Search

Duodenal varices are detected infrequently, and their rupture is very rare. We encountered an 87-year-old man who developed duodenal varices rupture during chemotherapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab (ATZ/BV) for hepatocellular carcinoma. We identified massive bleeding of a ruptured varix in the horizontal portion of the duodenum with emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Successful hemostasis was achieved by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy with Histoacryl. Although ATZ/BV can cause esophageal varices rupture, there have been no cases of duodenal varices rupture. We should take care to check the duodenal varices as well as esophagogastric varices before ATZ/BV treatment.

We present a novel technique called "photometric IGM tomography" to map the intergalactic medium (IGM) at $z\simeq4.9$ in the COSMOS field. It utilizes deep narrow-band (NB) imaging to photometrically detect faint Ly$\alpha$ forest transmission in background galaxies across the Subaru/Hyper-Suprime Cam (HSC)'s $1.8\rm\,sq.\,deg$ field of view and locate Ly$\alpha$ emitters (LAEs) in the same cosmic volume. Using ultra-deep HSC images and Bayesian spectral energy distribution fitting, we measure the Ly$\alpha$ forest transmission at $z\simeq4.9$ along a large number ($140$) of background galaxies selected from the DEIMOS10k spectroscopic catalogue at $4.98, Comment: 27 pages, 21 figures, accepted by MNRAS, full tables available as online supplementary material

Monkeypox DNA has been detected in skin lesions, saliva, oropharynx, urine, semen, and stool of patients infected during the 2022 clade IIb outbreak; however, the viral dynamics within these compartments remain unknown. We aimed to characterise the viral load kinetics over time in various parts of the body.This was an observational, prospective, multicentre study of outpatients diagnosed with monkeypox in two hospitals and two sexual health clinics in Spain between June 28, 2022, and Sept 22, 2022. Men and women aged over 18 years were eligible if they reported having symptom onset within the previous 10 days of presentation, and were ineligible if disease was severe enough to be admitted to hospital. Samples were collected from five body locations (skin lesions, oropharynx, rectum, semen or vagina, and a dried blood spot) at six time points up to 57 days after the screening visit. Samples were analysed by quantitative PCR and a subset by cell culture. The primary endpoint was time from symptom onset to viral DNA clearance.Overall, 1663 samples were collected from 77 study participants. 75 (97%) participants were men, the median age was 35·0 years (IQR 29·0-46·0), and 39 (51%) participants were living with HIV. The median time from symptom onset to viral clearance was 25 days (95% CI 23-28) in the skin lesions, 16 days (13-19) in the oropharynx, 16 days (13-23) in the rectum, 13 days in semen (9-18), and 1 day in blood (0-5). The time from symptom onset to viral clearance for 90% of cases was 41 days (95% CI 34-47) in skin lesions and 39 days (27-56) in semen. The median viral load in skin lesions was 7·3 logIn immunocompetent patients with mild monkeypox disease, PCR data alone would suggest a contact isolation period of 3 to 6 weeks but, based on detection of replication-competent virus, this time could be reduced. Based on findings from this cohort of patients, semen testing and prolonged use of condoms after recovery from monkeypox might not be necessary.University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol and the YoMeCorono.For the Spanish translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in previous studies of postmortem brain or peripheral samples. The authors investigated whether and where mitochondrial dysfunction occurs in the living brains of individuals with ASD and to identify the clinical correlates of detected mitochondrial dysfunction.This case-control study used positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-Among the brain regions in which mitochondrial dysfunction has been reported in postmortem studies of autistic brains, participants with ASD had significantly decreased [This study provides direct evidence to link in vivo brain mitochondrial dysfunction with ASD pathophysiology and its communicational deficits. The findings support the possibility that mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I is a novel therapeutic target for ASD core symptoms.

