A 47-year-old male with a left middle cerebral artery embolism due to a left atrial myxoma was admitted to our hospital for severe right hemiparesis (Brunnstrom Recovery Stage I in all parts) and total aphasia. On day 29, the tumor was extracted but he developed complete AV block as a complication after surgery. Rehabilitation was delayed for a long time and the severe hemiparesis remained unchanged. He required assistance even when taking a sitting position on the bed, but muscle tonus appeared on the right lower limb. Beginning on day 59, before pacemaker implantation, we applied high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to his bilateral lower limb motor areas for 5 consecutive days. As a result, paresis in the right lower limb improved to Brunnstrom Recovery Stage III and he could walk between parallel bars. On day 67, a pacemaker was implanted. On day 88, he could walk independently with a cane on discharge from our hospital, although the upper limb and hand paresis remained severe. Although there has been no report on the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation on the lower limb motor area except in the chronic stage, our experience suggests that this type of intervention can be effective in the recovery stage as well. Since transcranial magnetic stimulation is not feasible after pacemaker implantation, careful assessment is necessary for determining the precise indication for this treatment.

We report a 47-year-old right-handed male patient with pure word deafness after suffering an intracerebral hemorrhage. He had been working as a high school teacher before the onset of his stroke. He was emergently admitted to our hospital due to left putaminal hemorrhage and treated conservatively after admission. The patient's neurological findings showed that although his auditory comprehension was severely impaired, he was still able to communicate using written language. Pure-tone audiometry didn't detect any sensorineural hearing impairment. After the diagnosis of pure word deafness was clinically made, we educated the patient and his family, as well as the associated medical staff at our department, about this condition so that they could understand his pathological situation. In addition, we introduced a rehabilitation program for lip-reading and showed him a technique for using articulatory voice production in usual conversation. As a result of our attempts, he developed the ability to communicate using lip-reading skills after 2 months of rehabilitation and successfully returned to his previous work because of the communicative competence he acquired. We also make some proposals for helping other patients with auditory agnosia to return not only to their regular daily activities but also to return to gainful employment, as patients with this condition seem to have special difficulties benefiting from the present welfare service system in Japan.

A multi-institutional study using our protocol of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and intensive occupational therapy (OT) showed significant improvement of motor function of the affected upper limb in poststroke patients. The response to the treatment was not influenced by age or time after stroke onset. Our protocol is a safe, feasible, and potentially useful neurorehabilitative intervention for upper limb hemiparesis after stroke. The extent of the improvement seems to be influenced by the baseline severity of upper limb hemiparesis. The results suggest that patients with Brunnstrom stage 4 or 5 upper limb hemiparesis are best suited for this protocol. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) has been reported to be an effective treatment for limb spasticity after stroke. However, the spasticity reduction after BoNT-A injection alone does not ensure an improvement in the active motor function of the affected limb. Our proposed protocol of a BoNT-A injection, followed by home-based functional training seems to have the potential to improve the active motor function of the affected upper limb after stroke.

Echocardiography was performed in two gruops of patients with impaired renal function excluding those with diabetic renal failure. Group A was comprised of 19 patients who had recieved hemodialysis from 1 year to 5 years, and Group B, of 32 patients who had been undergoing hemodialysis for more than 10 years. Significant reductions in left ventricular diastolic dimensions and cardiac output were found in Group B. In these two groups, there were no statistically significant differences in left ventricular wall thickness and left ventricular ejection fraction. Left ventricular diastolic function was assessd by the ratio of the peak atrial velosity (A) to early diastolic velosity (E). 15 patients (83%) in Group A and 19 patients (76%) in Group B had left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. A high incidence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was revealed. Moreover, dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy like patterns were observed in both groups. In Group B, significantly increased left ventricular wall thickness in patients with hypertension and reduced left ventricular systolic function in patients with dialysis hypotension were found.

A 47-year-old man underwent a double-valve replacement involving aortic valve replacement (AVR) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) and Re-Re-DVR 6 and 8 months, respectively, after an initial DVR because of suspected prosthetic valve endocarditis. Detachment of the prosthetic mitral valve occurred during the early postoperative period, for which the patient again underwent treatment 15 and 21 months after the initial surgery. The operative findings showed that the detachment was caused by a wide cleavage of the aortic-mitral continuity. There were bacteria detected on a blood culture, and his C-reactive protein (CRP) level did not reduce at any time. On the basis of these findings, we suspected nonrheumatic inflammatory disease and started steroid therapy. His CRP level became negative, and further prosthetic mitral valve detachment did not recur.

