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Background Cancer patients configure a risk group for complications or death by COVID‐19. For many of them, postponing or replacing their surgical treatments is not recommended. During this pandemic, surgeons must discuss the risks and benefits of treatment, and patients should sign a specific comprehensive Informed consent (IC). Objectives To report an IC and an algorithm developed for oncologic surgery during the COVID‐19 outbreak. Methods We developed an IC and a process flowchart containing a preoperative symptoms questionnaire and a PCR SARS‐CoV‐2 test and described all perioperative steps of this program. Results Patients with negative questionnaires and tests go to surgery, those with positive ones must wait 21 days and undergo a second test before surgery is scheduled. The IC focused both on risks and benefits inherent each surgery and on the risks of perioperative SARS‐CoV‐2 infections or related complications. Also, the IC discusses the possibility of sudden replacement of medical staff member(s) due to the pandemic; the possibility of unexpected complications demanding emergency procedures that cannot be specifically discussed in advance is addressed. Conclusions During the pandemic, specific tools must be developed to ensure safe experiences for surgical patients and prevent them from having misunderstandings concerning their care.

Background There are limited data on surgical complications for patients that have delayed surgery after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. We aimed to analyze the surgical outcomes of patients submitted to surgery after recovery from SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Methods Asymptomatic patients that had surgery delayed after preoperative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for SARS‐CoV‐2 were matched in a 1:2 ratio for age, type of surgery and American Society of Anesthesiologists to patients with negative RT‐PCR for SARS‐CoV‐2. Results About 1253 patients underwent surgical procedures and were subjected to screening for SARS‐CoV‐2. Forty‐nine cases with a delayed surgery were included in the coronavirus disease (COVID) recovery (COVID‐rec) group and were matched to 98 patients included in the COVID negative (COVID‐neg) group. Overall, 22 (15%) patients had 30‐days postoperative complications, but there was no statistically difference between groups –16.3% for COVID‐rec and 14.3% for COVID‐neg, respectively (odds ratio [OR] 1.17:95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45–3.0; p = .74). Moreover, we did not find difference regarding grades more than or equal to 3 complication rates – 8.2% for COVID‐rec and 6.1% for COVID‐neg (OR 1.36:95%CI 0.36‐5.0; p = .64). There were no pulmonary complications or SARS‐CoV‐2 related infection and no deaths within the 30‐days after surgery. Conclusions Our study suggests that patients with delayed elective surgeries due to asymptomatic preoperative positive SARS‐CoV‐2 test are not at higher risk of postoperative complications.

Background One aim of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis is to obtain special support for the disorder, though this does not guarantee practical support. We developed a psychoeducational program using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and Aware and Care for my Autistic Traits (ACAT) for Japanese adolescents with high-functioning ASD and their parents. Methods This multisite study is a randomized controlled trial. In total, 24 participants will be assigned to the ACAT group and 24 to the treatment-as-usual (TAU) group. The ACAT group will receive a weekly 100-min session for 6 weeks, regular medical care, and one follow-up session. In this ongoing clinical trial, we will compare the scores of the measures recorded in the pre- and post-intervention stages between the ACAT and TAU groups. A total of 41 patients out of a target of 48 have participated in the trial to date. The primary outcome measure is the Autism Knowledge Questionnaire. Secondary outcome measures include Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation 3rd Edition, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales second edition, the Parenting Resilience Elements Questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire 12, and the Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children assessments, as well as an electroencephalographic recording. Discussion It is expected that participants in the ACAT group will significantly increase their self-understanding and awareness of ASD symptoms compared to those in the TAU group. Additionally, the ACAT group is expected to exhibit improved social adaptation and mental health if children and parents are able to better understand the ASD characteristics through sessions. This intervention will contribute to the establishment of an effective evidence-based treatment strategy for adolescents with ASD. Trial registration UMIN Register 000029851. Registered on January 06, 2018

ResumoSchwannomas são tumores benignos oriundos de células da bainha neural cuja apresentação intraóssea é rara. Estima-se que os schwannomas intraósseos representem 0,2% de todos os tumores ósseos. Schwannomas podem acometer diferentes ossos do esqueleto, como a mandíbula, o sacro, corpos vertebrais, a ulna, o úmero, o fêmur, a tíbia, a patela, a escápula, costelas e ossos da mão. Apenas quatro casos que acometeram o calcâneo foram descritos na literatura. No presente trabalho, os autores relatam o caso de um paciente masculino de 49 anos com dor no retropé direito e com exames de imagem que evidenciaram lesão osteolítica no calcâneo. O estudo histopatológico confirmou o diagnóstico de Schwannoma intraósseo. O tratamento de escolha foi ressecção intralesional com adjuvância local e substituição por polimetilmetacrilato e fixação com parafusos canulados. O paciente evoluiu de forma satisfatória no pós-operatório e, após 1 ano de evolução, encontra-se assintomático, com boa resposta funcional e sem evidência de doença. Com esse relato, os autores desejam chamar atenção para essa patologia rara, sua apresentação clínica, radiológica e patológica, além de reiterar a importância de incluir o schwannoma intraósseo dentre os diagnósticos diferenciais das lesões osteolíticas do calcâneo.

BackgroundAlthough approximately 23% of anorexia nervosa (AN) patients have concomitant autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is clinically difficult to determine ASD coexistence in patients with eating disorders. Restrictive AN is more common in younger patients and self-induced vomiting usually appears during adolescence/young adulthood, in order to prevent gaining weight caused by overeating. However, some patients are tolerant of weight gain even if they start overeating. It is important to understand the essential difference between those who vomit and those who do not vomit. In this study, we hypothesised that the absence of self-induced vomiting may be associated with the presence of ASD and aimed to assess the presence of ASD traits in each eating disorder (EDs). Clarifying this association helps to consider the coexistence of ASD in the clinical setting and can lead to the next detailed ASD evaluation, and as a result, helps to determine the appropriate treatment and support individually.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 43 females aged 15–45 years who attended Chiba University Hospital between 2012 and 2016 using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) to quantify the severity of the EDs and to identify whether ASD traits were present.ResultsThere was no difference in the AQ score between bingeing-purging type AN and restricting type AN. However, there was significant difference in the AQ score between bulimia nervosa and binge EDs (BED). Of the 4 ED subtypes, BED had the highest ASD traits. The non-vomiting group with illness duration ConclusionsThere was a difference in the AQ score by the presence or absence of self-induced vomiting. The results of this study suggest an association between high scores on AQ and non-vomiting. Thus, evaluation of patients for the absence of self-induced vomiting while assessing them for EDs may help us to understand the association with ASD traits.

