Sublobar resection or lobectomy and postoperative respiratory complications in emphysematous lungs

OBJECTIVES

Pulmonary resection in patients with severe emphysema may impact postoperative respiratory complications. Low-attenuation areas evaluated using three-dimensional computed tomography to assess emphysematous changes are strongly associated with postoperative respiratory complications. Herein, we investigated the relationship between low-attenuation area, the surgical procedure and resected lung volume, which has not been explored in previous studies.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated patients with primary or metastatic lung cancer who underwent surgical resection. The low-attenuation area percentage (low-attenuation area/total lung area × 100) and resected lung volume were calculated using three-dimensional computed tomography software, and the relationship with postoperative respiratory complications was analysed.

RESULTS

Postoperative respiratory complications occurred in 66 patients (17%) in the total cohort (n = 383). We set the median value of 1.1% as the cut-off value for low-attenuation area percentage to predict postoperative respiratory complications, which occurred in 24% and 10% of patients with low-attenuation area >1.1% and <1.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). Postoperative respiratory complications occurred in approximately one-third of the patients with low-attenuation area >1.1%, whose resected lung volume was ≥15.8% or ≥5 resected subsegments. Multivariable analysis revealed that sublobar resection was associated with a significantly lower risk of postoperative respiratory complications in patients with low-attenuation area >1.1% (odds ratio 0.4, 95% confidence interval 0.183-0.875).

CONCLUSIONS

Emphysema is a risk factor for postoperative respiratory complications, and lobectomy is an independent predictive risk factor. Preserving more lung parenchyma may yield better short-term prognoses in patients with emphysematous lungs.

Predicting 1-year non-cancer-related adverse events after lung resection

OBJECTIVES

Assessing the risk for non-cancer-related outcomes following lung cancer surgery is crucial for high-risk patients. This study examined non-cancer-related adverse events within 1 year after lung resection, emphasizing the role of resected lung volume and postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 460 patients who underwent anatomical lung resection for malignant lung tumours. We assessed perioperative factors, such as the number of resected subsegments and POAF, as potential predictors of 1-year non-cancer-related adverse events. Additionally, we validated a previously published nomogram for predicting POAF.

RESULTS

One-year non-cancer-related adverse events occurred in 20% of patients. Multivariable analysis identified higher age, lower percentage-predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second, greater number of resected subsegments and POAF as independent predictors of these adverse events. The incidence of POAF was 8.5%, with higher age, history of atrial fibrillation, and open thoracotomy as independent predictors. A temporal link between POAF and other severe postoperative complications was observed, as 71% of POAF cases preceded other complications. The nomogram's predicted risk for POAF was associated well with the actual incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Resected lung volume and POAF are statistically significant factors associated with non-cancer-related outcomes after lung resection. Minimizing resected lung volume when oncologically and technically feasible, along with identifying patients at risk for POAF, may contribute to improved postoperative outcomes. Our results have implications for risk stratification and preoperative decision-making in lung cancer surgery.

[A Case of Hypopharyngeal Cancer Discovered after Recurrent Aspiration Pneumonia]

CASE

A 69-year-old man reported globus sensations since November X and was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia in December at a local clinic. The patient was subsequently admitted to our hospital for a diagnosis and treatment. His pneumonia improved with antibiotics, but pneumonia recurred. However, pneumonia recurred in February X+1, and antibiotic treatment once again provided relief. However, globus sensations persisted even after the remission of pneumonia. Endoscopic observations revealed a tumor in the hypopharynx, which caused saliva aspiration into the insufficiently closed vocal cords. The hypopharyngeal cancer was treated with chemoradiotherapy, and thereafter, the frequency of aspiration pneumonia decreased.

CONCLUSION

The present case illustrated that sometimes aspiration pneumonia may be caused by laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.

Bronchial branching patterns and volumetry in the right upper lobe: impact on segmentectomy planning

OBJECTIVES

The use of segmentectomy is expected to increase. However, understanding of the segmental bronchial branching is limited. Herein, we aimed to investigate bronchial branching pattern complexity and segmental volumetry of the right upper lung lobe to develop an accurate understanding of segmental anatomy and contribute to the advancement of safe and efficient lung segmentectomy.

