The immature strobilae without scolex was spontaneously discharged from 72 years old male in Ehime Prefecture. Morphological features were identical to the Charactaristics of Diplogonoporus grandis. This is the record of the 4th case from the Ehime Prefecture.

Objective : In Europe, carbon dioxide therapy has been used for treating cardiac disease and skin problems for a long time. Previously, we demonstrated that transcutaneous carbon dioxide (CO₂) application facilitated dioxygen (O₂) dissociation from hemoglobin (Hb) in the human body. Additionally, we proved that transcutaneous CO₂ application to the lower limbs of rats increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and silent mating type information regulation 2 homologs 1 (SIRT1). It also increased the number of mitochondria, and changed IIB fiber to IIA fiber in similar manner to the change that occurs after exercise. The transcutaneous CO₂ application caused a similar effect to that of exercise training in skeletal muscle and indicated the possibility of improved endurance strength. However, the effect of transcutaneous CO₂ application on endurance exercise and the recovery of muscle fatigue has not been studied. Methods : In this study, we investigated the performance of endurance exercise in rats with/without transcutaneous CO₂ application and analyzed the muscle fiber changes, capillary density and mitochondrial DNA number of the skeletal muscles after training, using activity wheels. Results： Training with CO₂ application resulted in a higher percentage of TA muscle transformed to IIA and/or IID than training alone, suggesting that transcutaneous CO₂ application may increase the production of ATP, mitochondria number, and capillary density. Therefore, transcutaneous CO₂ application might lead to muscle damage recovery. Conclusion : We suggest that transcutaneous CO₂ application has a therapeutic potential for recovery of damaged muscle after excessive exercise and rehabilitation.

Syncope is a common chief complaint in emergency departments, and although causes in most patients with syncope are benign, some patients have a serious disease. Here we report a 50-year-old patient with facial trauma who had past history of alcoholic liver cirrhosis. He fell down by syncope due to portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN) accompanied by portal hypertension. Oral ambrisentan, a potent ET_A-selective receptor, 2.5 mg once a day was initiated. His ECG and the results of cardiac catheterization showed improvement in hemodynamic abnormality after the treatment. Also, the patient had no significant symptoms, including syncope, for nine months after receiving ambrisentan.

A rare surgical case of chronic expanding hematoma in the pericardial cavity is reported. A 78-year-old man had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting 2 years previously. He had suffered from general malaise, increasing shortness of breath and systemic edema from 18 months after the operation. Echocardiography revealed an intrapericardial mass compressing the cardiac chambers resulting in insufficiency of the ventricular expansion. Under extracardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac beating, resection of the mass and additional coronary artery surgery were implemented. The mass was encapsulated with thick fibrous membrane containing old degenerated coagula the bacterial culture of which was negative and was histopathologically diagnosed as chronic expanding hematoma. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and symptoms with cardiac failure were relieved. There has been no recurrence for more than 18 months.

We report a case of a 64-year-old man who had a fistula from the right coronary artery to the right ventricle, with an asymptomatic giant coronary aneurysm. Multi-detector computer tomography showed an aneurysm from the sinus of Valsalva to the mid-right coronary artery (RCA). Its diameter was over 50 mm. We performed aneurysmectomy direct closure of the fistula, and coronary artery bypass graft with saphenous vein graft cardiopulmonary bypass. The enlarged RCA orifice was closed with a vascular prosthesis, and the postoperative course was uneventful.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of individual feedback intervention (IFB) or general video intervention (GV) on promoting daily physical activity. One hundred and thirty-six community-dwelling people volunteered as subjects and participated in the 2-month walking program provided as a correspondence course. The subjects were randomly allocated to one of four groups, which consisted of either IFB or GV. Each of the groups was based on behavioral science. The stage of change in exercise, self-efficacy for exercise and daily physical activity were measured before and after intervention 4 months later during the follow-up period. There were statistically significant effects of both ‘time’ (F=3.71, p=0.026) and ‘time’בIFB’ (F=3.76, p=0.025) in self-efficacy for exercise; while there was no significant effect of interaction between ‘time’בGV’. As for daily physical activity, there was no significant effect of the interaction both of ‘time’בIFB’ and ‘time’בGV’. These results suggest the IFB of promoting self-efficacy for exercise.

Thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobin disorder characterized by hemolytic anemia. Reportedly, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes hemolysis; therefore, extreme caution is warranted during CPB. However, few studies have reported open heart surgery in patients with thalassemia. We report successful surgery for aortic stenosis and regurgitation (ASR) and an ascending aortic aneurysm (AsAA) in a patient with thalassemia. A 69-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for surgical management of ASR and AsAA. Comprehensive evaluation of microcytic anemia led to diagnosis of beta-thalassemia minor. We performed aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement; we used a biologic valve and performed open distal anastomosis under hypothermic circulatory arrest (25°) combined with retrograde cerebral perfusion. Non-pulsatile flow circulation was maintained using a centrifugal pump during CPB. The suction and ventilatory pressures were decreased, and we performed dilutional ultrafiltration. A spare artificial lung was connected to the CPB to avoid complications in the event of artificial lung blockage. We did not observe any hemolysis-induced adverse event during the clinical course, and the patient was discharged 20 days postoperatively. Careful preoperative evaluation is essential to confirm thalassemia before cardiovascular surgery to establish an optimal surgical strategy and avoid the risk of CPB-induced hemolysis in patients with the hematological disorder.

