Objective: Globus pallidus internus deep brain stimulation (GPi-DBS) is an established treatment for dystonia, but its specific efficacy for tardive dystonia (TD) remains insufficiently documented. To evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of GPi-DBS and to identify optimal stimulation sites in patients with medically refractory TD. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 26 patients with TD who underwent bilateral GPi-DBS. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Burke–Fahn–Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS). Optimal stimulation sites were identified using voxelwise sweet spot analysis. Results: At an average follow-up time of 42 months (range 12–4 months), the mean BFMDRS score improvement was 81.5%. The optimal stimulation sites were located in the posteroventral region of the GPi. Two patients experienced sustained symptom remission after DBS cessation. Complications included device-related infection (n=2), dysarthria (n=4), and gait imbalance (n= 1); no severe permanent complications occurred. Conclusion GPi-DBS is effective and safe for patients with medically refractory TD, providing significant long-term symptom relief. The optimal stimulation sites were located in the posteroventral GPi, which is consistent with those reported for patients with other dystonia types.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) presents a major public-health burden and is frequently managed via minimally invasive endovenous ablation techniques. Although these modalities have replaced traditional open surgery due to favorable safety and recovery profiles, early complications remain under-reported and may compromise patient outcomes and practitioner trust. In this review we define “early complications” as those occurring intra-operatively or within 24 hours of the procedure and provide a structured overview of the incidence, mechanisms, risk-factors and management strategies across thermal (laser, radiofrequency) and non-thermal (mechanochemical, cyanoacrylate) ablation methods. Thermal ablation carries inherent risks such as skin burns, nerve injury, and hemorrhage/hematoma. Non-thermal technologies reduce thermal damage but introduce distinct complications including adhesive hypersensitivity, phlebitis and thrombotic events. We summarize reported incidence rates, highlight anatomical and procedural risk-factors, and propose a framework for prevention and management of these events. Key practical implications include the need for standardized reporting of early adverse events, informed consent addressing realistic risk profiles, protocolized peri-procedural pathways in venous centers, and close monitoring for postoperative complications is essential. Early complications may be uncommon but are clinically significant—recognition, stratification of risk, prompt diagnosis and intervention are essential to preserve the safety profile of endovenous ablation.

Objective: The efficacy and safety of zolpidem for treating musician’s dystonia are not well understood. We aimed to retrospectively investigate the efficacy and safety of zolpidem for treating musician’s dystonia. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records between January 2021 and December 2023 to identify patients with musician’s dystonia who had been prescribed zolpidem. Tubiana’s Musician’s Dystonia Rating Scale (range, 1–5; lower scores indicating greater severity) was used to evaluate musician’s dystonia. Results: Fifteen patients were included in this study. The mean effective dose of zolpidem was 5.3 ± 2.0 mg. The mean effective duration of zolpidem was 4.3 ± 1.2 h. With zolpidem administration, Tubiana’s musician’s dystonia rating scale score significantly improved from 2.2 ± 1.0 to 4.3 ± 0.8 (48.9% improvement, p < 0.001). Two patients (13.3%) discontinued the drug owing to unsatisfactory results or sleepiness. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that zolpidem may be an alternative treatment option for musician’s dystonia.

The literature on minimally invasive techniques specifically targeting reflux in symptomatic femoral vein duplication (FVD) is limited. We present a rare case of symptomatic reflux in FVD, successfully treated with cyanoacrylate glue ablation under ultrasonographic guidance. Our findings suggest that the unique anatomy of FVD can be effectively addressed through percutaneous endovenous glue ablation, providing a technically safe and feasible alternative without open surgery.Our patient experienced symptom resolution, no post-procedural complications, and maintained stable occlusion at a 1-year follow-up. This outcome highlights the potential of endovenous glue ablation as an innovative approach in managing deep vein reflux, particularly in cases involving FVD. To broaden its application in clinical practice, further research is crucial to establish appropriate patient selection criteria and refine treatment protocols.

The literature on minimally invasive techniques specifically targeting reflux in symptomatic femoral vein duplication (FVD) is limited. We present a rare case of symptomatic reflux in FVD, successfully treated with cyanoacrylate glue ablation under ultrasonographic guidance. Our findings suggest that the unique anatomy of FVD can be effectively addressed through percutaneous endovenous glue ablation, providing a technically safe and feasible alternative without open surgery.Our patient experienced symptom resolution, no post-procedural complications, and maintained stable occlusion at a 1-year follow-up. This outcome highlights the potential of endovenous glue ablation as an innovative approach in managing deep vein reflux, particularly in cases involving FVD. To broaden its application in clinical practice, further research is crucial to establish appropriate patient selection criteria and refine treatment protocols.