ObjectiveNo diagnostic biomarkers are available for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have provided evidence for structural abnormalities in distinct brain regions, but effect sizes are small and have limited clinical relevance. To investigate whether individual patients can be distinguished from healthy controls, we performed multivariate analysis of structural neuroimaging data from the ENIGMA-OCD consortium.MethodWe included 46 data sets with neuroimaging and clinical data from adult (≥18 years) and pediatric (1images from 2,304 OCD patients and 2,068 healthy controls were analyzed using standardized processing to extract regional measures of cortical thickness, surface area and subcortical volume. Machine learning classification performance was tested using cross-validation, and possible effects of clinical variables were investigated by stratification.ResultsClassification performance for OCD versus controls using the complete sample with different classifiers and cross-validation strategies was poor (AUC—0.57 (standard deviation (SD)=0.02;Pcorr=0.19) to 0.62 (SD=0.03;Pcorrcorr>.99) to 0.54 (SD=0.08;Pcorr>.99)). In contrast, good classification performance (>0.8 AUC) was achieved within subgroups of patients split according to their medication status.ConclusionsParcellated structural MRI data do not enable good distinction between patients with OCD and controls. However, classifying subgroups of patients based on medication status enables good identification at the individual subject level. This underlines the need for longitudinal studies on the short- and long-term effects of medication on brain structure.

ObjectiveAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are common neurodevelopmental disorders that frequently co-occur. We aimed to directly compare all three disorders. The ENIGMA consortium is ideally positioned to investigate structural brain alterations across these disorders.MethodsStructural T1-weighted whole-brain MRI of controls (n=5,827) and patients with ADHD (n=2,271), ASD (n=1,777), and OCD (n=2,323) from 151 cohorts worldwide were analyzed using standardized processing protocols. We examined subcortical volume, cortical thickness and surface area differences within a mega-analytical framework, pooling measures extracted from each cohort. Analyses were performed separately for children, adolescents, and adults using linear mixed-effects models adjusting for age, sex and site (and ICV for subcortical and surface area measures).ResultsWe found no shared alterations among all three disorders, while shared alterations between any two disorders did not survive multiple comparisons correction. Children with ADHD compared to those with OCD had smaller hippocampal volumes, possibly influenced by IQ. Children and adolescents with ADHD also had smaller ICV than controls and those with OCD or ASD. Adults with ASD showed thicker frontal cortices compared to adult controls and other clinical groups. No OCD-specific alterations across different age-groups and surface area alterations among all disorders in childhood and adulthood were observed.ConclusionOur findings suggest robust but subtle alterations across different age-groups among ADHD, ASD, and OCD. ADHD-specific ICV and hippocampal alterations in children and adolescents, and ASD-specific cortical thickness alterations in the frontal cortex in adults support previous work emphasizing neurodevelopmental alterations in these disorders.

Accepted Manuscript, BACKGROUND: Lateralized dysfunction has been suggested in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, it is currently unclear whether OCD is characterized by abnormal patterns of brain structural asymmetry. Here we carried out what is by far the largest study of brain structural asymmetry in OCD.METHODS: We studied a collection of 16 pediatric datasets (501 patients with OCD and 439 healthy control subjects), as well as 30 adult datasets (1777 patients and 1654 control subjects) from the OCD Working Group within the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis) Consortium. Asymmetries of the volumes of subcortical structures, and of measures of regional cortical thickness and surface areas, were assessed based on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans, using harmonized image analysis and quality control protocols. We investigated possible alterations of brain asymmetry in patients with OCD. We also explored potential associations of asymmetry with specific aspects of the disorder and medication status.RESULTS: In the pediatric datasets, the largest case-control differences were observed for volume asymmetry of the thalamus (more leftward; Cohen's d = 0.19) and the pallidum (less leftward; d = -20.21). Additional analyses suggested putative links between these asymmetry patterns and medication status, OCD severity, or anxiety and depression comorbidities. No significant case-control differences were found in the adult datasets.CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest subtle changes of the average asymmetry of subcortical structures in pediatric OCD, which are not detectable in adults with the disorder. These findings may reflect altered neurodevelopmental processes in OCD., This research was funded by the Max Planck Society (Germany). Additional funding was from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI Grant No. 18K15523 [to YA], KAKENHI Grant No. 16K04344 [to YH], KAKENHI Grant Nos. 16K19778 and 18K07608 [to TNakam], and KAKENHI Grant No. 26461762 [to AN]); the Carlos III Health Institute (Grant No. PI14/00419 [to PA], Grant No. PI040829 cofunded by European Regional Development Fund [to LL], Grant No. FI17/00294 [to IM-Z], Grant No. PI16/00950 [to JMM], and Grant Nos. CPII16/00048, PI13/01958, and PI16/00889 cofunded by European Regional Development Funds [to CS-M]); the Ontario Mental Health Foundation (Research Training Fellowship [to SHA]); Alberta Innovates Translational Health Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health (to PDA), the Ontario Brain Institute (to PDA); the National Institute of Mental Health (Grant No. K23MH104515 [to JTB], Grant No. K23-MH092397 [to BPB], Grant No. K23MH082176 [to KDF), Grant No. R21MH101441 [to RM], Grant No. R01MH081864 [to JO and JP], and Grant No. R01MH085900 [to JO and JF], Grant No. R21MH093889 [to HBS]); Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Grant No. 2011/21357–9 [to MCB], Grant No. 2011/21357–9 [to GFB], Grant No. 2011/21357–9 [to MQH], and Grant No. 2011/21357–9 [to ECM]); the Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant No. 320030_130237 [to SB; principal investigator, Susanne Walitza]); the Hartmann Müller Foundation (Grant No. 1460 [to SB]); the David Judah Fund at the Massachusetts General Hospital (to BPB); EU FP7 Project TACTICS (Grant No. 278948 [to JB]); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81560233 [to YC] and Grant No. 81371340 [to ZW]); the International OCD Foundation (Grant No. K23 MH115206 [to PG]); the Wellcome Sir Henry Dale Fellowship (Grant No. 211155/Z/18/Z [to TUH]); the Jacobs Foundation (to TUH); the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (2018 NARSAD Young Investigator Grant No. 27023 [to TUH]); the Agency for Medical Research and Development (Grant No. JP18dm0307002 [to YH]); the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (to FJ-F); the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany (Grant No. BMBF-01GW0724 [to NK]); the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant No. KO 3744/7–1 [to KK]); the Helse Vest Health Authority (Grant Nos. 911754 and 911880 [to GK]); the Norwegian Research Council (Grant No. HELSEFORSK 243675 [to GK]); the Marató TV3 Foundation (Grant Nos. 01/2010 and 091710 [to LL]); the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (Grant No. 2017 SGR 881 [to LL] and 2017 SGR 1247 from the Generalitat de Catalunya [to JMM]); Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Grant No. PDE/BDE/113604/2015 from the PhD-iHES Program [to RM], Grant No. PDE/BDE/113601/2015 from the PhD-iHES Program [to PSM]); the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grant Nos. 22591262, 25461732, and 16K10253 [to TNakao]); the Government of India Department of Science and Technology (DST INSPIRE Faculty Grant No. -IFA12-LSBM-26 [to JCN] and Grant No. SR/S0/HS/0016/2011 [to YCJR]); the Government of India Department of Biotechnology (Grant No. BT/06/IYBA/2012 [to JCN] and Grant No. BT/PR13334/Med/30/259/2009 [to YCJR]); the New York State Office of Mental Health (to HBS); the Italian Ministry of Health (Grant No. RC13-14-15-16A [to GS]); the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (Grant No. UL1TR000067/KL2TR00069 [to ERS]); the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (to SES); the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (to SES); the British Columbia Provincial Health Services Authority (to SES); the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (Grant No. NWO/ZonMW Vidi 917.15.318 [to GAvW]); the Wellcome-DBT India Alliance (Grant No. 500236/Z/11/Z [to GV]); the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders (Grant No. 13dz2260500 [to ZW]).

