Presence of cytomegalovirus in the perilymphatic fluid of patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss caused by congenital cytomegalovirus infection

Conclusion: Not all patients diagnosed with congenital infection using umbilical cord assay were found to be positive for CMV-DNA by perilymphatic fluid assay. In addition, a CMV-DNA-positive result was observed in one patient who had not been diagnosed with congenital infection. Sampling of perilymphatic fluid from a large population of patients with congenital SNHL caused by congenital CMV infection or of unknown etiology is required to determine the prevalence of CMV-related profound HL. Objectives: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is one of the most frequent manifestations in patients with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Using dried umbilical cord, a PCR-based assay was recently developed for the retrospective detection of congenital CMV infection. This study analyzed the presence of CMV in the perilymphatic fluid and evaluated differences in the effect of cochlear implantation between CMV-positive and -negative groups. Method: Perilymphatic fluid was collected from each patient at the time of cochlear implantation and analyzed for the presence of CMV using a PCR method. Results: The perilymphatic fluid in two of the five patients suffering from congenital CMV infection and in one of the 17 patients without congenital CMV infection was found to be positive for CMV.     

Successful living donor liver transplantation for classical maple syrup urine disease

MSUD is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by a deficiency in the enzyme, BCKDH, which catalyzes the breakdown of BCAAs. If left untreated, MSUD can result in mental retardation, central nervous system disorders, and even death. Most patients with MSUD are treated with a restricted protein diet and milk from which BCAAs have been removed. LT has been shown effective in patients with MSUD. This report describes the case of a 15‐month‐old boy who received a liver graft from his mother. Transplantation was successful, and the patient was then able to ingest a normal diet. Despite episodes of acute rejection, chylous ascites, and high fever (40 °C), he has shown no evidence of MSUD recurrence. These findings indicate that patients with MSUD can be successfully treated by LDLT, even when the donor is a heterozygous carrier of a mutated BCKDH gene.     

Malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the soft tissue: a cytogenetic study

We report on a case of a solitary fibrous tumor that developed in the thigh of an 82-year-old woman. The tumor was composed of areas of high-grade sarcoma and typical solitary fibrous tumor. Its karyotype was: 70,XXX,+X[4],+1[2],add(1)(p36)[4],add(1)[2],+2[4],-3[4],+6[4],add(6)(p11)x2[4],+7[4],+9[3],-11[4],-12[4],-13[4],add(13)(p11)x2[4],-14[4],+15[4],-16[3],-17[4],-19[4],+20,[4],+21[4],+22[2],+mar1x2[4][cp4].     

Perfusion with carbon monoxide does not affect extracellular glutamate in dialysates of the hippocampus of freely moving mice

Carbon monoxide (CO) produces several neurological effects, including cognitive, mood, and behavioral disturbance. Glutamate is thought to play a particularly important role in learning and memory. Thus, the present study was aimed at investigating the local effect of CO on the glutamate level in the hippocampus of mice using in vivo reverse microdialysis. Mice were perfused with Ringer’s solution (control) or CO (60–125?μM) in Ringer’s solution into the hippocampus via microdialysis probe. Dialysate samples were collected every 20?min, and then analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to an electrochemical detector. The result revealed that the perfusion with CO had no significant effect on glutamate levels (p?=?0.316) as compared to the control group. This finding does not support a local CO rise as the cause of the increased glutamate level in the hippocampus of mice.     

