Background: Patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) are known to have abnormal pelvic morphologies; however, rotation of innominate bone features remains unclear. Thus, we investigated innominate bone rotation in patients with DDH by measuring the associated angles and distances using three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography. Methods: We defined four straight lines in pelvic 3D models: from the anterior superior iliac spine to the posterior superior iliac spine, from the anterior inferior iliac spine to the posterior inferior iliac spine, from the pubic tubercle to the ischial spine, and from the pubic tubercle to the ischial tuberosity. Similarly, we measured the angles formed by these lines using the vertical axis of the anterior pelvic plane on the horizontal plane and the horizontal axis on the sagittal plane. Additionally, we measured the distances between the femoral head centers and the acetabular centers in the coronal plane. Results: The difference in internal rotation angle between the superior and inferior parts of the iliac bone was significantly lower, by approximately 1.7°, in the DDH group than in the control group (p = 0.007); the difference between the inferior and superior parts of the ischiopubic bone was significantly higher, by approximately 1.5°, in the DDH group (p< 0.001). In the sagittal plane, the sum of the superior aspect of the iliac bone and the inferior aspect of the ischium was significantly lower in the DDH group (p = 0.001) than in the control group. The distances between the femoral heads and the acetabula were significantly greater in the DDH group than in the control group (p = 0.03, p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusions Patients with DDH had a more internally rotated ilium and ischiopubic bone than normal individuals; however, it should be emphasized that internal rotation was reduced near the acetabulum, and the acetabulum was shifted laterally. Similarly, it was shown that patients with DDH had different rotations of the ilium and ischiopubic bone in the sagittal plane.

Methods: This prospective, single-arm study included 11 patients (eight men; mean age, 62.7 years) with ≥3-months’ chronic pain history due to lumbar disease. Subcutaneous TCZ injections were administered twice, at a 2-week interval. We evaluated low back pain, leg pain, and leg numbness using numeric rating scales and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI; baseline and 6 months postinjection); serum IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels (baseline and 1 month postinjection); and clinical adverse events. Results: Intractable symptoms reduced after TCZ administration. Low back pain improved for 6 months. Improvements in leg pain and numbness peaked at 4 and 1 month, respectively. Improvements in ODI were significant at 1 month and peaked at 4 months. Serum IL-6 was increased at 1 month. IL-6 responders (i.e., patients with IL-6 increases >10 pg/mL) showed particularly significant improvements in leg pain at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months compared with nonresponders. We observed no apparent adverse events. Conclusions Systemic TCZ administration improved symptoms effectively for 6 months, with peak improvements at 1–4 months and no adverse events. Changing serum IL-6 levels correlated with leg pain improvements; further studies are warranted to elucidate the mechanistic connections between lumbar disorders and inflammatory cytokines.

Background: Plain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful for diagnosing adverse local tissue reactions after metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (THA), but metal artifacts can hamper radiological assessments near the implants. We sought to clarify the usefulness of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) CT and MRI in the periprosthetic region, which is difficult to assess after THA due to metal artifacts. Methods: We performed preoperative 18F-FDG-PET/CT and 18F-FDG-PET/MRI, as well as plain CT and MRI, in 11 metal-on-metal THA patients who underwent revision surgery. Results: Most patients showed high FDG uptake in the metal artifact areas and pseudotumors in the 18-F-FDG-PET/CT and 18-FFDG-PET/MRI scans. Intraoperative intra-articular macroscopic and histopathological intra-articular granulation tissue findings were suggestive of adverse local tissue reaction. Conclusions The enhanced uptake in the metal artifact areas seemed to reflect adverse local tissue reaction. Therefore, 18F-FDGPET/CT and 18-F-FDG-PET/MRI can be useful for the auxiliary diagnosis of adverse local tissue reactions after metal-on-metal THA.

