Global and Regional Reduction of Myocardial Perfusion in Patients with Transthyretin Type of Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Dual SPECT Study Using Tc Pyrophosphate and Thallium.

: We aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of global and regional myocardial perfusion in patients with transthyretin type of cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR) using dual single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with Tc pyrophosphate (PYP) and TL (TL). : Consecutive 178 (mean age 78±12, male 79) patients known or suspect of ATTR who underwent PYP-TL dual SPECT were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were categorized according to the visual grading for planar PYP uptake using Perugini grading, and the patients with grade greater than or equal to 2 were analyzed.

Impact of uterine displacement on T-weighted image quality in the female pelvic MRI.

Despite the importance of T-weighted image in clinical practice, artifacts can significantly degrade image quality and affect diagnosis. This study quantitatively analyzed uterine displacement and surveyed the relationship between the image quality of fast-spin-echo-T-weighted image of the female pelvis and quantitative value of uterine displacement. Overall, 147 women (mean age, 46.

Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of a Muscarinic M Receptor-Positive Allosteric Modulator ASP8302 Following Single and Multiple Ascending Oral Doses in Healthy Volunteers.

ASP8302 is an orally administered positive allosteric modulator of the muscarinic M receptor. Two Phase 1 studies were conducted, a first-in-human study in Europe and a Japanese phase 1 study. Both were randomized, participant- and investigator-blinded, placebo-controlled, single and multiple ascending oral doses, parallel group, clinical studies in healthy volunteers.

Benchmarking Correlation-Consistent Basis Sets for Frequency-Dependent Polarizabilities with Multiresolution Analysis.

This paper presents the first converged frequency-dependent HF polarizability results for general molecules, on a set of 89 closed-shell atoms and molecules. The solver employs multiresolution analysis (MRA) in a multiwavelet basis to compute both ground and response states to a guaranteed precision, which are validated against independent numerical grid calculations on atoms and linear molecules. The MRA ground-state energies and response properties are used to evaluate results in correlation-consistent basis sets up to 5Z augmented with either single or double diffuse functions and core-polarization functions.

Coil embolization of a celiac artery pseudoaneurysm under balloon-assisted flow control: A case report.

Coil migration can occur when coil embolization is used for treating pseudoaneurysms associated with large arteries. The double microcatheter technique is useful for preventing coil migration; the balloon catheter can reduce blood flow and active bleeding upon balloon inflation, and can also compress the bleeding point and arrest bleeding temporarily. We report a case describing the management of a pseudoaneurysm with coil embolization using double microcatheters and a balloon catheter to control blood flow and prevent coil migration.

The Relationship Between Conventionally Obtained Serum-Based Liver Function Indices and Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Elastography in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between conventionally obtained serum-based biochemical indices and intravoxel incoherent motion imaging (IVIM) parameters compared with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE).

Methods: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent ≥2 liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, including IVIM and MRE, between 2017 and 2020 and biochemical testing within 1 week before or after MRI were included in this study. Biochemical tests were performed to determine the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score and modified ALBI (mALBI) grade, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4).

Pharmacokinetics of Edaravone Oral Suspension in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Purpose: Edaravone is a neuroprotective agent approved as an intravenous treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The intravenous administration of edaravone places a burden on patients and there is a clinical need for oral agents for the treatment of ALS. This report aimed to assess the pharmacokinetics and safety of an edaravone oral suspension in patients with ALS after oral and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube administration.

Long Term Follow-Up Study of a Randomized, Open-Label, Uncontrolled, Phase I/II Study to Assess the Safety and Immunogenicity of Intramuscular and Intradermal Doses of COVID-19 DNA Vaccine (AG0302-COVID19).

Pharmacological studies have demonstrated antibody production and infection prevention with an intradermal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) DNA vaccine (AG0302-COVID-19). This clinical trial aimed to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of high doses of AG0302-COVID19 when injected intramuscularly and intradermally. Healthy adults were randomly divided into three intramuscular vaccination groups (2 mg, three times at 2-week intervals; 4 mg, twice at 4-week intervals; and 8 mg, twice at 4-week intervals) and two intradermal groups (1 mg, three times at 2-week intervals or twice at 4-week intervals).

