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Purpose Identifying the causative agent of perioperative anaphylaxis is key to preventing its recurrence. Besides skin testing, the basophil activation test (BAT) is increasingly being accepted as an additional and reliable method. Cefazolin seems to be a major cause of perioperative anaphylaxis. However, few studies have described use of the BAT for cefazolin-induced anaphylaxis. In this study, we aimed to determine the optimum cefazolin concentration required in the BAT for an accurate diagnosis. Methods Seven patients who presented with immediate hypersensitivity to cefazolin and 21 control subjects were studied. We conducted skin tests and performed BATs using both CD203c and CD63 as markers of activated basophils. We measured the ratio of activated basophils after stimulation with serial dilutions of cefazolin and investigated the cefazolin concentration that resulted in better sensitivity and specificity. Results All patients demonstrated positive reactions to cefazolin, while all control subjects showed negative reactions on skin tests. The net percentage of both CD203c- and CD63-labeled activated basophils was greater when higher concentrations of cefazolin than previously reported were used. In control subjects, however, the number of activated basophils by cefazolin stimulation was negligible regardless of its concentration. In the case of CD203c, the sensitivity was 86% with a cefazolin concentration of 3 mg/ml, while in the case of CD63, the sensitivity was 100% with a cefazolin concentration of 10 mg/ml. Conclusion Using a higher concentration of cefazolin than previously reported for the BAT might increase the accuracy of diagnosis of cefazolin-induced anaphylaxis., Author(s): Tatsuo Horiuchi [sup.1] , Tomonori Takazawa [sup.2] , Masaki Orihara [sup.1] , Shinya Sakamoto [sup.1] , Akihiko Yokohama [sup.3] , Junko Takahashi [sup.4] , Akihiro Tomioka [sup.4] , Nagahide [...]

This study aimed to develop a new computerized assessment battery for cognition (C-ABC) to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. We performed C-ABC in subjects with dementia (n = 422), MCI (n = 145), and normal cognition (NC; n = 574), and analyzed by age stratum (50s, 60s, and 70-85 years). To distinguish MCI from NC, the C-ABC total combined score, which were calculated by dividing the C-ABC total score by the C-ABC required time, revealed the best area under the curves (AUC) at 0.838 and 0.735 in the 50s and 60s age groups, respectively; notably, this entire procedure took approximately 5 min. To distinguish dementia from NC and MCI, the partial items of C-ABC (items 3 + 6 combined score) revealed the best AUCs at 0.910, 0.874, and 0.882 in the 50s, 60s, and 70-85 age groups, respectively. Furthermore, the items 3 + 6 combined score established the best AUC at 0.794 in the 70-85 age group to distinguish MCI from NC; this entire procedure took around 2 min. Hence, this study suggests that C-ABC could be a useful tool for detecting dementia or MCI in a short time.

Background/Aims To investigate the fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the cervical spinal cord in elderly individuals using zonally magnified oblique multislice (ZOOM) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods Fourteen healthy elderly volunteers (group E) and 10 young volunteers (group Y) were enrolled. We assessed the FA, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and λ1–λ3 values using 3-T magnetic resonance imaging. The region of interest was contoured entirely inside the spinal cord, with no gray/white matter distinction, in order to avoid including the cerebrospinal fluid. Results As lower cervical levels were approached, the FA values gradually decreased, while the ADC values increased. The mean FA values at each cervical level were as follows in groups E and Y: 0.71 and 0.70 at the C2/3 level, 0.66 and 0.66 at the C3/4 level, 0.63 and 0.62 at the C4/5 level, 0.57 and 0.57 at the C5/6 level, and 0.58 and 0.57 at the C6/7 level, respectively. The mean ADC values in groups E and Y were 1.06 and 0.99 at the C2/3 level, 1.05 and 1.06 at the C3/4 level, 1.14 and 1.06 at the C4/5 level, 1.18 and 1.21 at the C5/6 level, and 1.39 and 1.46 at the C6/7 level, respectively. There were no significant differences between the elderly and young participants. Conclusion In both asymptomatic elderly and young individuals, the FA values gradually decreased and the ADC values increased moving towards lower cervical levels. Age did not affect the FA values, even though mild cord compression was evident due to spondylotic changes. ZOOM DTI has the potential to provide more information than conventional DTI.

A novel voltage controlled duplexer-integrated leaky-wave antenna, consisting of an array of traveling-wave resonant particle by metal ring resonator with variable capacitance and uni-lateral component is proposed, analysed, and measured. In contrast to ferrite-based leaky-wave antenna, this antenna does not require a biasing magnet but only an bias voltage for the FETs, and beam steering voltage for varactor diodes. Bias voltage beam steering in addition to unique duplexer operation is confirmed numerically and experimentally. As a result, beam scanning property from â30° to 45° is realized for 7 GHz operation. One non-conventional property of this antenna is non-reciprocity, and duplexer integrated operation is also confirmed just in one antenna element by utilizing non-reciprocity. Keywords: Artificial magnetic gyrotropy, Non-reciprocity, Magnet-less magnetic metamaterial (MNM), Leaky-wave antenna, Beam-steerable, Integrated device

