A Novel Untethering and Duraplasty Technique for Postsurgical Tethered Spinal Cord.

Progressive post-traumatic postsurgical myelopathy (PPPM) is a known entity that can occur months to years after the initial insult. Symptomatic patients can become myelopathic and have rapid and progressive neurological decline. Surgical correction of PPPM usually involves intradural exploration and lysis of adhesions that carries the risk of further injury to the spinal cord.

Transplantation of human neural progenitor cells secreting GDNF into the spinal cord of patients with ALS: a phase 1/2a trial.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves progressive motor neuron loss, leading to paralysis and death typically within 3-5 years of diagnosis. Dysfunctional astrocytes may contribute to disease and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) can be protective. Here we show that human neural progenitor cells transduced with GDNF (CNS10-NPC-GDNF) differentiated to astrocytes protected spinal motor neurons and were safe in animal models.

Establishment of a New Canine Inflammatory Mammary Carcinoma Cell Line and Analysis of its Cystine-glutamate Transporter Subunit Expression.

Introduction: Inflammatory mammary carcinoma (IMC) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis and one affecting dogs. Inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) is a subtype of malignant breast cancer in humans with a high degree of malignancy and a similarly poor prognosis. Since the clinical symptoms and prognoses of both are similar, canine IMC has been considered as a model of human IBC.

Severe Chin-on-Chest Cervical Spine Deformity in the Setting of Stiff-Person Syndrome: A Case Report.

Case: Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) presents with progressive muscle rigidity, postural instability, and periodic debilitating spasms. Reports of axial hyperextension exist, but kyphotic deformities have not been described. We surgically treated a patient with debilitating SPS and severe cervicothoracic hyperkyphosis with posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation.

Attenuated spontaneous postural sway enhances diastolic blood pressure during quiet standing.

Purpose: Spontaneous postural sway during quiet standing has been considered a simple output error of postural control. However, as postural sway and inherent body orientation evoke compensatory activity of the plantar flexors, they might contribute to blood circulation under gravitational stress via the muscle pump. Hence, the present study employed an external support device to attenuate the plantar flexor activity in supported standing (SS), to experimentally identify its physiological impact on blood circulation.

Hb Phnom Penh Showing Falsely High or Reasonable HbA1c Values Depending on the Type of High-performance Liquid Chromatography System.

We herein report a 50-year-old Chinese woman with Hb Phnom Penh (α117Phe-Ile-α118Thr) showing high or reasonable HbA1c values depending on the type of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. A high HbA1c value of 7.5% (HPLC assay: G9) and a reasonable HbA1c value of 5.

Blonanserin ameliorates social deficit through dopamine-D receptor antagonism in mice administered phencyclidine as an animal model of schizophrenia.

Blonanserin differs from other antipsychotic drugs, such as risperidone and olanzapine, and exhibits a higher affinity for dopamine-D receptors than for serotonin 5-HT receptors. We investigated the involvement of dopamine-D receptors in the effect of blonanserin on the social deficit observed in an animal model of schizophrenia and sought to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying its action. Mice received phencyclidine (PCP: 10 mg/kg/day, s.

Isolated Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Deficiency and Severe Hypercalcemia After Destructive Thyroiditis in a Patient on Nivolumab Therapy With a Malignant Melanoma.

We describe a 58-year-old man with a malignant melanoma metastasis to the liver. After initiation of nivolumab therapy, he developed destructive thyroiditis and subsequently simultaneous isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency and severe hypercalcemia. Although isolated ACTH deficiency and hypercalcemia due to nivolumab therapy are both rare occurrences, these conditions can often cause a severe clinical course accompanied by a disturbance of consciousness.

Effect of canagliflozin on circulating active GLP-1 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial.

Canagliflozin has a robust inhibitory effect on sodium glucose transporter (SGLT)-2 and a mild inhibitory effect on SGLT1. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of canagliflozin on circulating active glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients were randomly divided into a control group (n =15) and a canagliflozin-treated group (n =15).

Long-Term Effect of Alogliptin on Glycemic Control in Japanese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A 3.5-Year Observational Study.

Background: The goal of the current study was to investigate the long-term effects (after 3 years or more) of alogliptin on glycemic control in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We retrospectively studied the effect of alogliptin on glycemic control in the patients with type 2 diabetes who had participated in our previous 3-month study and who continued to take alogliptin for at least 36 months.

Results: The mean duration of alogliptin treatment was 42.

Serum Betatrophin Levels and Clinical Features in Patients With Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Betatrophin is a hormone mainly secreted by the liver that influences lipid metabolisms. The main purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of canagliflozin (a sodium glucose transporter 2 inhibitor) on circulating betatrophin levels, and to investigate the correlation of various markers associated with glucose and lipid metabolisms with betatrophin in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Patients were randomly divided into a control group (n = 15) and a canagliflozin-treated group (n = 15).

Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome Associated with Pituitary Macroadenoma: A Case Report.

Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome (RSTS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that is classically characterized by prenatal and postnatal growth restriction, microcephaly, dysmorphic craniofacial features, broad thumbs and toes, and intellectual disability. We describe the first reported case of a pituitary macroadenoma associated with RSTS. A 39-year-old Caucasian female with a past medical history of RSTS diagnosed at age two was found to have a gadolinium-enhancing pituitary mass on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain three years ago during workup for migraine-like headaches.

2-Aminobenzenesulfonamide-Containing Cyclononyne as Adjustable Click Reagent for Strain-Promoted Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition.

The synthesis of 2-aminobenzenesulfonamide-containing cyclononyne (ABSACN), starting from 2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide and but-2-yne-1,4-diol via Mitsunobu and Nicholas reactions, is described for the development of an adjustable alkyne reagent in click reactions. In a strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) reaction, the reactivity of the alkyne is controlled by introducing various N-functionalities. The structure-reactivity relationship is found to be influenced by a transannular hydrogen bond between amino and sulfonyl groups.