The prevalence of burnout among critical care professionals during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic varies in different countries.To investigate the prevalence of burnout and turnover intention in Japanese critical care professionals in March 2021.This cross-sectional study used a web-based survey of Japanese critical care professionals working in 15 intensive care units in 15 prefectures. Burnout was measured using the Mini Z 2.0 Survey. Intention to leave (turnover intention) was assessed by survey. Resilience was measured using the Brief Resilience Scale (Japanese version). Demographics and personal and workplace characteristics were also collected.Of 1,205 critical care professionals approached, 936 (77.6%) completed the survey. Among these, 24.3%, 20.6%, and 14.2%, reported symptoms of burnout, depression, and anxiety, respectively. A total of 157 respondents (16.8%) reported turnover intention. On multivariate analysis, higher resilience scores (odds ratio [OR]: 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84-0.95; and OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91-0.96) and perceived support from the hospital (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.44-0.93; and OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.40-0.73) were associated with a lower odds of burnout and turnover intention, respectively.Approximately 24% and 17% of the Japanese critical care professionals surveyed had symptoms of burnout and turnover intention from critical care, respectively, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such professionals require organizational level support to cultivate both individual and organizational resilience to reduce burnout and turnover intention.

Background Some patients with even T2 low rectal cancer are known to develop lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis. This study aimed to investigate real-world evidence regarding lateral nodal metastasis on T2 low rectal cancer treatment. Methods Consecutive patients with pathological T2 low rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent curative-intent surgery between January 2007 and December 2015 at two Japanese cancer centres dedicated to lateral pelvic lymph node dissection were identified and included in the analysis. Lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis was defined as pathologically confirmed metastatic lateral pelvic lymph node or lateral-local recurrence after primary surgery. Results A total of 215 consecutive patients, including 101 and 114 patients who did and did not undergo bilateral lateral pelvic lymph node dissection, were included in the analysis. Overall, 19 (8.8%) patients had lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis, including 13 with pathologically confirmed metastatic lateral pelvic lymph node and six with lateral-local recurrence. A total of 10 (4.7%) patients had local recurrence, including six with lateral-local recurrence, two with central-local recurrence and two with anastomotic recurrence. Five/7-year cumulative risks of lateral-local recurrence in patients with and without lateral pelvic lymph node dissection were 1.1/1.1% and 3.9/5.2%, respectively. Conclusion The problem of the relatively high rate of lateral local recurrence remains in treating T2 low rectal cancer with only total mesorectal excision. The selection of high-risk patients of lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis and the indication of additional treatment in T2 low rectal cancer should be discussed further.

2-Azahypoxanthine (AHX) and 2-aza-8-oxohypoxanthine (AOH), discovered as causal substances of fairy rings are known to be endogenous in the fairy ring-forming Lepista sordida. In this study, we showed that xanthine dioxygenase, an a-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase, might catalyze the conversion of AHX to AOH in the fungus. Furthermore, this enzyme is the first reported molybdopterin-independent protein of hypoxanthine metabolism.

We found a singly charged Np(V)O

Herein, we report the self-assembly and salt-induced thermoresponsive properties of amphiphilic random terpolymers consisting of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and quaternary ammonium cations, and hydrophobic dodecyl groups in water.

An alternating copolymer of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and N-isopropylacrylamide was synthesized via cyclopolymerization of a divinyl monomer and aminolysis transformation for studies of the sequence-dependent thermal responsiveness in water.

Background: When foot necrosis occurs due to lower limb blood flow disorder caused by diabetes or peripheral arterial occlusion, many patients require lower limb amputation. The functional prognosis after lower limb amputation largely depends on whether the heel can be preserved. However, there are many reports that Chopart amputation causes varus and equinus deformity, and is functionally unfavorable. We herein report a case of Chopart amputation performed with muscle balancing. Postoperatively, the foot was not deformed and the patient was able to walk independently with a foot prosthesis. Case: A 78-year-old man presented with ischemic necrosis of his right forefoot. The range of necrosis extended to the central part of the sole, so Chopart amputation was performed. In the operation, to prevent varus and equinus deformity, the Achilles tendon was lengthened, the tibialis anterior tendon was transferred through a tunnel created in the neck of talus, and the peroneus brevis tendon was transferred through a tunnel created in the anterior part of the calcaneus. At the final follow-up 7 years after the operation, no varus or equinus deformity was observed. The patient became able to stand up and walk on his heel without a prosthesis. In addition, step motion was possible by wearing a foot prosthesis.

