Impact of Work Environment on Job Satisfaction among Interventional Radiologists in Japan: A Cross-sectional Study

Purpose

This study aims to measure job satisfaction among interventional radiology physicians in Japan and analyze the factors affecting job satisfaction.

Material and Methods

A web-based survey was conducted among the members of the Japanese Society of Interventional Radiology between October and December 2021. Participants were questioned regarding their job satisfaction, workplace, work status, and demographic information. Principal component analysis was applied to 15 reasons related to job satisfaction, and the factors affecting job satisfaction were analyzed.

Results

Valid responses were obtained from 901 (31.9%) of the 2,824 interventional radiology physicians invited to participate. Job satisfaction was reported as "very satisfied" in 79 (8.8%), "moderately satisfied" in 426 (47.3%), "neither satisfied nor dissatisfied" in 230 (25.5%), "moderately dissatisfied" in 133 (14.8%), and "very dissatisfied" in 33 (3.7%) respondents. Thus, there were 505 (56.0%) satisfied physicians. Three principal components were extracted from the reasons for job satisfaction. Job satisfaction tended to be higher among those who reported performing a higher number of interventional radiology procedures and was positively associated with a higher rate of work time dedicated to interventional radiology and the first principal component (the environment of clinical practice, research, and interventional radiology education). The third principal component (salary and work environment) and the absence of an "IkuBoss" [a boss who takes initiative in creating a work environment supportive of the work-life balance of colleagues] were associated with lower job satisfaction.

Conclusions

More than half the participants reported high job satisfaction. Job satisfaction of interventional radiology physicians in Japan was positively associated with a favorable clinical, research, and educational environment and negatively associated with the absence of an "IkuBoss," noninterventional radiology work, overtime work, and salary.

Outcomes of embolization procedures for type II endoleaks following endovascular abdominal aortic repair

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the mid-term outcomes of embolization procedures for type II endoleak after endovascular abdominal aortic repair, and clarify the risk factors for aneurysm enlargement after embolization procedures.

METHODS

This was a retrospective multicenter registry study enrolling patients who underwent embolization procedures for type II endoleaks after EVAR from January 2012 to December 2018 at 19 Japanese centers. The primary end point was the rate of freedom from aneurysm enlargement, more than 5 mm in the aortic maximum diameter, after an embolization procedure. Demographic, procedural, follow-up, and laboratory data were collected. Continuous variables were summarized descriptively, and Kaplan-Meier analyses and a Cox regression model were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 315 patients (248 men and 67 women) were enrolled. The average duration from the initial embolization procedure to the last follow-up was 31.6 ± 24.6 months. The rates of freedom from aneurysm enlargement at 3 and 5 years were 55.4 ± 3.8% and 37.0 ± 5.2%, respectively. A multivariate analysis revealed that a larger aortic diameter at the initial embolization procedure and the presence of a Moyamoya endoleak, defined as heterogeneous contrast opacity with an indistinct faint border, were associated with aneurysm enlargement after embolization management.

CONCLUSIONS

The embolization procedures were generally ineffective in preventing further expansion of abdominal aortic aneurysms in patients with type II endoleaks after EVAR, especially in patients with a large abdominal aortic aneurysm and/or a presence of a Moyamoya endoleak.

Prospective, randomized, controlled study of the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with miriplatin for hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been recognized as a treatment option for patients with intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This randomized, controlled study compared the local control efficacy of TACE with miriplatin (platinum monohydrate) or with epirubicin.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 200 Japanese patients with unresectable HCC treated at the Kitasato University East Hospital (Sagamihara, Japan) between July 2010 and June 2013. The primary end-point of the study was time to tumor progression (TTP).

RESULTS

We analyzed 198 patients (99 in the miriplatin group and 99 in the epirubicin group) treated with TACE. The median TTP in the epirubicin group was 5.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.8-7.0) and 7.6 months (95% CI, 5.8-9.4) in the miriplatin group. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.021; risk ratio, 1.488; 95% CI: 1.061-2.086). In the epirubicin group, 53 patients (53%) had complete response, 24 patients (24%) had partial response, 12 patients (12%) had stable disease, and 10 patients (10%) had progressive disease. In the miriplatin group, 38 patients (38%) had complete response, 41 patients (41%) had partial response, 2 patients (2%) had stable disease, and 18 patients (18%) had progressive disease. There was no significant difference in the response rate (P = 0.862). Overall incidences of adverse events and adverse drug reactions did not differ significantly between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Miriplatin proved more effective than epirubicin in TACE for unresectable HCC. The trial described in this work has been registered under the trial number: UMIN000004790.

