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Common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion (CCAO) is a rare cause of ischemic stroke and bypass surgery is the common treatment approach. However, safer alternatives should be developed to treat CCAO. A 68-year-old male was diagnosed with left-sided CCAO with decreased left visual acuity due to neck radiation therapy for laryngeal cancer. Recanalization therapy using a pull-through technique was initiated because cerebral blood flow progressively decreased during the follow-up period. First, after a short sheath was inserted into the CCA, the occluded CCA was retrogradely penetrated through the sheath. Second, a micro-guidewire was guided to the aorta from the femoral sheath where it was caught using a snare wire guided from the cervical sheath. Subsequently, the micro-guidewire was gently pulled out from the cervical sheath, penetrated the occluded lesion, and was secured to the femoral and cervical sheaths. Finally, the occluded lesion was dilated using a balloon, and the stent was placed. Five days postprocedure, the patient was discharged uneventfully and exhibited improved left visual acuity. In terms of reliable penetration of obstructive lesions and reduction of embolic and hemorrhagic complications, combined endovascular antegrade and direct retrograde carotid artery stenting is a versatile and minimally invasive treatment option for CCAO.

Metal fixation systems for cranial bone flaps cut by a drill are convenient devices for cranioplasty, but cause several complications. We use modified craniotomy using a fine diamond-coated threadwire saw (diamond T-saw) to reduce the bone defect, and osteoplasty calcium phosphate cement without metal fixation. We report our outcomes and tips of this method. A total of 78 consecutive patients underwent elective frontotemporal craniotomy for clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms between 2015 and 2019. The follow-up periods ranged from 13 to 66 months. The bone fixation state was evaluated by bone computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional CT (3D-CT). The diamond T-saw could minimize the bone defect. Only one wound infection occurred within 1 week postoperatively, and no late infection. No pain, palpable/cosmetically noticeable displacement of the bone flap, fluid accumulations, or other complications were observed. The condition of bone fixation and the cosmetic efficacy were thoroughly satisfactory for all patients, and bone CT and 3D-CT demonstrated that good bone fusion. No complication typical of metal fixation occurred. Our method is technically easy and safety, and achieved good mid-term bone flap fixation in the mid-term course, so has potential for bone fixation without the use of metal plates.

Background: The cutdown procedure in cerebrovascular bypass requires incising the scalp along the preoperative marking identifying the arteries. We present two patients in whom preoperative marking on the scalp misidentified veins as arteries and thus complicated the surgical procedure. Case description: A 46-year-old male with Moyamoya disease (Case 1) and a 73-year-old male with atherosclerotic occlusion of the internal carotid artery (Case 2) were scheduled for bypass surgery using a scalp artery, the superficial temporal artery and the posterior auricular artery, respectively. The candidate scalp arteries were preoperatively marked using a handheld Doppler ultrasonic flowmeter. Cutdowns were made along the markings, however, the arteries were not found. In Case 1 the superficial temporal vein was exposed at the cutdown site; posterior extension of the incision revealed the donor artery. In Case 2 we were unable to identify the intended donor artery and a thin branch of the superficial temporal artery was used instead. Although the donor vessels were successfully anastomosed in both patients they developed partial alopecia. Postoperative radiological review revealed that the cutdowns were made on scalp veins, i.e. the veins were misidentified as donor arteries by the Doppler ultrasonic flowmeter. Conclusion: As such misidentification hampers the success of the cutdown method for preventing cutaneous ischemia and complicates the operation, preoperative marking of the donor arteries must consider the possibility of their misidentification.

