Cell-free DNA Release in the Plasma of Patients with Cardiac Disease is Associated with Cell Death Processes.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is released into the plasma of patients with cardiac disease. Here, the source and mechanism of plasma cfDNA release in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and other cardiac diseases ( = 59) were investigated. Plasma levels of various markers including M30 (apoptosis), M65 (apoptosis and necrosis), cyclophilin A (CyPA) (necrosis), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) (neutrophil activation) were assayed.

Urinary Tract Infection Caused by Cronobacter sakazakii.

A 69-year-old man presented to the ED of our hospital with fever, loss of appetite, malaise, and pyuria and was admitted. He was diagnosed as having urinary infection. We instituted treatment with cefmetazole, and he was discharged on hospital day 7.

Comparison of serum cell-free DNA between postmortem and living samples.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) originates from apoptotic and/or necrotic cells. Few reports are available that examine cfDNA from postmortem samples. Therefore, this study investigated differences between postmortem and biogenic subjects in concentration and fragment distribution of serum cfDNA.

Small-bowel obstruction owing to kitchen sponge eating as a pica behavior: A case report.

Small-bowel feces sign is useful to detect the corresponding site of stenosis or obstruction in patients with moderate and high degrees of small-bowel obstruction. The CT findings of kitchen sponge are very similar to small-bowel feces sign. With careful image interpretation, it is possible to judge whether the cause of obstruction is sponge.

Circulating cell-free DNA fragment analysis by microchip electrophoresis and its relationship with DNase I in cardiac diseases.

Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been directly related to cancer, diabetes, stroke, systemic lupus erythematosus, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, infection, and myocardial infarction (MI). In this study, plasma cfDNA was extracted from the plasma of cardiac disease patients and the cfDNA fragment distribution as well as the relationships between cfDNA concentration and deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) activity enzyme implicated in double-stranded DNA processing were examined. Results revealed that the cfDNA concentrations in patients with MI and cardiac angina were significantly higher than that in healthy control subjects.

Low genetic heterogeneity of copy number variations (CNVs) in the genes encoding the human deoxyribonucleases 1-like 3 and II potentially relevant to autoimmunity.

Deoxyribonucleases (DNases) might play a role in prevention of autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus through clearance of cell debris resulting from apoptosis and/or necrosis. Previous studies have suggested that variations in the in vivo activities of DNases I-like 3(1L3) and II have an impact on autoimmune-related conditions. The genes for these DNases are known to show copy number variations (CNVs) whereby copy loss leads to a reduction of the in vivo activities of the enzymes, thereby possibly affecting the pathophysiological background of autoimmune diseases.

Graft-versus-host disease-Induced esophageal web.

Endoscopy revealed a chicken meat impaction in the upper esophagus. On food removal, an esophageal web (thin membranous constriction) was revealed at the site and diagnosed as GVHD-induced esophageal web by the endoscopist.

Hemosuccus pancreaticus successful treatment by double balloon-assisted coil embolization for active bleeding from the main trunk of the superior mesenteric artery.

We report a case of a 63-year-old man with hemosuccus pancreaticus due to large pseudoaneurysm originating from the main trunk of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). The patient was treated successfully with the double balloon-assisted coil embolization technique combined with proximal and distal balloon inflation in the short segment of the SMA. This technique preserved the pancreaticoduodenal arterial arcade and the supply to the distal part of the SMA by embolizing SMA in a short segment.

The value of CT findings for prognostic prediction of spontaneous superior mesenteric artery dissection.

Background: Spontaneous superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection is rare cause of acute abdomen. Time-dependent change of SMA dissection has not been established.

Purpose: To determine Sakamoto classification (SC) type of acute and chronic SMA dissection (aSMAD and cSMAD) to predict the treatment methods and outcome.

Association of SNPs in genes encoding zinc transporters on blood zinc levels in humans.

