Ophthalmic Artery Feeders in Meningioma Reduce the Effectiveness of Transarterial Embolization With n-Butyl Cyanoacrylate.

Background: N-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) is often used for preoperative transarterial embolization (TAE) of meningiomas. However, factors affecting the embolization effect with n-BCA remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the factors associated with the embolization rate after TAE using n-BCA in meningioma, from the aspect of feeder architecture.

The impact of renal function on initial therapy in transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma patients.

The prognosis for multiple myeloma (MM) patients has improved with the advent of new drugs, but the prognosis with renal impairment (RI) is poor. The choice of treatment in such cases is critical, but there are no set criteria. We examined the impact of RI on initial therapy in transplant-ineligible MM patients.

HDR-brachytherapy for accelerated partial breast irradiation: Long-term experience from a Japanese institution.

Purpose: We investigated the long-term oncological outcome of high-dose-rate (HDR) multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy (MIB) for adjuvant accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) after breast conserving surgery in Japanese patients.

Material And Methods: Between June 2002 and October 2011, 86 breast cancer patients were treated at National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital (trial number of the local institutional review board, 0329). Median age was 48 years (range, 26-73 years).

Metastasectomy of a solitary liver tumor from prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.

Introduction: Metastasectomy of oligometastatic prostate cancer has the potential to contribute to improving prognosis. We report on a case of metastasectomy of solitary liver tumor after radical prostatectomy.

Case Presentation: An 80-year-old man underwent radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, followed by radiotherapy after the operation because of increased serum prostate-specific antigen levels of 0.

Muscle Biopsy-proven Drug-induced Microscopic Polyangiitis in a Patient with Tuberculosis.

We herein report a case of muscle biopsy-proven microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) in a patient with tuberculosis. The patient had developed a persistent fever after the initiation of treatment for tuberculosis and was positive for myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). However, because conventional symptoms were lacking, determination of the biopsy site was difficult.

Possible Alterations in Appetite-related Molecules After the Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus.

Background/aim: Recent advances in antiviral treatment have achieved a sustained viral response (SVR) in over 95% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. HCV elimination is suggested to improve several lifestyle-related factors; however, few studies have focused on dietary habit-/appetite-related factors.

Patients And Methods: HCV-infected patients who received Daclatasvir/Asnaprevir (DCV/ASV) therapy were enrolled, and the changes in appetite-related molecules after antiviral therapy were assessed with a multiple cytokine-measuring system.

Reduction of radiation exposure using low pulse rate fluoroscopy during neuroendovascular surgery.

Introduction: Endovascular surgery is minimally invasive, but the radiation exposure can be problematic. There is no report assessing whether radiation exposure can be reduced by using a low pulse rate during carotid artery stenting (CAS). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether reducing the pulse rate from 7.

High contrast between lumbar nerve roots and surrounding structures using dual echo 3D turbo spin echo additional fusion images.

Purpose: We performed lumbar spinal magnetic resonance imaging of three-dimensional (3D) dual echo volumetric isotropic turbo spin echo acquisition (DE-VISTA) and constructed DE-VISTA additional fusion images (DE-VISTA-AFI), which is the addition of DE-VISTA proton density-weighted images (DE-VISTA-PDWI) to DE-VISTA T2-weighted images (DE-VISTA-T2WI). The aim of this study was to clarify whether DE-VISTA-AFI was able to clearly delineate spinal nerve roots.

Methods: A total of 677 patients underwent lumbar MR imaging, and the signal ratio (SR) between cerebrospinal fluid and nerve roots inside the dural sac and the SR between fat and nerve roots outside the dural sac were estimated using DE-VISTA-AFI, DE-VISTA-PDWI, DE-VISTA-T2WI, and 2D-T2WI.

Delineation of extensor tendon of the hand by MRI: usefulness of "soap-bubble" mip processing technique.

To evaluate the capability of the "Soap-Bubble" maximum intensity projection (MIP) processing technique in visualisation of extensor tendons of the hand, 36 intact subjects and seven patients with surgically confirmed extensor tendon rupture were examined. Three-dimensional T1-weighted turbo spin echo (3DT1TFE) MRI was performed using a sensitivity encoding flex coil, followed by Soap-Bubble MIP processing. For patients with extensor tendon ruptures, MRI findings and intraoperative findings were compared.

Usefulness of dual echo volumetric isotropic turbo spin echo acquisition (VISTA) in MR imaging of the temporomandibular joint.

Purpose: We investigated the ability to detect the articular disk and joint effusion of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of a method of dual echo volumetric isotropic turbo spin echo acquisition (DE-VISTA) additional fusion images (AFI).

Methods: DE-VISTA was performed in the 26 TMJ of 13 volunteers and 26 TMJ of 13 patients. Two-dimensional (2D) dual echo turbo spin echo was performed in the 26 TMJ of 13 volunteers.

Visualization of coronary arterial wall based on maximum intensity fusion of whole-heart MR angiograms and water suppression SPIR 3D T(1) TFE images.

Purpose: We estimated the coronary artery wall using maximum intensity fusion (MIF) of whole-heart magnetic resonance (MR) angiography (WHCA) and water suppression-spectral presaturation with inversion recovery (WS-SPIR) 3D T(1)-weighted turbo field echo (3DT(1) TFE).

