Total correction for a chronic aortic dissection, producing progressive enlargement of the false lumen of the aorta involving wide range of aorta and aortic manifestation of Marfan's syndrome is a very difficult procedure. However, with the recent development in surgical techniques and management, it became possible to replace total or subtotal aorta with the prosthetic graft. Recently, we treated a 24 y/o male patient with annuloaortic ectasia, DeBakey type II+IIIb aortic dissection, and obstruction of right common iliac artery, associated with Marfan's syndrome with a two-staged operation. For the first stage, we performed Cabrol's procedure on his lesions in ascending aorta. About 2 years after that, for the second stage, replacement of total descending and abdominal aorta was pertformed.

A 13-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with a history of syncope after exercise. Neither left ventricular (LV) function nor hypertrophy was detected by transthoracic echocardiography. However, 24-h Holter electrocardiogram demonstrated ST segment depression with increasing heartbeat. Exercise ²⁰¹Tl myocardial scintigram also demonstrated ischemia of the anterior LV wall. Multi-slice coronary computed tomography (CT) demonstrated hypoplasia of the left main coronary artery. The syncope on exertion was ascribed to myocardial ischemia due to hypoplasia of the left main coronary artery. We performed off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (left internal thoracic artery-left descending artery). The postoperative course was uneventful and postoperative stress ²⁰¹Tl myocardial scintigram demonstrated the absence of myocardial ischemia. Coronary CT demonstrated good graft patency. To date, there has not been any recurrence of syncope on exertion. We herein report a successful off-pump CABG for a patient with syncope due to hypoplasia of the left main coronary artery. Syncope on exertion due to hypoplasia of the left main coronary artery is very rare. However, certain forms of congenital coronary anomalies are associated with adverse cardiac events, including sudden cardiac death. The diagnosis, therefore, can be important and CABG is indicated, especially when there is repetitive syncope due to myocardial ischemia.

The patch test is the most reliable method for diagnosing a metal allergy. However, interpretation of patch test results depends on the experience of the investigator and on the conditions of the individual patient. In the case of patch tests for metal salts, irritant reactions such as pustular or follicular reactions are quite common. Therefore, one must be careful not to interpret irritant reactions as allergic responses, and objective standards to evaluate erythema in patch tests need to be established.In the present study, we attempted to objectively evaluate patch test results for metal salts using an erythema index meter. We used the Erythema Index Difference (EID) (patch test site erythema index (EI) minus the mean EI of healthy skin outside the patch test area and at the unit tape site) rather than the EI itself in order to eliminate the effects of the patch test unit and individual differences. We measured the EID over time in patients with suspected metal allergies to various metals. Significant differences in EID were observed among ++ assessments, + assessments and irritant reactions based on International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG) standards. In considering changes in EID over time, allergic and irritant reactions can be discriminated with high sensitivity (73.3%) and specificity (91.2%).These results suggest that the measurement of erythema over time with an erythema index meter is useful for the objective assessment of metal patch test reactions.

The purpose of this study was to confirm the causal structure model of muscle, motor and living functions utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) . As subjects, 103 community-dwelling older men and women, aged 65.7±6.9years of age, participated in the study to measure muscle cross-sectional area, maximum voluntary contractions, muscle power, 4 physical performance tests, and 16 questionnaires regarding ability of activities of daily living. The causal structure model of muscle, motor and living functions was hypothesized to be a hierarchical causal structure. The causal structure model of muscle function was hypothesized to be a hierarchical causal structure consisting of 3 sub-domains of muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle power. Data analysis procedures were as follows : a) testing of construct validity of muscle function variables using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in SEM ; b) testing of causal structure using SEM ; c) testing of factor invariance using multi-group analysis for gender. The highest goodness of fit indices was obtained in the causal structure model of muscle, motor and living functions (NFI= .928, CFI= .978, RMSEA =.061) . The causal coefficient of muscle function to motor function was .98 (p<.05), followed by.34 for motor function to living function. From the results of multi-group analysis, the measurement invariance model indicated the highest goodness of fit indices (TLI=.968, CFI .977) . It was concluded that the hierarchical causal relation was among muscle, motor and living functions, and in which muscle function was consisted of 3 sub-domains.

The purpose of this study was to confirm the reliability and validity of a physical fitness questionnaire (PFQ) with self-rating for elderly people applying structural equation modeling (SEM) . As subjects, 105 community-dwelling older men and women aged 67.1±6.1 years participated in the study to measure 13 PFQ items and 13 performance tests. The data analysis procedures were as follows : a) testing reliability of PFQ ; b) testing of construct validity of PFQ using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) ; c) testing of criterion-related validity of PFQ to the performance tests using SEM ; d) testing of correlations of the PFQ to walking ability using SEM. Cronbaeh's alpha coefficient for consistency reliability of the PFQ was .83. Four common factors of muscle strength-power, endurance, coordination, and flexibility were extracted in EFA. The high and enough goodness of fit indices were obtained in the confirmatory factor structure model, and in each sub-domain of criterion-related validity to performance tests and correlation to walking ability models. The criterion-related validity coefficient of muscle strength and power was .77, followed by .66 for endurance, .59 for coordination and .82 for flexibility. The correlation coefficient of muscle strength and power to walking ability was -.51, followed by -.58 for coordination, - .43 for endurance and - . 28 for flexibility. These results indicated that the PFQ consisting of 13 items and 4 sub-domains satisfied reliability and construct validity although criterion related validity to performance tests was insufficient. It was concluded that the PFQ is of useful for physical fitness checking of elderly people.