METHODS

We evaluated chest computed tomography scans of 303 patients and categorized the branching of segmental bronchi (segment 1, apical; segment 2, posterior; and segment 3, anterior) into 4 major types (typical trifurcated, bifurcated non-defective, bifurcated defective and atypical trifurcated) and 11 subtypes. Segmental volumetry was performed to determine the predominant segment in each case (volume difference <5% was considered equal). Branching complexity was evaluated separately for volumetry-predominant and volumetry-non-predominant segments.

RESULTS

Trifurcated non-defective was the most frequent branching type (64.4%), followed by bifurcated non-defective (22.1%), bifurcated defective (8.6%) and trifurcated half-defective (4.0%). In terms of segmental volumetry, most cases had a one-segment-predominant distribution (71%) and only 5% of cases had equal distribution (segment 1 = segment 2 = segment 3). More than half of the cases had a segment 3-predominant distribution (52%). Branching complexity analysis revealed that the volumetry-non-predominant segment was associated with a higher risk of complex branching patterns compared with the volumetry-predominant segment (37% vs 19%, respectively; P < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Volumetric assessment of the right upper lobe showed a heterogeneous segmental volume distribution. Care should be taken during lung segmentectomy of the volumetry-non-predominant segments because of the high risk associated with complex bronchial branching patterns.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

No. 4840.

Is using a consolidation tumor ratio 0.5 as criterion feasible in daily practice? Evaluation of interobserver measurement variability of consolidation tumor ratio of lung cancer less than 3 cm in size

BACKGROUND

Consolidation tumor ratio (CTR) calculated as the ratio of the tumor consolidation diameter to the tumor maximum diameter on thin-section computed tomography (CT) of lung cancer has been reported as an important prognostic factor. It has also been used for treatment decision-making. This study aimed to investigate the interobserver variability of CTR measurements on preoperative CT and propose a clinically useful CTR-based classification criterion.

METHODS

We enrolled 119 patients who underwent surgery for suspected or diagnosed small-sized lung cancer (≤3.0 cm in diameter). Nine doctors reviewed preoperative CT scans to measure CTR. Interobserver variability of CTR measurements was evaluated using the coefficient of variation (CV) and Fleiss' κ. The prognostic effect of the CTR-based classification was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Interobserver variability of CTR measurement was the highest for tumors with the lowest CTR (CTR = 0); it decreased as CTR increased and reached a plateaued level of low variability (CV <0.5) at CTR of 0.5. We proposed a three-group classification based on the findings of CTR interobserver variability (CTR < 0.5, 0.5 ≤ CTR < 1, and CTR = 1). Interobserver agreement of the judgment of the CTR-based classification was excellent (Fleiss' κ = 0.81). The classification significantly stratified patient prognosis (p < 0.001, 5-year overall survival rates with CTR < 0.5, 0.5 ≤ CTR < 1, and CTR = 1 were 100, 88, and 73.8%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

CTR 0.5 is a clinically relevant and helpful cutoff for treatment decision-making in patients with early-stage lung cancer based on high interobserver agreement and good prognostic stratification.

Immediate effects of head-mounted display adaptation in cases of unilateral spatial neglect: study of straight-ahead pointing

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the effect of an adaptation of a deviation of the visual field in three axes on spatial cognition in patients with unilateral spatial neglect and distorted spatial perception in three dimensions. [Participants and Methods] Fifteen patients with cerebrovascular disease and symptoms of unilateral spatial neglect were included. Forty-eight pointing movements with a camera attached to a head-mounted display changed in three axes were compared with the control condition in which the camera was deflected only in the horizontal plane as with the prism adaptation. The main outcome measures were subjective straight-ahead pointing, line bisection, line cancellation, and star cancellation. [Results] The head-mounted display adaptive therapy was performed under conditions that varied in all three axes. The results indicated that it was possible to deflect the subjective straight-ahead pointing position to the lower left direction. [Conclusion] In contrast to the prism adaptation, which deflects the visual field in a single axis in the horizontal plane, the tri-axial adaptation corrected the median cognition in the left–right direction as well as the cognition of the body center, including the vertical direction.