BACKGROUND: Currently, an algorithmic approach for deciding treatment options according to the Vancouver classification is widely used for treatment of periprosthetic femoral fractures after hip arthroplasty. However, this treatment algorithm based on the Vancouver classification lacks consideration of patient physiology and surgeon's experience (judgment), which are also important for deciding treatment options. The purpose of this study was to assess the treatment results and discuss the treatment options using a case series. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive cases with periprosthetic femoral fractures after total hip arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty were retrospectively reviewed. A locking compression plate system was used for osteosynthesis during the study period. The fracture type was determined by the Vancouver classification. The treatment algorithm based on the Vancouver classification was generally applied, but was modified in some cases according to the surgeon's judgment. The reasons for modification of the treatment algorithm were investigated. Mobility status, ambulatory status, and social status were assessed before the fracture and at the latest follow-up. Radiological results including bony union and stem stability were also evaluated. RESULTS: Thirteen cases were treated by osteosynthesis, two by revision arthroplasty and three by conservative treatment. Four cases of type B2 fractures with a loose stem, in which revision arthroplasty is recommended according to the Vancouver classification, were treated by other options. Of these, three were treated by osteosynthesis and one was treated conservatively. The reasons why the three cases were treated by osteosynthesis were technical difficulty associated with performance of revision arthroplasty owing to severe central migration of an Austin-Moore implant in one case and subsequent severe hip contracture and low activity in two cases. The reasons for the conservative treatment in the remaining case were low activity, low-grade pain, previous wiring around the fracture and light weight. All patients obtained primary bony union and almost fully regained their prior activities. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest reaching a decision regarding treatment methods of periprosthetic femoral fractures by following the algorithmic approach of the Vancouver classification in addition to the assessment of each patient's hip joint pathology, physical status and activity, especially for type B2 fractures. The customized treatments demonstrated favorable overall results.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Algorithms ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/*adverse effects ; Female ; Femoral Fractures/classification/etiology/radiography/*surgery ; Hemiarthroplasty/adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periprosthetic Fractures/classification/etiology/radiography/*surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Methods: Sixty patients with PCSA who underwent surgical treatment of the cervical spine were enrolled. The radiological findings on plain radiographs, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were evaluated. The cervical lordotic angles, C2–C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and T1 slope were assessed on a lateral radiograph in the neutral position. CT was used to assess the width of the intervertebral foramen and the anterior protrusion of the superior articular process on the axial view. MRI was used to determine the number of levels of compression (NLC) and the presence of a high-intensity area in the spinal cord in the T2- weighted midsagittal view. The preoperative and postoperative strengths of the most atrophic muscles were evaluated using manual muscle testing. Improvements in strength were classified as excellent (five grades recovered), good (more than one grade recovered), fair (no improvement), or poor (worsened). Results: The prevalence of C5 palsy was 17% (10/60). Patients with poor outcomes had higher NLC and Δ C2–C7 SVA than patients with excellent, good, and fair outcomes (p =0.015; odds ratio [OR], 5.758; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.397−23.726 for a change of 10% and p =0.048; OR, 1.068; 95% CI, 0.992−1.141 for a change of 10%, respectively). Conclusions ΔC2–C7 SVA and NLC may be used as prognostic factors for achieving a poor outcome following surgery in patients with PCSA. More focus is needed on preventing the increase in ΔC2–C7 SVA.

Methods: We included 62 patients who underwent combined LLIF surgery and PPS fixation for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal canal stenosis. We compared the patient demographics and the accuracy of fluoroscopy-guided PPS placement between two groups: patients who remained in the lateral decubitus position for the pedicle screw fixation (single-position surgery [SPS] group) and those who were turned to the prone position (dual-position surgery [DPS] group). Results: There were 40 patients in the DPS group and 22 in the SPS group. Of the 292 PPSs, only 12 were misplaced. In other words, 280/292 screws (95.9%) were placed correctly in the pedicle’s cortical shell (grade 0). PPS insertion did not cause neurological, vascular, or visceral injuries in either group. The breach rates for the DPS and SPS groups were 4.1% (grade 1, 5 screws; grade 2, 3 screws; grade 3, 0 screw) and 4.1% (grade 1, 2 screws; grade 2, 2 screws; grade 3, 0 screw), respectively. Although there were no statistically significant differences, the downside PPS had more screw malpositioning than the upside PPS. Conclusions We found that PPS insertion with the patient in the decubitus position under fluoroscopic guidance might be as safe and reliable a technique as PPS insertion in the prone position, with a misplacement rate similar to that previously published.