Methods: We created a phantom using a wall of plastic bottles varied with plastic tapes measuring 0.4 to 3.

A new method of nerve bridging with a collagen mesothelial tube.

The effectiveness of a collagen mesothelial tube for nerve bridging was investigated in an experimental model of repair of rat sciatic nerves. The right sciatic nerve was cut, the two stumps were reflected and a collagen mesothelial tube was placed in the gap. The rod was removed at 4 weeks after implantation.

Hyperacute stroke patients and catheter thrombolysis therapy: correlation between computed tomography perfusion maps and final infarction.

Purpose: We investigated the correlation between abnormal perfusion areas by computed tomography perfusion (CTP) study of hyperacute stroke patients and the final infarction areas after intraarterial catheter thrombolysis.

Materials And Methods: CTP study using the box-modulation transfer function (box-MTF) method based on the deconvolution analysis method was performed in 22 hyperacute stroke patients. Ischemic lesions were immediately treated with catheter thrombolysis after CTP study.

Measuring visceral fat with water-selective suppression methods (SPIR, SPAIR) in patients with metabolic syndrome.

We attempted to measure the area and volume of visceral fat using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to avoid radiation exposure. We used water suppression-spectral attenuation with inversion recovery (WS-SPAIR) as prepulses and conducted T(1) high-resolution isotropic volume examination (THRIVE). Image processing software can be used to estimate the area and volume of fat and separate the fat and water signals at a visually optimal threshold in the MR image, which requires contrast enhancement between intestinal contents and visceral fat.

[Ruptured true posterior communicating artery fusiform aneurysm: case report].

A 32-year-old female complained of a headache persisting for approximately one week. She was emergently brought to the hospital for sudden consciousness disorder early in the morning. Her neurological state was JCS 200 and WFNS Grade V.

[Usefulness of the sagittal section imaging technique in whole-heart coronary MRA(WHCA)].

Whole-heart coronary MRA(WHCA)was performed in transaxial and sagittal sections in random order in 10 healthy volunteers to obtain coronal section multiplanar reconstruction(MPR)at an interval of 0.5 mm and thickness of 1 mm for evaluation. Visual evaluation showed sagittal section imaging to be superior to transaxial section imaging in 12 out of a total of 20 regions in the left and right proximal coronary arteries.

MR measurement of visceral fat: assessment of metabolic syndrome.

One diagnostic criterion for metabolic syndrome is obesity from the accumulation of visceral fat; others include abdominal circumference and area of visceral fat as measured by computed tomography (CT) at the umbilical level. We evaluated visceral fat using frequency-selective excitation magnetic resonance (MR) imaging SPAIR (spectral attenuation with inversion recovery) water suppression THRIVE (3D T1-high resolution isotropic volume examination). Fifty of 70 slices with 2-mm interval were used to render and measure volume of visceral fat ranging within 10 cm of the umbilicus; the area of visceral fat at the umbilical level was also measured.

Co-existence of unruptured cerebral aneurysms in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: Primary hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH) is caused by a rupture of a small endartery, and diagnosis is made either by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Vascular abnormalities are not always evaluated in detail. In this study, we aimed to clarify the incidence of co-existing vascular abnormalities, especially unruptured cerebral aneurysms by reviewing selective intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images in PICH patients.

Quadricuspid aortic valve: report of three cases.

Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a very rare congenital malformation. We have encountered three patients with QAV, of whom one patient may be the eldest reported patient with this particular anatomical abnormality. In another of our patients, there was aortic regurgitation, aortic stenosis, and healed infective endocarditis, with adhesion of the tips of the cusps.

Investigation of the surgically treated and untreated unruptured cerebral aneurysms of the anterior circulation.

Background: The natural history of unruptured cerebral aneurysms and the surgical risks are modified by several factors including size, location, and presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The main confusion arises because the backgrounds of the past reports describing the natural history or the surgical complication of unruptured cerebral aneurysms were different. The present study aimed to adjust the backgrounds and investigate the surgical indication with close monitoring of both surgically treated and untreated unruptured cerebral aneurysms.

Obliteration of bilateral dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral arteries following repeated subarachnoid hemorrhage: a case report.

A 51-year-old man presented with loss of consciousness when he underwent urological examination at another hospital. CT scans showed subarachnoid hemorrhage, and cerebral angiography showed bilateral dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral arteries. Following ventricular drainage, the lesion was managed conservatively with blood pressure control but again ruptured on day 8.

[Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis of the right thumb].

Black fungi are a group of fungi that are characterized by the development of a pale brown to black color in the cell walls of their vegetative cells, conidia, or both. A mycotic infection caused by a member of black fungi can be subdivided into three clinical entities: phaeohyphomycosis, chromoblastomycosis, and mycetoma. Phaeohyphomycosis is distinguished from mycetoma by the absence of grain (organized, interwoven mycelial aggregates) formation, and from chromoblastomycosis by the absence of sclerotic bodies (thick-walled muriform cells).

[Spinal anesthesia for a patient with long-term SMON].

SMON (subacute myelo-optico-neuropathy) may result from clioquinol neurotoxicity. An 81-year-old woman underwent internal fixation for left intertrochanteric fracture. She had been diagnosed as having SMON twenty years previously.