Zinc homeostasis in cells depends on zinc transporters, which are divided into 2 families: ZnT (SLC30A) and ZIP (SLC39A). In this study, we examined the effect of 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 10 genes encoding zinc transporters on blood zinc concentration in Japanese subjects (n = 102). Blood zinc levels were determined by microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, and SNPs were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Nonfatal air embolism complicating percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy and VATS marking: Four cases from a single institution.

Systemic air emboli occur as a rare complication of percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) marking. Here we present four cases of systemic air emboli from single institution and the imaging findings and embolism' kinetics using contrast-enhanced media during VATS color marking with indocyanine green. We suggest that early detection using routine whole-lung CT is required for asymptomatic patients with abnormal air.

An autopsy case of spontaneous esophageal perforation (Boerhaave syndrome).

A 45-year-old male, an alcohol addict with asthma, was found dead in his home, after several days of continued drinking. A forensic autopsy was performed 3days after the discovery of his death in order to specify the cause of death. A longitudinal perforation penetrating all layers of the esophagus measuring 1.

Ambulance dispatches to schools during a 5-year period in Fukui Prefecture.

Aim: To determine the characteristics and trends of medical emergencies during school activities by analyzing information provided by fire departments.

Methods: During a 5-year period from January 2009 to December 2013, all nine fire departments in Fukui Prefecture handled 850 emergencies at schools. We investigated the 850 cases with the age range of 0-63 years.

[Tracheal Intubation by Paramedics in a Local Community: Current Situation and Future Challenges].

Background: As of April 2013, 164 paramedics are certified to perform tracheal intubation in Fukui Prefecture. This study investigated the current situation surrounding tracheal intubation performed by paramedics in prehospital care.

Methods: Subjects were 58 paramedics who completed practical training at our hospital.

[Comatose patient with neuroleptic malignant syndrome brought by ambulance].

A 27-year-old woman with schizophrenia showed signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome with disturbed consciousness, high fever, muscle rigidity, and autonomic dysfunction (including tachycardia and enhancement of saliva secretion). Since the age of 15, she had been treated at a local psychiatric clinic with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. On the day she was brought to the emergency room, she was asleep in the morning, but tachycardia was observed in the evening in the absence of consciousness.

Evaluation of effectiveness of stellate ganglion block (SGB) treatment of sudden hearing loss.

Conclusion: A stellate ganglion block (SGB) based on the goal of improving internal ear circulatory disturbance appears to be beneficial for the treatment of sudden hearing loss.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of SGB for sudden hearing loss.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 49 patients who received SGBs and 496 patients who received only conservative therapy, primarily with systemic steroids, for treatment of sudden hearing loss.

[Usefulness of helmet type mask in the treatment of postoperative atelectasis in a child: a case report].

A 7-year-old autistic girl underwent an appendectomy under general anesthesia. Both intraoperative course and postoperative one following extubation were uneventful;however, she suddenly developed severe hypoxemia caused by massive atelectasis in the right and lower lobes 27 hours after the operation. With a helmet type mask on her face, she was successfully managed with continuous positive airway pressure (noninvasive positive pressure ventilation) mode, in which PEEP level was 5 cmH2O and FI(O2) was 0.

[Two cases of cerebral infarction caused by fat embolism during orthopedic bone surgeries].

I report on two cases of cerebral infarction caused by fat embolism during the orthopedic surgeries. The first patient was a 77-year-old woman with a femur neck fracture, who developed coma after orthopedic operation. The other was a 70-year-old woman with open fractures in the femur and the fibula, who developed hemiplegia after operation.

[Case of serious lidocaine intoxication].

Lidocaine is frequently used as a local anesthetic and has very low incidence of serious complications. I report on a case of lidocaine intoxication in a 66-year-old man who presented with seizure and cardiac periarrest following the brachial plexus block with 450 mg of lidocaine. Twelve minutes after the lidocaine administration, he became unconscious and 29 minutes after, developed seizure.