Clinical trial of photodynamic therapy for peripheral-type lung cancers using a new laser device in a pilot study.

Introduction/aim: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the use of a tumor-specific photosensitizer and laser irradiation, and is one of the treatment options recommended for early centrally located lung cancers, but not yet for peripheral-type lung cancers. We developed a new laser probe, the composite-type optical fiberscope (COF), which allows accurate laser irradiation of a cancer lesion with simultaneous visualization of the lesion. In this study, we attempted a new endobronchial PDT technique using the new laser probe, and evaluated the effectiveness and feasibility of this novel PDT technique for peripheral lung cancers.

Photodynamic therapy for biliary tract organ via a novel ultra-small composite optical fiberscope.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a method used treat tumors via utilizing photodynamic reactions between photosensitive substances with tumor affinity and lasers. For overall bile duct cancers, PDT has been demonstrated to resolve stenosis and improve prognosis; however, when limited to intrahepatic bile duct cancers, modifications to the laser irradiation are necessary as surrounding hepatocytes incorporate a large amount of photosensitive substances. Furthermore, the intrahepatic bile duct is thin, and a guide sheath and thin fiber are necessary to transport laser irradiation probes to the target region.

FGF-2 Stimulates the Growth of Tenogenic Progenitor Cells to Facilitate the Generation of Tenomodulin-Positive Tenocytes in a Rat Rotator Cuff Healing Model.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 has the potential to enhance tendon-to-bone healing after rotator cuff (RC) injury.

Hypothesis: FGF-2 stimulates tenogenic differentiation of progenitors to improve the biomechanical strength and histological appearance of repaired RCs in rats.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Functional and structural comparisons of the arthroscopic knotless double-row suture bridge and single-row repair for anterosuperior rotator cuff tears.

Background: We compared the outcomes of knotless double-row suture bridge and single-row repairs in patients undergoing arthroscopic repair for anterosuperior rotator cuff tears.

Methods: We included 61 full-thickness anterosuperior rotator cuff tears treated by arthroscopic repair, namely, single-row repair (group 1: 25 shoulders; mean patient age, 64 years) and the knotless double-row suture bridge repair (group 2: 36 shoulders; mean patient age, 62 years). Preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging was performed for all shoulders.

Design and Preclinical Validation of the Composite-Type Optical Fiberscope for Minimally Invasive Procedures of Intrauterine Disease.

Study Objective: Because of the rapid growth of minimally invasive surgical procedures, we developed an ultrathin fiberscopic imaging system for laser surgery that could be an important instrument for clinical use in an office setting.

Methods And Main Results: A new device, consisting of a custom 1.1-mm diameter flexible fiberscope and ytterbium laser-supported ablation system (composite-type optical fiberscope), has been developed to achieve accurate laser irradiation for minimally invasive procedures of intrauterine disease.

Evaluation of the relationship between T1ρ and T2 values and patella cartilage degeneration in patients of the same age group.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the T1ρ and T2 values and the progression of cartilage degeneration in patients of the same age group.

Materials And Methods: Sagittal T1ρ and T2 mapping and three-dimensional (3D) gradient-echo images were obtained from 78 subjects with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA). The degree of patella cartilage degeneration was classified into four groups using MRI-based grading: apparently normal cartilage, mild OA, moderate OA, and severe OA group.

Clinical study using novel endoscopic system for measuring size of gastrointestinal lesion.

Aim: To verify the performance of a lesion size measurement system through a clinical study.

Methods: Our proposed system, which consists of a conventional endoscope, an optical device, an optical probe, and a personal computer, generates a grid scale to measure the lesion size from an endoscopic image. The width of the grid scale is constantly adjusted according to the distance between the tip of the endoscope and lesion because the lesion size on an endoscopic image changes according to the distance.

Intracellular accumulation of advanced glycation end products induces apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum stress in chondrocytes.

Mammalian cells attempt to maintain their homeostasis under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. If the stress cannot be alleviated, cells are led to apoptosis through induction of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). ER stress is provoked in osteoarthritis chondrocytes, and intracellular accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in chondrocytes is a possible cause.

A novel ultrasmall composite optical fiberscope.

Background: Accurately aiming laser energy at a target from a two-dimensional endoscopic view is difficult during endoscopic laser surgery, particularly when the endoscope and the laser fiber are misaligned. We developed a composite optical fiberscope (COF) that can simultaneously visualize a target area and perform laser irradiation. The identical orientation of the endoscope and the laser fiber allows intuitive aiming at a target, even from a two-dimensional endoscopic view.

Usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging for differentiating between desmoid tumors and malignant soft tissue tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for differentiating between desmoid tumors and malignant soft tissue tumors.

Materials And Methods: Conventional MRI and DWI were performed for 8 desmoid tumors and 74 malignant soft tissue tumors. DWI was obtained with a single-shot echo-planar imaging sequence using a 1.

Extra-oral fistula caused by a dental implant.

Dental implantation has become an important procedure for both dental treatment and head and neck reconstructive surgery. However, this useful technique sometimes results in peri-implantitis. We describe a rare complication of peri-implantitis in the maxilla which extended to the soft tissue and caused an extra-oral fistula above the alar region.

The development of a composite-type optical fiberscope system for fetoscopic laser photocoagulation of chorionic plate anastomosing vessels (FLPC).

We developed a new laser device using a composite-type optical fiberscope for laser surgery to treat twin-twin transfusion syndrome. The composite-type optical fiberscope (2.2 mm in external diameter) consists of a centrally located single fiber for laser treatment (0.

Blood flow measurement system for fetoscopic laser photocoagulation of chorionic plate anastomosing vessels (FLPC).

Fetoscopic laser photocoagulation of chorionic plate anastomosing vessels (FLPC) applies to the treatment of previable fetuses with severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). The ultimate goal of FLPC is selective blood flow interruption of anastomotic communicating vessels on the placenta fetoscopically. However, there has not been an established method to confirm that the blood flow is blocked, thus, it depends on the operator's experience or intuition to evaluate whether the FLPC was performed successfully or not.

The value of diffusion-weighted imaging for monitoring the chemotherapeutic response of osteosarcoma: a comparison between average apparent diffusion coefficient and minimum apparent diffusion coefficient.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the average apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) or the minimum ADC is more useful for evaluating the chemotherapeutic response of osteosarcoma.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two patients with osteosarcoma were examined in this study. Diffusion-weighted (DW) and magnetic resonance (MR) images were performed for all patients before and after chemotherapy.

Cervical osteomyelitis and epidural abscess treated with a pectoralis major muscle flap.

Background: Spinal osteomyelitis and epidural abscess are uncommon but have a potentially disastrous outcome, although the surgical techniques and antimicrobial therapy have advanced.

Case Description: We present a case of cervical osteomyelitis and epidural abscess resulting from pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma ablation, which were treated with a pectoralis major muscle flap successfully.

Conclusion: Muscle flap insertion to the cervical contaminated wound enables radical removal of the contaminated tissue, and the muscle flaps for dead-space obliteration and neovasculation were obligatory for successful management of the infected complex wound.

Complex wounds tend to develop more rapidly in patients receiving hemodialysis because of diabetes mellitus.

The number of patients requiring dialysis because of diabetes mellitus is increasing and such patients often have complex chronic wounds, which are difficult to heal. However, there are few retrospective studies of wounds requiring surgical treatment. We evaluated 14 patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) (8 because of diabetes and 6 because of other diseases) who had extremity wounds and underwent surgical treatment in our unit from 2004 through 2007.

Characterization of chondroblastic osteosarcoma: gadolinium-enhanced versus diffusion-weighted MR imaging.

Purpose: To detect differences in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between chondroblastic osteosarcoma and the other types of osteosarcomas or chondrosarcomas using gadolinium-enhanced versus diffusion-weighted sequences.

Materials And Methods: Contrast-enhanced MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were performed in five chondroblastic osteosarcoma (CO) cases, 17 other types of osteosarcomas (OS), and 18 chondrosarcomas (CS). DWI was obtained with a single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence using a 1.

Alcaligenes xylosoxidans cholecystitis and meningitis acquired during bathing procedures in a burn unit: a case report.

The information in this article was presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Burn, Nagoya, Japan, June 7-8, 2008. Alcaligenes xylosoxidans, a nonfermentative, Gram-negative rod often found in aqueous environments, has been isolated from respirators, incubators, and disinfectant solutions in the hospital environment. It is known to cause disease in immunocompromised (eg, burn) patients and represents a cross-contamination risk related to wound care.

Ability of diffusion-weighted imaging for the differential diagnosis between chronic expanding hematomas and malignant soft tissue tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in distinguishing chronic expanding hematomas (CEHs) from malignant soft tissue tumors.

Materials And Methods: We performed conventional MRI and DWI of six CEHs and 31 malignant soft tissue tumors from 37 patients seen between May 2000 and November 2006. DWI was obtained with a single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence using a 1.