Truncal dystonia with isolated middle cerebral artery ischemia: A case report of revascularization therapy for dystonia.

Background: Dystonia is a rare movement disorder with some cases being difficult to treat. Although dystonia can occur as a symptom of moyamoya disease, few studies have reported truncal dystonia occurring with middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis. Here, we report a case of truncal dystonia with MCA occlusion.

Morphological analyses of nephrin expression in progressive glomerulonephropathy of common marmosets.

In this study, we focused on nephrin, one of the key molecules within the slit diaphragm of podocytes, as although there have been reports on its expression in humans and rats, their presence in common marmosets has not been reported. We investigated nephrin expression and changes in glomeruli, depending on the development of spontaneous progressive glomerulonephropathy in common marmosets. Nineteen common marmosets at two to ten years of age were evaluated.

Prognostic impact of multiple fragmented QRS on cardiac events in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Aims: To evaluate the prognostic impact of fragmented QRS (fQRS) on idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods And Results: We conducted a prospective observational study of 290 consecutive patients with DCM (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%) and narrow QRS who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance. We defined fQRS as the presence of various RSR' patterns in ≥2 contiguous leads representing the anterior (V1-V5), inferior (II, III, and aVF), or lateral (I, aVL, and V6) myocardial segments.

A spontaneous middle ear adenocarcinoma characterized by abundant eosinophilic matrix in a young male Crl:CD(SD) rat.

A mass was detected in the right tympanic cavity of a 15-week-old male Crl:CD(SD) rat. Histological examination revealed papillary or tubular proliferations of epithelial cells including ciliated cells that produce mucus and have an abundant eosinophilic matrix. The malignancy of this tumor was revealed by its destructive proliferation, cellular polymorphism, and high proliferative activity.

Prognosis and Clinical Characteristics of Dilated Cardiomyopathy With Family History via Pedigree Analysis.

Background: The clinical characteristics and prognostic outcomes of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with a familial history (FHx) via pedigree analysis are unclear.

Methods and results: We conducted a prospective observational study of 514 consecutive Japanese patients with DCM. FHx was defined as the presence of DCM in ≥1 family member within 2-degrees relative based on pedigree analysis.

Immunohistochemical Characteristics of Thymomas and Hyperplastic Lesions in Wistar Hannover Rats.

Previously, we investigated the higher incidence of hyperplastic lesions and thymomas and histopathological resemblance of cortex-medullary structures between thymomas and normal thymuses in Wistar Hannover (WH) rats. Thymomas had pale-staining cell foci (PA) similar to medulla but without lymphocytes. Here, we focused on the differences in cytokeratin (CK) expression in the thymic epithelia of the cortex and medulla and compared the structures of thymomas and normal thymuses.

CT-pathologic correlation of non-calcified atherosclerotic arterial plaques: a study using carotid endarterectomy specimens.

Objective: Pathologic features of atherosclerotic plaques on CT are not established. We compared CT values among pathologically confirmed plaque constituents and evaluated their ability to distinguish plaque constituents.

Methods: 50 histopathological images of carotid endarterectomy samples from 10 males and 2 females (age 54-74 years, average 65.

Supplemental study on 2', 3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase (CNPase) activity in developing rat spinal cord lesions induced by hexachlorophene and cuprizone.

In a previous study, we showed that 2', 3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase (CNPase) expression is induced in different temporal patterns in the cerebrum, cerebellum and medulla oblongata of hexachlorophene (HCP) and cuprizone (CPZ) treated rats. Here, we additionally examined the histopathological changes and CNPase expression in the spinal cord to clarify the reproducibility of different temporal patterns of CNPase expression in the spinal cord showing low degree or lack of spongy changes. Spongy changes were observed in HCP-treated rats, but not in CPZ-treated rats.

Mortality and Sudden Cardiac Death Risk Stratification Using the Noninvasive Combination of Wide QRS Duration and Late Gadolinium Enhancement in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of QRS duration ≥120 ms (wide QRS duration [wQRS]) and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is a precise prognostic indicator for dilated cardiomyopathy.

