A Case of Postherpetic Itch Effectively Treated With Pulsed Radiofrequency Therapy.

We report a case of a 65-year-old female with postherpetic itch (PHI) over the left chest, who experienced significant relief after pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) therapy. While her initial pain and rash had improved with nerve blocks and medications, she had developed severe itching. PRF therapy significantly reduced the itching, which nearly disappeared.

Intraprocedural and Delayed Plaque Protrusion in Carotid Artery Stenting Using a Dual-Layer Metallic Stent.

Background: Intravascular ultrasound-determined plaque protrusion (PP) during carotid artery stenting (CAS) using conventional stents is reported in 7.6% to 12% of cases and is associated with periprocedural cerebral embolism. The Casper/Roadsaver stent (CRS) is a dual-layer micromesh stent designed to reduce the risk of PP, with a mesh cell diameter 4-fold smaller size than that of conventional stents.

[Development of Image Database for Kiken-yochi Training (KYT) in Radiology Practice].

Kiken-yochi Training (KYT) has been introduced in many hospitals as medical safety education in many departments, with the exception of radiology. KYT is also not used in the contents of medical safety lectures in the education of students for radiological technologists. One of the reasons for this is that the images for KYT (KYT images) cannot be created at each hospital or easily obtained on the website.

Bladder preservation with concurrent chemoradiotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Retrospective comparison of three regimens.

Objectives: The objectives of the study are to evaluate the oncological and functional outcomes of three bladder preservation regimens: radiotherapy alone (RT-alone group), concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) using gemcitabine plus platinum (GP-RT group), and low-dose gemcitabine (LD-Gem-RT group) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Methods: The three oncological outcomes, bladder-intact distant metastasis-free survival (BI-DMFS), cancer-specific survival, and overall survival (OS), were compared among RT alone ( = 10), GP-RT ( = 16), and LD-Gem-RT ( = 11) groups. Treatment-related adverse events were evaluated against the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 5.

FLASH Effect Is Not Always Induced by Ultra-high Dose-rate Proton Irradiation Under Hypoxic Conditions.

Background/aim: Pre-clinical studies have shown that irradiation with electrons at an ultra-high dose-rate (FLASH) spares normal tissue while maintaining tumor control. However, most in vitro experiments with protons have been conducted using a non-clinical irradiation system in normoxia alone. This study evaluated the biological response of non-tumor and tumor cells at different oxygen concentrations irradiated with ultra-high dose-rate protons using a clinical system and compared it with the conventional dose rate (CONV).

Preliminary study of luminescence phenomena from various materials under ultra-high dose rate proton beam irradiation for dose management.

This research aimed to identify materials capable of emitting visible light useful for dose management at ultra-high dose rate (uHDR). Various materials were irradiated with proton beams at a normal dose rate (NDR) and uHDR, and the resulting surface luminescence was captured using a high-sensitivity camera. The luminescence images were compared with the corresponding dose distributions.

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage after Mechanical Thrombectomy - the Difference between Iso-Osmolar and Low-Osmolar Contrast Media.

Objective: Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is generally considered a critical complication. Hemorrhagic transformation after ischemic stroke has also been associated with contrast media administration. The objective of our study was to evaluate correlations between contrast media type and incidence of SICH after MT.

Intraprocedural Plaque Protrusion during Carotid Artery Stenting with a CASPER Stent: A Case Report.

Objective: Plaque protrusion (PP) during carotid artery stenting (CAS) is considered to be associated with periprocedural ischemic stroke. A new double-layer micromesh stent, the CASPER stent (CS), was approved for use in Japan in 2020. The expectation is that this micromesh stent system will reduce the risk of PP, but we report a case of PP during CAS despite the use of a CS.

Current Status of Carotid Artery Stenting.

In 2008, carotid artery stenting was formally approved in Japan. Since then, more than fourteen years have already passed. Much evidence concerning carotid artery stenting has already been published, and several new devices are available.

First-line pembrolizumab for patients with early relapsing urothelial carcinoma after perioperative chemotherapy: a retrospective analysis of bladder cancer and upper urinary tract cancer.

Background: First-line pembrolizumab is available for recurrent disease within 12 months after the receipt of platinum-based perioperative chemotherapy. However, the benefit of first-line pembrolizumab is unclear. This study evaluated the oncological outcome of patients treated with pembrolizumab compared with chemotherapy as first-line therapy for early relapsing disease after the receipt of platinum-based perioperative chemotherapy.

Carotid Artery Stenting for Near Occlusion with Full Collapse.

Objective: Carotid near occlusions show a lower risk of stroke than other types of severe stenosis. However, emerging evidence suggests that near occlusion with full collapse differs from that without full collapse. The results of treatment with carotid artery stenting for near occlusion with full collapse are presented.

Treatment of Coral Reef Aorta by Endovascular VIABAHN VBX Balloon-Expandable Stent-Graft Placement.

