Clinical outcomes of sentinel node navigation surgery in patients with preoperatively estimated stage IA endometrial cancer and evaluation of validity for continuing sentinel node navigation surgery based on dispersion of recurrence probability.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the feasibility of the use and continuation of sentinel lymph node navigation surgery (SNNS) as an alternative to pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) for patients with preoperatively estimated stage IA endometrial cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study selected the electronic medical records of all patients who had received CT scans and MRI imaging before surgery from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2021. Sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) were detected by administrating 99mTc-phytate and/or indocyanine green into the cervix, and the clinical outcomes of the patients who underwent SNNS or PLND were evaluated. Furthermore, in case of nodal recurrence, a new procedure to determine whether the facility should continue with SNNS or not was developed that compares the maximum likelihood hypothesis and an alternative one based on recurrence rates. RESULTS: Among 137 patients, SLN biopsies with ultrastaging were performed on 91 patients. The SLN detection rate was 95.6%. Over a 59-month median observation period, no statistically significant differences were shown in overall survival, disease-specific survival and disease-free survival between the SNNS and PLND groups when introducing the propensity score method (p-values: 0.06, 0.153, and 0.625, respectively). Our procedure demonstrated that, in our department without recurrence up to the 65th attempt, it was possible to continue SNNS if a recurrence occurs at the 66th attempt. CONCLUSION: This study suggests the validity of SNNS as an alternative to PLND. Even in the absence of evidence from randomized controlled trials, we can confirm the validity of continuing SNNS using our procedure.

R-R' interval in the left bundle branch block predicts long-term outcomes after cardiac resynchronization therapy by estimating greater mechanical dyssynchrony and viable myocardium.

BACKGROUND: Typical left bundle branch block (LBBB) shows 2 peaks of the R wave, which reflect activation reaching the interventricular septum (R) and posterolateral wall (R') sequentially. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among R-R' interval (RR'), mechanical dyssynchrony, extent of viable myocardium, and long-term outcomes in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) candidates. METHODS: The study enrolled 49 patients (34 men; mean age: 69 ± 11 years) with LBBB who received CRT. The LBBB definition used requires the presence of mid-QRS notching in leads V1, V2, V5, V6, I, and aVL. Baseline evaluations were QRS duration (QRSd) and RR' measured from the 12-lead electrocardiogram; eyeball dyssynchrony (apical rocking and septal flash) and opposing-wall delay by speckle tracking from echocardiography, and extent of viable myocardium assessed by thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography. Primary outcomes included the combination of all-cause death and heart failure-related hospitalization. RESULTS: RR' predicted volumetric response better than QRSd (area under the curve 0.73 vs 0.67, respectively). The long RR' group (≥48 ms) revealed more frequent eyeball dyssynchrony and significantly greater radial (SL) and circumferential dyssynchrony (AP and SL) and %viable segment than the short RR' group. In multivariate regression analysis, only RR' ≥48 ms was independently associated with higher event-free survival rates following CRT (hazard ratio 0.21; P = .014). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that RR' in complete LBBB was associated with mechanical dyssynchrony, extent of viable myocardium, and long-term outcomes following CRT.

Two Cases of Idiopathic Middle Meningeal Arteriovenous Fistula Initially Diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Angiography.

Reports of middle meningeal arteriovenous fistula (MMAVF) are relatively rare, and reports of idiopathic MMAVF are extremely rare. In the past, diagnoses of MMAVF have been confirmed by cerebral angiography, but magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) resolution is improving. Here, we report two cases of idiopathic MMAVF that were diagnosed by unreconstructed time-of-flight MRA (MRA-TOF) and successfully treated by trans-arterial embolisation with endovascular treatment. Both patients suffered from pulsatile tinnitus, and MRI was performed. Two dilated vessels were revealed in the middle temporal fossa by unreconstructed MRA-TOF imaging. These dilated vessels were thought to be the middle meningeal artery and middle meningeal vein; therefore, we diagnosed both patients with MMAVF. Following angiography, both patients had coil embolisation with endovascular treatment, and their conditions improved. In cases of idiopathic MMAVF without a history of trauma, brain surgery, or endovascular surgery, unreconstructed MRA-TOF may be useful as a primary diagnostic tool, and endovascular treatment before bleeding may produce better outcomes.

[A case of Listeria meningitis with active ulcerative colitis and a review of literature in the Japanese cases].

