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Objective: To develop a job-exposure matrix for sedentary behavior and assess its relationship with non-communicable diseases., Methods: We constructed a job-exposure matrix using occupational and industry classifications combined with data on daily average sitting durations from 41,718 individuals. This matrix was then applied to a cohort of 706,939 participants in a case-control study to explore the link between sedentary behavior and non-communicable disease risks., Results: The matrix effectively identified sedentary behavior across different occupational groups. Using the matrix to assess sedentary behavior, associations were found between increased sedentary activity and heightened risks of diabetes, acute myocardial infarction, and endometrial cancer, while a reduced risk was observed for stroke., Conclusions: The job-exposure matrix provides valuable insights into the health impacts of sedentary behavior in the workplace, underscoring significant disease risks associated with prolonged inactivity., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: N.K. received grant from the Industrial Disease Clinical Research Grants from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (No. 170201-01). M.T. received founding from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.)

Background and Objectives: The glymphatic system is a whole-brain perivascular network, which promotes CSF/interstitial fluid exchange. Alterations to this system may play a pivotal role in amyloid β (Aβ) accumulation. However, its involvement in Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis is not fully understood. Here, we investigated the changes in noninvasive MRI measurements related to the perivascular network in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. Additionally, we explored the associations of MRI measures with neuropsychological score, PET standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR), and Aβ deposition., Methods: MRI measures, including perivascular space (PVS) volume fraction (PVSVF), fractional volume of free water in white matter (FW-WM), and index of diffusivity along the perivascular space (ALPS index) of patients with MCI, those with AD, and healthy controls from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database were compared. MRI measures were also correlated with the levels of CSF biomarkers, PET SUVR, and cognitive score in the combined subcohort of patients with MCI and AD. Statistical analyses were performed with age, sex, years of education, and APOE status as confounding factors., Results: In total, 36 patients with AD, 44 patients with MCI, and 31 healthy controls were analyzed. Patients with AD had significantly higher total, WM, and basal ganglia PVSVF (Cohen d = 1.15-1.48; p < 0.001) and FW-WM (Cohen d = 0.73; p < 0.05) and a lower ALPS index (Cohen d = 0.63; p < 0.05) than healthy controls. Meanwhile, the MCI group only showed significantly higher total (Cohen d = 0.99; p < 0.05) and WM (Cohen d = 0.91; p < 0.05) PVSVF. Low ALPS index was associated with lower CSF Aβ42 ( r s = 0.41, p fdr = 0.026), FDG-PET uptake ( r s = 0.54, p fdr < 0.001), and worse multiple cognitive domain deficits. High FW-WM was also associated with lower CSF Aβ42 ( r s = -0.47, p fdr = 0.021) and worse cognitive performances., Discussion: Our study indicates that changes in PVS-related MRI parameters occur in MCI and AD, possibly due to impairment of the glymphatic system. We also report the associations between MRI parameters and Aβ deposition, neuronal change, and cognitive impairment in AD., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology.)

Electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF) therapy provides information on the state of contraction of the targeted muscles and relaxation of their antagonists, which can facilitate early active range of motion (RoM) after elbow surgery. Our aim in this study was to calculate the minimum detectable change (MDC) during EMG-BF therapy, initiated in the early postoperative period after elbow surgery.This study is an observational case series. EMG-BF of muscle contraction and relaxation was provided during active elbow flexion and extension exercises. Patients completed 3 sets of 10 trials each of flexion and extension over 4 weeks. The total range of flexion-extension motion and scores on the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version of the disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire and the Japanese version of the Patient-Rated Elbow Evaluation were obtained at baseline and weekly during the 4-week intervention period. A prediction formula was developed from the time-series data obtained during the intervention period, using the least-squares method. The estimated value was calculated by removing the slope from the prediction formula and adding the initial scores to residuals between the measured scores and predicted scores individually. Systematic error, MDC at the 95th percentile cutoff (MDC95), repeatability of the measures, and the change from the baseline to each time-point of intervention were assessed.The MDC95 was obtained for all 3 outcome measures and the range of values was as follows: RoM, 8.3° to 22.5°; Japanese version of the Patient-Rated Elbow Evaluation score, 17.6 to 30.6 points; and disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire subscale: disability and symptoms score, 14.2 to 22.9 points.The efficacy of EMG-BF after elbow surgery was reflected in earlier initiation of elbow RoM after surgery and improvement in patient-reported upper limb function scores. The calculated MDC95 cut-offs could be used as reference values to assess the therapeutic effects of EMG-BF in individuals.

