Regional gray matter volume in the posterior precuneus is associated with general self-efficacy

Motivation in doing a task is influenced not only by the expected outcome of the task, but also by the belief that one has in successfully executing the task. Over time, individuals accumulate experiences that contribute to a general belief in one’s overall ability to successfully perform tasks, which is called general self-efficacy (GSE). We investigated the relationship between regional gray matter volume and individual differences in GSE. Brain anatomy was analyzed using magnetic resonance images obtained from 64 healthy right-handed participants who had completed Sherer’s GSE scale. After controlling for other factors related to motivation, age, sex, and total gray matter volume of each subject, results showed that regional gray matter volume in the posterior part of the precuneus significantly and positively correlated with GSE score. These results suggest that one’s accumulated experiences of success and failure, which contribute to GSE, also influence the anatomical characteristics of the precuneus

Ethosuximide completely suppressed epileptic negative myoclonus in childhood localization-related epilepsy

We report two cases of localization-related epilepsy manifesting frequent brief atonia. The patients were assumed to have epileptic negative myoclonus (ENM), and were successfully treated with ethosuximide (ESM). Both exhibited hemi-orofacial twitches during sleep, and interictal electroencephalography (EEG) showed paroxysms over the contralateral posterior-temporal and centroparietal regions. Incessant atonia appeared at nine and 10 years of age accompanied by motor paresis. Ictal EEG showed irregular high-voltage spike-waves predominantly over bilateral centroparietal regions. Carbamazepine and zonisamide were ineffective in controlling, or even aggravated ENM. The addition of ESM resulted in immediate and complete disappearance of ENM and partial motor seizures along with an improvement of motor paresis. The first case was assumed to have idiopathic etiology because of normal development before the onset of epilepsy, while the second case was considered to have cryptogenic etiology based on a pre-existing intellectual disability. Hence, we recommend that ESM should be considered for the treatment of ENM that develops during the course of localization-related epilepsy, regardless of the etiology. However, further studies are still needed to evaluate the effects of ESM in the treatment of ENM

The Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Androgen Deprivation Therapy as a Prostate Volume Reduction before Brachytherapy for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

From September 2003 to December 2005, 188 patients who visited our hospital and allied institutions for the purpose of prostate brachytherapy were administrated hormonal therapy for volume reductions before brachytherapy. The pretreatment and posttreatment of prostate volume using a transrectal ultrasound volumetric study and the types and duration of hormonal therapy were analyzed. We administered 91 patients with Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonist, 49 patients with anti-androgen (bicaltamide/flutamide), and 48 patients with maximum androgen blockade (MAB). The duration of the hormonal therapy was 1-3 months for 49 patients, 4-6 months for 59 patients, 7-9 months for 40 patients, 10-12 months for 32 patients, and over 13 months for 8 patients. Before the initiation of hormonal therapy, the mean prostate volume was 35.12 ml (11.04-78.71 ml), and the average of prostate volume before and after hormonal therapy was 36.79 ml and 24.79 ml, respectively (a 32.4% reduction). The prostate volume reduction rate was 32.0% for the LH-RH agonist only, 18.1% for the anti-androgen only and 41.2% for the MAB. No statistically significant difference was observed for the duration of hormonal therapy between 3 groups. A three-month course of the neoadjuvant LH-RH agonist indicated a sufficient volume reduction effectiveness for a large prostate volume.</p

Safety of antiplatelet therapy during the perioperative period of revascularization surgery for moyamoya disease patients with ischemic onset

For patients with moyamoya disease, antiplatelet agents are often used during the perioperative periods of revascularization surgeries to prevent ischemic events. However, antiplatelet therapy is associated with the risk of hemorrhagic complications. Further, the influence of antiplatelet therapy on perioperative ischemic or hemorrhagic complications has not been investigated. This study aimed to determine the impact of antiplatelet agents on adult moyamoya disease patients with ischemic onset during the perioperative period. From January 2016 to December 2020, 183 consecutive combined (direct and indirect) revascularization surgeries for moyamoya disease patients were performed. Among these surgeries, 96 consecutive combined revascularization surgeries for adult moyamoya disease patients with ischemic onset were analyzed and perioperative ischemic and hemorrhagic complications were reviewed. Antiplatelet agents were continued during the perioperative period including on the day of surgery and the day after the surgery. Among 96 surgeries, no hemorrhagic complications occurred postoperatively. Infarction occurred in five cases (5.2%). Among the five cases, neurological deficits persisted in two cases and improved in three. The median value of bleeding volume was 112.5 mL (interquartile range, 80.0 – 200.0). Twenty-five cases (26.0%) needed blood transfusion. The modified Rankin Scale score deteriorated in two cases due to cerebral infarction. The incidence of hemorrhagic and ischemic complications after combined revascularization surgery in patients with ischemic moyamoya disease under antiplatelet therapy was low, indicating the safety of continued antiplatelet therapy.departmental bulletin pape

