The preferable position for quantifying left ventricular diameter by transthoracic echocardiography.

Background: In quantifying left ventricular (LV) diameter, which position for echocardiographic measurements, mitral valve tip level (MV-tip) or LV mid level (LV-mid), more accurately represents the LV volume is unclear. Furthermore, which factor affects the measurement error also has not been elucidated.

Methods: We enrolled 150 patients without myocardial infarction and local asynergy who underwent echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI).

Impact of an angulated aorto-septal relationship on cardio-cerebrovascular outcomes in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Aortic and valvular calcification are well-known risk factors for cardio-cerebrovascular events in patients undergoing hemodialysis. We investigated the clinical impact of an angulated aorto-septal angle as a result of aortic elongation due to aortic calcification on cardio-cerebrovascular outcomes in patients undergoing hemodialysis. We investigated 306 patients (mean age 65.

Non-A Blood Type Is a Risk Factor for Poor Cardio-Cerebrovascular Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Dialysis.

The clinical impact of ABO blood type on cardio-cerebrovascular outcomes in patients undergoing dialysis has not been clarified. A total of 365 hemodialysis patients participated in the current study. The primary endpoint was defined as a composite including cardio-cerebrovascular events and cardio-cerebrovascular death.

Coronary Artery Spasm during Cryoballoon Ablation in a Patient with Atrial Fibrillation.

The patient was a 63-year-old man with drug-resistant atrial fibrillation who developed coronary spasm during cryoballoon ablation (CBA). CBA was started from the left inferior pulmonary vein. ST elevations in II, III, and aVf, with reciprocal ST depressions in V2-5, occurred in association with chest pain just after balloon rewarming and deflation, and the patient's blood pressure fell to 50 mmHg.

Use of endocytoscopy for identification of sessile serrated adenoma/polyps and hyperplastic polyps by quantitative image analysis of the luminal areas.

Background And Study Aims:  Recent studies that used magnifying chromoendoscopy and endocytoscopy (EC) to investigate endoscopic features of sessile serrated adenoma/polyps (SSA/Ps) suggested that a dilated crypt opening was an important indicator of SSA/Ps. However, no studies to date have measured the actual extent of dilatation. Hence, we investigated retrospectively the luminal areas using EC to determine a cutoff value for differentiating SSA/Ps from hyperplastic polyps (HPs).

Acute myocardial infarction due to spontaneous, localized, acute dissection of the sinus of Valsalva detected by intravascular ultrasound and electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography.

A 58-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of chest pain. The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed ST-segment elevation in II, III, and a Vf with advanced heart block. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated aortic root dilatation at the sinus of Valsalva, moderate aortic regurgitation, and decreased wall motion in the inferior part of the left ventricle.

Electrolyte depletion syndrome (McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome) successfully treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

A 66-year-old woman presented to us with malaise, anorexia and rectal mucous discharge, and her laboratory data showed severe hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia and renal failure. Computed tomography revealed massive occupation of the rectum by a large tumor. Colonoscopy revealed a mucus-rich villous tumor in the rectum.

Efficiency of endocytoscopy in differentiating types of serrated polyps.

Background: Accurate endoscopic criteria are needed to differentiate serrated polyps, including hyperplastic polyp (HP), sessile serrated adenoma/polyp (SSA/P), and traditional serrated adenoma (TSA), because some are precursors of colorectal cancers.

Objective: To determine the endocytoscopic features of each type of serrated polyp, especially the shapes of lumens and nuclei.

Design: Retrospective study.

Double staining with crystal violet and methylene blue is appropriate for colonic endocytoscopy: an in vivo prospective pilot study.

Background And Aim: Endocytoscopy (EC) at ultra-high magnification enables in vivo visualization of cellular atypia of gastrointestinal mucosae. Clear images are essential for precise diagnosis by EC. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the optimal staining method for EC in the colon.

Endocytoscopy can provide additional diagnostic ability to magnifying chromoendoscopy for colorectal neoplasms.

Background And Aim: Pit pattern (PIT) diagnosis with magnifying chromoendoscopy is effective diagnostic method for predicting a massively invasive submucosal colorectal cancer (SMm) which has possibility of metastasis, whereas endocytoscopy (EC) is recently reported to provide excellent diagnostic ability by enabling in vivo cellular visualization. The aim was to assess the additional diagnostic value of EC to PIT for diagnosing colorectal lesions.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective comparative analysis using a prospectively recorded database in a referral hospital.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer in anastomosis site after distal gastrectomy.

Background: Detection of early gastric cancer (EGC) in the remnant stomach is increasing because of follow-up endoscopic surveillance programs. Endoscopic treatment appears to be desirable for EGC in the remnant stomach because it is less invasive than surgical resection.

