Secular Contrasts in Physical Fitness and Athletic Skills in Japanese Elementary School Students (11-Year-Olds).

Since 1964, Japan has been conducting a wide fitness and athletic skills evaluation among 2000-3000 school children. This study used data made public by the Japan Sports Agency from four events that have continuously been evaluated from 1964 to 2021-grip strength, 50 meter dash, repetitive side jumps, and softball throw-to depict a secular trend over the course of 58 years. This is to statistically categorize these into generations, establishing secular contrast by identifying high and low scores for each event within the categorized generations, with the intent to examine the factors embedded within the background.

Safety and Efficacy of NY-ESO-1 Antigen-Specific T-Cell Receptor Gene-Transduced T Lymphocytes in Patients with Synovial Sarcoma: A Phase I/II Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To determine, for patients with advanced or recurrent synovial sarcoma (SS) not suitable for surgical resection and resistant to anthracycline, the safety and efficacy of the infusion of autologous T lymphocytes expressing NY-ESO-1 antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) gene and siRNA to inhibit the expression of endogenous TCR (product code: TBI-1301).

Patients And Methods: Eligible Japanese patients (HLA-A*02:01 or *02:06, NY-ESO-1-positive tumor expression) received cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 on days -3 and -2 (induction period) followed by a single dose of 5×109 (±30%) TBI-1301 cells as a divided infusion on days 0 and 1 (treatment period). Primary endpoints were safety-related (phase I) and efficacy-related [objective response rate (ORR) by RECIST v1.

Solution-Processable Colorless Polyimides Derived from Hydrogenated Pyromellitic Dianhydride: Strategies to Reduce the Coefficients of Thermal Expansion by Maximizing the Spontaneous Chain Orientation Behavior during Solution Casting.

In this study, practically useful colorless polyimides (PIs) with low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) and other desirable properties were prepared from hydrogenated pyromellitic dianhydride (1-,2-,4-,5--cyclohexanetetracarboxylic dianhydride, H-PMDA). A modified one-pot polymerization method afforded a high-molecular-weight PI with sufficient film-forming ability from 2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (TFMB) with a rod-like structure and H-PMDA. However, the PI film cast from its homogeneous solution did not have low CTEs, similar to the analogous system using -tolidine.

[Signs can be Found in "Clinical Laboratory Values" and "Ultrasonographic Findings" -Chairmen's Introductory Remarks.].

Many examinations have limitations, including specificity. Therefore, multiple examinations should be combined for practical diagnosis to facilitate treatment. In symposium 14 (ultrasound and clinical examina- tion), 5 speakers presented how to combine diagnostic methods in their clinical practice.

Effects of medical treatment on the prognosis and risk of embolic events in patients with severe aortic plaque.

Aim: The optimal treatment strategy for patients with aortic atheroma is not well established because data regarding medical treatment for such patients are lacking, especially with respect to the Japanese population. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of medical treatment on the risk of embolic events and mortality in patients with severe aortic plaque.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 75 consecutive patients with severe aortic plaque detected on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) between 1995 and 2005.

A case of significantly increased mitral regurgitation early after atrial septal defect closure.

We report a rare case in which mitral regurgitation (MR) was exacerbated to a severe level early after atrial septal defect (ASD) closure, even though the female patient had preoperatively mild MR and mild changes in mitral valve (MV) and sinus rhythm. The mechanism of increased MR was considered as poor coaptation and tethering of the MV due to the restricted motion of the posterior leaflet in addition to geometric changes of the left ventricle (LV) after ASD closure.

Usefulness of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in evaluating aortic root diameters during a cardiac cycle.

Background: The preoperative evaluation of aortic root diameters is important for determining the surgical strategy in patients with aortic valve disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (3D-echo) for the evaluation of aortic root diameters compared with two-dimensional echocardiography (2D-echo) and to evaluate aortic root dynamics.

Methods: We prospectively investigated 23 patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and 37 normal controls.

Progression of isolated tricuspid regurgitation late after left-sided valve surgery. Clinical features and mechanisms.

Background: Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) sometimes develops late after left-sided valve surgery without left heart failure, pulmonary hypertension or rheumatic tricuspid valve. The purpose of the present study was to investigate clinical characteristics and mechanisms of severe isolated TR late after left-sided valve surgery.

Methods And Results: A total of 372 consecutive patients who underwent left-sided valve surgery between 1990 and 2003 and who were followed up with echocardiography for at least 5 years, were retrospectively investigated.

