To develop an osseointegration analyzing system for dental implants, a new analyzing system which can assess the level of osseointegration between an implant and trabecular bone was constructed using digital radiography with morphological filter and node-strut analysis. For assessment of this system, a grayscale test chart that simulates six levels of an osseointegration was created. In addition, digital implant images were made in which the trabecular pattern around the implant was varied over a total of five levels. Implant osseointegration was evaluated on the basis of seven parameters related to the number of nodes (Nd) and terminuses (Tm) of the skeleton bound to the implant (Im) and the skeletal length. The seven parameters were as follows: the number of struts connecting the Im with the Nd and Tm (N.ImNd, N.ImTm), the total number of N.ImNd and N.ImTm (N.Im), the strut length connecting the Im with the Nd and Tm (ImNd, ImTm), and the ratios of the struts connecting the Im with the Nd and Tm (ImNd/TSL, ImTm/TSL), where TSL is the total strut length.Strong correlations (R² = 0.971-1.0) between the theoretical values from the test charts and the measured values were demonstrated. N.ImNd showed the strongest correlation, R² = 0.948, from the digital implant images, followed by N.Im and ImNd, with correlations of R² = 0.86 and R² = 0.84, respectively. This new system for evaluating implant osseointegration by applying morphological processing and node-strut analysis could be useful for computer-assisted diagnosis of digital dental implant images.

We performed entry closure for the chronic type B dissecting aneurysms by open surgical procedure or endovascular stent-graft placement. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mid-term results of these patients with respect to mortality, morbidity, change of aneurysm diameter and outcome of the false lumen. From 1996 to 2003, entry closure was performed on 8 patients with chronic dissecting aortic aneurysm with an entry site in the descending aorta and visceral arteries that originated from the true lumen. The study population consisted of 4 men and 4 women with a mean age of 63.8±10.9 years. One patient had a DeBakey type III a and 7 patients had a DeBakey type III b dissecting aneurysm. Five patients underwent surgical entry closure and 3 patients underwent endovascular stent-graft placement. The mean follow-up period was 40±29 months. No operative mortalities, complications of paraplegia or visceral ischemia occurred. A leak was identified in 3 patients, 1 patient underwent an open repair with descending aortic replacement and 1 patient required additional stent-grafting. In the follow-up period, 1 patient died of cancer, but there were no dissection-related mortalities or re-operations for increase in size. With the exception of 1 case with a graft replacement, complete thrombosis of the thoracic aortic false lumen was achieved in 6 cases. There were no significant differences in the pre- and postoperative aortic diameter. Overall, complete thrombosis of the thoracic aortic false lumen was achieved with a high rate of success without a dissection-related mortality. Long-term follow-up, however, is necessary because a reduction in size did not occur in some cases.

Aortic dissection with rupture into the right atrium is an extremely rare and rapidly fatal condition. We report the case of a 59-year-old man with a history of double valve replacement 2 years earlier at another hospital. Although the previous postoperative course had been uneventful, the patient had experienced facial edema and general fatigue for 10 days before admission to our hospital because of heart failure. The diagnosis of chronic aortic dissection with rupture into the right atrium was confirmed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. At operation, we observed an aortic dissection that originated from a tear in the original aortic incision line. The fistula extended from the false lumen to the right atrium. The aortic adventitia were partially defective. The aortic dissection had ruptured and a pseudo-aneurysm had formed. We performed ascending aortic replacement and closure of the aorta-right atrium fistula under hypothermic arrest on cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 17th postoperative day.

Although the pressure gradient (PG) and the effective orifice area (EOA) have been used as indices of prosthetic valve function, these values show correctly neither energy loss, nor increased workload. This study aimed to evaluate the prosthetic valve function using echocardiography and PG, EOA and energy loss index, a new index advocated by Garcia et al. These were calculated for 40 patients with aortic prosthetic valve replacement by SJM valve (19HP, 6 cases; 21mm, 16 cases; 23mm, 14 cases; 25mm, 4 cases). Preoperative and postoperative echocardiographic measurements and their variations were analyzed and compared according to the size of implanted valve. In the comparison before and after aortic valve replacement, left ventricular mass (383±151g vs 288±113g, p<0.01), SV1+RV5 on ECG (5.07±1.73mV vs 3.83±1.5mV, p<0.01), and diastolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness (14.4±3.7mm vs 12.9±2.8mm, p<0.05) decreased significantly after the operation. However, there was no significant difference according to the size of the prosthetic valve in these reduction rates caluculated by (preoperative value-postoperative value)/preoperative value. Small size prosthetic valves were used for patients with small diameter of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) (19HP, 18±2mm; 21mm, 21±2mm; 23mm, 23±4mm; 25mm, 27±3mm; p<0.01) and small body surface area (19HP, 1.5±0.2m²; 21mm, 1.5±0.2m²; 23mm, 1.7±0.1m²; 25mm, 1.8±0.1m²; p<0.01) in our study. There was a signifcant difference in EOA (19HP, 1.2±0.4cm²; 21mm, 1.9±0.7cm²; 23mm, 2.2±0.9cm²; 25mm, 3.5±1.1cm²; p<0.01), but not in ELI (19HP, 1.01±0.41cm²/m²; 21mm, 1.87±1.03cm²/m²; 23mm, 1.83±1.09cm²/m²; 25mm, 3.08±1.21cm²/m²; p=0.055) according to the size of the prosthetic valve. Small size prosthetic valves had small EOA, but showed satisfactory valve function in decreasing left ventricular hypertrophy and reducing LVM and ELI of small size was similar to that of large size.

