Introduction of the targeted alpha therapy (with Radium-223) into clinical practice in Japan: learnings and implementation

Annals of Nuclear Medicine - Radium-223 dichloride (Ra-223) is the first targeted alpha therapy approved for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with bone...     

Anti‐Müllerian hormone as a marker of ovarian reserve: What have we learned,and what should we know?

Ovarian reserve reflects the quality and quantity of available oocytes. This reserve has become indispensable for the better understanding of reproductive potential. Measurement of the serum anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) level allows quantitative evaluation of ovarian reserve. It has been applied to a wide range of clinical conditions, and it is well established that the measurement of serum AMH levels is more useful than qualitative evaluation based on the menstrual cycle. AMH levels are monitored during infertility treatments; in patients undergoing medically assisted reproductive technology; and in the diagnosis of ovarian failure, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and granulosa cell tumor. It is also useful in the evaluation of iatrogenic ovarian damage. Population‐based studies have indicated a potential role for serum AMH in the planning of reproductive health management. While AMH is currently the best measure of ovarian reserve, its predictive value for future live births remains controversial. Furthermore, there is a serious practical issue in the interpretation of test results, as currently available assay kits use different assay ranges and coefficients of variation due to the absence of an international reference standard. The pros and cons of the serum AMH level as a definitive measure of ovarian reserve merits further review in order to guide future research.     

Speech comprehension assessed by electroencephalography: a new method using m-sequence modulation

Electroencephalograms (EEGs) were recorded from eight Japanese speakers while they listened to Japanese and Spanish sentences (approximately 51s each). The sentences were modulated in amplitude by a binary m-sequence and played forward or backward. A circular cross-correlation function was computed between the EEG signals and the m-sequence and averaged across subjects. Independent component analysis of the averaged function revealed a component source response which was obtained only for the comprehensible Japanese and not for the incomprehensible sentences. The present study has thus shown that a 1-min long EEG signal is sufficient for the assessment of speech comprehension.     

Clarification of the pathogenesis and development of clinical examination for allergic diseases

The incidence of allergic diseases has dramatically increased in recent decades in Japan; therefore, it is important to establish ways to diagnose allergic patients based on their pathogenesis and to treat them. Allergic diseases are complicated and diverse disorders in which various cells and mediators are involved; however, it is widely accepted that they are Th2-type inflammations triggered by the invasion of allergens. It is known that either IL-4 or IL-13, particularly the latter, has an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma among Th-2 type cytokines; however, it is unclear how IL-4 or IL-13 causes asthmatic phenotypes. We have been trying to address this question by using microarray analysis. We have recently found that periostin, identified as an IL-4/IL-13-inducible gene by microarray analysis, is a novel component of subepithelial fibrosis of bronchial asthma. This finding is important to demonstrate the significance of IL-4 and/or IL-13 as a therapeutic target to inhibit fibrosis in bronchial asthma. Furthermore, it is also important to establish a way to diagnose allergic patients in which IL-4 or IL-13 is dominantly involved, and to apply the developing IL-4/IL-13 inhibitors to these patients. In this article, we show how we are addressing this issue.     

Formaldehyde concentrations in the breathing zone of medical students during gross anatomy laboratory in Toho University

Cadavers for gross anatomy laboratories are conventionally embalmed by formaldehyde (FA) solution in most medical schools. Thus, medical students and instructors are exposed to FA vapors emitted from cadavers during dissection. As a basic survey for the improvement of the dissection environment, we examined FA concentration in the gross anatomy laboratory during the 2006 academic year at the Faculty of Medicine of Toho University. Air samples were taken from 20 cm above a cadaver as breathing zone, and above a desk between cadavers as indoor FA concentration. FA concentrations in the breathing zone were ranged from 0.24 to 3.04 (mean 1.71) ppm during systematic anatomy, and from 0.72 to 1.60 (mean 1.16) ppm during neuroanatomy, and indoor FA concentration ranged from 048 to 1.11 (mean 0.76) ppm and from 0.21 to 0.23 (mean 0.22) ppm, respectively. These results showed that medical students and instructors are exposed to higher concentrations of FA than allowed by the guidelines of the Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and suggested the need to reduce FA levels in the gross anatomy laboratory.     

Comparison of visual field defect progression in secondary Glaucoma due to anterior uveitis caused by three types of herpes viruses

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To clarify the prevalence of secondary glaucoma (SG) and its speed of progression in patients with herpes simplex virus...     

Preoperative assessment of hemifacial spasm by the coronal heavily T2-weighted MR cisternography

Background

Microvascular decompression (MVD) has become a well-established surgical procedure for hemifacial spasm (HFS). Before surgery, it is essential to evaluate any possible deformity of the brainstem and establish the precise location of the offending vessels. In the present study of HFS patients we examined coronal sections taken by heavily T2-weighted MR cisternography in addition to routine axial sections, and assessed the usefulness of these images through comparison with intraoperative findings.

Methods

Eighty patients with HFS underwent preoperative coronal heavily T2-weighted MR cisternography before microvascular decompression surgery. Three neurosurgeons examined the preoperative axial and coronal MR images and evaluated vessel invagination into the brainstem. The usefulness of coronal sections was assessed statistically by the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results

Invagination of the offending vessel into the brainstem was observed in 24 cases (30.0%). In 19 patients, it was predicted preoperatively that compression of the flocculus and brainstem would be required in order to approach the offending vessels. Coronal MR cisternography was significantly more useful in cases with vessel invagination into the brainstem than in cases without invagination.

Conclusions

Coronal sections obtained by MR cisternography are able to demonstrate the severity of vessel invagination into the brainstem as well as revealing the presence of the offending vessel. This information is helpful for planning a suitable approach to the root exit zone.     

Evaluation of permanent and primary enamel and dentin mineral density using micro-computed tomography

Oral Radiology - The present study was performed to investigate the mineral density distribution in enamel and dentin for both permanent and primary teeth and to establish the standard density per...