During acute health decompensations for seriously ill patients, emergency clinicians often determine the intensity end-of-life care. Little is known about how emergency clinicians conduct these conversations, especially among those who have received serious illness communication training.To determine the self-reported practice patterns of code status conversations by emergency clinicians with and without serious illness communication training.A cross-sectional survey was conducted among emergency clinicians with and without a recent evidence-based, serious illness communication training tailored for emergency clinicians. Emergency clinicians were included from two academic medical centers. A five-point Likert scale ("very unlikely" to "very likely" to ask) was used to assess the self-reported likelihood of asking about patients' preferences for medical procedures and patients' values and goals.Among 161 respondents (71% response rate), 77 (48%) received the training. A total of 70% of emergency clinicians reported asking about procedure-based questions, and only 38% reported asking about patient's values regarding end-of-life care. For value-based questions, statistically significant differences were observed between emergency clinicians who underwent the training and those who did not in four of the seven questions asked (e.g., the higher odds of exploring the patient's life priorities [adjusted OR = 4.34, 95% CI = 1.95-9.65, P-value0.001]). No difference was observed in the self-reported rates of all procedure-based questions between the two groups.Most emergency clinicians reported asking about procedure-based questions, and some asked about patient's value-based questions. Clinicians with recent serious illness communication training may ask more about some values and priorities.

The impact of strand molecular length on mechanical response is elucidated through the incorporation of uniform mechanochromic force probes.

We clarified the chemical reaction of deposits following the electrolytic UVIO22+ to UVO2+ reduction.

Aims: To analyse if antidiabetic treatment was associated with better COVID-19 outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients, measured by hospital admission and mortality rates as severe outcomes. Methods: Cohort study including COVID-19 patients registered in the Primary Care electronic records, in March-June 2020, comparing exposed to metformin in monotherapy with exposed to any other antidiabetic. Data source: SIDIAP (Information System for Research in Primary Care), which captures clinical information of 5,8 million people from Catalonia, Spain. Results: We included 31,006 diabetic patients infected with COVID-19, 43.7% previously exposed to metformin, 45.5% of them in monotherapy. 16.4% were admitted to hospital and 15.1% died. Users of insulin in monotherapy (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.11-1.50), combined with metformin (OR 1.38, 1.13-1.69) or IDPP4 alone (OR 1.29, 1.03-1.63) had higher risk of severe outcomes than those in metformin monotherapy. Users of any insulin (OR 1.61, 1.32-1.97) or combined with metformin (OR 1.69, 1.30-2.20) had a higher risk of mortality. Conclusions: Patients receiving metformin monotherapy in our study showed a lower risk of hospitalization and death in comparison to those treated with other frequent antidiabetic agents. We cannot distinguish if better outcomes are related with the antidiabetic therapy or with other factors, such as metabolic control or interventions applied during the hospital admission.