Circulating SerpinB1 levels and clinical features in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the association of serum SerpinB1 levels and various parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes. The effect of canagliflozin (a sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor), which can decrease circulating insulin levels, on serum SerpinB1 levels was also investigated. A recent study suggests that the serum levels of SerpinB1, also known as monocyte neutrophil elastase inhibitor, increase with insulin resistance, may have a protective effect for pancreatic β cells, and may decrease insulin resistance.

Comparison of three video laryngoscopy devices to direct laryngoscopy for intubating obese patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Objective: To compare three different video laryngoscope devices (VL) to standard direct laryngoscopy (DL) for tracheal intubation of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Hypothesis: VL (vs DL) would reduce the time required to achieve successful tracheal intubation and improve the glottic view.

Design: Prospective, randomized and controlled.

Comparison of the C-MAC video laryngoscope to a flexible fiberoptic scope for intubation with cervical spine immobilization.

Study Objective: To compare the C-MAC video laryngoscope to the standard flexible fiberoptic scope (FFS) with an eye piece (but without a camera or a video screen) for intubation of patients undergoing cervical spine surgery with manual inline stabilization. The primary end point was the time to achieve successful tracheal intubation. Secondary end points included glottic view at intubation and number of intubation attempts.

Alterations of plant sterols, lathosterol, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers after the combination therapy of ezetimibe and statin drugs in type 2 diabetic patients.

Unlabelled: The elevation of serum plant sterols in addition to serum LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) is one of the important risk factors for coronary heart disease. We investigated how to alterations of serum hepatic synthesised cholesterol and plant sterols levels, clinical markers for inflammation and oxidative stress after combination therapy with ezetimibe, an inhibitor of cholesterol transporter in the small intestinal colon, and statin drugs in type 2 diabetic patients. Studies were conducted in 28 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with dyslipidemia.

Effect of combination therapy with alogliptin and lansoprazole on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of a combination of alogliptin [a dipeptydil peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor] and lansoprazole [a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)] compared with alogliptin mono-therapy on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study was a multicenter randomized open-label study. One hundred type 2 diabetic patients were randomly assigned to either the alogliptin with lansoprazole group or the alogliptin mono-therapy group.

Oxidative stress and antioxidative potency are closely associated with diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To examine involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and vascular complications of diabetes.

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at the Joint Laboratory Office (JLO), Dokkyo Medical University Koshigaya Hospital, Koshigaya, Japan from April 2010 to December 2011. Fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum lipids, urinary albumin excretion (UAE), ankle brachial index and pulse wave velocity were measured in 51 patients with type 2 diabetes and 20 healthy controls.

Use of a disposable acupressure device as part of a multimodal antiemetic strategy for reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Background: There is still controversy regarding the optimal strategy for managing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in high-risk surgical populations. Although acustimulation at the P6 acupoint has been demonstrated to be effective in preventing PONV, the effect of this nonpharmacologic therapy on the patient's recovery with respect to resumption of normal activities of daily living has not been previously assessed when it is used as part of a multimodal antiemetic regimen. Therefore, we designed this randomized, sham-controlled, and double-blind study to assess the efficacy of a disposable acupressure device (Pressure Right®; Pressure Point Inc.

Serum level of soluble CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) predicts the response to sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, in patients with type 2 diabetes controlled inadequately by metformin and/or sulfonylurea.

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors is a new class of antihyperglycemic agents that is now available for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. We investigated the relationship between the baseline serum level of soluble CD 26/DPP-4 and the response to treatment with sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, over 24 weeks in patients who had type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled by metformin and/or sulfonylurea therapy. We studied 52 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes who had poor glycemic control despite treatment with metformin and/or sulfonylurea.

Elevation of serum high molecular weight adiponectin in patients with Type 2 diabetes and orthostatic hypotension: association with arterial stiffness and hypercoagulability.

Aim: Orthostatic hypotension is a hallmark of diabetic autonomic neuropathy and is associated with increased mortality. The serum level of adiponectin is elevated in patients with heart failure or renal failure. In the present study, we measured serum levels of total and high molecular weight adiponectin in patients with Type 2 diabetes and orthostatic hypotension.

Comparison of effects of insulin aspart three times a day versus insulin detemir once a day on oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether treatment with long-acting insulin once a day or short-acting insulin three times before each meal daily has a stronger antioxidative effect in patients with type 2 diabetes. These patients had not been treated previously with insulin and were hospitalized for initiation of glycemic control by insulin injection. The patients (n=43) were assigned consecutively and alternately to a group treated with insulin aspart injection three times daily just before each meal and a group treated with insulin detemir injection once daily before bedtime.

Relationship of body fat weight and body fat ratio determined by bioelectric impedance to serum adipocytokines in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Various adipocytokines are closely associated with both obesity and insulin resistance. We investigated how body fat weight (BFW) and body fat ratio (BFR) affected serum adipocytokines in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Studies were conducted in type 2 diabetic patients (n = 41) and age-matched healthy subjects (n = 18).

The effects of oral ibuprofen and celecoxib in preventing pain, improving recovery outcomes and patient satisfaction after ambulatory surgery.

Background: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs have become increasingly popular as part of multimodal analgesic regimens for pain management in the ambulatory setting. We designed this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of postoperative administration of either a nonselective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (ibuprofen) or the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor (celecoxib when administered as part of a multimodal analgesic regimen) on the severity of pain, the need for rescue analgesics, and clinically relevant patient outcomes after ambulatory surgery. The primary end point was the time to resumption of normal activities of daily living.