On freeze-thaw sequence of vital organ of assuming the cryoablation for malignant lung tumors by using cryoprobe as heat source.

Regarding cryoablation for the malignant lung tumors, multiple trials of the freeze-thaw process have been made, and we considered it necessary to view and analyze the freeze-thaw process as a freeze-thaw sequence. We caused the sequence in a porcine lung in vivo by using an acicular, cylindrical stainless-steel probe as the heat source for the freeze-thaw sequence and cooling to -150 °C with super high-pressure argon gas by causing the Joule-Thomson effect phenomenon at the tip of the probe. In this experiment, we examined the sequence by measuring the temperature and using the isothermal curve and the freezing function.

Malignant transformation of a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary with rupture.

Malignant transformation or tumor rupture is a rare complication of ovarian mature cystic teratomas. We present computed tomography (CT) images of a 52-year-old woman that revealed a large, predominantly cystic mass filled with fat and enhanced solid components located in the lower abdomen. Ten days later, the cystic mass ruptured, and massive ascites was observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Mechanism of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Background: It has been reported that the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) disease is high in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). End-inspiratory intra-esophageal pressure decreases progressively during OSA, which has been thought to facilitate GER in OSA patients. The aim of our study was to clarify the mechanisms of GER during sleep (sleep-GER) in OSA patients.

Computed tomographic attenuation value of coronary atherosclerotic plaques with different tube voltage: an ex vivo study.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic performance of computed tomographic (CT) attenuation and CT attenuation ratio at different tube voltages for ex vivo plaque characterization.

Materials And Methods: Human coronary arteries were obtained at the time of autopsy in 15 subjects. The coronary arteries were serially cut into 5-mm-long segments and scanned ex vivo using 4 sets of tube voltages and tube currents (80 kV, 660 mA; 100 kV, 500 mA; 120 kV, 400 mA; and 140 kV, 340 mA).

Use of task-specific ionic liquid for selective electrocatalytic fluorination.

Highly selective indirect anodic fluorination of organic compounds was successfully carried out for the first time by using a task-specific ionic liquid of iodoarene as a mediator in ionic liquid hydrogen fluoride salts.

Multidetector-row CT Angiography of Lower Extremities: Usefulness in the Diagnosis of and Intervention for Peripheral Arterial Disease.

CT angiography (CTA) based on the data acquired by multidetector-row CT (MDCT) is an established, minimally invasive modality for imaging peripheral arteries. CTA has been used to assess peripheral arterial disease before treatment, and it has replaced conventional angiography for the diagnostic evaluation of peripheral arteries. MDCT can optimize both the long scan length and spatial resolution.

Approach for in vivo protein binding of 5-n-butyl-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine bioactivated in chimeric mice with humanized liver by two-dimensional electrophoresis with accelerator mass spectrometry.

Drug development of a potential analgesic agent 5-n-butyl-7-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoylamino)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine was withdrawn because of its limited hepatotoxic effects in humans that could not be predicted from regulatory animal or in vitro studies. In vivo formation of glutathione conjugates and covalent binding of a model compound 5-n-butyl-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine were investigated in the present study after intravenous administration to chimeric mice with a human or rat liver because of an interesting capability of human cytochrome P450 1A2 in forming a covalently bound metabolite in vitro. Rapid distribution and elimination of radiolabeled 5-n-butyl-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine in plasma or liver fractions were seen in chimeric mice after intravenous administration.

Upper esophageal sphincter and gastroesophageal junction pressure changes act to prevent gastroesophageal and esophagopharyngeal reflux during apneic episodes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is thought to be induced by decreasing intraesophageal pressure during obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, pressure changes in the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) pressure during OSA events have not been measured. The aim of this study was to determine UES and GEJ pressure change during OSA and characterize the GER and esophagopharyngeal reflux (EPR) events during sleep.

Incidence of tracheobronchomalacia associated with pulmonary emphysema: detection with paired inspiratory-expiratory multidetector computed tomography using a low-dose technique.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) associated with pulmonary emphysema with paired inspiratory-expiratory multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) using a low-dose technique.

Materials And Methods: This study included 56 consecutive patients (55 men, 1 woman; mean age 68.9 years) with pulmonary emphysema who had undergone paired inspiratory-expiratory CT scanning with a low-dose technique (40 mA).