Background Face-to-face individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and internet-based CBT (ICBT) without videoconferencing are known to have long-term effectiveness for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder (PD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, videoconference-delivered CBT (VCBT) has not been investigated regarding its long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of VCBT for patients with OCD, PD, or SAD in Japan via a 1-year follow-up to our previous 16-week single-arm study. Methods Written informed consent was obtained from 25 of 29 eligible patients with OCD, PD, and SAD who had completed VCBT in our clinical trial. Participants were assessed at baseline, end of treatment, and at the follow-up end points of 3, 6, and 12 months. Outcomes were the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder–7 (GAD-7), and EuroQol-5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L). To analyze long-term effectiveness, we used mixed-model analysis of variance. To analyze cost-effectiveness, we employed relevant public data and derived data on VCBT implementation costs from Japanese national health insurance data. Results Four males and 21 females with an average age of 35.1 (SD 8.6) years participated in the 1-year follow-up study. Principal diagnoses were OCD (n=10), PD (n=7), and SAD (n=8). The change at 12 months on the Y-BOCS was −4.1 (F1=4.45, P=.04), the change in PDSS was −4.4 (F1=6.83, P=.001), and the change in LSAS was −30.9 (F1=6.73, P=.01). The change in the PHQ-9 at 12 months was −2.7 (F1=7.72, P=.007), and the change in the GAD-7 was −3.0 (F1=7.09, P=.009). QALY at 12 months was 0.7469 (SE 0.0353, 95% Cl 0.6728-0.821), and the change was a significant increase of 0.0379 (P=.01). Total costs to provide the VCBT were ¥60,800 to ¥81,960 per patient. The set threshold was ¥189,500 ($1723, €1579, and £1354) calculated based on willingness to pay in Japan. Conclusions VCBT was a cost-effective way to effectively treat Japanese patients with OCD, PD, or SAD. Trial Registration University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000026609; https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000030495

Resumo O angiossarcoma osseo (AO) e uma patologia rara de comportamento biologico variavel e com prognostico reservado. Pouco se conhece sobre o seu tratamento oncologico e sua etiologia ainda e desconhecida. Os autores apresentam um caso de lesao litica em femur proximal que se disseminou para outros ossos (tais como coluna e crânio), pulmao e sistema nervoso central. Foi instituido tratamento ortopedico, com vistas a uma melhoria da qualidade de vida e ao conforto do paciente. O diagnostico de AO maligno de alto grau foi confirmado pelo especime cirurgico. Apesar disso e do tratamento oncologico feito, o paciente apresentou uma evolucao rapida e agressiva com desfecho desfavoravel.

In medical imaging, the characteristics purely derived from a disease should reflect the extent to which abnormal findings deviate from the normal features. Indeed, physicians often need corresponding images without abnormal findings of interest or, conversely, images that contain similar abnormal findings regardless of normal anatomical context. This is called comparative diagnostic reading of medical images, which is essential for a correct diagnosis. To support comparative diagnostic reading, content-based image retrieval (CBIR) that can selectively utilize normal and abnormal features in medical images as two separable semantic components will be useful. In this study, we propose a neural network architecture to decompose the semantic components of medical images into two latent codes: normal anatomy code and abnormal anatomy code. The normal anatomy code represents counterfactual normal anatomies that should have existed if the sample is healthy, whereas the abnormal anatomy code attributes to abnormal changes that reflect deviation from the normal baseline. By calculating the similarity based on either normal or abnormal anatomy codes or the combination of the two codes, our algorithm can retrieve images according to the selected semantic component from a dataset consisting of brain magnetic resonance images of gliomas. Moreover, it can utilize a synthetic query vector combining normal and abnormal anatomy codes from two different query images. To evaluate whether the retrieved images are acquired according to the targeted semantic component, the overlap of the ground-truth labels is calculated as metrics of the semantic consistency. Our algorithm provides a flexible CBIR framework by handling the decomposed features with qualitatively and quantitatively remarkable results.

Children's Cancer Institute Rafael Accordi Foundation, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Background: Relapse in localized Ewing sarcoma patients has been a matter of concern regarding poor prognosis. Therefore, we investigated the impact of local control modality (surgery, surgery plus radiotherapy, and radiotherapy) on clinical outcomes such as survival and recurrence in patients with non-metastatic Ewing sarcoma treated on the first Brazilian Collaborative Group Trial of the Ewing Family of Tumors (EWING1). Methods: Seventy-three patients with localized Ewing sarcoma of bone aged < 30 years were included. The treating physicians defined the modality of local control based on the recommendations of the coordinating center and the patient and tumor characteristics. Possible associations of local control modality with local failure (LF), disease-free survival (DFS), event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS), and clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results: Mean patient age was 12.8 years (range, 2 to 25 years) and median follow-up time was 4.5 years (range, 2. 3 to 6.7 years). Forty-seven patients underwent surgery, 13 received radiotherapy, and 13 received both. The 5-year EFS, OS, and DFS for all patients was 62.1%, 63.3%, and 73.1%, respectively. The 5-year cumulative incidence (CI) of LF was 7.6% for surgery, 11.1% for radiotherapy, and 0% for postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) (p = 0.61). The 5-year EFS was 71.7% for surgery, 30.8% for radiotherapy, and 64.1% for PORT (p = 0.009). Conclusions: There was a significant effect of local control modality on EFS and OS in the study. Surgery and PORT modalities yielded very close results. The group treated with radiotherapy alone had considerably worse outcomes. This may be confounded by greater risk factors in these patients. There was no significant effect of local control modality on the CI of LF and DFS. HCPA, Serv Orthoped & Traumatol, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, BR-90035903 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, HCPA, Dept Pediat, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Pontificia Univ Catolica Rio Grande Sul PUCRS, Dept Pediat, Hosp Sao Lucas, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil HCPA, Serv Orthoped & Traumatol, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Support Grp Children & Adolescents Canc GRAACC, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Hosp Canc Infantojuvenil, Fundacao Pio 12, Barretos, SP, Brazil Ctr Hosp Pereira Rossell, Montevideo, Uruguay Hosp AC Camargo Canc Ctr, Orthoped Serv, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Santa Casa Misericordia Porto Alegre, Serv Orthoped & Traumatol, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Orthoped Trauma Inst, Hosp Clin Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Santa Casa Misericordia Sao Paulo HSCSP, Dept Orthoped & Traumatol, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Pontificia Univ Catolica Rio Grande Sul PUCRS, Hosp Sao Lucas, Serv Orthoped & Traumatol, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Hosp Clin Botucatu, Sch Med, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Inst Canc Infantil, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Support Grp Children & Adolescents Canc GRAACC, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Children's Cancer Institute Rafael Accordi Foundation, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Web of Science