Myocardial ischemia induced by major aortopulmonary collateral arteries treated with transcatheter coil embolization

Major aortopulmonary collateral arteries branching from coronary arteries may cause coronary steal. The careful follow‐up is needed irrespective of symptoms because increasing physical activities and oxygen demand along with the age may induce myocardial ischemia. Transcatheter intervention by well‐trained physician would be a treatment option in patients with myocardial ischemia.

A multi-institutional survey of interventional radiology for type II endoleaks after endovascular aortic repair: questionnaire results from the Japanese Society of Endoluminal Metallic Stents and Grafts in Japan

PURPOSE

To investigate the current status of interventional radiology (IR) procedures for a type II endoleak (T2EL) in Japan, and to identify the technical aspects that affect treatment results.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective survey was conducted by distributing questionnaires to 25 institutions. The eligibility criteria were endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) performed using commercial stent grafts and IR performed for T2EL between January 2007 and December 2013. Technical success was defined as disappearance of the EL on digital subtraction angiography immediately after embolization, and imaging success was defined as no EL on contrast-enhanced computed tomography within 6 months. Statistical comparisons of the number of involved branches, embolization level, embolic material, and changes in aneurysm size were made between the imaging success and imaging failure groups. The technical and imaging success rates were also compared between the initial therapy and repeat groups.

RESULTS

A total of 166 cases were investigated. Initial therapy was performed in 147 cases (88.6 %), with repeat therapy in 19 cases (11.4 %). Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was used most frequently, in 161 cases (97 %), with direct puncture (DP) used in 5 cases (3 %). Both coil embolization for the branches and NBCA embolization for the sac were frequently chosen. The technical success rate was 83.2 % (TAE group), and the imaging success rate was 46.5 % (TAE + DP groups). Branch + sac embolization was performed more frequently in the imaging success group. There was no significant difference in the number of involved branches or embolic material between the imaging success and imaging failure groups. Enlargement of the aneurysm was more frequently seen in the imaging failure group. There were no significant differences in the technical success and imaging success rates between the initial therapy and repeat groups.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report of a multi-institutional questionnaire survey of IR procedures for T2EL after EVAR in Japan that was conducted to determine the current status. Enlargement of aneurysm size after embolization was more frequently seen in the imaging failure group. It is important to embolize both branch and sac to achieve imaging success, regardless of embolic material. Long-term outcomes need to be investigated.

Usefulness of MRI of microcalcification lesions to determine the indication for stereotactic mammotome biopsy

BACKGROUND

With the recent rise in mammography (MMG) screenings there has been an increase in the identification of microcalcifications without lump. Therefore, a vacuum-assisted needle biopsy under stereotactic guidance (ST-MTB) is frequently performed for diagnosis. However, ST-MTB is a highly invasive examination. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of utilizing contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to differentiate between benign and malignant category 3 (C3) calcifications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and sixty-eight patients with microcalcifications underwent contrast-enhanced MRI prior to ST-MTB in our hospital. Their MRI scans were reviewed to determine whether the contrast-enhanced MRI findings were consistent. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of contrast-enhanced MRI.

RESULTS

No malignancy was not found in the 51 of the 168 cases analyzed by MRI. The calculated sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of contrast-enhanced MRI were 84%, 82%, 58% and 95%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Contrast-enhanced MRI for Category 3 calcified lesions would be a useful diagnostic tool for identifying ST-MTB-indicated patients.

Benefits and problems of transarterial therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic kidney disease

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility of transarterial therapy (transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and transcatheter arterial infusion) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study enrolled 35 patients who received transarterial therapy. The patients were classified into a CKD group (n = 10 nondialysis chronic kidney disease [NDCKD] and n = 9 end-stage renal disease [ESRD]) or a non-CKD group (n = 16). The survival rates between the two groups were compared using two different starting points: (a) from initial diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and (b) from enrollment in the study. The tolerance of transarterial therapy in patients with CKD was evaluated by comparing the incidence of major adverse events.