Despite the frequent use of symptomatic therapies in cough, evidence of their benefits is lacking.We compared the effectiveness of 3 symptomatic therapies and usual care in acute bronchitis.Multicenter, pragmatic, multiarm parallel group, open randomized trial in primary care (ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03738917) was conducted in Catalonia. Patients ≥18 with uncomplicated acute bronchitis, with cough3 weeks as the main symptom, scoring ≥4 in either daytime or nocturnal cough (7-point Likert scale), were randomized to usual care, dextromethorphan 15 mg t.i.d., ipratropium bromide inhaler 20 µg 2 puffs t.i.d, or 30 mg of honey t.i.d., all taken for up to 14 days. The main outcome measure was the number of days with moderate-to-severe cough. A symptom diary was given. A second visit was scheduled at days 2-3 for assessing evolution, with 2 more visits at days 15 and 29 for clinical assessment, evaluation of adverse effects, re-attendance, and complications.We failed to achieve the sample size scheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We finally recruited 194 patients. The median number of days with moderate-to-severe cough (score ≥ 3) in the usual care arm was 5 (interquartile range [IQR], 4, 8.75), 5 in the ipratropium bromide arm (IQR, 3, 8), 5 in the dextromethorphan arm (IQR, 4, 9.75), and 6 in the honey arm (IQR, 3.5, 7). The same results were obtained in the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for the median survival time of each arm with the usual care as the reference group.The symptomatic treatment evaluated has shown to be ineffective against cough.Cough is the most frequent symptom reported by patients with lower respiratory tract infections. Despite being a defense mechanism, cough is unpleasant and negatively affects sleep and overall well-being. Accordingly, many patients with acute cough seek medical help to mitigate symptoms and reduce their duration despite the typically self-limiting nature of the condition. In this randomized clinical trial, we explored the benefit of 3 common symptomatic treatments recommended in some guidelines for relieving this symptom during the course of uncomplicated acute bronchitis, a cough suppressant, an inhaler, and honey intake. Although the total number of patients initially expected could not be achieved due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the results of our study demonstrate a lack of efficacy of these products as the number of days of severe-to-moderate cough was similar in the 3 arms and comparable to the group of patients allocated to usual care.

A espiritualidade é uma realidade da dimensão humana perpassando pelas Necessidade Humanas Básicas e, apesar de poder ser expressa por meio da religião, está para além de ritos e instituições religiosas. Se apresenta como a tomada de consciência da dimensão transcendente do que diz respeito à determinação de valores relativos a si, a outros, à natureza e à vida. No processo de Morte e Morrer, os pacientes vivenciam angústias geradas por mecanismos internos que permeiam as fases da morte (ou do luto), muitas de ordem espiritual, sobretudo no contexto da dor total. Entender o significado da espiritualidade para enfrentamento da dor e sofrimento na terminalidade. Pesquisa descritiva, exploratória, realizada através da Revisão Integrativa da Literatura. Relações familiares, vivência de sentimentos como amor, gratidão e perdão, capacidade de apreciar a vida e ressignificação da morte e do luto traduzem a relação com o sagrado e o transcendente podendo ser entendidos como vivências de espiritualidade por pacientes terminais. Expressões da espiritualidade, a partir do contato do paciente com aquilo que ele declara como sagrado proporciona benefícios positivos para o enfrentamento da dor e do sofrimento diante da terminalidade.

Purpose We evaluated the diagnostic performance of a clinically available deep learning-based computer-assisted diagnosis software for detecting unruptured aneurysms (UANs) using magnetic resonance angiography and assessed the functionality of the convolutional neural network (CNN) final layer score for distinguishing between UAN and infundibular dilatation (ID). Materials and methods EIRL brain aneurysm (EIRL_BA) was used in this study. The subjects were 117 UAN and/or ID cases including 100 UAN lesions (average sizes of 2.56 ± 1.45 mm) and 40 ID lesions (average sizes of 1.75 ± 0.41 mm) in any of internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and anterior communicating artery, and 123 normal controls. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of EIRL_BA were determined for UAN and ID or UAN only. Furthermore, the relationship between the lesion category and score was examined using a linear regression analysis model, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess whether the scores represent UAN-like characteristics. Results EIRL_BA showed a total of 203 candidates (an average of 1.73/case) in UAN and/or ID cases and 98 candidates (an average of 0.80/case) in normal controls. For diagnosing either UAN/ID, EIRL_BA showed an overall sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 84.2%, and accuracy of 83.7%, resulting in the positive likelihood ratio of 5.0. For diagnosing UAN only, the overall sensitivity of 89.0, specificity of 82.6%, and accuracy of 83.2% resulting in the positive likelihood ratio of 5.1. In a linear regression analysis, the scores significantly increased in the candidates’ first and second ranks in UAN (p Conclusion EIRL_BA is applicable for detecting small UAN, and the CNN’s final layer scores may be an effective index for discriminating UAN and ID and representing the likelihood of UAN.