Aki Tsuchiyagaito,1–3 Satoshi Horiuchi,4 Toko Igarashi,5 Yoshiya Kawanori,4 Yoshiyuki Hirano,1,3 Hirooki Yabe,2 Akiko Nakagawa1,3 1Research Center for Child Mental Development, Chiba University, Chiba, 2Department of Neuropsychiatry, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, 3United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Osaka, 4Faculty of Social Welfare, Iwate Prefectural University, Iwate, 5Graduate School of Education, Joetsu University of Education, Niigata, Japan Background: The Hoarding Rating Scale-Self-Report (HRS-SR) is a five-item scale that assesses the symptoms of hoarding. These symptoms include excessive acquisition, difficulty in discarding, and excessive clutter that causes distress. We conducted three studies to examine the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Japanese version of the HRS-SR (HRS-SR-J). Methods: Study 1 examined its reliability; 193 college students and 320 adolescents and adults completed the HRS-SR-J and, of the college students, 32 took it again 2weeks later. Study 2 aimed to confirm that its scores in a sample of 210 adolescents and adults are independent of social desirability. Study 3 aimed to validate the HRS-SR-J in the aspects of convergent and discriminant validity in a sample of 550 adults. Results: The HRS-SR-J showed good internal consistency and 2-week test–retest reliability. Based on the nonsignificant correlations between the HRS-SR-J and social desirability, the HRS-SR-J was not strongly affected by social desirability. In addition, it also had a good convergent validity with the Japanese version of the Saving Inventory-Revised (SI-R-J) and the hoarding subscale of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, while having a significantly weaker correlation with the five subscales of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, except for the hoarding subscale. In addition, the strength of the correlation between the HRS-SR-J and the Japanese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and that between the HRS-SR-J and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 were significantly weaker than the correlation between the HRS-SR-J and the SI-R-J. These results demonstrate that the HRS-SR-J has good convergent and discriminant validity. Conclusion: The HRS-SR-J is a notable self-report scale for examining the severity of hoarding symptoms. Keywords: Japanese version of the Hoarding Rating Scale-Self-Report, Hoarding Rating Scale, hoarding, reliability, validity

The osteoid osteoma is a benign primary bone tumor that affects mainly males in the second and third decades of life. Radiographic findings show a radiolucent nidus surrounded by reactive sclerotic bone, particularly in the long bones of the lower extremity. Clinically, it presents persistent pain, which is worse at night and improves with salicylates. It can be a self-limiting injury, with an average duration of three years, but because of pain intensity and intolerance to prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, surgical treatment is an option. The diagnosis is suspected according to the history and radiographic findings, and the confirmation is made by histological analysis. The traditional surgical treatment is the complete excision of the nidus, but some disadvantages have been described, such as difficulties in localizing the lesion and risk of fracture during the procedure, hospital stay for pain control, and unfavorable esthetic outcome. The authors report a series of cases treated with thermal radiofrequency ablation guided by computed tomography in this service. It is a safe and an effective percutaneous method that aims to cure, minimizing the trauma and morbidity when compared with the conventional block-resection method. RESUMO O osteoma osteoide é um tumor ósseo primário benigno que acomete mais o sexo masculino na segunda e terceira décadas da vida. Radiograficamente, caracteriza-se por um nicho radiolucente cercado por osso esclerótico reativo, principalmente em ossos longos da extremidade inferior. Clinicamente, apresenta uma dor persistente de longa duração, com pioria noturna e melhoria com salicilatos. Embora possa ser uma lesão autolimitada, com duração média de três anos, a ressecção da lesão é uma opção de tratamento devido à intensidade da dor e intolerância ao uso prolongado de anti-inflamatórios não hormonais. Sua suspeita diagnóstica baseia-se principalmente na história clínica e nos achados radiográficos, a confirmação é feita pelo estudo anatomopatológico. O tratamento cirúrgico clássico é a excisão cirúrgica completa do nicho, porém são descritas desvantagens como a dificuldade para a localização intraoperatória da lesão, risco de fratura durante o procedimento, tempo de internação hospitalar para controle álgico e resultado estético desfavorável. Relatamos uma série de casos tratados com termoablação por radiofrequência guiada por tomografia computadorizada em nosso serviço. Trata-se de um método percutâneo seguro e eficaz que tem como objetivo a cura, minimiza o trauma e a morbidade do procedimento, quando comparado com o método convencional de ressecção em bloco.

ImportanceMicrostructural alterations in cortico-subcortical connections are thought to be present in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). However, prior studies have yielded inconsistent findings, perhaps because small sample sizes provided insufficient power to detect subtle abnormalities.ObjectiveTo investigate microstructural white matter alterations and their relation to clinical features in the largest dataset of adult and pediatric OCD to date.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsIn this cross-sectional case-control magnetic resonance study, we investigated diffusion tensor imaging metrics from 700 adult patients and 645 adult controls, as well as 174 pediatric patients and 144 pediatric controls across 19 sites participating in the ENIGMA-OCD Working Group.Main Outcomes and MeasuresWe extracted measures of fractional anisotropy (FA) as main outcome, and mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, and axial diffusivity as secondary outcomes for 25 white matter regions. We meta-analyzed patient-control group differences (Cohen’s d) across sites, after adjusting for age and sex, and investigated associations with clinical characteristics.ResultsAdult OCD patients showed significant FA reduction in the sagittal stratum (d=-0.21, z=-3.21, p=0.001) and posterior thalamic radiation (d=-0.26, z=-4.57, pConclusions and RelevanceMicrostructural alterations in projection and association fibers to posterior brain regions were found in adult OCD, and related to disease course and medication status. Such results are relevant to models positing deficits in connectivity as a crucial mechanism in OCD.KEY POINTSQuestionDo patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) show white matter microstructural alterations, and are these alterations related to clinical features?FindingsData from 19 sites of the ENIGMA-OCD Consortium were included, involving 700 adult patients and 645 adult controls, 174 pediatric patients and 144 pediatric controls. Diffusion tensor imaging data were meta-analyzed using a harmonized data processing and analysis protocol. Adult, but not pediatric, patients showed alterations in the sagittal stratum and posterior thalamic radiation; sagittal stratum differences were associated with clinical features.MeaningMicrostructural abnormalities found in adult but not in the pediatric cohort, are related to illness duration and medication status.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the severities of symptom dimensions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and white matter alterations.MethodsWe applied tract-based spatial statistics for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) acquired by 3T magnetic resonance imaging. First, we compared fractional anisotropy (FA) between 20 OCD patients and 30 healthy controls (HC). Then, applying whole brain analysis, we searched the brain regions showing correlations between the severities of symptom dimensions assessed by Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised and FA in all participants. Finally, we calculated the correlations between the six symptom dimensions and multiple DTI measures [FA, axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), mean diffusivity (MD)] in a region-of-interest (ROI) analysis and explored the differences between OCD patients and HC.ResultsThere were no between-group differences in FA or brain region correlations between the severities of symptom dimensions and FA in any of the participants. ROI analysis revealed negative correlations between checking severity and left inferior frontal gyrus white matter and left middle temporal gyrus white matter and a positive correlation between ordering severity and right precuneus in FA in OCD compared with HC. We also found negative correlations between ordering severity and right precuneus in RD, between obsessing severities and right supramarginal gyrus in AD and MD, and between hoarding severity and right insular gyrus in AD.ConclusionOur study supported the hypothesis that the severities of respective symptom dimensions are associated with different patterns of white matter alterations.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is among the most debilitating psychiatric disorders. Comorbid autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autistic traits may impair treatment response in OCD. To identify possible neurostructural deficits underlying autistic traits, we performed white matter tractography on diffusion tensor images (DTI) and assessed autistic trait severity using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) in 33 OCD patients. Correlations between AQ and the DTI parameters, fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were examined in major white matter tracts that were suggested to be altered in previous OCD studies. We found a negative correlation between AQ and FA and positive correlations between AQ and MD, AD and RD in the left uncinate fasciculus using age, Beck Depression Inventory, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, intelligence quotient and medication as covariates. However, we could not detect the significant results between AQ and all DTI parameters when adding gender as a covariate. In addition, in the ASD comorbid group, FA in the left uncinate fasciculus was significantly lower than in the non-ASD comorbid group and MD and RD were significantly higher than in the non-ASD group. These results did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. In ASD, the socio-emotional dysfunction is suggested to be related to the alteration of white matter microstructure in uncinate fasciculus. Our results suggest that variations in white matter features of the left uncinate fasciculus might be partly explained by autistic traits encountered in OCD patients.

