Radiological assessment of the skeletal remains from Hiraizumi, Japan: review of results from the 1950 investigation.

Scientific investigations on the skeletal remains of four generations of the Fujiwara clan enshrined at the Chusonji World Heritage Site were carried out in March 1950. Although an official report on this investigation was published at the time, it did not merit much public attention. Thus, the purpose of this review is to describe the radiological aspects of the investigation, which may be of interest in the context of eleventh and twelfth century Japanese history.

Comparative efficacy and safety of bone-modifying agents for the treatment of bone metastases in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the comparative efficacy and safety of all available bone-modifying agents (BMAs) for the treatment of bone metastases in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Results: Three studies (259 patients) were identified for the systematic review. Two studies that compared zoledronic acid with placebo or no zoledronic acid showed that zoledronic acid reduced the risk of skeletal-related events (SREs) by 68% (pooled hazard ratio [HR]: 0.

Initial radiological findings utilizing titanium basket for cervical open door laminoplasty.

Background: Cervical laminoplasty, utilizing different spacers to ''keep the door open,'' is the gold standard in Japan for treating ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Here, we utilized a novel titanium ''basket'' spacer (Laminoplasty Basket: L-Basket; Ammtec, Tokyo) to perform open door cervical laminoplasty to keep the "door open" while also allowing for bony fusion across the open door.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients with/without OPLL were treated with open door laminoplasty utilizing the basket spacer.

Neuroendocrine tumor of the extrahepatic bile duct: A case report.

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the extrahepatic bile ducts are extremely rare neoplasms arising from endocrine cells and have variable malignant potential. They most commonly occur in young females and usually present with painless jaundice.

Presentation Of Case: Here we present the case of an asymptomatic 57-year-old woman with NET of the common bile duct that was incidentally discovered on abdominal ultrasound during a medical examination.

Changes in brain amyloid-β accumulation after donepezil administration.

Recent studies using the mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have shown that donepezil administration reduces brain amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation. This study investigated whether donepezil administration can reduce brain Aβ accumulation in human patients with AD. Ten patients with AD underwent two C-Pittsburgh Compound B positron emission tomography sessions approximately one year apart to measure brain Aβ accumulation before and after donepezil treatment.

Comparison of Rates of Growth between Unruptured and Ruptured Aneurysms Using Magnetic Resonance Angiography.

Background And Purpose: Growth is a key risk factor for rupture of unruptured cerebral aneurysms. There are few reports of investigations into the actual growth of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the risk of rupture of aneurysms based on the growth of unruptured and ruptured aneurysms.

Effects of a novel tungsten-impregnated rubber neck shield on the quality of cerebral images acquired using O-labeled gas.

The present study aimed to validate the effects of a novel tungsten-impregnated rubber neck shield on the quality of phantom and clinical O-labeled gas positron emission tomography (PET) images. Images were acquired in the presence or absence of a neck shield from a cylindrical phantom containing [O]HO (phantom study) and from three individuals using [O]CO, [O]O and [O]CO gas (clinical study). Data were acquired in three-dimensional (3D) mode using a Discovery PET/CT 710.

Long-term Trends in Primary Sites of Gastric Adenocarcinoma in Japan and the United States.

The incidence and characteristics of gastric cancer have been shown to vary widely across Western and Eastern countries. Our study had two aims: to evaluate long-term trends in gastric adenocarcinoma in Japan over a period of 70 years, and to anticipate the future of gastric cancer in Japan, through comparison with data from the United States. Japanese patient data for 19,306 incident cases of gastric adenocarcinoma from 1946 - 2014 were collected from the Gastric Cancer Database at the Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo, Japan (CIH-GCDB).

Increased Binding Potential of Brain Adenosine A Receptor in Chronic Stages of Patients with Diffuse Axonal Injury Measured with [1-methyl-C] 8-dicyclopropylmethyl-1-methyl-3-propylxanthine Positron Emission Tomography Imaging.

The positron emission tomography (PET) radioligand for adenosine A receptor (A1R) [1-methyl-C] 8-dicyclopropylmethyl-1-methyl-3-propylxanthine (MPDX) has recently been developed for human brain imaging. In the present study, we evaluated the alteration of the A1R in patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI) in chronic stage in vivo. Ten patients with DAI (7 men and 3 women) were included in this study.

Effects of glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance on cerebral 18F-FDG distribution in cognitively normal older subjects.

