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A sensitive immunoassay system using a specific monoclonal antibody against lipoprotein lipase (LPL) recently demonstrated the presence of an LPL mass in preheparin serum. We reported that a preheparin serum LPL mass (pre-LPL mass) reflected the level of functioning LPL activity in the whole body and could be deeply involved in the progression of coronary atherosclerosis of stable organic angina pectoris. We examined the relation between the pre-LPL mass and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We studied 44 males with AMI (AMI group) and 16 males with a normal coronary artery (NCA group), and measured the pre-LPL mass by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Coronary risk factors including the pre-LPL mass were compared between the two groups and multiple regression analysis was performed for AMI. There were no significant differences in the lipid data, but the pre-LPL mass level was significantly low in the AMI group (52 +/- 16 vs 41 +/- 14 ng/ml, p = 0.01), and a low pre-LPL mass concentration was observed in the small sized LDL group and/or the Midband positive group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that a low pre-LPL mass and hypertriglyceridemia were independent risk factors for AMI (t value = 2.1, 2.4). The result indicates that a low pre-LPL mass may be an important risk factor for AMI and stable organic angina pectoris.

The primary purpose of the Japanese myasthenia gravis registry (JAMG-R) has been to research and promote high-quality medical care for MG patients in Japan. We reviewed the findings of surveys performed by JAMG-R over an ~10-y period. The first goal for favorable quality of life (QOL) is a status of minimal manifestations (MM) or better with an oral prednisolone (PSL) dose of 5 mg/d or less (MM-5 mg).Early and aggressive use of nonoral fast-acting treatment together with low-dose oral PSL (the "EFT strategy") is recommended to reduce disease severity with minimal oral steroid use so that the MM-5 mg target can be met as soon as possible. We conducted the fourth largest multicenter survey ever in 2021, obtaining detailed clinical information from 1710 consecutive MG patients all over Japan, and compared the 2021 surveys with those from 2012 and 2015. The frequency of patients treated with EFT strategies showed a gradual increase, reaching 39% of the total MG patients in the 2021 survey. The current and maximum dose of PSL and the number of days at high-dose (>20 mg/d) PSL showed decreases. Survey results indicate that as EFT

Summary:Primary cardiac tumor is an extremely rare disease entity. Only three cases of primary malignant cardiac schwannoma, the subject of this report, have been recorded in Japan. Recently, we encountered a case of malignant schwannoma in which retention of pericardial effusion was the first clinical finding. This case was a 30-year-old female, who had dyspnea at work, general fatigue, and fever. Striking cardiac expansion was seen, with a cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) d 6 9 % on chest x-ray. Twodimensional echocardiograms showed a large volume of pericardial effusion between the side wall of the left ventricle and the epicardium, and the presence of a parenchymatous tumor. An increase in tumor size was detected on chest computer tomography (CT) scan. Using a pump oxygenator, median stemotomy was performed to reach the epicardium. A pale yellow, soft tumor was Seen in the left atrium near the left ventricle. Histologically, the patient was diagnosed as having a malignant schwannoma. We have reported a case of primary malignant schwannoma which was surmised to have arisen from the boundary between the atrium and the ventricle.