Objective Mental defeat and cognitive flexibility have been studied as explanatory factors for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. This study examined mental defeat and cognitive flexibility scores in patients with panic disorder (PD) before and after cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and compared them to those of a gender- and age-matched healthy control group. Results Patients with PD (n = 15) received 16 weekly individual CBT sessions, and the control group (n = 35) received no treatment. Patients completed the Mental Defeat Scale and the Cognitive Flexibility Scale before the intervention, following eight CBT sessions, and following 16 CBT sessions, while the control group did so only prior to receiving CBT (baseline). The patients’ pre-CBT Mental Defeat and Cognitive Flexibility Scale scores were significantly higher on the Mental Defeat Scale and lower on the Cognitive Flexibility Scale than those of the control group participants were. In addition, the average Mental Defeat Scale scores of the patients decreased significantly, from 22.2 to 12.4, while their average Cognitive Flexibility Scale scores increased significantly, from 42.8 to 49.5. These results suggest that CBT can reduce mental defeat and increase cognitive flexibility in patients with PD Trial registration The study was registered retrospectively in the national UMIN Clinical Trials Registry on June 10, 2016 (registration ID: UMIN000022693).

Aims: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the evidence-based treatments for depression. However, some patients high in self-criticism do not respond to CBT. Compassionfocused therapy (CFT) is featured in treating self-criticism and shame, and some trials have reported its effectiveness on depression in individual and group settings. The aim of this study is to adapt an established combined manual of group CBT and CFT, evaluate its efficacy as a pilot study, and discuss the advantages of group CBT (GCBT) program using compassion as a depression therapy in a Japanese community setting. Study Protocol Article Asano et al.; BJMMR, 9(10): 1-5, 2015; Article no.BJMMR.19206 2 Design and Methods: In this single group study, participants will receive 10 sessions of GCBT with compassion training that was provided through the CFT. All sessions will last for 1 hour and be provided weekly. The outcome measure is the Beck Depression Inventory II, and the secondary outcome is the Self-Compassion Scale in Japanese. Both outcomes will be measured preand post-program. The sample size will be 15 participants due to the limited capacity for intervention within the community. Discussion: It is expected that the program will show a larger effect size than that of GCBT reported in previous studies on depression and self-compassion. The results will show an effect size that justifies the introduction of a randomized controlled study to improve the program. Trial Registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry 000015007 https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-openbin/ctr/ctr.cgi?function=brows&action=brows&type=summary&language=J&recptno=R000016862. Conclusion: CFT or compassion training can augment the treatment of major depression using CBT. Despite several limitations, this clinical trial may help estimate the effectiveness of CFT, which will aid in the design of a further controlled study.

Aims: This pilot study investigated the effect and feasibility of a group cognitive behavioural therapy program in a Japanese community setting. Methodology: Participants were five patients with major depression. Ten weekly 1-hour sessions of group cognitive behavioural therapy was conducted in a Japanese community setting. Outcomes were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Statistical comparison of means was performed using nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test using normal approximation, and effect sizes (d) was used to compare depression scores before and after the Short Communication Asano et al.; BJMMR, 10(4): 1-6, 2015; Article no.BJMMR.19447 2 intervention. Results: Group cognitive behavioural therapy appears to be significantly efficacious in a Japanese community setting, with an effect size of .85. The present results are similar to those found in clinical settings. Discussion: Adapting group cognitive behaviour programs to Japanese community settings can contribute to improved mental health in this country. The limitations of this study are the sample size was very small, measurement is self-reported questionnaire and conducted in a community setting as an uncontrolled, naturalistic pilot study. Controlled studies are needed and would provide a more convincing demonstration of the program’s efficacy in Japanese community settings.

OBJECTIVES Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most debilitating psychiatric disorders, with some speculating that a reason for difficulty in its treatment might be its coexistence with autism spectrum. We investigated the tendency for autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) in patients with OCD from a neuroimaging point of view using voxel-based morphometry. METHODS We acquired T1-weighted images from 20 patients with OCD and 30 healthy controls and investigated the difference in regional volume between the groups as well as the correlation between Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores and regional cerebral volumes of patients with OCD. RESULTS Volumes in the bilateral middle frontal gyri were significantly decreased in patients with OCD compared to controls. Correlational analysis showed significant positive correlations between AQ scores and regional gray matter (GM) volumes in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and left amygdala. Furthermore, GM volumes of these regions were positively correlated with each other. CONCLUSIONS The positive correlation of ASD traits in patients with OCD with regional GM volumes in the left DLPFC and amygdala could reflect the heterogeneity of patient symptoms. Our results suggest that differences in GM volume might allow classification of patients with OCD for appropriate therapy based on their particular traits.

Several reports suggest that college students often have atypical sleep patterns and experience poor sleep quality. We examined the effect of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) based intervention program to improve sleep quality and overall mental health among college students. The intervention was delivered in the form of e-mail newsletters. Fifty-three students participated in the intervention group, and another 50 students participated in the control group. The intervention group received a lecture on sleep hygiene; once-weekly e-mail newsletters on sleep health topics (sleep hygiene, stimulus control, sleep restriction, sleep titration, and relapse prevention) and were asked to maintain a four-week sleep diary. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a measure of sleep quality, and the Kessler 6, a measure of psychological distress, were administered before the lecture (as the baseline measurement) and again 16 weeks later (follow-up measurement). PSQI and K6 scores were reduced in the intervention group compared with the control group. A CBT-based sleep health program utilizing e-mail newsletters may work to improve sleep quality and mental health. This program may represent a cost effective way for Japanese students to receive treatment for poor sleep and may also serve to prevent psychiatric problems.

Resumo O osteoma osteoide e um tumor osseo primario benigno que acomete mais o sexo masculino na segunda e terceira decadas da vida. Radiograficamente, caracteriza‐se por um nicho radiolucente cercado por osso esclerotico reativo, principalmente em ossos longos da extremidade inferior. Clinicamente, apresenta uma dor persistente de longa duracao, com pioria noturna e melhoria com salicilatos. Embora possa ser uma lesao autolimitada, com duracao media de tres anos, a resseccao da lesao e uma opcao de tratamento devido a intensidade da dor e intolerância ao uso prolongado de anti‐inflamatorios nao hormonais. Sua suspeita diagnostica baseia‐se principalmente na historia clinica e nos achados radiograficos, a confirmacao e feita pelo estudo anatomopatologico. O tratamento cirurgico classico e a excisao cirurgica completa do nicho, porem sao descritas desvantagens como a dificuldade para a localizacao intraoperatoria da lesao, risco de fratura durante o procedimento, tempo de internacao hospitalar para controle algico e resultado estetico desfavoravel. Relatamos uma serie de casos tratados com termoablacao por radiofrequencia guiada por tomografia computadorizada em nosso servico. Trata‐se de um metodo percutâneo seguro e eficaz que tem como objetivo a cura, minimiza o trauma e a morbidade do procedimento, quando comparado com o metodo convencional de resseccao em bloco.

