Treatment of Complete Displacement of the Bilateral Legs into an Aortic Aneurysm Using an Iliac Branch Device.

PURPOSE: Migration is a major cause of reintervention after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). In patients with common iliac artery (CIA) dilation due to proximal migration of the iliac limb, internal iliac blood flow can be preserved by implanting an iliac branch device (IBD). CASE REPORT: In this report, we discuss the case of a patient in whom the bilateral limbs were completely displaced into the aortic aneurysm due to proximal migration of the iliac limb after EVAR. By taking advantage of the characteristics of this migration, we formed a pull-through wire through the native terminal aorta without passing through the flow divider of the stent graft, and the IBD was deployed safely. CONCLUSION: The present case indicates that the preservation of at least 1 internal iliac artery is possible in patients with CIA dilation due to proximal migration of the iliac limb. However, the unique features of each case must be considered to determine the appropriate approach.

A possible port of entry into the eye of dog during erratic canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) parasitism.

A dog was suspected of suffering from ectopic Dirofilaria immitis infection, because a large white nematode worm was detected in the anterior chamber of the left eye. A cylinder-shaped fibrin sac in the anterior chamber was found in the eye of the dog by slit lamp microscopy. After successful surgical removal of the worm, the corneal wound produced by the keratotomy healed in a short period. The worm was estimated to be extremely young, 5th-stage-immature male D. immitis, equivalent to a 90-120-day-old worm postinfection, by close morphological measurement and an experimental infection study. Thus, an immature worm can exhibit erratic parasitism in a host's eye. The fibrin sac was considered to be a trace of the invasion route, and the cornea may have been the port of entry into the anterior chamber of the eye in the erratic migration of D. immitis.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide facilitates revascularization during hindlimb ischemia in mice.

It is known that the neural system plays a fundamental role in neovascularization. A neuropeptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), is widely distributed in the central and peripheral neuronal systems. However, it remains to be elucidated the role of CGRP in angiogenesis during ischemia. The present study examined whether endogenous CGRP released from neuronal systems facilitates revascularization in response to ischemia using CGRP knockout mice (CGRP-/-). CGRP-/- or their wild-type littermates (CGRP+/+) were subjected to unilateral hindlimb ischemia. CGRP-/- exhibited impaired blood flow recovery from ischemia and decreased capillary density expressed in terms of the number of CD-31-positive cells in the ischemic tissues compared with CGRP+/+. In vivo microscopic studies showed that the functional capillary density in CGRP-/- was reduced. Hindlimb ischemia increased the expression of pro-CGRP mRNA and of CGRP protein in the lumbar dorsal root ganglia. Lack of CGRP decreased mRNA expression of growth factors, including CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, basic fibroblast growth factor, and transforming growth factor-ß, in the ischemic limb tissue. The application of CGRP enhanced the mRNA expression of CD31 and VEGF-A in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and fibroblasts. Subcutaneous infusion of CGRP8-37, a CGRP antagonist, using miniosmotic pumps delayed angiogenesis and reduced the expression of proangiogenic growth factors during hindlimb ischemia. These results indicate that endogenous CGRP facilitates angiogenesis in response to ischemia. Targeting CGRP may provide a promising approach for controlling angiogenesis related to pathophysiological conditions.

[Analytical method for carbamate pesticides in processed foods by LC/MS/MS].

A rapid analytical method for the simultaneous determination of carbamate pesticides in processed foods was established by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The pesticides were extracted from samples with acetonitrile using accelerated solvent extract equipment, except for the fine powder type spices, which were extracted in an ultrasonic bath. The crude extract was cleaned up with a multi-solvent GPC column (Shodex Asahipak GF-310 HQ) using acetonitrile as a mobile phase. The eluent from the column at the retention time between 13 to 18 min was concentrated under nitrogen gas and dissolved in a mixture of acetonitrile-water-0.2 mol/L ammonium formate buffer pH 6.0 (10 : 9 : 1). An aliquot was injected into the LC/MS/MS using electrospray ionization (ESI) with acquisition in the positive mode. The recoveries of 29 kinds of pesticide from dried fruits (raisin, prune and mango) and spices (turmeric, masala, sage, thyme and red pepper) fortified at levels of 0.1 and 0.01 microg/g were mostly in the range of 50 to 150% and those from soybean paste and soy sauce fortified at 0.01 microg/g were 46.9 to 122.6% (C.V. 3.8 to 37.6%), except for 4 kinds of pesticide. The determination limits (S/N> or =10) corresponded to 0.001 to 0.05 mug/g of the pesticides in red pepper.

[Simultaneous determination of veterinary drugs in livestock foods and seafoods using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry].

A simultaneous determination of veterinary drugs in livestock food and seafood using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was developed. Veterinary drugs were extracted with 95% acetonitrile. The solution was passed through a Florisil column, and the solvent was replaced with phosphate buffer. The extract was charged on a Sep-Pak Plus C(18) mini-column and divided into 40% methanol eluate fraction and 70% acetonitrile eluate fraction. Test solutions were analyzed by LC/MS/MS with gradient elution. By using this method, 37 kinds of veterinary drugs were obtained with over 60% recovery, and quantitation was possible in cattle muscle, egg and fish. This method was inapplicable to 28 kinds of veterinary drugs. Although quantitation was not achieved, 42 other kinds of veterinary drugs can be screened. Since the limit of quantitation for this method is less than the provisional limit in general, it is useful as a screening method in residual analysis of veterinary drugs.

