We report a rare case of cardiac metastases of leiomyosarcoma. A 64-year-old woman presented with chest pain. Nineteen years ago, she had undergone resection of uterine leiomyosarcoma 19 years pveviously and 9 years previously, resecting of colon metastases. Echocardiogram and computed tomogram revealed tumor in the right ventricular outflow tract, which moved into the pulmonary artery. Because obstruction of the main pulmonary artery was possible, the tumor was resected. The tumor was leiomyosarcoma, which suggested metastasis from the uterine tumor. No recurrence of the tumor was seen 9 months after surgery despite lack of any treatment.

AIMTo evaluate the occurrence and prevalence of microdeletions in the gamma chromosome of patients with azoospermia.

METHODSDNA from 29 men with idiopathic azoospermia was screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis with a set of gamma chromosome specific sequence-tagged sites (STSs) to determine microdeletions in the gamma chromosome.

RESULTSDeletions in the DAZ (deleted in azoospermia) loci sgamma254 and sgamma255 were found in three patients with idiopathic azoospermia, resulting in an estimated frequency of deletions of 10.7% in idiopathic azoospermia men.

CONCLUSIONWe conclude that PCR analysis is useful for the diagnosis of microdeletions in the Y chromosome, which is important when deciding the suitability of a patient for assisted reproductive technology such as testicular sperm extracion-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (TESE-ICSI).

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; DNA Primers ; Euchromatin ; genetics ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Heterochromatin ; genetics ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Oligospermia ; blood ; etiology ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prolactin ; blood ; Sequence Deletion ; genetics ; Sequence Tagged Sites ; Testosterone ; blood

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the availability of multi-directionally forged (MDF) titanium (Ti) as a component of removable partial dentures (RPDs). MDF-Ti remarkably improved the mechanical properties of RPDs due to its ultrafine-grained structure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The wear resistance, plaque adhesion, and machinability of MDF-Ti were tested. As controls, commercially pure (CP) titanium was used for wear, plaque adhesion, and machinability tests. For wear resistance, the volume losses of the titanium teeth before and after wear tests were evaluated. Plaque adhesion was evaluated by the assay of Streptococcus mutans. In the machinability test, samples were cut and ground by a steel fissure bur and carborundum (SiC) point. An unpaired t-test was employed for the analysis of the significant differences between MDF-Ti and the control in the results for each test. RESULTS: Wear resistance and plaque adherence of MDF-Ti similar to those of CP-Ti (P>.05) were indicated. MDF-Ti exhibited significantly larger volume loss than CP-Ti in all conditions except 100/30,000 g/ rpm in machinability tests (P<.05). CONCLUSION Although the wear resistance and plaque adherence of MDFTi were comparable to those of controls, MDF-Ti showed better machinability than did CP-Ti. MDF-Ti could be used as a framework material for RPDs.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the availability of multi-directionally forged (MDF) titanium (Ti) as a component of removable partial dentures (RPDs). MDF-Ti remarkably improved the mechanical properties of RPDs due to its ultrafine-grained structure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The wear resistance, plaque adhesion, and machinability of MDF-Ti were tested. As controls, commercially pure (CP) titanium was used for wear, plaque adhesion, and machinability tests. For wear resistance, the volume losses of the titanium teeth before and after wear tests were evaluated. Plaque adhesion was evaluated by the assay of Streptococcus mutans. In the machinability test, samples were cut and ground by a steel fissure bur and carborundum (SiC) point. An unpaired t-test was employed for the analysis of the significant differences between MDF-Ti and the control in the results for each test. RESULTS: Wear resistance and plaque adherence of MDF-Ti similar to those of CP-Ti (P>.05) were indicated. MDF-Ti exhibited significantly larger volume loss than CP-Ti in all conditions except 100/30,000 g/ rpm in machinability tests (P<.05). CONCLUSION Although the wear resistance and plaque adherence of MDFTi were comparable to those of controls, MDF-Ti showed better machinability than did CP-Ti. MDF-Ti could be used as a framework material for RPDs.

A 73-year-old man who had undergone right common iliac-right femoral-left femoral artery bypass, and left femoral-popliteal artery bypass at 60, and stent graft for abdominal aortic aneurysm at 69, had a pseudoaneurysm repaired at the left femoral artery anastomosis site at 72. Retention of fluid continued around the prosthesis, so drainage and sartorius muscle flap were carried out at 72. Due to the occlusion of the left popliteal bypass, a cross over bypass was performed from the right iliac artery position to the left above knee popliteal artery through the left obturator foramen route. One month later, CT revealed that the prosthesis had penetrated the bladder. In open surgery, the bladder was incised, and the prosthesis was taken out of it. The postoperative course was uneventful. Oral antibiotics were continued for 3 months. Currently, there are no signs of infection. There are very few opportunities to choose an obturator foramen route. It was necessary to identify the bladder wall under direct vision with great care.

To improve the quality of palliative care in the Kyoto region, we thought that closely connecting hospice and palliative care units (PCU) is necessary. Subsequently, we established the Kyoto PCU Liaison Committee in September 2017. This committee was created as a place to casually discuss the problems that individual PCU facilities have, deliberate on their worries together, grow and develop, and support newly launched facilities. Furthermore, discussions were held on current topics (emergency hospitalization, blood transfusion, smoking, bereaved family meetings, etc.) at the liaison meetings. While meetings were adjourned in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued to exchange opinions on infection control, PCU management, etc., using the email network at first. Later, these meetings resumed via web conference systems. Thus, by having face-to-face relationships on a daily basis, we were able to maintain cooperation between PCUs even during the pandemic, and collaborate with cancer treatment hospitals. Overall, by forming a team of PCUs in Kyoto Prefecture, we aim to enable patients and their families to live with peace of mind wherever they are.