Successful pain control with add-on methadone for refractory neuropathic pain due to radiation necrosis in pontine metastatic lesion: a case report.

Background: Central pain, characterized by neuropathic pain, can manifest due to injury to the superior spinothalamic tract. The brainstem includes sensory and motor pathways as well as nuclei of the cranial nerves, and therefore cancer metastasis in the region requires early intervention. Although stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is commonly employed for the treatment of brain metastasis, it poses risks of late complications like radiation necrosis (RN).

Prolonged paradoxical reaction requiring over 5 years of corticosteroid administration in a patient with severe tuberculous meningitis.

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a rare disease in low-incidence countries like Japan, where general physicians have fewer experience with TBM. Despite its proper treatment and early improvement of the condition, TBM often causes paradoxical reactions (PRs), which can lead to severe complications such as stroke. As PRs in the brain are difficult to detect without regular neuroimaging surveillance and have a later onset than in other organs, delayed treatment can be fatal.

Physician Attire Influences Patient and Family Perceptions of Care in the Palliative Care Unit in Japan.

Background: Physician attire influences perceptions of care. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of physician attire on perceptions of care by patients and families in a Japanese palliative care unit.

Methods: From November 2018 to February 2020, patients and family members admitted to the Palliative Care Unit at Jichi Medical University Hospital were recruited and completed a survey consisting of 4 demographic questions and 15 questions regarding perceptions of care.

Progressive plasterer's pneumoconiosis complicated by fibrotic interstitial pneumonia: a case report.

Background: Although the prevalence of pneumoconiosis has been decreasing due to improvements in working conditions and regular health examinations, occupational hygiene measures are still being established. Plasterers encounter a number of hazardous materials that may be inhaled in the absence of sufficient protection.

Case Presentation: A 64-year-old man who plastered without any dust protection for more than 40 years was referred to our hospital with suspected interstitial pneumonia.

Survivin overexpression via adeno-associated virus vector Rh10 ameliorates ischemic damage after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.

Survivin, a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein gene family, inhibits the activity of caspase, leading to a halt of the apoptotic process. Our study focused on the neuroprotective effect of survivin after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with intraparenchymal administration of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector. His-tagged survivin was cloned and packaged into the AAV-rh10 vector.

Efficient transduction of adeno-associated virus vectors into gerbil hippocampus with an appropriate combination of viral capsids and promoters.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is an ideal vector for gene transduction into the central nervous system because of its safety and efficiency. While it is currently widely used for clinical trials and is expected to become more widespread, the appropriate combination of viral serotypes and promoters have not been fully investigated. In this study, we compared the transduced gene expression of AAVrh10 to AAV5 in gerbil hippocampus using three different promoters, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), chicken β-actin promoter with the CMV immediate-early enhancer (CAG), and the Synapsin 1 (Syn1) promoter.

AAV6-Mediated IL-10 Expression in the Lung Ameliorates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fibroproliferative disorder with limited therapeutic options. An aberrant wound healing process in response to repetitive lung injury has been suggested for its pathogenesis, and a number of cytokines including transforming growth factor β1 play pivotal roles in the induction and progression of fibrosis. Thus, the regulation of these pro-inflammatory conditions may reduce the progression of IPF and ameliorate its symptoms in patients.

Pulmonary Mycobacterium heckeshornense infection in a healthy woman.

Pulmonary infection due to Mycobacterium heckeshornense (M. heckeshornense) in healthy adults without underlying diseases is very rare and optimal treatments have not yet been established. A 39-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for further examinations following the identification of a pulmonary cavitary nodule.

Physical activity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background And Objective: Physical activity is an important parameter in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but has not been studied in detail in patients with interstitial lung disease. This study aimed to evaluate physical activity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Methods: Physical activity was monitored in 31 stable IPF patients using an accelerometer for 1 month.

Clinical features of pulmonary aspergillosis associated with interstitial pneumonia.

Objective: We retrospectively investigated the clinical features of pulmonary aspergillosis associated with interstitial pneumonia.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all patients treated for interstitial pneumonia with or without pulmonary aspergillosis at our institution between April 2006 and August 2012 and evaluated the clinical features as well as risk and prognostic factors for pulmonary aspergillosis associated with interstitial pneumonia.

Results: Among 539 patients with interstitial pneumonia, 15 who suffered from pulmonary aspergillosis were identified.

A patient with sarcoidosis who developed heterochronic involvements in different organs from initial organs during 7 years.

A 59-year-old woman, who was given a diagnosis of sarcoidosis by supraclavicular lymph node biopsy 5 years previously, was admitted for further examination following abnormal radiologic findings. Nodular pulmonary and abdominal lesions were observed by computed tomography, and liver biopsy was performed and showed epithelioid cell granulomas. She was asymptomatic and was followed up with no therapy.

Neuroselective transcutaneous electrical stimulation reveals neuronal sensitization in atopic dermatitis.

Background: The neuroselective transcutaneous electrical stimulator (NTES) can provoke itch and/or pain by the application of a 5-Hz alternating current.

Objective: We sought to examine whether there is any difference in the perception of the stimulus evoked by the NTES between patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and healthy control subjects.

Methods: In all, 24 healthy control subjects and 24 patients with AD (nonlesional skin) were stimulated on 7 body sites using the NTES.

Neuroselective transcutaneous electric stimulation reveals body area-specific differences in itch perception.

Background: Electrically evoked itch has been reported, although the electrodes, the frequency, and the pulse duration used were not standardized.

Objective: To examine whether a neuroselective transcutaneous electrical stimulator (NTES; Neurometer; Neurotron, Inc, Baltimore, Md) can evoke itch and whether it can provoke itch on any body area.

Methods: Twelve healthy subjects were stimulated on 30 body sites by 5 Hz alternating current produced by the NTES.