Efficacy of Hyaluronan-Enriched Transfer Medium for Low-Grade Frozen Embryo Transfer.

Research Question: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of a hyaluronan-enriched transfer medium (HETM) for transfer failures and transfer of frozen embryos that have been graded as C at the time of transfer according to the Gardner classification of trophectoderm (TE).

Design: This study included 365 cycles of unsuccessful frozen-thawed embryo transfers in hormone replacement cycles graded C according to the Gardner classification of TE at the time of transfer. Clinical pregnancy rates were compared using the χ test, with the patients divided into two groups: one whose transfers did include HETM (HETM group) and one whose transfers did not include HETM (control group).

Long-Term Results of Proton Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography Planning without Fiducial Markers.

We report here the long-term results of marker-less respiratory-gated proton therapy (PT), without fiducial markers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which was planned using a four-dimensional computed tomography technique. Local tumor control (LTC) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Toxicity was graded per CTCAE v5.

Relationships among pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, dry weight and natriuretic peptide in patients undergoing hemodialysis: a three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography study.

Background: Although the evaluation of fluid status in hemodialysis (HD) patients is useful, relationship among pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), dry body weight (DW) and natriuretic peptide has not been elucidated. In addition, there has been no objective marker for instantaneously monitoring hemodynamic improvement in response to HD. We previously reported that PCWP and time constant of left ventricular pressure decline (Tau) can be noninvasively estimated (ePCWP and eTau) by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE).

Relationship between walking efficiency and muscular strength of the lower limbs in children with cerebral palsy.

[Purpose] In children with cerebral palsy, despite increases in muscle strength after strengthening, improvements in walking efficiency are inconsistent in previous studies. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between walking efficiency and muscle strength in children with cerebral palsy. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-six children with cerebral palsy participated in this study.

Reactive oxygen species measured in the unprocessed semen samples of 715 infertile patients.

Purpose: To determine whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) in semen samples could be measured with the Monolight 3010 Luminometer.

Methods: Using the Monolight 3010 Luminometer, the ROS was measured in the unprocessed semen samples of infertile male patients, as well as the luminescence of 190 semen samples. The samples were classified as "luminescence-detectable" (n = 89) and "luminescence-undetectable" (n = 101).

The association between the maximum step length test and the walking efficiency in children with cerebral palsy.

[Purpose] To improve walking efficiency could be useful for reducing fatigue and extending possible period of walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP). For this purpose, current study compared conventional parameters of gross motor performance, step length, and cadence in the evaluation of walking efficiency in children with CP. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-one children with CP (21 boys, 10 girls; mean age, 12.

Evaluation of Focal Liver Reaction after Proton Beam Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Examined Using Gd-EOB-DTPA Enhanced Hepatic Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: Proton beam therapy (PBT) achieves good local control for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and toxicity tends to be lower than for photon radiotherapy. Focal liver parenchymal damage in radiotherapy is described as the focal liver reaction (FLR); the threshold doses (TDs) for FLR in the background liver have been analyzed in stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy and brachytherapy. To develop a safer approach for PBT, both TD and liver volume changes are considered clinically important in predicting the extent of damage before treatment, and subsequently in reducing background liver damage.

Utility of an initial adaptive bladder volume control with ultrasonography for proton-beam irradiation for prostate cancer.

Purpose: Our purpose was to evaluate the utility of time-fixed bladder volume control and adaptive bladder volume control with ultrasonography (US).

Materials And Methods: Seventy-five patients with prostate cancer treated with proton-beam therapy were enrolled. Treatment plans were created using computed tomography (CT) images obtained 60 min after urination with usual water intake.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma in the nasal cavity treated with proton beam therapy concurrent with cisplatin: a case report.

Introduction: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is mostly seen in the upper aerodigestive tract and has a propensity for lymph node spread and systemic metastases. Various treatment modalities have been reported, including surgical excision supplemented with radiotherapy/adjuvant chemotherapy.

The establishment and validation of efficient assays for anti-IIa and anti-Xa activities of heparin sodium and heparin calcium.

Heparin is used as an anticoagulant drug. The anticoagulation process is mainly caused by the interaction of heparin with antithrombin followed by inhibition of anticoagulant factor IIa and factor Xa. The anti-factor IIa and anti-factor Xa activities of heparin are critical for its anticoagulant effect; however, physicochemical methods that can reflect these activities have not been established.

Noninvasive monitoring of radiation-induced early therapeutic response using high-resolution MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy in VX2 carcinoma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of high-resolution MRI (HR-MRI) and proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) for monitoring the early therapeutic response to radiotherapy. Twenty rabbits with VX2 carcinoma were divided into control (n = 8) and irradiation (n = 12) groups. The irradiation group underwent HR-MRI and (1)H-MRS using a microscopy coil at 1, 3, 7 or 14 days after irradiation.

