In silico evaluation of particle transport and deposition in the airways of individual patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Inhalation therapy can effectively treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the physical factors determining the appropriate aerosol delivery into the targeted airways remain unclear. The problem is nontrivial because pulmonary structures differ among individual patients with COPD and depend on the severity of the disease. In an in silico evaluation, the present study investigates the differences in particle transport and deposition in the airways of three patients with different degrees of COPD.

High mobility group AT-hook 2 regulates osteoblast differentiation and facial bone development.

The mutation and deletion of high mobility group AT-hook 2 (Hmga2) gene exhibit skeletal malformation, but almost nothing is known about the mechanism. This study examined morphological anomaly of facial bone in Hmga2 mice and osteoblast differentiation of pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells with Hmga2 gene knockout (A2KO). Hmga2 mice showed the size reduction of anterior frontal part of facial bones.

Role of Streptococcus intermedius phosphoglucosamine mutase in bacterial growth, cell morphology, and resistance to polymorphonuclear leukocyte killing.

Objectives: Streptococcus intermedius is a member of the anginosus group of streptococci, an oral commensal bacterium found in infected root canals, and the causative agent of deep-seated abscesses. This organism has slow clearance when phagocytosed within neutrophils. Here, we investigated the role of its phosphoglucosamine mutase (GlmM), an enzyme associated with peptidoglycan synthesis, in bacterial growth, cell morphology, and resistance to polymorphonuclear leukocyte killing.

Hmga2 regulation of tooth formation and association with Sox2 and Nanog expression.

Tooth formation is accomplished under strict genetic programs. Although patients with chromosome 12q14 aberration shows tooth phenotype including the size and eruption timing with bone growth anomaly, its etiology is uncertain. Here, we examined expression of Hmga2, which is encoded at chromosome 12q14, in mouse tooth germs and analyzed the involvement in lower first molar (M1) and mandibular bone development.

Evaluation of four instruments with different working motion using artificial plastic model with C-shaped single canal.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate four instruments with different working motion for preparation of a C-shaped single canal wall using the same artificial plastic models reproduced from a human tooth. One tooth with root canal morphology C1 (the shape is an uninterrupted "C" with no separation or division) was selected among three-dimensional micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging data of extracted human teeth. Imaging data were then converted into STL form data, and twenty-four C-shaped root canal model blocks were manufactured using this STL form data.

Rupture of renal artery aneurysm during the early post-partum period.

Rupture of renal artery aneurysm associated with pregnancy is an uncommon condition. It is known that almost all previously reported cases have occurred during pregnancy. We experienced a case of rupture of renal artery aneurysm during the early post-partum period which was diagnosed by computed tomography and treated by angiographic embolization.

Angiographic findings after vaginal gauze packing: New insight into an old technique.

We had a transferred case of cervical ectopic pregnancy with hemorrhagic shock at 6 weeks of gestation. Upon arrival at hospital, we performed tight and full vaginal gauze packing to push the uterus upward to control the patient's hemorrhage. Following stabilization of her general condition, she was treated with uterine artery embolization.

[Initial report of strontium-89 chloride treatment for painful osseous metastases at Sakai Municipal Hospital].

Strontium-89 chloride has been available at our hospital for painful osseous metastases since October 2008. Of the 17 patients(22 treatments)seen until September 2010, response to initial treatment of 13 patients was analyzed. These included cancers of the lung(5 patients, 6 treatments), breast(4 patients), thyroid(2 patients, 5 treatments), liver, 1, and prostate, 1.

Follow-up results of 71 patients undergoing metallic stent placement for the treatment of a malignant obstruction of the superior vena cava.

Purpose: To retrospectively clarify the utility of metallic stent placement for the treatment of the malignant obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) in 71 patients with VC syndrome (SVCS) on the basis of long-term follow-up data.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-one patients underwent stent placement and were followed until death. The applicability of the spiral Z-stent (S-Z-stent) mainly used the initial and follow-up results, stent placement for bilateral BCV obstruction and the value of concurrent anticancer therapy were studied.

Quantitative detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid of HCV-infected patients.