Background: Plain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful for diagnosing adverse local tissue reactions after metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (THA), but metal artifacts can hamper radiological assessments near the implants. We sought to clarify the usefulness of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) CT and MRI in the periprosthetic region, which is difficult to assess after THA due to metal artifacts. Methods: We performed preoperative 18F-FDG-PET/CT and 18F-FDG-PET/MRI, as well as plain CT and MRI, in 11 metal-on-metal THA patients who underwent revision surgery. Results: Most patients showed high FDG uptake in the metal artifact areas and pseudotumors in the 18-F-FDG-PET/CT and 18-FFDG-PET/MRI scans. Intraoperative intra-articular macroscopic and histopathological intra-articular granulation tissue findings were suggestive of adverse local tissue reaction. Conclusions The enhanced uptake in the metal artifact areas seemed to reflect adverse local tissue reaction. Therefore, 18F-FDGPET/CT and 18-F-FDG-PET/MRI can be useful for the auxiliary diagnosis of adverse local tissue reactions after metal-on-metal THA.

A 69-year-old woman with jaundice was referred to our hospital. After a final diagnosis of pancreatic cancer with liver metastasis, we performed transpapillary biliary drainage with a covered self-expandable metal stent (SEMS). Three months later, we also placed an uncovered duodenal stent for duodenal stricture in a side-to-end fashion. Another month later, for biliary SEMS obstruction, we attempted a transpapillary approach. A duodenoscope was advanced and a guidewire was passed through the mesh of the duodenal stent into the bile duct with a flexible tip catheter, but the catheter was not. Thus, we exchanged the duodenoscope for a forward-viewing two-channel endoscope and used the left working channel with a flexible tip catheter. By adjusting the axis, we finally succeeded biliary cannulation and accomplished balloon cleaning for recanalization of the SEMS. This is the first case with successful biliary cannulation by combined use of a two-channel endoscope and a flexible tip catheter.
Aged ; Bile Ducts ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cholestasis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Duodenoscopes ; Endoscopes ; Female ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Liver ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Stents

The infrapatellar fat pad is functionally deformed with joint movement and is involved in adjusting the internal pressure of the knee joint. On the other hand, it can also become a source of anterior knee pain due to inflammation and degeneration. A young female handball player experienced anterior knee pain. No obvious abnormality was observed on basic X-ray and magnetic resonance images. Dynamic observation using ultrasonic diagnostic imaging showed poor kinetics with infiltration of the infrapatellar fat pad into the patellar ligament and the tibial condyle, with the knee joint in extension on the affected side compared with the normal side. Knee joint range of movement (affected side vs. normal side) was restricted to 140° p / 150° flexion and extension - 10° p / 5°, and there was infrapatellar tenderness in the affected region. Patella baja was confirmed compared with the normal side. In addition, the flexibility of the infrapatellar fat pad was reduced. From these findings, it was inferred that the cause of pain was restriction of knee joint extension due to reduced flexibility of the infrapatellar fat pad. Treatment of the infrapatellar fat pad, joint range training exercises, and muscle strengthening training exercises were carried out. Pain and restricted range of joint movements improved and the patient could returned to competitive sports.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the risk of bleeding after endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is low, the safety of EUS-FNA in patients prescribed antithrom-botic agents is unclear. Therefore, this study evaluated the incidence of bleeding after EUS-FNA in those patients. METHODS: Between September 2012 and September 2015, patients who were prescribed antithrombotic agents underwent EUS-FNA at 13 institutions in Japan were prospectively enrolled in the study. The antithrombotic agents were managed according to the guidelines of the Japanese Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Society. The rate of bleeding events, thromboembolic events and other complications within 2 weeks after EUS-FNA were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 2,629 patients who underwent EUS-FNA during the study period, 85 (62 males; median age, 74 years) patients were included in this stduy. Two patients (2.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6% to 8.3%) experienced bleeding events. One patient required surgical intervention for hemothorax 5 hours after EUS-FNA, and the other experienced melena 8 days after EUS-FNA and required red blood cell transfusions. No thromboembolic events occurred (0%; 95% CI, 0.0% to 4.4%). Three patients (3.5%; 95% CI, 1.2% to 10.0%) experienced peri-puncture abscess formation. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of bleeding after EUS-FNA in patients prescribed antithrombotic agents might be considerable.
Abscess ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration* ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Erythrocyte Transfusion ; Fibrinolytic Agents* ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Incidence ; Japan ; Male ; Melena ; Prospective Studies*

