Abstract Anhedonia is one of the non-motor symptoms observed in the Parkinson
'
s disease (PD). However, there is no clear relationship between anhedonia and its correlation with other symptoms of ...PD. The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of anhedonia and its correlation with clinical aspects of PD in a relatively large cohort. We enrolled 318 patients with PD and 62 control subjects for this study. Patients and subjects were tested using the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale Japanese version and the Beck Depression Inventory 2nd edition for the assessment of anhedonia and depression. We also investigated the correlation among clinical aspects of PD, anhedonia, and depression in patients with PD. The Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale Japanese version and the Beck Depression Inventory 2nd edition scores were significantly higher in patients with PD than in control subjects (p = 0.03 and p = 0.0006, respectively). All PD patients with anhedonia had a significantly higher score on the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) parts I and II compared to PD patients without anhedonia. Additionally, all PD patients with depression scored significantly higher on UPDRS part I
–IV than PD patients without depression. The patients with anhedonia and without depression had mild motor severity and their treatment was relatively low dosage. These results suggest that anhedonia and depression are slightly linked, but not the same. PD patients with only anhedonia may be closely linked apathy found in untreated early stages of PD.
Abstract Background Context A double-crush lesion is a condition in which the lumbar nerve is compressed both medially and laterally in the spinal canal, where diagnosis can be very difficult, and is ...a factor leading to poor surgical success rates. Purpose Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to determine DTI parameter fractional anisotropy (FA) values and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in both intraspinal column lesions alone and in double-crush lesions. Study Design This study used a prospective study. Patient Sample Of the 56 cases (mean age: 72.2 years) that underwent laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis at our clinic between April 2013 to March, 2015, 10 cases with L5 radiculopathy caused by L4–L5 stenosis (Intraspinal stenosis group (Group I); mean age: 74.7 years), and 5 cases with persistent symptoms caused by L5 foraminal stenosis despite L4–L5 decompression surgery (Double-crush group (Group D); mean age: 77.6 years) were targeted. One patient in Group D was diagnosed through microendoscopic intrapedicular partial pediculotomy and the remaining four cases by nerve root infiltration. Five healthy cases (mean age: 54 years) were studied as controls. Outcome measures Intraspinal zone (Iz), nerve root (N), and extraforaminal zone (Ez) were established as the regions of interest, and the L5 nerve FA and ADC values were determined on the affected side. Methods Diffusion tensor imaging was performed prospectively by 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging before surgery, and DTI parameters of L5 nerve were evaluated in all patients and healthy volunteers. Student t test was used for group comparisons, and a p<.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Fractional anisotropy values (Iz, N, Ez) were 0.415, 0.448, and 0.517, respectively, increasing as sites became more distal. Group I values were 0.335, 0.393, and 0.484, and Group D values were 0.296, 0.367, and 0.360. Compared with the healthy volunteers, Group D had significantly lower Iz (p<.05) and Ez (p<.001) values, while Group I had significantly lower Iz (p<.05) values. In Group D, Ez FA values were significantly lower (p<.001) than in Group I. Apparent diffusion coefficient values (Iz, N, Ez) in the healthy control group were 1.270 mm2 /s, 1.151 mm2 /s, and 0.937 mm2 /s with values decreasing as sites grew distal. In Group I, the ADC values were 1.406 mm2 /s, 1.184 mm2 /s, and 1.001 mm2 /s, while in Group D they were 1.551 mm2 /s, 1.412 mm2 /s, and 1.329 mm2 /s. Compared with the healthy volunteers, Iz (p<.05) and Ez (p<.05) values were significantly higher in Group D. The N (p<.01) and Ez (p<.001) ADC values were significantly higher in Group D than in Group I. Conclusions Depending on where the nerve was compressed, changes in DTI parameters revealed nerve damage (low FA values and increased ADC) in the intraspinal canal in the Intraspinal Group, and over a widespread area in the Double-crush Group spanning the medial to lateral spinal canal. Our research suggests that in cases where double crush is suspected before surgery, failed back surgery syndrome may be prevented by evaluating DTI images.