Purpose: Preoperative sarcopenia worsens postoperative outcomes in various cancer types including colorectal cancer. However, we often experienced postoperative anastomotic leakage in muscular male patients such as Judo players, especially in rectal cancer surgery with lower anastomosis. It is controversial whether the whole skeletal muscle mass impacts the potential for anastomotic failure in male rectal cancer patients. Thus, the purpose of this study was to clarify whether skeletal muscle mass impacts anastomotic leakage in rectal cancer in men. Methods: We reviewed the medical charts of male patients suffering from rectal cancer who underwent colo-procto anastomosis below the peritoneal reflection without a protective diverting stoma. We measured the psoas muscle area and calculated the psoas muscle index. Results: One hundred ninety-seven male rectal cancer patients were enrolled in this study. The psoas muscle index was significantly higher in patients with anastomotic leakage (P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve determined the optimal cut-off value of the psoas muscle index for predicting anastomotic leakage as 812.67 cm2/m2 (sensitivity of 60% and specificity of 74.3%). Multivariate analysis revealed that high psoas muscle index (risk ratio [RR], 3.933; P<0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.917–8.070) and super low anastomosis (RR, 2.792; P=0.015; 95% CI, 1.221–6.384) were independent predictive factors of anastomotic leakage. Conclusion This study showed that male rectal cancer patients with a large psoas muscle mass who underwent lower anastomosis had a higher rate of postoperative anastomotic leakage.

The shortage of physicians in Japan has been a social issue since the new postgraduate clinical training system started in 2004.The difficult working conditions of hospital physicians may influence this problem.We used a questionnaire to investigate the working hours, on-call frequency, work contents, and mental health of supervisors at various residency training hospitals in Japan.
1) We surveyed 479 physicians who worked at hospitals certified as residency-training facilities and who participated in a development workshop for supervisors or for residency training program managers held at 8 locations in 2004.
2) We found that supervisors worked, on average, more than 100 hours longer than statutory working hours per month and that more than one-fifth of supervisors worked more than 160 hours longer.
3) As for mental health, more than one-fifth of supervisors showed a depressive tendency.
4) These results suggest that the working conditions of supervisors at residency-training hospitals in Japan should be improved by reducing their clinical duties or managing their work content.

The new postgraduate clinical training system that started in 2004 is expected to have positive effects on the health of residents and the quality of treatment they provide.We performed a survey to examine the effects of this training system on the mental health of residents.
1) The subjects were first-year residents (458 in 2003 and 549 in 2004) who had started postgraduate clinical training at 38 hospitals in Japan.Self-administered questionnaires, which included items about working conditions and mental health, were mailed to each subject.
2) The mean score on the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire was 4.8 both before and after the new training system was introduced.The mean Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score was 15.3 before and 14.4 after the system's introduction.The results showed no significant difference in mental health of residents before and after the system was changed.
3) The results suggest that the new training system has a positive effect on residents' mental health by increasing sleep time and decreasing occupational stress; however, the new system has also decreased job satisfaction and negatively affected their mental health.
4) Job satisfaction may significantly affect the mental health of residents.

Preoperative definitive diagnosis of intradural lumbar disc herniation (ILDH) is difficult despite the availability of various neuroradiological investigative tools. We present a case of ILDH diagnosed preoperatively by discography and computed tomography-discography (disco-CT).The patient was a 63-year-old man with acute excruciating right leg pain. Discography and disco-CT demonstrated leakage of the contrast medium into the intradural space. Based on these findings, a right L5 nerve root disturbance caused by ILDH was diagnosed. A right L5 hemi-laminectomy and a dorsal durotomy were performed. The herniated disc was carefully dissected and then completely removed. Three months after surgery, the patient had fully recovered. This report highlights the importance of making a definitive diagnosis of ILDH preoperatively for better surgical planning and improved clinical outcomes. Furthermore, discography and disco-CT are both useful preoperative diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of ILDH.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Leg ; Middle Aged

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PURPOSE: To evaluate surgical outcomes and effectiveness of an autogenic rib graft for upper cervical fixation in pediatric patients. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Autogenic bone grafts have long been considered the ‘gold standard’ bone source for posterior cervical fusion in pediatric patients. However, there are some unsolved problems associated with donor-site morbidity and amount of bone grafting. METHODS: We studied five consecutive pediatric patients who underwent atlantoaxial fixation or occipitocervical fixation (OCF) using an autogenic rib graft with at least 2 years of follow-up (mean age, 9.8 years; mean follow-up period, 73.0 months). Two patients underwent OCF without screw-rod constructs and three patients with screw-rod constructs. Autogenic rib grafts were used in all patients. We evaluated the surgical outcomes including radiographic parameter, bony union, and perioperative complications. RESULTS: The atlantoaxial interval (ADI) was corrected from 11.6 to 6.0 mm, and the C1–2 angle was corrected −14.8° to 7.8°. The C2–7 angle was reduced from 31° to 9° spontaneously. Two patients with OCF required revision surgery due to loss of correction. Patients did not experience any complication associated with the donor sites (rib bone grafts). Six months postoperation X-rays clearly showed regeneration of the rib at the donor sites. Bony fusion was achieved in all patients; however, bony fusion occurred more slowly in patients without screw-rod constructs compared with patients with screw-rod constructs. Bone regeneration of the rib was observed in all patients with no complications at the donor site. CONCLUSIONS: Autogenic rib grafts have advantages of potential bone regeneration, high fusion rate, and low donor-site morbidity. In addition, a screw-rod construct provides better bony fusion in pediatric patients with OCF and atlantoaxial fixation.