Utility of sonography for evaluation of clinical T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of sonographically determined tumor features in relation to local control of clinical T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma treated by definitive radiation therapy.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2005, 72 patients with T1 and T2 glottic carcinoma were evaluated by percutaneous sonography in terms of tumor detectability, maximum tumor dimension, involvement of the anterior commissure, presence of supraglottic, subglottic, or paraglottic spread, and thyroid cartilage invasion. Factor analyses for local control included clinical features, sonographic findings, and treatment factors.

Extracardiac structures are frequently present within close proximity to the left atrium: Relevance to catheter ablation.

Background: The coronary sinus (CS) including the great cardiac vein is an important anatomic structure that is considered a landmark for the mitral annulus (MA) and also a target for catheter ablation.

Objective: This study evaluated the anatomical relationship between the CS and its surrounding structures visualized by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT).

Methods: We performed MDCT on 42 patients, and the ranges of the coronary arteries (CAs) and esophagus that ran closest (<5 mm) to the CS were examined.

Increased epicardial fat volume quantified by 64-multidetector computed tomography is associated with coronary atherosclerosis and totally occlusive lesions.

Background: The relationship between the epicardial fat volume measured by 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and the extension and severity of coronary atherosclerosis was investigated.

Methods And Results: Both MDCT and conventional coronary angiography (CAG) were performed in 71 consecutive patients who presented with effort angina. The volume of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) was measured by MDCT.

Terminating motor events for TLESR are influenced by the presence and distribution of refluxate.

Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR) is frequently associated with reflux events and terminates with a primary or secondary peristaltic wave. However, it is unclear whether the presence and properties of the refluxate affect TLESR-termination events. The aims of this study were to determine the pattern of terminating esophageal motor activity after TLESR in healthy subjects and factors affecting the type of terminating motor event.

Percutaneous revascularization of chronic total occlusion of left anterior descending artery using contralateral injection via isolated conus artery.

A 74-year-old male underwent cardiac catheterization that revealed a chronic total occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The right coronary artery provided only faint collateral circulation to the LAD. Multislice computed tomography (MDCT) disclosed that a conus artery took off directly from the aorta and provided good collateral circulation to the LAD.

The clinical value of bilateral breast MR imaging: is it worth performing on patients showing suspicious microcalcifications on mammography?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of bilateral breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) in patients showing suspicious microcalcifications on mammography and negative ultrasound findings. Fifty patients underwent MRI before stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (SVAB). MR findings were classified into five types for interpretation, and types 4 and 5 were considered malignant.

Diagnostic accuracy of angiographic view image for the detection of coronary artery stenoses by 64-detector row CT: a pilot study comparison with conventional post-processing methods and axial images alone.

Background: The angiographic view (AGV) image is a new post-processing method that is similar to conventional coronary angiography (CAG). The purpose of this study was to evaluate its accuracy for coronary stenosis detection by 64-detector row computed tomography (CT).

Methods And Results: CT evaluation results of 17 patients were compared with the results of invasive CAG on a coronary segment basis concerning the presence of stenoses>50% diameter reduction.

Comparison of endoscopic findings with symptom assessment systems (FSSG and QUEST) for gastroesophageal reflux disease in Japanese centres.

Background And Aim: We compared endoscopic findings of the frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (FSSG), a written questionnaire developed in Japan, to that for the questionnaire for the diagnosis of reflux esophagitis (QUEST) for the diagnosis of reflux esophagitis.

Methods: We registered 475 patients with untreated symptoms of upper abdominal pain (male/female: 252/223, average age 52.4 +/- 17.

Novel three-dimensional imaging of the anatomical relationship between the pulmonary vein and left atrium.

Background: Visualization of the inner anatomical relationship of the pulmonary veins (PVs) and left atrium (LA) is important for achieving a better success rate and avoiding complications in circumferential LA ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: Twelve patients with AF underwent computed tomography and novel post-processing images that emphasized the boundaries of the PVs and LA were produced.

Conclusions: The "Transparent View" images enabled visualization of the inner anatomical relationship of the PVs and LA in the same geometry as in pulmonary venography in all cases.

Human cytochrome P450 1A2 involvement in the formation of reactive metabolites from a species-specific hepatotoxic pyrazolopyrimidine derivative, 5-n-butyl-7-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoylamino)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine.

5-n-Butyl-7-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoylamino)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine) (OT-7100) is a pyrazolopyrimidine derivative with potential analgesic effects. Exclusively limited elevations in serum levels of aspirate- and alanine-aminotransferase were abnormally observed in a clinical study, in contrast to no toxicological potential to experimental animals. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism responsible for species-specific hepatotoxicity of this model compound.