ABSTRACT
We present a case report that a longitudinal calf MR evaluation was performed for a patient with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease who underwent bilateral reconstructive foot surgeries. A 39 years-old female was referred to our department because of severe bilateral cavus foot deformities and difficulty to walk. On radiological findings, severe bilateral cavus foot deformities were confirmed. On MR findings, fatty infiltrations were detected in the wide range of bilateral lower leg compartments. Difficulty to walk aggravated despite of the conservative treatment, so bilateral reconstructive foot surgeries were performed. She acquired plantigrade and better walking function postoperatively. Two years after surgery, no recurrence of cavus foot deformity was observed, but claw toe deformities and fatty infiltrations were mildly progressing. Since CMT is slowly progressive, we need to conduct a careful follow-up.
ABSTRACT
We present a case report that a longitudinal calf MR evaluation was performed for a patient with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease who underwent bilateral reconstructive foot surgeries. A 39 years-old female was referred to our department because of severe bilateral cavus foot deformities and difficulty to walk. On radiological findings, severe bilateral cavus foot deformities were confirmed. On MR findings, fatty infiltrations were detected in the wide range of bilateral lower leg compartments. Difficulty to walk aggravated despite of the conservative treatment, so bilateral reconstructive foot surgeries were performed. She acquired plantigrade and better walking function postoperatively. Two years after surgery, no recurrence of cavus foot deformity was observed, but claw toe deformities and fatty infiltrations were mildly progressing. Since CMT is slowly progressive, we need to conduct a careful follow-up.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The study aimed to identify potential components of the collaboration between hospital and community pharmacists from the perspective of pharmacists in municipal hospitals. Methods: Following a preliminary study, an online survey was conducted among pharmacy directors and those on an equivalent managerial level in municipal hospital pharmacies. The survey used a 5-point Likert scale with 32 items about the components of collaboration between hospital and community pharmacists. We performed an exploratory analysis and structural equation modeling of the data. Results: The analysis proposed a five-factor model (“Organizational climate,” “Information sharing system,” “Community support system,” “Interest in healthcare policy,” and “Understanding of healthcare policy”), which consisted of 17 items. Subsequent confirmation with structural equation modeling created a model with good fit (in terms of partial evaluation and overall goodness of fit) with a chi-square of 86.218, P-value of 0.564, goodness of fit index of 0.907, adjusted goodness of fit index of 0.857, and other good model fit indices (comparative fit index of 1.000 and root mean square error of approximation of 0.000). Discussion: This study identified two core universal concepts and three concepts adhering to the current medical context, that seem to guide the behavior of municipal hospital pharmacists─who are major players in community healthcare─in their collaboration with community pharmacists.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Hybrid closed-wedge high tibial osteotomy (hybrid CWHTO) is an effective surgical treatment for medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee. Our study investigated whether the combination of a lateral locking plate and a single medial screw promoted bone union after hybrid CWHTO. @*Methods@#The study cohort consisted of 30 patients (15 men and 15 women) who underwent hybrid CWHTO for medial compartment osteoarthritis or spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. Sixteen knees were fixed with a lateral locking plate (LP group), and 17 were fixed with both a lateral locking plate and a cannulated cancellous screw on the medial side of the tibia (LPS group). The times to bone union, radiolucency, and callus formation at the osteotomy site were evaluated radiographically. @*Results@#The mean postoperative time to radiographic confirmation of bone union was 5.5 ± 2.6 months in the LP group and 3.4 ± 1.5 months in the LPS group. Radiolucency at the osteotomy site and excess callus formation on the posterior side of the tibia were lower in the LPS group than in the LP group. @*Conclusions@#This modified hybrid CWHTO combining a lateral locking plate and a cannulated cancellous screw on the medial side of the tibia improves the stability of the osteotomy site and shortens the period of bone union.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Hybrid closed-wedge high tibial osteotomy (hybrid CWHTO) is an effective surgical treatment for medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee. Our study investigated whether the combination of a lateral locking plate and a single medial screw promoted bone union after hybrid CWHTO. @*Methods@#The study cohort consisted of 30 patients (15 men and 15 women) who underwent hybrid CWHTO for medial compartment osteoarthritis or spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. Sixteen knees were fixed with a lateral locking plate (LP group), and 17 were fixed with both a lateral locking plate and a cannulated cancellous screw on the medial side of the tibia (LPS group). The times to bone union, radiolucency, and callus formation at the osteotomy site were evaluated radiographically. @*Results@#The mean postoperative time to radiographic confirmation of bone union was 5.5 ± 2.6 months in the LP group and 3.4 ± 1.5 months in the LPS group. Radiolucency at the osteotomy site and excess callus formation on the posterior side of the tibia were lower in the LPS group than in the LP group. @*Conclusions@#This modified hybrid CWHTO combining a lateral locking plate and a cannulated cancellous screw on the medial side of the tibia improves the stability of the osteotomy site and shortens the period of bone union.
