Spirometry estimation of central airway dysanapsis on computed tomography in healthy subjects without active lung diseases.

The original concept of the airway-to-lung size mismatch, termed dysanapsis, was introduced on spirometry and was extended by computed tomography (CT) evaluation of the central airways. CT-assessed dysanapsis allows a risk estimation of lung disease development in healthy subjects, although radiation exposure limits its use, particularly for younger subjects. This study investigated which spirometry indices can be used to estimate CT-assessed central airway dysanapsis in healthy subjects.

Microbial alpha diversity in the intestine negatively correlated with disease duration in patients with Meniere's disease.

Ménière's disease (MD) is characterized by loss of balance and hearing disorders. Although there is known to be endolymphatic hydrops involved in the pathological process, the pathogenesis of the disease is still largely unclear. Approximately half of patients with MD suffer from depressive symptoms and high levels of several stress hormones were observed in MD and depression, simultaneously.

Concomitant Interstitial Pneumonia and Disseminated BCG Infection after Intravesical BCG Therapy: A Case Report.

An 83-year-old man presented with persistent fever after intravesical BCG therapy for bladder cancer. Chest computed tomography (CT) and bronchoscopy revealed diffuse ground-glass opacities with multiple micronodules and lymphocyte-predominant bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with a high CD4/CD8 ratio, respectively. Therefore, corticotherapy for interstitial pneumonia was initiated.

A Three-Year Follow-Up of a Patient With Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome Who Underwent Bilateral Endolymphatic Duct Blockage Surgery.

Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS) is a congenital malformation characterized by an abnormally large vestibular aqueduct, diagnosed primarily via CT scans. Patients with LVAS often experience progressive hearing loss and recurrent vertigo, with treatment strategies mirroring those for Meniere's disease. Traditional surgical interventions such as endolymphatic sac decompression (ESD) are common; however, the efficacy of endolymphatic duct blockage (EDB) as an alternative still remains under investigation.

A Pediatric Case of Cogan's Syndrome With Internal Otitis.

Cogan's syndrome is characterized by ocular symptoms and auditory vestibular dysfunction. Auditory vestibular dysfunction in Cogan's syndrome is believed to be similar to Ménière's disease, but the cause is not known in detail. We present the case of a 10-year-old boy with Cogan's syndrome.

New non-contrast MRI of endolymphatic hydrops in Ménière's disease considering inversion time.

Objectives: Three-tesla MRI with gadolinium-based contrast agents is important in diagnosing Ménière's disease. However, contrast agents cannot be used in some patients. By using the compositional difference between the inner ear endolymph and perilymph, we performed basic and clinical research focused on potassium ions and protein to find the optimal parameters for visualizing endolymphatic hydrops on MRI without contrast.

Centrilobular emphysema and airway dysanapsis: factors associated with low respiratory function in younger smokers.

Background: Low respiratory function in young adulthood is one of the important factors in the trajectory leading to the future development of COPD, but its morphological characteristics are not well characterised.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 172 subjects aged 40-49 years with ≥10 pack-years smoking history who underwent lung cancer screening by computed tomography (CT) and spirometry at two Japanese hospitals. Emphysema was visually assessed according to the Fleischner Society guidelines and classified into two types: centrilobular emphysema (CLE) and paraseptal emphysema (PSE).

A reference equation for lung volume on computed tomography in Japanese middle-aged and elderly adults.

Background: Effective use of lung volume data measured on computed tomography (CT) requires reference values for specific populations. This study examined whether an equation previously generated for multiple ethnic groups in the United States, including Asians predominantly composed of Chinese people, in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) could be used for Japanese people and, if necessary, to optimize this equation. Moreover, the equation was used to characterize patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung hyperexpansion.

Perilymphatic fistula with characteristic findings of the inner ear by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: a case report.

A perilymphatic fistula (PLF) presents with abnormal traffic in the otic capsule, causing cochlear and vestibular symptoms. However, the mechanisms underlying symptom recurrence remain controversial. Herein, we report the case of a 27-year-old female who complained of hearing disturbance in her right ear and recurrent vertigo after sudden onset of hearing loss with vertigo.

Centrilobular Emphysema Is Associated with Pectoralis Muscle Reduction in Current Smokers without Airflow Limitation.

Background: Physiological and prognostic associations of centrilobular emphysema (CLE) and paraseptal emphysema (PSE) in smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been increasingly recognized, but the associations with extrapulmonary abnormalities, such as muscle wasting, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases, remain unestablished.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate whether CLE was associated with extrapulmonary abnormalities independent of concomitant PSE in smokers without airflow limitation.

Methods: This retrospective study consecutively enrolled current smokers without airflow limitation who underwent lung cancer screening with computed tomography and spirometry.

Early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Associations of two spirometry criteria with clinical features.

Background: Two spirometry criteria have been proposed for early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in young smokers: 1) forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV)/forced vital capacity (FVC) < the lower limit of normal (LLN), and 2) FEV decline ≥60 ml/year. These criteria have yet to be validated. This study explored clinical factors associated with these two spirometry criteria.

Relationship Between the Onset of Ménière's Disease and Sympathetic Hyperactivity.

Objective: The pathogenesis of Ménière's disease is still largely unknown; however, it is known to be strongly associated with stress. Excessive stress can cause hyperactivity of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system. With the aim of understanding changes in sympathetic hyperactivity before and after Ménière's disease, we compared autonomic nervous function in patients in a stable phase of Ménière's disease and that in healthy adults.