Purpose: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is beneficial to patients undergoing digestive surgery. However, its efficacy in patients undergoing open hepatectomy remains unclear. Methods: Consecutive patients scheduled for open hepatectomy were randomly assigned to undergo either ERAS or conventional postoperative management. The primary endpoint was the amount of time that elapsed before patients were considered medically fit for discharge (MFD) and length of hospital stay (LOHS). Secondary endpoints included morbidity, mortality, the time to first flatus, defecation, first walk, and freedom from infusion. Perioperative serum nutritional markers, insulin resistance, respiratory quotient (RQ), and resting energy expenditure (REE) were also assessed. Results: Between August 2014 and March 2017, 57 patients were randomized into 2 groups; ERAS group (n = 29) and conventional management (n = 28). The median MFD was not significantly different between the ERAS and conventional management groups (6.5 vs. 7 days; P = 0.381). Recovery from gastrointestinal paresis was significantly quicker in the ERAS group (1.8 vs. 2.4 days; P = 0.004). There were no significant differences in serum markers, insulin resistance, RQ, and REE. Conclusion This trial did not demonstrate greater efficacy of the ERAS protocol following open hepatectomy in terms of the MFD and LOHS. However, the ERAS protocol was associated with better recovery from postoperative gastrointestinal paresis, suggesting that it is useful for patients undergoing open hepatectomy.

Background/Aims: Mechanical properties (MPs) and axial and radial force (AF and RF) may influence the efficacy and complications of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement. We measured the MPs of various SEMSs and examined their influence on the SEMS clinical ability. Methods: We evaluated the MPs of 29 types of 10-mm SEMSs. RF was measured using a conventional measurement device. AF was measured using the conventional and new methods, and the correlation between the methods was evaluated. Results: A high correlation in AFs was observed, as measured by the new and conventional manual methods. AF and RF scatterplots divided the SEMSs into three subgroups according to structure: hook-and-cross-type (low AF and RF), cross-type (high AF and low RF), and laser-cut-type (intermediate AF and high RF). The hook-and-cross-type had the largest axial force zero border (>20°), followed by the laser-cut and cross types. Conclusions MPs were related to stent structure. Hook-and-cross-type SEMSs had a low AF and high axial force zero border and were considered safest because they caused minimal stress on the biliary wall. However, the increase in RF must be overcome.

Background/Aims: Chronic constipation and lifestyle factors can affect sleep quality. We evaluated the relationship between chronic constipation and sleep in the Japanese population. Methods: This cross-sectional internet-based survey included 3000 subjects with constipation, classified according to sleep status (good/poor).Primary endpoints were Bristol stool form scale (BSFS) score and correlations between sleep disorder criteria of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep status (good/poor sleep). Secondary endpoints included correlations between quality of life (QOL) and mood, medical, lifestyle, and sleep factors. Results: The proportion of participants with BSFS category 4 (normal stool) was significantly higher in the good sleep group (P < 0.001). Sleep disturbance (P < 0.05), sleep quality, and duration, use of hypnotic medication, and daytime dysfunction of PSQI (all P < 0.001) significantly correlated with poor sleep. In the poor sleep group, QOL was significantly worse and anxiety and depression levels were significantly higher (allP < 0.001) compared with the good sleep group. Anemia and smoking (both P < 0.05), recent body weight increases, and poor eating habits (all P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the poor sleep group. Male sex, onset associated with change in frequency of stools, sensation of incomplete evacuation for at least 25% of defecations, and manual maneuvers to facilitate at least 25% of defecations correlated with poor sleep. Conclusions Subjects with constipation and poor sleep experienced severe symptoms and had poor QOL. These data support the need for a multifocal treatment approach, including lifestyle advice and pharmacotherapy.

Background/Aims: Chronic constipation and lifestyle factors can affect sleep quality. We evaluated the relationship between chronic constipation and sleep in the Japanese population. Methods: This cross-sectional internet-based survey included 3000 subjects with constipation, classified according to sleep status (good/poor).Primary endpoints were Bristol stool form scale (BSFS) score and correlations between sleep disorder criteria of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep status (good/poor sleep). Secondary endpoints included correlations between quality of life (QOL) and mood, medical, lifestyle, and sleep factors. Results: The proportion of participants with BSFS category 4 (normal stool) was significantly higher in the good sleep group (P < 0.001). Sleep disturbance (P < 0.05), sleep quality, and duration, use of hypnotic medication, and daytime dysfunction of PSQI (all P < 0.001) significantly correlated with poor sleep. In the poor sleep group, QOL was significantly worse and anxiety and depression levels were significantly higher (allP < 0.001) compared with the good sleep group. Anemia and smoking (both P < 0.05), recent body weight increases, and poor eating habits (all P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the poor sleep group. Male sex, onset associated with change in frequency of stools, sensation of incomplete evacuation for at least 25% of defecations, and manual maneuvers to facilitate at least 25% of defecations correlated with poor sleep. Conclusions Subjects with constipation and poor sleep experienced severe symptoms and had poor QOL. These data support the need for a multifocal treatment approach, including lifestyle advice and pharmacotherapy.