Epidemiological analysis of lung and mediastinal neuroendocrine neoplasms in Japan based on the national database

BACKGROUND

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are rare and can originate from any body part. However, there are only few epidemiological studies, especially on lung and mediastinal NENs. This study investigated the epidemiological trends and differences between lung and mediastinal NENs in Japan.

METHODS

Patients with lung and mediastinal NENs were identified in a national hospital-based cancer registry between 2009 and 2015 in Japan. NENs were subclassified into neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). NECs were further subdivided into large neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNECs) and small cell carcinomas (SCCs). We examined the patient characteristics: sex, age, histology, year of diagnosis, diagnostic opportunity, and initial treatment.

RESULTS

We identified 48,433 patients with 47,888 lung (98.9%) and 545 mediastinal (1.1%) NENs. The commonest subtype of lung NENs was SCCs (87%), followed by LCNECs (10%) and NETs (3%). In the mediastinum, SCCs were also the commonest (48%), followed by NETs (38%) and LCNECs (14%). The number of lung NEN annually increased; however, that of mediastinal NENs did not change over time. The mean age of patients with lung NETs was lower than that of patients with lung LCNECs and SCCs (NETs, 62 ± 14 years; LCNECs, 70 ± 9 years; SCCs, 71 ± 9 years; p < .001). The lung and mediastinal NENs were mainly detected based on symptoms, except for lung NETs. Surgical intervention, including multimodal therapy, was performed for 89.3% of lung NETs (surgery alone: 83.6%), while only 15.6% of lung NECs were treated with surgery. For the mediastinum, 75.9% of NETs were treated with surgery, with 27.1% of cases treated with surgery plus multimodal therapy. Surgery was performed more frequently for mediastinal NECs (37%) than for lung NECs (15.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights differences in trends of lung and mediastinal NENs. This study's findings support the importance of epidemiological evaluations based on the primary sites and histological subtypes.

Petrobasal Vein: A Previously Unrecognized Vein Directly Connecting the Superior Petrosal Sinus with the Emissary Vein of the Foramen Ovale

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The superior petrosal sinus terminates anteriorly at the cavernous sinus and posteriorly at the transverse sinus. Venous variations directly connecting the superior petrosal sinus and the emissary veins of the foramen ovale are not well-recognized. We present a connecting vein, provisionally named the petrobasal vein.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Biplane cerebral angiography of the bilateral internal carotid arteries and the vertebral artery acquired in 267 patients was retrospectively reviewed by 2 neuroradiologists with special interest in the existence and course of the petrobasal vein.

RESULTS

The petrobasal vein was observed to lie anterior-posteriorly on the superior surface of the petrosal bone and connected to the midportion of the superior petrosal sinus and the emissary veins of the foramen ovale in 41 patients (15%) and sides (7.9%); it drained into the pterygoid plexus. The petrobasal vein was observed on VAG in 21 patients, on ICAG alone in 8 patients (9 sides), on both VAG and ICAG in 12 patients, and on ICAG in 1 patient. In the patients in whom the petrobasal vein was visualized on the ICAs, the superficial middle cerebral vein drained into a combination of the pterygoid plexus via the emissary veins of the foramen ovale and the superior petrosal sinus.

CONCLUSIONS

The petrobasal vein, an unknown vein directly connecting the superior petrosal sinus and the emissary veins of the foramen ovale and draining into the pterygoid plexus, can occasionally be identified on cerebral angiography as a variant drainage route from the cerebellum and brainstem veins and/or from the superficial middle cerebral vein. The petrobasal vein is thought to be a remnant of the primitive tentorial sinus.

Constraints on Cosmic Strings Using Data from the Third Advanced LIGO-Virgo Observing Run

We search for gravitational-wave signals produced by cosmic strings in the Advanced LIGO and Virgo full O3 dataset. Search results are presented for gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loop features such as cusps, kinks, and, for the first time, kink-kink collisions. A template-based search for short-duration transient signals does not yield a detection. We also use the stochastic gravitational-wave background energy density upper limits derived from the O3 data to constrain the cosmic string tension Gμ as a function of the number of kinks, or the number of cusps, for two cosmic string loop distribution models. Additionally, we develop and test a third model that interpolates between these two models. Our results improve upon the previous LIGO-Virgo constraints on Gμ by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude depending on the model that is tested. In particular, for the one-loop distribution model, we set the most competitive constraints to date: Gμ≲4×10^{-15}. In the case of cosmic strings formed at the end of inflation in the context of grand unified theories, these results challenge simple inflationary models.

