Changes in epicardial adipose tissue volume before and after cryoballoon ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation: Supporting the "AF begets EAT" theory.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is closely associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), suggesting that it may be one of the causes of AF progression. However, it is unclear whether AF affects EAT.

Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate that sinus rhythm restoration reduces EAT volume (EATV) through left atrial reverse remodeling (LARR).

Outcomes in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients with cancer: The Japan Stroke Data Bank.

Introduction: Data on the impact of malignancy on outcomes in patients with stroke, especially hemorrhagic stroke, are limited. We aimed to clarify the association between cancer and outcomes for each stroke type (ischemic/hemorrhagic) using a hospital-based multicenter stroke registration database.

Patients And Methods: Study participants were adult patients within 7 days of the onset of ischemic stroke (IS) or hemorrhagic stroke (HS) between 2000 and 2020 in the Japan Stroke Data Bank (JSDB).

Improvement of cerebral blood flow after balloon angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic middle cerebral artery stenosis.

Objective: Although reports of endovascular treatment for intracranial arterial stenosis have been increasing recently, their efficacy remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the changes in cerebral hemodynamics of severe middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis patients by performing CT perfusion (CTP) after endovascular treatment.

Methods: Subjects were those who underwent balloon angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic MCA M1 stenosis refractory to medical therapy at our hospital between 2008 and 2022.

Association of CD4-positive cell infiltration with response to vedolizumab in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Not all patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) respond initially to treatment with biologic agents, and predicting their efficacy prior to treatment is difficult. Vedolizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against alpha 4 beta 7 (α4β7) integrin, suppresses immune cell migration by blocking the interaction between α4β7 integrin and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1. Reports about histological features that predict vedolizumab efficacy are scarce.

Ischemic stroke patients with low DWI ASPECTS scores require puncture to recanalization within 30 min for large vessel occlusion.

Background: The clinical benefits of faster recanalization in acute large vessel occlusion are well recognized, but the optimal procedure time remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to identify patient characteristics that necessitate puncture-to-recanalization (P-R) time within 30 min to achieve favorable outcome.

Methods: We evaluated the patients from a prospective, multicenter, observational registry of acute ischemic stroke patients.

[A case of gastric follicular lymphoma with rapid deterioration and transformation].

A 79-year-old male patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed a reddish lesion, 10mm in diameter, presenting as a surface recess in the angular incisure. He was diagnosed with gastric follicular lymphoma. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed metastasis to the mediastinal lymph node, although the tumor size was small.

Long-term outcome and factors associated with restenosis after combination therapy of balloon angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic intracranial stenosis.

Background: The optimal treatment for intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS) has not been established. We retrospectively examined the initial and long-term outcomes associated with restenosis of a combination therapy of balloon angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic atherosclerotic ICAS.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent balloon angioplasty and/or stenting for ≥ 70% ICAS between 2006 and 2020 were analyzed.

Primary results of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: The K-NET registry in the Japanese metropolitan area.

Background: Endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute large vessel occlusion has proven to be effective in randomized controlled trials. We conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate the real-world efficacy of EVT in a metropolitan area with a large number of comprehensive stroke centers and to compare it with the results of other registries and randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: We analyzed the Kanagawa Intravenous and Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke registry, a prospective, multicenter observational study of patients treated by EVT and/or intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA).

[A case of anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma with tumor infiltration into the main pancreatic duct].

A 57-year-old man with fatigue was admitted to our hospital. Abdominal contrast computed tomography indicated the presence of a 35mm tumor in the pancreatic head and dilation of the main pancreatic duct from its body to the tail. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed that the tumor had infiltrated and occupied the main pancreatic duct, and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography confirmed that the tumor was present in the main pancreatic duct.

Carotid Ultrasound Using Superb Microvascular Imaging to Identify Patients Developing In-Stent Restenosis After CAS.

Background And Purpose: In-stent restenosis (ISR) caused by in-stent intimal hyperplasia (ISH) may develop after carotid artery stenting (CAS), and often necessitates re-stenting. We investigated whether new ultrasound technique is useful for detecting carotid artery plaques prone to ISR.

Purpose: Superb micro-vascular imaging (SMI) is a new color Doppler imaging technique for assessing low velocity blood flow such as neovascularization in carotid artery plaques.

Folinic Acid, Fluorouracil, and Oxaliplatin Therapy for Recurrent Esophageal Cancer with Syndrome of Inadequate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH) After Preoperative Cisplatin/5-Fluorouracil Therapy.

BACKGROUND Cisplatin/5-fluorouracil therapy is the standard therapy for unresectable and recurrent esophageal cancer. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy often causes adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and renal dysfunction, which may necessitate dose modification or treatment prolongation. Therefore, novel combination therapies are urgently needed to improve the efficacy and overcome drug toxicity in this setting.

Successful Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute M1 Occlusion in a Patient with Situs Inversus: A Case Report.