We applied deep learning-based noise reduction (NR) to optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCTA) images of the radial peripapillary capillaries (RPCs) in eyes with glaucoma and investigated the usefulness of this method as an objective analysis of glaucoma.This cross-sectional study included 118 eyes of 94 open-angle glaucoma patients (male/female = 38/56, age: 56.1 ± 10.3 years). We used OCTA (OCT-HS100, Canon) and built-in software (RX software, v. 4.5) to perform NR and calculate RPC vessel area density (VAD) and skeleton vessel length density (VLD). We also examined NR's effect on reproducibility. Finally, we assessed the vascular structure (PRCs)/function relationship at different glaucoma stages with Spearman's correlation.Regardless of NR, RPC parameters had excellent coefficients of variation (1.7-4.1%) in glaucoma patients and controls, and mean deviation (MD) was significantly correlated with VAD (NR:Denoised RPC images might have the potential for a closer structural/functional relationship, in which the floor effect of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness affects measurements. Deep learning-based NR promises to improve glaucoma assessment.

Apart from saving the lives of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients on mechanical ventilation (MV), recovery from the sequelae of prolonged MV (PMV) is an emerging issue.c METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study among consecutive adult COVID-19 patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in Kobe, Japan, between March 3, 2020, and January 31, 2021, and received invasive MV. Clinical outcomes included in-hospital mortality and recovery from COVID-19 in survivors regarding organ dysfunction, respiratory symptoms, and functional status at discharge. We compared survivors' outcomes with MV durations of14 days and ≤14 days.We included 85 patients with a median age of 69 years (interquartile range, 64-75 years); 76 (89%) patients had at least 1 comorbidity, 72 (85%) were non-frail, and 79 (93%) were functionally independent before COVID-19 infection. Eighteen patients (21%) died during hospitalization. At discharge, 59/67 survivors (88%) no longer required respiratory support, 50 (75%) complained of dyspnea, and 40 (60%) were functionally independent. Of the survivors, 23 patients receiving MV for14 days had a worse recovery from COVID-19 at discharge compared with those on MV for ≤14 days, as observed using the Barthel index (median: 35 [5-65] vs. 100 [85-100]), ICU mobility scale (8 [5-9] vs. 10 [10-10]), and functional oral intake scale (3 [1-7] vs. 7 [7-7]) (P 0.0001).Although four-fifths of the patients survived and50% of survivors demonstrated clinically important recovery in organ function and functional status during hospitalization, PMV was related to poor recovery from COVID-19 at discharge.

In the retina, microglia are resident immune cells that are essential for retinal development and function. Retinal microglia play a central role in mediating pathological degeneration in diseases such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, age-related neurodegeneration, ischemic retinopathy and diabetic retinopathy. Current models of mature human retinal organoids (ROs) derived from iPS cell (hiPSC) do not contain resident microglia integrated into retinal layers. Increasing cellular diversity in ROs by including resident microglia would more accurately represent the native retina and better model diseases in which microglia play a key role. In this study, we develop a new 3Din vitrotissue model of microglia-containing retinal organoids by co-culturing ROs and hiPSC-derived macrophage precursor cells (MPCs). We optimized the parameters for successful integration of MPCs into retinal organoids. We then reproducibly integrate MPCs into ROs where they develop into mature microglia (iMG) as seen by 1) migration to the appropriate anatomical locations; 2) development of a mature resting morphology; and 3) expression of mature microglial markers. We show that while in the ROs, MPCs migrate to the equivalent of the outer plexiform layer where retinal microglia cells reside in healthy retinal tissue. While there, they develop a mature morphology characterized by small cell bodies and long branching processes which is only observedin vivo. During this maturation process these microglia cycle through an activated phase followed by a stable mature phase characterized by cell-type specific microglia markers Tmem119 and P2ry12. This co-culture system may be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of retinal diseases involving retinal microglia and for drug discovery.