Although early detection and intervention may improve the outcome of the congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection, few studies assessed the real-world clinical practice for cCMV patients. We analyzed medical claims data to assess the patterns of diagnoses and medical care for cCMV patients.We used a subset of medical claims database (JMDC Claims Database) in Japan, covering 207,547 newborns between April 2010 and March 2017 and observed for at least 6 months. The diagnosis of cCMV and related symptoms and sequelae and medical care, including essential examinations and antiviral treatment, were identified using standardized codes.Overall, we identified 53 (25.5 per 100,000 newborns) cCMV patients diagnosed within 6 months after birth; of these, 83% were diagnosed within 1 month and 68% had at least 1 cCMV-related symptom at birth. Objective hearing tests and fundus examinations were performed within 6 months in 60% and 30% of patients, respectively. Antivirals were prescribed in 26% of patients. During the observation period (median = 33 months), sensorineural hearing loss (49%) and developmental problems (28%) were commonly identified as cCMV-related sequelae. The proportions of the patients continuously followed up with objective hearing tests up to 36 months were 30% in total and 56% in antiviral-treated patients, respectively.The cCMV patients did not necessarily receive a timely diagnosis nor continuous follow-ups in usual clinical practice. Although the universal screening for cCMV may, if implemented, facilitate early diagnosis, it should be accompanied by strategic follow-up plans to support timely interventions.

Rationale: Tooth extraction is a common dental surgical procedure. There is a possibility that various complications often occur during third molar tooth extractions., Patient Concerns: The authors report herein 2 cases of migration of a high-speed dental hand-piece bur during mandibular third molar extraction-one case with the iatrogenic foreign body migrating into the mandibular body and another case with the iatrogenic foreign body migrating into the floor of mouth are reported., Diagnosis: The patient was diagnosed with the iatrogenic foreign body associated with mandibular third molar extraction by imaging examinations., Interventions: The authors performed elective surgery to remove the foreign body under general anesthesia in Case 1, and performed emergency surgery to remove the foreign body under local anesthesia in Case 2., Outcomes: The foreign bodies were removed, and complete removal of the foreign bodies was confirmed by postoperative x-ray examination. The patients' postoperative courses were uneventful., Lessons: The selection of adequate surgical procedures and instruments will prevent the occurrence of iatrogenic foreign bodies. If migration accidents occur, their positions should first be confirmed by imaging examinations. Dentists and/or oral surgeons should perform removal operations considering the degree of emergency based on the results of imaging examinations.

Rationale: Oral liposarcoma is an extremely rare lesion that is often clinically misdiagnosed as a benign lesion because of its asymptomatic and indolent clinical course. we report a case of atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma (ALT/WDL) of buccal mucosa, provisionally diagnosed as lipoma., Patient Concerns: A 97-year-old female was referred to dentistry and oral surgery department with an asymptomatic mass on the right buccal mucosa which had been present for an unknown period of time., Diagnosis: Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a well-circumscribed lesion at the right buccal mucosa, and a lipoma was suspected., Interventions: Surgical removal was performed, and a diagnosis of ALT/WDL was made. She and her family refused additional treatment due to her age., Outcomes: At the 10 months follow-up, the patient remained free of disease., Lessons: The indolent clinical course and small size of oral liposarcoma can lead to provisional clinical diagnosis of benign lesion.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of ultra high-resolution computed tomography (UHRCT) and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) on the detectability of simulated submillimeter artery., Methods: A small vessel phantom ranging from 0.4 to 2.0 mm in diameter and edge phantoms of low to high attenuation values were scanned by UHRCT (super-high-resolution mode and normal-resolution-mode) and conventional CT, and data were reconstructed by MBIR and filtered back projection (FBP). Vessel detectability was assessed subjectively and the effective size at which 50% of response was achieved (ES50 [mm]) was calculated. Modulation transfer function (MTF) was calculated by an edge spread function method., Results: ES50 of super high-resolution mode (0.36 mm for MBIR and 0.50 mm for FBP) was significantly smaller than those of normal-resolution mode (P < 0.01). In the MTF analysis, the MTF of MBIR improved as the edge phantom attenuation increased, whereas that of FBP was stable., Conclusions: Both UHRCT and MBIR are effective for the detectability of simulated submillimeter artery.

Rationale: Ossifying fibroma is benign fibro-osseous neoplasm. The authors report a case of ossifying fibroma in the mandibular angle suspected as metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma., Patient Concerns: A 74-year-old man presented to the primary hospital complaining of frequent urination. A tumor in the left kidney was detected via an abdominal computed tomography scan. The patient then visited the Department of Urology at our hospital., Diagnoses: According to whole-body imaging examinations, the patient was suspected of having renal cancer with mandibular metastasis. Also, a cystic lesion of the maxilla was revealed., Interventions: Left nephrectomy was performed by urologists, and the patient was diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma of the left kidney. Approximately 1 month later, resection with a safety margin of the mandibular lesion and removal of the maxillary lesion were performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons., Outcomes: The patient was diagnosed with ossifying fibroma of the mandible and an odontogenic keratocyst of the maxilla via a histopathological examination. Eighteen months have passed since the operation without clinical and imaging findings associated with recurrence., Lessons: Ossifying fibroma in the mandibular angle of elderly patients is extremely rare. Surgeons should consider the possibility of metastasis when osteolytic lesions of the jaw are found in patients with cancer.