Determination and confirmation of five phenolic antioxidants in foods by LC/MS and GC/MS.

Identification and determination of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), propyl gallate (PG) and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) by means of LC/MS and GC/MS were examined. These five phenolic antioxidants were detected as their pseudo-molecular ions [M-H]- by LC/MS using a Shim-pack FC-ODS column with drying gas. Moreover, BHA, BHT and TBHQ were detected based on their mass fragment ions by GC/MS. Decomposition of TBHQ, NDGA and PG during analysis could be prevented by the addition of L-ascorbic acid (AsA) to the extraction solvent. All five antioxidants were extracted from nikuman, olive oils, peanut butter, pasta sauce and chewing gum with a mixture of acetonitrile-2-propanol-ethanol (2:1:1) containing 0.1% AsA (AsA mixture), which had been cooled in a freezer and filtered. One part filtrate and 5 parts water were mixed and placed on a Mega-Bond Elut C18 cartridge, except in the case of chewing gum. Lipids in foods were removed on a C18 cartridge by washing with 5 mL of 5% acetic acid, and antioxidants were eluted with 5 mL of AsA mixture. The antioxidants spiked into nikuman, olive oil, peanut butter, pasta sauce and chewing gum were successfully identified and their concentrations determined by LC/MS, and GC/MS with good recoveries.

[Quantitative evaluation of deformity of the iliac artery during extension and flexion of the hip joint: three-dimensional evaluation using MDCT].

We performed CT-angiography twice, first hip joint extension, followed by second flexion. Using vessel analysis software, we placed several points of interest at equal intervals on the center line of the iliac artery, from the bifurcation to the femoral artery inguinal portion, and recorded the their three-dimensional coordinates. We also marked the circumference, which passes by three points that add the respective next point and prior point to each reference point. This curvature (the inverse number of the radius) was utilized as the index that displays crookedness. This method was able to estimate quantitatively the grade of crookedness, and, by comparing an equidistant point from the bifurcation, to show the changes in grade at flexion of the hip joint.

[Determination of dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate and dl-alpha-tocopherol in foods by HPLC using post-column photochemical reaction].

A reliable analytical method for the simultaneous determination of dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate and dl-alpha-tocopherol in foods was established by HPLC using post-column photochemical reaction with UV and fluorescence detection. For low-fat food such as fruit juice and vegetable sauce, the tocopherols were extracted with methanol containing 0.1% ascorbic acid and the extract solution was injected into the HPLC. For fatty foods such as butter and margarine, the tocopherols were extracted with a mixed solvent of acetonitrile-2-propanol (9:1) containing ascorbic acid. The extract was cleaned up using a Sep Pak plus C18 cartridge and the eluent from the cartridge was injected into the HPLC. The peaks corresponding to tocopherols on the chromatogram were confirmed by comparing their UV spectra with those of the standard mixture at lamp-on and lamp-off of the photochemical reactor. The recoveries of tocopherols from low-fat foods (orange juice and barbecue sauce) fortified at levels of 10 and 100 microg/kg each were 88.3 to 105.8% (RSD 0.5 to 6.0%) and those from the fatty foods (peanut butter and margarine) fortified at 100 microg/kg each were 57.1 to 88.3% (RSD 3.0 to 6.4%). The determination limits corresponded to 10 microg/kg of the tocopherols in the low-fat foods and 20 microg/kg in the fatty foods.

[Determination of acrylamide in processed foods by column-switching HPLC with UV detection].

A simple and convenient analytical method for the determination of acrylamide in processed foods was established. Acrylamide was extracted with water in an ultrasonic bath. The extract was passed through an OASIS HLB cartridge and the eluate was injected into the HPLC system using a column-switching technique. The HPLC system consisted of two pumps, two 6-port-2-position valves, two columns and a UV detector. At first, the sample solution was chromatographed on an ODS column with a mobile phase of water, then the flow of the mobile phase was switched using a 6-port-2-position valve, and the acrylamide peak fraction was introduced into an aqueous gel permeation column (analytical column). The fraction was chromatographed again on the analytical column with a mobile phase of water, and the eluate was monitored with a UV detector (205 nm). The recoveries of acrylamide from potato chips, fried potato, croquette and instant noodle fortified at levels of 50 to 1,000 micrograms/kg were 93.1 to 101.5% and the coefficient of variation was 1.5 to 5.2%. The detection limit corresponded to 10 micrograms/kg in processed foods. Forty-six samples, potato chips (11), fried potato (10), croquette (20) and instant noodle (5), were analyzed by this method. The acrylamide level was 67-4,499 micrograms/kg for potato chips, 125-1,183 micrograms/kg for fried potato, nd-255 micrograms/kg for croquette and nd-151 micrograms/kg for instant noodle.