Anesthetic management of a patient with narcolepsy

We report the anesthetic management of a narcoleptic patient performed using sevoflurane–remifentanil with bispectral index (BIS) monitoring. A 22-year-old man, who was diagnosed with narcolepsy at the age of 17, requested endoscopic sinus surgery, under general anesthesia, for chronic allergic rhinitis. On the morning of the day of operation, he took his daily dose of modafinil, used to control narcolepsy. Anesthesia was induced by 5% sevoflurane and maintained with sevoflurane and continuous infusion of remifentanil and 60% oxygen in conjunction with BIS monitoring. BIS values were between 47 and 58. Duration of surgery was 150 min. After surgery, the patient emerged from anesthesia within 10 min and was extubated. His recovery was uneventful. We found the use of BIS monitoring for titrating sevoflurane concentration in a narcoleptic patient is useful for preventing not only oversedation but also intraoperative awareness caused by the preoperative medication.     

Clinical improvement of membranous nephropathy after endoscopic resection of double early gastrointestinal cancers

A-52-year-old man presented to our hospital with nephrotic syndrome caused by membranous nephropathy. Early gastric adenocarcinoma confined to the submucosa, and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in a sigmoid adenoma were detected by screening endoscopy. Two years after complete endoscopic resection of these tumors, the estimated 24-h urinary protein excretion decreased, and serum total protein and albumin returned to their normal levels although he had no immunosuppressive therapy. Thus, this case was considered to be a case of secondary membranous nephropathy to cancer, although whether the pathogenesis was due to circulating or in situ immune complexes is unknown. The suspected antigen component of this immune complex can include carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9). In our patient, however, serum CEA and CA19-9 were within normal values during the clinical course, and detected cancers were early stage and very small. Recently, the existence of anti-mucin 1 (MUC1) antibodies before carcinogenesis and their usefulness for early detection of cancer were reported. We tried to stain tumors and glomeruli for MUC1 but, although we had positive findings in both tumors but not in glomeruli, the role of MUC1 in the pathogenesis of membranous nephropathy is unknown. To the best of our knowledge, paraneoplastic nephrosis caused by double early cancers expressing MUC1 in the gastrointestinal tract has not been previously reported.     

Heterogeneity of apex-to-base dispersion in diastolic lengthening is related to impaired global left ventricular relaxation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background  

The presence of apex-to-base disparity in diastolic left ventricle (LV) endocardial lengthening, based on an electromechanical activation sequence, has been recognized as an important determinant of LV diastolic properties. However, the behavior of LV apical and basal diastolic lengthening and its relationship to LV filling in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are unknown.     

Panretinal photocoagulation with simultaneous cryoretinopexy or intravitreal bevacizumab for neovascular glaucoma

Background

To compare the therapeutic effects of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) combined with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and cryoretinopexy (CR-IVB) to that of PRP combined with IVB alone in eyes with neovascular glaucoma (NVG).

Design

Retrospective, consecutive, case-control study.

Methods

The medical records of 102 eyes of 96 patients with NVG due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, and ocular ischemic syndrome were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 59.6?±?11.5 years, with a range of 34 to 84 years. Patients received either 1.25 mg/0.05 ml of IVB combined with 360° of cryotherapy of the peripheral retina (CR-IVB subgroup) or IVB alone (IVB alone subgroup) as adjunctive treatments to PRP. The patients were followed for at least 12 months. Fifty-four eyes of 49 patients had open-angle NVG; 30 of these eyes were treated by CR-IVB, and 24 eyes by IVB alone. Forty-eight eyes of 48 patients had angle-closure NVG; 22 of these eyes were treated by CR-IVB, and 26 eyes were by IVB alone. Failure was defined as a postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) >21 mmHg for two consecutive follow-up visits, or the need of additional surgery such as trabeculectomy or diode laser cycloablation. The differences in the success rates between the CR-IVB and IVB alone subgroups for the eyes with open-angle and closed-angle NVG were compared.

Results

The success rate at 12 months in eyes with open-angle NVG was 80.0 % in the CR-IVB subgroup and 41.7 % in the IVB alone subgroup (P?=?0.0096). In eyes with angle-closure NVG, the success rate at 12 months was 22.7 % in the CR-IVB subgroup and 0 % in the IVB-alone subgroup (P?=?0.030).

Conclusion

The significantly better IOP control after PRP combined with cryotherapy and IVB than after PRP with IVB alone indicates that cryotherapy enhances the effectiveness of PRP for neovascular glaucoma for at least 1 year.     