Introduction: Poor prognosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients is due to the increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among them. We previously reported that higher visit-by-visit blood pressure variability is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in HD patients. This present study aimed to investigate the characteristics of month-by-month blood pressure variability (MMBPV) in these patients. Methods: A total of 324 maintenance HD patients, who could be followed up for 60 months, were recruited. We used standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), and variation independent of the mean (VIM) in pre- and post-dialysis systolic blood pressure (pre- and post-SD, pre- and post-CV, and pre- and post-VIM) as an index of MMBPV. We investigated (1) the reproducibility of MMBPV, (2) relationship between these values and background factors, and (3) association between these values and mortality. Results: MMBPV (pre- and post-SD, pre- and post-CV, and pre- and post-VIM) showed significant reproducibility (intraclass correlation, 0.483 [p < 0.001], 0.553 [p < 0.001], 0.450 [p < 0.001], 0.518 [p < 0.001], 0.456 [p < 0.001], and 0.522 [p < 0.001], respectively). High pre-VIM was associated with high interdialytic weight gain and poor nutritional status. High post-VIM was associated with glucose intolerance, high interdialytic weight gain, and poor nutritional status and associated with high rate of cardiovascular deaths independent of other factors (hazard ratio: 1.104, 95% confidence interval: 1.011–1.207, p = 0.028). Conclusion: These data suggested that pre- and post-VIM in HD patients are reproducible and associated with various background factors, and especially post-VIM is independently correlated with cardiovascular mortality. Further studies are necessary to confirm the mechanism of increased post-VIM and clarify whether reducing post-VIM can improve the prognosis of HD patients.

Abstract Background Of patients receiving moderate emetic risk chemotherapy (MEC), 30–90% experience chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV); however, the optimal antiemetic treatment remains controversial. Methods In this multicenter, prospective, observational study of adults treated with MEC while receiving chemotherapy for various cancer types in Japan, the enrolled patients kept diaries documenting CINV. All participants received a 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist and dexamethasone. Results Of the 400 patients enrolled from May 2013 to January 2015, 386 were eligible for evaluation. The median age was 64 (range, 26–84). The overall complete response (CR; no emetic events and no antiemetic measures) rate was 64%. The proportion of patients showing CR was low in the carboplatin (CBDCA)- and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy groups, especially among women. We showed that the CR rates in men were high in the CBDCA (AUC5) + etoposide (ETP) (80%), capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) (78%), and CBDCA+ paclitaxel (PTX) groups for lung cancer (73%). Total control (TC; no emetic events, no antiemetic measures, and no nausea) and complete control (CC; no emetic events, no antiemetic measures, and less than mild nausea) were achieved in 51 and 61% of patients, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed history of motion sickness, history of pregnancy-associated vomiting and CBDCA-based chemotherapy as risk factors for CR and history of motion sickness and history of pregnancy-associated vomiting as risk factors for TC. Additional, Ages ≥65 years is an independent predictive factor for achieving TC. Conclusions Our data showed that two antiemetics were insufficient to control CINV in patients receiving CBDCA- or oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. However, two antiemetics may be sufficiently effective for elderly male patients receiving CBDCA (AUC5) + ETP, CBDCA+PTX for lung cancer, or CAPOX. Additionally, we consider that three antiemetics are necessary for women with colorectal cancer receiving CAPOX. Risk factor analysis related to CR showed that CINV prophylaxis in patients treated with CBDCA-based chemotherapy was generally supportive of the guideline-recommended three antiemetics. However, the control of nausea in patients receiving non-CBDCA-based chemotherapy is a key point to note. The further individualization of antiemetic regimens for patients receiving MEC based on both types of chemotherapy regimens and sex is needed.

Background: Childhood obesity has been suggested as a risk factor for bronchial asthma. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between clinical factors related to obesity, including adipocytokines and eosinophilic inflammation, as candidate pathogenesis mechanisms of bronchial asthma in Japanese children and adolescents.Methods: Forty-one children and adolescents visiting our outpatient clinic were enrolled. The relationship between participants' clinical and demographic characteristics and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) or blood eosinophil (B-Eos) count values were analyzed.Results: No significant correlation was observed between either FENO or B-Eos count values and the body mass index z-score. FENO was high (≥35 ppb) in 8 cases and normal (

