Comparison of Iomeprol 300 and 350 mgI/ml Syringe Preparations for Contrast-Enhanced Helical Computed Tomography of the Liver Using Bolus-Tracking Technology

Purpose: To evaluate contrast enhancement with iomeprol in helical computed tomography(CT) using bolus-tracking technology. Method: Helical CT examinations were performed on 114 patients using 100 ml of iomeprol administered via either a 300 mgI/ml syringe or a 350 mgI/ml syringe. After nonenhanced CT was performed, contrast-enhanced CT scans were obtained at optimal times during three phases, the early, late, and delayed phases, using bolus-tracking technology while infusing the contrast medium. Regions of interest were determined for the observed transverse sections of the aorta and liver, and the contrast index that was used for plotting time-density curves was defined as the difference in CT density before and after the administration of iomeprol. Time-density curves were plotted by body weight group to evaluate how the contrast enhancement was affected by different concentrations of the contrast medium. Results: When time-density curves obtained using iomeprol preparations containing different iodine concentrations for the different body weight groups were compared, the contrast enhancement tended to be greater for the 350 mgI preparation than the 300 mgI preparation. Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced CT can be performed with a 300 mgI preparation of iomeprol in patients weighing less than 60 kg; whereas a 350 mgI preparation is preferable for patients weighing 60 kg or more

自撮り写真の目にどれだけ盛れば魅力が下がるのか :「盛る」感性の性差・地域差の検討

近年，スマートフォンの普及により，誰もが手軽に自撮りできるようになり，その自撮りした写真をアプリで加工し （ 「盛り」 と呼ぶ），ソーシャル ・ ネットワーキング ・ サービスにアップすることが流行している．「盛り」 の要素の 1 つである 「色味」 には性差が存在することが報告されたが，他の要素については不明である．そこで本研究では，盛りの要素の中で最も代表的な要素である 「目」 に着目した．20 代平均顔の目に対して盛りを段階的に施し，20代の男女55名を対象に，その盛る量 （加工量） と魅力度の関係を調べた．その結果，目に盛る量と魅力度評価には，性別や生活環境 ・ 地域の違いで有意な差がみられなかった．以上の結果より，目に盛る量に関しては，性別・ 生活環境を問わず日本の若者に共通した感性が存在することが示唆された

Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background The effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease who are at risk for disease progression are not well understood. The EMPA-KIDNEY trial was designed to assess the effects of treatment with empagliflozin in a broad range of such patients. Methods We enrolled patients with chronic kidney disease who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 20 but less than 45 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) of body-surface area, or who had an eGFR of at least 45 but less than 90 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams) of at least 200. Patients were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of progression of kidney disease (defined as end-stage kidney disease, a sustained decrease in eGFR to < 10 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2), a sustained decrease in eGFR of & GE;40% from baseline, or death from renal causes) or death from cardiovascular causes. Results A total of 6609 patients underwent randomization. During a median of 2.0 years of follow-up, progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes occurred in 432 of 3304 patients (13.1%) in the empagliflozin group and in 558 of 3305 patients (16.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 0.82; P < 0.001). Results were consistent among patients with or without diabetes and across subgroups defined according to eGFR ranges. The rate of hospitalization from any cause was lower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.95; P=0.003), but there were no significant between-group differences with respect to the composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes (which occurred in 4.0% in the empagliflozin group and 4.6% in the placebo group) or death from any cause (in 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively). The rates of serious adverse events were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Among a wide range of patients with chronic kidney disease who were at risk for disease progression, empagliflozin therapy led to a lower risk of progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes than placebo