Preoperative scoring system for predicting early adjacent vertebral fractures after Balloon Kyphoplasty

BackgroundAdjacent vertebral fracture (AVF) is a major complication following Balloon Kyphoplasty (BKP). There is no scoring system for predicting AVF using only preoperative elements. The purposes of this study were to develop a scoring system for predicting early AVF after BKP based on preoperative factors and to investigate the appropriate surgical indication for BKP.MethodsOf 220 patients who underwent BKP at a single institution since 2011, 65 patients over the age of 60 who had undergone a standing whole spine X-ray preoperatively were enrolled. Factors affecting the occurrence of early AVF were examined. A scoring system was created consisting of the factors exhibiting significant differences, and the correlation between the total score and the incidence of early AVF was investigated.ResultsTwenty of the 65 patients (30.8%) had early AVF. In a univariate analysis, age, previous vertebral fracture, pelvic tilt, and Local kyphosis significantly influenced early AVF. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, age had an odds ratio of 1.136 (95% CI 1.001–1.289), previous vertebral fractures 4.181 (1.01–17.309), and Local kyphosis 1.103 (1.021–1.191). The scoring system was set as follows: ①Age (<75 years: 0 points(P), 75years≦: 1P), ②The number of previous vertebral fractures (0: 0 P, 1: 1P, 2: 2P, 3 or more: 3P), and ③Local kyphosis (<10°: 0P, 10°≦: 1P). There was a correlation between the total score and the incidence of early AVF (r = 0.812, 1P = 0.05). The incidence of early AVF was 6.4% (2 cases/31 cases) for a score of ≦1P and 54.5% (18 cases/33 cases) for a score of ≧2P.ConclusionsThere was a correlation between the total score and the incidence of early AVF. A score of 1 point or less may represent the appropriate surgical indication for BKP.     

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide predicts hospitalization for ischemic stroke in Japanese hemodialysis patients

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - The association between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and stroke in Japanese hemodialysis (HD) outpatients is unclear. Therefore, in...     

MR measurement of visceral fat: assessment of metabolic syndrome.

One diagnostic criterion for metabolic syndrome is obesity from the accumulation of visceral fat; others include abdominal circumference and area of visceral fat as measured by computed tomography (CT) at the umbilical level. We evaluated visceral fat using frequency-selective excitation magnetic resonance (MR) imaging SPAIR (spectral attenuation with inversion recovery) water suppression THRIVE (3D T1-high resolution isotropic volume examination). Fifty of 70 slices with 2-mm interval were used to render and measure volume of visceral fat ranging within 10 cm of the umbilicus; the area of visceral fat at the umbilical level was also measured. Imaging was completed using breath hold within 14 s. Image processing was easier than using CT.     

Abnormal fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in benign esophageal leiomyoma

A benign esophageal leiomyoma with abnormally increased fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) was resected thoracoscopically. The tumor, of which the maximum standardized uptake value of the lesion was 4.7, was well defined and 38 mm in diameter. Neither mitotic activity nor degeneration was found histologically; and immunoreactivity for CD34, CD117, MIB-1, and glucose transporter-1 was negative immunohistochemically. A diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor was ruled out by an oncogenic kinase gene mutation study. This case cautions against PET-dependent evaluation for malignant potential of esophageal submucosal tumors.     

Influence of Chewing and Clenching on Salivary Cortisol Levels as an Indicator of Stress

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chewing and clenching on salivary cortisol levels as an indicator of stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen healthy dentulous subjects were given arithmetic exercises to perform within a 20-minute time limit in order to elicit stress (stress loading). In the first experiment (chewing), after stress loading, the subjects were asked to chew a paraffin wax while reading printed material (books, magazines, etc.) in silence for 10 minutes. The same procedure was then carried out again for control purposes, but this time the subjects were not required to chew wax. In the second experiment (light clenching), after stress loading, the subjects were required to carry out 5 seconds of light clenching followed by 5 seconds of rest repeatedly over a 3-minute period. The whole 3-minute process was repeated a total of three times. The control data for this second experiment consisted of measurements taken during the rest periods. Saliva specimens were collected in both experiments both before stress loading and after each procedure during 1-minute intervals to measure cortisol levels. RESULTS: In the chewing experiment, salivary cortisol levels were significantly reduced by chewing, compared with those in the controls (p < 0.05). This reduction in salivary cortisol was observed during chewing over a 10-minute period following stress loading. In the clenching experiment, salivary cortisol levels also showed a significant reduction during clenching, compared with those in the controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that chewing and clenching promote relaxation in subjects under stress.     