Characteristics of diabetic retinopathy in SDT rats

BACKGROUND: We previously reported a new diabetic strain of the Sprague-Dawley rat, named the Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) rat. The purpose of the present study was to report the histologic and ultrastructural characteristics of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a new animal model, the SDT rat. METHODS: Fifty-three eyes of 43 SDT rats of various ages (35-82 weeks) were examined, of which 33 underwent histopathologic examination, 15 eyes fluorescein-dextran microscopy, and five eyes the trypsin digestion method. RESULTS: Of the 33 eyes examined histopathologically, DR was identified in 20 eyes (61%). Large retinal folds mimicking diabetic tractional retinal detachment were observed in 20 eyes (61%). Retinal hemorrhages were seen in four eyes (12%). A neovascular fibrous membrane around the iris developed in five eyes (15%), of which two eyes had a massive anterior chamber hemorrhage. Of the 15 eyes examined by fluorescein-dextran microscopy, an area of nonperfusion and/or extensive hyperfluorescence was observed in 12 eyes (80%). Of the five eyes examined using the trypsin digestion method, acellular capillaries and pericyte loss were observed in four eyes (80%). Of the 53 eyes, the previously mentioned retinal changes of DR were observed in 36 eyes (68%). The rats with DR (49-82 weeks; mean, 60 weeks) were older than the rats without DR (35-55 weeks; mean, 40 weeks) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Large retinal folds mimicking tractional retinal detachment with extensive leakage of fluorescein around the optic disk was the most prominent finding of DR in SDT rats.     

Association between components of the metabolic syndrome and serum levels of C-reactive protein in Japanese workingmen

Middle-aged workingmen (N=984) with no present medical treatment were enrolled to determine whether there is an association between the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and serum levels of C-reactive protein. MetS was defined as follows: waist circumference > or = 85 cm as a necessary criterion; in addition, two or more of the following criteria were required: serum triglycerides > or = 150 mg/dL and/or highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol <40 mg/dL; systolic blood pressure > or = 130 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure > or = 85 mm Hg; fasting blood glucose > or = 110 mg/dL. Three groups were identified by the components of MetS: a reference group of subjects with a waist circumference <85 cm; group A, with a waist circumference > or = 85 cm with no or one additional MetS criterion; and group B, subjects satisfying the criteria for a diagnosis of MetS. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the components of MetS contributed significantly to serum levels of C-reactive protein. The odds ratios were 2.5 (group A) and 4.0 (group B), when 3 mg/L was adopted as the cutoff value of C-reactive protein.     

A case of primary biliary cirrhosis complicated by Behcet＇s disease and palmoplantar pustulosis

A 46-year-old woman was diagnosed with palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) at the Department of Dermatology, Fukushima Medical University Hospital in 2000, and was treated with ointment. However, because liver dysfunction developed in 2003, she was referred to our department, where primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) was also diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings. One year later, at the age of 49, she developed manifestations of Behçet’s disease (BD), including erythema nodosum in the lower extremities. Because she had a history of uveitis, recurrent oral ulceration was present, and the HLA typing was positive for B51, BD was additionally diagnosed. Liver function normalized within three months of the start of treatment with ursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA). This is the first case of PBC associated with BD and PPP.     

Behavioral and psychological symptoms, cognitive impairment and caregiver burden related to Alzheimer's disease patients treated in an outpatient memory clinic

AIM: The relationships among behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), cognitive impairment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and the caregiver burden of their caregivers were investigated in an outpatient memory clinic. METHODS: Forty-six pairs of AD patients and their family caregivers were involved in this study. Neuropsychiatry Inventory (NPI) was used to estimate BPSD, to which memory symptoms were added as a subcategory of BPSD. MMSE, word fluency, clock drawing test and category-cued memory test were used for cognitive measurement. Zarit burden interview (ZBI) and CES-D were used to assess caregiver burden. RESULTS: Among 11 BPSD subcategories, memory symptoms, apathy, depression, delusion, aggression and anxiety were prevalent BPSD was a strong determinant of caregiver burden. Among BPSD symptoms, anxiety, aggression and aberrant motor behavior were significantly related to ZBL In terms of the relationship between BPSD and cognitive impairment, the scores for delusion and apathy were significantly related to the cognitive decline. On the other hand, patients who showed symptoms related to memory and depression had higher cognitive function than those who did not. CONCLUSION: These analyses will contribute to better assessment of AD patients and their caregivers, hopefully resulting in better support for them.     

Head growth evaluation in early childhood,from the Japan Children's Study

Background: Head circumference (HC) trajectories are held to reflect neurological development and the acquirement of intelligence. It is important to assess HC growth accurately because atypical HC growth is an indicator of various developmental disorders. HC growth is determined by both familial and physical factors but, hitherto, no one has considered both factors together. The aim of the present study was thus to investigate the relationship between HC, physical growth, and parental HC. Methods: The study group in the Japan Children's Study consisted of 192 healthy full‐term Japanese children. HC (maximum occiptofrontal circumference), height and bodyweight were measured at the ages of 4, 9 and 18 months. Multiple regression analysis were conducted predicting the HC from the body measurements and mid‐parental HC (defined as the average of standardized paternal and maternal HC). Results: Adjusted multiple R² were 0.336, 0.307 and 0.259, measured at the aforementioned three stages. Bodyweight and mid‐parental HC predicted the HC on each occasion (P < 0.01). Bodyweight was more relevant than mid‐parental HC. Conclusions: HC growth is influenced by physical growth and parental HC; therefore, it is important to consider both physical and familial factors. A formula is herein proposed to assess HC using bodyweight and mid‐parental HC.