[Neurorehabilitative intervention with neurofeedback system using functional near-infrared spectroscopy].

Recent advance in Brain-Machine interface (BMI) technology, including analysis of brain signal, enable a real-time interaction between patients and environment bypassing their damaged neuromuscular systems. Although most of researches have focused on substituting output function, it has been growing interest in applying this technology for restoring their brain. Several studies have proved that feedback of cortical activities (neurofeedback) enable regulating brain activation voluntarily.

Lower limb lymphedema treated with lymphatico-venous anastomosis based on pre- and intraoperative icg lymphography and non-contact vein visualization: A case report.

Lymphatico-venous anastomosis (LVA) is used to resolve lymph retention in lymphedema. However, the postoperative outcome of lower limb lymphedema is poorer than that for upper limb lymphedema, because of the location lower than the heart level. Improvement of the therapeutic outcome requires application of as many anastomoses as possible in a limited operation time, particularly since there is a positive correlation between the number of anastomoses and the therapeutic effect of LVA.

Evaluation of salivary cortisol measurements for the diagnosis of subclinical Cushing's syndrome.

Late-night salivary cortisol (NSC) has been recognized as a sensitive and easy-to-perform screening test for the diagnosis of overt Cushing's syndrome (CS). However, there have been few reports on the diagnostic utility of salivary cortisol (SC) measurement in the diagnosis of subclinical Cushing's syndrome (SCS). Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of SC measurements at late-night and after overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) for the diagnosis of SCS in 42 patients with adrenal incidentaloma.

Dynamic reconstruction of full-thickness abdominal wall defects using free innervated vastus lateralis muscle flap combined with free anterolateral thigh flap.

Reconstruction of full-thickness abdominal wall defects remains a difficult surgical challenge. Although various reconstructive methods, including artificial mesh, pedicled and free flaps, have been reported, most reported reconstruction of only the fascia layer, leaving the resected rectus abdominis muscle unreconstructed. However, recent studies suggested the importance of dynamic reconstruction with functional muscle in preventing abdominal hernia in the long-term.

Recent advancement on surgical treatments for lymphedema.

Unlabelled: Treatment for limb lymphedema is challenging. The recent development of the super-microsurgical technique has made lymphaticovenular (LV) anastomosis an easier and more accurate surgical method for lymphedema. A summary of our experience as well as recent developments in surgical treatments for lymphedema are described.

Lymphatic-venous anastomosis for the radical cure of a large pelvic lymphocyst.

Therapeutic efficacy of lymphatic-venous anastomosis (LVA) has been shown, but expansion of the indication is desirable because LVA is a procedure with low invasiveness and is applicable over a wide area. This is the first reported case of intractable pelvic lymphocyst for which LVA was effective. LVA may be useful for pelvic lymphocyst at an early stage after cancer resection and lymph node dissection.

Blood glucose measurement for flap monitoring to salvage flaps from venous thrombosis.

Early detection and rapid re-exploration are important for flap salvage, and for this, a reliable monitoring method is required. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate blood glucose measurement (BGM) for flap monitoring and to establish a simple method that can be used widely to decrease the flap loss rate after tissue transplantation. We noted the BGM in 33 free or pedicled tissue transfers (57 BGM points) over time postoperatively.

Cerebellar ataxia rehabilitation trial in degenerative cerebellar diseases.

Objective: To investigate short- and long-term effects of intensive rehabilitation on ataxia, gait, and activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with degenerative cerebellar disease.

Methods: A total of 42 patients with pure cerebellar degeneration were randomly assigned to the immediate group or the delayed-entry control group. The immediate group received 2 hours of inpatient physical and occupational therapy, focusing on coordination, balance, and ADLs, on weekdays and 1 hour on weekends for 4 weeks.

Reconstruction of the larynx and aryepiglottic fold using a free radial forearm tendocutaneous flap after partial laryngopharyngectomy: a case report.

The patient was a 62-year-old man with chief complaints of pharyngeal pain and dysphagia. He was diagnosed with pyriform sinus poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma T3N0M0 (Stage II) and underwent partial laryngopharyngectomy, lymphadenectomy in the right neck, tracheostomy, and reconstruction of the larynx and aryepiglottic fold with a free radial forearm flap and the associated vascularized palmaris longus tendon. No particular problems occurred after surgery, and swallowing and articulation functions were successfully recovered.

Vascularized anal autotransplantation model in rats: preliminary report.

Ostomy has served as an effective surgery for various anorectal disfunctions. However, it must also be noted that those patients suffered greatly from stresses caused by their stoma. Many alternative therapies have been developed, but none have solved this critical issue.

Using indocyanine green fluorescent lymphography and lymphatic-venous anastomosis for cancer-related lymphedema.