Aim: While veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been utilized to resuscitate and stabilize hemodynamics in patients of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiac arrest (CA), it is essential to predict the possibility of weaning from ECMO to determine further strategies, including use of ventricular assist device. We aimed to determine predictors of successful weaning from VA-ECMO in the early phase of ECMO treatment., Methods: We identified consecutive patients of AMI complicated by CA treated with VA-ECMO and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Clinical data within 48 h after ECMO initiation were assessed and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of weaning outcome., Results: Fifty-five patients were analyzed. While 28 (51%) patients were successfully weaned from VA-ECMO, 27 (49%) failed to wean. Multivariate analysis identified post-PCI thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade (P = 0.046), mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 4 h after ECMO initiation (P = 0.010), and serum lactate at 24 h (P = 0.015) as independent predictors of successful weaning. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 24 and 48 h was significantly greater in the successful weaning group (P = 0.014, P = 0.025, respectively)., Conclusions: Successful weaning from VA-ECMO was predicted by post-PCI TIMI flow grade, MAP at 4 h, and serum lactate at 24 h after VA-ECMO initiation in patients of AMI complicated by CA. Furthermore, in patients who failed to wean from ECMO, LVEF did not recover within 48 h. In such patients, adjunctive use of other circulatory mechanical devices must be considered.

Rationale: Real-time three-dimensional navigation systems can provide useful information for operators during surgery. The authors report a case of synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint treated by open surgery under the guidance of a real-time 3-dimensional navigation system with a 3-point rigid cranial fixation device., Patient Concerns: A 73-year-old woman presented with swelling in the left preauricular region and left temporomandibular joint pain., Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosed with synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint by imaging examinations., Interventions: The patient was treated by open surgery under the guidance of a real-time 3-dimensional navigation system with a 3-point rigid cranial fixation device., Outcomes: The patient was diagnosed with synovial chondromatosis by histopathological examination. There were no complications. The real-time 3-dimensional navigation system with a 3-point rigid cranial fixation device provided an accurate and useful navigation image and clear surgical field during the surgical procedure. Thirty months have passed since the operation without clinical findings associated with recurrence., Lessons: The guidance provided by a real-time 3-dimensional navigation system with a 3-point rigid cranial fixation device is useful in open surgery for the treatment of synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint.

Rationale: Although metastases to the oral and maxillofacial region (OMR) are rare, the lung is the most common primary site metastasizing to the OMR., Patient Concerns: An 83-year-old woman presented with reports of trismus, occlusal discomfort, swelling, and spontaneous pain in the right buccal region. Despite the absence of abnormal chest imaging findings, immunohistochemical analysis of biopsy specimens of the mandible and the thyroid indicated that the patient had multiple metastases from a lung poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma., Diagnoses: Metastases to the OMR and the thyroid from an undiscovered lung adenocarcinoma., Interventions: Gefitinib was started as first-line chemotherapy, and zoledronic acid was administered for bone metastases., Outcomes: Follow-up imaging examinations showed ossification and deformation of the right mandibular ramus and the condylar process. Although 2 years have passed since the first visit to our hospital, lung lesions have not been confirmed by imaging examinations., Lessons: Clinicians should consider the possibility that symptoms in the OMR may be the first clinical sign of an undiscovered distant primary tumor, and the primary tumors may not be detected by imaging examinations even when metastases to the OMR are revealed.

Objectives: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a representative IgG4-related and inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. To clarify mechanisms of carcinogenesis resulting from AIP, we focused on methylation abnormalities and KRAS mutations in AIP., Methods: Six tumor suppressor genes (NPTX2, Cyclin D2, FOXE1, TFPI2, ppENK, and p16) that exhibited hypermethylation in pancreatic carcinoma were selected for quantitative SYBR green methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in 10 AIP specimens, 10 pancreatic adenocarcinoma cases without history of AIP containing carcinoma areas (CAs) and noncarcinoma areas (NCAs), and 11 normal pancreas (NP) samples. KRAS mutation in codons 12, 13, and 61 were also investigated using direct sequencing., Results: Hypermethylation events (≥10%) were identified in NPTX2, Cyclin D2, FOXE1, TFPI2, ppENK, and p16 in 1, 2, 2, 0, 2, and 0 CA cases, respectively, but not in these 6 candidate genes in AIP, NCA, and NP. However, the TFPI2 methylation ratio was significantly higher in AIP than NCA and NP. Direct sequencing results for KRAS showed no single-point mutations in AIP., Conclusions: These are the first studies characterizing methylation abnormalities in AIP. AIP's inflammatory condition may be related to carcinogenesis. Further study will elucidate methylation abnormalities associated with carcinogenesis in AIP.

