Intraprocedural rupture during Woven EndoBridge (WEB) treatment is most commonly reported in the early deployment phase, whereas rebleeding after substantial deployment is considered rare. We report a patient in their early 90s with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a large ruptured internal carotid artery aneurysm with a fetal-type posterior communicating artery. After initial deployment, the bleb was already covered by the lateral surface of the device. During partial resheathing and repositioning to preserve the branch, the WEB rotated slightly, altering the configuration of the device relative to the bleb and thereby changing device–aneurysm wall interaction. Retrospective assessment of the procedural recording later suggested minimal contrast leakage just above the bleb, although massive hemorrhage became evident only during the final angiographic runs after detachment. Rescue treatment with balloon occlusion and n-butyl cyanoacrylate embolization achieved hemostasis; however, postprocedural cone-beam computed tomography revealed a massive intracerebral hematoma, and the patient died 3 days later despite supportive care. This case underscores that even after substantial deployment, repositioning maneuvers may carry a risk under specific high-risk conditions.

The Japan Anti-Doping Agency aims to eliminate doping to protect athletes’ health. However, unintentional doping violations can occur when athletes unknowingly consume prohibited substances. As future professionals, student pharmacists are expected to learn about anti-doping measures, while sports science students must learn how to comply with regulations. However, comparative studies on anti-doping awareness among students from different faculties remain limited in Japan. In this study we surveyed students from Nihon University who took Introduction to Anti-doping in the College of Sports Sciences, 2023, and student pharmacists who took the Science of Health and Physical Fitness II course in the School of Pharmacy, 2024. A comparison of the responses for each question of the survey revealed a significant difference in knowledge content regarding medicines. However, there were no apparent differences between the two faculties of participants in terms of awareness of anti-doping measures. Next, using qualitative research by text mining, we also found differences in anti-doping awareness among students of each school. First, the student pharmacists responses consisted of comments like: “Supporting athletes as a pharmacist,” “An interest in becoming a sports pharmacist” and “Consideration for patients who are athletes.” On the other hand, the Sports Science students responses consisted of comments like “Necessary for coaching athletes,” “Attitude toward doping as an athlete” and “Acquisition of knowledge through lectures.” In this study, qualitative analysis using text mining revealed that both the sports science students and pharmacy students constructed faculty-dependent behavioral goals related to anti-doping, demonstrating the usefulness of these courses.

Here we report the case of a female patient in her 70s with right hemiplegic stroke and severe sensory impairment whose walking ability was improved by visual and auditory feedback provided by a Gait Exercise Assist Robot (GEAR)．The patient was diagnosed with a left thalamic hemorrhage. Upon being admitted to the convalescent rehabilitation ward, she reported feeling no sensations in her right upper or lower limbs according to the Stroke Impairment Assessment Set (SIAS；both superficial and positional sensations)．Additionally, she had a Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score of 16 and Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) score of 0. The patient underwent the GEAR intervention for approximately 40 min daily. She was provided visual feedback, in which images of her feet and the sagittal plane were presented on the monitor in front of her；and auditory feedback, in which her paralyzed lower limbs were loaded. No significant improvement was noted in her superficial or positional senses based on the SIAS score at 2 months post-intervention；however, the BBS and FAC scores improved to 46 and 3 points, respectively. These findings suggest that, although it is difficult to improve sensory impairment, repetitive gait training via GEAR-provided visual and auditory feedback and assistive function may improve the gait and walking ability of stroke patients with severe sensory impairment.

Here we report the case of a female patient in her 70s with right hemiplegic stroke and severe sensory impairment whose walking ability was improved by visual and auditory feedback provided by a Gait Exercise Assist Robot (GEAR)．The patient was diagnosed with a left thalamic hemorrhage. Upon being admitted to the convalescent rehabilitation ward, she reported feeling no sensations in her right upper or lower limbs according to the Stroke Impairment Assessment Set (SIAS；both superficial and positional sensations)．Additionally, she had a Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score of 16 and Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) score of 0. The patient underwent the GEAR intervention for approximately 40 min daily. She was provided visual feedback, in which images of her feet and the sagittal plane were presented on the monitor in front of her；and auditory feedback, in which her paralyzed lower limbs were loaded. No significant improvement was noted in her superficial or positional senses based on the SIAS score at 2 months post-intervention；however, the BBS and FAC scores improved to 46 and 3 points, respectively. These findings suggest that, although it is difficult to improve sensory impairment, repetitive gait training via GEAR-provided visual and auditory feedback and assistive function may improve the gait and walking ability of stroke patients with severe sensory impairment.

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of sedation with propofol as an alternative to benzodiazepine drugs in outpatient endoscopy. Methods: In this prospective study, examinees who underwent outpatient endoscopy under propofol sedation and submitted a nextday questionnaire with providing informed consent were evaluated. Periprocedural acute responses, late adverse events within 24 hours, and examinee satisfaction were evaluated. Results: Among the 4,122 patients who received propofol in the 17,978 outpatient-based endoscopic examinations performed between November 2016 and March 2018, 2,305 eligible examinees (esophagogastroduodenoscopy for 1,340, endoscopic ultrasonography for 945, and total colonoscopy for 20) were enrolled, and their responses to a questionnaire were analyzed. The mean propofol dose was 69.6±24.4 mg (range, 20–200 mg). Diazepam, midazolam, and/or pentazocine in combination with propofol was administered to 146 examinees. Mild oxygen desaturation was observed in 59 examinees (2.6%); and mild bradycardia, in 2 (0.09%). Other severe reactions or late events did not occur. After eliminating 181 invalid responses, 97.7% (2,065/2,124) of the patients desired propofol sedation in future examinations. Conclusions Propofol sedation was found to be safe—without severe adverse events or accidents—for outpatient endoscopy on the basis of the patients’ next-day self-evaluation. Given the high satisfaction level, propofol sedation might be an ideal tool for painless endoscopic screening.