Effects of using cane and vestibular rehabilitation on the walking function in elderly patients with dizziness.

Objective: Adults over the age of 65 years with balance disorders are at about twice the risk of falls, compared with those without balance disorders. Falls contribute to about 74% of the proximal femoral fractures commonly seen in the elderly. Since balance disorders are more prevalent in older adults than in younger adults, it is important to deal with balance disorders in older adults to prevent falls and the resulting deterioration in their ADL (activity of daily living).

Clinical risk factors related to treatment failure in Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease.

The clinical importance of Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus (M. abscessus) lung disease has been increasing, but few studies have assessed the clinical characteristics associated with the treatment outcome.

The Concavity of the Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curve Reflects the Extent of Emphysema in Obstructive Lung Diseases.

A concave-shaped maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve is a spirometric feature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The MEFV curve is characterized by an increase in the Obstructive Index, which is defined as a ratio of forced vital capacity to the volume-difference between two points of half of the peak expiratory flow on the MEFV curve. We hypothesized that the Obstructive Index would reflect the severity of emphysema in patients with COPD and asthma-COPD overlap (ACO).

Reducing Surgeon's Physical Stress in Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery.

Background And Study Aims:  Various minimally invasive approaches are used in neurosurgery. Surgeons must perform nondynamic fine movements in a narrow corridor, so specially designed surgical devices are essential. Unsophisticated instruments may pose potential hazards.

Water Veil Effect to Control Splashing from the Pulsed Water Jet Device: Minimizing the Potential Risk of Dissemination Using Surgical Aspirators.

Objective:  Maximum resection with minimum damage to normal structures is required for a better clinical outcome. Several efficient surgical devices such as the Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator are available. Our group developed the actuator-driven pulsed water jet (ADPJ) to dissect soft tissue with vessel preservation.

Single-event transient imaging with an ultra-high-speed temporally compressive multi-aperture CMOS image sensor.

In the work described in this paper, an image reproduction scheme with an ultra-high-speed temporally compressive multi-aperture CMOS image sensor was demonstrated. The sensor captures an object by compressing a sequence of images with focal-plane temporally random-coded shutters, followed by reconstruction of time-resolved images. Because signals are modulated pixel-by-pixel during capturing, the maximum frame rate is defined only by the charge transfer speed and can thus be higher than those of conventional ultra-high-speed cameras.

Age-dependent changes in the ratio of (R)- and (S)-2-butanol released by virgin females of Dasylepida ishigakiensis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

The females of the white grub beetle, Dasylepida ishigakiensis, release two enantiomers of 2-butanol, (R)-2-butanol and (S)-2-butanol. The ratio describing the relative proportions of these two enantiomers (R/S ratio) has not yet been investigated. (R)-2-Butanol has been shown to attract males in laboratory and field experiments, whereas (S)-2-butanol tends to inhibit them.

Mating disruption by a synthetic sex pheromone in the white grub beetle Dasylepida ishigakiensis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the laboratory and sugarcane fields.

A serious sugarcane pest, Dasylepida ishigakiensis, remains in the soil during most of its life cycle except for a short period for mating. Mating disruption by an artificial release of the sex pheromone (R)-2-butanol (R2B), therefore, may be a feasible method to control this pest. We examined the effects of artificial release of R2B and its related compounds, (S)-2-butanol (S2B) and the racemic 2-butanol (rac-2B), on the mating success of this beetle both in the laboratory and in the field.

Combined use of a synthetic trail pheromone and insecticidal bait provides effective control of an invasive ant.

Background: Except for sex pheromones, use of pheromones in pest management has been largely unexplored. A high concentration of trail pheromone disrupts ant trail following and foraging, and thus synthetic trail pheromone can be a novel control agent for pest ants. In this study, a year-long treatment of small areas (100 m(2) plots of urban house gardens) with synthetic trail pheromone, insecticidal bait or both was conducted to develop a novel control method of the invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Mayr).

Sex pheromone components of the pear fruit moth, Acrobasis pyrivorella (Matsumura).

We analyzed the sex pheromone of the pear fruit moth, Acrobasis pyrivorella, by means of gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectrometry. Two EAD-active compounds were detected in the pheromone gland extract of females. They were identified as (Z)-9-pentadecenyl acetate (Z9-15:OAc) and pentadecyl acetate (15:OAc).

Female sex pheromone of a carpenter moth, Cossus insularis (Lepidoptera: Cossidae).

This study describes the identification of a sex pheromone component of a cossid moth, Cossus insularis. Coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) analysis of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) collections of volatiles released by live female moths showed that two compounds elicited EAG responses from the antennae of male moths. These compounds were identified as (E)-3-tetradecenyl acetate (E3-14:Ac) and (Z)-3-tetradecenyl acetate (Z3-14:Ac) by mass spectral analysis and retention index comparisons with synthetic standards.

Complete cure of metastatic gastric cancer treated with combination chemotherapy using S-1.

A 65-year-old man had gastric cancer with liver and lung metastases, and received three cycles of FLEP (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, etoposide, cisplatin) chemotherapy on June, 2001. The primary lesion became scar ulceration and adenocarcinoma tissue was recognized by biopsy pathologically. The lung metastases and lymph node metastases disappeared.