N–C bond formation between two anilines coordinated to a ruthenium center in cis-form affording a 3,5-cyclohexadiene-1,2-diimine moiety

Ruthenium complexes containing two anilines or its derivatives, cis-[Ru^II(NH₂C₆H₅)₂(bpy)₂]²⁺ ([1]²⁺) and cis-[Ru^II(NH₂C₆H₄(4-CH₃))₂(bpy)₂]²⁺ ([2]²⁺), were oxidized by four molar equivalents of (NH₄)₄[Ce^IV(SO₄)₄]·2H₂O to give N¹-phenylcyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diimineruthenium(ii) complexes, cis-[Ru^II(NHC₆H₄NC₆H₅)(bpy)₂]²⁺ ([4]²⁺) and cis-[Ru^II(NHC₆H₃(4-CH₃)NC₆H₄(4-CH₃))(bpy)₂]²⁺ ([5]²⁺), respectively, through an N–C bond formation between two aniline ligands cis-coordinated to the ruthenium center.

Four-electron oxidation of two anilines coordinated to a ruthenium(ii) center in a cis-form affords N¹-phenylcyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diimine through an N–C bond formation with N–H and C–H bond activation.     

IgA Vasculitis in an Oldest-old Patient Successfully Treated with Glucocorticoid

A 94-year-old man was diagnosed with immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV), and losartan was initiated. His renal function rapidly deteriorated over a month; therefore, methylprednisolone was administered intravenously for three days followed by oral prednisolone. Renal function improvement and both proteinuria and hematuria remission were observed within six months. Prednisolone tapering was completed at eight months. In this case, we monitored the patient carefully and started glucocorticoids as soon as the patient''s renal function deteriorated. We were thus able to treat the patient with a relatively small dose of glucocorticoids in a short treatment period without any adverse events due to glucocorticoids.     

Functional and oncological outcomes after retropharyngeal node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Papillary thyroid carcinoma frequently metastasizes to central and lateral neck lymph nodes, but metastasis to retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RPLN) is...     

Comparison of behavioral and psychological symptoms in early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND: When comparing with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EO-AD) and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LO-AD), some symptomatological differences in clinical features can be seen between them. Rapid progression, more severe language problems or visuospatial dysfunction occur more often in EO-AD patients. However, there have been very few reports about the differences in behavioral and psychological symptoms between these two groups. AIM: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the differences in behavioral symptoms between EO-AD and LO-AD groups. METHOD: Three hundred and seven consecutive outpatients with AD were put into an EO-AD group (46 patients) or a LO-AD group (261 patients). Comprehensive assessment batteries, including the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), were administered at the first medical assessment. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the EO-AD and LO-AD groups in terms of NPI total score (EO-AD: 10.3 +/- 10.9, LO-AD: 17.8 +/- 17.0, p = 0.004) and number of patients who experienced each NPI subscale score (delusion; EO-AD: 13.0%, LO-AD: 50.6%, p < 0.001). There were no differences in cognitive functions or dementia severity between two groups. CONCLUSION: In EO-AD, behavioral and psychological symptoms are relatively fewer than LO-AD at the first medical assessment. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Treatment of hepatic amyloid light‐chain amyloidosis with bortezomib and dexamethasone in a liver transplant patient

Hepatic amyloid light‐chain (AL) amyloidosis is characterized by abnormal deposition of amyloid fibrils in the liver. As this precursor protein is produced by a proliferative plasma cell clone in the bone marrow, liver transplantation (LT) does not affect the disease's progression. Here, we describe the successful treatment using bortezomib‐ and dexamethasone‐based chemotherapy, following LT, of hepatic AL amyloidosis in a 65‐year‐old woman with progressive liver failure. The patient presented with progressive hepatic dysfunction accompanied by hepatorenal syndrome requiring hemodialysis, and living donor LT was successfully performed. Histology revealed amyloid deposits in the liver and stomach, and serum immunofixation revealed AL amyloidosis (κ‐type). The patient began chemotherapy on day 45 after the LT, and remission was achieved after one course. She was subsequently discharged 83 days after the LT, with normal liver and renal function, and no clinical evidence of recurrent disease was observed at the latest follow up (22 months post‐LT).     

Mortality and morbidity after spinal surgery in patients with Parkinson's disease: a retrospective matched-pair cohort study

Background Context

There is a lack of information about postoperative outcomes and related risk factors associated with spinal surgery in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Gallbladder Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma

We experienced a rare case of gallbladder metastasis from renal cell carcinoma. A 68-year-old man was admitted for further evaluation of a gallbladder tumor, which had been identified on follow-up computed tomography after partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. Enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed an enhancing polypoid mass in the gallbladder lumen. Endoscopic ultrasonography demonstrated a homogenous hypo-echoic polypoid lesion, and the outer hyper-echoic layer of the adjacent wall was intact. Blood flow signals in the wall side of the mass were observed on color Doppler endoscopic ultrasonography images. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed and he was uneventfully discharged. Macroscopic examination of the specimen revealed a 12?×?7?×?5 mm pedunculated tumor attached by a thin pedicle to the fundus of the gallbladder. Histology confirmed a metastasis of the renal cell carcinoma that had infiltrated the shallow subserosa but had mainly grown into cavity of the gallbladder. These imaging findings are considered characteristic and may assist preoperative diagnosis in patients with a history of renal cell carcinoma.     

The normative score and the cut-off value of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)

Purpose

The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is one of the most common scoring systems used for patients with low back pain (LBP). Although the normative score of the ODI was reported to be 10.19 in a review article, no study has calculated the normative score after adjusting the value based on the age distribution. In addition, none of the previous studies has estimated the cut-off value which separates LBP with disability from LBP without disability. The purpose of this study was to estimate the normative score by adjusting the data for age distribution in Japan, and to determine the cut-off value which separates LBP with disability from LBP without disability.

Methods

We conducted an internet survey on LBP using the Japanese version of the ODQ. A total of 1,200 respondents, composed of 100 males and 100 females in each age group (from the 20s to 70s), participated in this study. We also asked them to provide information about their backgrounds. We estimated the normative score after correcting for the age distribution of Japan. We also estimated the ODI of those with or without disability, the factors associated with the ODI, and the cut-off value which separates LBP with disability from LBP without disability.

Results

The participants’ backgrounds were similar to the national survey. The normative score of the ODI was estimated at 8.73. The ODI of the LBP with disability group was 22.07. Those with sciatica and obese subjects showed higher ODI than those without. The optimal cut-off value was estimated to be 12.

Conclusions

We defined the normative score and the cut-off value of the ODI.