Background: Increasing plasma glucose levels and insulin resistance can alter the distribution pattern of fluorine-18-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) in the brain and relatively reduce 18F-FDG uptake in Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related hypometabolic regions, leading to the appearance of an AD-like pattern. However, its relationship with plasma insulin levels is unclear. We aimed to compare the effects of plasma glucose levels, plasma insulin levels and insulin resistance on the appearance of the AD-like pattern in 18F-FDG images.

[A Case of Perianal Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Left Inguinal Lymph Node Metastasis That Showed a Complete Response More Than Five Years after Chemotherapy and Concomitant Proton Beam Therapy].

We report a case of perianal squamous cell carcinoma and left inguinal lymph node metastasis that showed a complete response more than 5 years after chemotherapy and concomitant proton beam therapy. A 34-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for an anal tumor and a left inguinal tumor. A digital rectal examination revealed a tumor in the anterior wall of the anal canal.

Differential diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) mostly manifesting as optic neuritis and/or myelitis, which are frequently recurrent/bilateral or longitudinally extensive, respectively. As the autoantibody to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-Ab) can mediate the pathogenesis of NMOSD, testing for the AQP4-Ab in serum of patients can play a crucial role in diagnosing NMOSD. Nevertheless, the differential diagnosis of NMOSD in clinical practice is often challenging despite the phenotypical and serological characteristics of the disease because: (1) diverse diseases with autoimmune, vascular, infectious, or neoplastic etiologies can mimic these phenotypes of NMOSD; (2) patients with NMOSD may only have limited clinical manifestations, especially in their early disease stages; (3) test results for AQP4-Ab can be affected by several factors such as assay methods, serologic status, disease stages, or types of treatment; (4) some patients with NMOSD do not have AQP4-Ab; and (5) test results for the AQP4-Ab may not be readily available for the acute management of patients.

Value-added strategy models to provide quality services in senior health business.

Objective: The rapid population aging is now a global issue. The increase in the elderly population will impact the health care industry and health enterprises; various senior needs will promote the growth of the senior health industry. Most senior health studies are focused on the demand side and scarcely on supply.

Differentiation between Treatment-Induced Necrosis and Recurrent Tumors in Patients with Metastatic Brain Tumors: Comparison among C-Methionine-PET, FDG-PET, MR Permeability Imaging, and MRI-ADC-Preliminary Results.

Background And Purpose: In patients with metastatic brain tumors after gamma knife radiosurgery, the superiority of PET using C-methionine for differentiating radiation necrosis and recurrent tumors has been accepted. To evaluate the feasibility of MR permeability imaging, it was compared with PET using C-methionine, FDG-PET, and DWI for differentiating radiation necrosis from recurrent tumors.

Materials And Methods: The study analyzed 18 lesions from 15 patients with metastatic brain tumors who underwent gamma knife radiosurgery.

Randomized controlled Phase III study comparing hepatic arterial infusion with systemic chemotherapy after curative resection for liver metastasis of colorectal carcinoma: JFMC 29-0003.

Background: The feasibility and efficacy of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) in preventing the development of liver metastases in patients with advanced colon carcinoma have not been validated. The aim of this randomized controlled study was to compare the feasibility of HAI and the protective effect against liver metastasis after curative resection to those of systemic chemotherapy.

Methods: Between July 2000 and June 2003, 91 patients were enrolled.

Disruption of the leptomeningeal blood barrier in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Objective: To describe leptomeningeal blood-barrier impairment reflected by MRI gadolinium-enhanced lesions in patients with aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG)-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Methods: A retrospective case series of 11 AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD patients with leptomeningeal enhancement (LME) were collected from 5 centers. External neuroradiologists, blinded to the clinical details, evaluated MRIs.

Age and gender effects of C-ITMM binding to metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1 in healthy human participants.

We examined possible age- and gender-related changes in binding of the selective antagonist N-[4-[6-(isopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-4-C-methoxy-N-methylbenzamide (C-ITMM) to metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1 in healthy human brains. Dynamic C-ITMM positron emission tomography scans (90 min) with serial arterial blood sampling were performed in 15 young and 24 older healthy adult volunteers. The total distribution volume (V) of several brain regions was estimated with 2-tissue compartment model analysis.

Adenosine A receptors measured with C-MPDX PET in early Parkinson's disease.