A 53-year-old man who had been diagnosed with moderate ulcerative colitis and treated with mesalazine and glucocorticoid steroid was admitted due to fever of unknown origin and diarrhea. Intravenous feeding and treatment with cephem antibiotics were started, but the febrile reaction did not improve at all. Physical examination and various tests showed no specific symptoms, including headache or meningeal irritation. However, the blood culture test showed a positive result of Gram-positive bacilli. Thus, a lumbar puncture was performed and the patient was finally diagnosed with Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia and meningitis. Administration of intravenous meropenem and ampicillin led to the improvement of symptoms without any neurological sequelae. In addition, several cases with opportunistic infection of L. monocytogenes have been reported in recent years in cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during immunosuppressive therapy. Consequently, L. monocytogenes infection should be considered as one of differential diagnosis when patients present with IBD patient and are treated by biological or immunosuppressive agents with a fever of unknown origin.

Prognostic significance of expression patterns of EGFR family, p21 and p27 in high-grade astrocytoma.

The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship among immunohistochemical expression of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) family proteins, p21, p27 and prognosis in patients with high-grade astrocytoma. Expression of EGFR family proteins (c-erbB-1, c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3, c-erbB-4), p21 and p27 and Ki-67 labeling index (LI) were studied in 59 samples of high-grade astrocytoma. Expression of protein levels was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections. Results were analyzed in relation to age, gender and survival. Overexpression of c-erbB-1, c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 was found in 40 (67.8%), 17 (28.8%), 3 (5.1%) and 42 (75.0%) samples, respectively. Similarly, low expression of p21 and p27 was observed in 50 (84.8%) and 27 (45.8%) samples. Mean Ki-67 LI was 17.3 +/- 1.1. Cox multiple regression analysis showed that c-erbB-1 (Hazard rate(HR) 1.57, 95% Confidence interval (CI) 1.08-2.36; p = 0.017), c-erbB-4 (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.20-2.74; p = 0.004) and p27 (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.30-0.82; p = 0.006) were significantly associated with survival. High expression of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-4 and low expression of p27 were associated with poor prognosis in these patients.

A single recessive gene controls cadmium translocation in the cadmium hyperaccumulating rice cultivar Cho-Ko-Koku.

The heavy metal cadmium (Cd) is highly toxic to humans and can enter food chains from contaminated crop fields. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of Cd accumulation in crop species will aid production of safe Cd-free food. Here, we identified a single recessive gene that allowed higher Cd translocation in rice, and also determined the chromosomal location of the gene. The Cd hyperaccumulator rice variety Cho-Ko-Koku showed 3.5-fold greater Cd translocation than the no-accumulating variety Akita 63 under hydroponics. Analysis of an F(2) population derived from these cultivars gave a 1:3 segregation ratio for high:low Cd translocation. This indicates that a single recessive gene controls the high Cd translocation phenotype. A QTL analysis identified a single QTL, qCdT7, located on chromosome 7. On a Cd-contaminated field, Cd accumulation in the F(2) population showed continuous variation with considerable transgression. Three QTLs for Cd accumulation were identified and the peak of the most effective QTL mapped to the same region as qCdT7. Our data indicate that Cd translocation mediated by the gene on qCdT7 plays an important role in Cd accumulation on contaminated soil.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system mimicking dissemination from brainstem neoplasm: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of PACNS is very difficult because of the variety of clinical manifestation, especially neurologic and MRI findings. We report the case of a 68-year-old woman with PACNS. CASE DESCRIPTION: Her clinical symptoms mimicked malignant brainstem neoplasm disseminated to third and fourth ventricles and cervical spinal cord. Brain biopsy could not be correctly diagnostic. In spite of a trial of high-dose steroids, repeated MRI showed an increasing number of lesions. Two weeks after surgery, she died of respiratory dysfunction. Postmortem examination suggested PACNS, after consideration of histories, laboratory and radiologic findings, and the lack of systemic disease. CONCLUSION: Although brain biopsy represents the gold standard measure, combination with several other examinations might be necessary to arrive at an early and definitive diagnosis. PACNS should be considered the differential diagnosis of intracranial tumors.

Local administration of amphotericin B against aspergilloma in the prepontine cistern--case report.

A 21-year-old man presented with aspergilloma in the prepontine cistern that developed after treatment for cerebellar hematoma following rupture of an arteriovenous malformation. He became bedridden with neurological signs of tetraparesis, disturbed ocular movement, and bulbar palsy, despite alert consciousness. Repeat magnetic resonance imaging 1 year later revealed a space-occupying lesion in the prepontine cistern along the clivus. This multilobular enhanced mass lesion gradually enlarged towards the brainstem over the following 4 years, resulting in loss of spontaneous breathing and dependence on a mechanical respirator. Surgical treatment via a lateral suboccipital approach was selected to reduce the size of the mass lesion and confirm the diagnosis. Histological examination revealed the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus. Treatment with amphotericin B (1 mg/kg/day) and fluconazole (100 mg/kg/day) injected into the peripheral veins was initiated, but was stopped due to the appearance of renal dysfunction. An Ommaya tube was then inserted into the prepontine cistern via a transsylvian approach to provide high concentrations of amphotericin B around the granulomatous lesion. He gradually improved, corresponding to the decreased size of the aspergilloma just after surgery. Surgical reduction of granuloma combined with local administration of antifungal agent is a good treatment option in patients with aspergilloma refractory to systemic administration.

