[ Objective] To analyze the clinical results of scoliosis patients treated by anterior correction surgery using the KASS (Kaneda Anterior Scoliosis System: the dual rod system). [ Method] Total 123 idiopathic scoliosis patients were treated. The patients' curve patterns by King classification were as follows:Thoracic scoliosis [ type Ⅱ (n = 13), Ⅲ (n = 18 ) , and Ⅳ (n = 16) ,total (n =47) and thoracolumbar or lumbar (TL/L) curve (n = 76)]. In all patients, anterior correction surgery within the range of the major curve was performed. The average follow-up period was 7 years 7 months (2 ～ 13 years 6 months).[ Result] Fusion was attained in all patients. Correction rates of the major curve scoliosis were 68% in thoracic scoliosis and 81%in TL/L scoliosis. In sagittal alignment, all patients restored nearly physiologic thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis. Correction rates of horizontal tilt of the lowermost end vertebra were 78% in thoracic scoliosis and 83% in TL/L scoliosis. Correction rates of the apical vertebral rotation were 59% in thoracic scoliosis and 70% in TL/L scoliosis. No neurovascular and implant related complications were observed. [ Conclusion ] KASS allows excellent 3-D correction of the scoliosis and rigid enough stability to maintain the correction with a shorter fusion.

Aortitis is an inflammatory arteriopathy that often progresses to obliteration of multiple large arteries. Surgical treatment for obstructive lesions due to aortitis syndrome therefore is difficult in many cases. The patient was a 23-year-old female who at the age of 19 had been diagnosed as aortitis syndrome with cerebral vessel involvement, and she subsequently received steroids. She increasingly experienced syncopal attacks, and was indicated for surgical treatment. Angiography revealed obstruction of the left common carotid and left subclavian arteries, and severe stenosis of the right common carotid and right vertebral arteries. She underwent bilateral ascending aorta-carotid artery bypass operation with 7mm ring-supported EPTFE grafts. After the operation she developed clinical signs of temporary brain damage due to hyperperfusion syndrome, but she now completely recovered and maintains a good clinical condition.

The effect of mass treatment on questionnaire results in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni was examined in 267 school children in an endemic area of Tanzania by Kato-Katz analysis of fecal specimens. The questionnaire asked for information about self-diagnosis, abdominal symptoms, blood in stools, history of wild water contact, stool examination and medication for schistosomiasis, and knowledge of the disease. A logistic regression analysis disclosed a significant association between schistosomiasis and "diarrhea" (p ≈ 0.007; odds ratio, 32.0; confidence interval, 2.5 - 403.3) and "abdominal enlargement" (p ≈ 0.003; odds ratio, 15.2; confidence interval, 2.6 - 90.1) among 61 children who had no history of medication for schistosomiasis. The sensitivity and specificity of the model were 86% and 64%, respectively. In contrast, no significant correlation was observed either for the 116 treated children, or for all the 267 children after the mass treatment. We conclude, therefore, that for children who had no history of medication for schistosomiasis, the questionnaire for abdominal manifestations provides reliable information on S. mansoni infection. However, once a child takes medication, the questionnaire becomes unreliable. This observation suggests that immunomodulation by anti-schistosomiasis drugs that kill adult worms exerts an effect on the appearance of abdominal manifestations and might explain the ambiguity of clinical symptoms in chronically infested patients, except in terminal cases. Further studies are required to develop a simple, rapid and cost-effective diagnostic method for monitoring S. mansoni infection after medication in local areas without resort to laboratory-based identification of schistosomiasis.

The sudden onset of anuria in a 71-year-old man was found to be caused by the non-inflammatory (atherosclerotic) large abdominal aortic aneurysm compressing the bilateral ureters. A computed tomography scan demonstrated the bilateral extrinsic ureteral obstructions due to the large aneurysm of 13cm in diameter, left hydronephrosis and no thick layer of perianeurysmal fibrotic tissue. On the 9th day from the onset of anuria, an emergency operation was performed. There was no fibrotic adhesions around the aneurysm and mobilization of the aorta was easy. A straight Dacron prosthesis was inserted between the infrarenal aorta and the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta following resection of the aneurysm of the atherosclerotic origin. Soon after the operation, the patient had very good urinary output with adequate recovery of renal function. This case seems to be very uncommon, but very important in the surgical management of abdominal aortic aneurysm complicated by oliguria or anuria.