Characteristic and Management of Symptomatic Septum Pellucidum Cyst in Extreme Elderly Patient: Case Report and Literature Review.

Septum pellucidum cyst is rare and is defined as a fluid-filled space between the lateral ventricles; it has a width of 10 mm or more. In this case report, a surgical patient of symptomatic septum pellucidum cyst (SPC) in extreme age is described. To the best our knowledge, this is the first report of an extremely aged patient with symptomatic SPC that was successfully treated using a flexible neuroendoscope.

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for High-Grade Skull-Base Meningioma.

 Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a nuclear reaction-based tumor cell-selective particle irradiation that occurs when nonradioactive Boron-10 is irradiated with low-energy neutrons to produce high-energy α particles (10B [ , α] 7Li). Possible complications associated with extended surgical resection render high-grade meningioma (HGM) a challenging pathology and skull-base meningiomas (SBMs) even more challenging. Lately, we have been trying to control HGMs using BNCT.

Influencing factors on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels in Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients.

Background: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels are generally lower in chronic hepatitis C patients than in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study is to clarify the factors which affect serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels using data obtained from Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients.

Methods: The subjects were 619 chronic hepatitis C patients.

Safety and efficacy of partial splenic embolization in telaprevir-based triple therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: Pegylated-interferon/ribavirin (peg-IFN/RBV) therapy with a protease inhibitor is the standard therapy for genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C. Despite improving treatment outcomes, patients with thrombocytopenia are often difficult to treat because interferon commonly exacerbates thrombocytopenia. In this study, partial splenic embolization (PSE) was performed in patients with hypersplenism-induced thrombocytopenia to determine the effectiveness of this method as a potential treatment.

The level of RECQL1 expression is a prognostic factor for epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: The human RECQ DNA helicase family is involved in genomic stability. Gene mutations of RECQL2, RECQL3, and RECQL4 are associated with genetic disorders and induce early aging and carcinogenesis. Although previous studies have reported that the level of RECQL1 expression is correlated with the prognosis of some of malignancies, the function of RECQL1 is not yet clarified.

Relationship between HCV dynamics and sustained virological responses in chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b patients treated with telaprevir-based triple therapy.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) dynamics and sustained virological response (SVR), as well as the efficacy of an extended treatment with telaprevir-based triple therapy among patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b.

Methods: Among 220 patients receiving triple therapy for 24 weeks, the SVR rate was analyzed at each time point at which HCV RNA became undetectable. The SVR rates in the patients who did not achieve a rapid virological response (RVR) were compared with those in 27 patients who received triple therapy for 48 weeks.

[Importance of a symptomatic visit in tuberculosis contacts--classification of secondary cases].

Objectives: In order to improve the appropriateness of contact examinations, we investigated the characteristics of secondary tuberculosis cases.

Subjects And Methods: We included tuberculosis patients that were located in Kawasaki City between 2008 and 2011. The patients were considered as 2 separate groups: those with tuberculosis following contact with index cases registered in Kawasaki City and those with tuberculosis who were located in Kawasaki City.

Effect of fluvastatin on 24-week telaprevir-based combination therapy for hepatitis C virus genotype 1b-infected chronic hepatitis C.

Objectives: The addition of fluvastatin significantly improves sustained virological response (SVR) in pegylated interferon and ribavirin (peg-IFN/RBV) combination therapy for patients infected with the hepatitis C virus. However, the add-on effect on telaprevir-based triple combination therapy remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fluvastatin on telaprevir-based combination therapy by conducting a prospective, open-label, randomized, controlled trial.

Decreased ARID1A expression is correlated with chemoresistance in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: Loss of ARID1A is related to oncogenic transformation of ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma. The present study was conducted in epithelial ovarian cancer of all tissue types to investigate whether an increased or decreased expression level of ARID1A can be a prognostic factor for ovarian cancer or can influence the sensitivity to anticancer drugs.

Methods: The expression level of ARID1A was investigated in 111 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who received initial treatment at the Hirosaki University Hospital between 2006 and 2011.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels affect treatment outcome in pegylated interferon/ribavirin combination therapy for compensated cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b and high viral load.

Aim: Much is unknown about the effect of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels on the outcome of pegylated interferon/ribavirin (PEG IFN/RBV) therapy for hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis. The purpose of the present study was to analyze and elucidate factors, including 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 , that contribute to a sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: We analyzed whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 contributes to the response to PEG IFN/RBV therapy among 134 cirrhotic patients.

Efficacy of Alfacalcidol on PEG-IFN/ Ribavirin Combination Therapy for Elderly Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C: A Pilot Study.

Background: Serum vitamin D concentration is reported to show a decrease in older age. Patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in Japan are older on average than those in Western countries. Moreover, the outcome of pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN)/ ribavirin therapy combined with vitamin D in elderly patients is unclear.

Effects of fasudil on the portal and systemic hemodynamics of patients with cirrhosis.

Background And Aim: Fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, has been shown to reduce portal venous pressure in cirrhotic rats. However, its effects on portal and systemic hemodynamics have not been investigated in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of fasudil on the portal and systemic hemodynamics of cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.

Predictive factors for improvement of ascites after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in patients with refractory ascites.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive factors for the response of ascites to a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and the impact of improvement of ascites on the overall prognosis of patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites.

Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent TIPS for refractory ascites were studied retrospectively. The mean follow-up period was 615 ± 566 days.

Lead-in treatment with interferon-β/ribavirin may modify the early hepatitis C virus dynamics in pegylated interferon alpha-2b/ribavirin combination for chronic hepatitis C patients with the IL28B minor genotype.

Background And Aim: The most important factor influencing the effect of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin therapy (PEG) for chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b with high viral load is the interleukin 28B (IL28B) genotype. We investigated the usefulness of lead-in twice-daily interferon (IFN)-β/ribavirin therapy (IFN-β), and the early hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV-RNA) dynamics was compared between PEG and IFN-β groups according to the IL28B genotype.

Methods: Forty-six patients were randomly allocated to PEG and IFN-β groups, and HCV-RNA dynamics in an early phase of treatment were analyzed.

Combination of fluvastatin with pegylated interferon/ribavirin therapy reduces viral relapse in chronic hepatitis C infected with HCV genotype 1b.

Background And Aim: Although the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) effect of statins in vitro and clinical efficacy of fluvastatin combined with Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) have been reported, the details of clinical presentation are largely unknown. We focused on viral relapse that influences treatment outcome, and performed a post-hoc analysis by using data from a randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Thirty-four patients in the fluvastatin group and 33 patients in the non-fluvastatin group who achieved virological response (complete early virological response [cEVR] or late virological response [LVR]) with PEG-IFN/ribavirin therapy were subjected to this analysis.

Effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt on changes in the small bowel mucosa of cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.

Background: The introduction of capsule endoscopy (CE) has facilitated the detection of mucosal changes in the small bowel, and such mucosal changes have been noted in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension; these changes are described as portal hypertensive enteropathy. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) on the small bowel mucosal changes detected by CE in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.

Methods: TIPS was performed in fifteen cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.

Small intestinal edema had the strongest correlation with portal venous pressure amongst capsule endoscopy findings.

Background/aim: Previous studies have reported small intestinal lesions in patients with portal hypertensive disease. However, the etiology of these lesions is not clear, as portal venous pressure was not measured in any of these studies. The aim of this study is to clarify the association between small intestinal lesions and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), which correlates well with portal venous pressure.

A case of IgG4-related disease with rectal cancer.

A 72-year-old male with liver dysfunction and an increase in serum total protein/albumin (TP/Alb) ratio was referred to our hospital. There was a marked increase in serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 level (IgG/IgG4: 3,485/2,860 mg/dl). Diagnostic imaging did not reveal any enlargement of the pancreas or narrowing of the pancreatic duct.

A case of ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma in a premenarcheal girl.

We report a case of a 12-year-old premenarcheal girl who developed ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma. The tumor, which originated from the right ovary, weighed 1400 g, and had a smooth surface and thin capsule, was extirpated. The cut surface showed multilocular cysts of various sizes and yellowish gelatinous to solid parts that accounted for approximately 40% of the cut surface.

In vivo pharmacodynamic activity of tomopenem (formerly CS-023) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a murine thigh infection model.

Tomopenem (formerly CS-023) is a novel carbapenem with broad-spectrum activities against diverse hospital pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We examined the in vivo pharmacodynamic characteristics of tomopenem against P. aeruginosa and MRSA by using a neutropenic murine thigh infection model with P.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt versus paracentesis plus albumin in patients with refractory ascites who have good hepatic and renal function: a prospective randomized trial.

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has recently been reported to be effective in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites. However, the clinical utility of TIPS in the subset of refractory ascitic patients with good hepatic and renal function is uncertain. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of TIPS to that of large-volume paracentesis in cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites who have good hepatic and renal function.

Effects of terlipressin on systemic, hepatic and renal hemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis.

Background And Aim: Terlipressin has been shown to be effective in the management of hepatorenal syndrome. However, how terlipressin exerts its effect on the renal artery is unknown. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of terlipressin on systemic, hepatic and renal hemodynamics in cirrhosis.

[Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for refractory ascites: results in 50 patients].

In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in 50 patients with refractory ascites and a Child-Pugh score of 9.8. The mean duration of follow-up was 592 days.

[The role of intraoperative ultrasonography].

Intraoperative ultrasonography (US) is able to visualize the inside of the viscera in real time, and is also both noninvasive and simple to perform without influence of the bone or alimentary canal gas disturbing the propagation of the ultrasound. US has recently been widely used for neurosurgery or abdominal surgery, 1) to check the position and size of the tumor, which can not be directly visualized, and to evaluate the relationship between the tumor and blood vessel or tissue, 2) to search for lesions not detected before surgery, 3) to search for residual tumor, 4) to carry out ultrasound-guided biopsy or puncture. For effective intraoperative US, thorough knowledge of the US instrument and the local anatomy is necessary.

Pharmacokinetics and disposition of CS-023 (RO4908463), a novel parenteral carbapenem, in animals.

The distribution, metabolism, and excretion of CS-023 (RO4908463), a new carbapenem, were investigated in rats and monkeys after a single intravenous administration of [(14)C]CS-023. In addition, the drug's pharmacokinetics were examined in rats, dogs, and monkeys. Whole-body autoradioluminograms of rats indicated that the radioactivity is distributed throughout the body immediately after administration except for the central nervous system and testes.