Radiography education with VR using head mounted display: proficiency evaluation by rubric method.

Background: The use of head mounted display (HMD)-based immersive virtual reality (VR) coaching systems (HMD-VRC) is expected to be effective for skill acquisition in radiography. The usefulness of HMD-VRC has been reported in many previous studies. However, previous studies have evaluated the effectiveness of HMD-VRC only through questionnaires.

The 2020 national diagnostic reference levels for nuclear medicine in Japan.

The diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) are one of several effective tools for optimizing nuclear medicine examinations and reducing patient exposure. With the advances in imaging technology and alterations of examination protocols, the DRLs must be reviewed periodically. The first DRLs in Japan were established in 2015, and since 5 years have passed, it is time to review and revise the DRLs.

Prevalence and severity of left atrial edema detected by electron beam tomography early after pulmonary vein ablation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of left atrial (LA) edema after pulmonary vein (PV) ablation and its effect on the cardiac function.

Background: Though extensive LA catheter ablation has been demonstrated to be more effective in curing paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) than segmental ostial pulmonary vein isolation (S-PVI), it might cause life-threatening complications, including congestive heart failure associated with LA edema.

Methods: Fifty patients underwent S-PVI (Group S) and 27 underwent circumferential PV antrum ablation (Group C) for drug-refractory PAF.

Electrophysiologic characteristics and outcome of segmental ostial superior vena cava isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation initiated by superior vena cava ectopy: comparison with pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: This study investigated the electrophysiologic characteristics and outcome of superior vena cava (SVC) segmental ostial isolation (SOI) in patients with SVC-initiated paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Methods: Ninety-five patients with PAF underwent pulmonary vein (PV) SOI using a basket catheter whether the PAF originating from PVs was observed or not. Fifteen of those patients also underwent SVC SOI in the same manner due to evidence of SVC origin PAF.

[Examination of formula for enhanced dynamic wedge factors in symmetric and asymmetric fields].

We proposed a formula for the enhanced dynamic wedge (EDW) factor in the half-field (HF) that combined the formula proposed by Liu et al. in 1998 and their formula in 2003. When the EDW was used for irradiation to the tangent line of the HF breast, the values calculated by our formula and the measured values were consistent within 0.

Dosimetric consideration of individual 125I source strength measurement and a large-scale comparison of that measured with a nominal value in permanent prostate implant brachytherapy.

Purpose: We investigated the difference between measured and manufacturer's nominal source strength in a large sample of a single model of (125)I seeds. Physical characteristics of single seed measurement by the well-type ionization chamber were also investigated to provide dosimetric data.

Materials And Methods: A well-type ionization chamber with a single seed holder was used to measure source strength of all 1935 (125)I seeds implanted in the initial 28 patients in our hospital.

Plasma atrial natriuretic Peptide and brain natriuretic Peptide levels after radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

It has been reported that plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are elevated in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to investigate the change in these patients after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). In 66 patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) and without any structural heart disease, plasma ANP and BNP levels were measured before and 3 months after successful PVI.

Usefulness of esophageal leads for determining the strategy of pulmonary vein ablation to avoid complications associated with the esophagus.

To avoid fatal complications after extensive pulmonary vein (PV) ablation, it has been proved important to comprehend the anatomic relation between the PVs and the esophagus. In 42 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation, PV ostial isolation was performed using a basket catheter. The shortest distance and anatomic relation between the esophageal lead and PV ostium, determined by successful PV ostial isolation, was analyzed in biplane fluoroscopic views.

Incidence, location, and cause of recovery of electrical connections between the pulmonary veins and the left atrium after pulmonary vein isolation.

Aims: The aim of this study was to reveal the incidence, location, and cause of recovery of the electrical connections (ECs) between the left atrium and the pulmonary veins (PVs) after the segmental ostial PV isolation (PVI).

Methods And Results: Pulmonary vein mapping and successful PVI were performed using a computerized three-dimensional mapping system (QMS2trade mark) with a basket catheter in 167 PVs in 53 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). In 14 patients with recurrent AF after PVI, the same PV mapping and isolation as in the first procedure were performed, and the PV potential maps constructed by QMS2 in two different procedures were compared.

Can segmental pulmonary vein ablation reduce the recurrence of atrial fibrillation when using a higher RF power, larger tip electrode catheter, and additional RF deliveries?: the limitations of point-by-point RF ablation.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether segmental ostial catheter ablation (SOCA) designed to prevent the electrical connections (ECs) between the left atrium and pulmonary veins (PVs) might help increase the efficacy of SOCA in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). PV mapping and successful SOCA were performed with a basket catheter in 108 consecutive patients with PAF. Radiofrequency energy was delivered using a maximum output of 30 W with a 4 mm tip catheter (group I; 47) or 40 W with an 8 mm tip catheter (group II; 61).

