Mortality among female practitioners of Chanoyu (Japanese "tea-ceremony").

A cohort study aimed to evaluate the effect of drinking green tea on longevity was performed. Three thousand three hundred and eighty female practitioners of chanoyu (Japanese tea-ceremony), living in Tokyo, were followed from 1980 to 1988, and 280 were dead during this period. Standardized mortality ratios were estimated 0.55 when all Japanese women was used as standard population and 0.57 when women living in Tokyo was used, indicating the possibility that green tea is a protective factor for several fatal diseases.

Left ventricular-right atrial communication with an aneurysm of the atrioventricular membranous septum. A case report.

A 40-year-old man with combination of left ventricular-right atrial communication and aneurysm of the atrioventricular membranous septum is presented. A supravalvular type defect, 14 X 15 mm in size, was closed with a Teflon patch. An oval shaped aneurysm of the atrioventricular membranous septum, 20 X 17 mm in size was also noted, but was left untouched. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case with this combination in Japan.

Radical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage with atrial and ventricular septal defects.

An eleven year old patient with TAPVD, ASD and VSD with left to right shunt who underwent successful total correction is presented. Diagnosis, operative technique and the pertinent literature are briefly discussed.

Evaluation of surgical treatments for the major lesion of bilateral silicotuberculosis.

The present communication deals with the follow-up study of 24 patients with bilateral silicotuberculosis in whom only unilateral operation was carried out for major lesions. The operative procedure consisted of pulmonary resection, thoracoplasty or combined operation such as cavernostomy, intracavitary filling of a pedunculated muscle flap and thoracoplasty. The follow-up period ranged 1 year to 12 years and 5 months. The results of surgical treatment for unilateral major lesions and their effect on the contralateral minor lesions were clinically assessed by alterations in the chest x-ray findings and tubercle bacilli in sputum. In 16 of 24 patients (67%) alleviation was obtained, whereas no change occurred in 3 (13%) and aggravation in 5 (21%). The surgical treatment for unilateral major lesion brought about 41% of improvement in the contralateral minor lesions. Contralateral minor lesions remained unchanged in 46% of patients and aggravated in 14%. This shows a value of the surgical threatment for bilateral silicotuberculosis. It should be emphasized that surgical treatments more aggressive than have been heretofore practiced can be employed.