Case report: Usefulness of angioscopy in determining antiplatelet drug reduction after carotid artery stenting

We report a case in which neointima was confirmed by angioscopy and antiplatelet drug administration was reduced 2 months after carotid artery stenting (CAS). A patient in their 80s was scheduled to undergo resection for renal cancer; however, he also had right cervical internal carotid artery stenosis. Because this was a risk for general anesthesia, CAS was performed after first starting dual antiplatelet therapy. Urologically, early reduction of antiplatelet drugs was necessary for a nephrectomy. Although no obvious neointima could be identified on ultrasound 2 months after CAS, thin neointima was observed using angioscopy. Based on the above results, we reduced the antiplatelet drug administration, and then the nephrectomy was performed. Ultimately, no cerebral infarction occurred in the perioperative or postoperative periods. Angioscopy allows for visual confirmation of thin neointima. If sufficient neointima can be confirmed, antiplatelet drug reduction can be performed more safely and reliably

MRI Analysis for Clarification of Mechanism of Ankle Osteoarthritis

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: We have previously studied the relationship between Takakura–Tanaka classification stages and bone-marrow edema (BME) in order to elucidate the pathology of ankle osteoarthritis (ankle OA) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Moreover, we have investigated that BME onset on the talocrural joint can be predicted according to radiographic findings. In the present study, we focused on the changes around the subtalar joint to examine the relationship between talar lateral process impingement (TLPI) and foot and ankle joint alignment, and whether TLPI can be predicted on the basis of X-ray findings. Methods: We assessed 30 feet of 30 patients who had a diagnosis of ankle OA in our hospital and underwent MRI. Alignment was assessed radiographically by measuring the tibial anterior surface angle (TAS), the tibial lateral surface angle (TLS), the lateral talo-first metatarsal angle (LTMT), the lateral talocalcaneal angle (LTC), and the tibial axis–talar ratio (T-T ratio). MRI was obtained with the talocrural, subtalar and Chopart joints into 22 subdivided areas to examine the frequency of BME for each patient. TLPI was considered positive (+) when BME was found in the talar lateral process. The patients were divided into two groups according to TLPI positivity or negativity. Their BME frequency was examined, and significant differences in radiographically measured values were analysed with a t-test. Results: In the TLPI (+) group, BME development occurred at significantly higher frequencies in all areas except those surrounding the lateral process (p = 0.002). In addition, TLS was significantly lower (p = 0.02), and LTMT was significantly higher (p = 0.04). When the cut-off value on the ROC curve was set at TLS of =74° and LTMT of =19°, TLPI onset could be predicted with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 71%. Conclusion: Our results revealed that in the TLPI (+) group, progression of the anteriorly opened talocrural joint and talar dorsiflexion may be causing the talar lateral process to hit the calcaneus. Furthermore, in the TLPI (+) group, BME in other areas also occurred at higher frequencies, and symptoms around the ankle joints may be occurring at multiple locations. The fact that TLPI could be predicted from radiography findings suggests that this may be a potential predictive tool of the severity of clinical symptoms

Image Processing of Fossil Growth Patterns for Paleo-Geochronology.

[Abstract] Utility of an image processing device combined with the high resolution CCD camera is explored for paleo-geochronogical investigation of fossil growth patterns. Bivalve fragment (Miocene, Japan), spiriferid brachiopod (Permian, Australia) and stromatolite (Precambrian, Mauritania) are analyzed. Enlargement of high contrast images turns out to be very useful to reveal hitherto unseen features preserved in these fossil growth patterns

MRI evaluation with severity of ankle osteoarthritis

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Takakura-Tanaka classification is effective as an X-ray evaluation method for determining the severity of and treatment strategy for ankle osteoarthritis (OA). Concerning OA, MRI is gaining attention as a tool for examining the condition of the articular cartilage over X-ray findings. However, there are few reports on the relationship between MRI and X- ray findings in ankle joints. We assessed MRI findings of ankle OA at each stage of Takakura-Tanaka classification to investigate the effects of bone and articular cartilage. Methods: We studied the localization of Bone Marrow Edema (BME) partitioned articular surface by MRI in 22 regions at the talocrural, talocalcaneal, talonavicular, and calcaneocuboid joints of 46 feet of 45 patients who had a diagnosis of ankle OA in our hospital. Furthermore, we compared the radiological findings with the localization of BME. Results: By MRI, the area where BME was seen is located in the anterior medial part of the talocrural joint. Pointedly, 60% of BME was confirmed on the tibial side of the talocrural joint. In addition, as the Takakura-Tanaka classification advanced, the identification of BME tended to increase on the anterior of the talus and the medial malleolus articular surface. Conclusion: We found on MRI that the localization of BME was identified by Takakura-Tanaka classification in osteoarthritis of the foot. On the other hand, there are some cases of OA without BME that were identified by X-ray in this study. In the future, there is a possibility that the severity of OA can be classified into more inclusive classifications by MRI. We intend to combine the severity of ankle OA with MRI findings and Takakura-Tanaka classification together

