Extensive Bilateral Patellar Tendon Ossification in a Spinal Cord Injury Patient

This is the first report of extensive bilateral patellar tendon ossification occurring over a prolonged time after a unilateral knee injury. An 84-year-old Japanese man with a spinal cord injury caused by a burst fracture of the T12 vertebra presented with a bony hard prominence on the left knee, which was injured in a traffic accident when he was 77 years old. Radiography revealed extensive ossification of the bilateral patellar tendons. We review the English literature with a focus on the localization of bilateral heterotopic ossification of the knee in patients who had a central nervous system injury

Generaattorin saarekekäyttö ja suojausten testaus

Työn aiheena oli sähkövoimatekniikan laboratorion oppimisympäristön generaattorin saarekekäyttö ja sen suojausten testaus. Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli testata ja käyttää generaattoria saarekekäytössä ja tehdä sille kytkentäohjelma, jonka avulla voidaan myöhemmin käyttää generaattoria saarekekäytön opetuk-sessa. Tavoitteena oli tehdä myös generaattorin relesuojauksille toiminnalliset testit. Opinnäytetyön teoriaosuudessa käsiteltiin generaattoreita ja niiden relesuojauksia. Generaattoreissa keskityttiin enemmän tahtigeneraattoreihin, koska opinnäytetyössä käytettiin sellaista. Työssä esiteltiin myös laiteympäristö, johon tätä opinnäytetyötä tehtiin. Opinnäytetyössä käytiin läpi myös ohjelmistot, joita tässä ympäristössä on mahdollista käyttää. Lähdemateriaaleina käytettiin alan kirjallisuutta sekä laitevalmistajien manuaaleja sekä nettisivuja. Työssä asetetut tavoitteet täyttyivät ja tulokseksi saatiin kytkentäohjelma gene-raattorin saarekekäyttöön ja tieto siitä, kuinka sitä kuormitettiin. Myös generaat-torin suojauksien toiminnallisille testeille tehtiin ohjeistus, jonka avulla voidaan tulevaisuudessa tehdä toiminnallisia testejä. Myös REG630- releelle tehtiin ohjeistuksia, joiden avulla sitä voidaan myöhemmin käyttää.The subject of the thesis was electric power engineering laboratory learning environment for testing a generator in island operation and testing its protec-tion. The aim of the thesis was to test and use the generator in island operation and to make a switch program, which can later be used in education of using the generator in island operation. The other aim was to test a generator´s relay protection. The theoretical part of the thesis was concerned with generator´s and their relay protection. The focus was more on a synchronous generators were more focused, because synchronous generator was used in this thesis. The presentation of the thesis section presents a platform, where this thesis was made. Softwares, that are possible to use in this platform, were also presented in this thesis. The source materials were based on the field of the literature, as well as in the manufacturer`s Internet websites and manuals. The aim of the thesis was met and the results were that the switch program for using the generator in island operation was made and how it was loaded. Generator´s protections were also tested and the instructions were made, which helps in doing these tests in the future. Instructions were also made for the REG630 relay. These instructions help to use it

Randomized, crossover questionnaire survey of acceptabilities of controlled-release mesalazine tablets and granules in ulcerative colitis patients

Background/Aims Oral mesalazine is an important treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC), and non-adherence to mesalazine increases the risk of relapse. Controlled-release (CR) mesalazine has 2 formulations: tablets and granules. The relative acceptabilities of these formulations may influence patient adherence; however, they have not been compared to date. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptabilities of the 2 formulations of CR mesalazine in relation to patient adherence using a crossover questionnaire survey. Methods UC patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups in a 1:1 ratio. Patients in each group took either 4 g of CR mesalazine tablets or granules for 6 to 9 weeks, and then switched to 4 g of the other formulation for a further 6 to 9 weeks. The acceptability and efficacy were evaluated by questionnaires, and adherence was assessed using a visual analog scale. The difference in acceptabilities between the 2 formulations and its impact on adherence were assessed. Results A total of 49 patients were prospectively enrolled and 33 patients were included in the analysis. Significantly more patients found the tablets to be less acceptable than the granules (76% vs. 33%, P=0.0005). The granules were preferable to the tablets when the 2 formulations were compared directly (73% vs. 21%, P=0.004), for their portability, size, and numbers of pills. The adherence rate was slightly better among patients taking the granules (94% vs. 91%) during the observation period, but the difference was not significant (P=0.139). Conclusions CR mesalazine granules are more acceptable than tablets, and may therefore be a better option for long-term medication

Investigation of the outpatient chemotherapy for lung cancer patients in Tokushima University Hospital

Platinum-doublet regimens and docetaxel as first- and second-line chemotherapy, respectively, are shown to prolong the survival of lung cancer patients in various randomized phase III studies. However, the evidence for the efficacy of chemotherapy for lung cancer in the clinical practice is still insufficient. In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness and safety of outpatient chemotherapy for lung cancer in the clinical practice. Ninety-four lung cancer cases were retrospectively analyzed. Among these cases, 67 (71.3%) were non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 27 (28.7%) were small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The response rates in SCLC and NSCLC patients were 55.6% (15/27) and 16.9% (11/65), respectively. Objective tumor response rates for the patients were found to decrease substantially with each line of treatment as described previously. All adverse events were well tolerated and no treatment-related death was observed. Median time to treatment failures (TTFs) of first-line treatment were 10.1 months and 4.8 months in SCLC and NSCLC, respectively. These findings indicate that even in the setting of clinical practice, the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy is strictly insured by the appropriate therapeutic management

チョメイナ ノウホウ ケイセイ オ トモナッタ カンサイボウ ガン ノ 1ジケンレイ

It is said that in hepatocellular carcinoma, necrosis is liable to occur in the center and the percentage of cystic formation is comparatively low, but as we have experienced one case of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with marked cystic formation, we reported it. The patient was a female aged７０years. Because general fatigue and anorexia occurred, Abdominal CT test was conducted and hepatic mass was pointed out. Contrast-CT test showed a tumor of６cm in diameter in the medial segment of the left lobe of the liver. As the border was stained with arterial phase, the center was not imaged and the tumor was diagnosed as vascular proliferating type hepatic tumor associated with marked cystic change. MRI test showed that the border of the tumor was lobular and part thereof was of septal structure. The tumor was diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma associated with bleeding in tumor, hepatic cystadenocarcinoma or hepatic sarcoma. Abdominal angiography showed not only marked vascular proliferation and tumor stain in the area of the middle hepatic artery but also early venous return, and the middle hepatic vein was clearly imaged. The tumor size was ５×５×４cm in size and was in contact with the middle hepatic vein but it did not invade the vein. Left hepatic lobectomy was performed. Histopathologically the center of the tumor was cystic with colliquative necrosis. The tumor had the trabecular structure and the tumor cell was consisted of clear cell. The tumor was thus diagnosed as poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. Postoperative course was good and the patient was discharged from our hospital on the１９th day after operation. At the moment when１９ months have passed since the operation, the patient is alive without any recurrence of carcinoma