Clinicopathological study of fractional exhaled nitric oxide dynamics and intratumoral inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in primary lung cancer patients.

Background: Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is expressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor cells and contributes to tumorigenesis. Nitric oxide, an indicator of airway inflammation, is concurrently produced in the airway epithelium. However, the interrelationships and predictive importance of iNOS remain unclear.

Optimal Body Weights for Adults with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities.

Determining the optimal body weight for individuals with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) lacks a standardized approach. In this study, we aimed to develop a formula to estimate the ideal body weight for each SMID patient, considering factors such as reduced muscle and bone mass. We analyzed data from 111 SMID patients (56 male, 55 female; age range 20 to 73 y) who underwent blood tests measuring creatinine (Cr) and cystatin C (cysC) for clinical reasons between Feb.

Common Relationship Between Causality Orientation and the Prefrontal Region in Psychiatric Disorders as Revealed by Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging.

Background Motivation dysregulation is common in several psychiatric disorders. However, little is known about the relationships between motivation and the regional brain areas involved. We evaluated the relationships between brain microstructural features and causality orientation in patients with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BD) using diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) techniques.

Right main pulmonary artery distensibility on dynamic ventilation CT and its association with respiratory function.

Background: Heartbeat-based cross-sectional area (CSA) changes in the right main pulmonary artery (MPA), which reflects its distensibility associated with pulmonary hypertension, can be measured using dynamic ventilation computed tomography (DVCT) in patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during respiratory dynamics. We investigated the relationship between MPA distensibility (MPAD) and respiratory function and how heartbeat-based CSA is related to spirometry, mean lung density (MLD), and patient characteristics.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed DVCT performed preoperatively in 37 patients (20 female and 17 males) with lung cancer aged 70.

Association of Respiratory Functional Indices and Smoking with Pleural Movement and Mean Lung Density Assessed Using Four-Dimensional Dynamic-Ventilation Computed Tomography in Smokers and Patients with COPD.

Purpose: To correlate the ratio of the non-dependent to dependent aspects of the maximal pleural movement vector (MPMV) and gravity-oriented collapse ratio (GCR), and the mean lung field density (MLD) obtained using four-dimensional (4D) dynamic-ventilation computed tomography (DVCT) with airflow limitation parameters and the Brinkman index.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven patients, including 22 patients with COPD, 13 non-COPD smokers, and 12 non-smokers, with no/slight pleural adhesion confirmed using a thoracoscope, underwent 4D-DVCT with 16 cm coverage. Coordinates for the lung field center, as well as ventral and dorsal pleural points, set on the central trans-axial levels in the median and para-median sagittal planes at end-inspiration, were automatically measured (13-17 frame images, 0.

Impact of thoracic esophageal displacement after lobectomy on the continuity of oral adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Adjuvant tegafur-uracil therapy has prolonged postoperative survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Some patients experience treatment discontinuation due to gastrointestinal disorders such as anorexia, and the associated factors and the impact of lobectomy remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the postoperative esophageal displacement after lobectomy and to clarify its impact on the continuity of tegafur-uracil treatment.

Very low-density lipoprotein receptor increases in a liver-specific manner due to protein deficiency but does not affect fatty liver in mice.

Very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) is a member of the LDL receptor family that is involved in the uptake of VLDL into cells. Increased hepatic VLDLR under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been shown to cause fatty liver. In this study, the effect of dietary protein restriction on hepatic VLDLR and the role of VLDLR in fatty liver were investigated using Vldlr knockout (KO) mice.

Perioperative changes in respiratory impedance in lobectomy and their clinical impact.

Background: Respiratory function declines after lung resection. However, perioperative changes in respiratory impedance and their clinical significance are unclear. The forced oscillation technique can measure respiratory impedance during quiet breathing and possibly early after surgery.

[The Early Removal of the Implant after Nuss Procedure Due to the Infection in Case of Pectus Excavatum with Atopic Dermatitis].

Nuss procedure for pediatric patients with pectus excavatum has been practiced worldwide, including in Japan, due to the simple procedure and has a high therapeutic effect. Because it is usually performed under thoracoscopy to secure the safety, it is performed not only by pediatric or plastic surgeons but also by general thoracic surgeons. On the other hand, a risk of infection must always be considered in this method in which a foreign metal bar is used.

Preoperative assessment of localized pleural adhesion: Utility of software-assisted analysis on dynamic-ventilation computed tomography.

Purpose: To assess the usefulness of software analysis using dynamic-ventilation CT for localized pleural adhesion (LPA).

Materials And Methods: Fifty-one patients scheduled to undergo surgery underwent both dynamic-ventilation CT and static chest CT as preoperative assessments. Five observers independently evaluated the presence and severity of LPA on a three-point scale (non, mild, and severe LPA) for 9 pleural regions (upper, middle, and lower pleural aspects on ventral, lateral, and dorsal areas) on the chest CT by three different methods by observing images from: static high-resolution CT (static image); dynamic-ventilation CT (movie image), and dynamic-ventilation CT while referring to the adhesion map (movie image with color map), which was created using research software to visualize movement differences between the lung surface and chest wall.

Airway inflammation and lung function recovery after lobectomy in patients with primary lung cancer.