Abstract Context Although corticosteroids are widely used to relieve cancer-related fatigue (CRF), information regarding the factors predicting responses to corticosteroids remains limited. ...Objectives The aim of this study was to identify potential factors predicting responses to corticosteroids for CRF in advanced cancer patients. Methods Inclusion criteria for this multicenter, prospective, observational study were patients who had metastatic or locally advanced cancer and had a fatigue intensity score of 4 or more on a 0–10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the factors predicting two-point reduction or more in NRS on day 3. Results Among 179 patients who received corticosteroids, 86 (48%; 95% CI 41%–56%) had a response with two-point reduction or more. Factors that significantly predicted responses were performance status score of 3 or more, Palliative Performance Scale score more than 40, absence of ascites, absence of drowsiness, absence of depression, serum albumin level greater than 3 mg/dL, serum sodium level greater than 135 mEq/L, and baseline NRS score greater than 5. A multivariate analysis showed that the independent factors predicting responses were baseline NRS score greater than 5 (odds ratio OR 6.6, 95% CI 2.8–15.4), Palliative Performance Scale score more than 40 (OR 4.4, 95% CI 2.1–9.3), absence of drowsiness (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.7–6.9), absence of ascites (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.7), and absence of pleural effusion (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–5.0). Conclusion Treatment responses to corticosteroids for CRF may be predicted by baseline symptom intensity, performance status, drowsiness, and severity of fluid retention symptoms. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.
Objectives: Proximal stoma creation in neonates results in growth failure and distal intestinal atrophy. “Recycling stool” consists of stool injection from the proximal limb to the distal limb of a ...stoma. Because this method may prevent distal bowel atrophy and increase body weight, we investigated the effects of recycling stool upon distal intestinal mucosa by generating an ileostomy model in rats.Methods: An ileostomy was created 5 cm proximal to the cecum in male Wistar/ST rats. Discharged stool or saline was injected into the distal limb, twice per day for 7 days. The intestinal adaptation was assessed by measuring the villus height and counting goblet cell number. Proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed by Ki67 and TUNEL immunostaining.Results: The ratios of the height of the distal villi (D) to the that of proximal villi (P) were 0.97 (median range of D and P length: 421 240–729 μm and 436 294–638 μm, P<0.05) in the stool-injected group and 0.81 in the saline-injected group (442 315–641 μm and 548 236–776 μm, P<0.05). Compared with the saline-injected group, the stool-injected group showed elevated numbers of goblet cells (3.6 2.0–7.6 vs. 4.9 2.4–7.5 cells/100-μm villus length) and Ki67-positive cells (26.8% 13.8%–35.4% vs. 40.1% 31.2%–45.7%), along with a reduced number of apoptotic cells (5.0 2.0–14.0 vs. 4.0 1.0–9.0 cells/100-μm villus length).Conclusions: Recycling stool prevented distal intestinal atrophy; this experimental design may facilitate further studies concerning alternative methods to prevent intestinal atrophy and growth failure.
Abstract Context Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are elevated in patients with advanced cancer. Objectives To investigate CRP as a prognostic marker in palliative settings. Methods This ...multicenter prospective cohort study comprised 2426 patients. Laboratory data were obtained at baseline, and all patients were followed until death or six months after their enrollment. A total of 1511 patients were eligible for the analyses. They were divided into four groups: low-CRP (CRP < 1 mg/dL), moderate-CRP (1 ≤ CRP <5 mg/dL), high-CRP (5 ≤ CRP <10 mg/dL), and very high-CRP (10 mg/dL ≤ CRP) groups. Survival was investigated by the Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test. The 30-, 60-, and 90-day mortality rates were tested by Chi-squared tests. Univariate- and multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs in each group were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models. Results Survival rate decreased and mortality rate increased with increasing CRP level. The differences in survival and 30-, 60-, and 90-day mortality rates among the groups were statistically significant ( P < 0.001). Baseline CRP level was significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality after adjustment for age, gender, primary tumor site, metastasis, chemotherapy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, and setting of care (moderate-CRP: HR 1.47 95% CI 1.24–1.73, high-CRP: HR 2.09 95% CI 1.74–2.50, and very high-CRP: HR 2.55 95% CI 2.13–3.05 vs. low-CRP). Conclusion Clear dose-effect relationships between elevated CRP levels and prognoses indicate that CRP could be useful in predicting prognoses in patients with advanced cancer.
To compare the visualization of the target gastric varices (GV) on balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous venography (BRTV) using iodinated contrast material vs carbon dioxide (CO(2)) in preparation ...for subsequent balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) using foam sclerotherapy.