The literature on minimally invasive techniques specifically targeting reflux in symptomatic femoral vein duplication (FVD) is limited. We present a rare case of symptomatic reflux in FVD, successfully treated with cyanoacrylate glue ablation under ultrasonographic guidance. Our findings suggest that the unique anatomy of FVD can be effectively addressed through percutaneous endovenous glue ablation, providing a technically safe and feasible alternative without open surgery.Our patient experienced symptom resolution, no post-procedural complications, and maintained stable occlusion at a 1-year follow-up. This outcome highlights the potential of endovenous glue ablation as an innovative approach in managing deep vein reflux, particularly in cases involving FVD. To broaden its application in clinical practice, further research is crucial to establish appropriate patient selection criteria and refine treatment protocols.

The literature on minimally invasive techniques specifically targeting reflux in symptomatic femoral vein duplication (FVD) is limited. We present a rare case of symptomatic reflux in FVD, successfully treated with cyanoacrylate glue ablation under ultrasonographic guidance. Our findings suggest that the unique anatomy of FVD can be effectively addressed through percutaneous endovenous glue ablation, providing a technically safe and feasible alternative without open surgery.Our patient experienced symptom resolution, no post-procedural complications, and maintained stable occlusion at a 1-year follow-up. This outcome highlights the potential of endovenous glue ablation as an innovative approach in managing deep vein reflux, particularly in cases involving FVD. To broaden its application in clinical practice, further research is crucial to establish appropriate patient selection criteria and refine treatment protocols.

The literature on minimally invasive techniques specifically targeting reflux in symptomatic femoral vein duplication (FVD) is limited. We present a rare case of symptomatic reflux in FVD, successfully treated with cyanoacrylate glue ablation under ultrasonographic guidance. Our findings suggest that the unique anatomy of FVD can be effectively addressed through percutaneous endovenous glue ablation, providing a technically safe and feasible alternative without open surgery.Our patient experienced symptom resolution, no post-procedural complications, and maintained stable occlusion at a 1-year follow-up. This outcome highlights the potential of endovenous glue ablation as an innovative approach in managing deep vein reflux, particularly in cases involving FVD. To broaden its application in clinical practice, further research is crucial to establish appropriate patient selection criteria and refine treatment protocols.

Background: The importance of animal welfare is being recognized worldwide. Recently, the increasing demand for enhanced laboratory animal welfare has led to clinically featured transformations of animal research institutes. This study aims to describe the process and findings of veterinary medical check-ups and its influence on laboratory dogs and pigs welfare. Regular medical checkups were conducted by the attending veterinarian twice a year to ensure the health and welfare of dogs and pigs in our animal research institute. Based on the findings from the medi‑ cal checkup, we assessed the current health of dogs and pigs,providing reasonable treatments to prevent the risk of complications. Results: Blood tests and physical examinations revealed clinically relevant findings. Some of these findings were due to insufficient postoperative care after invasive surgical experiments and the remaining were predictable side effects after surgical experiments. However, one finding involved severe gum bleeding due to retained deciduous teeth.This animal was euthanized because it was judged to reach the humane endpoint. Majority of the dogs and pigs at our animal research institute were considered to be healthy, based on the comprehensive results of the medical checkups. Conclusions Regular medical checkups by the attending veterinarian established enhanced animal welfare, ensur‑ ing the accuracy and reproducibility of animal studies. This pioneering veterinary animal care program can serve as a potential advanced guideline for animal research institutes to improve dogs and pigs welfare.

Animal models have been used to elucidate the pathophysiology of varying diseases and to provide insight into potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Although alternatives to animal testing have been proposed to help overcome potential drawbacks related to animal experiments and avoid ethical issues, their use remains vital for the testing of new drug candidates and to identify the most effective strategies for therapeutic intervention. Particularly, the study of metabolic diseases requires the use of animal models to monitor whole-body physiology. In line with this, the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) in Korea has established their own animal strains to help evaluate both efficacy and safety during new drug development. The objective of this study was to characterize the response of C57BL/6NKorl mice from the NIFDS compared with that of other mice originating from the USA and Japan in a chemical-induced diabetic condition. Multiple low-dose treatments with streptozotocin were used to generate a type-1 diabetic animal model which is closely linked to the known clinical pathology of this disease. There were no significantly different responses observed between the varying streptozotocin-induced type-1 diabetic models tested in this study. When comparing control and diabetic mice, increases in liver weight and disturbances in serum amino acids levels of diabetic mice were most remarkable. Although the relationship between type-1 diabetes and BCAA has not been elucidated in this study, the results, which reveal a characteristic increase in diabetic mice of all origins are considered worthy of further study.
Amino Acids ; Amino Acids, Branched-Chain ; Animal Experimentation ; Animal Testing Alternatives ; Animals ; Ethics ; Japan ; Korea ; Liver ; Metabolic Diseases ; Metabolomics* ; Mice* ; Models, Animal ; Pathology, Clinical ; Physiology ; Streptozocin