Midkine inhibitors: application of a simple assay procedure to screening of inhibitory compounds.

Background: Midkine is a heparin-binding cytokine and is involved in etiology of various diseases. Thus, midkine inhibitors are expected to be helpful in treatment of many diseases.

Methods: We developed a simple assay for midkine activity based on midkine-dependent migration of osteblastic cells.

[Surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation using ablation devices and ablation of autonomic ganglion plexi].

Background: Development of ablation device for the surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation (Af) has suggested the safety and easiness of the maze procedure. However, the success rate of sinus rhythm (SR) recovery is not satisfactory. We studied the maze procedure and the results with ablation device and also with additional ganglion plexi (GP) ablation.

Correlation of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on positron emission tomography with Ki-67 index and pathological invasive area in lung adenocarcinomas 30 mm or less in size.

Background: (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is commonly used to distinguish benign from malignant lesion. Recently, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on FDG-PET has found to have prognostic value. We examined the relationship between SUVmax and proliferative activities as indicated by maximum diameter of tumor opacity on mediastinal-window images (TOM), Ki-67 index, and diameter of the pathological invasive area in lung adenocarcinomas View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Depiction of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma with 64-MDCT: comparison of moderate- and high-concentration contrast material with and without saline flush.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the depiction of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma on 64-MDCT scans obtained with contrast agents of varying iodine concentrations administered with and without saline flush.

Subjects And Methods: The study included 149 patients, among whom 36 patients with hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma were identified. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three protocols: A, contrast material of 300 mg I/mL; B, 370 mg I/mL; C, 370 mg I/mL plus saline flush.

Lung carcinoma: diffusion-weighted mr imaging--preliminary evaluation with apparent diffusion coefficient.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a split acquisition of fast spin-echo signals for diffusion imaging (SPLICE) sequence for tissue characterization of lung carcinomas by using apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs).

Materials And Methods: An institutional review board approved this study; informed consent was obtained from patients. Thirty patients (nine women, 21 men; mean age, 68.

Usefulness of a saline flush for intravenous 3-dimensional computed tomography portography using multidetector-row helical computed tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of a saline flush technique in improving the imaging quality of 3-dimensional computed tomography portography (3D-CTP).

Methods: To evaluate liver metastases, 58 patients were divided into 2 groups undergoing 3D-CTP with or without a saline flush. The computed tomography (CT) values of the right portal vein (RPV), left portal vein (LPV), main portal vein (MPV), and right hepatic parenchyma (RHP) were assessed.

Development of a system which automatically acquires optimal discrete-valued attributes by dividing and grouping continuous-valued attributes to assist clinical decision making in radiotherapy.

The purposes of this study were first to develop a system which statistically tests results of radiotherapy and which automatically acquires an optimal discrete-valued attribute by dividing and grouping continuous-valued attributes, and second to find the optimal range of values such as tumor dose by taking account of the conditions and statistics in ROGAD (Radiation Oncology Greater Area Database), a multi-institutional database in Japan. Our ultimate goal is to assist clinical decision making for every patient. In this research, two algorithms for acquiring a boundary value were developed without detecting false boundaries or accidental errors of acquired boundaries.

Efficacy of a glycyrrhizin suppository for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: a pilot study.

Intravenous administration of glycyrrhizin has potential efficacy on decreasing serum aminotransferase levels in patients with chronic hepatitis. However, patients receiving this treatment are recommended to attend hospital regularly for several years. To improve the quality of life for these patients, we developed a glycyrrhizin suppository.

Comparative results of coronary intervention in patients with variant angina versus those with non-variant angina.

Coronary angioplasty is reported to be feasible and safe in patients with coronary spasm and fixed stenosis. However, the long-term results are not positive. We compared the results of coronary angioplasty in 20 patients with variant angina versus 17 patients with non-variant angina among 231 consecutive patients with vasospastic angina.

Major complications during spasm provocation tests with an intracoronary injection of acetylcholine.

This study sought to clarify major complications associated with acetylcholine testing. Serious major complications, such as sustained ventricular tachycardia, shock, and cardiac tamponade were determined in 4 of 715 patients (0.56%), but no cases of death or irreversible complications occurred.

New combined spasm provocation test in patients with rest angina: intracoronary injection of acetylcholine after intracoronary administration of ergonovine.

The incidence of provoked coronary spasm with the standard single spasm provocation test has been relatively low in patients with rest angina. The present study examined the clinical usefulness of a newly designed spasm provocation test, an intracoronary injection of acetylcholine (ACh) following an ergonovine (ER) test, in patients with rest angina who demonstrated low disease activity and atypical chest pain. Triple sequential spasm provocation tests were performed in 24 patients with atypical chest pain who had no ischemia and in 40 patients with rest angina who had distinct ischemia.