Simeprevir with peginterferon/ribavirin for patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1: high frequency of viral relapse in elderly patients.

Purpose: The tolerability and efficacy of simeprevir in combination with peginterferon and ribavirin in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 under actual clinical conditions were investigated.

Methods: A total of 176 patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection were treated with simeprevir for 12 weeks plus Peg-IFN/RBV for 24 weeks. Overall, 107 (60.

Nocturia and prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: The Dogo Study.

Aims/introduction: Several epidemiological studies have reported a positive association between nocturia and erectile dysfunction (ED). Yet only limited evidence exists regarding the association between nocturia and ED among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, although nocturia and ED are common among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Material And Methods: Study participants were 332 male Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged 19-70 years, who had undergone blood tests at our institutions.

Microvascular Complications and Prevalence of Nocturia in Japanese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Dogo Study.

Objective: To evaluate the association between microvascular complications and nocturia among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Study subjects were 731 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the variables under study.

Serum lipoprotein(a) levels and diabetic nephropathy among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the association between serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels and diabetic nephropathy among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This study included 581 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Serum Lp(a) levels were divided into four groups; the cut-off points were at the 30th, 60th, and 90th percentile values on the basis of the distribution for all subjects.

Microvascular complications and prevalence of urgency incontinence in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: The dogo study.

Aims: Diabetes was significantly positively associated with urgency incontinence in several epidemiological studies. We examine the association between diabetic neuropathy, which we defined based on neuropathic symptoms, the absence of the Achilles reflex, and/or abnormal vibration perception, and urgency incontinence among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Study subjects were 742 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged 19-70 years, who had undergone blood tests at our institutions.

Development of a real-time monitoring system for intra-fractional motion in intracranial treatment using pressure sensors.

This study developed a dedicated real-time monitoring system to detect intra-fractional head motion in intracranial radiotherapy using pressure sensors. The dedicated real-time monitoring system consists of pressure sensors with a thickness of 0.6 mm and a radius of 9.

Submucosal tumor-like lesion originating from colon tuberculosis: a case report and review of the literature.

A 76-year-old male had a solitary submucosal tumor-like lesion in the sigmoid colon originating from tuberculosis. The lesion, up to 1 cm in diameter, was found incidentally during a routine colonoscopy, which revealed a protuberant submucosal growth with a shallow depression of the overlying mucosa in the center of the tumor. Histologically, the endoscopic biopsy revealed caseating granulomas and infiltration of Langhans giant cells and epithelioid cells, consistent with tuberculosis, were also observed.

Utility of Contrast-Enhanced Transabdominal Ultrasonography to Diagnose Early Chronic Pancreatitis.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between the grade of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic blood flow as measured by contrast-enhanced transabdominal ultrasonography (CEUS) and to diagnose early CP easily. Methods.

Visual assessment of Ki67 using a 5-grade scale (Eye-5) is easy and practical to classify breast cancer subtypes with high reproducibility.

Aims: Personalised breast cancer therapy requires pathological characterisation of tumours. The proliferative index, based on Ki67, is pivotal, but a standard method has not been established. Here we look for an easy and practical way to evaluate Ki67.

Observation of intrafraction prostate displacement through the course of conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose: Intrafraction prostate displacement (IFPD) through the course of conventionally fractionated radiotherapy was observed by real-time tracking.

Materials And Methods: IFPD was observed by using a CyberKnife real-time tracking system over 39 serial fractions in two patients. Stereoscopic X-ray images tracking the implanted fiducial markers were obtained with mean intervals of 58 s.

Remote ischemic preconditioning reduces contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Contrast medium-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a cardiovascular complication after myocardial infarction treated with emergency percutaneous coronary intervention. The aim of this randomized, sham-controlled trial was to evaluate the impact of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on CI-AKI in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who received emergency primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods And Results: Patients with a suspected ST-elevation myocardial infarction were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to receive percutaneous coronary intervention either with (n=63) or without (n=62) RIPC (intermittent arm ischemia through three cycles of 5min of inflation and 5min of deflation of a blood pressure cuff).

