Can Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis Be Diagnosed by Plain Lumbar Spine X-Ray Findings Alone?

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Objectives: To determine whether diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) can be diagnosed based on anterior longitudinal ligamental ossification in the lumbar spine using plain lumbar spine X-ray images.

Methods: This study included 100 patients (59 men and 41 women; mean age, 64.

A Scoring System for Anterior Longitudinal Ligament Ossification of the Lumbar Spine in Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis: Relationship Between the Extent of Ligament Ossification and the Range of Motion.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the extent of ligament ossification and the range of motion (ROM) of the lumbar spine and develop a new scoring system.

Methods: Forty-three patients (30 men and 13 women) with lumbar spinal canal stenosis who underwent decompression from January to December 2018.

Thoracic spondylotic myelopathy presumably caused by diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in a patient who underwent decompression and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation.

A 74-year-old man developed bilateral lower limb spastic paresis. He was diagnosed with thoracic spondylotic myelopathy presumably caused by mechanical stress that was generated in the intervertebral space (T1-T2) between a vertebral bone bridge (C5-T1) due to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis after anterior fixation of the lower cervical spine and a vertebral bone bridge (T2-T7) due to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in the upper thoracic spine. Treatment included posterior decompression (T1-T2 laminectomy) and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation at the C7-T4 level.

Progression of Ossification of the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament Associated With Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis by Age: A Study of Computed Tomography Findings Over 5 Years.

Study Design: Observational study.

Objective: To investigate whether the progression of anterior longitudinal ligament ossification varies by age among patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH).

Methods: Of the patients who underwent computed tomography (CT) of the thoracic to pelvic region at least twice from 2009 to 2018, 191 who underwent CT at an interval of 5 years and 0 months to 5 years and 2 months were enrolled (87 men and 104 women).

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: A potential factor in the induction of thoracic spondylotic myelopathy.

Background: Thoracic spondylotic myelopathy (TSM) commonly occurs at the thoracolumbar junction, and mechanical stress is thought to be involved. In DISH, the anterior longitudinal ligament becomes ossified. Although DISH is suspected to be involved in TSM pathology, reports are limited.

Association Between Vertebral Fracture and Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) in vertebral fracture patients admitted to our hospital.

Summary Of Background Data: Although vertebral fracture is generally treated conservatively with rest and use of a corset, surgery with rigid internal fixation is recommended for vertebral fractures in patients with DISH.

Profile of the ORION (Osaka emergency information Research Intelligent Operation Network system) between 2015 and 2016 in Osaka, Japan: a population-based registry of emergency patients with both ambulance and in-hospital records.

Aim: To describe the registry design of the Osaka Emergency Information Research Intelligent Operation Network system (ORION) and its profile of hospital information, patient and emergency medical service characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes among all patients transported to critical care centers and emergency hospitals in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.

Methods: The Osaka Prefecture Government has developed and introduced an information system for emergency patients (the ORION system) that uses a smartphone application (app) for hospital selection by on-scene emergency medical service personnel and has been accumulating all ambulance records. Since January 2015, medical institutions have obtained information on the diagnosis and outcome of patients transported to medical institutions, and the ORION system merged these data with ambulance records including smartphone app data.

Risk Factors for Delirium after Spine Surgery: An Age-Matched Analysis.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To investigate the risk factors for postoperative delirium after spine surgery, excluding older age, which has already been established as a strong risk factor.

Overview Of Literature: More than 30 risk factors have been reported for delirium after spine surgery, making it challenging to identify which factors should be prioritized.

Community and Interns' Perspectives on Community-Participatory Medical Education: From Passive to Active Participation.

Background And Objectives: The use of community-based medical education as a method of learning primary care is now common worldwide. However, in many cases community participation remains passive. This study sought to explore the effects of introducing community members into medical education as active teachers.

[Case of portal venous gas and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis occurring during chemotherapy for a castration-resistant prostate cancer].

Portal venous gas is a rare complication. We present a case of hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) in a patient treated with docetaxel for prostate cancer. An 80-year-old man with castration-resistant prostate cancer received 5 cycles of docetaxel.

Risk factors for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) predict long-term treatment with docetaxel.

Purpose: For patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostatic cancer (mCRPC), docetaxel plus prednisone leads to superior survival and a higher response rate compared with mitoxantrone plus prednisone. We analyzed the efficacy of long-term treatment with ≥10 cycles of docetaxel, and validated the risk group classification in predicting overall survival (OS) in Japanese patients with mCRPC.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-two patients with mCRPC were administered 55 mg/m(2) docetaxel and 8 mg dexamethasone, every 3 or 4 weeks, simultaneously with hormonal therapy and daily oral dexamethasone.

Inter-rater reliability of self-reported response on foreskin status in questionnaire among Japanese adult men.

Objectives: To determine whether foreskin status is a measurable marker for evaluating the effect of the foreskin on sexually transmitted infections.

Methods: Inter-rater comparison of the responses on foreskin status and circumcision in a self-report questionnaire with the findings of a physical examination by an experienced well-trained urologist was performed for patients who visited a healthcare facility in Kanagawa, Japan. Foreskin status was defined using a five-point graphical scale based on the degree to which the foreskin covers the foreskin and the glans penis in a non-erectile condition: type 1, a fully exposed glans penis; types 2-4, the glans penis partly covered by the foreskin and type 5, phimosis.

"ON-OFF" switching of europium complex luminescence coupled with a ligand redox process.