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of sedation with propofol as an alternative to benzodiazepine drugs in outpatient endoscopy. Methods: In this prospective study, examinees who underwent outpatient endoscopy under propofol sedation and submitted a nextday questionnaire with providing informed consent were evaluated. Periprocedural acute responses, late adverse events within 24 hours, and examinee satisfaction were evaluated. Results: Among the 4,122 patients who received propofol in the 17,978 outpatient-based endoscopic examinations performed between November 2016 and March 2018, 2,305 eligible examinees (esophagogastroduodenoscopy for 1,340, endoscopic ultrasonography for 945, and total colonoscopy for 20) were enrolled, and their responses to a questionnaire were analyzed. The mean propofol dose was 69.6±24.4 mg (range, 20–200 mg). Diazepam, midazolam, and/or pentazocine in combination with propofol was administered to 146 examinees. Mild oxygen desaturation was observed in 59 examinees (2.6%); and mild bradycardia, in 2 (0.09%). Other severe reactions or late events did not occur. After eliminating 181 invalid responses, 97.7% (2,065/2,124) of the patients desired propofol sedation in future examinations. Conclusions Propofol sedation was found to be safe—without severe adverse events or accidents—for outpatient endoscopy on the basis of the patients’ next-day self-evaluation. Given the high satisfaction level, propofol sedation might be an ideal tool for painless endoscopic screening.

Japanese board of cardiovascular surgery is changing to new system. To discuss about future education, the cardiovascular surgeons should know more about the new system. The present article demonstrated the questionnaire survey about the board, and evaluated its outcome. This is the first article of the column series about the board. We hope the article is useful information for the young surgeons, and the surgeons will discuss about better environment for training in new era.

Background: Individuals with axillary osmidrosis suffer detrimental effects to their psychosocial functioning. In Asian nations, major operations for axillary osmidrosis include subdermal excision (open surgery) and suction-curettage (closed surgery). Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine which of these two procedures is most favorable in terms of safety and efficacy. Methods: According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metaanalyses (PRISMA) guideline, we searched electronic databases for articles published in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese languages. Fixed-effects model meta-analyses of odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were conducted, and the I2 was used to assess heterogeneity. Complication rates, recurrence/ineffectiveness rates, and patient satisfaction data were extracted and compared between open and closed surgeries. Results: Our search yielded 8 articles that include 1,179 patients; 560 underwent open surgery, and 619 underwent closed surgery. Our meta-analysis revealed that suction-curettage had a significantly lower risk of acute adverse events than open excision (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.07~0.32), whereas open excision was significantly superior to suction-curettage for recurrence/ineffectiveness rate (OR, 2.90; 95% CI, 1.37~6.15). Patient satisfaction was equally high with both treatments (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 0.69~3.60). Conclusion Since surgical treatments for axillary osmidrosis have been performed mostly in East Asian nations, it was meaningful to review articles published in four languages. This meta-analysis revealed that closed surgery was safer but less effective than open surgery. However, both patient groups expressed high satisfaction with the outcomes. Our results may be helpful for deciding surgical treatment options.

Tumor metastasis to the endocardium is rare. The patient was 58-year-old man who was given a diagnosis of a metastatic tumor to the right atrium and right ventricle. The tumor originated from the esophagus, and the patient was at risk of sudden death caused by acute pulmonary embolism. We performed tumorectomy to reduce the risk of sudden death. The postoperative course was satisfactory, and the tumorectomy was followed by chemotherapy. The 5-year survival rate in such cases has been reported to be only approximately 11%. However, resection of tumor mass may be useful for improving postoperative QOL and reducing the risk of sudden death.

A 77-year-old man presented with fever and back pain. Computed tomography revealed a distal arch aneurysm. Bacteroides fragilis was found in a blood culture, and we diagnosed a thoracic infected aneurysm. Because of the rapid enlargement of the aneurysm and his frailty, a TEVAR procedure was urgently performed. He left the hospital after antibiotic treatment with meropenem. However, he was re-hospitalized due to recurrence of the infection. The infection was well-controlled by treatment with intravenous meropenem, and the subsequent oral administration of metronidazole (MNZ). He was re-hospitalized again 7 weeks after discharge due to unsteady gait and articulatory disorder. MNZ-induced encephalopathy (MIE) was diagnosed because FLAIR brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an area of high signal intensity in the bilateral basal dentate nuclei. These symptoms improved after MNZ was changed to AMPC/CVA. Fifteen months later, the patient was doing well and had no recurrence of the infection. We performed TEVAR for a patient with a thoracic aneurysm infected by B. fragilis. The recurrence of the infection was controlled by adequate antibiotic therapy, which included the administration of MNZ. However, patients who are treated with MNZ should be carefully observed to detect the development of neurological signs, as MNZ may induce encephalopathy. The early detection and withdrawal of metronidazole is important for the improvement of MIE.