Sensory and motor neuropathy of the trigeminal nerve due to trauma is quite rare. Furthermore, there have been no detailed reports on occlusal abnormalities and trismus associated with post-traumatic trigeminal motor neuropathy. Here, the authors report a case of trigeminal motor neuropathy and trigeminal sensory neuropathy in all 3 divisions caused by an orbital stab wound. During kendo practice, a 61-year-old man was injured in his right medial canthus with the splinter of a broken bamboo sword. Imaging examinations did not show a brain injury or orbital bone fracture. Intraoral and extraoral examination and needle electromyography revealed trismus, posterior open bite, and denervation of the right masseter. After the injury, the patient strived to use the right molars during mastication and began chewing exercises in the right molar region. A follow-up examination 7 months after the injury revealed an improvement of the functional problems in the masticatory system. Although slight facial numbness in the right ophthalmic division remained, the patient was satisfied with the present status. Further knowledge concerning the natural history of trigeminal neuropathy as well as the treatment of choice should be explored in the future.

Few reports have so far evaluated the maxillary stability after LeFort I osteotomy (L-1) for pitch correction. In the current study, the authors assessed the SN-PP (palatal plane) to evaluate the skeletal stability after osteotomy with clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation and investigated the effects of anterior nasal spine (ANS) and posterior nasal spine (PNS) movement on the stability of the SN-PP.The SN-PP and the positions of ANS, PNS, and point A were measured on lateral cephalograms before surgery (T1), immediately after surgery (T2), and more than 1 year after surgery (T3).All measured angle and points were stable in 4 cases of counter-clockwise rotation. In the 16 cases of clockwise rotation, T3-T2 of SN-PP, ANS, and point A was -2.05°, -2.56 mm, and -1.64 mm, when the SN-PP increased more than 4° after osteotomy. When the ANS moved downward more than 3 mm, the ANS and point A relapsed significantly by 2.75 and 2.31 mm, while the SN-PP relapsed 1.61° more than 1 year after surgery.When the SN-PP increased by more than 4° or the ANS moved downward by more than 3 mm, the authors suggest shifting the PNS upward instead of moving the ANS downward.

We report a case of vulval extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) with dermal invasion showing mucinous carcinoma (MC). An 80-year-old woman presented with vulvar itching and pain. A physical examination showed a pigmented vulvar, perianal erythematous plague, and a subcutaneous nodule in the left major labia. No internal malignancy, such as colorectal or genitourinary carcinoma, was identified in any of the clinical examinations. A histological examination of the resected specimen revealed Pagetoid tumor cells that had spread widely through the epidermis and invaded the dermis forming a solid nest with mucous lake-like MC. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the tumor cells in the epidermis and dermis were positive for CK7, CEA, GCDFP-15, MUC5AC, and MUC2, but negative for CK20, MUC6, and CDX2. Only the invasive component showed overexpression of p53. A diagnosis of primary EMPD with dermal invasion showing MC of the vulva was made. This is an extremely rare diagnosis, and we suggest that immunohistochemical evaluations in addition to systemic work-ups are helpful in distinguishing between these cases and those involving vulvar or perianal skin invasion of underlying colorectal or genitourinary carcinomas, which are referred to as secondary EMPD.

Aspiration pneumonia is one of the most life-threatening diseases in the elderly. A 73-year-old woman was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia after a mandibular fracture. Because her persistent aspiration pneumonia was accompanied by a diminished swallowing function that was believed to be due to a double fracture of the mandible, the patient underwent an open reduction while having pneumonia. Her symptoms of aspiration pneumonia improved immediately after the surgery. The hyoid bone was repositioned to its original position, and the movements of the hyoid bone and mandible were recovered after the surgery. In cases in which the medial bone segment of the mandible moves inside because of a double fracture and the movement of the hyoid bone declines, we strongly suggest that an open reduction should be performed as soon as possible to prevent aspiration pneumonia caused by a swallowing dysfunction.

Objectives: To assess whether low-dose contrast medium and low-tube voltage computed tomography (CT) venography can be used for clinical diagnosis., Methods: This prospective study included 63 patients who were randomized into 3 groups and administered contrast medium of either 600, 500, or 400 mg of iodine per kilogram (mgI/kg). All patients underwent dual-energy CT at either 80 or 135 kilovolt (peak) (kV[p]). Control images (120 kV[p]) were acquired from them and were compared with 80-kV(p) images. The mean CT values of the bilateral femoral and popliteal veins were compared., Results: The mean CT values of the 80-kV(p) images were significantly higher than 120-kV(p) images for all doses. No significant difference was observed for the CT values of the 80-kV(p) images with the 400-mgI/kg dose and the control images (600 mgI/kg at 120 kV[p])., Conclusions: Low tube voltage enabled a reduction of contrast medium to 400 mgI/kg for CT venography.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of CT and MRI in evaluating orofacial pain and paresthesia. A total of 96 patients with orofacial pain and/or paresthesia were included in this study. The patients who underwent CT and/or MRI examinations were assessed, and the efficacy of CT and/or MRI examinations in detecting the causative disease of the orofacial pain and paresthesia was evaluated. Seventy (72.9%) of 96 patients underwent CT and/or MRI examinations. Whereas CT examinations detected 2 diseases (4.5%) in 44 tests, 13 diseases (37.1%) were detected in 35 MRI examinations. Seven (53.8%) of 13 diseases, which were detected by MRI, were found in elderly patients. A high percentage of patients, who claimed orofacial pain and paresthesia, have other diseases in their brain, especially in elderly patients, and MRI is more useful than CT for evaluating these patients.

