.8%) and linear discriminant analysis resulted in the correct classification rate of 55.1%. When the entry site was located in the aortic arch, the diameter of the true lumen was seen to be smaller in the ascending and descending aorta, and the dissecting lumen appeared enlarged. When the entry site is located in the ascending aorta, the ratio of the area of the true lumen in the aortic arch was significantly higher (55.1%).Detailed examination of enhanced CT-scans is useful to determine the location of the entry site and the treatment strategy for this disease. Jpn. J.

A 65-year-old woman received a bovine pericardial patch repair with a sutureless technique for a left ventricular free-wall rupture. Three months later the Dor operation was performed for a left ventricular aneurysm. She was admitted again with a mycotic aneurysm 15 months after the Dor operation. Computed tomography suggested a rupture of the pseudoaneurysm due to a damaged endoventricular patch. An emergency Dor reoperation was performed with profound hypothermia. Right thoracotomy was performed with insertion of a left vent catheter via the right upper pulmonary vein in order to prevent ventricular distention. Omentopexy was performed to avoid infection of the mediastinum. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course.