脳底動脈瘤を伴うモヤモヤ病の一例

A case of Moyamoya disease associated with basilar aneurysm was reported. This case was rare in that it developed from subarachnoid hemorrhage attributable to rupture of basilar aneurysm. The pathological findings of the intracranial blood vessels were almost identical to the findings presented in previous reports. In the vertebral basilar artery system, a remarkable intimal thickening of the intimal cushion type was observed on the side opposite to the origin of the aneurysm. This finding in light of its position was possibly implicated in the formation of cerebral aneurysm in view of the irregularity in blood flow at that site. In the study of the blood vessels of the entire body, slight localized thickening of the intima was observed in the coronary artery, aorta, common carotid artery, renal artery, and common iliac artery, suggesting a possible relation with systemic disease

SPECT-CT fusion in the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism

Objective(s): In this study, we aimed to analyze the relationship between the diagnostic ability of fused single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) images in localization of parathyroid lesions and the size of adenomas or hyperplastic glands. Methods: Five patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and 4 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) were imaged 15 and 120 minutes after the intravenous injection of technetium99mmethoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI). All patients underwent surgery and 5 parathyroid adenomas and 10 hyperplastic glands were detected. Pathologic findings were correlated with imaging results. Results: The SPECT/CT fusion images were able to detect all parathyroid adenomas even with the greatest axial diameter of 0.6 cm. Planar scintigraphy and SPECT imaging could not detect parathyroid adenomas with an axial diameter of 1.0 to 1.2 cm. Four out of 10 (40%) hyperplastic parathyroid glands were diagnosed, using planar and SPECT imaging and 5 out of 10 (50%) hyperplastic parathyroid glands were localized, using SPECT/CT fusion images. Conclusion: SPECT/CT fusion imaging is a more useful tool for localization of parathyroid lesions, particularly parathyroid adenomas, in comparison with planar and or SPECT imaging

Microfluidic Production of Monodisperse Biopolymer Microcapsules for Latent Heat Storage

Microencapsulation of phase change materials in a polymer shell is a promising technology to prevent them from leakage and to use them as a handleable powder state. However, the microencapsulation process is a time-consuming process because the typical shell-forming step requires polymerization or evaporation of the solvent. In this study, we report a simple and rapid flow process to prepare monodisperse biocompatible cellulose acetate (CA) microcapsules encapsulating n-hexadecane (HD) for latent heat storage applications. The microcapsules were prepared by combining microfluidic droplet formation and subsequent rapid solvent removal from the droplets by solvent diffusion. The diameter and shell thickness of the microcapsules could be controlled by adjusting the flow rate and the HD-to-CA weight ratio in the dispersed phase. We found that 1-hexadecanol added to the microcapsules played the role of a nucleation agent and mitigated the supercooling phenomenon during crystallization. Furthermore, cross-linking of the CA shell with poly(propylene glycol), tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate terminated, resulted in the formation of a thin and dense shell. The microcapsules exhibited a 66 wt % encapsulation efficiency and a 176 J g–1 latent heat storage capacity, with negligible supercooling. We believe that this microflow process can contribute to the preparation of environmentally friendly microcapsules for heat storage applications

SPECT-CT fusion in the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism

Objective(s): In this study, we aimed to analyze the relationship between the diagnostic ability of fused single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) images in localization of parathyroid lesions and the size of adenomas or hyperplastic glands. Methods: Five patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and 4 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) were imaged 15 and 120 minutes after the intravenous injection of technetium99mmethoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI). All patients underwent surgery and 5 parathyroid adenomas and 10 hyperplastic glands were detected. Pathologic findings were correlated with imaging results. Results: The SPECT/CT fusion images were able to detect all parathyroid adenomas even with the greatest axial diameter of 0.6 cm. Planar scintigraphy and SPECT imaging could not detect parathyroid adenomas with an axial diameter of 1.0 to 1.2 cm. Four out of 10 (40%) hyperplastic parathyroid glands were diagnosed, using planar and SPECT imaging and 5 out of 10 (50%) hyperplastic parathyroid glands were localized, using SPECT/CT fusion images. Conclusion: SPECT/CT fusion imaging is a more useful tool for localization of parathyroid lesions, particularly parathyroid adenomas, in comparison with planar and or SPECT imaging

Results of a preliminary study using hypofractionated involved-field radiation therapy and concurrent carboplatin/paclitaxel in the treatment of locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of hypofractionated involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT) omitting elective nodal irradiation (ENI) with concurrent chemotherapy for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Between July 2004 and July 2006, ten patients with locally advanced NSCLC were included in this study. One had stage IIIA and 9 had stage IIIB disease. The treatment consisted of IFRT in fractions of 2.5 Gy and weekly carboplatin (CBDCA)/paclitaxel (PTX). Hypofractionated IFRT with a median total dose of 65 Gy with median percent total lung volume exceeding 20 Gy (V20) of 20.2%, and a median of five courses of chemotherapy with weekly CBDCA (area under the curve, 1.5-2.0)/PTX (30-35 mg/m(2)) were given to all patients. The median survival time and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates were 29.5 months and 90.0%, 58.3%, and 43.8%, respectively. No elective nodal failure was encountered during the median follow up of 18.2 months. No acute or late toxicities of grade 3 or worse were observed. No in-field recurrence occurred in the group with a total dose of 67.5 Gy or more, but there was such recurrence in 83.3% of those in the group with less than 67.5 Gy. Hypofractionated IFRT with weekly CBDCA/PTX was a feasible treatment regimen. Hypofractionated IFRT with a total dose of 67.5 Gy or more could be a promising modality to improve the treatment results in patients with locally advanced NSCLC