Advances in cancer therapy have increased the importance of improvement of quality of life after cancer survival. Cancer-related lymphedema or secondary lymphedema that occurs after lymph node dissection in resection of tumors of abdominal visceral organs can impair quality of life. However, standard curative treatment for secondary lymphedema has not been established.

The roles of interleukin-6 in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Several clinical studies have demonstrated that the humanized anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antibody tocilizumab (TCZ) improves clinical symptoms and prevents progression of joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the precise mechanism by which IL-6 blockade leads to the improvement of RA is not well understood. IL-6 promotes synovitis by inducing neovascularization, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and synovial hyperplasia.

IL-6/IL-6 receptor system and its role in physiological and pathological conditions.

IL (interleukin)-6, which was originally identified as a B-cell differentiation factor, is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates the immune response, haemopoiesis, the acute phase response and inflammation. IL-6 is produced by various types of cell and influences various cell types, and has multiple biological activities through its unique receptor system. IL-6 exerts its biological activities through two molecules: IL-6R (IL-6 receptor) and gp130.

Impaired motor learning by a pursuit rotor test reduces functional outcomes during rehabilitation of poststroke ataxia.

Background: Motor learning is essential to gain skills with neurorehabilitation.

Objective: To investigate whether capacity for motor learning affects rehabilitation outcome and its relevant brain activation in ataxic patients with stroke.

Methods: Twelve patients presenting with ataxia admitted for inpatient rehabilitation 2 to 3 months after infratentorial stroke and 6 control subjects performed 8 repetitions of 30-second pursuit rotor (PR) task.

The earliest finding of indocyanine green lymphography in asymptomatic limbs of lower extremity lymphedema patients secondary to cancer treatment: the modified dermal backflow stage and concept of subclinical lymphedema.

Background: Early diagnosis and treatment are as important for management of secondary lymphedema following cancer treatment as in primary cancer treatment. Indocyanine green lymphography is the modality of choice for routine follow-up evaluation of patients at high risk of developing lymphedema after cancer therapy.

Methods: Fifty-six limbs of 28 so-called unilateral secondary lower extremity lymphedema patients who underwent indocyanine green lymphography were compared with dermal backflow patterns of indocyanine green lymphography on 28 asymptomatic limbs and assessed using leg dermal backflow stage.

Pure skin perforator flap for microtia and congenital aural atresia using supermicrosurgical techniques.

Unlabelled: Microtia or pinna deformities with congenital aural atresia are severe conditions that significantly affect the quality of life. Although several surgical treatments have been proposed for aural atresia, revision surgery is often required to address complications associated with the initial procedure, which include external auditory canal stenosis, lateralization of the tympanic membrane and chronic recurrent otorrhea. However, such problems may be addressed by using vascularized skin.

Uterus autotransplantation in cynomolgus macaques: intraoperative evaluation of uterine blood flow using indocyanine green.

Background: Uterus transplantation may be the only theoretical option for some women, for example, those with congenital uterine infertility or who have undergone hysterectomy. In this study, we evaluated the intra- and post-operative blood flow conditions of vascular anastomosed regions and the blood-perfused area of the transplanted uterus in a cynomolgus macaque model of uterus autotransplantation.

Methods: Female cynomolgus monkeys (n = 6) underwent surgery: the first two animals were used to study the pelvic vascular anatomy and the remaining four animals were used for uterus autotransplantation.

Flap salvage following postoperative venous thrombosis diagnosed by blood glucose measurement in the flaps.

Objective: This is the first paper to report the measurement of blood glucose in flaps to detect early flap congestion and flap salvage following immediate flap exploration.

Methods: We performed blood glucose measurement in a superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap and an anterolateral thigh flap postoperatively using Medisafe-Mini (Terumo, Japan), a regular capillary blood glucose-monitoring device.

Results: The blood glucose measurements were low when in early venous thrombosis.

Upper extremity lymphedema index: a simple method for severity evaluation of upper extremity lymphedema.

Measurement of the circumference is the most commonly employed method for evaluating extremity lymphedema. However, comparison between different patients is difficult with this measurement. To resolve this problem, we have formulated a new index, upper extremity lymphedema (UEL) index, which can be easily obtained from measurements of the body.

Indocyanine green-enhanced lymphography for upper extremity lymphedema: a novel severity staging system using dermal backflow patterns.

Background: Management of arm lymphedema following breast cancer treatment is challenging, and emphasis should be put on early diagnosis and prevention of secondary lymphedema. Indocyanine green lymphography is becoming a method of choice for evaluation of lymphedema.

Methods: Twenty patients with secondary arm lymphedema after breast cancer treatment underwent indocyanine green lymphography.