[Strategy for the treatment of incidental meningiomas].

The authors report a retrospective review o f 70 patients followed up for the presence of incidental, asymptomatic meningiomas. A survey was conducted of primary intracranial tumors diagnosed in Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital between 1995 and 2004. The neuroradiological imaging and clinical studies for asymptomatic meningiomas were performed during the 57.5-month mean follow-up period. Of the asymptomatic 70 meningiomas, 34 (mean age 58.3yrs) were surgically removed just after diagnosis, whereas 36 (mean age 72.1yrs) were treated conservatively. There was no permanent morbidity. Five patients (13%) had the transient operation-related neurological morbidity, which was caused by venous congestion near eloquent area, or operative manipulation at the craniotomy. The transient morbidity in patients over 70 years was 20%, although it was 12% in patients under 70 years. Eight patients (21%) were complained of chronic pain at the wound and 5 of them had medication. In 11(30.6%) of these 36 cases treated conservatively, the tumor size increased by mean 0.24 cm/year. Three of them had operation. The tumor growth rate was 0.33 cm/year in the operative group, whereas it was 0.09 cm/year in the conservative group. Histological grading of 3 cases revealed WHO grade I meningiomas. The absence of calcification and high intensity on T2 weighted-imaging were significantly associated with the higher growth rate (p<0.05). We should decide the strategy for treatment, paying attention to the radiological features, the tumor growth rate, age and operative difficulty. In addition that, we should keep in mind that over 20% patients were suffered from postoperative painful wound.

Multiple spontaneous dissecting aneurysms of the anterior cerebral and vertebral arteries.

A 50-year-old woman presented with rare multiple dissecting aneurysms that appeared first in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and shortly afterwards in the vertebral artery (VA). She initially suffered sudden motor weakness in the left lower limb due to acute brain infarction. Angiography revealed diffuse string sign in the right ACA. Conservative treatment resulted in resolution of the deficits. Follow-up angiography performed 1 year later revealed recovery of the ACA stenosis. Fourteen days later, she complained of sudden headache and became comatose. Computed tomography showed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage. Angiography revealed a new right VA dissecting aneurysm involving the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). The orifice of the dissection was not apparent in the operative field and the dissection extended to the median. The patient underwent extracranial right VA ligation, clipping of the proximal PICA, and revascularization between the right occipital artery and distal PICA. Her postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged without neurological deficits. VA dissecting aneurysms involving the PICA without evident orifice or extending over the median can be treated by extracranial ligation with clipping of the PICA, followed by revascularization.

[Four cases of the infectious cerebral aneurysms].

The authors evaluated various clinical courses of ruptured infectious cerebral aneurysms associated with infective endocarditis in 4 patients. The first case: A 60-year-old male, who had a large hematoma resulting from rupture of a distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysm at the left frontal lobe co-existing with cerebral infarction at the right temporo-occipital lobe, with complications of renal and liver embolisms and pyogenic spondylitis, was treated with antibiotic therapy. However, he died of rupture of another newly formed aneurysm 29 days after onset. The second case: A 71-year-old female presented cerebral infarction in the right occipital lobe at onset. Two days later, abrupt occurrence of a large hematoma at the left parietal lobe led to deterioration of her consciousness. She underwent emergent evacuation of a large hematoma containing the infectious cerebral aneurysm proven histologically afterwards. The third patient: A 49-year-old female was suffered from a large hematoma and subdural hematoma accompanied distal posterior cerebral artery aneurysm at the right occipital lobe. She was operated by removal of the hematoma and the aneurysm proven as a bacterial infectious aneurysm. The fourth patient: A 71-year-old female had hemiplegia caused by a brain abscess and cerebral hemorrhage in the right temporal lobe and a distal middle cerebral artery aneurysm adjacent to the same region. Trapping of the aneurysm was undertaken and clinical course was uneventful. Attention needs to be paid to the various cerebrovascular condition arising from the bacterial embolus of infective endocarditis.

