Correlation between number of renal cysts and aortic circumferences measured using autopsy material

Although the presence of renal cysts has been reported to be associated with aortic aneurysm or dissection by imaging studies, an autopsy study has not been performed. Therefore, in our institute, recent consecutive adult autopsy cases (n = 108, 64 males and 44 females) were reviewed. The circumferences and atherosclerosis ratios of both thoracic and abdominal aorta were individually measured and graded. The number of renal cysts was scored and graded. Age of subjects along with histories of smoking, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were confirmed. Multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that severity of atherosclerosis and the number of renal cysts were correlated with thoracic aortic circumference, while only the number of renal cysts was correlated with abdominal aortic circumference (p < 0.05), which was more predominant in female subjects (p < 0.05). Microscopically, significantly more dilated renal tubules (by Student's t-test, p < 0.05) along with decreased stainability of basement membrane by Periodic acid-Schiff staining and immunostaining of type IV collagen were noted in background renal tissues in cases with numerous renal cysts than in age- and sex-matched controls without renal cysts (n = 10 vs. 10). The present study suggests that a syndrome that affects both aorta and renal tubules may exist.     

Age-related differences in maximum voluntary lip-closing force and ability to control lip-closing force

ObjectivesDeterioration of lip function in the elderly is a form of oral hypofunction. It is important to understand age-related changes in lip function to improve oral health. This study aimed to quantitatively compare the maximum lip-closing force (LCF) and the ability to control LCF during voluntary lip-pursing movements between elderly and young adults and clarify the influence of aging on both measurements.MethodsUsing a multidirectional LCF measurement system, we measured six-directional maximum LCFs (upper, upper right, lower right, lower, lower left, upper right) of 20 healthy elderly men (69.6 ± 4.2 years) and 20 healthy young men (25.1 ± 3.8 years). The ability to control the LCF in each direction was assessed based on the accuracy rate. The directional LCF and the ability to control LCF were compared between the elderly and young adults.ResultsThe maximum directional LCF in the elderly adults was significantly smaller than that in the young adults in three directions from the lower lip; moreover, the accuracy rate of the elderly adults was significantly lower than that of young adults in five of the six directions.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the influence of aging on the accuracy of LCF may be different from that on muscle strength. Hypofunction of the lips due to aging may result not only from decreased muscle strength but also from reduced LCF accuracy.     

Theoretical study on aromatic and open-shell characteristics of carbon nanobelts composed of indeno[1,2-b]fluorene units: dependence on the number of units and charge states

In this study, we theoretically investigate the aromatic and open-shell characteristics of carbon nanobelts (CNBs) composed of five- and six-membered rings. We have designed nanobelts composed of indeno[1,2-b]fluorene ([1,2-b]IF) units, which are referred to as [N]IF-CNB (N: the number of five-membered rings). The number of π-electrons, n_π, in neutral [N]IF-CNB is 7N, and thus depending on N and charge states, n_π can be 4n + 2 and 4n. Quantum chemical calculations on neutral [6]IF-CNB and [8]IF-CNB and dicationic [8]IF-CNB²⁺ have revealed that they are expected to exhibit unique aromatic and open-shell characteristics depending on n_π, there are several analogies of the electronic structures in [N]IF-CNB to those in [N]annulene. Delocalized and intermediate open-shell electronic structures of [N]IF-CNB are also useful to drastically change the third-order nonlinear optical properties. These results suggest that theoretically designed [N]IF-CNB can be attractive and challenging targets of organic synthesis for realizing novel open-shell functional conjugated macrocycles.

Dependence of aromatic and open-shell characteristics on the number of units and charged states was theoretically investigated for carbon nanobelts composed of indeno[1,2-b]fluorene units by using quantum chemical calculations.     

Motor evoked potential monitoring can evaluate ischemic tolerance to carotid artery occlusion during surgery

Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing - Balloon test occlusion (BTO) is a useful examination for evaluating ischemic tolerance to internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. The aim of this...     

Repeated General Anesthesia in a Patient With Noonan Syndrome

Noonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by facial anomalies, short stature, chest deformity, congenital heart diseases, and other comorbidities. The challenges faced during anesthetic management of patients with NS could be due to congenital heart diseases, hemostatic disorders, and airway anomalies. Here we describe dental treatment under general anesthesia performed for a 28-year-old man with NS. He had characteristic features of NS along with mild pulmonary valve stenosis. Dental treatment under general anesthesia was performed successfully on 13 occasions with nasotracheal intubation under curve-tipped suction catheter guidance or insertion of a reinforced laryngeal mask airway. This case suggests that for patients with NS, who might present several challenges, dental anesthesiologists should consider the extent of the patient''s disorders to enable them to perform dental treatment safely under general anesthesia.Key Words: Repeated general anesthesia, Noonan syndromeNoonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant disorder and was first reported by Noonan and Ehmke.¹ The primary features of this multisystem disorder include hypertelorism, low-set ears, down-slanting eyes, a webbed neck, congenital heart diseases, short stature, chest deformity, and intellectual impairment.^2,3 NS affects males and females equally and has an estimated incidence of 1 in 1000 to 1 in 2500 live births.^2,4The challenges faced during anesthetic management of patients with NS could be due to congenital heart diseases, hemostatic disorders, and airway anomalies.^5–8 The present report describes repeated administration of general anesthesia performed by adopting nasotracheal intubation or reinforced laryngeal mask airway insertion for a patient with NS at the time of dental treatment in our hospital.     

Legg‐Calvé‐Perthes Disease Produces Chronic Hip Synovitis and Elevation of Interleukin‐6 in the Synovial Fluid

Legg‐Calvé‐Perthes disease (LCPD) is a childhood hip disorder of ischemic osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Hip joint synovitis is a common feature of LCPD, but the nature and pathophysiology of the synovitis remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the chronicity of the synovitis and the inflammatory cytokines present in the synovial fluid at an active stage of LCPD. Serial MRI was performed on 28 patients. T2‐weighted and gadolinium‐enhanced MR images were used to assess synovial effusion and synovial enhancement (hyperemia) over time. A multiple‐cytokine assay was used to determine the levels of 27 inflammatory cytokines and related factors present in the synovial fluid from 13 patients. MRI analysis showed fold increases of 5.0 ± 3.3 and 3.1 ± 2.1 in the synovial fluid volume in the affected hip compared to the unaffected hip at the initial and the last follow‐up MRI, respectively. The mean duration between the initial and the last MRI was 17.7 ± 8.3 months. The volume of enhanced synovium on the contrast MRI was increased 16.5 ± 8.5 fold and 6.3 ± 5.6 fold in the affected hip compared to the unaffected hip at the initial MRI and the last follow‐up MRI, respectively. In the synovial fluid of the affected hips, IL‐6 protein levels were significantly increased (LCPD: 509 ± 519 pg/mL, non‐LCPD: 19 ± 22 pg/mL; p = 0.0005) on the multi‐cytokine assay. Interestingly, IL‐1β and TNF‐α levels were not elevated. In the active stage of LCPD, chronic hip synovitis and significant elevation of IL‐6 are produced in the synovial fluid. Further studies are warranted to investigate the role of IL‐6 on the pathophysiology of synovitis in LCPD and how it affects bone healing. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research