Variety of preoperative MRI changes in spinal cord ependymoma of WHO grade II: a case series.

Purpose: To report a case series of surgically proven spinal ependymomas of WHO grade II in which there were changes in the preoperative MRI characteristics over time.

Methods: A total of 71 patients with spinal cord ependymoma of WHO grade II underwent surgery. There were ten cases in which surgery was performed at an average of 2.

Impact of the favorable prognosis of patients with lung cancer adjoining bullae.

Background: Lung cancer adjoining bullae (LC-AB) is an uncommon manifestation. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of LC-AB remain unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical features and overall survival (OS) of patients with LC-AB following lung resection compared to non-LC-AB group.

Impact of Postoperative Pneumonia Developing After Discharge on Long-Term Follow-up for Resected Lung Cancer.

Background: Postoperative nosocomial pneumonia is a common immediate complication following lung resection. However, the incidence and mortality of pneumonia developing after discharge (PDAD) for lung-resected patients during long-term observation remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features of PDAD in patients with resected lung cancer.

Prognostic Impact of Postoperative C-reactive Protein for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Following Lobectomy.

Background/aim: C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with cancer progression; however, the prognostic impact of postoperative CRP remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of postoperative CRP in patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: A total of 198 consecutive patients with NSCLC that had undergone lobectomy were retrospectively reviewed.

Regional variations in immunosuppressive therapy in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome: the Japan nephrotic syndrome cohort study.

Background: The lack of high-quality clinical evidences hindered broad consensus on optimal therapies for primary nephrotic syndromes. The aim of the present study was to compare prevalence of immunosuppressive drug use in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome across 6 regions in Japan.

Methods: Between 2009 and 2010, 380 patients with primary nephrotic syndrome in 56 hospitals were enrolled in a prospective cohort study [Japan Nephrotic Syndrome Cohort Study (JNSCS)], including 141, 151, and 38 adult patients with minimal change disease (MCD), membranous nephropathy (MN), and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), respectively.

Alterations in Intramedullary T2-weighted Increased Signal Intensity following Laminoplasty in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Patients: Comparison Between Pre- and Postoperative Magnetic Resonance Images.

Study Design: A prospective comparative imaging study.

Objective: This study investigated whether the postoperative classification of and alterations in increased signal intensity (ISI) of the spinal cord reflected the postoperative severity of symptoms and surgical outcomes in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients.

Summary Of Background Data: Although ISI on performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is observed in CSM patients, alterations in ISI have not been investigated.

Surgical outcomes of spinal cord and cauda equina ependymoma: Postoperative motor status and recurrence for each WHO grade in a multicenter study.

Background: The goals of the study are to analyze postoperative outcomes and recurrence in cases of spinal cord and cauda equina ependymoma in each World Health Organization (WHO) Grade, and to examine the influence of extent of surgical removal on prognosis. Spinal ependymoma has a relatively high frequency among intramedullary spinal cord tumors. The tumor is classified in WHO guidelines as grades I, II, and III, but few studies have examined postoperative prognosis based on these grades.

Reoperation within 2 years after lumbar interbody fusion: a multicenter study.

Purpose: Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF)/transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) can have complications that require reoperation. The goal of the study was to identify risk factors for reoperation within 2 years after PLIF/TLIF.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospective multicenter database was performed for patients who underwent PLIF/TLIF.

Clinical Characteristics of Nonobese Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Increased Epicardial Fat Volume.

Aim: Increased epicardial fat volume (EFV) is an independent risk factor for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although EFV increases with body mass index (BMI), some ACS patients have an increased EFV but normal BMI. We here investigated the clinical characteristics of nonobese ACS patients with an increased EFV.

MRI Characteristics of Spinal Ependymoma in WHO Grade II: A Review of 59 Cases.

Study Design: Retrospective multicenter study.

Objective: The goal of this study is to determine the characteristic imaging features of spinal ependymoma in a review of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data for a large series of surgically proven cases.