Two cases of foreign bodies that were incidentally observed on orthopantomographs are reported in this study. The foreign bodies were analyzed using an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer to identify what the migrated foreign bodies were and what migration pathways they had taken. The removed metallic foreign bodies from the maxillae of 2 patients, who were referred to the Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery of the University of Fukui Hospital, were analyzed using an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer in the Department of Dental and Biomedical Materials Science, Nagasaki University. The major component of foreign body in patient 1 was silver, and that in case 2 was iron. On the basis of the imaging results and the patients' clinical history, the foreign bodies were considered to be caused by iatrogenic migration. Understanding the existence of foreign bodies and their migration pathway into the jaw bone can thus make clinicians more aware of such migrations and can thereby contribute to reducing iatrogenic accidents.

Mandibular resection requires reconstruction, with often unsatisfactory morphofunctional results. Reimplantation of the resected mandible itself is one of ideal solutions to this problem. However, both devitalization of tumor cells involved in resected bone and preservation of osteoinductive activity are required for successful results. Lyophilization appears to enable devitalization of tumor cells, and decalcified bone implants are likely to have osteoinductive potential. Accordingly, we speculated that decalcification and lyophilization of resected bone would be an appropriate method for mandibular reconstruction. However, there is no study on the reimplantation of mandibles treated with these methods to date. The purpose of this study was to estimate the long-term follow-up of reimplanted mandibles treated with decalcification and lyophilization. Presented here are 2 patients of reimplanted mandibles treated by decalcification and lyophilization who were followed up for 8 and 9 years. We observed a good incorporation of the graft in 1 case, but severe absorption in the other. Our results suggest that treatment with decalcification and lyophilization is 1 strategy for reimplantation of the resected bone in mandibular reconstruction, but further study is needed to prevent absorption of the reimplanted bone over the long term.

Hypointensity in the hepatocyte phase is believed to be a key feature of hypovascular early hepatocellular carcinoma, which indicates malignancy. The 3 cases we present suggest that the converse is not true. Three small hepatocellular lesions showed isointensity/hyperintensity on gadoxetic acid-enhanced, hepatocyte-phase magnetic resonance images and were pathologically confirmed as early hepatocellular carcinomas. We conclude that isointensity or hyperintensity in the hepatocyte phase does not always represent benignity of hepatocellular lesions in the cirrhotic liver.

The results of long-term follow-up for reimplantation of the mandibular bone treated with pasteurization are reported. Mandibulectomy was performed for mandibular malignancy in 3 cases. The resected bones were subsequently reimplanted after treatment with pasteurization in 3 cases to eradicate tumor cells involved in the resected bone. Although postoperative infection was observed in 2 of 3 cases, reimplantation of the resected mandibular bone treated by pasteurization was finally successful. Ten to 22 years of follow-up was carried out. Pasteurization was able to devitalize tumor cells involved in the resected bone and to preserve bone-inductive activity. Reimplantation of pasteurization could be a useful strategy for reconstruction of the mandible in patients with mandibular malignancy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine liver stiffness value measured by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and laboratory test results to find the best method for predicting insufficient liver enhancement on gadoxetic acid-enhanced hepatocyte-phase images., Materials and Methods: The institutional ethics committee approved this retrospective study with waiver of informed consent. In total, 118 patients with Child-Pugh class A disease and type C hepatitis underwent MRE and gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. During MRE examination, a pneumatic passive driver was used to obtain liver stiffness in kPa. Liver enhancement was assessed using liver-to-spleen contrast ratio (LSR), calculated using signal intensities of the liver and spleen on hepatocyte-phase magnetic resonance images obtained 20 minutes after contrast administration of gadoxetic acid. Insufficient liver enhancement was defined as an LSR lower than 1.5. The following laboratory test results were used as possible predictors of insufficient liver enhancement as well as liver stiffness measured by MRE: albumin, total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, percentage prothrombin time, and platelet count. Correlation coefficients were calculated between LSR and these variables. Logistic analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of insufficient liver enhancement., Results: All possible predictors investigated were significantly correlated with LSR. Logistic regression analysis revealed that MRE was the only variable to predict insufficient liver enhancement, with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 2.03 (1.22-3.85) (P = 0.0138). A cutoff value of greater than 6.4 kPa yielded 95% specificity for predicting insufficient liver enhancement., Conclusion: Gadoxetic acid is not recommended in patients with liver stiffness greater than 6.4 kPa (consistent with severe fibrosis) because of insufficient liver enhancement on hepatocyte-phase images.