Arteriovenous malformation of the scalp: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the scalp are relatively rare, and their precise natural course remains to be elucidated. We encountered a patient with a scalp AVM that progressively enlarged over the course of 3 years by capturing feeders from intracranial arteries. To our knowledge, ours is the first serial angiographic depiction of the growth of a scalp AVM and the development of a de novo aneurysm in the superior temporal artery (STA) that performed as a feeder. CASE DESCRIPTION: This 21-year-old female consulted us in 1998 complaining of right tinnitus and a pulsating mass in the retroauricular region. The initial angiogram revealed an AVM in the right temporo-parietal subcutaneous space with feeders from the STA, an occipital artery, a posterior auricular artery, and a middle meningeal artery (MMA). Three years later, she complained of enlargement of the lesion, increased tinnitus, and alopecia. Repeat angiographic study revealed the presence of a nidus and the appearance of new feeders from a contralateral MMA and an ipsilateral middle cerebral artery; there was a de novo saccular aneurysm in the right STA. On the day preceding surgery, the left MMA was embolized to control intraoperative bleeding. The AVM was removed totally without any dermal complications. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that scalp AVMs can become enlarged by capturing subcutaneous or intracranial feeders, and that the consequent hemodynamic stress may induce de novo aneurysms in scalp AVMs. Capillary endothelial cells were strongly immunostained for vascular endothelial growth factor.

Cerebral venous congestion following closed head injury in a child.

In pediatric patients with head injury, progressive hemispheric low density (HLD) on CT is a specific phenomenon although the underlying mechanism remains controversial. We used CT, MRI, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and perfusion weighted imaging (PWI) studies to identify pathophysiological patterns in a child. A 6-year-old boy sustained a left temporal head injury in a car accident. Although the initial CT was normal, serial CT demonstrated progressive left HLD; an extensive heterogeneous high-intensity lesion was noted on fluid-attenuated imaging recovery (FLAIR) and DWI studies. On PWI, the regional cerebral blood volume was increased and the mean transit time was markedly prolonged. After the conservative treatment, despite the widespread abnormal imaging on CT and DWI, the final brain damage located in isolated left temporal cortical brain damage. The lesion coincided with the area on PWI where increased rCBV and MTT prolongation were noted. Based on these findings, we posit that the extensive but reversible brain changes seen on neuroimaging studies were the result of venous congestion. Our result stresses the importance of functional neuroimaging such as DWI and PWI in order to elucidate the pathophysiology of HLD.

[Venous thromboembolism in neurosurgery].

Clinicopathological features of venous thromboembolism (VT), such as pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT), associated with intracranial diseases has not been clarified sufficiently in Japan. We investigated the clinical characteristics of VT in consecutive 3,595 group of patients retrospectively, who had been admitted to our department. The occurrence rate of VT was 0.22% (8 patients). There were 2 males (0.10%) and 6 females (0.31%) with the mean age of 70.9 years old, ranging from 54 to 83 years old. Three patients were diagnosed as PE and 5 as DVT. The background of intracranial diseases included cerebrovascular disease in 5 patients, brain tumor in 2, and post-resuscitation encephalopathy in 1. The mortality rate of PE seems to be extremely high, considering that all patients with PE suffered death within 4 hours. High risk patients of VT in our series were the elderly, fat persons, and females who suffered from cerebral stroke. Immobilization scoring at 4 or 5 on the modified Rankin's Scale is also estimated to be a risk factor for VT. Patients with cerebral hemorrhage tend to develop VT in the acute stage of the clinical course and those with other intracranial diseases present VT in the chronic stage. VT is relatively rare, but is still one of the severe complications in neurosurgical management so that, once having occurred, VT has a high likelihood of resulting in death. We should discern the high risk group for VT and make proper prophylaxis depending on the patients condition.

[Cerebellar ganglioglioma associated with a huge cyst: case report].

Gangliogliomas represent approximately 0.2% of all the intracranial tumors. Ganglioglioma arising from the cerebellum is rare, with a rate of 1.5-9% of CNS gangliogliomas. The authors report a case of cerebellar ganglioglioma with a huge cyst. A 28-year-old man presented headache and ataxia. Computerized tomography (CT) demonstrated a huge cyst at the vermian region with calcification located at the peripheral side of the cyst. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with administration of Gd-DTPA showed a slightly enhanced small mass at the left side of the cyst. Preoperative diagnosis of the lesion seemed to be a cystic astrocytoma. The tumor was removed subtotally through the midline suboccipital approach. Pathological examination of the tumor specimen revealed a ganglioglioma. The postoperative course was uneventful with no sign of tumor regrowth on repeated MRI. According to the previous 17 reports of cerebellar ganglioglioma including our case, the shorter interval from onset to the diagnosis and clinical symptoms such as increased intracranial pressure were conspicuous as compared with supratentorial ganglioglioma because of the anatomically narrow space of the posterior fossa. Neuroradiological findings showed tumor enhancement in 86% of the cases, calcification in 67%, and cyst formation in 53%.