65 research outputs found
Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum: Report of a Case and Review of Literature
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum, defined as the presence of free air in the mediastinal structures, is a rare disease that usually take a good course with conservative therapy. However, clinicians are usually unfamiliar with the disease because of its infrequency. We report herein a case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum following an episode of violent cough. The patient was treated conservatively after hospitalization and got well without any medical problems. In addition we reviewed characteristics of spontaneous pneumomediastinum reported so far in the Japanese literature. The result of our review suggests that the typical patient with spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a young man with a slender build. In most patients, spontaneous pneumomediastinum occurs in conjunction with condition causing high airway pressure. None of the patients described in the literature developed serious complications such as cardiac insufficiency or airway compromise, and none of the cases without concomitant pneumothorax required any medical care. In conclusion, familiarity with this rare disease is crucial to provide appropriate treatment
Efficacy of capillary pattern type IIIA/IIIB by magnifying narrow band imaging for estimating depth of invasion of early colorectal neoplasms
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Capillary patterns (CP) observed by magnifying Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) are useful for differentiating non-adenomatous from adenomatous colorectal polyps. However, there are few studies concerning the effectiveness of magnifying NBI for determining the depth of invasion in early colorectal neoplasms. We aimed to determine whether CP type IIIA/IIIB identified by magnifying NBI is effective for estimating the depth of invasion in early colorectal neoplasms.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A series of 127 consecutive patients with 130 colorectal lesions were evaluated from October 2005 to October 2007 at the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan. Lesions were classified as CP type IIIA or type IIIB according to the NBI CP classification. Lesions were histopathologically evaluated. Inter and intraobserver variabilities were assessed by three colonoscopists experienced in NBI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were 15 adenomas, 66 intramucosal cancers (pM) and 49 submucosal cancers (pSM): 16 pSM superficial (pSM1) and 33 pSM deep cancers (pSM2-3). Among lesions diagnosed as CP IIIA 86 out of 91 (94.5%) were adenomas, pM-ca, or pSM1; among lesions diagnosed as CP IIIB 28 out of 39 (72%) were pSM2-3. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of the CP type III for differentiating pM-ca or pSM1 (<1000 μm) from pSM2-3 (≥1000 μm) were 84.8%, 88.7 % and 87.7%, respectively. Interobserver variability: κ = 0.68, 0.67, 0.72. Intraobserver agreement: κ = 0.79, 0.76, 0.75</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Identification of CP type IIIA/IIIB by magnifying NBI is useful for estimating the depth of invasion of early colorectal neoplasms.</p
Slow slip source characterized by lithological and geometric heterogeneity
Slow slip events (SSEs) accommodate a significant proportion of tectonic plate motion at subduction zones, yet little is known about the faults that actually host them. The shallow depth (<2 km) of well-documented SSEs at the Hikurangi subduction zone offshore New Zealand offers a unique opportunity to link geophysical imaging of the subduction zone with direct access to incoming material that represents the megathrust fault rocks hosting slow slip. Two recent International Ocean Discovery Program Expeditions sampled this incoming material before it is entrained immediately down-dip along the shallow plate interface. Drilling results, tied to regional seismic reflection images, reveal heterogeneous lithologies with highly variable physical properties entering the SSE source region. These observations suggest that SSEs and associated slow earthquake phenomena are promoted by lithological, mechanical, and frictional heterogeneity within the fault zone, enhanced by geometric complexity associated with subduction of rough crust
Investigation of blood flow in the external carotid artery and its branches with a new 0D peripheral model
Ultraviolet Light Treatment of Titanium Microfiber Scaffolds Enhances Osteoblast Recruitment and Osteoconductivity in a Vertical Bone Augmentation Model: 3D UV Photofunctionalization