We investigated the rectal dose-sparing effect and tumor control of a point A dose-reduced plan in patients with Stage I–II cervical cancer (≤4 cm) arising from a small-sized uterus. Between October 2008 and August 2011, 19 patients with Stage I–II cervical cancer (≤4 cm) were treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for the pelvis and CT-guided brachytherapy. Seven patients were treated with brachytherapy with standard loading of source-dwell positions and a fraction dose of 6 Gy at point A (conventional brachy-plan). The other 12 patients with a small uterus close to the rectum or small intestine were treated with brachytherapy with a point A dose-reduction to match D2cc of the rectum and

The purpose of this study was to evaluate interfractional changes of the minimum dose delivered to 90% of the high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV D90) and D2cc of the bladder and rectum during brachytherapy for uterine cervical cancer patients. A total of 52 patients received external beam radiotherapy and high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT). For each of four ICBT applications, a pelvic CT scan was performed and the HR-CTV was delineated. Retrospectively, these patients were divided into two groups: (i) the standard dose group with 6 Gy to point A in each ICBT, and (ii) the adaptive dose group with a modified dose to point A to cover the HR-CTV with the 6-Gy isodose line as much as possible. The HR-CTV D90 was assessed in every session, and analyzed as interfractional changes. In the standard dose group, the interfractional changes of the HR-CTV D90 showed a linear increase from the first to the third of the four ICBT (average 6.1, 6.6, 7.0 and 7.1 Gy, respectively). In contrast, those of the adaptive dose group remained almost constant (average 7.2, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 Gy, respectively). Especially, in the case of a large HR-CTV volume (≥35 cm(3)) at first ICBT, the total HR-CTV D90 of the adaptive dose group with brachytherapy was significantly higher than that of the standard dose group. There were no significant differences in total D2cc in bladder and rectum between the two groups. Image-guided adaptive brachytherapy based on interfractional tumor volume change improves the dose to the HR-CTV while keeping rectal and bladder doses within acceptable levels.

Background In Japan, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for panic disorder (PD) is not well established. Therefore, a feasibility study of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of CBT for PD in a Japanese clinical setting is urgently required. This was a pilot uncontrolled trial and the intervention consisted of a 16-week CBT program. The primary outcome was Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) scores. Quality of life was assessed using the EuroQol’s EQ-5D questionnaire. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 8 weeks, and at the end of the study. Fifteen subjects completed outcome measures at all assessment points. Results At post-CBT, the mean reduction in PDSS scores from baseline was −6.6 (95 % CI 3.80 to −9.40, p

Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment for thoracic cancers. Accurate diagnosis is essential to correctly perform curative radiotherapy. Tumor delineation is also important to prevent geographic misses in radiotherapy planning. Currently, planning is based on computed tomography (CT) imaging when radiation oncologists manually contour the tumor, and this practice often induces interobserver variability. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been reported to enable accurate staging and detect tumor extension in several thoracic cancers, such as lung cancer and esophageal cancer. FDG-PET imaging has many potential advantages in radiotherapy planning for these cancers, because it can add biological information to conventional anatomical images and decrease the inter-observer variability. FDG-PET improves radiotherapy volume and enables dose escalation without causing severe side effects, especially in lung cancer patients. The main advantage of FDG-PET for esophageal cancer patients is the detection of unrecognized lymph node or distal metastases. However, automatic delineation by FDG-PET is still controversial in these tumors, despite the initial expectations. We will review the role of FDG-PET in radiotherapy for thoracic cancers, including lung cancer and esophageal cancer.

Background Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first-line treatment for adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder (PD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD). Patients in rural areas can access CBT via the internet. The effectiveness of internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) has been consistently shown, but no clinical studies have demonstrated the feasibility of ICBT with real-time therapist support via videoconference for OCD, PD, and SAD at the same time. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of videoconference-delivered CBT for patients with OCD, PD, or SAD. Methods A total of 30 Japanese participants (mean age 35.4 years, SD 9.2) with OCD, SAD, or PD received 16 sessions of individualized videoconference-delivered CBT with real-time support of a therapist, using tablet personal computer (Apple iPad Mini 2). Treatment involved individualized CBT formulations specific to the presenting diagnosis; all sessions were provided by the same therapist. The primary outcomes were reduction in symptomatology, using the Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) for OCD, Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) for PD, and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) for SAD. The secondary outcomes included the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) for Quality of Life, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire for anxiety, and Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form (WAI-SF). All primary outcomes were assessed at baseline and at weeks 1 (baseline), 8 (midintervention), and 16 (postintervention) face-to-face during therapy. The occurrence of adverse events was observed after each session. For the primary analysis comparing between pre- and posttreatments, the participants’ points and 95% CIs were estimated by the paired t tests with the change between pre- and posttreatment. Results A significant reduction in symptom of obsession-compulsion (Y-BOCS=−6.2; Cohen d=0.74; 95% CI −9.4 to −3.0, P=.002), panic (PDSS=−5.6; Cohen d=0.89; 95% CI −9.83 to −1.37; P=.02), social anxiety (LSAS=−33.6; Cohen d=1.10; 95% CI −59.62 to −7.49, P=.02) were observed. In addition, depression (PHQ-9=−1.72; Cohen d=0.27; 95% CI −3.26 to −0.19; P=.03) and general anxiety (GAD-7=−3.03; Cohen d=0.61; 95% CI −4.57 to −1.49, P

Background: The localization in tumor tissue of various markers by immunohistochemistry can help to establish a diagnosis or predict prognosis. Nitric oxide is associated with tumors and has been studied indirectly by nitrotyrosine analysis and with use of the enzymes nitric oxide synthase (NOS)1, NOS2, and NOS3. Nitric oxide reacts with superoxide anions to yield peroxynitrite, which has toxic effects on genes. Peroxynitrite adds a nitro group to the benzene ring of tyrosine to form nitrotyrosine. The accumulation of nitrotyrosine, a stable product in cells, indicates the formation of peroxynitrite. Nitric oxide stimulates the production of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which has been associated with angiogenesis in tumors. Neovascularization influences tumor prognosis, as demonstrated by microvessel studies with use of CD34, an immunohistochemical endothelial cell marker. This study examines the expression of these markers in chondrosarcomas and their relation to histological grade and prognosis. Methods: Tissue microarrays composed of formalin-fixed tissue samples from 101 patients with chondrosarcoma were immunohistochemically stained to localize NOS1, NOS2, NOS3, COX-2, nitrotyrosine, and CD34. Five samples of normal cartilage were used as controls. Patient demographics, selected surgical variables, and tumor grade were tabulated, and the associations were analyzed. Analyses of local and overall survival rates were performed with use of the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariable analyses were performed. Results: There was a significant association of nitrotyrosine, COX-2, and CD34 with histological grades (p = 0.022, p = 0.014, and p = 0.028, respectively), but not with overall prognosis (p = 0.064, p = 0.143, and p = 0.581, respectively). The presence of NOS2 was associated with a lower rate of local disease-free survival (p = 0.038), and positive expressions of NOS1 and NOS2 were associated with decreased overall survival rates (p = 0.007 and p < 0.001, respectively). On multivariable analysis, NOS2 expression demonstrated an independent prognostic impact on local disease-free survival; NOS1 and NOS2 expression was a dependent variable, and their isolated or combined expression was related to lower overall survival rates (p = 0.046 and p = 0.004) (hazard ratio, 3.17 [95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 9.8] and 5.58 [95% confidence interval, 1.7 to 18.0], respectively). Conclusions: Immunohistochemical markers may have an independent value in predicting the prognosis for patients with chondrosarcoma.

