Combined lie's type D and type A agenesis of the left internal carotid artery diagnosed by magnetic resonance angiography.

Purpose: To report an unusual case of combined Lie's types A and D of internal carotid artery (ICA) agenesis, diagnosed by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Methods: A 60-year-old woman with dizziness underwent cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRA of the intracranial region for the evaluation of brain and vascular lesions. The magnetic resonance machine was a 3.

Surgical skills assessment of pancreaticojejunostomy using a simulator may predict patient outcomes: A multicenter prospective observational study.

Background: Pancreatoduodenectomy, an advanced surgical procedure with a high complication rate, requires surgical skill in performing pancreaticojejunostomy, which correlates with operative outcomes. We aimed to analyze the correlation between pancreaticojejunostomy assessment conducted in a simulator environment and the operating room and patient clinical outcomes.

Methods: We recruited 30 surgeons (with different experience levels in pancreatoduodenectomy) from 11 institutes.

Review of personal radiation exposure dose and history of the interventional procedure records for 40 years.

Objective: To inspect personal dose as an interventional radiologist for 40 years, to assess the enforcement number of interventional radiology (IR), and to check for radiation cataract.

Materials And Methods: I evaluated my own effective dose, an equivalent dose to the lens of the eye (EDL), and the number of IR procedures between March 2019 and June 1979. I examined the lens in June 2019 as a radiologist for 40 years.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with regional lymphadenopathy caused by sarcoid-like reaction: a case report.

Background: Sarcoid-like reaction (SLR) is a histological pattern of granulomatous inflammation that is clinically differentiated from sarcoidosis. Since SLR is known to occur in several neoplasias and occasionally causes lymphadenopathy and mimics metastatic malignancy, it needs to be considered whether lymphadenopathy is due to metastasis or SLR for the choice of cancer treatment. Few cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with SLR have been reported.

Natural History of Unruptured Visceral Artery Aneurysms Due to Segmental Arterial Mediolysis and Efficacy of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization: A Retrospective Multiinstitutional Study in Japan.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the natural history of unruptured visceral artery aneurysms due to segmental arterial mediolysis and the efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization. Patients with a pathologic or clinical diagnosis of visceral artery aneurysms due to segmental arterial mediolysis between 2005 and 2015 were enrolled. For patients with clinical diagnoses, images were collected and assessed by central radiologic review.

Current status and management of pancreatic trauma with main pancreatic duct injury: A multicenter nationwide survey in Japan.

Background: Pancreatic trauma is reportedly associated with high morbidity and mortality. Main pancreatic duct (MPD) injury is critical for treatment.

Methods: As a study project of the Japanese Society for Abdominal Emergency Medicine (JSAEM), we collected the data of 163 patients with pancreatic trauma who were diagnosed and treated at JSAEM board-certified hospitals from 2006 to 2016.

Evaluation methods and impact of simulation-based training in pediatric surgery: a systematic review.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify (1) the type of skill evaluation methods and (2) how the effect of training was evaluated in simulation-based training (SBT) in pediatric surgery.

Methods: Databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for articles published from January 2000 to January 2017. Search concepts of Medical Subject Heading terms were "surgery," "pediatrics," "simulation," and "training, evaluation.

Early Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Grade 4 Blunt Renal Trauma in Two Institutions.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of early transcatheter arterial embolization for hemodynamically stable patients with The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade 4 blunt renal trauma.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of consecutive patients with grade 4 blunt renal trauma who were transported to our two critical care centers in Japan and treated with early transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) between 2001 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Treatment failure was defined as the need for further surgical intervention or re-embolization after initial embolization.

Contribution of adenosine to the increase in skeletal muscle blood flow caused by manual acupuncture in rats.

Background And Aim: Adenosine is believed to play an important role in local acupuncture analgesia. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of adenosine to the increase in skeletal muscle blood flow (MBF) caused by manual acupuncture (MA).

Methods: Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats (310-360 g) were anaesthetised and divided into four equal groups (n=8 each): Saline, Saline+MA, Theophylline, and Theophylline+MA.

Contributions of nitric oxide and prostaglandins to the local increase in muscle blood flow following manual acupuncture in rats.

