Relationship Between the Contrast Effects of Raw Data Projection Images from Three-Dimensional Digital Subtraction Angiography and the Optimal Volume Rendering Parameters

Volume rendering (VR) is a technique commonly used for the reconstruction of three-dimensional (3D) digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images, and the rendering parameters greatly affect the characteristics of the 3D image. This study aimed to test whether the optimal VR parameters for 3D DSA could be estimated from the contrast effects in rotational two-dimensional (2D) DSA images acquired using 3D DSA. Simulated blood vessels filled with various concentrations of contrast medium were scanned, and the 3D DSA data sets were reconstructed. The syngo AX vessel analysis software that was able to analyze 3D DSA VR image was used for objective measures. Raw data projection images of the 3D DSA data sets in which the mean diameter was calculated as a true value by the software at nine different thresholds for vessel segmentation were selected. In each image set, five images of all 133 rotational 2D DSA images were selected, and the contrast-enhanced area was extracted using a region-growing algorithm. Mean values and standard deviations of each contrast-enhanced area were calculated, and as the thresholds for vessel segmentation of the software increased by 500 every time, significant differences were observed in the mean values (P < 0.01). This optimal threshold can be applied to the window settings of the VR technique. Therefore, the optimal VR parameters for 3D DSA may be determined by analyzing the contrast effects of the raw data projection images, and user-dependent over- and underestimations of 3D DSA VR images also may be prevented.     

Results of a survey of community-acquired-pneumonia and evaluation of old and new Japanese Respiratory Society guidelines]

We evaluated the usefulness of domestic and foreign guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with community-acquired-pneumonia at 23 institutions in 6 prefectures of the Tohoku Area, from December 2003 to November 2004. Based on the old and new Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) guidelines, we evaluated severity, clinical efficacy and detection of atypical pneumonia. As for severity, the old guidelines led to the diagnosis of an excessive number of 'severe' cases. On the other hand, patients were appropriately diagnosed as having mild, moderate, severe, or very severe disease based on the new JRS guidelines (2005). The severity classification often correlated with the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) of the IDSA guidelines. The efficacy rate for patients who were prescribed the recommended drug according to the old JRS guidelines was 85.7% and for those who did not use the recommended drug it was 68.7% (p < 0.001).     

Ileal schwannoma developing into ileocolic intussusception

Intussusception is rare in adults. We describe a 47-yearold man with ileal schwannoma that led to ileocolic intussusception. Abdominal ultrasonography, abdominal CT scan and barium enema confirmed an ileal tumor. Colonoscopy revealed a peduncular submucosal tumor （SMT） 75 mm long with an ulcerated apex at the ascending colon. The provisional diagnosis was a gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the terminal ileum. Ileocecal resection was carried out and the tumor was histologically diagnosed as schwannoma. Abdominal pain resolved postoperatively. This case reminds us that ileal schwannoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of intussusception caused by an SMT in the intestine.     

Hemangioma located just above the left main coronary artery, in a subject who had cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation, led to a diagnosis of Brugada syndrome

We report the case of a 38-year-old Asian man with a pericardial hemangioma on the left main coronary artery. The patient presented initially at our hospital after cardiopulmonary resuscitation following an episode of ventricular fibrillation (VF). Because of spontaneous coved-type ST segment elevation on the higher intercostal space V1 to V2 in a 12-lead electrocardiogram, documented VF in the absence of structural heart disease, and a family history of sudden death, he was diagnosed with Brugada syndrome. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a smooth-surfaced mass with well-demarcated borders, directly above the left main coronary artery. Computed tomography confirmed the presence of the mass, which showed no enhancement at early phase, but did demonstrate homogenous enhancement at delay phase by contrast material. There were no findings from either the nuclear medicine or the tumor marker investigations which indicated that the mass located just above the main coronary arteries was malignant. Therefore, taken together, these findings suggested that the tumor might be a pericardial hemangioma. The relationship between the location of the hemangioma just above the left main coronary artery and the occurrence of VF was not clear, i.e. whether the presence of the hemangioma caused the stimulation of the left main coronary artery and as a result, led to the spasm of the left main coronary artery and the occurrence of VF. Furthermore, as the tumor did not extend into any of the adjacent structures, such as the coronary arteries or the right ventricular outflow tract, surgical resection was not performed; instead, the patient received a dual chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.     