Purpose: To retrospectively determine the findings of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to distinguish hemangioma and metastasis of the liver., Materials and Methods: The University's ethics committee approved this retrospective study. We assessed 45 patients without chronic liver disease who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI. Diagnosis of 58 metastases and 47 hemangiomas was confirmed using histopathology or multimodality evaluation. Two radiologists independently assessed the following MRI findings of metastasis and hemangioma: their appearance on T2-weighted images (T2WI) and dynamic contrast enhancement patterns after gadoxetic acid administration. The metastasis and hemangioma findings were compared using Fisher exact test. The lesion-to-liver signal intensity ratio on hepatocyte phase was compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent imaging findings distinguishing the 2 diseases. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to estimate the diagnostic ability of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI to distinguish metastasis from hemangioma., Results: The lesion-to-liver signal intensity ratio was comparable in both diseases. Peripheral-dot enhancement, ring-like, geographic, and moderate late-phase enhancement, rapid contrast filling, and bright signal on T2WI could differentiate between the 2 diseases. In multivariate analysis, bright signal on T2WI (94%-98% in hemangioma and 13%-25% in metastasis) and ring-like enhancement (4% in hemangioma and 58%-60% in metastasis) were the independent findings suggesting hemangioma and metastasis, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves to distinguish metastasis from hemangioma were 0.95 and 0.98 for Reader 1 and 2, respectively., Conclusion: Reliable findings to distinguish hepatic metastasis from hemangioma on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI were ring-like enhancement on arterial-phase images and bright signal on T2WI.

Objectives: determine the effect of double-dose gadoxetic-acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) on lesion-liver contrast ratio in arterial- and hepatocyte-phase images and arterial-phase image quality in patients with chronic liver disease., Materials and Methods: the ethics committee at our institute approved this study. This study included 28 patients (13 with Child-Pugh class A and 15 with class B) with 54 hepatocellular carcinomas. All patients received the standard Gd-EOB-DTPA dose (0.025 mmol/kg bodyweight) and double dose (0.050 mmol/kg bodyweight). The lesion-liver contrast ratio was evaluated in arterial- and hepatocyte-phase images. The artifacts in arterial-phase images were evaluated with a 4-point scale. Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for comparisons., Results: the hepatocyte-phase lesion-liver contrast ratio after the double dose was significantly higher than that after the standard dose in patients with Child-Pugh class B disease(standard dose vs. double dose; 0.20 ± 0.16 vs. 0.25 ± 0.17; P < 0.0001); however, the ratio after both the standard and double doses was equivalent in patients with Child-Pugh class A disease (0.35 ± 0.18 vs. 0.35 ± 0.14; P = 0.3038). The double dose significantly increased the arterial-phase lesion-liver contrast ratio (0.34 ± 0.19 vs. 0.58 ± 0.33; P < 0.0001). The artifacts in the arterial-phase images were more prominent after the standard dose (2.7 vs. 2.4 for reader 1, 2.8 vs. 2.4 for reader 2; P = 0.0195 and 0.0010)., Conclusions: administration of double dose of Gd-EOB-DTPA provided better arterial enhancement of hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with chronic liver disease, and also improved the lesion-liver contrast in hepatocyte-phase images in patients with Child-Pugh class B disease.

Aims: Recurrent hepatitis is a significant complication after liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease. To evaluate responsiveness to treatment of HCV disease after liver transplantation, in situ hybridisation (ISH) was employed., Methods: Sense and anti-sense probes for HCV were synthesised, and ISH studies were performed on 19 liver biopsy specimens from 19 recipients who had undergone living donor liver transplantation for HCV disease. ISH positive cells and total hepatocytes were counted, and the percentage of positive cells was calculated. Other clinical findings were compared retrospectively with the ISH results., Results: The subjects were divided into three groups: recurrent HCV hepatitis (RHC, n = 11), acute cellular rejection (ACR, n = 5), and recurrent HCV hepatitis with ACR (MIX, n = 3). The percentage of ISH positive cells was almost the same degree (10-20%) in the three groups. The RHC group was subdivided into two sets of patients in whom serum HCV titres decreased (group D, n = 7) or did not decrease (group ND, n = 3) after 1 month of IFN therapy. The percentage of ISH positive cells in group D was significantly lower than that in group ND (p < 0.05), Conclusions: ISH for the recipients with HCV may be useful for predicting the response to interferon therapy.

It is crucial to differentiate between nonneoplastic and neoplastic cysts of the pancreas by images. An epidermoid cyst in intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS) is a rare pancreatic cyst that should be managed nonsurgically as well as other nonneoplastic cyst. However, the imaging features of an epidermoid cyst in IPAS have not been organized. We therefore reviewed articles describing cases of epidermoid cyst in IPAS, with 6 additional cases to explore the imaging findings.