CLINICAL EVALUATION OF PERORAL CHOLANGIOSCOPY FOR BILIARY DISEASE USING NARROW BAND IMAGING

Regarding peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) for biliary disease, due to the recent appearance of a video cholangioscope that can obtain high‐quality images, it is possible to observe subtle changes of the biliary mucosa. In addition to the conventional observation method using POCS, the biliary mucosa with also observed with narrow band imaging (NBI) in one case of chronic cholangitis and four cases of extra hepatic bile duct tumor (three surgical cases). In the conventional observation method, the vessels in the surface layer of the biliary mucosa could be observed more clearly using NBI. In one case in which a tumor was observed, the irregularity of the biliary mucosa became clear on NBI, and the vessels inside a papillary tumor could also be easily observed. In another case of bile duct tumor, the conventional observation method showed a region in the proximity of the tumor where the vessels could not be seen clearly, but they could be seen clearly on NBI. In all of the cases, the bile juice was seen as red on NBI, which disturbed the observation. With POCS using NBI, it was possible to observe the vessels and irregularities in the surface layer of the biliary mucosa more clearly than with conventional observation methods.     

A pilot study of the assessment of the quality of life, functional results, and complications in patients with an ileal neobladder for invasive bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE: To assess the functional results, health-related quality of life (QOL) outcomes, and complications in patients with an ileal neobladder in comparison to those with cutaneous diversion (ileal conduit and cutaneostomy). METHODS: Between September 1992 and February 2003, we consecutively performed an ileal neobladder (the Studer method) in 30 patients and cutaneous diversion in 38 patients. In August 2004, questionnaires were mailed to 54 patients. The questionnaire included the validated health-related quality of life (QOL) questionnaire, SF-36 General Health Survey, and a urinary incontinence questionnaire. We also evaluated the functional results in patients with an ileal neobladder and the postoperative complications in patients with both urinary diversions. RESULTS: The data from 41 patients (21 ileal neobladder procedures and 20 cutaneous diversions) were available for the analysis. No differences in the overall QOL were observed between the two groups. Complete daytime and night-time urinary continence was achieved in the 21 patients (100%) and 13 patients (61.9%), respectively. The mean value of the maximum flow rate was 15 +/- 12 mL/min in the 21 neobladder patients. There were 19 early complications in 18 patients (60.0%) and seven late complications in six patients (20.0%) with an ileal neobladder. However, there were 15 early complications in 14 patients (36.8%) and eight late complications in six patients (15.8%) with cutaneous diversions. CONCLUSION: The findings regarding the health-related QOL and the frequency of complications in the neobladder group and those in the cutaneous diversion group were similar. However, the functional results and the status of urinary continence in the neobladder patients were satisfactory.     

Long-term results of first-line sequential high-dose carboplatin, etoposide and ifosfamide chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell support for patients with advanced testicular germ cell tumor

OBJECTIVE: Standard chemotherapy shows relatively low long-term survival in patients with poor-risk testicular germ cell tumor (GCT). First-line high-dose chemotherapy (HD-CT) may improve the result. High-dose carboplatin, etoposide, ifosfamide chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) was investigated as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced testicular GCT. METHODS: Fifty-five previously untreated testicular GCT patients with Indiana 'advanced disease' criteria received three cycles of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP) followed by one cycle of HD-CT plus PBSCT, if elevated serum tumor markers were observed after three cycles of the BEP regimen. RESULTS: Thirty patients were treated with BEP alone, because the tumor marker(s) declined to normal range. Twenty-five patients received BEP and HD-CT. One patient died of rhabdomyolysis due to HD-CT. Three and six (13% and 25%) out of 24 patients treated with BEP and HD-CT achieved marker-negative and marker-positive partial responses, respectively. The other patients achieved no change. Fifteen (63%) are alive and 14 (58%) are free of disease at a median follow-up time of 54 months. Severe toxicity included treatment-related death (4%). CONCLUSIONS: HD-CT with peripheral stem cell support can be successfully applied in a multicenter setting. HD-CT demonstrated modest anticancer activity for Japanese patients with advanced testicular GCT and was well tolerated. This regimen might be examined for further investigation in randomized trials in first-line chemotherapy for patients with poor-risk testicular GCT.     

A female case with Down syndrome and non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder

Although the prevalence of a learned voiding dysfunction and non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder (NNB), which is one type of dysfunctional elimination syndrome, is considered to be relatively rare, the association of NNB with Down syndrome (DS) has been elucidated in male patients. We herein describe the occurrence of NNB in an adult female with DS. The diagnosis was confirmed after completely ruling out any neurological or anatomical anomalies that could be related to a lower urinary tract dysfunction. She had renal dysfunction and multiple obstructive uropathies for which clean intermittent catheterization was successfully introduced.