Influence of toe contact condition during forward step on the ground reaction forces in turning movement

学位記番号：保博甲12

Influence of toe contact condition during forward step on the ground reaction forces in turning movement

学位記番号：保博甲12

Latest classification of ependymoma in the molecular era and advances in its treatment: a review

Ependymoma is a rare central nervous system (CNS) tumour occurring in all age groups and is one of the most common paediatric malignant brain tumours. Unlike other malignant brain tumours, ependymomas have few identified point mutations and genetic and epigenetic features. With advances in molecular understanding, the latest 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of CNS tumours divided ependymomas into 10 diagnostic categories based on the histology, molecular information and location; this accurately reflected the prognosis and biology of this tumour. Although maximal surgical resection followed by radiotherapy is considered the standard treatment method, and chemotherapy is considered ineffective, the validation of the role of these treatment modalities continues. Although the rarity and long-term clinical course of ependymoma make designing and conducting prospective clinical trials challenging, knowledge is steadily accumulating and progress is being made. Much of the clinical knowledge obtained from clinical trials to date was based on the previous histology-based WHO classifications, and the addition of new molecular information may lead to more complex treatment strategies. Therefore, this review presents the latest findings on the molecular classification of ependymomas and advances in its treatment.journal articl

Clinical characteristics and radiological features of glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, grade 4 with histologically lower-grade gliomas

The 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system tumors applied molecular criteria and further integrated histological and molecular diagnosis of gliomas. This classification allows for the diagnosis of isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type (IDHwt) glioblastoma (GBM), and WHO grade 4 with histologically lower-grade gliomas (LrGGs), even in the absence of high-grade histopathologic features, such as necrosis and/or microvascular proliferation. They contain at least one of the following molecular features: epidermal growth factor receptor amplification, chromosome 7 gain/10 loss, or telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutation. In the imaging features at the time of histological diagnosis, a gliomatosis cerebri growth pattern was frequently observed in these tumors. Furthermore, this growth pattern was significantly higher in IDHwt GBM, WHO grade 4, with histological grade II gliomas. Although the exact prognosis of IDHwt GBM, WHO grade 4, with histologically LGGs remains unknown, its OS was approximately 1–2 years similar to that of histologically IDHwt GBM, WHO grade 4, despite histopathological features similar to IDHmut LrGGs. These findings reinforce the need for the analysis of molecular features, regardless of presenting similar clinical characteristics and imaging features to IDHmut LrGGs.journal articl

Endoscope-assisted brain tumor removal overcomes the restriction of using intraoperative open magnetic resonance imaging in the suboccipital approach

Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) plays a crucial role in improving the precision of brain tumor surgeries. However, the use of iMRI can impose certain limitations on intraoperative head positioning. In regular microscopic surgery, head positioning is of utmost importance because an appropriate surgical field is important for the efficacy and safety of surgery. Therefore, in cases where adequate head positioning is difficult, usually, iMRI will not be utilized. Herein, we report an adult case of cerebellar astrocytoma whose tumor extended to the culmen of the cerebellum. Upon surgery via the suboccipital approach, the positional limitations imposed by iMRI led to an insufficient vertex-down position and limited surgical field, which hampered the removal of the upper portion of the tumor. However, this concern could be overcome when used in combination with an endoscope. The potential of iMRI applications is anticipated to be enhanced by overcoming positional limitations through combined endoscopic surgery. The use of multimodality in surgery is an optimal example of how surgical support equipment can also improve surgical outcomes. Here, we report on the new possibilities offered by multimodality.departmental bulletin pape