Differential diagnosis of multiple system atrophy with predominant parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease using neural networks.

Differential diagnosis between Parkinson's disease (PD) and atypical parkinsonism, such as multiple system atrophy (MSA), can be difficult, especially in the early stages of the disease. Deep learning using neural networks (NNs) makes possible the prediction of the diagnosis using various types of biomarkers, unlike conventional linear statistics. We aimed to differentiate the Parkinson's variant of MSA (MSA-P) from PD both in the early stages by clinical utilization of NN analyses before the hot cross-bun and putaminal rim imaging features of MSA appeared.

The use of poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) as a microshunt to treat glaucoma.

The InnFocus MicroShunt® is a minimally invasive glaucoma drainage microtube used to shunt aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to a flap formed under the conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule. The safety and clinical performance of this device approaches that of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C, the current 'gold standard' treatment for advanced glaucoma. The invention of a new biomaterial called poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) or 'SIBS' is the enabling factor which led to the success of this product.

Three-Year Follow-up of a Novel Aqueous Humor MicroShunt.

Aims: An observational study to determine the safety and efficacy of filtering surgery employing a microlumen aqueous drainage device (InnFocus MicroShunt), used intraoperatively with Mitomycin C, implanted alone or in combination with phacoemulsification.

Materials And Methods: Single-site, prospective, nonrandomized study of 23 eyes that had failed maximum tolerated glaucoma medication, followed for 3 years. A MicroShunt was implanted ab externo through a needle tract under the limbus, draining aqueous from the anterior chamber to the scleral surface.

Physical Characterization and Platelet Interactions under Shear Flows of a Novel Thermoset Polyisobutylene-based Co-polymer.

Over the years, several polymers have been developed for use in prosthetic heart valves as alternatives to xenografts. However, most of these materials are beset with a variety of issues, including low material strength, biodegradation, high dynamic creep, calcification, and poor hemocompatibility. We studied the mechanical, surface, and flow-mediated thrombogenic response of poly(styrene-coblock-4-vinylbenzocyclobutene)-polyisobutylene-poly(styrene-coblock-4-vinylbenzocylcobutene) (xSIBS), a thermoset version of the thermoplastic elastomeric polyolefin poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) (SIBS), which has been shown to be resistant to in vivo hydrolysis, oxidation, and enzymolysis.

The development of a micro-shunt made from poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) to treat glaucoma.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness with ∼70 million people worldwide who are blind from this disease. The currently practiced trabeculectomy surgery, the gold standard treatment used to stop the progression of vision loss, is rather draconian, traumatic to the patient and requires much surgical skill to perform. This article summarizes the more than 10-year development path of a novel device called the InnFocus MicroShunt®, which is a minimally invasive glaucoma drainage micro-tube used to shunt aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to a flap formed under the conjunctiva and Tenon's Capsule.

Clinicopathologic correlations of poly-(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) glaucoma drainage devices of different internal diameters in rabbits.

Background And Objective: To assess the biocompatibility and intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effect of a novel glaucoma drainage implant in rabbits.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits received one of three glaucoma drainage implants fabricated from poly-(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene [SIBS]) with an internal diameter of the lumen of either 70 (6 eyes), 100 (6 eyes), or 150 (4 eyes) μm. Clinical follow-up examinations were performed during 6 months and postmortem eyes were studied with light microscopy.

[Case of Heerfordt's syndrome presenting polyneuropathy].

Background: Acute presentation of sarcoidosis with the combination of uveitis, parotid gland enlargement, facial nerve palsy, and fever is called Heerfordt's syndrome. Clinically recognizable involvement of the nervous system occurs in < 10% of patients with sarcoidosis, and polyneuropathy in 24% with neurosarcoidosis.

Case: A 28-year-old woman diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome was admitted and treated for a month in the Department of Neurology, Mie University hospital.

Impact of intratumoral thymidylate synthase expression on prognosis after surgical resection for ampullary carcinoma.

Background And Objectives: This study evaluated possible prognostic value of expression level of intratumoral thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), and orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) in patients with resected ampullary carcinoma.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining evaluated intratumoral TS, DPD, and OPRT expression in 52 surgical specimens of patients with ampullary carcinoma. Relationships between clinicopathological factors including intratumoral TS, DPD, or OPRT expressions and survival was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis.

Thrombogenic potential of Innovia polymer valves versus Carpentier-Edwards Perimount Magna aortic bioprosthetic valves.

Trileaflet polymeric prosthetic aortic valves (AVs) produce hemodynamic characteristics akin to the natural AV and may be most suitable for applications such as transcatheter implantation and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices. Their success has not yet been realized due to problems of calcification, durability, and thrombosis. We address the latter by comparing the platelet activation rates (PARs) of an improved polymer valve design (Innovia LLC) made from poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) (SIBS) with the commercially available Carpentier-Edwards Perimount Magna Aortic Bioprosthetic Valve.

In-vivo assessment of a novel polymer (SIBS) trileaflet heart valve.

Background And Aim Of The Study: A novel trileaflet polymer valve, which is a composite design of a biostable and biocompatible polymer poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) (SIBS) with an embedded reinforcement polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric, is being developed with the intention of providing a valve that has low thrombogenicity, high durability and favorable hemodynamic performance. The study aim was to investigate the biocompatibility and performance of this SIBS valve prototype under physiological loading conditions similar to humans, using a large-animal model.

Methods: Four SIBS valves (two with surface modification using dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine, DMPC), and two commercial Magna tissue valves, were implanted into sheep.

Prognostic impact of perioperative serum CA 19-9 levels in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, and serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) level has been reported to be a useful prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine which prognostic factor (preoperative or postoperative serum CA19-9 level) is more useful.

Methods: Pre- and postoperative serum CA19-9 levels were measured in 109 patients who underwent surgical resection for pancreatic cancer between 1998 and 2009, and their relationships to clinicopathological factors and overall survival were analyzed with univariate and multivariate methods.

E-cadherin-dependent intercellular adhesion enhances chemoresistance.

E-cadherin, an intercellular adhesion molecule, is important in cell growth and differentiation. Adhesion between cells is thought to decrease as cancers develop and disseminate. Knowledge of the effect of cell adhesion on proliferation and chemosensitivity may help individualize cancer treatment.

A practical and convenient synthesis of hotrienol, an excellent fruity smelling compound.

The practical and convenient synthesis of hotrienol, which is an excellent fruity smelling compound, has been performed by the ene-type chlorination of linalyl acetate and then dehydrochlorinated by lithium bromide and lithium carbonate in DMF, followed by hydrolysis in three steps with an overall yield of 55%.

Influence of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase on the cell cycle in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in vitro.

Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) was isolated as an endothelial mitogen from platelets and demonstrated to have angiogenic activity and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) activity. It was reported that the overexpression of PD-ECGF occurred with the rapid tumor growth in vivo. In this study, we transfected PD-ECGF into the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line IMC-3 and investigated the property of transfectants in vitro.

Expression and role of thrombospondin-1 in colorectal cancer.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) inhibits angiogenesis and activates transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF beta-1). The expression and role of TSP1 remain controversial. On 132 colorectal cancer specimens, we performed immunohistochemical staining of TSP1, TGF beta-1, latency-associated peptide (LAP) and CD34, besides performing in situ hybridization (ISH) of TSP1.