11C-methionine (Met) positron emission tomography (PET) is one of the most commonly used PET tracers for evaluating brain tumors. However, few reports have described tips and pitfalls of 11C-Met PET for general practitioners. Physiological 11C-Met uptake, anatomical variations, vascular disorders, non-tumorous lesions such as inflammation or dysplasia, benign brain tumors and patient condition during 11C-Met PET examination can potentially affect the image interpretation and cause false positives and negatives. These pitfalls in the interpretation of 11C-Met PET images are important for not only nuclear medicine physicians but also general radiologists. Familiarity with the spectrum and pitfalls of 11C-Met images could help prevent unfavorable clinical results caused by misdiagnoses.
Brain Neoplasms ; Diagnostic Errors ; Electrons* ; General Practitioners ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Methionine ; Nuclear Medicine ; Positron-Emission Tomography* ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Vascular Diseases

Aspergillus infective endocarditis (ASIE) is a very rare disease that carries an extremely poor prognosis. We report a case of ASIE successfully treated by a tricuspid valve replacement and administration of an antifungal drugs. The patient was a 69-year-old man who was taking steroids for an autoimmune disease and was admitted to our hospital because of a persistent fever of 39°C. As chest CT showed infiltrative shadows in both lung fields and the aspergillus antigen was detected in the blood, we diagnosed invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), and initiated administration of micafungin sodium (MCFG). Later, the patient's heart failure worsened, and echocardiography revealed vegetation measuring 8 mm in diameter in the anterior cusp of the tricuspid valve. As this indicated a definitive diagnosis of ASIE, administration of voriconazole (VRCZ) was initiated. However, the vegetation grew into a movable wart measuring 20 mm in diameter within a week, based on which a diagnosis of drug-resistant ASIE was made, and surgery was considered indicated. Very large vegetations were found in the anterior cusp of the tricuspid valve, anterior papillary muscle, the tendinous chord of the medial papillary muscle and the trabeculae carneae of the right ventricle. Based on the findings, it was judged that tricuspid annuloplasty was impossible and tricuspid valve replacement was performed using a biological valve. As to the antifungal medication, long-term administration of VRCZ and MCFG was continued. The patient followed a favorable course and was discharged from the hospital on the 220th day. The patient aking lifelong VRCZ and has shown no evidence of recurrence of the ASIE. To improve the prognosis of ASIE, rapid and radical surgical resection of the vegetations and appropriate administration of antifungal drugs are important.

　　Since February, 2012, Anjo Kosei Hospital has embarked upon a new scheme for efficiently handling narcotics during surgical operations. For the purpose pharmacists are allowed to enter the operating room for a while. At the same time, the implementation of digital record keeping for narcotics management tasks has started, making it possible to simplify the handling of a great number of patients. By reviewing the effects on narcotics handling and hours billed, we could determine the effectiveness of operating room pharmacist-led narcotics management at Anjo Kosei. Out of narcotics prescriptions (n＝647) handled in the operating room for one month, 84.7% (548/647) was accounted for by prepared narcotics and 99.8% (646/647) by post-operation management. The introduction of the digital record system resulted in a reduction from 53.3±9.6 minutes to 39.6±6.3 minutes for narcotics preparation, and a reduction from 66.8±16.1 minutes to 41.1±13.5 minutes for post-operation management (p<0.01). It has added to the work efficiency and simplification of operations. Moreover, due to the intervention of pharmacists in the operating room, 92.3% of narcotics prescriptions was performed using the new management system within a relatively short time (80.8±18.4minutes). These data show that the introduction of the new scheme has resulted in more efficient management of narcotics at Anjo Kosei.