Treatment of Primary Varicose Veins in Japan: Japanese Vein Study XVII

Purpose: This study aimed at clarifying the changes in treatments for primary varicose veins in Japan. Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to the members of the Japanese Society of Phlebology. The contents of the survey covered the treatment and treatment strategy of varicose vein cases in 2013. The results were examined and compared with the results of previous surveys conducted by the aforesaid society in 1998, 2004 and 2009. Results: Of 36078 patients, 43958 limbs were reported from 201 institutions. Saphenous type was the most common type of varicose veins that developed in patients aged 70-79 years. The C4-6 cases according to the Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology (CEAP) classification occurred significantly more in males than in females (p <0.01). For the treatments of saphenous type and of segment type (dilatation of peripheral branch), endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) was performed most frequently (51%), while the frequency of stripping and of high ligation decreased. EVLA was performed with tumescent local anesthesia, which required one day of hospitalization. Conclusion: In our study, the number of patients with varicose veins increased especially in the elderly. Surgical treatments were selected for a number of patients, and EVLA was the most commonly adopted method of treatment in Japan. (This article is a translation of Jpn J Phlebol 2016: 27; 249-57.).

Surgical Treatment of Popliteal Vein Entrapment Causing Symptoms

Objective:

To review series of cases in which surgery was used to treat popliteal vein entrapment (PVE).

Methods:

Between 1984 and 2001, 11 patients (all women; mean age 27.6 years; 14 limbs) underwent surgery for PVE causing calf ache, swelling, and tenderness of the popliteal fossa. Preoperative evidence of PVE included positive results on a passive dorsi-flexion test, compression of the popliteal vein on ascending venography, hypertrophied or aberrant muscle in the popliteal fossa on CT scanning and elevated below-knee venous pressure. The medial or third head of the gastrocnemius muscle was partly or totally resected under the guidance of intraoperative venous pressure measurement and venography.

Results:

No operative complications occurred. During 3-10 years of follow-up, 57% of limbs were symptom-free, 21% were improved and 21% were unchanged.

Conclusion:

Treatment of PVE by resection of muscle fibres under the guidance of objective intraoperative assessments was effective in most patients.

Development of C⁶⁺ laser ion source and RFQ linac for carbon ion radiotherapy

A prototype C(6+) injector using a laser ion source has been developed for a compact synchrotron dedicated to carbon ion radiotherapy. The injector consists of a laser ion source and a 4-vane radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) linac. Ion beams are extracted from plasma and directly injected into the RFQ. A solenoid guides the low-energy beams into the RFQ. The RFQ is designed to accelerate high-intensity pulsed beams. A structure of monolithic vanes and cavities is adopted to reduce its power consumption. In beam acceleration tests, a solenoidal magnetic field set between the laser ion source and the RFQ helped increase both the peak currents before and after the RFQ by a factor of 4.

The Epidemiologic and Clinical Findings of Patients with Buerger Disease

BACKGROUND

Buerger disease is a nonatherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease, which is mostly observed in young male smokers. Buerger disease is characterized by the observation of peripheral arterial occlusion by angiography. The condition may be caused by microembolization in the small-sized arteries of the distal extremities. Buerger disease is diagnosed based on the Shionoya's clinical diagnostic criteria, which include: (1) a history of smoking, (2) onset before the age of 50 years, (3) the presence of infrapopliteal arterial occlusions, (4) either upper limb involvement or phlebitis migrans, and (5) the absence of atherosclerotic risk factors other than smoking. Several studies have reported that oral bacterial infections (periodontitis) could activate the onset of Buerger disease. In this study, we report the epidemiologic and clinical manifestations of patients with Buerger disease.

METHODS

Fifty-eight patients who were surgically treated between July 1989 and June 2014 at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital were enrolled in this study. All of the patients clinically diagnosed with Buerger disease based on Shionoya's clinical diagnostic criteria. Fifty-five male and 3 female patients were treated. The mean age of the patients was 48 years (range, 21-73 years).

RESULTS

All of the patients were either smokers or had a history of smoking. The mean Brinkman index score was 780 (range, 150-1,640). Their mean age at the onset of Buerger disease was 38 years (range, 21-50). The arterial lesions extended to the femoral arteries in 25% of cases, to the iliac arteries in 8% and to the abdominal aorta and/or visceral arteries in 6% of cases. Upper limb involvement, including cyanosis, paleness, and gangrene, was obvious in 84% of patients, and phlebitis migrans was recognized in 34%. The lower extremities symptoms involved intermittent claudication in 23% of the patients, rest pain in 13% of the patients, and ulceration or gangrene in 64% of the patients. Fifteen patients had undergone surgical arterial reconstruction, 4 patients had received endovascular therapy, 33 patients had undergone lumbar sympathectomy and 8 patients had undergone thoracic sympathectomy. Twenty percent of the patients needed minor limb amputations, and 4% required major limb amputations. In the patients who were examined for their oral conditions, periodontitis corresponding to grades B (moderate periodontitis), C (severe periodontitis), and D (edentulous patients) was revealed in 31%, 56%, and 13% of the patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of the Buerger disease patients in this study were suffering from severe periodontitis. It is possible that not only the cessation of smoking, but also the improvement of periodontal care could improve the clinical symptoms related to Buerger disease.