Uterine hemorrhage is a major complication associated with abortion. There are various causes of postabortion uterine hemorrhage. The objective of this article is to estimate the efficacy of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) angiography in the diagnosis of this condition. We present 3 case reports of women with massive genital bleeding after abortion. 3D-CT angiography clearly demonstrated the 3-D features of the feeding artery, the draining vein, and the surrounding normal structures. The diagnosis in patient 1 was a uterine arteriovenous malformation, in patient 2 was a placental polyp mimicking a uterine arteriovenous malformation, and in patient 3 was a placental polyp. Patients were all successfully treated with uterine artery embolization or transcervical resection of the placental polyp. We conclude that 3D-CT angiography is useful for making a differential diagnosis and for preoperative planning in patients with postabortion uterine hemorrhage.

We formerly reported the most suitable volumes of medicinal solution for continuous 5FU infusion over 46 hours in the FOLFOX6 and FOLFIRI regimens, respectively, by analyzing the relation of the total volume of the medicinal solution in a portable disposable infusion pump (SUREFUSER A) and the duration of infusion using a regression analysis. A total infusion time of about 48 hours was obtained. As the ambient temperature increased, however, we noticed that the continuous 5FU infusion finished earlier than anticipated. Using an additional analysis, we found that not only the medicinal solution's original coefficient of viscosity, but also the ambient temperature influenced the duration of infusion. Here, we report that the speed of continuous 5FU infusion increases as the coefficient of viscosity decreases in response to increases in ambient temperature. Thus, the composition of medicinal solutions and the ambient temperature must be considered to ensure a correct duration of continuous infusion.

Oxaliplatin, established as a therapeutic standard globally for advanced/recurrent colorectal cancer, was approved in Japan in April 2005. With this approval the FOLFOX and FOLFIRI regimens are often selected now as 1st or 2nd line treatment for advanced/recurrent colorectal cancer. Patients receiving these regimens needed to be hospitalized, because the total treatment period was as long as 48 hours. However, the patient who hoped for staying at home has become possible to spend more time at home by using a portable disposable infusion pump (SUREFUSER® A) for continuous intravenous infusion of 5FU. The duration of continuous 5FU infusion is set at an average of 46 hours, however, large variations are observed in the duration of infusion. Due to limitation of time of a patient, there was a case that finished injection on the way. On the contrary, there was a case that finished in a much shorter time than the pre-designated 46 hours. In an attempt to resolve this problem, we analyzed the relation of the total volume of the medicinal solution in SUREFUSER® A and the duration of infusion by regression analysis. The results revealed that it might be possible to bring the total infusion time to close to 48 hours by finding the most suitable volume for continuous 5FU infusion over 46 hours.

Rationale and objective Structure of the brain is generally thought to remain stationary over the course of young adulthood. However, there is some evidence that microstructural changes of the brain do occur during this period. Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) provides quantitative measures of structural changes in the brain. We used DTI to detect possible age-related structural changes in the brains of young adults. Materials and methods Twenty-five healthy adults in their 20s and 30s were studied using DTI. Maps of mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy (FA) were created for subsequent histogram and region-of-interest analyses, and the results were correlated with the respective ages of the subjects. Results The histogram analysis revealed a significant increase in the mean FA value (r = 0.407, P Conclusion Quantitative DTI revealed age-related structural changes in the brains of young adults. Changes on FA histograms observed in this study were considered to be related to changes in the relative volumes of gray and white matter and may represent maturational changes.

Four cases with olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) during the 13-year period from 1991 to 2004 are reported. The patients were 27, 68, 67 and 52 year-old men. The chief complaints of all cases were unilateral nasal obstruction and epistaxis. To make a final diagnosis, immunohistochemical examination was very useful in addition to light microscopic findings. MRI is a valuable examination to assess intracranial involvement. As ONB is known to be radiosensitive, all patients were treated with preoperative radiotherapy (45 to 50.4 Gy), followed by craniofacial resection with reconstruction using Galleal flap. The efficacy of chemotherapy has not been established for this tumor, therefore, our cases were not treated with chemotherapeutic drugs. Two cases had local recurrence over 5 years after the initial treatment. In conclusion, we suggest that long-term follow-up is essential because of the high rate of local recurrence or metastasis, and that to control this disease, though chemotherapy might be considered, the combination of craniofacial surgery and radiotherapy is effective.

CASE We report the case of a 38-year-old woman who presented with a lytic bone lesion in the left scapula. A biopsy showed a tumor with the histologic appearance of thyroid tissue. She also was found to have a thyroid nodule and an enlarged ovary, both of which were excised. The thyroid nodule turned out to be a benign colloid nodule, and the ovary contained a monodermal teratoma composed of thyroid tissue (struma ovarii). The lesion in the scapula eventually was proven to be metastatic malignant struma ovarii. CONCLUSION Malignant struma ovarii with bone metastases is very rare, and its diagnosis is a challenge. There are some documented cases with bone metastases, mostly to the thoracic and lumbar spine. The optimal treatment of choice for the bone lesion is unknown because of the rarity of its presentation.

A clinical study of 1206 patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis treated between January 1975 and December 1999 was performed and in addition, the amount of Japanese cedar and cypress pollen in the south of Ibaraki Prefecture was measured every spring from 1981 to 1999 (19 years).The following findings were observed.1) The age distribution of Japanese cedar pollinosis was highest in the 30-39-year-old group of females. In the younger age group (10 years or youger), pollinosis was more common in males than females.2) The skin test positive rate for house dust (HD) was 46.3%. The positive rate for pollens, orchard grass, short ragweed, lesser reedmace and Japanese hops, was 16.9, 20.2, 14.6 and 3.9%, respectively.3) The RAST positive rate for mites and HD was 46.3 and 21.3%, respectively. The positive rate for pollens, orchard grass, short ragweed and mugwort, was 19.9, 14.8 and 9.5%, respectively.4) The mean pollen count of Japanese cedar and cypress over the 19 year period was 4298.5/cm2. The highest pollen count was 16987/cm2 in 1995.5) A correlation was noted between the annual variations in the Japanese cedar and cypress pollen counts and the annual change in Japanese cedar pollinosis patient numbers. Since the peak in 1995, Japanese cedar pollinosis has tended to increase.