Evaluation of left ventricular rotation by two-dimensional speckle tracking method and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography: comparison with MRI tagging method.

Background: Recently, it has become possible to evaluate left ventricular (LV) torsion by two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking images. However, LV torsion is a three-dimensional (3D) performance, which per se cannot be assessed by the 2D speckle tracking method. The present study investigated the accuracy of the 2D speckle tracking method and real-time 3D echocardiography in measuring LV rotation, comparing with the MRI tagging method.

Marked regression of aortic plaque by intensive cholesterol-lowering therapy.

A 65-year-old man with rheumatic combined valvular heart disease showed a persistent fever after cardiac catheterization. He was diagnosed with cholesterol embolism due to multiple mobile plaques in the descending thoracic aorta by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) along with persistent eosinophilia, deteriorating renal function, and blue toe sign. He was treated with intensive cholesterol-lowering therapy for 3 years, resulting in marked regression of the aortic plaque on TEE.

Impact of aortic plaque morphology on survival rate and incidence of a subsequent embolic event – long-term follow-up data –.

Background: There are no reports about the long-term follow-up data of patients with aortic plaques among the Japanese population. The purpose of this study was to clarify the frequency of patients with severe aortic plaques and the impact of aortic plaque morphology on the prognosis.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively investigated 1,570 consecutive patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography.

Cardiac tamponade during transesophageal echocardiography in a patient with infective endocarditis.

An 81-year-old man with a history of diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease was admitted because of infective endocarditis. During transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), pericardial effusion rapidly increased and led to cardiac tamponade. Despite intensive therapy, the patient did not recover.

Usefulness of contrast echocardiography for detecting right-to-left cardiac shunts during the diagnosis of hypoxemia: 2 case reports.

We report two cases in which contrast echocardiography was useful for detecting right-to-left shunt. In case 1, a 53-year-old man was admitted to our hospital after being diagnosed with acute heart failure. Even after improvement of the heart failure, hypoxemia remained.

Cholesterol embolism after cardiac catheterization mimicking infective endocarditis.

We present a 65-year-old man with rheumatic combined valvular heart disease showing persistent fever 3 weeks after diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Infective endocarditis was strongly suspected from the clinical course, however, serial blood cultures were negative. Transesophageal echocardiography, done to investigate vegetation, revealed multiple mobile plaques in the descending aorta.

[Efficacy of transesophageal echocardiography in patients with cardiac arrest or shock].

Objectives: Only a few examinations are available to critically ill patients. We assessed the efficacy of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the management of patients with cardiac arrest or shock.

Methods: Among a total of 2,021 patients who underwent TEE over the past 13 years at our institution, we reviewed 18 patients who underwent TEE during cardiac arrest or shock.

Usefulness of high-frequency transthoracic Doppler echocardiography in noninvasive diagnosis of the left internal thoracic artery graft stenosis at the anastomosis.

Background: Stenosis of the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) graft, which usually occurs at the site of the anastomosis, can be noninvasively evaluated by the flow pattern in the proximal graft, but the flow pattern is influenced by several other factors.

Methods And Results: In the present study, LITA graft flow was investigated by high-frequency transthoracic Doppler echocardiography in 75 consecutive patients who underwent postoperative angiography of the LITA graft. The flow velocity was measured at both the anastomosis and proximal to it, and compared with the quantitative angiographic results.

Analysis of clinical background in patients with vegetation-like echoes: importance of clinical information.

Purpose: Detection of vegetation is important for diagnosing infective endocarditis.

Methods: We analyzed clinical information from 58 patients with vegetation-like echoes on transthoracic echocardiography who had been referred to this institution for an echocardiographic examination during the past 5 years. Patients with healed vegetations were excluded.

Usefulness of the transgastric view by transesophageal echocardiography in evaluating thickened pericardium in patients with constrictive pericarditis.

Detection of thickened pericardium in patients with constrictive pericarditis is essential for pericardiectomy because restrictive cardiomyopathy and severe tricuspid regurgitation show similar hemodynamic data. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether transesophageal echocardiography can evaluate thickened pericardium. We investigated 7 patients with constrictive pericarditis who underwent pericardiectomy.

Roles of the central prostaglandin EP3 receptors in cardiovascular regulation in rats.

In this study, we examined the effects of an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.