{"title":"Review of Implantable Left Ventricular Assist Devices.","authors":"Eiki Tayama, Kazuyoshi Takagi, Takahiro Shojima, Hiroyuki Otsuka, Tohru Takaseya, Koichi Arinaga","doi":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS6834007","DOIUrl":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS6834007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mechanical circulatory support has been an indispensable treatment for severe heart failure. While the development of a total artificial heart has failed, left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have evolved from extracorporeal to implantable types. The first generation implantable LVAD (pulsatile device) was used as a bridge to transplantation, and demonstrated improvement in survival rate and activity of daily living. The evolution from the first-generation (pulsatile device) to the second-generation (continuous flow device: axial flow pump and centrifugal pump) has resulted in many clinical benefits by reducing mechanical failures and minimizing device size. Furthermore, third-generation devices, which use a moving impeller suspended by magnetic and/or hydrodynamic forces, have improved overall device reliability and durability. Unfortunately, there are still many device-related complications, and further device development and improvement of patient management methods are required. However, we expect to see further development of implantable VADs, including for destination therapy, in future.</p>","PeriodicalId":39559,"journal":{"name":"Kurume Medical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"171-181"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9630281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Usefulness of a 4-Grade Novel Mouthpiece Device for Increased Mouth Pressure Reproducing Artificial Difficulty in Breathing.","authors":"Akiko Yorita, Yoshihisa Tokunaga, Takashi Kinoshita, Akiyoshi Nakakura, Hanako Oda, Haruki Imaoka, Kazuko Matsunaga, Tatsuyuki Kakuma, Tomoaki Hoshino, Tomotaka Kawayama","doi":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS6834008","DOIUrl":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS6834008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The use of a novel 4-grade mouthpiece device to reproduce difficulty in breathing was assessed in healthy individuals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A double-blind, randomized, crossover-controlled trial was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of the device with increasing mouth pressure. The modified Borg (mBorg) scale values, respiratory system resistance at 5 Hz (R5), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV<sub>1</sub>) were assessed while using the device.</p><p><strong>Materials: </strong>The four grades of breathing difficulty device were tested in 32 healthy participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 4-grade device linearly worsened the mBorg scale with increasing mouth pressure. The mean R5 (± standard deviation [SD]) with grade I, II, III, and IV devices were 5.6 ± 0.1, 10.3 ± 0.3, 21.5 ± 0.7, and 54.8 ± 2.0 kPa/L/s, respectively. The mean %FEV<sub>1</sub> predicted (± SD) were 83.6 ± 15.9% with grade I, 55.3 ± 11.8% with grade II, 32.0 ± 6.1% with grade III, and 15.3 ± 3.2% with the grade IV device. The mBorg scale was positively correlated with R5 (r = 0.79, p < 0.0001) and negatively with %FEV<sub>1</sub> predicted (r = -0.81, p < 0.0001). No severe adverse events were reported during the trial.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We demonstrated that the novel device could effectively reproduce the semi-quantitative artificial difficulty in breathing safely and easily in healthy individuals. These devices could be helpful to understand the mechanisms of difficulty in breathing.</p>","PeriodicalId":39559,"journal":{"name":"Kurume Medical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"229-238"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9630283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kurume Medical JournalPub Date : 2023-09-25Epub Date: 2023-06-12DOI: 10.2739/kurumemedj.MS6834001
Arvind Annamalai, Joe Iwanaga, Aaron S Dumont, Marios Loukas, R Shane Tubbs
{"title":"An Extremely Rare Case of a Sciatic Nerve Variant.","authors":"Arvind Annamalai, Joe Iwanaga, Aaron S Dumont, Marios Loukas, R Shane Tubbs","doi":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS6834001","DOIUrl":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS6834001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The sciatic nerve (SN) is the nerve of the posterior compartment of the thigh and typically traverses beneath the piriformis muscle (PM) before continuing along a vertical course deep to the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris. However, cadaveric studies have often revealed significant variations in the structural features of the SN in relation to the piriformis. Knowledge of such variations is not only useful for clinicians treating pathophysiologies such as piriformis syndrome and sciatica but is also essential for surgeons carrying out procedures involving the hip and sacroiliac joints to avoid iatrogenic injury to the SN. During routine cadaveric dissection, one such anatomical variant was identified with the SN passing over the superior border of the piriformis muscle. To our knowledge, such a variant is exceedingly rare.</p>","PeriodicalId":39559,"journal":{"name":"Kurume Medical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"255-258"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9614655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kurume Medical JournalPub Date : 2023-09-25Epub Date: 2023-06-12DOI: 10.2739/kurumemedj.MS6834003
Cindy Wang, Joe Iwanaga, Aimee Aysenne, Aaron S Dumont, R Shane Tubbs