Inter-segmental foot kinematics during gait in elderly females according to the severity of hallux valgus

The objective of this study was to find the effect of hallux valgus (HV) deformity on the inter-segmental motion of the foot using an MFM with a 15-marker set (DuPont Foot Model, DuFM) in comparison with age and sex controlled healthy adults. Fifty-eight female symptomatic HV patients and 50 female asymptomatic older female volunteers were included in this study. According to the radiographic hallux valgus angle (HVA), the study population was divided into severe HV (SHV, HVA ≥ 40°, n = 25), moderate HV (MHV, 20° ≤ HVA < 40°, n = 47), and control (CON, n = 36). MHV group was divided into symptomatic MHV group (S-MHV, n = 33) and asymptomatic MHV group (A-MHV, n = 14) according to the symptoms associated with HV. For temporal parameters, gait speed and stride length were diminished according to the severity of HV deformity. Sagittal range of motion of hallux and hindfoot decreased significantly in SHV group. Loss of push-off during the preswing phase was observed and forefoot adduction motion during terminal stance was decreased in SHV group. In a subgroup analysis of MHV, asymptomatic HV minimally affects gait and inter-segmental motion during gait. HV deformity affects gait parameters and inter-segmental motion of the foot during gait in proportion to the severity of the deformity. However, the effect of MHV itself on foot kinematics might be limited while pain or arthritic change of the joint might cause changes in gait in patients with symptomatic HV.     

Sex judgment using color fundus parameters in elementary school students

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - Recently, artificial intelligence has been used to determine sex using fundus photographs alone. We had earlier reported that sex...     

Assessment of Demineralization Inhibition Effects of Dentin Desensitizers Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanism of action and the inhibiting effects of two types of desensitizers against dentin demineralization using pre-demineralized hypersensitivity tooth model in vitro. In this study, we confirmed that a hypersensitivity tooth model from our preliminary experiment could be prepared by immersing dentin discs in an acetic acid-based solution with pH 5.0 for three days. Dentin discs with three days of demineralization were prepared and applied by one of the desensitizers containing calcium fluoro-alumino-silicate glass (Nanoseal, NS) or fluoro-zinc-silicate glass (Caredyne Shield, CS), followed by an additional three days of demineralization. Dentin discs for three days of demineralization (de3) and six days of demineralization (de6) without the desensitizers were also prepared. The dentin discs after the experimental protocol were scanned using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) to image the cross-sectional (2D) view of the samples and evaluate the SS-OCT signal. The signal intensity profiles of SS-OCT from the region of interest of 300, 500, and 700 µm in depth were obtained to calculate the integrated signal intensity and signal attenuation coefficient. The morphological differences and remaining chemical elements of the dentin discs were also analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. SS-OCT images of CS and NS groups showed no obvious differences between the groups. However, SS-OCT signal profiles for both the CS and NS groups showed smaller attenuation coefficients and larger integrated signal intensities than those of the de6 group. Reactional deposits of the desensitizers even after the additional three days of demineralization were observed on the dentin surface in NS group, whereas remnants containing Zn were detected within the dentinal tubules in CS group. Consequently, both CS and NS groups showed inhibition effects against the additional three days of demineralization in this study. Our findings demonstrate that SS-OCT signal analysis can be used to monitor the dentin demineralization and inhibition effects of desensitizers against dentin demineralization in vitro.     

Preoperative evaluation and indications for pulmonary metastasectomy

Pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) is an established treatment that can provide improved long-term survival for patients with metastatic tumor(s) in the lung. In the current era, where treatment options other than PM such as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), immunotherapy, and molecular-targeted therapy are available, thoracic surgeons should review the approach to the preoperative evaluation and the indications. Preoperative evaluation consists of history and physical examinations, physiological tests, and radiological examinations. Radiological examinations serve to identify the differential diagnosis of the pulmonary nodules, evaluate their precise number, location, and features, and search for extra thoracic metastases. The indication of PM should be considered from both physiological and oncological points of view. The general criteria for PM are as follows; (I) the patient has a good general condition, (II) the primary malignancy is controlled, (III) there is no other extrapulmonary metastases, and (IV) the pulmonary lesion(s) are thought to be completely resectable. In addition to the general eligibility criteria of PM, prognostic factors of each tumor type should be considered when deciding the indication for PM. When patients have multiple poor prognostic factors and/or a short disease-free interval (DFI), thoracic surgeons should not hesitate to observe the patient for a certain period before deciding on the indication for PM. A multidisciplinary discussion is needed in order to decide the indication for PM.