Methods And Results: We investigated the association between the combination of LGE plus wQRS and the primary end point (all-cause death) and a composite of sudden cardiac death (SCD) or aborted SCD in 531 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. We also analyzed the association between the combination of LGE and wQRS and these end points among patients with a class I indication for implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation.

Small Hyperintensities in the Area of the Perforating Arteries in Patients with Seizure.

Background/aim: We previously observed spotty hyperintense lesions in the region of the perforating arteries on peri-ictal diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI); however, no report has formally described these findings. The aim of this study was to investigate focal intensities on peri-ictal DWI, and to evaluate the clinical significance of these lesions.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 677 consecutive patients with seizure who completed peri-ictal DWI within 24 h after seizure onset.

Relationship Between Immunoglobulin Deposition and Early Lesions of Progressive Glomerulonephropathy in Young Common Marmosets.

The authors previously investigated progressive glomerulonephropathy in 2- to 11-year-old common marmosets and characterized age-related changes of the renal glomeruli and development of tubulointerstitial lesions. In this study, immunoglobulin deposition and ultrastructural changes of the glomeruli were investigated in 5 young marmosets from 6 months to 3 years of age with pre-onset or early glomerulonephropathy. In all animals, the foot processes of podocytes were effaced, and IgM was deposited into the glomeruli.

Silent ischemic lesion laterality in asymptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis relates to reduced cerebral vasoreactivity.

Background: We investigated the relationship between silent ischemic lesions, defined as hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans of brain white matter and cerebral hemodynamics (baseline cerebral blood flow and cerebral vasoreactivity).

Methods: Between January 2007 and December 2012, 61 patients with asymptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis were evaluated for asymptomatic silent ischemic lesions, acute infarction, and cerebral hemodynamics. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on silent ischemic lesion distribution; the Symmetry group ( = 34) included patients who showed symmetrical distribution of lesions (or had no lesions), and the Asymmetry group ( = 27) included patients with a greater number of lesions in the ipsilateral than that in the contralateral hemisphere.

Lymphocytic adrenal medullitis and lymphocytic thyroiditis in a laboratory beagle dog.

Lymphocytic adrenal medullitis characterized by inflammation and atrophy in the medulla of the bilateral adrenal glands was observed in an 18-month-old male laboratory beagle dog. It might be that the present lymphocytic adrenal medullitis is an autoimmune-mediated disease as the histological characteristics are consistent with an autoimmune pathogenesis. However, the actual cause remains unclear as the existence of serum autoantibodies against the adrenal medulla could not be confirmed.

Histopathological and immunohistochemical characterization of spontaneous pituitary tumors in dwarfs derived from Wistar Hannover GALAS rats.

Histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of spontaneous pituitary adenomas found in dwarfs derived from Wistar Hanover GALAS are being described for the first time. The adenomas were seen in 5 males aged 48 weeks or older and in 11 females aged 34 weeks or older. Immunohistochemically, 13 cases without post-mortem changes could be evaluated; 4 Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)-containing adenomas, 2 TSH- and prolactin (PRL)-containing adenomas, 1 PRL-containing adenoma and 6 all-negative adenomas that did not react to any of the examined anti-hormone antibodies.

Spontaneous and bilateral necrosis of the femoral head in a young experimental beagle dog.

This report describes the pathological characterizations of a rare case of necrosis of the femoral head that was spontaneous, bilateral, avascular and nontraumatic. A 14-month-old beagle dog was presented with pain in the hind limbs. At necropsy, the articular surface in the bilateral femoral head was markedly irregular.

Morphometric analysis of progressive changes in hereditary cerebellar cortical degenerative disease (abiotrophy) in rabbits caused by abnormal synaptogenesis.

We previously investigated rabbit hereditary cerebellar cortical degenerative disease, called cerebellar cortical abiotrophy in the veterinary field, and determined that the pathogenesis of this disease is the result of failed synaptogenesis between parallel fibers and Purkinje cells. In this study, longitudinal changes in the development and atrophy of the cerebellum of rabbits with hereditary abiotrophy after birth were morphometrically examined (postnatal day [PD] 15 and 42) using image analysis. Although development of the cerebellum in rabbits with abiotrophy was observed from PD 15 to PD 42, the growth rate of the cerebellum was less than that in normal rabbits.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy coincided with the cardiac fibrosis in the inner muscle layer of the left ventricular wall in a boxer dog.