An 18-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with an undifferentiated sarcoma of the spermatic cord, with multiple distant metastases to the lungs and bones. The patient received doxorubicin-based standard chemotherapy. Although the chemotherapy was effective, it induced severe adverse events, which led to treatment discontinuation. A comprehensive genomic profiling test using resected tumor tissue revealed the BRAF V600E mutation. Based on the result, the patient received combination therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib. The combination therapy achieved a good response with few adverse events. However, 6.5 months later, pleural metastases and meningeal dissemination had emerged. A liquid comprehensive genomic profiling test was performed after the progression to identify the resistance mechanism, which resulted in the detection of no actionable gene alterations other than BRAF V600E. This report shows that the BRAF V600E mutation may be a promising therapeutic target and that resistance to the targeted therapy could also occur in soft tissue sarcoma. The significance of BRAF mutations across different types of cancer should be validated, and it is necessary to apply targeted therapies and develop methods to overcome resistance based on the optimal use of comprehensive genomic profiling tests.

In this work, photometric and spectroscopic analyses of a very low-luminosity Type IIb supernova (SN) 2016iyc have been performed. SN 2016iyc lies near the faint end among the distribution of similar supernovae (SNe). Given lower ejecta mass ($M_{\rm ej}$) and low nickel mass ($M_{\rm Ni}$) from the literature, combined with SN 2016iyc lying near the faint end, one-dimensional stellar evolution models of 9 - 14 M$_{\odot}$ zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) stars as the possible progenitors of SN 2016iyc have been performed using the publicly available code MESA. Moreover, synthetic explosions of the progenitor models have been simulated using the hydrodynamic evolution codes STELLA and SNEC. The bolometric luminosity light curve and photospheric velocities produced through synthetic explosions of ZAMS stars of mass in the range 12 - 13 M$_{\odot}$ having a pre-supernova radius $R_{\mathrm{0}} =$ (240 - 300) R$_{\odot}$, with $M_{\rm ej} =$ (1.89 - 1.93) M$_{\odot}$, explosion energy $E_{\rm exp} = $ (0.28 - 0.35) $\times 10^{51}$ erg, and $M_{\rm Ni} < 0.09$ M$_{\odot}$, are in good agreement with observations; thus, SN 2016iyc probably exploded from a progenitor near the lower mass limits for SNe IIb. Finally, hydrodynamic simulations of the explosions of SN 2016gkg and SN 2011fu have also been performed to compare intermediate- and high-luminosity examples among well-studied SNe IIb. The results of progenitor modelling and synthetic explosions for SN 2016iyc, SN 2016gkg, and SN 2011fu exhibit a diverse range of mass for the possible progenitors of SNe IIb., Final updated version. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

OBJECTIVE Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) in Parkinson’s disease is effective; however, its mechanism is unclear. To investigate the degree of neuronal terminal survival after STN-DBS, the authors examined the striatal dopamine transporter levels before and after treatment in association with clinical improvement using PET with [11C]2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane ([11C]CFT). METHODS Ten patients with Parkinson’s disease who had undergone bilateral STN-DBS were scanned twice with [11C]CFT PET just before and 1 year after surgery. Correlation analysis was conducted between [11C]CFT binding and off-period Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS [11C]CFT uptake reduced significantly in the posterodorsal putamen contralateral to the parkinsonism-dominant side after 1 year; however, an increase was noted in the contralateral anteroventral putamen and ipsilateral ventral caudate postoperatively (p < 0.05). The percentage increase in [11C]CFT binding was inversely correlated with the preoperative binding level in the bilateral anteroventral putamen, ipsilateral ventral caudate, contralateral anterodorsal putamen, contralateral posteroventral putamen, and contralateral nucleus accumbens. The percentage reduction in UPDRS-II score was significantly correlated with the percentage increase in [11C]CFT binding in the ipsilateral anteroventral putamen (p < 0.05). The percentage reduction in UPDRS-III score was significantly correlated with the percentage increase in [11C]CFT binding in the ipsilateral anteroventral putamen, ventral caudate, and nucleus accumbens (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS STN-DBS increases dopamine transporter levels in the anteroventral striatum, which is correlated with the motor recovery and possibly suggests the neuromodulatory effect of STN-DBS on dopaminergic terminals in Parkinson’s disease patients. A preoperative level of anterior striatal dopamine transporter may predict reserve capacity of STN-DBS on motor recovery.