{"title":"Split Spinal Cord Malformation Fed by Bilateral, Enlarged Radiculopial Arteries.","authors":"Cindy Wang, Joe Iwanaga, Aimee Aysenne, Aaron S Dumont, R Shane Tubbs","doi":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS6834003","DOIUrl":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS6834003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anatomical variations of the spinal cord are seen in many manifestations; one rare variant that does not stem from a neural tube defect is known as a split cord malformation (SCM). In this variation, a deviation from normal development causes the spinal cord to divide into two hemicords, typically in the lumbar region. In the case described here, a SCM was observed with large, bilateral, radiculopial arteries. To our knowledge, such large vessels in conjunction with a SCM has not previously been documented in the literature. Such variants could be problematic during surgical approaches to the lumbar spine. Herein, we report the case and discuss the development of the findings with relevant clinical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":39559,"journal":{"name":"Kurume Medical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"251-254"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9614657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Parity in Correlation with Stage and Estrogen Receptor Type in Breast Cancer.","authors":"Ali Abdul Hussein S Al-Janabi","doi":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parity is related to breast cancer in various ways. Its effects on the development of breast cancer are not independent and should be investigated at the same time as other reproductive factors. The association between parity and stage and type of breast cancer receptor was studied.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Parity was established for 75 patients with estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer and 45 patients with ER-negative breast cancer. The stages of breast cancer were also determined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Breast cancer was found to have an association with high parity (≥ 3 parities). Significantly, most patients were diagnosed with stage II breast cancer, and this was especially frequent in patients with high parity. Stage IIB was most common, particularly among those 40-49 years old. ER-positive and ER-negative stage II breast cancer were both common among patients with high parity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Breast cancer, particularly at stage II, is associated with high parity. Parity is also associated with type of breast cancer, based on estrogen receptor category. This finding supports the recommendation that breast cancer should be screened in women with a high parity. Increased births should be considered a risk factor particularly for stage II breast cancer independent of cancer type.</p>","PeriodicalId":39559,"journal":{"name":"Kurume Medical Journal","volume":"68 2","pages":"121-128"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9742552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Koichi Watanabe, Aya Han, Eiko Inoue, Joe Iwanaga, Yoko Tabira, Akihiro Yamashita, Keishiro Kikuchi, Yuto Haikata, Kunimitsu Nooma, Tsuyoshi Saga
{"title":"The Key Structure of the Facial Soft Tissue: The Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System.","authors":"Koichi Watanabe, Aya Han, Eiko Inoue, Joe Iwanaga, Yoko Tabira, Akihiro Yamashita, Keishiro Kikuchi, Yuto Haikata, Kunimitsu Nooma, Tsuyoshi Saga","doi":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) was advocated by Mitz and Peyronie in 1976. The concept of this superficial fascia was established by surgical findings of facelift surgery and is familiar to plastic surgeons and anatomists. However, detailed characteristics of this fascia are still not widely known among head and neck surgeons. Moreover, the SMAS is generally located at the parotid and cheek regions and divides facial fat into superficial and deep layers. The SMAS connects to the superficial temporal fascia cranially and to the platysma caudally. The frontal muscle and the peripheral part of the orbicularis oculi are also in the same plane. The exact expanse of the SMAS in the face is controversial. Some authors claimed that the SMAS exists in the upper lip, whereas others denied the continuity of the SMAS to the superficial temporal fascia in a histological study. There are various other opinions regarding SMAS aside from those mentioned above. The concept of the SMAS is very important for facial soft tissue surgeries because the SMAS is a good surgical landmark to avoid facial nerve injuries. Therefore, this article summarized SMAS from an anatomical point of view.</p>","PeriodicalId":39559,"journal":{"name":"Kurume Medical Journal","volume":"68 2","pages":"53-61"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9797837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Influence of Helicobacter Pylori Infection on Hepcidin Expression in the Gastric Mucosa.","authors":"Yuki Nishigaki, Yuichi Sato, Hiroki Sato, Mitsuya Iwafuchi, Shuji Terai","doi":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hepcidin is an antimicrobial peptide and a key hormone involved in iron homeostasis. Hepcidin level is elevated in the serum during the course of Helicobacter pylori infection and hepcidin is considered to contribute to iron deficiency anemia. However, it is unclear whether H. pylori infection influences hepcidin expression in the gastric mucosa.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In this study, 15 patients with H. pylori-infected nodular gastritis, 43 patients with H. pylori-infected chronic gastritis, and 33 patients without H. pylori infection were enrolled. Endoscopic biopsy, and histological and immunohistochemical analysis were performed to evaluate the expression of hepcidin and its distribution in the gastric mucosa.