Summary Of Background Data: Common spinal intramedullary neoplasms are mostly ependymomas and comprise 50% to 60% of spinal neuroepithelial tumors in adults.

Contrast-induced Encephalopathy Following Embolization of Intracranial Aneurysms in Hemodialysis Patients.

Contrast-induced encephalopathy is a very rare complication associated with endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Patients with renal dysfunction may be prone to developing contrast medium neurotoxicity as a result of delayed elimination of the contrast medium in renal metabolism. This article focuses on our experience with contrast-induced encephalopathy in patients with end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis.

The Feature of Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes in Elderly Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Prospective Cohort Study on 1025 Patients.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes between nonelderly and elderly patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and to characterize the preoperative symptoms and postoperative residual symptoms in elderly patients.

Summary Of Background Data: Age at the time of surgery influences the surgical outcome.

Geographic variations in clinical presentation and outcomes of decompressive surgery in patients with symptomatic degenerative cervical myelopathy: analysis of a prospective, international multicenter cohort study of 757 patients.

Background Context: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a progressive degenerative spine disease and the most common cause of spinal cord impairment in adults worldwide. Few studies have reported on regional variations in demographics, clinical presentation, disease causation, and surgical effectiveness.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in demographics, causative pathology, management strategies, surgical outcomes, length of hospital stay, and complications across four geographic regions.

The association between intensive care unit-acquired hypernatraemia and mortality in critically ill patients with cerebrovascular diseases: a single-centre cohort study in Japan.

Objectives: Hypernatraemia is one of the major electrolyte disorders associated with mortality among critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). It is unclear whether this applies to patients with cerebrovascular diseases in whom high sodium concentrations may be allowed in order to prevent cerebral oedema. This study aimed to examine the association between ICU-acquired hypernatraemia and the prognosis of patients with cerebrovascular diseases.

Intravenous immunoglobulin for maintenance treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: a multicentre, open-label, 52-week phase III trial.

Objective: Short-term efficacy of induction therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin (Ig) in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is well established. However, data of previous studies on maintenance therapy were limited up to 24-week treatment period. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of longer-term intravenous Ig therapy for 52 weeks.

A retrospective imaging study of surgical outcomes and range of motion in patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Purpose: The K line was introduced in a previous study, but did not include the cervical range of motion (ROM) as a parameter for evaluating surgical outcomes for patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), and few reports have used both the K line and X-ray evaluations of the cervical ROM to describe the surgical outcomes in such patients.

Methods: Double-door C2-C7 or C3-C7 laminoplasty was performed in 100 patients with cervical OPLL who were classified according to the K line [86 patients, K line (+) and 14 patients, K line (-)]. Preoperative and 1-year postoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores were used to evaluate recovery rates.

Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lung mimicking multiple bone abscesses.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung is known to metastasize to the bones, but a presentation similar to bone abscess is rare. We encountered a case with bone metastases that mimicked bone abscess, which delayed the diagnosis of squamous cell lung carcinoma. A 67-year-old man presented with a left upper lung infiltrate and lytic lesions on the left first rib and right fifth rib.

Image Diagnostic Classification of Magnetic Resonance T2 Increased Signal Intensity in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Clinical Evaluation Using Quantitative and Objective Assessment.

Study Design: A prospective imaging study.

Objective: The study investigated whether the classification of increased signal intensity (ISI) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflects the severity of symptoms in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Summary Of Background Data: Although the ISI on MRI in patients with CSM is observed, the degree of ISI has not been examined.

Silodosin versus naftopidil in the treatment of premature ejaculation: A prospective multicenter trial.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of two α1-adrenoceptor antagonists with different affinities for α1-adrenoceptor subtypes, silodosin and naftopidil, in the treatment of premature ejaculation.

Methods: This was a prospective, open-label, multicenter trial. A total of 26 patients with untreated acquired premature ejaculation were enrolled.