Spread of predominant neuraminidase and hemagglutinin co-mutations in the influenza A/H3N2 virus genome

Genetic variation of influenza neuraminidase (NA), unlike for hemagglutinin (HA), has not been fully characterized. Therefore, we determined the relation between mutations in the NA and HA genome segments of 205 influenza A/H3N2 viruses isolated from patients in Japan during the five seasons from 2010 to 2015. The amino acid (AA) sequences of the NA and HA proteins in these isolates were then determined. In the 2011–2012 season, there was the emergence of isolates with NA and HA sequences containing AA93G (NA93G) and AA278K (HA278K), respectively (24/48 isolates, 50.0%). This was in contrast to NA93D-HA278N being detected exclusively in the previous 2010–2011 season (24/24 isolates, 100.0%). The isolates with the NA93G-HA278K substitutions became predominant in the following 2012–2013 season (95.8%, 46/48 isolates). The NA and HA phylogenetic trees of the 2011–2012 and 2012–2013 seasons were segregated by clades with NA93D-HA278N or NA93G-HA278K. In the subsequent 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 seasons, the strong relationship between NA93D-HA278N and NA93G-HA278K observed in the previous seasons, was no longer present and NA93G-HA278N (33/52 isolates, 63.5% in the 2014–2015 season) became predominant. In addition, the clades within the NA and HA trees could no longer be segregated based on NA AA93 and HA AA278. These findings suggest that the co-mutation of NA and HA AA sequences is present and may contribute to the formation of an epidemic lineage.     

In vitro neuraminidase inhibitory concentration (IC50) of four neuraminidase inhibitors in the Japanese 2016–17 season: Comparison with the 2010–11 to 2015–16 seasons

To assess the extent of susceptibility to the four most commonly used neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) in the viruses epidemic in the 2016–17 Japanese influenza season, we measured the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of these NAIs for influenza virus isolates from patients and compared them with the results from the 2010–11 to 2015–16 seasons.Viral isolation was done with specimens obtained prior to treatment, and the type and subtype was determined by RT-PCR using type- and subtype-specific primers. The IC₅₀ was determined by a neuraminidase inhibition assay using a fluorescent substrate.A total of 276 virus isolates, 6 A (H1N1)pdm09 (2.2%), 249 A (H3N2) (90.2%), and 21 B (7.6%), had the IC₅₀ measured for the four NAIs. B isolates included 11 (52.4%), 9 (42.9%), and one (4.8%) of the Victoria, Yamagata, and undetermined strains, respectively.No A (H1N1)pdm09 with highly reduced sensitivity for oseltamivir was found in the 2016–17 season. No isolate with highly reduced sensitivity to the four NAIs have been found for A (H3N2) or B from the 2010–11 to 2016–17 seasons. No significant trend of increase or decrease was found in the geometric mean IC₅₀s of the four NAIs during the seven studied seasons.These results indicate that the sensitivity to the four commonly used NAIs has been maintained and that any change in the effectiveness of these NAIs would be minute. Common usage of NAIs for patient treatment has not been a driving force in the selection of NAI resistant viruses.     