Constraints on Cosmic Strings Using Data from the Third Advanced LIGO-Virgo Observing Run

We search for gravitational-wave signals produced by cosmic strings in the Advanced LIGO and Virgo full O3 dataset. Search results are presented for gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loop features such as cusps, kinks, and, for the first time, kink-kink collisions. A template-based search for short-duration transient signals does not yield a detection. We also use the stochastic gravitational-wave background energy density upper limits derived from the O3 data to constrain the cosmic string tension Gμ as a function of the number of kinks, or the number of cusps, for two cosmic string loop distribution models. Additionally, we develop and test a third model that interpolates between these two models. Our results improve upon the previous LIGO-Virgo constraints on Gμ by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude depending on the model that is tested. In particular, for the one-loop distribution model, we set the most competitive constraints to date: Gμ≲4×10^{-15}. In the case of cosmic strings formed at the end of inflation in the context of grand unified theories, these results challenge simple inflationary models.

pH-Dependent ion permeability control of a modified amphotericin B channel through metal complexation

Amphotericin B incorporating 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy-AmB) forms a membrane channel exhibiting pH-dependent Ca2+ ion permeability with a selective response to Cu2+ ions. The coordination structure at bpy sites depends on the pH and metal ions can control the association state of bpy-AmB in the membrane.

Serial evaluation of cardiac allograft vasculopathy after heart transplantation by dual-modality intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography

Background

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is a combination of the development of de novo plaque and the progression of donor-transmitted plaque.

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the development of de novo plaque and the progression of donor-transmitted plaque within 12-month after heart transplantation (HTx) using serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The association between inflammatory cytokines and plaque progression was also examined.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 40 recipients to conduct serial three-vessel IVUS and OCT analysis at 8-week and 12-month after HTx. De novo plaque was defined as having maximum intimal thickness (MIT) ≥0.5 mm at 12-month in the absence of donor-transmitted plaques (MIT ≥0.5 mm at 8-week). Serum cytokines were screened with a bead-based multiplex assay.

Results

A total of 13 de novo plaques (fibrous, n=10; fibroatheroma, n=3) were detected in eight recipients. Serum interleukin (IL)-31 at 8-week was associated with the development of de novo plaques (p=0.009). A total of 31 donor-transmitted plaques (fibrous, n=12; fibroatheroma, n=11; fibrocalcific, n=8) were detected in 17 recipients. Multiple regression analysis revealed that fibrous (p=0.026) and fibroatheroma (p=0.012) observed at 8-week were significantly associated with subsequent plaque progression within 12-month after HTx. ΔPlaque burden was significant higher in de novo plaque than donor-transmitted plaque (38.8% [29.6–41.2] versus 8.7% [1.3–13.6], p&lt;0.001). The prevalence of macrophage accumulation was lower in de novo plaque than in donor-transmitted plaque (8% versus 52%, p=0.006). Serum IL-31 at 8-week was correlated with the progression of donor-transmitted plaque as well as de novo plaque (r=0.663, p=0.029) although other cytokines like IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and tissue necrotic factor alpha were not.

Conclusions

In de novo plaques, fibrous plaque was the most common and macrophage accumulation was rarely observed. In donor-transmitted plaque, fibrous and fibroatheroma were independent predictor for the subsequent plaque progression. Serum interleukin-31 surge at subacute phase may play pathogenic role in cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI)

The slow earthquake spectrum in the Japan Trench illuminated by the S-net seafloor observatories

Investigating slow earthquake activity in subduction zones provides insight into the slip behavior of megathrusts, which can provide important clues about the rupture extent of future great earthquakes. Using the S-net ocean-bottom seismograph network along the Japan Trench, we mapped a detailed distribution of tectonic tremors, which coincided with very-low-frequency earthquakes and a slow slip event. Compiling these and other related observations, including repeating earthquakes and earthquake swarms, we found that the slow earthquake distribution is complementary to the Tohoku-Oki earthquake rupture. We used our observations to divide the megathrust in the Japan Trench into three along-strike segments characterized by different slip behaviors. We found that the rupture of the Tohoku-Oki earthquake, which nucleated in the central segment, was terminated by the two adjacent segments.