Methods: In this retrospective study, to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for EGC in an anastomotic site, treatment results of ESD for EGC in an anastomotic site and in remnant stomach not involving an anastomotic site were compared.

[Whipple's disease].

A 36-year-old woman presented with fever, diarrhea, and weight loss in April 2011. Upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy showed a diffuse yellow-white shaggy mucosa in the second part of the duodenum and the ileum end, respectively. These lesions in these 2 locations were biopsied, and both specimens showed distended epithelial villi and massive infiltration of foamy macrophages in the lamina propria.

Comprehensive diagnostic ability of endocytoscopy compared with biopsy for colorectal neoplasms: a prospective randomized noninferiority trial.

Background And Study Aims: Endocytoscopy enables observation at 450-fold magnification during gastrointestinal endoscopy, allowing on-site "optical biopsy." We compared the accuracies of endocytoscopy and standard biopsy for the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasms.

Patients And Methods: We performed a randomized, controlled, open-label trial of patients with colorectal lesions (≥ 5 mm) detected during colonoscopy in a tertiary referral center.

Interstitial Pneumonia associated with ulcerative colitis: high-resolution computed tomography and pathologic findings.

Pulmonary parenchymal manifestations associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) include various conditions such as opportunistic infections, interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, and adverse drug reactions. We present a case of interstitial pneumonia associated with UC in a 61-year-old nonsmoking woman. High-resolution computed tomography demonstrated multifocal ill-defined areas of consolidation and ground-glass attenuation with or without traction bronchiectasis, predominantly in peripheral lung parenchyma.

Endoscopic characteristics of colorectal serrated lesions.

Background/aims: With the recent changes of pathological concepts, colorectal serrated lesions can be now divided into traditional serrated adenoma, typical hyperplastic polyp and sessile serrated polyp. The aim of this study is to clarify the endoscopic differences among these three groups.

Methodology: A total number of 362 serrated lesions larger than 5mm were evaluated.

Diagnosis of colorectal lesions with a novel endocytoscopic classification - a pilot study.

Background And Study Aims: Recent advances in endocytoscopy have enabled in vivo evaluation not on ly of structural atypia, but also of cellular atypia with observation of lumens and nuclei in the surface layer of the mucosa. The aim of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the usefulness of our novel endocytoscopic classification in colorectal lesions.

Patients And Methods: A total of 206 consecutive patients were enrolled in the study and underwent endocytoscopic examination.

Clinical usefulness of pit patterns for detecting colonic lesions requiring surgical treatment.

Background: The number of patients suffering from colorectal cancer is increasing. According to Japanese guidelines, lesions with a submucosal invasive depth >1,000 μm should be treated with radical proctocolectomy. We propose and evaluate a new clinical classification for pit patterns that uses endoscopy to assess lesion depth for determination of the appropriate therapeutic approach for early colorectal cancers and adenomas.

Vascular pattern classification of colorectal lesions with narrow band imaging magnifying endoscopy.

Magnifying narrow band imaging (NBI) has enabled to observe the vascular pattern of colorectal lesions. Their broad findings have been divided into six groups according to endoscopical vascular features: normal, faint, network, dense, irregular and sparse. Most hyperplastic polyps show a faint pattern.

[Present state and foresight of endoscopic therapy].

The advent of magnifying chromoendoscopy has enabled endoscopists to observe the mucosal structures in great detail for precise diagnosis; the pit patterns, irregular vascular patterns with narrow band imaging(NBI), and intra-epithelial papillary capillary loop (IPCL) pattern. The achievement of high resolution images has also improved accuracy of diagnosis for neoplasm in gastroenterology. Endocytoscopy is developed from magnifying chromoendoscopy, and is now under clinical investigation for use.

Diagnostic accuracy of pit pattern and vascular pattern analyses in colorectal lesions.

Background: The aim of this prospective study is to compare the usefulness of magnifying narrow band imaging (NBI) and magnifying chromoendoscopy in the diagnosis of colorectal lesions.

Methods: The subjects were 1185 patients who underwent a complete colonoscopic examination and endoscopic or surgical treatment, from January 2006 to February 2008. A total of 1473 lesions were evaluated (53 hyperplastic polyps, 1317 adenomas, 103 submucosally invasive cancers).

Diagnosis of colorectal lesions with the magnifying narrow-band imaging system.

Background: Narrow-band imaging (NBI) emphasizes the surface microvasculature of the GI tract and may help in detecting small neoplasms.

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the value of the NBI system in tissue characterization and differential diagnosis.

Design: A prospective study.