Usefulness of "AcT ratio" in diagnosis of internal carotid artery stenosis: a multicenter, retrospective, observational study.

Purpose: The ratio of the internal carotid artery (ICA) to the common carotid artery (CCA), especially the "AcT ratio," which is a modified measurement method of acceleration time, is useful for diagnosing ICA-origin stenosis. However, previous studies were single-center studies. Therefore, this multicenter, retrospective, cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether a method using the AcT ratio is useful for estimating stenosis rates.

Ultrasound diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis and occlusion.

Carotid artery ultrasonography is capable of diagnosing or inferring the presence or absence of stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and vertebral artery (VA), as well as the not directly observable distal ICA, middle cerebral artery (MCA), and basilar artery (BA). Stenosis at the origin of the ICA is mainly evaluated using the parameter peak systolic velocity (PSV), with values of ≥ 200-230 cm/s indicating severe stenosis. Recently, the acceleration time ratio has been reported for diagnosis of ICA origin stenosis.

Point-of-care ultrasound for stroke patients in the emergency room.

Stroke requires rapid determination of the cause to provide timely and appropriate initial management. Various ultrasonographic techniques have been evaluated as ways to determine the cause of stroke; among them, carotid artery ultrasonography is particularly useful since it provides considerable information within a short time period when used to evaluate a specific site. In the emergency room, carotid artery ultrasonography can be used to diagnose internal carotid artery stenosis, predict an occluded vessel, and infer the cause of ischemic stroke.

A Novel Approach for Endoscopic Papillary Balloon Dilation with the Guidewire Left in the Pancreatic Duct to Ensure Pancreatic Stenting.

Background/aims: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) was reported to be superior for preserving the function of the sphincter of Oddi and to cause fewer late complications than endoscopic sphincterotomy. If the early complication of post-EPBD pancreatitis can be prevented, EPBD might be useful as long-term outcomes. This study assessed the feasibility of a novel EPBD for the purpose of reliable post-EPBD pancreatic stenting.

The Influence of Age and Sex on Cervical Spinal Alignment Among Volunteers Aged Over 50.

Study Design: Large cohort study of volunteers aged over 50.

Objective: To investigate influence of age and sex on cervical sagittal alignment among volunteers aged over 50.

Summary Of Background Data: Few large-scale studies have described normative values in cervical spine alignment regarding age and sex among volunteers aged over 50.