Cervicofacial subcutaneous emphysema associated with dental laser treatment

Cervicofacial subcutaneous emphysema is a rare complication of dental procedures. Although most cases of emphysema occur incidentally with the use of a high-speed air turbine handpiece, there have been some reports over the past decade of cases caused by dental laser treatment. Emphysema as a complication caused by the air cooling spray of a dental laser is not well known, even though dental lasers utilize compressed air just as air turbines and syringes do. In this study, we comprehensively reviewed cases of emphysema attributed to dental laser treatment that appeared in the literature between January 2001 and September 2012, and we included three such cases referred to us. Among 13 cases identified in total, nine had cervicofacial subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema. Compared with past reviews, the incidence of mediastinal emphysema caused by dental laser treatment was higher than emphysema caused by dental procedure without dental laser use. Eight patients underwent CO2 laser treatment and two underwent Er:YAG laser treatment. Nine patients had emphysema following laser irradiation for soft tissue incision. Dentists and oral surgeons should be cognizant of the potential risk for iatrogenic emphysema caused by the air cooling spray during dental laser treatment and ensure proper usage of lasers.

Surgical treatment for popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of surgical treatment for popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was undertaken from a retrospective review of case notes of patients treated for PAES between August 1974 and July 2013. We examined patients' characteristics and surgical procedures, and evaluated long-term outcomes including clinical symptoms and graft or native artery patency.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine limbs (24 patients, mean age: 32 years) underwent surgery. Popliteal arteries were occluded (n = 18) stenosed (n = 7) and normal (n = 4). Twenty-five limbs required both revasularization (interposition [n = 24] and bypass surgery [n = 1]) and myotomy. Four limbs were treated solely with myotomy. During the long-term follow-up period, three limbs required reoperation. The overall primary graft and native popliteal artery patency rates at one and 5 years were 96.3% and 91.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of PAES with myotomy and selective revascularization achieves good short- and long-term outcomes. The use of an interposition vein graft reconstruction is associated with minimal morbidity and good long-term patency.

Insulin resistance and insulin secretion in renal transplant recipients with hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Several reports have suggested an association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT). NODAT is a common complication after renal transplantation, and it has been associated with increased long-term morbidity and mortality. HCV-positive recipients may have abnormal glucose metabolism, even though NODAT has never been previously diagnosed. The aim of this study was to analyze the pathogenic factors responsible for glucose metabolism in a series of HCV-positive renal transplant recipients.

METHODS

The study population comprised 16 renal transplant patients who received their grafts from deceased or living donors with anti-HCV antibodies. HCV-negative transplant recipients were individually matched with these HCV-positive recipients by year of transplantation, sex, age, serum creatinine levels, and type of calcineurin inhibitors. None of the patients had been diagnosed with diabetes. Insulin secretion and insulin resistance were determined by a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and compared between the 2 groups. Categories of glucose tolerance were defined according to World Health Organization criteria.

RESULTS

Glucose intolerance (impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus) as assessed by OGTT was detected in 7 of the HCV-positive recipients (43.8%) and 3 of the HCV-negative recipients. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was greater in the HCV-positive recipients than in the HCV-negative recipients. The homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function was higher in the HCV-positive recipients than in the HCV-negative recipients.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of glucose intolerance tended to be higher in HCV-positive recipients. Furthermore, insulin resistance was greater and insulin secretion higher in HCV-positive recipients, which indicated that the increase in insulin secretion compensated for insulin resistance observed in these patients. However, HCV-positive renal transplant recipients may ultimately develop NODAT as this compensation diminishes with time.

Japanese multicenter experience of endoscopic necrosectomy for infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis: The JENIPaN study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Only a few large cohort studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic necrosectomy for infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN). Therefore, a multicenter, large cohort study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic necrosectomy and to examine the procedural details and follow-up after successful endoscopic necrosectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted in 16 leading Japanese institutions for patients who underwent endoscopic necrosectomy for infected WOPN between August 2005 and July 2011. The follow-up data were also reviewed to determine the long-term outcomes of the procedures.