We report the case of a liposarcoma arising in the parapharyngeal space. A 15-year-old boy who had complained of a tumor in the right submandibular region and swelling on the right lateral pharyngeal wall for one month was referred to the University of Tsukuba Hospital for further evaluation. A large tumor was recognized on CT and MRI, extending from the carotid triangle to the skull base in the right parapharyngeal space.The tumor was completely removed along with several cervical lymph nodes, and the pathological diagnosis was a “well-differentiated liposarcoma without metastasis to the cervical lymph nodes”. Radiation therapy was performed postoperatively with a dosage of 65 Gy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and there has been no sign of recurrence or metastasis over a 3 year follow-up period.Liposarcomas of the head and neck are commonly observed in males 40 to 60 years of age, and their occurence in children is extremely rare.In a review of the available literature, this is only the second case of a parapharyngeal liposarcoma in a child reported in English or Japanese literature thus far.

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is an important cause of cerebral palsy in preterm infants [1]. Although obstetric risk factors for PVL include maternal infection, meconium-stained amniotic flui...

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is widely regarded as an effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and is usually provided on an outpatient basis. A minority of individuals need a more intensive/ inpatient service, which is particularly important for patients who cannot be managed as outpatients owing to the nature or extent of their symptoms. Inpatient treatment is generally provided by a multidisciplinary team and psychiatric nurses play a specific and prominent role as they are afforded a unique assessment and intervention opportunity by virtue of their 24-hour presence on the unit. However, there are few facilities, reports of multidisciplinary approaches, or descriptions of the role of nursing staff as cotherapists for CBT-oriented treatment of inpatients with OCD. The present paper therefore reports the developed nursing guidelines for inpatients with OCD in line with the progress of CBT at Chiba University Hospital in the context of Japan being a country in which CBT is under development. In addition, availability of the guidelines, better means of managing severe OCD and key issues for dissemination of CBT in Japan are discussed.

Background Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is regarded as an effective treatment for social anxiety disorder (SAD) in Europe and North America. Individual CBT might be acceptable and effective for patients with SAD even in non-Western cultures; therefore, we conducted a feasibility study of individual CBT for SAD in Japanese clinical settings. We also examined the baseline predictors of outcomes associated with receiving CBT. Methods This single-arm trial employed a 14-week individual CBT intervention. The primary outcome was the self-rated Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, with secondary measurements of other social anxiety and depressive severity. Assessments were conducted at baseline, after a waiting period before CBT, during CBT, and after CBT. Results Of the 19 subjects screened, 15 were eligible for the study and completed the outcome measures at all assessment points. Receiving CBT led to significant improvements in primary and secondary SAD severity (ps < .001). The mean total score on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale improved from 91.8 to 51.7 (before CBT to after CBT), and the within-group effect size at the end-point assessment was large (Cohen’s d = 1.71). After CBT, 73% of participants were judged to be treatment responders, and 40% met the criteria for remission. We found no significant baseline predictors of those outcomes. Conclusion Despite several limitations, our treatment—which comprises a 14-week, individual CBT program—seems feasible and may achieve favorable treatment outcomes for SAD in Japanese clinical settings. Further controlled trials are required in order to address the limitations of this study. Trial registration UMIN-CTR UMIN000005897

Introduction Pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are consistently effective as first-line treatments for social anxiety disorders (SADs). Nevertheless, pharmacotherapy is often the first choice in clinical practice. In many countries, the first line of pharmacotherapy involves the administration of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Although a significant proportion of patients with SAD fail to respond to the initial SSRI administration, there is no standard approach to the management of SSRI-resistant SAD. This paper describes the study protocol for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of CBT as a next-step strategy, concomitant with conventional treatment, for patients with SSRI-resistant SAD. Methods and analysis This Prospective Randomized Open Blinded End-point study is designed with two parallel groups, with dynamic allocation at the individual level. The interventions for the two groups are conventional treatment, alone, and CBT combined with conventional treatment, for 16 weeks. The primary end-point of SAD severity will be assessed by an independent assessor using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, and secondary end-points include severity of other social anxieties, depressive severity and functional impairment. All measures will be assessed at weeks 0 (baseline), 8 (halfway point) and 16 (postintervention) and the outcomes will be analysed based on the intent-to-treat. Statistical analyses are planned for the study design stage so that field materials can be appropriately designed. Ethics and dissemination This study will be conducted at the academic outpatient clinic of Chiba University Hospital. Ethics approval was granted by the Institutional Review Board of Chiba University Hospital. All participants will be required to provide written informed consent. The trial will be implemented and reported in accordance with the recommendations of CONSORT. Clinical Trial Registration Number UMIN000007552.

The present study was undertaken to determine the possible deleterious role played by poly(adenosine diphosphate—ribose) synthetase (PARS) in cochlear ischemia-reperfusion injury. Transient ischemia of the cochlea was induced in albino guinea pigs for 15, 30, or 60 minutes by pressing the labyrinthine artery at the porus acusticus internus. The animals were given intravenous 3-aminobenzamide (a PARS inhibitor) or physiological saline solution 1 minute before the onset of reperfusion. The compound action potential thresholds were measured before the onset of ischemia and 4 hours after the onset of reperfusion. A statistically significant reduction in the postischemic compound action potential threshold shift was observed in the animals treated with 3-aminobenzamide after 15 or 30 minutes of ischemia, whereas no statistical difference was found after 60 minutes of ischemia. These results suggest that excessive activation of PARS exerts deleterious effects on the cochlear injury induced by transient ischemia.

Primary osseous angiosarcoma is a rare entity with variable biological behavior and poor prognosis. Little is known about the oncologic treatment and its etiology is still unknown. This study presents a case of lytic lesion in the right femur with dissemination to other bones, such as the vertebral column and skull, and to the lungs and central nervous system. Orthopedic surgery was performed in order to improve quality of life. Surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of high-grade malignant osseous angiosarcoma. Despite oncologic and orthopedic treatment, the patient had rapid and aggressive progression with a poor outcome.

Simple Summary Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a rare neoplasm with extremely aggressive behavior. Despite the multimodal treatment for newly diagnosed patients with chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery and radiation, the cure rate is still low. For relapsed or progressive disease, there is limited data regarding second and third-line therapies. Novel agents have shown only modest activity. Recent molecular changes have been identified in this disease and this opens opportunities to be explored in future clinical trials. Abstract Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is an extremely rare, aggressive sarcoma affecting adolescents and young adults with male predominance. Generally, it originates from the serosal surface of the abdominal cavity. The hallmark characteristic of DSRCT is the EWSR1–WT1 gene fusion. This translocation up-regulates the expression of PDGFRα, VEGF and other proteins related to tumor and vascular cell proliferation. Current management of DSRCT includes a combination of chemotherapy, radiation and aggressive cytoreductive surgery plus intra-peritoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (HIPEC). Despite advances in multimodal therapy, outcomes remain poor since the majority of patients present disease recurrence and die within three years. The dismal survival makes DSRCT an orphan disease with an urgent need for new drugs. The treatment of advanced and recurrent disease with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as pazopanib, sunitinib, and mTOR inhibitors was evaluated by small trials. Recent studies using comprehensive molecular profiling of DSRCT identified potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we aim to describe the current studies conducted to better understand DSRCT biology and to explore the new therapeutic strategies under investigation in preclinical models and in early phase clinical trials.