The search for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in body fluids other than blood is important when assessing possible nonparenteral routes of viral transmission. However, the role of oral fluids in HCV transmission remains controversial. Here we quantitatively determined HCV RNA in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of anti-HCV-positive patients.

[Application of metallic stents for both inferior vena cava and biliary obstruction by lymph node involvement in a patient with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma].

The authors experienced a case with obstruction of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and the common bile duct due to a recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. In order to improve severe edema of the lower extremities and obstructive jaundice, IVC metallic stent as well as biliary stent were applied. A Luminexx stent of 8 cm in length was placed in the bile duct via subcutaneous route after biliary drainage.

[CT evaluation of response to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in primary lung cancer: comparison of response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) and the WHO criteria, and comparison of both methods with the histological evaluation].

Purpose: The new RECIST criteria for evaluation of tumor response to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy were proposed in 1999. We compared RECIST with the WHO criteria and also compared both methods with the histological findings, to evaluate RECIST.

Subjects And Methods: The subjects were 32 primary lung cancer patients operated on after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Percutaneous modular stent-grafts in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Purpose: To describe a newly designed bifurcated modular stent-graft and assess the feasibility and safety of its use in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).

Methods: Thirteen patients (10 men; mean age 61.2+/-16 years, range 57-78) with AAAs underwent treatment with a bifurcated stent-graft consisting of 4 components: an unsupported bifurcated stent-graft, an inner bare stent, and 2 stent-grafts.

[Percutaneous localization of pulmonary nodules with CT guidance for lung resection: use of dyes].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the benefits of computed tomography(CT)-guided marking using dyes in patients undergoing lung resection for peripheral nodules.

Methods: Between January 1997 and August 2002, the location of small pulmonary nodules was identified with the aid of CT-guided marking in 52 patients scheduled for surgery. Dye-injection was performed in 52 patients (indigo carmine, n = 15; indocyanine green, n = 37).

Post-kidney transplantation iliac artery stenosis due to iatrogenic injury: case report.

We report a case of left external iliac artery lesions as a complication of post-kidney transplantation due to vascular clamp application injury. The lesions were proximal stenosis and distal occlusion just near the graft anastomosis site and they were diagnosed incidentally during the embolization for arteriovenous fistula. Angiography confirmed the diagnosis and it was managed successfully by percutaneous interventional techniques.

Transarterial embolization for large hepatocellular carcinoma with use of superabsorbent polymer microspheres: initial experience.

The authors report the initial experience with transarterial embolization of large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with use of superabsorbent polymer microsphere (SAP-MS) particles. Six patients with nine HCCs (mean diameter, 8.2 cm) underwent 10 embolization procedures.

Temporal subtraction for the detection of hazy pulmonary opacities on chest radiography.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of temporal subtraction with a commercially available computer-assisted diagnosis system for the detection of multifocal hazy pulmonary opacities on chest radiographs, which are sometimes difficult to detect directly on chest radiographs.

Materials And Methods: Thirty healthy patients and 30 patients with new multifocal hazy pulmonary opacities that were confirmed by serial chest CT examinations were evaluated with and without temporal subtraction images. Chest radiographs were taken from either film-screen or digital radiography images and were digitized with a spatial resolution of 0.

Temporal subtraction for detection of solitary pulmonary nodules on chest radiographs: evaluation of a commercially available computer-aided diagnosis system.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of a commercially available computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system that incorporates temporal subtraction for the detection of solitary pulmonary nodules on chest radiographs by readers with different levels of experience.

Materials And Methods: Sixty pairs of chest radiographs in 30 patients with newly detected solitary pulmonary nodules and 30 normal cases, all confirmed with serial chest computed tomography (CT), were obtained from screen-film or digital radiographic systems and were digitized (spatial resolution, 0.171 mm/pixel).

High dose rate endovascular brachytherapy in aorto-iliac lesion for the prevention of restenosis.

This study examined the applicability of endovascular brachytherapy to larger del arteries such as the abdominal aorta and iliac artery. Endovascular brachytherapy using an Ir-192 HDR source was administered 11 times to nine patients who had undergone percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) between 1995 and 1999. The follow-up lasted 13 to 55 months after treatment (median, 24 months).