Background: Use of surgical skin staples to close the subdural drain exit site after drain removal is often associated with pain. This prospective study compared the degree of pain between staple closure and a technique in which a purse-string suture is placed around the exit site the time of the operation in consecutive patients who underwent one-stage surgery for bilateral chronic subdural hematoma. Methods: In each patient, on one side, a purse-string suture that was later manually ligated immediately after drain removal was placed around the drain exit site during the operation. On the other side, the drain exit site was closed using staples immediately after drain removal. Pain scores were compared according to method of drain exit site closure. Results: Twenty-two patients were included for analysis. The mean Numerical Rating Scale score was significantly lower in the suture group than in the staple group (3.7 ± 2.2 vs. 7.3 ± 2.1; p

BACKGROUND: We conducted a phase I/II clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of eribulin and olaparib in a tablet form (EO study) for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. We hypothesized that somatic BRCA mutations and homologous recombination repair (HRR)-related gene alterations might affect efficacy. METHODS: Our analyses identified mutations in HRR-related genes and BRCA1/2, and we subsequently evaluated their association to response by the EO study participants. Tissue specimens were obtained from primary or metastatic lesion. Tissue specimens were examined for gene mutations or protein expression using a Foundation Medicine gene panel and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In the 32 tissue specimens collected, we detected 33 gene mutations, with the most frequent nonsynonymous mutations found in TP53. The objective response rates (ORRs) in patients with and without HRR-related gene mutation were 33.3% and 40%, respectively (P = .732), and the ORRs in patients with and without somatic BRCA mutations were 60% and 33.3%, respectively (P = .264), with the ORR numerically higher in the somatic BRCA-mutation group but not statistically significant. There was no correlation between immunohistochemistry status and response or between BRCA status or HRR-related gene mutation and survival. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that EGFR-negative patients had a tendency for better progression-free survival (log-rank P = .059) and significantly better overall survival (log-rank P = .046); however, there was no correlation between the status of other immunohistochemistry markers and survival. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested somatic BRCA mutation and EGFR-negativity as a potential biomarker for predicting the efficacy of eribulin/olaparib combination therapy. (UMIN000018721).

Abstract Background Emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are well known independent risk factors for lung cancer. However, the developmental mechanisms between emphysema/COPD and lung cancer remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate PD-L1, FGFR1, PIK3CA, PTEN, and p16 expression in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) associated with emphysema/COPD. Methods A total of 59 patients with squamous cell lung carcinoma (SCC) resected between 2008 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Emphysema was assessed according to the Goddard score. Total severity was divided into none-mild (0–7), moderate (8–15), and severe (≥ 16). Local severity around the existing tumor was divided into no emphysema (0) and presence of emphysema (1–4). COPD severity was based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria. PD-L1, FGFR1, PIK3CA, PTEN, and p16 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Expression level was classified as tumor cells (TC) 3 (≥ 50%), TC2 (5–49%), TC1 (1–4%), or TC0 (

We conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey of 500 randomly sampled municipalities to calculate the public-funded human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination rates in fiscal years 2011-2013. The characteristics of different municipalities were determined from the national statistical data, including those for all the municipalities in Japan. Based on the questionnaire results, we divided the fiscal 2012 HPV vaccination rate into two groups using the median value as the threshold: objective variable and municipality characteristics (29 items) as explanatory variables. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) scoring system to examine the valid explanatory variables. Univariate analysis of data from 150 municipalities indicated that the model was good because among 29 explanatory variables, AIC values were the lowest for "number of kindergartens" (AIC: -22.35), followed by "population" (AIC: -11.32), and the two-dimensional cross tables suggested that these explanatory variables were negatively correlated with HPV vaccination rates. Multivariate analysis showed that the combination of "number of kindergartens" and "number of households" (AIC: -30.29) had the smallest AIC values and were the optimal model for explaining HPV vaccination rates in local municipalities. The predictors for improved HPV vaccination rates suggested that these rates were high in municipalities characterized by a small population, large proportion of the elderly, and increased financial stability.