Adenosine A receptors (A Rs) interact negatively with dopamine D receptors (D Rs) in neurons of the basal ganglia's direct pathway, while adenosine A receptors (A Rs) negatively interact with dopamine D receptors (D Rs) in indirect-pathway neurons. The aim of this study was to investigate the cerebral density of A Rs in Parkinson's disease (PD) in its early stages, using PET scans with the radioligand 8-dicyclopropylmethyl-1- C-methyl-3-propylxanthine ( C-MPDX). We studied 10 drug-naïve patients with early PD.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is clinically characterized by severe optic neuritis and transverse myelitis, but recent studies with anti-aquaporin-4-antibody specific to NMO have revealed that the clinical spectrum is wider than previously thought. International consensus diagnostic criteria propose NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD) as the term to define the entire spectrum including typical NMO, optic neuritis, acute myelitis, brain syndrome, and their combinations. NMOSD is now divided into anti-aquaporin-4-antibody-seropositive NMOSD and -seronegative NMOSD (or unknown serostatus).

Assessment of safety, efficacy, and dosimetry of a novel 18-kDa translocator protein ligand, [C]CB184, in healthy human volunteers.

Background: N,N-di-n-propyl-2-[2-(4-[C]methoxyphenyl)-6,8-dichloroimidazol[1,2-a]pyridine-3-yl]acetamide ([C]CB184) is a novel selective radioligand for the 18-kD translocator protein (TSPO), which is upregulated in activated microglia in the brain, and may be useful in positron emission tomography (PET). We examined the safety, radiation dosimetry, and initial brain imaging with [C]CB184 in healthy human volunteers.

Results: Dynamic [C]CB184 PET scans (90 min) were performed in five healthy male subjects.

Comparison of imaging using C-ITMM and F-FDG for the detection of cerebellar ataxia.

Unlabelled: Objective Newly developed methods for imaging type 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR1) have the potential use for estimating cerebellar function. We aimed to compare mGluR1 imaging using N-[4-[6-(isopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-4-C-methoxy-N-methylbenzamide (C-ITMM) with the existing marker, fluorine-18-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) imaging, in the cerebellum.

Methods: Fourteen subjects consisting of 12 patients with cerebellar ataxia and two healthy subjects underwent C-ITMM and F-FDG positron emission tomography.

Initial Evaluation of an Adenosine A Receptor Ligand, C-Preladenant, in Healthy Human Subjects.

C-preladenant is a selective antagonist for mapping of cerebral adenosine A receptors (ARs) by PET. This is a first-in-human study to examine the safety, radiation dosimetry, and brain imaging of C-preladenant in healthy human subjects. Dynamic C-preladenant PET scans (90 min) were obtained in 5 healthy male subjects.

Potential Therapeutic Applications of Adenosine A Receptor Ligands and Opportunities for A Receptor Imaging.

Adenosine A receptors (A Rs) are highly expressed in the human striatum, and at lower densities in the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus, and cells of the immune system. Antagonists of these receptors are potentially useful for the treatment of motor fluctuations, epilepsy, postischemic brain damage, or cognitive impairment, and for the control of an immune checkpoint during immunotherapy of cancer. A R agonists may suppress transplant rejection and graft-versus-host disease; be used to treat inflammatory disorders such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis; be locally applied to promote wound healing and be employed in a strategy for transient opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) so that therapeutic drugs and monoclonal antibodies can enter the brain.

MOG antibody-positive, benign, unilateral, cerebral cortical encephalitis with epilepsy.

Objective: To describe the features of adult patients with benign, unilateral cerebral cortical encephalitis positive for the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody.

Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, after we encountered an index case of MOG antibody-positive unilateral cortical encephalitis with epileptic seizure, we tested for MOG antibody using our in-house, cell-based assay in a cohort of 24 consecutive adult patients with steroid-responsive encephalitis of unknown etiology seen at Tohoku University Hospital (2008-2014). We then analyzed the findings in MOG antibody-positive cases.

Selection of peripheral intravenous catheters with 24-gauge side-holes versus those with 22-gauge end-hole for MDCT: A prospective randomized study.

Purpose: To compare the 24-gauge side-holes catheter and conventional 22-gauge end-hole catheter in terms of safety, injection pressure, and contrast enhancement on multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT).

Materials & Methods: In a randomized single-center study, 180 patients were randomized to either the 24-gauge side-holes catheter or the 22-gauge end-hole catheter groups. The primary endpoint was safety during intravenous administration of contrast material for MDCT, using a non-inferiority analysis (lower limit 95% CI greater than -10% non-inferiority margin for the group difference).