Situs inversus is a rare congenital anomaly which has the mirror image of systemic organs and vessels from their normal position. We report a case of endovascular thrombectomy for acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) M1 occlusion in a patient with complete situs inversus. A right-handed man in his 70s presented to our hospital with loss of consciousness, right-sided hemiplegia, and total aphasia.

A Case Report of Contrast-Induced Encephalopathy after Repeated Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty for Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion.

Objective: We report a case of contrast-induced encephalopathy (CIE) after repeated percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion.

Case Presentation: An 88-year-old woman with left hemiparesis was transferred to our hospital by ambulance. MRI revealed acute MCA M1 occlusion.

The Influence of Experience on Gazing Patterns during Endovascular Treatment: Eye-Tracking Study.

Objective: In various fields, differences in eye-gazing patterns during tasks between experts and novices have been evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate gazing patterns during neuro-endovascular treatment using an eye-tracking device and assess whether gazing patterns depend on the physician's experience or skill.

Methods: Seven physicians performed coil embolization for a cerebral aneurysm in a silicone vessel model under biplane X-ray fluoroscopy, and their gazing patterns were recorded using an eye-tracking device.

[An autopsy case of anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma with diffuse liver metastases in acute hepatic failure].

A 76-year-old man presented to our hospital with continuous abdominal pain and vomiting. The results of the computed tomography indicated a pancreatic head mass with multiple liver metastatic tumors. Multiple liver tumors progressed rapidly, and the patient died of the resulting acute hepatic failure approximately 1 month after the onset of symptoms.

Outcomes of Balloon Angioplasty and Stenting for Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis at a High Volume Center.

Purpose: This study investigated the periprocedural complication rates, long-term outcome, and restenosis of endovascular treatment for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICS) at our hospital.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 217 patients comprising 256 endovascular treatments for high-grade symptomatic ICS. The lesion was located in the internal carotid artery in 77, the middle cerebral artery in 111, the basilar artery in 29, and the vertebral artery in 39.

A Case of Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated with Endovascular Treatment for Tandem Occlusion of the Common Carotid Artery and Internal Carotid Artery Terminal Portion Related to Takayasu Arteritis.

Objective: This report presents a case of mechanical thrombectomy for left internal carotid artery (ICA) terminal portion occlusion performed by left common carotid artery recanalization during hospitalization after diagnosing bilateral common carotid artery occlusion due to Takayasu arteritis.

Case Presentation: A 25-year-old woman with fever and cervix pain a few months ago visited our department after repeated transient aphasic attacks. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated diffuse infarction in the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) area, and she was diagnosed with Takayasu arteritis due to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and left subclavian artery stenosis.

Preprocedural Carotid Plaque Echolucency as a Predictor of In-Stent Intimal Restenosis after Carotid Artery Stenting.

Objectives: In-stent intimal restenosis (ISR) caused by neointimal hyperplasia can develop <24 months after carotid artery stenting (CAS). The utility of plaque imaging by carotid ultrasonography (US) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been investigated for the prediction of ipsilateral stroke. We aimed to investigate whether these imaging techniques are useful for detecting carotid plaques prone to ISR.

Perfusion Parameter Thresholds That Discriminate Ischemic Core Vary with Time from Onset in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background And Purpose: When mapping the ischemic core and penumbra in patients with acute ischemic stroke using perfusion imaging, the core is currently delineated by applying the same threshold value for relative CBF at all time points from onset to imaging. We investigated whether the degree of perfusion abnormality and optimal perfusion parameter thresholds for defining ischemic core vary with time from onset to imaging.

Materials And Methods: In a prospectively maintained registry, consecutive patients were analyzed who had ICA or M1 occlusion, baseline perfusion and diffusion MR imaging, treatment with IV tPA and/or endovascular thrombectomy, and a witnessed, well-documented time of onset.

Early high-fat feeding improves histone modifications of skeletal muscle at middle-age in mice.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate how the effects of high-fat diet feeding on the skeletal muscle persisted during aging using mice. Post-weaned male mice were fed a high-fat diet between 1- and 3-mo-old followed by return to supply a normal diet until 13-mo-old. Monthly physical tests demonstrated that age-related glucose intolerance that was generally developed after 10-mo-old in the control mice was significantly improved in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Successful Treatment of Bouveret Syndrome by Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy and Double Balloon Endoscopy.

BACKGROUND Bouveret syndrome is a rare complication of cholelithiasis that often leads to symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction. CASE REPORT An 84-year-old woman developed acute abdominal symptoms due to impaction of a gallstone in the horizontal part of the duodenum. The diagnosis was supported by abdominal computed tomography and double balloon endoscopy.

Radiation Response of Negative Gate Biased SiC MOSFETs.

Silicon carbide (SiC) metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are expected as power electronic devices for high radiative conditions, including nuclear plants and space. Radiation response of commercial-grade prototype SiC MOSFETs with applying the gate bias is of interest, in terms of installation of the device in robots or sensors working under such radioactive circumstances. Due to gamma-rays irradiation, the threshold voltages () of samples with un- and negative-biased up to -4.