Pigment epithelium-derived factor is associated with necrotic core progression during statin therapy.

Objective: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and an important target molecule for preventing the progression of atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between PEDF and coronary atherosclerosis has not been fully examined. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of statins on serum PEDF levels and the association between PEDF and coronary atherosclerosis.

Correlations between serum uric acid and coronary atherosclerosis before and during statin therapy.

Objective: The role of serum uric acid (UA) in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis is ambiguous and remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between serum UA and coronary atherosclerosis.

Patients And Methods: Coronary atherosclerosis in the nonculprit lesions was evaluated using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound in 119 patients with angina pectoris at the time of percutaneous coronary intervention and 8 months after statin therapy.

[Use of the gum elastic bougie].

Gum Elastic Bougie (GEB) was originally introduced into clinical practice in 1949 by Sir Robert Macintosh. British anesthesiologists choose this tracheal tube introducer than the malleable stylet to facilitate difficult intubation. However, the bougie may not always be used in an optimal manner in Japan.

Circulating carbon monoxide level is elevated after sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity. This study aimed to determine circulating carbon monoxide (CO) levels, which have been suggested to be a marker of cardiovascular risk in patients with OSA.

Methods: Venous blood samples were obtained from 35 patients with OSA and 17 age-matched, healthy control subjects before and after polysomnography.

[Results of chemotherapy using new anti-cancer drugs since S-1 for advanced or recurrent gastric cancer in our institute].

In many medical institutes the treatment for advanced (not resectable or radical grade C) or recurrent gastric cancer seems to be based on a regional perspective or prognostic restriction, and rarely on large-scale clinical studies; instead the selection is based on effective cases reported in the literature or on own.s own. In the current situation, chemotherapy using new anti-cancer drugs since S-1 has actually appeared to improve the prognosis or to maintain better QOL.

Terminology and global standardization of endoscopic information: Minimal Standard Terminology (MST).

Since 1994, following the leading efforts by the European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Organisation Mondiale d'Endoscopie Digestive (OMED) has succeeded in compiling minimal number of terms required for computer generation of digestive endoscopy reports nicknamed MST (Minimal Standard Terminology). Though with some insufficiencies, and though developed only for digestive endoscopy, MST has been the only available terminology that is globally standardized in medicine. By utilizing the merits of a unified, structured terminology that can be used in multiple languages we can utilize the data stored in different languages as a common database.

[A case of systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with jaundice and lupus pneumonia].

A 27-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital for acute hepatitis in April 2002. She had been suffering from low grade fever and fatigue for a week. She also presented with dyspnea.

[Clinical profiles of new angiotensin II receptor blockers: telmisartan, olmesartan medoxomil, and irbesartan].

Clinical use of type 1 angiotensin II receptor blockers(ABRs) is rapidly increasing because of their high safety as well as excellent efficacy. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that telmisartan at a daily dose of 20-80 mg, olmesartan medoxomil at 10-40 mg, and irbesartan at 150-300 mg are effective and safe for the treatment of essential hypertension, severe hypertension and hypertension associated with renal diseases. These ARBs are similar to ACE inhibitors in terms of antihypertensive efficacy, but lack the adverse effect of cough.

[A case of monoplegia from conversion disorder after spinal anesthesia].

Neurological complications related to spinal anesthesia are exceptional, but their consequences are serious. We report a case of conversion disorder, which was initially diagnosed as monoplegia caused by spinal anesthesia. The patient was a 36-year-old, 88 kg woman with a history of psychogenic aphonia.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver associated with thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver is a rare vascular neoplasm with intermediate malignant potential. The prognosis is highly unpredictable. We report the case of a 59-year-old woman who had the tumor radically resected, but multiple metastases of the liver developed associated with thrombocytopenia and consumption coagulopathy, as observed in Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.

Oncocytic hepatocellular carcinoma with numerous globular hyaline bodies.

Two well circumscribed tumors, oncocytic and non-oncocytic, were removed from the non-cirrhotic liver of a 67 year old male. The large oncocytic tumor (OCT), occupying the entire left lobe, was multilobulated with focal coagulation necrosis and areas of hemorrhage. Light microscopy revealed that it consisted of exclusively large, granular oxyphilic cells with moderate nuclear atypia and occasional mitotic figures, which were trabecular and/or pseudoglandular in structure, but no lamellar fibrosis was seen.

Novel after-loading interstitial photodynamic therapy of canine transmissible sarcoma with photofrin II and excimer dye laser.

Novel after-loading interstitial photodynamic therapy was performed in a canine transmissible sarcoma (CTS) model, utilizing photofrin II and an excimer dye laser. First, photofrin II was injected intravenously at a dose of 5 mg/kg, then 48 h later, laser-proof plastic tubing was inserted into the CTS, followed by photoradiation of the tumor from the inside. The mean diameter of tumor necrosis rapidly increased in parallel with increase in total irradiation energy below 240 J/cm; the mean diameter of tumor necrosis was 20.

[A case of intimal dissection of the aorta during transfemoral angiography].

A 54-year-old man underwent right transfemoral angiography because of left renal hematuria. During angiography, dissection of abdominal aorta and thoracic aorta was encountered. It was initiated by intramural catheter passage at the bifurcation of the internal and external iliac artery.

[An outbreak of Pseudomonas folliculitis in children--the first report on Pseudomonas folliculitis in Japan].

An outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis in 6 children occurred within 5 days after playing in a tiny vinyl pool. The follicular macular or pustular eruptions were mainly distributed on the trunk. No associated symptoms were seen.

Osteoma of the testis with its histogenetic consideration.

Although a few cases of osteoma in renal pelvis and urinary bladder have been reported, no cases of osteoma in the testis have been presented. A case of so-called osteoma of the testis incidentally found in a 30-year-old man was presented with discussion for its histogenetic considerations.