P1480 A case of triple left ventricular aneurysms diagnosed by CT and echocardiography

【Background】

Left ventricular aneurysms is complication of myocardial infarction (MI) that can lead to death or serious morbidity. False aneurysm is rare complications of myocardial infarction or iatrogenic perforation and represent a contained myocardial rupture. False aneurysm does not contain all the three layers of the myocardium and is frequently lined by pericardium and mural thrombus. Definitive diagnosis is achieved by echocardiography, computed tomography (CT), angiography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Coexistence of true and false aneurysms is rare.

【Case】 A 58 years old man with a history of hypertension and MI was referred to our hospital for aneurysmectomy. During the course of prior MI, he got fever and pericardial effusion.

CT revealed that three left ventricular aneurysms were present. Also, three aneurysms were connected by narrow ducts each other. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed that three ventricular aneurysms were connected via acceleration blood flow which swirling in the spherical aneurysm. We determined that this triple ventricular aneurysms were at high risk for rupture, so we performed surgery.

The postoperative course was good and he was discharged without any complications.

【Discussion】

False aneurysms occur after hemorrhagic dissection into an area of transmural infarction and most commonly result in free intrapericardial rupture of the heart, cardiac tamponade, and death. Rarely, if the overlying pericardium becomes adherent to the epicardium along the surface of the infarct, it can contain the rupture.

We were able to evaluate the mechanism of development with triple left ventricular aneurysms using CT and TTE. We could know about spatial comprehension of triple aneurysms using CT. False aneurysms were restricted enlargement due to stiff pericardium because of complicating Dressler syndrome. We hypothesis that aneurysms were enlarging in the direction of the base of heart in the adhered pericardium space.

We were able to evaluate the thickness of aneurysms and blood flow condition using TTE. TTE revealed that the wall of aneurysm was fragile. Multimodality imaging like TTE or cardiac CT are useful diagnostic methods in this case.

Abstract P1480 Figure. Triple aneurysms

1638 A case of capturing changes in interatrial blood flow and anatomical structure during percutaneous PFO closure with platypnea orthodeoxia syndrome using intra-cardiac echocardiography

Background

Platypnea–orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is an uncommon condition characterized by positional dyspnea and hypoxemia due to intracardiac right-to-left shunting through a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The most commonly associated conditions included pneumonectomy, ascending aortic dilation, and arch surgery, as previously reported. Percutaneous closure of PFO is useful treatment for POS.

Case

A 76 year old man used home oxygen therapy because of unexplained hypoxemia. A decrease in blood oxygen saturation was observed in sitting and standing positions. The patient was diagnosed as "POS" because a shunt blood flow with PFO and atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) and eustachian valve was observed at transesophageal echocardiography. He was admitted for the purpose of percutaneous PFO closure.

He was treated with intra-cardiac echocardiography (ICE) guidance under local anesthesia because of poor lung function.

PFO closure was performed successfully with 30mm AMPLATZER Cribriform. The ICE findings prior to PFO closure showed a right-to-left shunt blood flow through the PFO in the sitting position but almost disappeared after closure. Furthermore, it was observed that the aortic artery compression was stronger in the sitting position than in the supine position with right-to-left shunt blood flow. After PFO closure, hypoxia associated with postural change improved and patient’s symptom as shortness of breath also significantly improved.

Discussion

POS is a position-dependent condition of dyspnea and hypoxemia due to right-to-left shunting. It often remains unrecognized in clinical practice, possibly because of its complex underlying pathophysiology. It is considered that the cause of POS in this patient was multiple factors such as ASA, aortic displacement, and venous valve remnant. In addition, being able to observe the change of the atrium due to compression from the aortic artery using ICE during the operation was very significant to explain the mechanism of POS.