Objective: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), which represents airway inflammation, is an indicator of postoperative complication after lung surgery. However, its effects in the late postoperative period are unknown. The aim of this prospective study was to clarify the impact of FeNO on postoperative lung function in patients with lung cancer.

Impact of fractional exhaled nitric oxide on the outcomes of lung resection surgery: a prospective study.

Background: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), which is representative of airway inflammation, is an indicator of chronic lung disease. However, its effect on the outcome of lung resection is unknown. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate FeNO in patients who underwent lung resection, to analyze the perioperative dynamics, and clarify the impact on postoperative complications.

Usability of the lateral decubitus position on four-dimensional ultra-low-dose computed tomography for the detection of localized pleural adhesion in the pulmonary apical region.

Background: Localized pleural adhesion (LPA) evaluation in the apical region is difficult even with four-dimensional ultra-low-dose computed tomography (4D-ULDCT) in the supine position due to smaller pleural movements.

Purpose: To assess usability of 4D-ULDCT in the lateral decubitus (LD) position for LPA detection in the apical region.

Material And Methods: Forty-seven patients underwent 4D-ULDCT of a single respiration cycle with 16-cm coverage of body axis in supine and LD positions with the affected lung uppermost.

Continuous quantitative measurement of the main bronchial dimensions and lung density in the lateral position by four-dimensional dynamic-ventilation CT in smokers and COPD patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure changes in lung density and airway dimension in smokers in the lateral position using four-dimensional dynamic-ventilation computed tomography (CT) during free breathing and to evaluate their correlations with spirometric values.

Materials And Methods: Preoperative pleural adhesion assessments included dynamic-ventilation CT of 42 smokers (including 22 patients with COPD) in the lateral position, with the unoperated lung beneath (dependent lung). The scanned lungs' mean lung density (MLD) and the bilateral main bronchi's luminal areas (Ai) were measured automatically (13-18 continuous image frames, 0.

Preoperative assessment of pleural adhesion by Four-Dimensional Ultra-Low-Dose Computed Tomography (4D-ULDCT) with Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction using Three-Dimensional processing (AIDR-3D).

Purpose: To assess the feasibility of Four-Dimensional Ultra-Low-Dose Computed Tomography (4D-ULDCT) for distinguishing pleural aspects with localized pleural adhesion (LPA) from those without.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients underwent 4D-ULDCT during a single respiration with a 16cm-coverage of the body axis. The presence and severity of LPA was confirmed by their intraoperative thoracoscopic findings.

Decrease in performance status after lobectomy mean poor prognosis in elderly lung cancer patients.

Background: Surgery remains the best treatment for obtaining cure in patients with resectable lung cancer, regardless of age. In elderly patients, however, the presumed fear of decreased performance status (PS) after lobectomy has resulted in the delivery of sub-optimal cancer surgery. Surgical decision making for such patients would become easier if post-lobectomy survival benefits and changes in PS were well defined.

[Resection of double bronchogenic cysts within the anterior mediastinum; report of a case].

We reported a case of surgically resected double bronchogenic cysts within the anterior mediastinum. An anterior mediastinal tumor had been found at medical examination 6 years ago in a 66-year-old man, but has been followed up without treatment. After the treatment of another disease, he was referred to our hospital for evaluation of the mediastinal tumor.

Serious group A streptococcal infection around delivery.

Objective: To differentiate the features of serious, perinatal, group A streptococcal infection from other types of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.

Data Sources: Thirty-eight obstetric cases that were fatal or fulfilled the criteria of Centers of Disease Control and Prevention for streptococcal toxic shock syndrome were reviewed. Three cases were from Asahi General Hospital, 26 from MEDLINE (1966-December 1998), four from Japana Centra Revuo Medicina (1987-November 1998) using the search terms "Streptococcus," "Streptococcus pyogenes," "Streptococcal infection," "pregnancy," "labor," "delivery," "sepsis," and "shock," and five from official records of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan.

[Orbital neurinoma presenting orbital apex syndrome].

A 75-year-old man presented a twelve-day history of double vision and retro-ocular pain with rapid deterioration of visual acuity. Neurological examination on admission demonstrated right oculomotor palsy and abducence palsy, visual loss in the right eye, and hypesthesia and pain in the right supraorbital nerve. CT scan and MRI disclosed a mass in the right orbital apex.

Bioavailability of calcium from calcium carbonate, DL-calcium lactate, L-calcium lactate and powdered oyster shell calcium in vitamin D-deficient or -replete rats.

The bioavailability of calcium from various calcium sources in humans and animals has been the subject of investigation for many years and there is considerable controversy as to the relative bioavailability of different calcium salts. Most of the studies have used a calcium balance technique which has numerous problems in terms of performance and interpretation. Using a method for evaluating the efficacy of calcium from calcium salts used for plasma calcium metabolism and bone mineralization, we examined the bioavailability of calcium from four commercially available calcium salts, namely calcium carbonate, DL-calcium lactate, L-calcium lactate and powdered oyster shell-calcium in vitamin D-deficient or -replete rats.

[Fulminant streptococcal infection and sudden death in a pregnant woman: a case report].

A case of fulminant streptococcal infection occurring in a 28-year-old pregnant female is reported. She initially developed pharyngitis and high fever during the 33rd week of gestation. This was treated with oral piperacillin for two days with temporary amelioration.