Complete response of glottic cancer to intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy: A report of 4 cases.

Surgical resection is recommended for advanced-stage, resectable glottic cancer. However, total laryngectomy results in the loss of vocal function and reduces patients' quality of life. At our institution, patients with cT3N0M0 stage III resectable glottic cancer who wish to preserve their larynx are treated with super-selective cisplatin infusion with concomitant radiotherapy (RADPLAT) to improve local control over systemic chemotherapy.

Acquisition of Humoral Immune Responses in Convalescent Japanese People with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection in 2021.

We investigated humoral immune responses in 222 unvaccinated Japanese people after recovery from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in 2021. Anti-spike-protein IgG antibody levels and neutralizing antibody titers were measured in serum samples obtained within 20-180 days after diagnosis. The geometric mean of antibody titers was 1555 ELU/mL (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1257-1923), and the neutralizing activity (50% inhibitory dilution) was 253 (95% CI = 204-313).

Prediction of Anemia From Cerebral Venous Sinus Attenuation on Deep-Learning Reconstructed Brain Computed Tomography Images.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate whether the prediction of anemia is possible using quantitative analyses of unenhanced cranial computed tomography (CT) with deep learning reconstruction (DLR) compared with conventional methods.

Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study included 116 participants (76 males; mean age, 66.7) who had hemoglobin (Hb) levels obtained within 24 hours of unenhanced cranial CT, which included 2 reconstruction methods: DLR and hybrid iterative reconstruction.

Incidence of Bowel Wall Swelling Induced by Iodine-Contrast Media and Its Association With Gastrointestinal Manifestation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of bowel wall swelling after iodine-contrast media injection and its relationship with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Methods: The incidence of bowel wall swelling was examined in 75 patients who showed adverse reactions to iodine-contrast media (AR[+] group) and 75 controls without adverse reactions (AR[-] group). Bowel wall swelling was identified if there was increased wall thickness on postcontrast computed tomography when compared with precontrast computed tomography.

A Comparative Study to Investigate the Effects of Bisoprolol in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Hypertension When Switched from Tablets to Transdermal Patches.

Background: Oral beta-blockers are effective for heart failure and hypertension. Here, we conducted a prospective study to investigate the efficacy of the beta-blocker bisoprolol in patients switching from the oral tablet to the transdermal patch.

Methods: We studied 50 outpatients receiving oral bisoprolol for chronic heart failure and hypertension.

A Single Arm Clinical Study on the Effects of Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator Treatment in Non-Dialysis Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Renal Anemia.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents improve the NYHA functional class and decrease the hospital readmission rates for heart failure; however, little is known about the influence of continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) on the heart. Therefore, a prospective study was conducted to investigate the effects of CERA on cardiac and renal function and oxidative stress in chronic heart failure with renal anemia. Sixty patients with chronic heart failure and renal anemia were enrolled and received CERA for 12 months.

Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Imeglimin in Japanese Patients With Impaired Renal Function.

Imeglimin is a diabetic drug excreted mainly in the urine; therefore, the impact of renal impairment on its pharmacokinetics (PK) is of interest. We assessed the PK and safety of imeglimin in Japanese patients with impaired renal function. This was an uncontrolled, open-label, single-dose, phase 1 study.

Relationship between lumbar spinal stenosis and cauda equina movement during the Valsalva maneuver.

Objective: To confirm the relationship between lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and cauda equina movement during the Valsalva maneuver.

Materials And Methods: Two radiologists at our institution independently evaluated cauda equina movement on pelvic cine MRI, which was performed for urethrorrhea after prostatectomy or pelvic prolapse in 105 patients (99 males; mean age: 69.0 [range: 50-78] years), who also underwent abdominopelvic CT within 2 years before or after the MRI.

Efficacy of Early Cardiac Rehabilitation After Cardiac Surgery - Verification Using Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination Data.

The current status of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after cardiac surgery and the introduction of early CR (E-CR) in Japan are not fully understood. In this study, the current status of E-CR and its efficacy were investigated by the Academic Committee of the Japanese Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation. We examined the rate of introduction of E-CR and its effects among 220,122 patients who underwent major cardiac and thoracic vascular surgery, as registered in the Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) classification system, between April 2012 and March 2018.