Objective: To investigate the contributions of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGs) to the increase in local muscle blood flow (MBF) observed following manual acupuncture (MA).

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=112; 250-310 g) were injected intraperitoneally with a non-selective NO synthase inhibitor (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride: L-NAME; 10, 50 or 500 mg/kg), a non-selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin; 10, 50 or 500 mg/kg), a combination of L-NAME and indomethacin (500 mg/kg each) or saline only under urethane anaesthesia (1.2 g/kg).

Prognosis of patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinomas based on the Child-Pugh score: subclassifying the intermediate stage (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B).

Purpose: Retrospective evaluation of intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient survival after undergoing chemoembolization based on the Child-Pugh score.

Materials And Methods: Data of intermediate-stage HCC patients undergoing chemoembolization were gathered from 43 centers in Japan. Overall survival rates were compared with Child-Pugh scores.

Subgrouping of intermediate-stage (BCLC stage B) hepatocellular carcinoma based on tumor number and size and Child-Pugh grade correlated with prognosis after transarterial chemoembolization.

Purpose: To find a subgroup that benefits most from transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in terms of tumor number and size and liver profile in patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Data of 325 intermediate-stage HCC patients who received TACE as the initial treatment were gathered. Four tumor numbers (3-6 tumors) and five maximum tumor diameters (3-7 cm) as well as all of their combinations but one (3 tumors and 3 cm) and Child-Pugh grade were used as variables to ascertain prognostic factors.

[Role of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for deep renal injury].

Purpose: We evaluated usefulness of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for deep renal injury, and investigated whether there is any difference in outcomes for transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) performed for deep renal injury in a large-sized hospital (university hospital) in comparison with a middle-sized hospital (local hospital).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 42 patients with renal injury who were transported to the critical care center of Nippon Medical School (NMS) Hospital in Tokyo from April 2001 to April 2011 and 33 patients of renal injury transported to the critical care center of Ohtawara Red Cross (ORC) Hospital in Tochigi prefecture from April 2001 to April 2009. Therefore, a total of 75 patients, which is the sum of the patients presenting to both the hospitals for renal injury were reevaluated according to the guidelines developed by the Japanese Association for the Surgery of Trauma (JAST) and published in 2008.

Total synthesis and biological evaluation of (-)-exiguolide analogues: importance of the macrocyclic backbone.

(-)-Exiguolide (1), isolated from the marine sponge Geodia exigua, has been shown to inhibit the growth of the A549 human lung adenocarcinoma and NCI-H460 human lung large cell carcinoma cells in vitro. In this study, we synthesized structural analogues of 1 to explore its skeletal structure-activity relationships and found that the C18 methyl group and the configuration of the C16-C17 double bond of 1 are important for the potent antiproliferative activity. Furthermore, we prepared a series of side-chain analogues of 1 by diversification of a late-stage intermediate of our total synthesis, and found that the triene side chain of 1 could be modified to some extent without significant loss of activity, provided a Lewis basic heteroatom is placed at the terminus.

Job satisfaction, income, workload, workplace, and demographics of Japanese radiologists in the 2008 survey.

Purpose: This study aimed to verify radiologists' demographics and job satisfaction in Japan and analyze factors affecting job satisfaction.

Materials And Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 7,491 eligible radiologists between April and June 2008. The questionnaire consisted of items concerning participants' demographics and job satisfaction.

Participation of calcitonin gene related peptide released via axon reflex in the local increase in muscle blood flow following manual acupuncture.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine how calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) via axon reflex participates in increasing local muscle blood flow (MBF) following manual acupuncture (MA).

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (N=56, 270-350 g) were used. We examined (1) the effects of MA on MBF in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle in normal rats; (2) the effects of MA on MBF in the TA injected with saline or hCGRP8-37 (low: 2×10(-4) mol/litre; high: 2×10(-3) mol/litre), a competitive CGRP receptor antagonist, in rats; and (3) the effects of MA on MBF in the TA in capsaicin-treated rats.

Hepatic arterial embolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas: do technical factors affect prognosis?

Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively whether technical factors of hepatic arterial embolization affect the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Inclusion criteria of this study were the following: (1) patients received embolization as the initial treatment during 2003-2004, (2) Child A or B liver profile, (3) five or fewer HCCs with maximum diameter of 7 cm or smaller, and (4) no extrahepatic metastasis. Patient data were gathered from 43 centers.

Interobserver agreement on the diagnosis of bowel ischemia: assessment using dynamic computed tomography of small bowel obstruction.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and interobserver variability of dynamic computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis of small bowel obstruction.

Method And Materials: A total of 115 patients with a CT diagnosis of small bowel obstruction were included. Two radiologists and two residents performed blinded, independent, retrospective reviews of CT studies.

A perpendicular-anisotropy CoFeB-MgO magnetic tunnel junction.

Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with ferromagnetic electrodes possessing a perpendicular magnetic easy axis are of great interest as they have a potential for realizing next-generation high-density non-volatile memory and logic chips with high thermal stability and low critical current for current-induced magnetization switching. To attain perpendicular anisotropy, a number of material systems have been explored as electrodes, which include rare-earth/transition-metal alloys, L1(0)-ordered (Co, Fe)-Pt alloys and Co/(Pd, Pt) multilayers. However, none of them so far satisfy high thermal stability at reduced dimension, low-current current-induced magnetization switching and high tunnel magnetoresistance ratio all at the same time.

2-tert-butyl-8-quinolinamines exhibit potent blood schizontocidal antimalarial activity via inhibition of heme crystallization.

We have recently reported that the attachment of a bulky metabolically stable tert-butyl group at the C-2 position of a quinoline ring in primaquine results in a tremendous improvement in the blood schizontocidal antimalarial activity of 8-quinolinamine. Because free heme released from hemoglobin catabolism in a malarial parasite is highly toxic, the parasite protects itself mainly by crystallization of heme into insoluble nontoxic hemozoin. We now demonstrate the ability of 2-tert-butylprimaquine to inhibit in vitro beta-hematin formation, to form a complex with heme with a stoichiometry of 1:1, and to enhance heme-induced hemolysis.

Hypernuclear fine structure in (16)(Lambda)O and the LambdaN tensor interaction.

We have observed two gamma-ray transitions in (16)(Lambda)O from the 6.6 MeV excited 1(-)(2) state to both ground-state spin-doublet members (1(-)(1),0(-)) by the (K-,pi(-)gamma) reaction. We have obtained the ground-state doublet spacing to be 26.

Involvement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1 and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-(TRAIL) receptor-2/DR-5, but not Fas, in graft injury in live-donor liver transplantation.

The pathway leading to cell death in clinical liver transplantation is not known. Eight liver transplant recipients and eight donors were enrolled in this study. Postoperative serum levels of alanine transferase had significantly increased in the recipients compared with those in the donors.

Near-infrared spectroscopic analysis of hepatic hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism after extensive hepatectomy.

Background: Although major or extended hepatectomy may result in drastic alterations in the hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism of the residual livers, this issue remains to be elucidated in detail.

Material/methods: In this study, in vivo near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRs) was performed to determine oxy-/deoxy-hemoglobin (Hb) and oxidized/reduced cytochrome oxidase (Cyt.aa3) contents in hepatic tissues in a rat 70% hepatectomy model.

Differential diagnosis between graft-versus-host disease and hemophagocytic syndrome after living-related liver transplantation by mixed lymphocyte reaction assay.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after liver transplantation is uncommon but is a serious complication that can be fatal. Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS), which is caused by activation of autologous T lymphocytes, is also a serious complication that can occur after liver transplantation. Because these complications share the clinical triad of skin rash, marrow failure, and diarrhea, differential diagnosis is difficult.

Intraoperative near-infrared spectroscopy for evaluating hepatic venous outflow in living-donor right lobe liver.

Background: This study was performed to determine the usefulness of intraoperative near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for evaluating the extent of congestion in the anterior segment of the graft after living-donor liver transplantation using right lobe grafts that do not have the middle hepatic vein.

Methods: Fifteen patients undergoing living-donor liver transplantation using a right lobe graft without the middle hepatic vein were enrolled in this study. During the course of harvesting and implantation, in vivo NIRS was performed on the liver grafts to determine hemoglobin (Hb) and cytochrome oxidase content in the hepatic tissues.