Background. The cancer incidence, types, and risk factors after pediatric kidney transplantation (KT) have been reported in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. However, no information is available about cancer in pediatric KT recipients in Asian countries. Methods. Children aged

The (pro)renin receptor [(P)RR] binds to renin and its precursor prorenin to activate the tissue renin-angiotensin system. It is cleaved to generate soluble (P)RR and M8-9, a residual hydrophobic truncated protein. The (pro)renin receptor also functions as an intracellular accessory protein of vacuolar-type H+-ATPase, which plays an essential role in controlling the intracellular vesicular acid environment. Thus, in the kidney, (P)RR may play a role in transporting H+ to urine in the collecting duct. Although blood soluble (P)RR has been recognized as a biomarker reflecting the status of the tissue renin-angiotensin system and/or tissue (P)RR, the significance of urinary soluble (P)RR excretion has not been determined. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the characteristics of urinary soluble (P)RR excretion. Urinary soluble (P)RR excretion was measured, and its association with background factors was investigated in 441 patients. Relationships between changes in urine pH due to vitamin C treatment, which reduce urine pH, and urinary soluble (P)RR excretion were investigated in 10 healthy volunteers. Urinary soluble (P)RR excretion was 1.46 (0.44-2.92) ng/gCre. Urine pH showed a significantly positive association with urinary soluble (P)RR excretion, independent of other factors. Changes in urine pH and urinary soluble (P)RR excretion due to vitamin C treatment were significantly and positively correlated (ρ = 0.8182, p = 0.0038). These data showed an association between urinary soluble (P)RR excretion and urine pH in humans, suggesting that (P)RR in the kidney might play a role in urine pH regulation.

This report describes the results of meteorological observations at Syowa Station from February 1st, 2012 to January 31st, 2013, carried out by the Meteorological Observation Team of the 53rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-53). The observation methods, instruments and statistical methods used by JARE-53 were almost the same as those used by the JARE-52 observation team. Remarkable weather phenomena observed during the period of JARE-53 are as follows. 1) The temperature difference between the winter and the next summer was considerably large. In the winter, the temperature dropped below −40 degrees C on May 25th for the first time in May. The daily minimum temperature of −43.9 degrees C on September 13th updated the record ranking second place. In the next summer, rain was observed for the first time in 9 years, and the monthly mean temperature of 0.8 degrees C on January 2013 updated the record ranking second place. 2) The lower stratosphere monthly mean temperatures during January and February over Syowa Station were almost lower than normals and updated records low for some standard isobaric surfaces. In contrast, the troposphere monthly mean temperatures at February were almost higher than normals and updated records high for some standard isobaric surfaces. In addition, the troposphere and the lower stratosphere monthly mean temperature during July and January 2013 were almost higher than normals and updated records high for some standard isobaric surfaces. 3) The total ozone over Syowa Station was considerably below 220 m atm-cm which is a measure of the ozone hole from early-September, however, was frequently above the measure in October and recovered from mid-November. The monthly means of total ozone in ozone hole period were larger than the reference values.

Abstract Background Non-functioning parathyroid carcinoma is a rare disease that is difficult to distinguish from other diseases based on the lack of hyperparathyroidism. This is a report of non-functioning parathyroid carcinoma diagnosed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting parathyroid hormone (PTH) messenger RNA. Case Presentation The patient is a 67-year-old male who visited our hospital for the chief complaint of hoarseness. A 5-cm mass was observed in the right lobe of the thyroid gland, and poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma was suspected according to the fine-needle biopsy results. The laboratory data for thyroid functions, thyroglobulin, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, calcium, phosphorus, and intact-PTH were all within the normal range. Right recurrent nerve paralysis was observed preoperatively. The patient was diagnosed with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and total thyroidectomy and central node dissection with partial resection of the right recurrent nerve and esophageal muscle were performed. The pathological findings revealed atypical cells containing clear cells in solid and alveolar structures with broad fibrosis. Mitosis, focal coagulative necrosis, and vascular and capsular invasions were observed. A slightly positive PTH immunohistochemical stain was noted, whereas the RT-PCR results were positive. We finally diagnosed this tumor as non-functioning PTC. No distant metastasis occurred, and the patient is still alive. Conclusions This is a report of a patient with non-functioning parathyroid carcinoma, which is clinically very rare. We diagnosed this tumor as non-functioning parathyroid carcinoma using RT-PCR for PTH mRNA.