Visualization of Lenticulostriate Arteries on CT Angiography Using Ultra-High-Resolution CT Compared with Conventional-Detector CT.

Background And Purpose: The newly developed ultra-high-resolution CT is equipped with a 0.25-mm detector, which has one-half the conventional section thickness, one-half the in-plane detector element width, and one-half the reconstructed pixel width compared with conventional-detector CT. Thus, the ultra-high-resolution CT scanner should provide better image quality for microvasculature than the conventional-detector CT scanners.

Treatment of Extensor Lag Using the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis after Crushing-Penetrating Injury to the Metacarpophalangeal Joint.

We previously reported the beneficial effects of tendon transfer to eliminate extension lag of the interphalangeal joints, using the extensor carpi radialis longus prolonged by palmaris longus tendon grafts after crushing-penetrating injuries around the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint of the middle finger. We used the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) as the alternative donor muscle and treated two cases of severe crushing injuries to MP joint, and then obtained good outcomes.

A clinical study comparing ultrasound-measured pyloric antrum cross-sectional area to computed tomography-measured gastric content volume to detect high-risk stomach in supine patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

The main aim of this study was to assess whether the ultrasound examination and measurement of the pyloric antral cross-sectional area (antral-CSA) in the supine position could be useful to diagnose a full stomach using a computed tomography (CT) as a comparator in emergency patients. Immediately before general anesthesia induction in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery, antral-CSA was measured and the volume of the gastric contents was evaluated via ultrasound in the supine position. Gastric content volume was also calculated from a CT image taken prior to the operation.

Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 expression is a predictor in patients with resected pancreatic cancer treated with adjuvant S-1 chemotherapy.

The high expression of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (hENT1) and the low expression of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) are reported to predict a favorable prognosis in patients treated with gemcitabine (GEM) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) as the adjuvant setting, respectively. The expression of hENT1 and DPD were analyzed in patients registered in the JASPAC 01 trial, which showed a better survival of S-1 over GEM as adjuvant chemotherapy after resection for pancreatic cancer, and their possible roles for predicting treatment outcomes and selecting a chemotherapeutic agent were investigated. Intensity of hENT1 and DPD expression was categorized into no, weak, moderate or strong by immunohistochemistry staining, and the patients were classified into high (strong/moderate) and low (no/weak) groups.

Space-Making Particle Therapy with Surgical Spacer Placement in Patients with Sacral Chordoma.

Background: Sacral chordomas are rare malignant bone tumors and are often very large for complete resection. Particle therapy for these tumors, which are adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract, is restricted because the tolerance dose of the intestine is low. This study aimed to demonstrate the technical aspects and treatment results of space-making particle therapy with surgical spacer placement for sacral chordoma.

Evaluation of PiB visual interpretation with CSF Aβ and longitudinal SUVR in J-ADNI study.

Objective: The objectives of the present study were to investigate (1) whether trinary visual interpretation of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging (negative/equivocal/positive) reflects quantitative amyloid measurements and the time course of C-Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) amyloid accumulation, and (2) whether visually equivocal scans represent an early stage of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum in terms of an intermediate state of quantitative amyloid measurements and the changes in amyloid accumulation over time.

Methods: From the National Bioscience Database Center Human Database of the Japanese Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, we selected 133 individuals for this study including 33 with Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD), 52 with late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI), and 48 cognitively normal (CN) subjects who underwent clinical assessment, PiB PET, and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 2 or 3-years of follow-up. Sixty-eight of the 133 individuals underwent cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-β (CSF-Ab) analysis at baseline.

Area of residual tumor (ART) can predict prognosis after post neoadjuvant therapy resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

An increasing number of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have undergone resection after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). We have reported Area of Residual Tumor (ART) as a useful pathological assessment method to predict patient outcomes after post NAT resection in various cancer types. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic performance of ART in PDAC resected after NAT.

Multiplanar analysis for pulmonary nodule classification in CT images using deep convolutional neural network and generative adversarial networks.

Purpose: Early detection and treatment of lung cancer holds great importance. However, pulmonary-nodule classification using CT images alone is difficult to realize. To address this concern, a method for pulmonary-nodule classification based on a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) and generative adversarial networks (GAN) has previously been proposed by the authors.

A randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial of phentermine-topiramate ER in patients with binge-eating disorder and bulimia nervosa.

Objective: Open trials suggest phentermine/topiramate ER (PHEN/TPM-ER), food and drug administration (FDA) approved for obesity, has utility for binge eating. With no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) yet performed, this trial aimed to evaluate PHEN/TPM-ERs efficacy and safety in a crossover RCT for patients with binge-eating disorder (BED) or bulimia nervosa (BN).

Method: Participants were randomized to 12-weeks PHEN/TPM-ER (3.

A prospective single-center protocol for using near-infrared fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green during staging laparoscopy to detect small metastasis from pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic resection and radiotherapy are powerful tools in the multidisciplinary local treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, 10-20% of patients with preoperatively resectable PDAC have radiographically occult metastases, which results in laparotomy without resection. This study aims to explore the utility of intraoperative near-infrared (NIR) imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) during staging laparoscopy to detect PDAC metastasis.