ABSTRACT
Background The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has increased to about 30 million people per year. 1.5% of them were injured or became sick during their travelin Japan and had to undergo medical treatment. Among the foreign tourists, 27% were not covered by travel health insurance.Case A 40-year-old man from Southeast Asia who was visiting his relative in Japan experienced sudden hemiparesis and was diagnosed with cerebral infarction. During the initial treatment, it was found that the patient did not have health insurance and the relatives could not afford to pay the treatment costs. No other source of financial support was available to him During our consultations with the patient and his relatives about the medical treatment including medical expenses, he continued to be treated as an outpatient and it was aimed at an early return to his home country.Discussion Foreigners, who are not covered under travel health insurance, could fall ill or sustain an injury during their stay in Japan. Appropriate medical care should be provided regardless of their ability to pay. However, a situation that could lead them to incur huge medical expenses from availing medical care should be avoided. For medical consultations of non-insured foreigners, it is better to consult the available systems and pay attention about feasible medical expenses. There is a need for a long-term vision of medical care to make a smooth transition from medical treatment in Japan to treatment in their home country.Conclusion Although medical institutions can offer only a limited response, it is necessary to accumulate case examples from across the nation and prepare specific countermeasures and counselors.
ABSTRACT
Periodontal tissue has a unique structure in that the human periodontal ligament (hPDL) lies between the hard tissues of cementum and alveolar bone. Although the role of cytokines in hPDL function is not clearly understood, we investigated the effect of mechanical stress as hydrostatic pressure (HP) on cytokine expression in hPDL cells.The hPDL cells were obtained from a healthy maxillary third molar. After the 3rd to 4th passage, the cells were exposed to HP ranging from 1 MPa to 6 MPa as previously described. The expression of cytokine mRNA was determined by RT-PCR and cytokines in the culture supernatants were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The exposure to 6 MPa of HP caused no morphological changes of hPDL cells, and did not affect cellular viability. No expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, RANK, RANKL or OPG mRNA was observed in the control cells under atmospheric pressure, whereas in hPDL cells treated with HP, enhancement of IL-6, IL-8, RANKL and OPG mRNA expression was observed between 10 and 60 minutes after the exposure to HP. After the exposure to HP, the production of IL-6 and TNF-α were induced significantly in hPDL cells, but IL-1β and IL-8 were not produced.These results suggest that hPDL cells may play a role in the production of cytokines in response to mechanical stress <i>in vivo</i>.
ABSTRACT
Tuberculous valvular endocarditis is rare and diagnosis before death is seldom achieved. A case of severe aortic regurgitation due to tuberculous endocarditis in a 56-year-old man is presented. Replacement of the aortic valve in emergency and administration of anti-tuberculuos medication permitted an uneventful recovery. This is a rare case report of successful surgical treatment of tuberculous valvular disorder.
ABSTRACT
In our department, we perform CABG operations using arterial grafts as much as possible, and in the present study, we investigated 96 patients who underwent CABG operations using arterial grafts alone during the 4-year period from October 1988 to August 1992. The sex ratio (M/F) was 64/32, and the mean age was 63.2 years. Of those 56 patients underwent bypass surgery for one artery each, using a total of 56 grafts. In 18 cases of bypass surgery for 2 arteries 34 grafts were used for 36 arteries, and in 16 patients who underwent surgery for 3 arteries, 42 grafts were used for 48 arteries. In 6 patients who underwent bypass surgery for 4 arteries, 16 grafts were used for 24 arteries. All 148 arteries harvested from 96 patients were available. Forty-one RITAs were used for 43 arteries, 68 LITAs for 72 arteries and 39 RGEAs for 49 arteries. There were 2 (2.0%) operative deaths. Among 135 grafts for 146 arteries on which arteriography was performed after operation, 133 grafts (98.6%) among 142 arteries (97.3%) were patent. In detail, the patency rate of ITA was 98 of 100 grafts (98.0%) and 102 of 105 arteries (97.1%), that of RGEA was 35 of 35 grafts (100%) and 40 of 41 arteries (97.6%), and therefore, good patency was observed in both ITA and RGEA.
ABSTRACT
Cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare disease which occurs most often in young males and has a remarkably unfavorable prognosis. We experienced one male case aged 46 who had an initial symptom of cardiac tamponade due to rupture of the right ventricle. Hemostasis was made under extracorporeal circulation, and the patient was discharged temporarily. However, a large volume of hemoptysis occurred from right B<sub>6</sub> about 1 month after discharge, because of which resection of the right lower lobe was performed. Tumorous cells identical to those in the perforated cardiac region were detected in the resected tissue, and it was diagnosed histopathologically that the cardiac rupture was caused by angiosarcoma, resulting in pulmonary metastasis. Multiple pulmonary metastases were observed in bilateral lung following fields by CT, but administration of CDDP in iv×2 and in 150mg/day cyclophosphamide, the pulmonary metastases disappeared completely on CT on the 45th day. However, the metastases recurred soon thereafter without responding to chemotherapy, and the patient died 5 months after diagnosis of this disease because of exacerbated dyspnea.