Background: Sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation aggravated endothelial vasomotor dysfunction in infarct-related coronary arteries., Methods and Results: This study examined the effect of SES implantation on the duration of reperfusion-induced endothelial vasomotor dysfunction in infarct-related coronary arteries and on postinfarct left ventricular dysfunction in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Patients with a first AMI due to occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and successful reperfusion using SES (n=15) or bare metal stents (BMS; n=18) were examined. The vasomotor response of the left anterior descending coronary artery to acetylcholine and left ventriculography were examined 2 weeks and 6 months after AMI. At 6 months after AMI, the impairment of epicardial coronary artery dilation and coronary blood flow increase in response to acetylcholine was recovered from 2 weeks after AMI in BMS-treated patients, whereas the responses of SES-treated patients improved but remained impaired compared with BMS-treated patients (% increase in blood flow, 77+/-12% in SES versus 116+/-15% in BMS at 10 microg/min of acetylcholine, P<0.01). Left ventricular regional wall dysfunction in the left anterior descending coronary artery territory improved from 2 weeks to 6 months after AMI in BMS-treated patients but not in SES-treated patients (% improvement of average SD/chord, 6% in SES versus 19% in BMS, P<0.05), although left ventricular global ejection fraction was similar between the groups at any time points., Conclusions: SES implantation may delay recovery of reperfusion-induced endothelial vasomotor dysfunction in infarct-related coronary arteries and left ventricular regional dysfunction for at least 6 months after AMI.

Objective: The aim of this trial was to verify the new surgical device (the LigaSure vessels sealing system) decrease liver transection time., Summary Background Data: Among the major goals in hepatic resection are minimization of the operation time and of the blood loss. Preliminary reports have suggested that the vessel sealing system might decrease the liver transection time, which is directly associated with the amount of blood loss., Methods: Patients who were scheduled to undergo hepatic resection at the Tokyo University Hospital were assigned, by the minimization method, to either use of the new vessel sealing system (VS group) or the conventional clamp crushing method (CC group) for liver transection. The primary end point was the liver transection time, and the secondary endpoints were the amount of blood loss during the entire operation and during liver transection, length of hospital stay, postoperative liver function, and the incidence of various adverse events. An English-language summary of the protocol was submitted (registration ID: C000000337) to the Clinical Trials Registry managed by the University Hospital Medical Information Network in Japan, which can be accessed commission-free on the internet (Available at: http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm)., Results: From February to December in 2006, a total of 165 patients underwent liver resection for some benign or malignant disease of the liver. Among these patients, 120 were randomly assigned to the CC (n = 60) or the VS (n = 60) group. There was no mortality in either of the 2 groups. The median liver transection time in the VS group was 57 minutes (range: 11-127), similar to that in the CC group (56 [range: 9-269] min, P = 0.64), while there was no difference in the transection speed between the 2 groups (1.16 [0.15-2.26] cm/min vs. 1.10 [0.15-2.66] cm/min, P = 0.95). The amount of blood loss and blood loss per transection area during liver transaction in the VS group was also similar to that in the CC group (median: 315 [25-2415] mL vs. 315 [10-1700] mL; P = 0.80) and (5.04 [1.01-44.2] mL/cm vs. 4.36 [0.15-50.5] mL/cm; P = 0.14), respectively., Conclusions: This randomized controlled trial showed that while the vessel sealing system was safe, its use was not associated with any significant decrease of the operation time or blood loss during liver transaction as compared with that of the clamp crushing method.

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of dynamic contrast-enhanced multidetector-row computed tomography (CT) and superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of small hepatic metastases of colorectal carcinoma., Materials and Methods: Of 94 patients with colorectal carcinoma analyzed, 76 hepatic metastases (<2 cm) were diagnosed in 17 patients. Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-magnetic resonance (precontrast and postcontrast MRI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced multidetector-row CT (dynamic CT [precontrast, arterial, portal-venous, and delayed phase]) were evaluated. The alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed, and the sensitivities and positive predictive values were analyzed., Results: The Az values and sensitivities of portal-venous phase CT, dynamic CT, and SPIO-MRI (0.62/59%, 0.69/61%, and 0.67/61%) were identical. The mean positive predictive value of dynamic CT (82%) was inferior to that of SPIO-MRI (91%)., Conclusions: The diagnostic ability of dynamic CT is identical to that of SPIO-MRI in Az value and sensitivity. Superparamagnetic iron oxide-MRI should be recommended only if an equivocal lesion is detected by dynamic CT.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of parallel imaging (sensitivity encoding [SENSE] technique) on diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging, compare DW imaging techniques with 2 different b values for characterization of focal hepatic lesions, and determine apparent diffusion coefficient cutoff values., Materials and Methods: Seventy-eight patients with 86 lesions were examined with 4 different DW techniques with 2 different b values (400 and 1000 s/mm2) and with/without the use of SENSE. The differences in signal-noise ratio values and image quality between DW images obtained with different techniques were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance and Friedman test, respectively. A receiver operating characteristic analysis was applied to evaluate the apparent diffusion coefficient values as a discriminating variable to differentiate malignant lesions from benign ones; sensitivity and specificity were calculated., Results: There was no significant difference in the signal-noise ratio value and image quality between DW images obtained with b = 400 s/mm2 without SENSE (DW400) and b = 1000 s/mm2 with SENSE (DW1000SENSE). DW1000SENSE had the highest Az values for discriminating malignant from benign hepatic lesions (0.97) and hemangioma from metastasis (0.89). Using 1.63 x 10(-3) mm2/s as the cutoff value, DW1000SENSE had a sensitivity of 95.2% (40/42) and a specificity of 91.0% (40/44) for differentiating benign from malignant hepatic lesions. Using a cutoff value of 1.45 x 10(-3) mm2/s, DW1000SENSE had a sensitivity of 90.5% (19/21) and a specificity of 93.7% (15/16) for differentiating metastases from hemangiomas., Conclusions: Diffusion-weighted imaging with a b value of 1000 s/mm2 and SENSE has the potential to differentiate hepatic focal lesions with improved sensitivity and specificity.