Abstract 1638 Figure. Intra-cardiac echocardiography

P1713 A case of quadricuspid aortic valve complicated with infective endocarditis diagnosed by 3D transesophageal echocardiography

Background

Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a rare congenital heart disease with an estimated incidence of 0.008% to 1.46%. The functional status of QAV is predominantly a pure aortic regurgitation. The extensive use of echocardiography has allowed an early and accurate diagnosis of this malformation. In many cases, the transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is suitable for the diagnosis but, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), especially 3-dimensional (3D) TEE, is a tool for the accurate definition of the valve anatomy.

Clinical case

A 60-year-old female underwent a head CT for intermittent headaches for one month ago. She was admitted to neurosurgery in our hospital diagnosed of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Four mm aneurysm was found on the periphery of the right middle cerebral artery on CT examination, and a cerebral aneurysm coil embolization was performed with a catheter in emergency. The possibility of infectious cerebral aneurysm was pointed out, and we examined in cardiovascular internal medicine. TTE revealed moderate aortic regurgitation. The ventricular septum exhibits sigmoid septum. A mobile mass was found near the left ventricular outflow tract in the sigmoid septum. TEE revealed a hypoplasia cusp (accessory cusp) is found between non coronary cusp and right coronary cusp. Aortic valve leaflets have become thickened and regurgitation from the central part of the cusps. 3DTEE was able to more accurately visualize that only the accessory cusp was hypoplastic, and the size of the other three leaflets appears almost the same. Similarly, vegetation on the left ventricular outflow tract were clearly revealed by 3DTEE.

Based on the above, it was diagnosed that quadricuspid aortic valve complicated with infective endocarditis (IE) with aortic valve regurgitation. After treatment with antibiotics according to IE, surgical treatment was scheduled.

Discussion

QAV is a rare congenital heart disease, and TTE is an important imaging tool for accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, TEE, especially 3DTEE, was a more appropriate diagnostic method in QAV and IE.

Abstract P1713 Figure. 3DTEE

Leftward Optical Shift Induces Bias in Line Bisection: A Study with Healthy Subjects Using a Head-mounted Display

Objective

The purpose of this study was to verify the effect on spatial perception in healthy young subjects of an unconscious leftward optical shift created by a head-mounted display (HMD) with an offset camera.

Methods

We recruited 40 healthy right-handed adults who were divided into four groups according to the hand used in the tests and the visual direction displayed by the HMD (centered or 10° left). Each of the four groups (n = 10) undertook line bisection tasks across four combinations of variables: using a finger/stick or a mouse to point at a touch panel located 60 or 120 cm away from the subject.

Results

According to the results, regardless of the hand used, when the index finger or a stick was used (reaching condition), the line bisection point was displaced significantly to the left of the center. Additionally, a major left-displacement trend was observed in the short-distance reaching task, which did not require the use of a stick. In contrast, the long-distance task required a stick to be used, and the left displacements were all smaller than those for the short-distance tasks that used the index finger.

Conclusion

This finding may be explained by the subjects having sufficient experience coordinating hand and eye movements in the condition where they used their dominant hand and reached with their own arms without using a stick.

Signal Change of Acute Cortical and Juxtacortical Microinfarction on Follow-Up MRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Although the clinical importance of cortical microinfarcts has become well-recognized recently, the evolution of cortical microinfarcts on MR imaging is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to examine the temporal changes in acute cortical microinfarcts using susceptibility-weighted imaging and conventional MR imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with acute infarcts located in the cortical and/or juxtacortical region measuring ≤10 mm in axial diameter based on diffusion-weighted imaging who had a follow-up 3T MR imaging were retrospectively included in the study. All lesions did not show hypointensity on initial T2*WI. For cortical and/or juxtacortical microinfarcts detected on initial DWI, 2 neuroradiologists evaluated the follow-up MR imaging (T2WI, FLAIR, T2*WI, and SWI) and assessed lesion signal intensities and locations (cortical microinfarcts or microinfarcts with juxtacortical white matter involvement).