RESULTS

Of 57 patients, 43 (75 %) experienced successful resolution after a median of 5 sessions of endoscopic necrosectomy and 21 days of treatment. Complications occurred in 19 patients (33 %) during the treatment period. Six patients died (11 %): two due to multiple organ failure and one patient each from air embolism, splenic aneurysm, hemorrhage from a Mallory - Weiss tear, and an unknown cause. Of 43 patients with successful endoscopic necrosectomy, recurrent cavity formation was observed in three patients during a median follow-up period of 27 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic necrosectomy can be an effective technique for infected WOPN and requires a relatively short treatment period. However, serious complications can arise, including death. Therefore, patients should be carefully selected, and knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced operators should perform the procedure. Further research into safer technologies is required in order to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality.

Japanese multicenter experience of endoscopic necrosectomy for infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis: The JENIPaN study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Only a few large cohort studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic necrosectomy for infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN). Therefore, a multicenter, large cohort study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic necrosectomy and to examine the procedural details and follow-up after successful endoscopic necrosectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted in 16 leading Japanese institutions for patients who underwent endoscopic necrosectomy for infected WOPN between August 2005 and July 2011. The follow-up data were also reviewed to determine the long-term outcomes of the procedures.

RESULTS

Of 57 patients, 43 (75 %) experienced successful resolution after a median of 5 sessions of endoscopic necrosectomy and 21 days of treatment. Complications occurred in 19 patients (33 %) during the treatment period. Six patients died (11 %): two due to multiple organ failure and one patient each from air embolism, splenic aneurysm, hemorrhage from a Mallory - Weiss tear, and an unknown cause. Of 43 patients with successful endoscopic necrosectomy, recurrent cavity formation was observed in three patients during a median follow-up period of 27 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic necrosectomy can be an effective technique for infected WOPN and requires a relatively short treatment period. However, serious complications can arise, including death. Therefore, patients should be carefully selected, and knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced operators should perform the procedure. Further research into safer technologies is required in order to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality.

High-dose zoledronic acid narrows the periodontal space in rats

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the histological effects of zoledronic acid on the periodontal space in rats. 40 male Wistar rats were divided into three zoledronic acid groups and a control group. Zoledronic acid was injected subcutaneously at doses of 10, 50, or 500 μg/kg once a week for 3 weeks. The rats were killed 1 or 9 weeks after the last injection. Histological examination of the periodontal space around the incisor tooth revealed that zoledronic acid did not inhibit tooth development. In the rats killed 1 week after treatment discontinuation, the periodontal space gradually narrowed in response to increasing zoledronic acid doses, and the changes were statistically significant according to ANOVA but not according to ANOVA with post hoc tests. The changes persisted in the high-dose zoledronic acid group despite zoledronic acid discontinuation, with significant differences identified by ANOVA and ANOVA with post hoc tests. Therefore, although zoledronic acid had an insignificant effect on tooth development, it had a significant effect on the periodontal space when high doses were administered. The results of this experiment may provide useful information for future investigations on the role of zoledronic acid in the osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Clinical Study of Phlebitis Migrans and Incompetence of the Leg's Superficial Vein in Buerger Disease

Three of four (75%) vein biopsy samples from four patients (all male, mean onset: age 33.0, mean biopsy: age 59.7) of chronic phase phlebitis migrans showed positive periodontal bacteria DNA under the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method. Of the 24 cases of Buerger disease (22 males, 2 females, mean onset: age 31.9, mean examination: age 62.6) that were investigated in our vascular laboratory, 65% of the patients suffered from moderate to severe varicose veins. Eight cases had a history of phlebitis migrans and three had an active ulcer or uncontrollable erosion in the foot. The rate of incidence was significantly higher than that of the well-matched control group. Other findings included one instance of deep vein thrombosis, and one instance of deep vein reflux. We could suggest that some intractable ulcer or erosion cases of Buerger disease may be complicated by superficial vein incompetence or other deep vein insufficiency. We also we need to check Buerger disease patients with duplex for vein reflux and other insufficiencies. Treatment of the varicose veins (including elastic stockings) was effective for all of the patients. (English Translation of Jpn J Phlebology 2011; 22: 25-31.).

Are There Any Objections against Our Hypothesis That Buerger Disease Is an Infectious Disease?

In 1878, Winiwarter used a microscope and reported a case of 57 year-old man demonstrating Buerger disease. After that, 134 years passed. Leo Buerger and Edgar V. Allen strongly suggested that Buerger disease is an infectious disease without any doubt. Also, an etiologic point is the luminal infectious thrombus, which is thought to be the core of the disease. Many etiological factors were proposed and then discarded after academic scrutiny, but two big discoveries were made in 2005 and 2008. Namely, periodontal bacteria DNA was found in the occluded arteries of 93% of patients with Buerger disease, and periodontal bacteria (typical weak bacteria) were found to dwell in the platelets. Using these evidences, supported by genetic and epidemiological facts, we could almost explain the pathogenesis or clinical course of Buerger disease, which had been already studied.

