Contrast-induced posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome following diagnostic angiography of vertebral artery.

Background: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is characterized by transient vasogenic edema, predominantly affecting the white matter in the posterior cerebral hemispheres. It presents with acute neurological symptoms such as headaches, visual disturbances, and seizures. The pathophysiology of PRES, including its overlap with contrast-induced encephalopathy and transient cortical blindness, remains unclear.

Mechanisms Associated with Superoxide Radical Scavenging Reactions Involving Phenolic Compounds Deduced Based on the Correlation between Oxidation Peak Potentials and Second-Order Rate Constants Determined Using Flow-Injection Spin-Trapping EPR Methods.

Flow-injection spin-trapping electron paramagnetic resonance (FI-EPR) methods that involve the use of 5,5-dimethyl-pyrroline--oxide (DMPO) as a spin-trapping reagent have been developed for the kinetic study of the O radical scavenging reactions occurring in the presence of various plant-derived and synthetic phenolic antioxidants (Aox), such as flavonoid, pyrogallol, catechol, hydroquinone, resorcinol, and phenol derivatives in aqueous media (pH 7.4 at 25 °C). The systematically estimated second-order rate constants () of these phenolic compounds span a wide range (from 4.

Disseminated histiocytic sarcoma in a degu (Octodon degus).

A 7-year-and-8-month-old, male degu (Octodon degus) with anorexia, depression, and labored breathing was found to have a thoracic effusion and enlargement of the right testis on radiographic examination. Despite treatment, the animal died. At necropsy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and multifocal nodules on the intestinal serosa and mesentery were observed.

Age and period of ventilator use are related to walking independence at the time of discharge in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: a single-center retrospective observational study.

[Purpose] This study aimed to identify the factors and cutoffs associated with walking independence in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. [Participants and Methods] In total, 112 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (98 males and 14 females) who were hospitalized between March 2020 and August 2021 and underwent physiotherapy during mechanical ventilation were included in the study. Attributes, respiratory function, physical function, and bed-withdrawal status were compared between two groups of patients, who were classified according to their ability to walk independently at discharge.

Activities of the Japan Council for Implementation of the Maternal Emergency Life Support System reduced direct causes of maternal deaths in Japan.

Here, we aimed to provide an overview of Japan Council for the Implementation of the Maternal Emergency Life-Saving System (J-CIMELS) and its simulation program, which has reduced maternal mortality due to direct causes in Japan. The Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG), Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Maternal Death Exploratory Committee (JMDEC) launched the Maternal Death Reporting Project in 2010. The project analyzed obstetricians' tendency to delay their initial response to sudden maternal deterioration.

First case of hemochromatosis in a sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps).

A 14-year-old, male sugar glider presented with lethargy, anorexia, diarrhea, and paralysis of the hind limbs, and ultrasonography showed possible liver dysfunction. Some medications were administered, but the animal died 10 months after the first presentation, and a necropsy was performed. Histopathologically, hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis, severe deposition of hemosiderin in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes, bridging fibrosis, and regenerative nodules were observed in the liver.

Maternal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The perinatal resuscitation history in Japan is short, with the earliest efforts in the field of neonatology. In contrast, the standardization and dissemination of maternal resuscitation is lagging. With the establishment of the Maternal Death Reporting Project and the Maternal Death Case Review and Evaluation Committee in 2010, with the aim of reducing maternal deaths, the true situation of maternal deaths came to light.

Effect of maternal positioning during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a systematic review and meta-analyses.

Background: Although rare, cardiac arrest during pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death. Recently, its incidence has been increasing worldwide because more pregnant women have risk factors. The provision of early, high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) plays a major role in the increased likelihood of survival; therefore, it is important for clinicians to know how to manage it.

-Endorphin Mediates the Development and Instability of Atherosclerotic Plaques.

-Endorphin, an endogenous opioid peptide, and its -opioid receptor are expressed in brain, liver, and peripheral tissues. -Endorphin induces endothelial dysfunction and is related to insulin resistance. We clarified the effects of -endorphin on atherosclerosis.

Lipocalin-2 exerts pro-atherosclerotic effects as evidenced by in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a multiple bioactive hormone particularly expressed in adipose tissue, neutrophils, and macrophages, is known to exhibit anti-microbial effect, increase inflammatory cytokine levels, and maintain glucose homeostasis. Serum LCN2 level is positively correlated with the severity of coronary artery disease. However, it still remains unknown whether LCN2 affects atherogenesis.

Dissection of the Vertebral Artery Fenestration Limb Presenting with Occlusion After Rupture.

