Blood-pool SUV analysis of 99mTc-galactosyl human serum albumin (99mTc-GSA) normalized by blood volume for prediction of short-term survival in severe liver failure: preliminary report.

Purpose: This study evaluated the usefulness of SUV analysis of 99mTc-galactosyl human serum albumin (99mTc-GSA) scintigraphy including SUV analysis of the cardiac blood pool normalized by blood volume as a predictor of short-term survival in severe liver failure.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 24 patients with severe liver failure who underwent 99mTc-GSA scintigraphy and were admitted to the intensive care unit. Patients were divided into survival and non-survival groups at 7, 14, and 28 days from the performance of 99mTc-GSA scintigraphy.

An unexpected case of tetanus in a fully immunized 20-year-old female: a case report.

Background: Widespread vaccinations have significantly decreased the number of tetanus cases in developed countries. Today, most cases of tetanus affect the elderly and those with inadequate immunization in developed countries such as Japan. As vaccinations were believed to be nearly 100% effective in preventing tetanus, tetanus in young, immunized individuals were considered unlikely.

Development of split-force-controlled body weight support (SF-BWS) robot for gait rehabilitation.

This study introduces a body-weight-support (BWS) robot actuated by two pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs). Conventional BWS devices typically use springs or a single actuator, whereas our robot has a split force-controlled BWS (SF-BWS), in which two force-controlled actuators independently support the left and right sides of the user's body. To reduce the experience of weight, vertical unweighting support forces are transferred directly to the user's left and right hips through a newly designed harness with an open space around the shoulder and upper chest area to allow freedom of movement.