Endoscopic management of malignant biliary obstruction by means of covered metallic stents: primary stent placement vs. re-intervention

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Recent progress in chemotherapy has prolonged the survival of patients with malignant biliary strictures, leading to increased rates of stent occlusion. Occlusion of covered metallic stents now occurs in about half of all patients with malignant biliary strictures. The removal of metallic stents followed by placement of a second stent has been attempted, but outcomes remain controversial. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the primary placement and secondary placement (re-intervention) of covered metallic stents and to assess the feasibility and safety of stent removal.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 186 patients with unresectable malignant biliary strictures who underwent primary stent placement between October 2001 and March 2010.  Covered biliary self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) were removed in 39 of these patients, and 36 underwent re-intervention. The patency times, occlusion rates of the first stent and re-intervention, success rates of stent removal, and complications were investigated.

RESULTS

Covered SEMSs were placed in 186 patients. The median patency time of the first stent was 352 days. Stent occlusion occurred in 48.9 % of the patients and was mainly caused by debris or food residue (37 %), dislocation (19 %), and migration with hyperplasia (19 %). Stent removal was attempted in 50 patients and was successful without complication in 39 (78 %). Most of the patients in whom stent removal was unsuccessful had migration with hyperplasia. The median patency time of the second stent was 263 days. The stent patency time did not significantly differ between the first and the second stent.

CONCLUSIONS

Covered SEMSs could be safely removed at the time of stent occlusion. Patency rates were similar for initial stent placement and re-intervention.

Transfection of human HGF plasmid DNA improves limb salvage in Buerger's disease patients with critical limb ischemia

AIM

Hepatocyte growth factor is a potent angiogenic agent. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of intramuscular injection of naked plasmid DNA encoding the human hepatocyte growth factor gene in Japanese patients with Buerger's disease and critical limb ischemia.

METHODS

An open-label clinical study was performed at eight hospitals in Japan from May 2004 to April 2008. Ten patients were enrolled. They had Buerger's disease with ischemic ulcers, were not candidates for revascularization, and were unresponsive to conventional drug therapy. Treatment consisted of 8 injections (total dose: 4 mg) of hepatocyte growth factor plasmid, which were administered into the calf muscles and/or distal thigh muscles of the ischemic limbs under ultrasound guidance. Administration was done twice at an interval of 4 weeks. If there was no improvement after 2 doses, a 3rd dose could be administered. The response to treatment was evaluated from the reduction of ischemic ulcer size.

RESULTS

The size of ischemic ulcers showed a decrease in 6/9 (66.7%) patients and the ulcers healed completely in 5/9 (55.6%) patients after gene therapy. Major amputation was not required. There were no deaths and no major safety concerns.

CONCLUSION

Hepatocyte growth factor gene therapy is safe and effective for critical limb ischemia in patients with Buerger's disease.

The periodontal anaerobe Porphyromonas gingivalis induced platelet activation and increased aggregation in whole blood by rat model

INTRODUCTION

More and more evidence show that periodontal anaerobes contribute to pathogenesis of peripheral artery diseases. As a typical oral anaerobe that results in periodontitis, P.gingivalis aggregates platelets in PRP in vitro and participated in artery thrombosis. However, in vivo effect on platelet activation and aggregation remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify its role on platelets activation on more physiological environment, that is, on whole blood and systemic circulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To fully estimate platelet activation, CD62P(P-selectin) expression on platelet surface and fibrinogen binding of platelet via conjugated glycoprotein GPIIb/IIIa in whole blood were assayed by flow cytometry, and platelet aggregation was measured on an impedance aggregometor. As primary study, platelet reactivity was assessed after in vitro rat whole blood incubation with P.gingivalis strain 381 in tubes, followed or not followed by ADP and arachidonic acid stimulation. In addition, PBS solution of P.gingivalis was infused into rat to produce transient bacteremia model for 5 minutes and blood samples were subjected to analysis for platelet activation in vivo.

RESULTS

P.gingivalis could not induce rat platelet aggregation in whole blood in vitro, but increased aggregation when irritated by collagen stimulation. Flow cytometric study showed that incubation with P.gingivalis increased CD62P expression and fibrinogen binding of platelet. Moreover, further stress by 10 μmol/L ADP and 260 mmlol/L arachidonic acid yielded additional expression. As in vivo study, after P.gingivalis solution challenged, rat platelet aggregability was enhanced, and CD62P positive percentage of platelets and further reactivity to ADP stimulation improved.

CONCLUSION

In whole blood and in systemic circulation, P.gingivalis could induce rat platelet activation and increase aggregability transiently. The results helped to understand the mechanism underlining which P.gingivalis promoted arteriosclerosis and thrombo-embolic disorders. Further study about chronic infection with P.gingivalis on platelet activity is expected.