RESULTS

On initial DWI, 2 radiologists observed 180 cortical and/or juxtacortical microinfarcts in 35 MR imaging examinations in 25 patients; on follow-up, the neuroradiologists identified 29 cortical microinfarcts (16%) on T2WI, 9 (5%) on FLAIR, 4 (2%) on T2*, and 97 (54%) on SWI. All cortical microinfarcts detected with any follow-up MR imaging showed hyperintensity on T2WI/FLAIR and/or hypointensity on T2*WI and SWI.

CONCLUSIONS

SWI revealed conversion (paramagnetic susceptibility changes) of acute cortical microinfarcts, suggesting that a substantial number of cortical microinfarcts may contain hemorrhagic components.

A phase 1b/2b multicenter study of oral panobinostat plus azacitidine in adults with MDS, CMML or AML with ⩽30% blasts

Treatment with azacitidine (AZA), a demethylating agent, prolonged overall survival (OS) vs conventional care in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). As median survival with monotherapy is <2 years, novel agents are needed to improve outcomes. This phase 1b/2b trial (n=113) was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of panobinostat (PAN)+AZA (phase 1b) and evaluate the early efficacy and safety of PAN+AZA vs AZA monotherapy (phase 2b) in patients with higher-risk MDS, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia or oligoblastic acute myeloid leukemia with <30% blasts. The MTD was not reached; the RP2D was PAN 30 mg plus AZA 75 mg/m². More patients receiving PAN+AZA achieved a composite complete response ([CR)+morphologic CR with incomplete blood count+bone marrow CR (27.5% (95% CI, 14.6–43.9%)) vs AZA (14.3% (5.4–28.5%)). However, no significant difference was observed in the 1-year OS rate (PAN+AZA, 60% (50–80%); AZA, 70% (50–80%)) or time to progression (PAN+AZA, 70% (40–90%); AZA, 70% (40–80%)). More grade 3/4 adverse events (97.4 vs 81.0%) and on-treatment deaths (13.2 vs 4.8%) occurred with PAN+AZA. Further dose or schedule optimization may improve the risk/benefit profile of this regimen.

Environmental influence on coprophagous Scarabaeidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) assemblages in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso

Here we examine assemblage structure of coprophagous Scarabaeidae (dung beetles) in the Pantanal of the state of Mato Grosso with respect to flooding regimes, soil texture, leaf litter volume and tree dominance in native and exotic pastures. Samples were collected along 30 transects of 250 m in length in a 5×5 km grid (25 km2). Five pitfalls baited with human feces were placed in each transect. A total of 1692 individuals in 19 species were captured, the majority in the subfamily Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae. Assemblages were influenced by the duration of flooding and leaf litter volume. None of the other habitat variables was correlated with species richness. Cultivated pastures with exotic grasses were unimportant for composition of the assemblages of beetles. These results indicate that duration of flooding is the most important regulating force in this community.

Assessment of the accuracy of plasma shape reconstruction by the Cauchy condition surface method in JT-60SA

For the purpose of stable plasma equilibrium control and detailed analysis, it is essential to reconstruct an accurate plasma boundary on the poloidal cross section in tokamak devices. The Cauchy condition surface (CCS) method is a numerical approach for calculating the spatial distribution of the magnetic flux outside a hypothetical surface and reconstructing the plasma boundary from the magnetic measurements located outside the plasma. The accuracy of the plasma shape reconstruction has been assessed by comparing the CCS method and an equilibrium calculation in JT-60SA with a high elongation and triangularity of plasma shape. The CCS, on which both Dirichlet and Neumann conditions are unknown, is defined as a hypothetical surface located inside the real plasma region. The accuracy of the plasma shape reconstruction is sensitive to the CCS free parameters such as the number of unknown parameters and the shape in JT-60SA. It is found that the optimum number of unknown parameters and the size of the CCS that minimizes errors in the reconstructed plasma shape are in proportion to the plasma size. Furthermore, it is shown that the accuracy of the plasma shape reconstruction is greatly improved using the optimum number of unknown parameters and shape of the CCS, and the reachable reconstruction errors in plasma shape and locations of strike points are within the target ranges in JT-60SA.