Influence of Bleeding Risk on Outcomes of Radial and Femoral Access for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: An Analysis From the GLOBAL LEADERS Trial

BackgroundRadial artery access has been shown to reduce mortality and bleeding events, especially in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Despite this, interventional cardiologists experienced in femoral artery access still prefer that route for percutaneous coronary intervention. Little is known regarding the merits of each vascular access in patients stratified by their risk of bleeding.MethodsPatients from the Global Leaders trial were dichotomized into low or high risk of bleeding by the median of the PRECISE-DAPT score. Clinical outcomes were compared at 30 days.ResultsIn the overall population, there were no statistical differences between radial and femoral access in the rate of the primary end point, a composite of all-cause mortality, or new Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI) (hazard ratio [HR] 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42-1.15). Radial access was associated with a significantly lower rate of the secondary safety end point, Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) 3 or 5 bleeding (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.36-0.84). Compared by bleeding risk strata, in the high bleeding score population, the primary (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.26-0.85; P = 0.012; P_interaction = 0.019) and secondary safety (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.35-0.95; P = 0.030; P_interaction = 0.631) end points favoured radial access. In the low bleeding score population, however, the differences in the primary and secondary safety end points between radial and femoral artery access were no longer statistically significant.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the outcomes of mortality or new Q-wave MI and BARC 3 or 5 bleeding favour radial access in patients with a high, but not those with a low, risk of bleeding. Because this was not a primary analysis, it should be considered hypothesis generating.     

A Cross-sectional Survey of Patients with Suspected Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain in Japan

Objective The burden of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) is poorly understood. The present study reported on the current status of DPNP in Japan, to improve our understanding of this condition among healthcare providers and inform future clinical research on its prevalence, diagnosis, and management. Methods A cross-sectional, observational study (UMIN000037023) was conducted via a web-based survey. The primary endpoints were the frequency of patients with bilateral foot symptoms, consulting a doctor, understanding DPNP, and reporting problems in daily life, as well as the treatment awareness of patients. Patients Adults ≥20 years old who were registered in the Rakuten Insight Disease Panel and receiving anti-diabetic therapy in Japan were included. Results Bilateral foot pain symptoms were reported by 1,768/7,754 (22.8%) respondents, most commonly intense numbness (13.0%). Of those with symptoms, 55.3% consulted a doctor; the most common reason for not seeking consultation was feeling that symptoms were insufficiently severe to bother their doctor (89.4%). Nearly 60% reported understanding the causes of their symptoms, with diabetes-associated neurologic deficits (58.8%) most commonly identified. About one-quarter reported daily life problems, including an inability to walk for long periods (58.3%) and feeling anxious (58.1%). Treatment awareness was reported by 18.2%; oral medications were commonly recognized (64.6%). Conclusion In Japan, 22.8% of patients with diabetes have bilateral foot pain symptoms; some experience problems in their daily life without understanding the causes of their symptoms. This supports the importance of actions to increase awareness and minimize DPNP-associated impairment of daily life in patients with diabetes.     

Obstructive and secretory complications of diverting ileostomy

This review aimed to highlight the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of obstructive and secretory complications associated with diverting ileostomy (DI). Obstructive complications at the stoma site are termed stoma outlet obstruction (SOO) or stoma-related obstruction (SRO). The incidence of SOO/SRO is 5.4%-27.3%, and the risk factors are multifactorial; however, the configuration of the stoma limb and the thickness of the rectus abdominis muscle (RAM) may be of particular concern. Trans-stomal tube decompression is initially attempted with a success rate of 33%-86%. A thick RAM may carry the risk of recurrence. Surgical refinement, including a wider incision of the anterior sheath and adequate stoma limb length, avoids tension and immobility and may decrease SOO/SRO. Secretory complications of DI are termed high output stoma (HOS). Persistent HOS lead to water and sodium depletion, and secondary hyperaldosteronism, resulting in electrolyte imbalances, such as hypomagnesemia. The incidence of HOS is 14%-24%, with an output of 1000-2000 mL/d lasting up to three days. Treatment of HOS is commenced after excluding postoperative complications or enteritis and includes fluid intake restriction, antimotility and antisecretory drug therapies, and magnesium supplementation. Intensive monitoring and surveillance programs have been successful in decreasing readmissions for dehydration.