Vertical bone augmentation to create host bone prior to implant placement is one of the most challenging regenerative procedures. The objective of this study is to evaluate the capacity of a UV-photofunctionalized titanium microfiber scaffold to recruit osteoblasts, generate intra-scaffold bone, and integrate with host bone in a vertical augmentation model with unidirectional, limited blood supply. Scaffolds were fabricated by molding and sintering grade 1 commercially pure titanium microfibers (20 μm diameter) and treated with UVC light (200–280 nm wavelength) emitted from a low-pressure mercury lamp for 20 min immediately before experiments. The scaffolds had an even and dense fiber network with 87% porosity and 20–50 mm inter-fiber distance. Surface carbon reduced from 30% on untreated scaffold to 10% after UV treatment, which corresponded to hydro-repellent to superhydrophilic conversion. Vertical infiltration testing revealed that UV-treated scaffolds absorbed 4-, 14-, and 15-times more blood, water, and glycerol than untreated scaffolds, respectively. In vitro, four-times more osteoblasts attached to UV-treated scaffolds than untreated scaffolds three hours after seeding. On day 2, there were 70% more osteoblasts on UV-treated scaffolds. Fluorescent microscopy visualized confluent osteoblasts on UV-treated microfibers two days after seeding but sparse and separated cells on untreated microfibers. Alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin gene expression were significantly greater in osteoblasts grown on UV-treated microfiber scaffolds. In an in vivo model of vertical augmentation on rat femoral cortical bone, the interfacial strength between innate cortical bone and UV-treated microfiber scaffold after two weeks of healing was double that observed between bone and untreated scaffold. Morphological and chemical analysis confirmed seamless integration of the innate cortical and regenerated bone within microfiber networks for UV-treated scaffolds. These results indicate synergy between titanium microfiber scaffolds and UV photofunctionalization to provide a novel and effective strategy for vertical bone augmentation
Wastewater Analysis Indicates that Genetically Diverse Astroviruses, Including Strains Belonging to Novel Clades MLB and VA, Are Circulating within Japanese Populations.
Human astroviruses (HAstVs) are a common etiological agent of infantile gastroenteritis. Recent studies revealed that novel astrovirus (AstV) strains of the MLB clade (MLB-AstVs) and VA clade (VA-AstVs), which are genetically distinct from the classic HAstVs, are circulating in the human population. In the present study, we quantified classic HAstVs as well as carried out a genetic analysis of classic and novel HAstVs in wastewater in Japan. The concentration of classic HAstVs in the influent water samples ranged from 10(4) to 10(5) copies per liter, and the amount removed by wastewater treatment was determined to be 2.4 ± 0.3 log10. Four types of classic HAstV strains (HAstV types 1, 2, 5, and 4/8) as well as novel AstV strains belonging to the MLB-2, VA-1, and VA-2 clades were identified using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays, including assays newly developed for the detection of strains of the MLB and VA clades, followed by cloning and nucleotide sequencing. Our results suggest that genetically diverse AstV strains are circulating among the human population in Japan. The newly developed (semi)nested RT-PCR assays for these novel AstV clades are useful to identify and characterize the novel AstVs in environmental waters
Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of Superselective Intra-arterial Chemotherapy for Oral Cancer: Flow Simulation of Anticancer Agent in the Linguofacial Trunk
Superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy (SSIAC) for oral cancer can deliver a higher concentration of anticancer agent into a tumor-feeding artery than intravenous systemic chemotherapy. However, the agent distribution between the lingual artery and facial artery (FA) is not clear in SSIAC for patients with the linguofacial trunk. The agent distribution in the SSIAC method was investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Ten three-dimensional vessel models were created from CT images of two patients with oral cancer (patients A and B) with the linguofacial trunk. Catheter models were combined with vessel models to mimic intra-arterial infusion, and the agent flow was analyzed. In patient A models, the agent distribution varied depending on the catheter tip position in the linguofacial trunk, while all anticancer agents flowed into the FA only in patient B models. This study revealed that the behavior of the agent in the common trunk is determined by the blood flow field which depends on the topography of the vessels in each patient. Therefore, the catheter tip position should be changed according to the vessel topography to deliver anticancer agents into the tumor-feeding artery. Moreover, CFD can be a useful method to predict the agent flow for each patient before SSIAC
Pleomorphic Adenoma Arising from Heterotopic Salivary Gland Tissue in the Submandibular Region
Endoscopically-Assisted Intraoral Resection of Compound Odontoma Arising from the Inferomedial Surface of the Mandibular Ramus using Piezosurgery
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