Clinical features of adult patients with acute hepatitis B virus infection progressing to chronic infection.

Background. Information regarding the progression of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection to chronic infection in adults is scarce. Methods.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation induced by infliximab administration in a patient with Crohn's disease.

A 47-year-old man diagnosed with Crohn's disease was treated with infliximab. He tested negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) but positive for anti-HB core antibody (anti-HBc). He tested positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV-) DNA 3 months after treatment and was administered entecavir.

Development of a phantom to evaluate the positioning accuracy of patient immobilization systems using thermoplastic mask and polyurethane cradle.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a new phantom to evaluate the positioning accuracy of patient immobilization systems.

Methods: The phantom was made of papers formed into a human shape, paper clay, and filling rigid polyester. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) pipes were inserted at anterior-posterior (A-P) and right-left (R-L) directions in the phantom to give static load by pulling ropes through the pipes.

Characteristics of small bowel tumors detected by double balloon endoscopy.

Background: A few reports suggest that the emergence of double balloon endoscopy (DBE) has likely changed the clinical picture of small bowel tumors (SBTs).

Aim: To further clarify the characteristics of SBTs detected by DBE.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in 227 patients who had undergone DBE.

Cerebral thromboembolism in a patient awaiting surgery for left ventricular diverticulum.

Fibrous-type left ventricular (LV) diverticulum is usually discovered incidentally. Most fibrous diverticula are clinically silent; they may, however, cause several fatal complications, such as spontaneous rupture. Here, we report a case in which multiple cerebral thromboembolisms occurred while a patient with a fibrous LV diverticulum was awaiting surgery.

Bilateral iliopsoas hematomas under sedation: a complication of postoperative therapy after coronary artery bypass grafting.

We report a case of bilateral iliopsoas hematomas that occurred during postoperative therapy after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). An 81-year-old woman receiving anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapies under sedation after CABG developed sudden anemia and went into shock. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a right retroperitoneal hematoma.

[Assessment of lower limb artery disease by ultrasound imaging].

Lower limb artery ultrasound is portable and can be used in first aid outpatient clinics and at the bedside. In addition, I can assess blood vessel properties and evaluate bloodstream change non-invasively in real time, an inspection that is indispensable for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral artery disease.

A primary aorto-duodenal fistula associated with an inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm: a case report.

Primary aorto-enteric fistula (PAEF)is a serious complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA). We report a patient with PAEF associated with inflammatory AAA who underwent emergent surgery. A 52-year-old male presented with recurrent hematemesis.

Spontaneous dissection and rupture of common iliac artery in a patient with fibromuscular dysplasia: a case report and review of the literature on iliac artery dissections secondary to fibromuscular dysplasia.

Spontaneous dissection and rupture of the iliac artery is an unusual finding in patients with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). We report the case of a patient with FMD who required emergent surgery because of rupture of an iliac artery dissection, and review 9 previously reported cases of iliac artery dissection associated with FMD. A 30-year-old man had abdominal pain, and went into shock.

Surgical treatment for an atherosclerotic aneurysm of the superficial femoral artery: report of a case.

We report the case of an isolated atherosclerotic aneurysm of the superficial femoral artery (SFA). The patient was a 76-year-old man who presented with intermittent claudication and muscle weakness in his right leg. Angiography showed an aneurysm in the lower portion of the right SFA, but no abdominal aortic aneurysm or any other peripheral aneurysms were detected.

[A case of bow hunter's stroke caused by bilateral vertebral artery occlusive change on head rotation to the right].

We report a case of bow hunter's stroke caused by simultaneous bilateral vertebral artery occlusive changes at the right C3-4 and the left C1-2 level on head rotation to the right side. The pathogenesis and surgical treatment for this particular case are discussed. A 61-year-old male with cervical spondylosis repeatedly experienced vertebrobasilar insufficiency when he rotated his head over 60 degree from the mid-position to the right side.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the pancreas.

An extremely rare case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the pancreas is reported. A 70-year-old man complained of upper abdominal discomfort. A tumor in the head of the pancreas was demonstrated by ultrasonography and computed tomography.