Coral reef aorta (CRA) has been described as a rare disease characterized by the presence of dense calcifications of the aorta. In this study, we report on two patients with CRA caused by intermittent claudication (IC) who underwent endovascular VIABAHN VBX balloon-expandable stent-graft (VVBX) placement. Both patients underwent successful endovascular VVBX placement via transfemoral artery approach, and hemostasis was achieved via vascular closure device.

Preventive effect of edaravone ointment on cyclophosphamide-chemotherapy induced alopecia.

Purpose: We evaluated the preventive effect of the antioxidant edaravone (EDR) on chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) to improve quality of life in cancer patients.

Methods: Hair loss was induced by intraperitoneally administering cyclophosphamide (CPA, 75 mg/kg) to rats, and topically applying EDR ointment (100 mg/day) once daily for 16 days (when hair loss starts) or 21 days (just before hair growth). The rats were divided into four groups: control group (without CPA or EDR), EDR 0% group (CPA + EDR 0%), EDR 3% group (CPA + EDR 3%), and EDR 30% group (CPA + EDR 30%).

Gamma Knife Surgery for Residual or Recurrent Craniopharyngioma After Surgical Resection: A Multi-institutional Retrospective Study in Japan.

Objective The optimal treatment for a craniopharyngioma has been controversial. Complete resection is ideal, but it has been difficult to obtain total resection in many cases because of intimate proximity to critical structures such as the optic pathway, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland. A growing number of studies have demonstrated the utility of radiosurgery in controlling residual or recurrent craniopharyngioma.

Salvage gamma knife radiosurgery for active brain metastases from small-cell lung cancer after whole-brain radiation therapy: a retrospective multi-institutional study (JLGK1701).

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) for brain metastases (BMs) from small-cell lung cancer after whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the usefulness and safety of GKS in 163 patients from 15 institutions with 1-10 active BMs after WBRT. The usefulness and safety of GKS were evaluated using statistical methods.

The impact of the definition of biochemical recurrence following salvage radiotherapy on outcomes and prognostication in patients with recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy: a comparative study of three definitions.

Purpose: The clinical management and follow-up of patients with recurrent prostate cancer after salvage radiotherapy (SRT) has not yet been established, and no standardized definition of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after SRT exists. We compared the impact of applying three different definitions of BCR following SRT on patient outcomes and prognostication.

Subjects: Patients who received salvage androgen-deprivation therapy before the completion of SRT were excluded.

A Prospective Comparison of CT-Epidurogram Between Th1-Transforaminal Epidural Injection and Th1/2-Parasagittal Interlaminar Epidural Injection for Cervical Upper Limb Pain.

Background: Cervical epidural injections for treating neck and upper limb pain are performed by 2 methods: transforaminal and interlaminar. Many serious complications caused by inadvertent intravascular injection have been reported with the use of cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection through the anterior-lateral approach. Despite international practical guidelines that have been proposed, cervical transforaminal epidural injection is still less recommended than cervical interlaminar epidural injection.

Changes in lower urinary tract symptoms after iodine-125 brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose: To investigate chronological changes in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients who received iodine-125 brachytherapy (BT) for prostate cancer.

Methods: We enrolled 706 patients who received BT. Of these, 265 (38%) received BT combined with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

Comparison of treatment results between 3- and 2-stage Gamma Knife radiosurgery for large brain metastases: a retrospective multi-institutional study.

Objective: In order to obtain better local tumor control for large (i.e., > 3 cm in diameter or > 10 cm3 in volume) brain metastases (BMs), 3-stage and 2-stage Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) procedures, rather than a palliative dose of stereotactic radiosurgery, have been proposed.

[A Case of Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Jejunum in the Ultra-Elderly].

We treated a 91-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma that originated from his jejunum, which is very rare; only 8 cases have been reported previously.Surgery was performed because of the small bowel obstruction caused by the large cancerous mass, but he died 23 days later.Early detection and early treatment are important, especially for the ultra-elderly from a standpoint of tolerating surgery.

[A Case of Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma using Abdominal Ultrasonography after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer].

We treated an 82-year-old man with early gastric cancer using endoscopic submucosal resection.Ultrasonography, which was performed to screen for metastasis, revealed hepatocellular carcinoma, and the tumor was curatively resected.Ultrasonography can be considered a useful examination tool to detect double cancer, even in cases of early cancer.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery for brain metastases from pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: a Japanese multi-institutional cooperative study (JLGK1401).

OBJECTIVE In 1999, the World Health Organization categorized large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung as a variant of large cell carcinoma, and LCNEC now accounts for 3% of all lung cancers. Although LCNEC is categorized among the non-small cell lung cancers, its biological behavior has recently been suggested to be very similar to that of a small cell pulmonary malignancy. The clinical outcome for patients with LCNEC is generally poor, and the optimal treatment for this malignancy has not yet been established.

Gamma Knife surgery for patients with jugular foramen schwannomas: a multiinstitutional retrospective study in Japan.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with jugular foramen schwannomas (JFSs). METHODS This study was a multiinstitutional retrospective analysis of 117 patients with JFSs who were treated with Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) at 18 medical centers of the Japan Leksell Gamma Knife Society. The median age of the patients was 53 years.