We determined time course of stabilization of echolucent carotid plaques by statin therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Treatment with 4 mg/d pitavastatin (n = 33) or placebo (n = 32) was initiated within 3 days after onset of ACS in 65 patients with echolucent carotid plaque. Vulnerable carotid plaques were assessed by measuring plaque echolucency using carotid ultrasound with integrated backscatter (IBS) analysis before and 1 month after treatment in all patients. The calibrated IBS value (intima-media IBS value minus adventia IBS) of vulnerable carotid plaques favorably changed at 1 month after treatment in both groups, but the echolucency at 1 month improved more in the pitavastatin than in the placebo group (pitavastatin group: -18.7 +/- 3.3 dB at pretreatment versus -12.7 +/- 2.3 dB at 1 month *P < 0.001; placebo: -19.0 +/- 3.5 dB versus -16.9 +/- 3.2 dB, P < 0.05, *P < 0.01 versus the value at 1 month in placebo group). Levels of CRP, VEGF, and TNFalpha at 1 month were significantly lower in pitavastatin than placebo group. In conclusion, pitavastatin improved carotid plaque echolucency within 1 month of therapy in patients with ACS, in association with decrease in the inflammatory biomarkers related to vulnerable plaques.

Objective: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to clarify the effectiveness of intraoperative blood salvage in reducing blood loss., Background: Although reduction of central venous pressure (CVP) is thought to decrease blood loss during liver resection, no consistently effective and safe method for obtaining the desired reduction of CVP has been established., Methods: Living liver donors scheduled to undergo liver graft procurement were randomly assigned to a blood salvage group, in which a blood volume equal to approximately 0.7% of the patient's body weight was collected before the liver transection, or a control group. The surgeons were blinded to the randomization results. The primary outcome measure was blood loss during liver parenchymal division. A multivariate analysis was also performed., Results: Seventy-nine donors were allocated intraoperatively to the blood salvage group (n = 40) or the control group (n = 39). The amount of blood loss during liver transection was significantly smaller in the blood salvage group than in the control group (median loss during transection, 140 mL vs. 230 mL, P = 0.034). The CVP at the beginning of the liver parenchymal division was significantly lower in the blood salvage group than in the control group (median, 5 cm H2O vs. 6 cm H2O, P = 0.005). The results of a multivariate analysis revealed that intraoperative blood salvage offered the advantage of reduced blood loss during liver parenchymal division (adjusted OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.11-0.85, P = 0.025)., Conclusion: Modest intraoperative blood salvage significantly and safely reduced blood loss during hepatic parenchymal transection.

Aims: Heterogeneous alveolar fibrosis, the most specific pathological finding in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)/usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), enables differentiation of UIP from other interstitial pneumonias. Heterogeneous and mild alveolar injury may occur, and this will be a clue to clarifying the pathogenesis of UIP., Methods: We examined nine lung biopsy specimens obtained from patients with IPF and five control specimens. We semi-quantitatively examined alveolar injury by measuring the density of type II pneumocytes. Serial 3 microm sections were stained with anti-Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antibody. We divided each UIP lesion into three areas: area near fibrosis (fibrous area), area with an apparently normal alveolar structure (normal area), and area between the fibrous and normal areas (intervening area)., Results: Immunostaining with anti-TF antibody stained the apical surface of type II pneumocytes and enabled us to recognise and count type II pneumocytes. The density of type II pneumocytes was increased in the fibrous area, and gradually decreased away from the fibrous lesion. The densities of type II pneumocytes in the above three areas were, respectively: 13.9+/-2.0, 7.2+/-1.6, and 9.5+/-1.6/mm alveolar length. The densities in the fibrous and intervening areas were significantly greater than those in the normal area and in control specimens (6.6+/-0.7/mm)., Conclusions: If the density of type II pneumocytes indicates their degree of regeneration after alveolar injury, it reflects the severity of the pre-existing injury. This study confirms that heterogeneous and mild alveolar injury occurs in UIP.