Relations of ankle alignment and MRI findings of ankle osteoarthritis

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: MRI is gaining attention as a tool for examining the severity of osteoarthritis (OA) over X-ray findings. However, there are few reports on the relationship between MRI and X-ray findings in ankle joints. We assessed the combination of ankle joint alignment and MRI to find the factor to predict MRI findings from X-ray findings in OA. Methods: Of the 341 patients who had a diagnosis of ankle OA in our hospital from May 2009 to August 2015, we assessed 46 feet of 45 patients who underwent MRI. We determined ankle joint alignment by measuring tibial anterior surface (TAS) angle, and tibial lateral surface (TLS) angle on X-ray, and determined the areas of Bone Marrow Edema (BME) appearing on STIR, by partitioning 22 areas for talocrural, tarocalcaneal, Chopart joint. In the statistics analysis, we divided into two groups with and without BME, and we compared TAS angle and TLS angle. Moreover, for predicting the occurrence of BME, we divided the disease group into 2 groups, training set and validation set. We then verified the validity of the results by measuring cut-off value of TAS angle and TLS angle from ROC curve, an area which had statistically significant difference. Results: TAS angles or TLS angles were significantly lower in the group which showed BME at the anterior medial part of the tibia canopy and medial malleolus joint surface. From the ROC curve of the training set, the cut-off value (TAS angle of 82 degrees or less and TLS angle of 76 degrees or less) was obtained. Applying the obtained cut-off value to the validation set, it was possible to predict the occurrence of BME on the medial malleolus joint surface (sensitivity 71%, specificity 67%). Conclusion: Association with BME and clinical symptoms as well as disease prognosis has been reported in the OA area, so predicting the appearance of BME can be a useful index for prescribing a treatment plan. It was suggested that the appearance of BME could be predicted from X-ray findings because it was related to ankle alignment and MRI. It is possible that these findings could be used as a new diagnostic tool to estimate disease severity in the future

Middle-term Clinical Evaluations of Lisfranc Ligament Anatomical Reconstruction Surgery

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: We report the middle-term outcomes after performing Lisfranc ligament anatomical reconstruction surgery (LARS), using an optimal route of reconstruction based on anatomical measurements of and biomechanical experiments with cadavers. Methods: Subjects included 20 patients (8 female and 12 male, mean age: 35.5 years, mean follow-up period: 35 months) who were diagnosed with Lisfranc joint injury and underwent surgical treatment from 2012 to 2015. Acute case were fourteen cases, chronic cases were 6 cases. The optimal anatomical route of reconstruction was calculated from anatomical measurements obtained from 78 legs of cadavers. The Myerson’s classification and the Kaar’s classification based on stress X-rays were used to classify the injuries at the time of their occurrence. Furthermore, the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) Midfoot scale and Stein’s radiographic assessment were used for clinical evaluation postoperatively. Results: According to the Myerson’s classification, Type B1 was one case, Type B2 was 15 cases, Type C1 and Type C2 were each 2 cases. According to the Kaar’s classification, 17 patients had transverse-type injuries and 3 patients had longitudinal-type injury. Partial weight bearing was encouraged within 6 week and return to exercise within 12 weeks. Average JSSF scores at final follow-up were 93.8 points in both examples (85-100) respectively. Joint congruities on X ray were appropriate in most cases but admitted a little diastasis by one case of chronic and one acute case. Conclusion: LARS achieves both static and dynamic stability, does not require removal of the internal fixation material, and enables all patients to support a full load 8 weeks postoperatively. LARS is beneficial for maintaining anatomical reduction, preserving the joint, and shortening the post-therapy period. Our newly developed ligament reconstruction is not only able to acute injuries but also to the chronic injuries