Background: Dissection of a vertebral artery (VA) fenestration is extremely rare. We herein present the first case of a patient who presented with the dissection of a VA fenestration limb accompanied by occlusion after rupture, who was treated with internal trapping of the dissected limb and the parent artery proximal to the fenestration.

Case Description: A 55-year-old man presented with sudden headache and altered consciousness.

A Patient with a Large Basilar Artery Aneurysm in Whom Coil Embolization Was Performed by Protruding an LVIS into the Aneurysmal Neck in a Barrel-like Shape and Preserving a Branch Vessel.

Objective: We report a case of a low-profile visualized intraluminal support device (LVIS) being deployed and protruded into an aneurysmal neck in a barrel-like shape to perform dense coil embolization while preserving the branch vessel from the aneurysmal dome in order to prevent aneurysmal enlargement.

Case Presentation: A 74-year-old woman had a recurrent large cerebral aneurysm at the bifurcation of the basilar artery and the left superior cerebellar artery (SCA). Therefore, an LVIS was deployed from the left posterior cerebral artery to the basilar artery and protruded into the aneurysmal neck in a barrel-like shape to increase its metal coverage ratio.

Adropin Contributes to Anti-Atherosclerosis by Suppressing Monocyte-Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation.

Adropin, a peptide hormone expressed in liver and brain, is known to improve insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. Serum levels of adropin are negatively associated with the severity of coronary artery disease. However, it remains unknown whether adropin could modulate atherogenesis.

Neopterin Counters Vascular Inflammation and Atherosclerosis.

Background: Neopterin, a metabolite of GTP, is produced by activated macrophages and is abundantly expressed within atherosclerotic lesions in human aorta and carotid and coronary arteries. We aimed to clarify the influence of neopterin on both vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, as neither effect had been fully assessed.

Methods And Results: We investigated neopterin expression in coronary artery lesions and plasma from patients with coronary artery disease.

A systematic review of massive transfusion protocol in obstetrics.

Post-partum obstetric haemorrhage is a leading cause of mortality among Japanese women, generally treated with haemostatic measures followed by supplementary transfusion. Commonly used in the setting of severe trauma, massive transfusion protocols (MTPs), preparations of red blood cell concentrate (RBC) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) with additional supplements, have proved effective in decreasing patient mortality following major obstetric bleeding events. Although promising, the optimal configuration of RBC and FFP utilized for obstetric bleeding needs to be verified.

Potent Vasoconstrictor Kisspeptin-10 Induces Atherosclerotic Plaque Progression and Instability: Reversal by its Receptor GPR54 Antagonist.

Background: Kisspeptin-10 (KP-10), a potent vasoconstrictor and inhibitor of angiogenesis, and its receptor, GPR54, have currently received much attention in relation to pre-eclampsia. However, it still remains unknown whether KP-10 could affect atherogenesis.

Methods And Results: We evaluated the effects of KP-10 on human umbilical vein endothelial cells, human monocyte-derived macrophages, human aortic smooth muscle cells in vitro, and atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE) mice in vivo.

[Use of flurbiprofen before emergence from anesthesia relieves pain during immediate postoperative period after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair].

Background: Reduced postoperative pain is considered one of the benefits of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LHR). We investigated the need for intravenous flurbiprofen axetil (FA) before emergence from anesthesia in patients who had undergone LHR.

Methods: Forty adult patients who were prepared for LHR were randomly divided into the FA group (FA 1 mg x kg(-1) administered at the end of surgery, n = 20) and the control group (no FA administration, n = 20).

[Intraoperative asystole in a patient with concealed sick sinus syndrome: a case report].

We report a patient with concealed sick sinus syndrome who developed intraoperative bradycardia and asystole. An 81-year-old man was scheduled to undergo total gastrectomy under general and epidural anesthesia. There was no history of syncope, and preoperative 12-lead ECG showed normal sinus rhythm.

Breathing movements of the chest and upper abdomen in mechanically ventilated paralyzed patients.

Aim: Assessment of breathing on clinical examination requires visualization of "chest" wall movement. However, in mechanically ventilated paralyzed patients, chest expansion is smaller than that of the abdomen. The aim of this study was to determine chest and upper abdominal movements in mechanically ventilated patients under general anesthesia.

Landiolol has a less potent negative inotropic effect than esmolol in isolated rabbit hearts.

Purpose: We compared the negative chronotropic and inotropic effects of landiolol and esmolol, two clinically available short-acting beta1-blockers with high beta1-selectivity, using whole isolated rabbit heart preparations.

Methods: Tachycardia was induced by continuous perfusion of 10(-7) M isoproterenol, and we used concentrations of landiolol or esmolol in ascending steps (1 . 10(-6), 3 .