Radiofrequency Ablation with the Real-Time Virtual Sonography System for Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma Difficult to Detect by Ultrasonography

Radiofrequency ablation has been applied to treat hepatocellular carcinoma, with favorable therapeutic outcomes. Nevertheless, practitioners have approached radiofrequency ablation with some reluctance due to the difficulty of identifying isoechoic tumors and recurrent tumors. The aim of the present study is to investigate the efficacy of Real-time Virtual Sonography to treat hepatocellular carcinoma difficult to detect by conventional ultrasonography. Real-time Virtual Sonography is a system generating multiplanar reconstruction images in real-time using the Hitachi medico EUB-8500 equipped with a probe. The system included following components: 1) digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) data from dynamic CT, 2) a magnetic field generator to match the multiplanar reconstruction image on the monitor and the actual ultrasonography image, 3) the cross section with the tumor displayed as a multiplanar reconstruction image. Total twenty-five nodules of twenty-one patients underwent radiofrequency ablation monitored by Real-time Virtual Sonography. All nodules difficult to detect via conventional ultrasonography were clearly visualized in real-time. The average nodule diameter was 2.4 ± 1.6 cm, and punctures and coagulation were performed an average of 2.2 and 3 times per session. Dynamic CT after session confirmed effective coagulation of each nodule. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the present system is capable of effectively and accurately treating tumors difficult to detect by conventional ultrasonography

The Qualitative Analysis of Effective Work of Mourning by Victims' Family

平成13年6月8日に附属池田小学校で発生した児童殺傷事件の被害者遺族の一人である本郷由美子さんの手記『虹とひまわりの娘』を分析素材として、どんな悲嘆の対処法や社会的サポートがモーニングワークの促進に有効であるのかを探索的に探ることを研究の目的とした。加えて、「死者を殺す」というラガーシュ仮説の妥当性に関する若干の検討を行った。その結果、モーニングワークを通して親子の「絆」の結び直しがはかられ、娘に対する「愛の物語」が生成されていった過程が明らかになった。This paper is the study about victims' family of the murder case in Ikeda elementary school. The purpose of this study was to explore that what kind of coping behavior and social support. facilitate effective mourning work. In addition, Validity of Lagache hypothesis that a bereaved kills internally a deceased was discussed. It emerged that the mother has generated a love story between her and a deceased daughter through writing memoirs, and her mourning work has facilitated reunion of a bond of affection between them

Pillar[6]arene acts as a biosensor for quantitative detection of a vitamin metabolite in crude biological samples

ビタミン代謝物を迅速定量できる超分子バイオセンサーを開発. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2020-12-09.Metabolic syndrome is associated with obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, and increased cardiovascular risk. Therefore, quick and accurate measurements of specific metabolites are critical for diagnosis; however, detection methods are limited. Here we describe the synthesis of pillar[n]arenes to target 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA), which is one metabolite of vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) produced by the cancer-associated nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). We found that water-soluble pillar[5]arene (P5A) forms host–guest complexes with both 1-MNA and nicotinamide, and water-soluble pillar[6]arene (P6A) selectively binds to 1-MNA at the micromolar level. P6A can be used as a “turn-off sensor” by photoinduced electron transfer (detection limit is 4.38 × 10−6 M). In our cell-free reaction, P6A is used to quantitatively monitor the activity of NNMT. Moreover, studies using NNMT-deficient mice reveal that P6A exclusively binds to 1-MNA in crude urinary samples. Our findings demonstrate that P6A can be used as a biosensor to quantify 1-MNA in crude biological samples

Relationship between Skeletal Muscle Mass, Bone Mineral Density, and Trabecular Bone Score in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

Study Design A retrospective observational study was performed. Purpose We investigated the relationships between skeletal muscle mass, bone mineral density (BMD), and trabecular bone score (TBS) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Overview of Literature The TBS has attracted attention as a measurement of trabecular bone microarchitecture. It is derived from data obtained using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and is a reported indicator of VCFs, and its addition to the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool increases the accuracy of fracture prediction. Methods BMD, skeletal muscle mass, and TBS were measured in 142 patients who visited Shimoshizu National Hospital from April to August 2019. Patients were divided into a VCF group and a non-VCF group. Whole-body DXA scans were performed to analyze body composition, including appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (SMI; lean mass [kg]/height [m2]) and BMD. The diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia was an appendicular SMI <5.46 kg/m2. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors for VCFs. Results The significant (p<0.05) findings (VCF group vs. non-VCF group, respectively) included age (79 vs. 70 years), femoral BMD (0.50 vs. 0.58 g/cm2), TBS (1.25 vs. 1.29), and lower limb muscle mass (8.6 vs. 9.9 kg). The VCF group was significantly older and had a lower femur BMD and decreased leg muscle mass than the non-VCF group. Based on the multiple logistic regression analysis, lower femoral BMD and decreased leg muscle mass were identified as risk factors for vertebral fracture independent of age, but the TBS was not. Conclusions Patients with VCFs had low BMD, a low TBS, and low skeletal muscle mass. Lower femoral BMD and decreased leg muscle mass were identified as risk factors for VCFs independent of age, whereas the TBS was not identified as a risk factor for VCFs

Scintigraphic findings of patients with malignant lymphoma of the thyroid

甲状腺原発の悪性リンパ腫は比較的稀な疾患であるが,甲状腺に腫瘤を触知する時には常に鑑別を要する疾患である.私共は3例の甲状腺原発の悪性リンパ腫を経験し,治療前の3例すべてに(67)Ga-citrate似下(67)Gaと略す)シンチグラフィーを施行し,そのうち1例には(201)Tl-chloride(以下(201)Tlと略す)シンチグラフィーを合せ行ない,病巣の進展の描出に(201)Tlが(67)Gaに比べて優れていたので若干の文献的考察を加えて報告する.Ga-67-scintigraphy was performed on 3 patients with malignant lymphoma of the thyroid. Ga-67-accumulation was noted in the primary lesions of two patients. Ga-67-accumulation was seen in an inflammatory lesion, which was not the primary lesion, in the other patient. One of the patients, who was a 48 year-old woman with primary malignant lymphoma of the thyroid, had metastases in the mediastinum, neck and axillar region. The metastases were clearly detected by T1-201 imaging, but Ga-67 did not accumulate in the metastatic foci. It seems that T1-201 is superior to Ga-67 in defining a primary malignant lymphoma of the thyroid

I-123 IMP, Tc-99m PAO SPECT and stable Xe-CT findings in patients with cerebral infarction

I-123 IMP, Tc-99m PAO SPECT and stable Xe-CT were performed in patients with cerebral infarction. I-123 IMP and Tc-99m PAO SPECT seemed to be superior to stable Xe-CT in detectability and delineation of the lesion. We obtained similar information in these cases by I-123 IMP and Tc-99m PAO SPECT