Electrophysiological pulmonary vein antrum isolation with a multielectrode basket catheter is feasible and effective for curing paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: efficacy of minimally extensive pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: How extensive should an appropriate pulmonary vein (PV) ablation be is a matter of controversy.

Objective: The study's aim was to investigate the efficacy of minimally extensive PV ablation for isolating the PV antrum (PVA) with the guidance of electrophysiological parameters.

Methods: Fifty-five consecutive symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients underwent PV mapping with a multielectrode basket catheter (MBC).

Simple and accurate catheter mapping technique to predict atrial fibrillation foci in the pulmonary veins or posterior right atrium.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a novel catheter mapping technique for predicting atrial fibrillation (AF) foci.

Background: Most AF originates from pulmonary veins (PVs), but some originate from the right atrium.

Methods: We developed an algorithm by correlating the cardiac recordings obtained from multielectrode catheters placed in the posterior right atrium (RA) and esophagus during pacing from the PVs and superior vena cava (SVC) or crista terminalis (CT) in 10 AF patients.

Computerized three-dimensional potential mapping with a multielectrode basket catheter can be useful for pulmonary vein electrical disconnection.

Introduction: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) has been recently proposed as an effective technique to cure atrial fibrillation (AF).

Aims Of The Study: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a novel technique utilizing a computerized three-dimensional mapping system (QMS2) with a multielectrode basket catheter (MBC) for PVI and to reveal the relation between the style of breakthrough and the network of the PV musculature.

Methods: Sixty-five consecutive patients with frequent AF attacks underwent PV mapping with a 31-mm MBC, and a three-dimensional color animation of the potential map was constructed by the QMS2.

Electrophysiologic characteristics of atrial tachycardia originating from the right pulmonary veins or posterior right atrium: double potentials obtained from the posterior wall of the right atrium can be useful to predict foci of atrial tachycardia in right pulmonary veins or posterior right atrium.

Introduction: The right pulmonary veins (RPVs) and posterior wall of the right atrium (PRA) are anatomically located adjacent to each other. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the electrophysiologic characteristics of atrial tachycardia (AT) originating from the PRA or RPVs.

Methods And Results: A total of 26 consecutive patients with AT originating from the RPVs or PRA underwent detailed atrial endocardial mapping and successful radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Long-term stability of bone tissues induced by an osteoinductive biomaterial, recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 and a biodegradable carrier.

The long-term stability of bone tissues induced by recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and poly[L-lactide-co-glycolide] copolymer-coated gelatin sponge (PGS) was examined. In 16 dogs, 2.5 cm unilateral bone defects were created in the left tibial diaphyses.

Efficacy of corticosteroids in sarcoidosis presenting with atrioventricular block.

Background: The usefulness of corticosteroid therapy for cardiac sarcoidosis has not yet been fully clarified.

Methods: Of 40 patients diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis, twenty patients complicated by atrioventricular block but normal cardiac function (left ventricular ejection fraction > or = 50%) were divided retrospectively into one group (n = 7) receiving corticosteroids and another (n = 13) not receiving these agents. Over a mean observation period of 79.

Narrowing of the left ventricular cavity associated with transient ventricular wall thickening reduces stroke volume in patients with acute myocarditis.

It has been reported that some patients with acute myocarditis have transient ventricular thickening associated with narrowing of the left ventricular cavity caused by interstitial edema. The present study investigated this phenomenon in 20 patients with acute myocarditis. Based on the sum of the interventricular septal wall thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (IVST + PWT), measured by M-mode echocardiography, patients were divided into group A (IVST + PWT >/=25 mm, n=12) and group B (IVST + PWT <25 mm, n=8).

[Intravenous vegetation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus induced by central venous catheter in a patient with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: a case report].

A 54-year-old woman with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was admitted because of convulsion. Previously, she had suffered methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sepsis induced by a central venous catheter. Despite removal of the central venous catheter and administration of vancomycin, fever and increased C-reactive protein level persisted.

Changes in repolarization properties with long-term cardiac memory modify dispersion of repolarization in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Introduction: Transient T wave changes after cessation of preexcitation have been attributed to cardiac memory. However, there have been no reports on the effects of long-term cardiac memory on repolarization dispersion before and after catheter ablation in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome.

Methods And Results: We investigated 47 patients with an accessory pathway (AP; 24 manifest left-sided, 14 manifest right-sided, and 9 concealed left-sided).