Aim: This retrospective study compared the impact of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) and lenvatinib (LEN) on the liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: We included 526 patients who received Atez/Bev and 731 who received LEN March 2018 and July 2022 in this study. We conducted a 1:1 propensity‐score‐matched analysis and identified 324 patients in each group for inclusion in the present analysis. Nonlinear mixed‐effects regression models were employed, allowing for the evaluation and inclusion of cases where treatment was interrupted due to disease progression, adverse events, or loss to follow‐up. These models were used to compare the ALBI score between the Atez/Bev and LEN groups. Results: Following propensity score matching, the mean ALBI scores in the Atez/Bev and LEN groups were −2.41 ± 0.40 and −2.44 ± 0.42 at baseline, and −2.17 ± 0.56 and −2.19 ± 0.58 at 12 weeks, respectively. Although the ALBI score significantly worsened during treatment in both groups (p < 0.001), there was no significant difference in the rate of ALBI score deterioration between the groups (p = 0.06). Subgroup analyses showed that LEN‐treated patients with BCLC advanced stage (p = 0.02) and those who initially received the full dose (p < 0.001) had a significantly greater worsening of ALBI score compared to Atez/Bev. Conclusions: Using a nonlinear mixed‐effects regression approach, which allowed for the inclusion of cases with treatment interruption, we found no significant difference in the trend of liver function deterioration between the Atez/Bev and LEN groups. Caution should be exercised for LEN‐treated patients with BCLC advanced stage or those receiving the full dose of LEN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumo O complexo tratamento de dissecção da aorta ainda apresenta controvérsias devido à gravidade do caso e à necessidade de individualização da terapêutica. A gravidade relaciona-se ao difícil diagnóstico pelas queixas inespecíficas e pelas graves complicações inerentes à evolução da doença (ruptura aórtica, síndrome de má perfusão, dissecção retrógrada, dor ou hipertensão refratária). Este relato apresenta um homem de 61 anos, tabagista e hipertenso mal controlado, que evoluiu para dissecção aórtica de tipo B de Stanford. Foi abordado através de técnica endovascular com uso de endoprótese com stent para tratamento do caso após falha do tratamento medicamentoso. O tratamento endovascular mostrou-se uma ferramenta eficaz para o tratamento definitivo, com boa taxa de sobrevida ao final do primeiro ano após o procedimento.

Abstract Background T-helper cell type 1 (Th1) polarization in chronic immune thrombocytopenia (cITP) has been reported at the protein and mRNA levels. We evaluated the impact of Th1/Th2 cytokine and cytokine receptor functional polymorphisms on both susceptibility to, and severity of, cITP. We analysed IFN-γ + 874 T/A, IFN-γR -611G/A, IL-4 -590C/T, and IL-4Rα Q576R polymorphisms in 126 cITP patients (male/female: 34/92; median age: 47.7 years) and 202 healthy control donors. Genotyping was determined by PCR and direct sequencing. The Th1/Th2 ratio was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells via flow cytometry. Results cITP patients had a higher frequency of the IL-4Rα 576 non-QQ genotype compared to healthy subjects (P = 0.04). cITP patients with the IFN-γ +874 non-AA genotype (high expression type) showed more severe thrombocytopenia than those with the AA genotype (P

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is widely used; however, most of the prior studies have resulted in presurgical decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) values in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). We used ZOOM DTI and could acquire highly accurate FA values during perioperative periods, which indicated different insights than preceding studies. The objective of this study was to assess the perioperative FA change in patients with CSM and determine the prognostic factor. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with CSM and healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. Twenty patients (71%) had intracordal high intensity before surgery. All patients underwent decompressive surgery. ZOOM DTI and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) assessment were performed before and after surgery. The region of interest was manually contoured to omit the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid. The axial plane of the most stenotic cervical level was assessed. Results: FA values before surgery and at 1 week after surgery, and FA values at 1 week after surgery and at 6 months after surgery differed significantly as determined. The FA values of patients with intracordal high intensity significantly decreased after surgery and significantly increased from 1 week to 6 months, whereas those of patients without intracordal high intensity did not significantly change. JOA scores at 6 months after surgery (13.1) improved significantly compared with JOA scores before surgery (10.8). Only FA values at 1 week after surgery had a significant positive relationship with JOA scores presurgery and at 6 months after surgery. Conclusions: The presurgical FA value in patients with CSM did not differ from that of normal control subjects, but significantly decreased after surgery, and significantly increased 6 months after surgery. We concluded that the postsurgical FA value approximates the proper state of the damaged cord and the presurgical FA value includes a masked effect as an aligned fiber effect because of compression by degenerative construction. Only the FA value at 1 week had a significant positive relationship with the JOA score presugery and at 6 months, which established that the postsurgical FA value may be a more accurate prognostic factor than the presurgical FA value. Key words: Cervical degenerative spondylosis, Diffusion tensor imaging, Fractional anisotropy, Prognostic factor, Tractography

The extent of spontaneous recovery in patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) has not been thoroughly investigated. It is essentially not known whether SCI animals exhibit full recovery from both motor and sensory deficits as well. Here, we developed an appropriate condition to produce a mild SCI in mice. Mice given a mild contusion SCI showed transient low performances in the Basso Mouse Scale for locomotion (BMS), rotarod and beam walking tests after the SCI, which was followed by complete restoration in a short time. The SCI mice also showed functional full recovery from low sensitivity to light touch using dynamic touch test. Nevertheless, the fully-recovered SCI mice still exhibited significant loss of myelin in the spinal cord. These results suggest a high potential of adaptation of motor and sensory systems in mice and might provide insight into the prognoses of SCI patients.