Comparison between Bilateral C2 Pedicle Screwing and Unilateral C2 Pedicle Screwing, Combined with Contralateral C2 Laminar Screwing, for Atlantoaxial Posterior Fixation.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Purpose: To compare clinical and radiological outcomes between bilateral C2 pedicle screwing (C2PS) and unilateral C2PS, combined with contralateral C2 laminar screwing (LS), for posterior atlantoaxial fixation.

Overview Of Literature: Posterior fixation with C1 lateral mass screwing (C1LMS) and C2PS (C1LMS-C2PS method) is an accepted procedure for rigid atlantoaxial stabilization.

Validation of the Japanese histologic classification 2013 of immunoglobulin A nephropathy for prediction of long-term prognosis in a Japanese single-center cohort.

Background: A new Japanese histologic classification (JHC) of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) for prediction of long-term prognosis was proposed in 2013. The goal of this study was to validate the JHC system in a Japanese single-center cohort.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 198 Japanese adult patients with IgAN.

Acute neck pain caused by arthritis of the lateral atlantoaxial joint.

Background Context: Many diseases can cause acute neck pain in elderly individuals. We conducted the present prospective study based on the hypothesis that arthritis of the lateral atlantoaxial joint may be involved in acute neck pain in elderly patients with limited neck rotation.

Purpose: To clarify whether the lateral atlantoaxial joint is involved in acute neck pain among elderly individuals by conducting lateral atlantoaxial joint puncture.

Foot pressure pattern and its correlation with knee range of motion limitations for individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To determine the foot pressure pattern of individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to analyze its relation with knee flexion/extension range of motion.

Design: Descriptive.

Setting: Rehabilitation center.

Anterior decompression for far-out syndrome below a transitional vertebra: a report of two cases.

Background Context: Impingement of the L5 nerve between the transverse process of L5 and the ala of sacrum has been described as the far-out syndrome. Posterior decompression is often performed for this pathology.

Purpose: To describe rare cases of far-out syndrome below a transitional vertebra who underwent anterior decompression.

Symptomatic cervical disc herniation in teenagers: two case reports.

Introduction: The development of a symptomatic herniated cervical disc before the age of 20 is extremely rare. Sporadically reported cases of patients with cervical disc herniation under the age of 20 usually have had underlying disease.

Case Presentation: Case 1: A 19-year-old Asian man visited our clinic and presented with progressive pain in his upper left scapula and weakness of the left deltoid and biceps brachii muscles.

Posterior-approach vertebral replacement with rectangular parallelepiped cages (PAVREC) for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral collapse with neurological deficits.

Study Design: A retrospective clinical study.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a new spinal reconstruction technique (posterior-approach vertebral replacement with rectangular parallelepiped cages: PAVREC) for the treatment of osteoporotic late vertebral collapse with neurological deficits.

Summary Of Background Data: Poor bone quality and medically complicated situations obfuscate precise treatment for paraplegia caused by osteoporotic vertebral collapse.

Discrete renal deposition of IgM heavy chain and κ light chain in Waldenström macroglobulinemia (IgM-κ).

We report previously undescribed renal lesions associated with monoclonal gammopathy in a 59-year-old man with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (IgM-κ). Light microscopy showed mesangial proliferation and thickening of glomerular basement membranes (GBMs) and tubular basement membranes (TBMs). Neither intraglomerular thrombi nor nodular glomerulosclerosis was observed.

Anterior Decompression and Shortening Reconstruction with a Titanium Mesh Cage through a Posterior Approach Alone for the Treatment of Lumbar Burst Fractures.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Purpose: To examine the efficacy and safety for a posterior-approach circumferential decompression and shortening reconstruction with a titanium mesh cage for lumbar burst fractures.

Overview Of Literature: Surgical decompression and reconstruction for severely unstable lumbar burst fractures requires an anterior or combined anteroposterior approach.

MRI findings of dorsalgia.

We reviewed the thoracic vertebra MRI of patients whose chief complaint was dorsalgia (or + lower back dorsalgia). Thoracic vertebra MRI of 103 patients had dorsalgia as the chief complaint mainly or sometimes in 134 (man 61, woman 73) and had led them to consult an orthopaedic specialist. A difference was seen in the cavity diameter under the posterior arachnoid in 103 and 31 which led to MRI scan of the thoracic vertebra.

Efficacy and safety of patient-directed titration of once-daily pre-dinner premixed biphasic insulin aspart 70/30 injection in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients with oral antidiabetic drug failure: STEP-AKITA study.

Unlabelled: Aims/Introduction:  To clarify clinical characteristics related to optimal glycemic control achieved after adding once-daily pre-dinner biphasic insulin aspart 70/30 (BIAsp 30) in Japanese type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients with oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) failure.

Materials And Methods:   Under this regimen, we evaluated changes in HbA1c levels and daily self-monitoring blood glucose (BG) profiles, as well as the incidences of hypoglycemia and retinopathy progression. The patients adjusted BIAsp 30 dosages themselves every 3-4 days according to a pre-determined algorithm to achieve fasting BG levels of 101-120 mg/dL.