Usefulness of quantitative susceptibility mapping for the diagnosis of Parkinson disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Quantitative susceptibility mapping allows overcoming several nonlocal restrictions of susceptibility-weighted and phase imaging and enables quantification of magnetic susceptibility. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative susceptibility mapping and R2* (1/T2*) mapping to discriminate between patients with Parkinson disease and controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For 21 patients with Parkinson disease and 21 age- and sex-matched controls, 2 radiologists measured the quantitative susceptibility mapping values and R2* values in 6 brain structures (the thalamus, putamen, caudate nucleus, pallidum, substantia nigra, and red nucleus).

RESULTS

The quantitative susceptibility mapping values and R2* values of the substantia nigra were significantly higher in patients with Parkinson disease (P < .01); measurements in other brain regions did not differ significantly between patients and controls. For the discrimination of patients with Parkinson disease from controls, receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested that the optimal cutoff values for the substantia nigra, based on the Youden Index, were >0.210 for quantitative susceptibility mapping and >28.8 for R2*. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of quantitative susceptibility mapping were 90% (19 of 21), 86% (18 of 21), and 88% (37 of 42), respectively; for R2* mapping, they were 81% (17 of 21), 52% (11 of 21), and 67% (28 of 42). Pair-wise comparisons showed that the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were significantly larger for quantitative susceptibility mapping than for R2* mapping (0.91 versus 0.69, P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Quantitative susceptibility mapping showed higher diagnostic performance than R2* mapping for the discrimination between patients with Parkinson disease and controls.

Tropomyosin-related receptor kinase B at the invasive front and tumour cell dedifferentiation in gastric cancer

Background:

Tropomyosin-related receptor kinase B (TrkB) promotes proliferation and invasion, relating to poor prognosis of various malignancies. We examined the role of TrkB at the invasive front of gastric cancer (GC) and its association with tumour cell dedifferentiation and tumour budding.

Methods:

Immunoreactive TrkB was evaluated at the tumour centre and margin using whole-tissue sections of 320 GC patients. Tumour cell dedifferentiation was defined as higher histologic grade at the tumour margin than the surface or tumour centre. Tumour budding was also scored on cytokeratin-stained sections.

Results:

Sixty-five patients (20%) showed higher TrkB expression at the invasive front (TrkB expression was higher at the tumour margin than tumour centre). It was significantly associated with several aggressive phenotypes in the full cohort (n=320). It showed a prognostic significance in test subgroup (n=98) and was identified as an independent prognostic factor (HR=2.09; 95% CI: 1.26–3.53) by multivariate analysis in validation subgroup (n=222). Twenty-one patients showed tumour cell dedifferentiation. In predominantly differentiated tumour, higher TrkB at the invasive front was significantly associated with tumour budding rather than tumour cell dedifferentiation.

Conclusions:

Assessment of immunoreactive TrkB at the invasive front by whole-tissue sections provides prognostic information for GC patients.

Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in three landscapes in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in three landscapes in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Dung Beetles are important for biological control of intestinal worms and dipterans of economic importance to cattle, because they feed and breed in dung, killing parasites inside it. They are also very useful as bioindicators of species diversity in agricultural or natural environments. The aims of this paper were to study the species richness, and abundance of dung beetles, helping to answer the question: are there differences in the patterns of dung beetle diversity in three environments (pasture, agriculture and forest) in the municipality of Dourados, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. A total of 105 samplings were carried out weekly, from November 2005 to November 2007, using three pitfall traps in each environment. The traps were baited with fresh bovine dung, and 44,355 adult dung beetles from 54 species were captured: two from Hyborosidae and 52 from Scarabaeidae. Five species were constant, very abundant and dominant on the pasture, two in the agricultural environment, and two in the environment of Semideciduous forest. Most of the species were characterised as accessories, common and not-dominant. The species with higher abundance was Ataenius platensis Blanchard, 1844. The indexes of Shannon-Wiener diversity were: 2.90 in the pasture, 2.84 in the agricultural environment and 2.66 in the area of native forest. The medium positive presence of dung beetles in the traps in each environment were: 36.88, 42.73 and 20.18 individuals per trap, in the pasture, agricultural environment and in the native forest, respectively. The pasture environment presented a higher diversity index. The species diversity of dung beetles was superior where there was higher abundance and regularity of resource (bovine dung).