Noncardiac chest pain due to acute gastric anisakiasis

Summary This paper described the first confirmed case of acute anginalike chest pain caused by gastric anisakiasis. A 55-year-old male, with a history of a sudden onset of chest pain and also a history of eating raw mackerel and tuna 9 hr prior to the onset of chest pain, was found upon endoscopy to have an imbedded parasite in the mucosal lining of his stomach. The chest pain disappeared after the endoscopic removal of larva. Endoscopy is highly recommended at the earliest possible time for patients who are suspected to have acute gastric anisakiasis.     

Expression of osteopontin at sites of bone erosion in a murine experimental arthritis model of collagen-induced arthritis: possible involvement of osteopontin in bone destruction in arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the involvement of osteopontin (OPN) in bone destruction in a murine experimental arthritis model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS: The expression of OPN was examined at both the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels in various arthritic lesions in mice with CIA by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In addition, the expression of alpha(v)beta3 integrin, a receptor for OPN, the ligation of which is thought to be essential for bone resorption by osteoclasts, was examined by immunohistochemistry. Plasma concentrations of OPN were measured at different time points in the course of CIA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: OPN mRNA was detected mainly at sites of bone erosion in arthritic lesions, where activated osteoclasts were present; OPN protein was also detected at sites of bone erosion. In the arthritic synovium, OPN was predominantly expressed in the synovial lining layer, but not in lymphoid aggregates. In addition, alpha(v)beta3 integrin was detected coincident with OPN at sites of bone erosion (bone-pannus junction). Plasma OPN levels were markedly elevated at the time points that corresponded to arthritis flares, and higher levels were maintained during the progression of arthritis. CONCLUSION: OPN may mediate bone resorption by osteoclasts in arthritis through ligation with its receptor, alpha(v)beta3 integrin. OPN may be a useful therapeutic target molecule in the prevention of bone destruction in arthritis.     

Volume analyzer SYNAPSE VINCENT for liver analysis

In recent years, there has been an active movement to ensure the greater safety of actual surgeries, by simulating it preoperatively with the use of three‐dimensional image visualization technologies. Along with this movement, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has named “Image‐supported navigation in hepatectomy” as part of advanced medical techniques. This method aims to improve the safety during a surgery by calculating the volume of the liver dominated by each blood vessel or simulating, prior to surgery, the volume of resection zone or the remaining liver volume. These calculations and simulations are carried out using the three‐dimensional images produced by extractions of the liver, vascular and tumor regions from the computed tomography images, which were collected using the tomography apparatus prior to hepatectomy. In order to facilitate the achievement of such preoperative simulations, the volume analyzer SYNAPSE VINCENT (VINCENT, hereafter) by Fujifilm, in its Liver Analysis Application, comes equipped with unique features. This paper will introduce the technologies behind those unique features and provide a direction for future research and developments.     

Totally Ossified Metaplastic Spinal Meningioma

A 61-year-old woman with a very rare case of totally ossified large thoracic spinal metaplastic meningioma, showing progressing myelopathy is presented. Computed tomographic images showed a large totally ossfied intradural round mass occupying the spinal canal on T9-10 level. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large T9-10 intradural extramedullary mass that was hypointense to spinal cord on T1- and T2-weighted sequences, partial enhancement was apparent after Gadolinium administration. The spinal cord was severely compressed and displaced toward the right at the level of T9-10. Surgical removal of the tumor was successfully accomplished via the posterior midline approach and the histological diagnosis verified an ossified metaplastic meningioma. The clinical neurological symptoms of patient were improved postoperatively. In this article we discuss the surgical and pathological aspects of rare case of spinal totally ossified metaplastic meningioma.     

Use of a triple antibiotic solution affects the healing process of intentionally delayed replanted teeth in mice

ObjectiveA mixture of ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and minocycline (3Mix) has been reported to be effective against oral bacteria from carious and endodontic lesions in vitro and in vivo. The objective of this study was to establish an animal model using mice for the application of 3Mix following intentionally delayed tooth replantation and to investigate the effects of 3Mix on the healing process of dental pulp and periodontal tissues.MethodsUpper first molars of ICR mice were extracted, immersed in 3Mix solution at different concentrations for 5–60 min with or without the use of a transfer solution (phosphate buffer solution (PBS)), in addition to transfer solution alone, and subsequently repositioned in the sockets. Immunohistochemistry for nestin and Ki-67, histochemistry for TRAP, and TUNEL assay were performed to assess pulpal healing during days 7–21.ResultsIncreased apoptosis was observed in the PBS group at week 1, followed by cell proliferation at week 2, and tertiary dentin and/or bone-like tissue formation at week 3. In contrast, nestin-positive, newly differentiated, odontoblast-like cells began to align along the pulp–dentin border following the appearance of Ki-67- and TUNEL-positive cells during weeks 1–2 in the 3Mix groups, suggesting that pulpal healing was accelerated. Severe root ankylosis was observed exclusively in the 3Mix groups. Rinsing with PBS before replantation partially rescued the viability of the periodontal ligament, but pulpal healing was delayed.ConclusionsThe application of 3Mix promotes pulpal regeneration of intentionally delayed replanted teeth; however, its use may induce severe damage to periodontal tissues.