In 16 consecutive patients with nonruptured GV, BRTV was performed first using iodinated contrast material and then with CO(2). BRTV was repeated whenever there were changes in the catheter or patient position or when coil embolization of collaterals was needed. Each visualization grade of GV (grade 1 = GV only; grade 2 = GV > collaterals; 3 = GV < collaterals; grades 4-5 = collaterals only) was determined by two observers in consensus. During foam BRTO, the GV visualization grade was recorded again and confirmed by C-arm computed tomography (CT).
In 38 pairs of BRTV, GV grades were significantly (P < .0001) lower (ie, favoring BRTO) on CO(2) BRTV (mean ± standard deviation, 1.8 ± 0.8) than on iodine BRTV (3.4 ± 0.8). GV grades on foam BRTO (1.4 ± 0.7) were similar to the grades obtained on the most recent CO(2) BRTV (1.3 ± 0.5) but were significantly smaller (P < .0001) than on iodinated BRTV (3.1 ± 0.9). GV were opacified by foam on initial C-arm CT in 14 patients (87.5%), and complete thrombosis of GV was obtained without any complication in all 16 patients (100%). CO(2) reached the GV even when iodinated contrast material could not (grade 4) in seven of our 16 patients (43.8%), leading to successful BRTO.
CO(2) BRTV visualized GV better than did iodine BRTV and changed the management of more than 40% of patients by enabling successful foam BRTO in patients in which conventional liquid BRTO could not be performed.
Objective(s): The complexity of aortic arch reconstruction due to diverse 3-dimensional geometrical abnormalities is a major challenge. This study introduces 3-dimensional printed tissue-engineered ...vascular grafts, which can fit patient-specific dimensions, optimize hemodynamics, exhibit antithrombotic and anti-infective properties, and accommodate growth. Methods: We procured cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with 4-dimensional flow for native porcine anatomy (n = 10), from which we designed tissue-engineered vascular grafts for the distal aortic arch, 4 weeks before surgery. An optimal shape of the curved vascular graft was designed using computer-aided design informed by computational fluid dynamics analysis. Grafts were manufactured and implanted into the distal aortic arch of porcine models, and postoperative cardiac magnetic resonance imaging data were collected. Pre- and postimplant hemodynamic data and histology were analyzed. Results: Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of all pigs with 1:1 ratio of polycaprolactone and poly-L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone demonstrated no specific dilatation or stenosis of the graft, revealing a positive growth trend in the graft area from the day after surgery to 3 months later, with maintaining a similar shape. The peak wall shear stress of the polycaprolactone/poly-L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone graft portion did not change significantly between the day after surgery and 3 months later. Immunohistochemistry showed endothelization and smooth muscle layer formation without calcification of the polycaprolactone/poly-L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone graft. Conclusions: Our patient-specific polycaprolactone/poly-L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone tissue-engineered vascular grafts demonstrated optimal anatomical fit maintaining ideal hemodynamics and neotissue formation in a porcine model. This study provides a proof of concept of patient-specific tissue-engineered vascular grafts for aortic arch reconstruction.
Abstract The rates of restenosis and stent thrombosis after the therapeutic stent deployment for bifurcation lesions are still comparably high after the introduction of the new-generation ...drug-eluting stents (DESs), because of the various factors including their morphology. We experienced a case of a successful percutaneous coronary intervention using three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D OCT) with a single stent deployment to a bifurcation lesion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and left circumflex artery (LCx) with a following kissing-balloon inflation (KBI). The 3D OCT, after the inflation of the jailed ostium of the LCx following the stent deployment to the LAD crossing the LCx, could clearly demonstrate a stent deformation and incomplete apposition at an opposite site of the LCx, which may cause high rates of restenosis and stent thrombosis. These stent abnormalities were steadily corrected by a subsequent KBI of the LAD and LCx. Furthermore, the 3D OCT images were the same findings as those of the experiments from both an in vitro phantom coronary bifurcation model and macroscopic images of the stent. < Learning objective: In view of this case report, these modalities with three-dimensional optical coherence tomography and the techniques for the following kissing-balloon inflation may be one of the useful and effective therapeutic strategies to reduce the rates of restenosis and stent thrombosis of the percutaneous coronary intervention for bifurcation lesions.>
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