The purpose of this study was to confirm the causal effect model of strength on walking ability development as a result of exercise participation among elderly people in a community, utilizing the latent curve model (LCM) in structural equation modeling (SEM) . Twenty-six male and 57 female subjects, 83 in total, aged 67.8±5.7, 63.9±7.1 and 65.1±6.9 in a pooled sample participated in the exercise program which lasted for two years. Grip strength and sit-ups used in the Japan Fitness Test were measured for muscular strength, 10-m hurdle walk and 6-min walk for walking ability, and the fitness test score for physical ability. The data analysis procedures were as follows : a) analysis of test-retest reliability and construct validity of measurement items, b) analysis of causal structure model of aging, muscular strength and walking ability, c) analysis of variance for repeated measurement of walking performance by sex, age and year, d) analysis of LCM for walking performance development. The highest goodness-of-fit indices of SEM were obtained in the LCM of 10-m hurdle walk performance development (GFI=0.989, AGFI=0.920, CFI=0.998, RMSEA=0.038) . The path coefficient of sit-ups at pre-test effect on the intercept of 10-m hurdle walk performance development was significant (p<0.05) . The path coefficients of age to intercept and slope of 10-m hurdle walk development were also significant (p<0.05) . It was concluded that walking ability development through participation in exercise age and strength level was more effective for maintaining walking ability in older age.

The purpose of this study was to explore the burden of introducing LCP-J in two wards（medical oncology and respiratory medicine）in Tohoku University Hospital. We administered audit evaluations about dying cancer patients and interviewed 2 doctors and 8 nurses regarding LCP-J intervention. LCP-J was used for 22 patients（38％）, and no significant difference in infusion, potent opioid analgesic and sedative medication within last 48 hours were seen between users and nonusers. Responses were categorized into［confirm directions about dying care among health care professionals］, and［training in dying care in a structured way］as usefulness facets of the LCP-J, and［difficulty in assessment of dying］,［burden of health care professionals］, and［difficulty using LCP-J without knowledge and training in dying care］as burdens of the LCP-J. We explored the burden of LCP-J in general wards, and found that use of the LCP-J could need education in dying care and backup of the palliative care team.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the convenience of the quality of life and utility evaluation survey technology (QUEST) questionnaire and the frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (FSSG) questionnaire as self-assessment diagnostic instrument. METHODS: This was a two-way crossover study conducted over 6 weeks from September 2010 to November 2010. The subjects were 60 consecutive patients admitted to the Hiratsuka city hospital with a gastrointestinal condition, regardless of the coexistence of heartburn. They were assigned to fill in both the QUEST and FSSG questionnaires in random order. We analyzed the time taken to complete the questionnaires, whether subjects asked any questions as they filled in the questionnaire, and the questionnaire scores. RESULTS: Comparison of the QUEST and the FSSG revealed significant differences in the completion time (196.5 vs. 97.5 seconds, respectively; P < 0.0001) and in whether subjects asked any questions (37 vs. 15 subjects, respectively; P < 0.0001). Completion time in QUEST scores of > or = 4 was lower than < 4 (170.5 vs. 214.0 seconds, respectively; P = 0.022), and the QUEST score was significantly higher without questions than with question (3 vs. 1 points, respectively; P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the FSSG questionnaire may be easier for Japanese subjects to complete than the QUEST questionnaire.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cross-Over Studies ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Heartburn ; Hospitals, Urban ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self-Assessment

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The effects of Histamine-2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors on the gastrointestinal motility have not yet been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of intravenous bolus administration of famotidine and omeprazole on the rate of gastric emptying using the continuous 13C breath test (BreathID system, Exalenz Bioscience Ltd, Israel). METHODS: Twelve healthy male volunteers participated in this randomized, 3-way crossover study. After fasting overnight, the subjects were randomly assigned to receive 20 mg of famotidine, 20 mg of omeprazole or 20 mL of saline alone by intravenous bolus injection before a test meal (200 kcal per 200 mL, containing 100 mg of 13C-acetate). Gastric emptying was monitored for 4 hours after the ingestion of test meal by the 13C-acetic acid breath test performed using the BreathID system. RESULTS: No significant differences in the calculated parameters, namely, the T1/2, Tlag, GEC, beta and kappa, were observed among the 3 test conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that intravenous administration of gastric acid suppressant drugs had no significant influence on the rate of gastric emptying in comparison with that of saline alone as a placebo. Our results indicating the absence of any effect of either famotidine or omeprazole on accelerating the rate of gastric emptying suggest that both medications can be administered safely to patients suffering from hemorrhagic peptic ulcers who need to be kept nil by mouth from the viewpoint of possible acceleration of gastrointestinal motility in the clinical setting.
Acceleration ; Administration, Intravenous ; Breath Tests ; Cross-Over Studies ; Eating ; Famotidine ; Fasting ; Gastric Acid ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Humans ; Male ; Meals ; Mouth ; Omeprazole ; Peptic Ulcer ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Proton Pumps ; Protons ; Stress, Psychological

Low-grade epilepsy-associated tumors (LEAT) are brain tumors that should be differentiated as a cause of symptomatic epilepsy in children. The most common initial symptom is epileptic seizure, particularly focal seizures. We present a case of LEAT in which an infant presented to our department with convulsive-like seizures that were observed from approximately 3 months of age. At the first visit, growth and development, including head circumference, were appropriate for age. The seizures were atypical, but ictal video electroencephalography showed abnormal waves indicative of left hemispheric epilepsy. The patient subsequently presented with somnolence and poor feeding, and a sudden increase in head circumference and hydrocephalus were observed. Thus, the patient was urgently admitted to the neurosurgery department of our hospital. Brain MRI showed a suspected brain tumor and elective craniotomy was performed. No epileptic seizures were observed postoperatively. When focal epileptic seizures are observed in infancy, a brain tumor should also be considered as a differential diagnosis, and further examination may be warranted.