Feasibility of ultrasonography in determining the diagnosis and treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer.

Purpose: We diagnosed and treated perforated duodenal ulcers (PDUs) based on the results of ultrasonography (US). We obtained useful ultrasonographic findings regarding the diagnosis and treatment of PDU.

Methods: We experienced 24 PDU cases over 6 years and 4 months (March 2002 to June 2008), and evaluated five useful ultrasonographic findings regarding PDU: (1) Two-way transmigration of liquid and air bubbles through the perforated duodenal wall, (2) hyperechoic band penetration out through the duodenal wall, (3) free air exiting the PDU, (4) fluid exiting the PDU, and (5) liver covering the PDU.

Ultrasonographic diagnosis of advanced colorectal cancer.

We investigated the efficacy of transabdominal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of advanced colorectal cancer. Colonic examination by colonoscopy, barium study, or surgery was carried out in our institution on 1579 patients during the past 5 years. This study focused on 1564 of these patients, 15 who has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer before ultrasound examination having been excluded.

Orthotopic liver transplantation for hereditary fibrinogen amyloidosis.

Systemic amyloidosis results from the deposition of insoluble protein fibrils in various organs and tissues. To date, several different proteins have been associated with amyloid fibril formation, including immunoglobulin light chain, serum amyloid A protein, and transthyretin. Recent reports have shown that variant fibrinogen chains can form amyloid in certain kindreds.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate circadian blood pressure trends and to evaluate autonomic function in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD).

Materials And Methods: We performed 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) on 10 patients from seven Japanese families with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6), 10 patients with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia (ICA), eight patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) suffering from cerebellar MSA (MSA-C), and 12 age- and gender-matched normal subjects. We also evaluated autonomic function in these patients.