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>Hepcidin was strongly expressed in the lymph follicles of patients with nodular gastritis. The detection rates of gastric hepcidin-positive lymphocytes in patients with nodular gastritis and chronic gastritis were significantly higher than that without H. pylori infection. Moreover, regardless of the H. pylori infection status, hepcidin was expressed in the cytoplasm and intracellular canaliculi of gastric parietal cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Hepcidin is expressed at a steady state in gastric parietal cells, and H. pylori infection may induce hepcidin expression in lymphocytes present in the gastric mucosal lymphoid follicles. This phenomenon may be associated with systemic hepcidin overexpression and iron deficiency anemia in patients with H. pylori-infected nodular gastritis.</p>","PeriodicalId":39559,"journal":{"name":"Kurume Medical Journal","volume":"68 2","pages":"107-113"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9742549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Puhan He, Jennifer Caughey, R Shane Tubbs, Joe Iwanaga
{"title":"Microsurgical Anatomy of the Incisive Canals.","authors":"Puhan He, Jennifer Caughey, R Shane Tubbs, Joe Iwanaga","doi":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The purpose of this study was to investigate the structure of the incisive canal using dry maxillae harvested from human cadavers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seven dry maxillae were harvested from adult Caucasian human cadavers. The incisive canals in all specimens were observed from an intraoral viewpoint with the naked eye and under a surgical microscope with 20× magnification.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All specimens had a single incisive foramen leading to different numbers of canals. Two specimens had a single canal (Type I), two were double (Type II), and three had triple canals (Type III). In both type I specimens, the canal was centered in the incisive foramen. Type II had a septum between the two canals. This septum was irregular in shape near the entrance of the canal but smooth inside the canal. The canals were positioned asymmetrically within the foramen. Type III had two septa between the three canals. Again, those located near the entrance of the canal were irregular while those inside the canal were smooth. The orientation of the lumina differed from one another in the type III canals.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study identified morphological variations in the anatomy of the incisive canal, underscoring the importance of pre-surgical planning in the administration of local anesthesia, placement of dental implants, or removal of impacted teeth in the anterior maxillary region.</p>","PeriodicalId":39559,"journal":{"name":"Kurume Medical Journal","volume":"68 2","pages":"115-119"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9743066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of the Immunological Response of Childhood Cancer Patients Treated with a Personalized Peptide Vaccine for Refractory Soft Tissue Tumor: A Four-Case Series.","authors":"Keiko Oda, Yasuhiko Ito, Akira Yamada, Shigeru Yutani, Kyogo Itoh, Shuichi Ozono","doi":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This case series aimed to evaluate the peptide-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) response, clinical effectiveness, and the safety of a personalized peptide vaccine (PPV) in four children with refractory solid cancer. Although the pre-vaccination IgG responses were suppressed, IgG levels against the vaccinated peptides after 12 vaccinations were increased in all three cases who received at least 12 vaccinations. Vaccination-related adverse effects were grade 1 injection-site local skin lesions. One patient, whose diagnosis was relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma, remains in sustained remission after 37 months. Although the pre-vaccination immune response in this patient was low, IgG levels against 2 of the 4 peptide vaccines were increased after the sixth vaccination, followed by a strong increase at the eighteenth vaccination against all 4 peptides, with a >100-fold increase vs. 2 peptides. The remaining three patients exhibited progressive disease and eventually died of their original cancer. The results of the current case series suggest that in cases of childhood solid tumors, when the tumor is controlled at the time of entry PPV may have some consolidation effect. Therefore, PPV could be a new immunotherapy modality for refractory childhood solid tumors.</p>","PeriodicalId":39559,"journal":{"name":"Kurume Medical Journal","volume":"68 2","pages":"157-163"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9764435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rapidly Moving Vanishing Tumor of the Lung After Open-heart Surgery.","authors":"Hiromi Sato, Jinya Takahashi, Munehisa Bekki, Ryo Shibata, Kodai Shibao, Hideya Sato, Shoichiro Nohara, Akihiro Honda, Naoki Itaya, Hidetoshi Chibana, Yoshihiro Fukumoto","doi":"10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2739/kurumemedj.MS682004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vanishing tumor of the lung, also known as phantom tumor, is uncommonly observed in congestive heart failure. We report a case of a vanishing tumor that rapidly disappeared and reappeared in just a few minutes due to repositioning in a patient after open-heart surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":39559,"journal":{"name":"Kurume Medical Journal","volume":"68 2","pages":"141-144"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10101584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}