Ependymomas are uncommon tumors that arise in the brain, spinal cord or cauda equina. Myxopapillary ependymomas is located exclusively in the conus medullaris or cauda equina, or film terminale region. In most myxopapillary ependymomas, the histological examination reveals low mitotic activity that is associated with a low MIB-1 labeling index (LI). The prognosis is generally favorable, when the appropriate treatment, including a total resection, is performed. The authors encountered a 39-year-old man with multifocal type of myxopapillary ependymomas compressing the cauda equina from the L2 to L3 level and L5-S1 level. A subtotal resection of the tumor was carried out. The histological examination revealed extremely high mitotic activity with a MIB-1 LI of 9.1%. Therefore, cranio-spinal radiation was added after surgery. The postoperative course was uneventful over the 3.5 year follow-up period.
Adult ; Brain ; Cauda Equina ; Conus Snail ; Ependymoma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Sacrococcygeal Region ; Spinal Cord

Postoperative meningitis after spinal surgery is a rare complication that can result in a life-threatening condition. Linezolid (LZD) is an oxazolidinone which has been approved in Japan for infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The authors encountered a case of postoperative meningitis with cerebrospinal fluid leakage (liquorrhoea) that occurred after resection of a cervical cord tumor. The infection was caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis(MRSE). Debridement and suture of the dura matter was carried out. LZD was given intravenously. The infection was cured without any sequelae. Based on this result, we concluded that LZD might be considered as one of the first choices for the treatment of postsurgical meningitis caused by MRSE.
Acetamides ; Debridement ; Humans ; Japan ; Meningitis ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Oxazolidinones ; Staphylococcus ; Sutures ; Linezolid

Departments of general medicine in medical schools have a mission to innovate in clinical education. However, the kind of work departments should do to promote a newly developed method of clinical education is unclear. In our medical school, the department of general medicine was organized in 1997. In that year, the first task of this department was to strengthen a program of physical-diagnosis skills. Since 1999, this program has developed further and been reorganized. The basic clinical skills course has been organized to include communication, physical diagnosis, basic laboratory examination, and basic surgical skills. In this course students do not rotate through clinics in groups but learn together via a systematic program with simulators. The department of general medicine played a central role in establishing this course. This course led to the introduction of clinical clerkships at our medical school.

An 82-year-old patient underwent a left transfemoral amputation due to a malignant soft tissue tumor. He developed symptoms of chest pain and hypoxia on the 32nd day after the operation. These symptoms were caused by deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the stump and acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), for which he was treated with anticoagulant therapy. Shortly after treatment he could resume a rehabilitation therapy. Patients with a lower extremity amputation have a higher risk of developing a DVT because of immobility and increased venous pooling in the residual limb. Even with a short stump as in this case, it is important to actively train the range of motion of the joint and try to prevent DVT.

An 82-year-old patient underwent a left transfemoral amputation due to a malignant soft tissue tumor. He developed symptoms of chest pain and hypoxia on the 32nd day after the operation. These symptoms were caused by deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the stump and acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), for which he was treated with anticoagulant therapy. Shortly after treatment he could resume a rehabilitation therapy. Patients with a lower extremity amputation have a higher risk of developing a DVT because of immobility and increased venous pooling in the residual limb. Even with a short stump as in this case, it is important to actively train the range of motion of the joint and try to prevent DVT.