Cranial arachnoid protrusions and contiguous diploic veins in CSF drainage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Studies have suggested that arachnoid villi or granulations found in the walls of the cranial dural sinuses, olfactory mucosa, and cranial nerve sheaths function as outlets for intracranial CSF. However, their role as CSF outlets has not yet been verified. Here we show that arachnoid protrusions and contiguous diploic veins provide an alternative drainage route for intracranial CSF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four hundred patients with intact skull, dura mater, and dural sinuses underwent MR imaging to explore arachnoids protruding into the skull and diploic veins. Patients with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure or intracranial hypotension were excluded. For 15 patients undergoing craniotomy, both peripheral and diploic venous blood was collected. Albumin and the CSF-specific biomarkers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

With MR imaging, arachnoid protrusions into the skull and contiguous diploic veins were consistently identified throughout the cranium with their characteristic appearance depending on the cranial region. In addition, elevated amounts of prostaglandin D synthase and cystatin C were confirmed in diploic veins compared with peripheral venous blood.

CONCLUSIONS

Diploic veins are distributed ubiquitously throughout the cranium. A portion of the intracranial CSF may be drained through arachnoid protrusions and contiguous diploic veins.

De novo EEF1A2 mutations in patients with characteristic facial features, intellectual disability, autistic behaviors and epilepsy

Eukaryotic elongation factor 1, alpha-2 (eEF1A2) protein is involved in protein synthesis, suppression of apoptosis, and regulation of actin function and cytoskeletal structure. EEF1A2 gene is highly expressed in the central nervous system and Eef1a2 knockout mice show the neuronal degeneration. Until now, only one missense mutation (c.208G > A, p.Gly70Ser) in EEF1A2 has been reported in two independent patients with neurological disease. In this report, we described two patients with de novo mutations (c.754G > C, p.Asp252His and c.364G > A, p.Glu122Lys) in EEF1A2 found by whole-exome sequencing. Common clinical features are shared by all four individuals: severe intellectual disability, autistic behavior, absent speech, neonatal hypotonia, epilepsy and progressive microcephaly. Furthermore, the two patients share the similar characteristic facial features including a depressed nasal bridge, tented upper lip, everted lower lip and downturned corners of the mouth. These data strongly indicate that a new recognizable disorder is caused by EEF1A2 mutations.

RISING beamline (BL28XU) for rechargeable battery analysis

The newly installed BL28XU beamline at SPring-8 is dedicated to in situ structural and electronic analysis of rechargeable batteries. It supports the time range (1 ms to 100 s) and spatial range (1 µm to 1 mm) needed for battery analysis. Electrochemical apparatus for battery charging and discharging are available in experimental hutches and in a preparation room. Battery analysis can be carried out efficiently and effectively using X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption fine-structure analysis and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Here, the design and performance of the beamline are described, and preliminary results are presented.

Visual-statistical interpretation of (18)F-FDG-PET images for characteristic Alzheimer patterns in a multicenter study: inter-rater concordance and relationship to automated quantitative evaluation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The role of (18)F-FDG-PET in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease is increasing and should be validated. The aim of this study was to assess the inter-rater variability in the interpretation of (18)F-FDG-PET images obtained in the Japanese Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, a multicenter clinical research project.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study analyzed 274 (18)F-FDG-PET scans (67 mild Alzheimer disease, 100 mild cognitive impairment, and 107 normal cognitive) as baseline scans for the Japanese Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, which were acquired with various types of PET or PET/CT scanners in 23 facilities. Three independent raters interpreted all PET images by using a combined visual-statistical method. The images were classified into 7 (FDG-7) patterns by the criteria of Silverman et al and further into 2 (FDG-2) patterns.

RESULTS

Agreement among the 7 visual-statistical categories by at least 2 of the 3 readers occurred in >94% of cases for all groups: Alzheimer disease, mild cognitive impairment, and normal cognitive. Perfect matches by all 3 raters were observed for 62% of the cases by FDG-7 and 76 by FDG-2. Inter-rater concordance was moderate by FDG-7 (κ = 0.57) and substantial in FDG-2 (κ = 0.67) on average. The FDG-PET score, an automated quantitative index developed by Herholz et al, increased as the number of raters who voted for the AD pattern increased (ρ = 0.59, P < .0001), and the FDG-PET score decreased as those for normal pattern increased (ρ = -0.64, P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Inter-rater agreement was moderate to substantial for the combined visual-statistical interpretation of (18)F-FDG-PET and was also significantly associated with automated quantitative assessment.

[Aortic valve surgery for autoimmune disease]

Aortic valve disease of autoimmune disease is complicated in pre-, peri- and post-operative care. Recommended care in aortitis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis were described. Surgical strategy should be determined depending on basic disease, degree of inflammation and region of disease. Because of the fragile tissue of autoimmune disease patient, modified Bentall procedure is recommended to prevent a prosthetic valve dropping off for aortitis. Perioperatively, it is important to control the inflammation of basic disease, thus a steroid cover is necessary perioperatively. Some complications such as infection, out-of-control of anti-coaguration or gastro-intestinal bleeding should be avoided. Post operation, a strict follow up of prosthetic valve and aorta around suture line and control of autoimmune disease should be achieved.

Endovascular therapy of 500 small asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Although the natural course of UIAs remains unclear, the risk of aneurysmal SAH due to small (<10 mm) asymptomatic UIAs is low. Endovascular therapy for UIAs has increased because of device development and the need for less invasive treatment. We report the results, safety, and efficacy of endovascular therapy of small asymptomatic UIAs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 457 patients with 500 small asymptomatic UIAs (maximum diameter < 10 mm) underwent endosaccular coil embolization at Juntendo University Hospital and affiliated hospitals. We retrospectively evaluated the technical feasibility, immediate and short-to-midterm follow-up anatomic results, procedure-related complications, and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Endosaccular coil embolization was completed in 481 aneurysms (96.2%) and attempted in 19 (3.8%). Completed aneurysms were treated with the simple (39.5%), balloon-assisted (51.4%), and double-catheter (9.1%) techniques. Immediate angiographic outcomes were CO for 309 (64.2%) aneurysms, RN for 72 (15.0%), and RA for 100 (20.8%). Procedure-related complications occurred in 38 aneurysms (7.6%): 19 ischemic, 11 hemorrhagic, and 8 others. Permanent morbidity and mortality were 0.8% and 0.2%, respectively. Anatomic outcome of 427 aneurysms followed up for >6 months with conventional catheter or MR angiographies showed recanalization in 72 (16.9%) aneurysms, necessitating retreatment in 9.9% (mean, 31.4 months). No patients had aneurysmal SAH during the clinical follow-up period (mean, 34.7 months).

CONCLUSIONS

In this series, endovascular therapy of small asymptomatic UIAs was highly feasible with low morbidity and mortality rates.

Lung cancer associated with an azygos lobe successfully treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Primary lung cancer associated with an azygos lobe is extremely rare. Herein, we report the case of a 64-year-old woman with lung adenocarcinoma arising in the right upper lobe with an azygos lobe. The patient underwent a right upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy for lung cancer of this variant has yet to be reported. We demonstrate the intraoperative findings and the resected pulmonary lobe. This is the first case of primary lung cancer associated with the azygos lobe treated by lobectomy with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.