A triarylamine-functionalized terpyridine ligand formed a highly coordinated complex with europium tris(β-diketonate), which displayed reversible ''ON-OFF'' luminescence switching coupled with a ligand redox process of triarylamine/triarylaminium cations.

A case of infective endocarditis after transurethral prostatic resection.

We report a case of infective endocarditis (IE) after transurethral prostatic resection (TUR-P). A 63-year-old man who had underwent TUR-P for benign prostatic hyperplasia. After 40 days of surgery, he developed a fever.

3-D MRI/CT fusion imaging of the lumbar spine.

Objective: The objective was to demonstrate the feasibility of MRI/CT fusion in demonstrating lumbar nerve root compromise.

Materials And Methods: We combined 3-dimensional (3-D) computed tomography (CT) imaging of bone with 3-D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of neural architecture (cauda equina and nerve roots) for two patients using VirtualPlace software.

Results: Although the pathological condition of nerve roots could not be assessed using MRI, myelography or CT myelography, 3-D MRI/CT fusion imaging enabled unambiguous, 3-D confirmation of the pathological state and courses of nerve roots, both inside and outside the foraminal arch, as well as thickening of the ligamentum flavum and the locations, forms and numbers of dorsal root ganglia.

Asymmetric twisting and chirality probing properties of quadruple-stranded helicates: coordination versatility and chirality response of Na(+), Ca(2+), and La(3+) complexes with octadentate cyclen ligand.

A series of Na(+), Ca(2+), and La(3+) complexes with octadentate cyclen ligand were prepared and structurally characterized in the crystal and solution states. The employed cyclen ligand formed 6-, 7-, and 9-coordinated, crystalline complexes with Na(+), Ca(2+), and La(3+) cations, respectively, in which the parent cyclen ring and quinoline-functionalized side arms were cooperatively coordinated. These three metal cations provided the quadruple-stranded helicates in CH(3)CN-C(2)H(5)OH solutions.

Secondary malignant fibrous histiocytoma following refractory langerhans cell histiocytosis.

We describe a rare case of secondary malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) following Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). A 23-year-old Japanese male exhibited systemic lymphadenopathy, multiple lung tumors, and osteolytic changes in bilateral iliac bones in 1989. A biopsy specimen from the left iliac bone revealed an infiltration of S-100 protein-positive histiocyte-like cells intermingled with eosinophils, which confirmed the diagnosis of eosinophilic granuloma, a type of LCH.

A Case of Bilateral Adrenal and Pleural Metastases from Prostate Cancer.

Our case was 65 years old. At check-up, a high PSA level of 515 ng/ml was observed, the patient was diagnosed with having clinical stage D prostate cancer and a Maximum Androgen Blockade (MAB therapy) was started. In response to the exacerbated prostate cancer, we started a therapy involving the administration of 8 mg/kg body weight of dexamethasone and 55 mg/m(2) of docetaxel every 3 weeks.

Differential patterns of expression of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored carcinoembryonic antigen and alkaline phosphatase in various cancer cell lines.

The expression of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI-anchored) carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) on the cell surface of various cancer cell lines and a lung diploid cell line (WI38) was investigated, with exposure of the cell lines to a cell differentiation agent (sodium butyrate) to induce cell differentiation and expression of the two tumor-associated antigens. In three colon (SW1222, SW1116, and HT-29) and stomach (MKN-45) cancer cell lines, all of which are double producers of CEA and ALP, the maximum expression of GPI-anchored CEA occurred with butyrate at a lower concentration than did that of GPI-anchored ALP. GPI-anchored ALP derived from colon (SW1222 and SW1116) and stomach (MKN-45 and MKN-1) cancer cell lines was heat-stable with and without exposure to butyrate, but GPI-anchored ALP derived from lung cancer cell lines (PC-6, PC13, PC-14, WI26VA4, and WI38VA13) showed a variety of heat stabilities, depending on cell line, butyrate exposure, and SV40 transformation.

Relationship between distance of schools from the nearest municipal waste incineration plant and child health in Japan.

In Japan, the main source of dioxins is incinerators. This study examined the relationship between the distance of schools from municipal waste incineration plants and the prevalence of allergic disorders and general symptoms in Japanese children. Study subjects were 450,807 elementary school children aged 6-12 years who attended 996 public elementary schools in Osaka Prefecture in Japan.

Molecular cloning and expression of uricase gene from Arthrobacter globiformis in Escherichia coli and characterization of the gene product.

Arthrobacter globiformis FERM BP-360 produces uricase (urate oxidase; EC 1.7.3.

Cholesterol-armed cyclens for helical metal complexes offering chiral self-aggregation and sensing of amino acid anions in aqueous solutions.

Cholesterol-armed cyclens worked as octadentate receptors for Na+, Ca2+, and Y3+ complexes in which four chiral cholesterol-functionalized sidearms were bundled and asymmetrically twisted above cyclen-metal complex platforms. Since the resulting helical metal complexes included chiral, hydrophobic cholesterol residues and charged, hydrophilic metal sites as well as asymmetric coordination geometries, they exhibited unique amphiphilic properties and provided chiral self-aggregates in aqueous solutions. Light scattering, fluorescence, and TEM characterizations demonstrated that Na+ complex with cholesterol-armed cyclen gave a particularly stable self-aggregate in aqueous solution and offered supramolecular environments effective for sensing and detection of amino acid anions.

A new enzymatic cycling method for ammonia assay using NAD synthetase.

Background: Ammonia is an important marker for liver diseases such as hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis. Several methods have been developed for ammonia analysis. In particular, the enzymatic assay using glutamate dehydrogenase has been widely used.