Blood pressure and total cholesterol level are critical risks especially for hemorrhagic stroke in Akita, Japan.

Background And Purpose: Stroke risk factors differ depending on the subtype of stroke; moreover, the distribution of risks is different among countries and races.

Methods: Mass health screening data were collected from the Akita Prefectural Federation of Agricultural Cooperative for Health and Welfare from 1991 to 1998. Cerebrovascular events were determined from the Akita stroke registry from 1991 to 2001.

Steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome in a patient with proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits with pure mesangial proliferative features.

A 78-year-old woman developed acute-onset nephrotic syndrome. A renal biopsy showed mild mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. Immunofluorescence studies revealed granular IgG3- λ deposits within the mesangial area and along the glomerular capillary walls.

Pseudoaneurysm in a chronic pancreatitis patient: report of a case, with emphasis on contrast-enhanced sonograms.

The association between pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery and pancreatitis is now established. Rupture of an aneurysm is a lethal condition, and early diagnosis and treatment are required to prevent this hazardous life-threatening complication. In our case, early detection of pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery enabled us to start prompt embolization, which yielded good results.

Progressive glomerulopathy with unusual deposits of striated structures: a new disease entity?

A 68-year-old man developed proteinuria and renal insufficiency. A renal biopsy showed mesangial proliferation and double contour in almost all glomeruli. Congo red staining for amyloid was negative.

Clinicopathological features and prognosis in immunoglobulin light and heavy chain deposition disease.

Background: There are three subtypes of monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease: light chain deposition disease (LCDD), light and heavy chain deposition disease (LHCDD), and heavy chain deposition disease (HCDD). Although it has been considered that LHCDD is a variant of LCDD, information on clinicopathological features and prognosis in LHCDD is presently limited.

Methods: We reviewed 5,443 renal biopsies, and evaluated clinicopathological features and outcomes in patients with LHCDD, in comparison with those in patients with LCDD and previously reported patients with HCDD.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma originating from the thymus.

A 63-year-old man with a history of acute coronary syndrome presented with anterior chest pain that had lasted more than 3 months. During treatment for acute myocardial infarction on admission, computed tomography (CT) was performed incidentally, revealing an anterior mediastinal tumor 28 mm in diameter. CT findings after 3 months demonstrated an anterior soft tissue mass involving the left brachiocephalic vein and showing rapid growth.

Multiple anechoic hepatic nodules in a patient with malignant lymphoma: report of a case with an emphasis on B-mode sonograms.

We present a case of hepatic malignant lymphoma (ML) in which the hepatic ML nodules were imaged as round anechoic nodules with posterior echo enhancement, mimicking hepatic cysts on B-mode ultrasonography (US). However, the boundary echo between the nodules and the surrounding hepatic tissue seemed to be less distinct than that of a hepatic cyst. Contrast-enhanced US showed the nodules to be hypervascular, which ruled out the possibility of hepatic cysts.

Intrauterine therapy with cytomegalovirus hyperimmunoglobulin for a fetus congenitally infected with cytomegalovirus.

Reported herein is a case of hydrops fetalis in which the cord blood expressed cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen. Fetal ascites was removed from an infected fetus with hydrops in utero and 2.5 g CMV hyperimmunoglobulin was administered into the fetal abdominal cavity at 28 weeks gestation.

Portal tumor thrombus secondary to gastric carcinoma: report of a case with an emphasis on color Doppler ultrasound findings.

We report the case of a 67-year-old woman with portal tumor thrombus (PTT) associated with gastric carcinoma. Abdominal ultrasound (US) revealed a marked thickening of the gastric wall and a mass lesion in the splenic vein. Color Doppler US showed the intraportal mass to be blood flow-poor and revealed a gastroepiploic vein extending from the splenic hilum to the portal confluence, passing behind the peritoneum.

No Improvement of Adult Height in Non-growth Hormone (GH) Deficient Short Children with GH Treatment.

It is still in doubt whether the standard-dose growth hormone (GH) used in Japan (0.5 IU/kg/week, 0.167 mg/kg/week) for growth hormone deficiency is effective for achieving significant adult height improvement in non-growth hormone deficient (non-GHD) short children.

[Clinical experience of sivelestat sodium hydrate for severe reexpansion pulmonary edema; report of a case].

An 81-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the treatment for left spontaneous pneumothorax. A chest X-ray revealed a left-sided total pneumothorax and complete collapse of the lung. After intravenous administration of methylprednisolone, a 16 Fr chest tube was inserted, and drainage was started without negative pressure suction.

[Desirable role of the clinical laboratory in hospital infection control].

Prevention of hospital-acquired infection is the most important strategy to control infection in terms of the well being of patients and the medical economy. Infection control in hospitals is carried out by the action against hospital-based infection, for which clinical laboratory functions, such as surveillance and outbreak investigation, should be primary responsible. Therefore, it is essential for clinicians to have clinical laboratory rapidly detect pathogenic organisms and provide new and update information on appropriate antibiotics and clinical isolates.