A 7-year-old female boxer dog died suddenly without any clinical signs. It was suspected that the dog had arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) due to ventricular premature complexes and ventricular tachycardia at 3 years of age. The final diagnosis of ARVC was confirmed by histological characteristics, such as loss of cardiocytes and fibrofatty replacement, occurring in the right and left ventricular walls.

Detectability of ischemic lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging is biphasic after transient ischemic attack.

Background: Experimental studies of transient focal ischemia indicate biphasic detectability of lesions by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI); poorly detectable phase exists at 1-12 hours after reperfusion. The present study aimed to clarify whether poorly detectable phase also exists in DWI of transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 144 consecutive TIA patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 2 weeks after carotid TIA.

Late gadolinium enhancement in cardiac amyloidosis: attributable both to interstitial amyloid deposition and subendocardial fibrosis caused by ischemia.

Gadolinium contrast agents used for late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) distribute in the extracellular space. Global diffuse myocardial LGE pronounced in the subendocardial layers is common in cardiac amyloidosis. However, the pathophysiological basis of these findings has not been sufficiently explained.

Prognostic impact of blood pressure response plus gadolinium enhancement in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective: Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is not necessarily ideal for detecting diffuse myocardial fibrosis in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Since systolic blood pressure response (SBPR) during exercise has been proposed to reflect cardiac pump reserve in patients with heart failure, we wished to determine whether LGE plus SBPR is a better prognostic factor in patients with DCM.

Methods: LGE and cardiopulmonary exercise testing results in consecutive 207 patients with DCM were examined.

Erratum to: Preoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging and postoperative delirium after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: a prospective cohort study.

Erratum to: Can J Anesth/J Can Anesth DOI 10.1007/s12630-015-0327-x. In the published version, the first name of the third author is incorrect and should read Naoaki Yamada as given in this erratum.

Preoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging and postoperative delirium after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Delirium after cardiac surgery is a serious complication, increasing morbidity and mortality. Despite its high expectations, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has largely failed to reduce the incidence of postoperative neurological complications. To further investigate the reasons for this failure, we used perioperative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the relation between MRI findings and postoperative delirium.

Histological characteristics of the regression of corpora lutea in wistar hannover rats: the comparisons with sprague-dawley rats.

We examined the ovaries of 44 Wistar Hannover (RccHan(TM):WIST) (WH) and 30 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 32-weeks of age to determine whether the ovarian structure and formation/regression of the corpora lutea (CLs) differ between the two strains. The average ovary weight was higher in WH rats. The average number of all CLs, including currently formed and previously formed CLs, was higher in WH rats in all cycles; however, no appreciable difference was detected in the number of newly or currently formed CLs between the two strains.

Extensive late gadolinium enhancement on cardiovascular magnetic resonance predicts adverse outcomes and lack of improvement in LV function after steroid therapy in cardiac sarcoidosis.

Background: Gadolinium-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance is an emerging tool for the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS); however, the correlations between extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and efficacy of steroid therapy and adverse outcomes in patients with CS remain unclear.

Objective: We aimed to clarify the prognostic impact of extent of LGE in patients with CS.

Methods: Before the start of steroid therapy, 43 consecutive LGE-positive patients with CS were divided into two groups based on the extent of LGE by a median value: small-extent LGE (LGE mass <20% of LV mass; n=21) and large-extent LGE (LGE mass ≥20% of LV mass; n=22).

Follicular thyroid carcinoma characterized by abundant stromal components with chondroid and osseous metaplasia in a dog.

A dog developed a cervical mass, and computed tomography verified a mass surrounding the trachea with some pulmonary masses. Histopathologically, the cervical mass was composed of malignant neoplastic cells showing follicular appearance which reacted positive for thyroglobulin on immunohistochemistry. A characteristic feature of the tumor was abundant and metaplastic stromal components.