Immunohistochemically Detected Expression of ATRX, TSC2, and PTEN Predicts Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Grade 1 and 2 Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Objective: The goal of this retrospective study was to clarify the clinical implications of immunohistochemically detected protein expression for genes that are frequently mutated in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs).

Background: The clinical management of PNETs is hindered by their heterogenous biological behavior. Whole-exome sequencing recently showed that 5 genes (DAXX/ATRX, MEN1, TSC2, and PTEN) are frequently mutated in PNETs.

Predictors of postoperative early recurrence of extrahepatic bile duct cancer.

Purposes: Resected bile duct cancers often relapse during postoperative follow-up. The aim of this study was to detect predictors of early recurrence in patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer.

Methods: Consecutive cases (n = 162) of extrahepatic bile duct cancer in which R0 or R1 resection was achieved in Kobe University Hospital between 2000 and 2016 were divided into three groups [early recurrence (ER), within 6 months of surgery, late recurrence (LR), and no recurrence (NR)] and their clinicopathological features were compared.

Treatment of acute cholecystitis after cardiovascular surgery.

Background: Acute cholecystitis (AC) after cardiovascular surgery (CS) tends to have a serious postoperative course; however, there are few reports of AC after CS. In this study, we investigated the clinical features of AC after CS.

Method: Of 26 patients who underwent surgery for AC after CS between 2001 and 2018 were investigated.

Novel biodegradable magnesium alloy clips compared with titanium clips for hepatectomy in a rat model.

Background: The use of surgical metal clips is crucial for ligating vessels in various operations. The currently available metal clips have several drawbacks; they are permanent and interfere with imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and carry the potential risk of endo-clip migration. We recently developed a novel magnesium (Mg) alloy for biodegradable clips that reduces artifacts on CT imaging.

Real-time navigation during hepatectomy using fusion indocyanine green-fluorescence imaging: protocol for a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: In-vivo fluorescence imaging techniques using indocyanine green (ICG) to identify liver tumours and hepatic segment boundaries have been recently developed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of fusion ICG-fluorescence imaging for navigation during hepatectomy.

Methods And Analysis: This will be an exploratory single-arm clinical trial; patients with liver tumours will undergo hepatectomy using the ICG-fluorescence imaging system.

Clinical utility of the normal database of I-iodoamphetamine brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography for statistical analysis using computed tomography-based attenuation correction: a multicenter study.

Objectives: We have established a common normal database (NDB) with applicability in multicenter settings for the statistical analysis of brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with triple energy window scatter correction, computed tomography-based attenuation correction (CTAC), and spatial resolution compensation. This study aimed to compare the CTAC normal database (CTAC-NDB) with conventional normal databases for the statistical analysis of I-iodoamphetamine (I-IMP) brain perfusion SPECT at three institutions and to assess the clinical efficiency of CTAC-NDB.

Methods: We recruited 45 patients (26 men and 19 women; mean age, 74.

Effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acid administration on completion rate of adjuvant chemotherapy for biliary tract cancer: study protocol for a single-centre, open-label, single-arm, historically controlled study.

Introduction: Multimodal treatment prolongs the survival of patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, the chemotherapy choices for this disease are few, and completing each chemotherapy session is important. Adjuvant chemotherapy has been attempted for BTC, but has only had a 75% completion rate.

Increase in circulating ACE-positive endothelial microparticles during acute lung injury.

Circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) are considered to be markers of endothelial injury, and lung microvascular endothelial cells express higher levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The aim of this study is to examine whether the number of ACE microvascular EMPs could be a prognostic marker for the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in septic patients.The numbers of EMPs and ACE EMPs in the culture supernatant from human microvascular endothelial cells, as well as in the blood of mouse lung injury models and septic patients (n=82), were examined using flow cytometry.

Velopharyngeal closure analysis using four-dimensional computed tomography: a pilot study of healthy volunteers and adult patients with cleft palate.

Background: Nasopharyngoscopy is a common method to evaluate velopharyngeal closure in patients with cleft palate. However, insertion of a fiberoptic nasopharyngoscope causes discomfort in patients. The aim of this study was to estimate the reliability of short-time exposure images obtained using 320-row area detector computed tomography (320-ADCT) as a novel evaluation method for the assessment of velopharyngeal function.

Type 1 Autoimmune Pancreatitis with Imaging Appearance Similar to That of Malignant Cystic Tumor.

A 79-year-old man was admitted with asymptomatic elevation of liver enzymes and tumor markers. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated swelling of the pancreatic head, and additional blood test showed raised IgG4 levels. Histological examination by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration for pancreatic head mass revealed storiform fibrosis and IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration.

Clinical Relevance of Reductive Hepatectomy for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stages B and C Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single-Center Experience of 102 Patients.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of hepatectomy for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages B and C advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: A total of 314 patients (149 and 165 BCLC stages B and C, respectively) who underwent hepatectomy were included. Complete hepatectomy (without residual tumors after hepatectomy) and reductive hepatectomy (apparent residual tumors after hepatectomy) were performed for 212 and 102 patients, respectively.