RESULTS

The 2-year and 5-year survival rates from initial diagnosis were 83.9% and 53.8% in the CKD group and 70.1% and 40.4% in the non-CKD group (P = .478). The corresponding 3-year survival rate from enrollment in the two groups was 25.6% and 41.2%, respectively (P = .995). The 2-year and 5-year survival rates from initial diagnosis were 70.1% and 40.4% in the non-CKD group, 90.0% and 39.4% in NDCKD patients, and 76.2% and 76.2% in ESRD patients (P = .380). The corresponding 2-year survival rates from enrollment in these groups were 54.9%, 48.0%, and 48.6% (P = .943). Severe contrast-induced nephropathy (n = 3) and late-onset death caused by cholesterol crystal embolism (n = 1) were observed in the NDCKD group.

CONCLUSIONS

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization is feasible in patients with CKD by instituting periprocedural hemodialysis with similar 2-year and 5-year survival compared with patients without CKD.

Successful treatment of acquired uterine arterial venous malformation using N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate under balloon occlusion

We present two cases of acquired uterine arterial venous malformation (AVM) which was diagnosed because of massive genital bleeding successfully treated with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), using N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) under balloon occlusion. Balloon occlusion at the uterine artery was performed in both patients for diffuse distribution of NBCA in multiple feeding branches, as well as to the pseudoaneurysm, and for the prevention of NBCA reflux. In one of our patients, balloon occlusion of the draining vein was simultaneously performed to prevent NBCA migration through accompanying high-flow arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Doppler ultrasound at 6 months of both patients documented persistent complete occlusion of AVM. Complete and safe obliteration of acquired uterine AVM was accomplished using NBCA as embolic agent, under balloon occlusion at the communicating vessels of acquired uterine AVM.

Imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) as an embolic agent for transcatheter arterial embolisation: a preliminary clinical study of gastrointestinal bleeding from neoplasms

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) as an embolic agent for intestinal bleeding from neoplasms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seven patients who underwent 11 transarterial embolisations (TAEs) using IPM/CS as an embolic material for duodenal or small/large intestinal tumour bleeding from January 2004 to December 2011 were retrospectively evaluated. A mixture of IPM/CS and contrast medium was introduced through the microcatheter positioned at the feeding artery to the tumour until extravasation disappeared or stasis of blood flow to the tumour staining was observed.

RESULTS

Haemostasis was obtained in all patients. Therefore, the technical success rate was 100%. Rebleeding was observed in four patients. All of them underwent repeat TAE using IPM/CS, and haemostasis was obtained successfully. No complication was identified following laboratory and clinical examinations. No haemorrhagic death occurred. Haemorrhagic parameters, including blood haemoglobin and the amount of blood transfusion, improved after TAE.

CONCLUSION

The safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of TAE using IPM/CS as an embolic material for intestinal bleeding from neoplasms were suggested by this study. The mild embolic effect of IPM/CS may be adequate for oozing from tumours. Although rebleeding may occur after embolotherapy using IPM/CS, repeat embolisation is effective as treatment for rebleeding.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of the breast: comparison of b-values 1000 s/mm² and 1500 s/mm²

PURPOSE

We compared diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the breast using 2 different b-values to determine the optimal b-value for greatest signal contrast between tumors and normal tissue of the breast.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed DWI of the breast at b-values of 1000 s/mm(2) and 1500 s/mm(2) in 120 patients (121 lesions, 19 benign, 102 malignant) and visually scored image quality with regard to artifact and visibility of tumors. We quantitatively evaluated the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the tumor and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and contrast ratio (CR) between the tumor and normal breast parenchyma.

RESULTS

The CR of invasive carcinoma (IC), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and benign tumors significantly improved with b=1500 s/mm(2) compared with b=1000 s/mm(2). The SNR and CNR were significantly lower with b=1500 s/mm(2) than b=1000 s/mm(2) despite the increasing number of excitations at b=1500 s/mm(2). At b=1500 s/mm(2), the difference in SNR, CNR, and CR between IC and DCIS and benign tumors was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

DWI may depict breast tumors more clearly with b=1500 s/mm(2) than b=1000 s/mm(2).

Motion artifact reduction of diffusion-weighted MRI of the liver: use of velocity-compensated diffusion gradients combined with tetrahedral gradients

PURPOSE

To assess the effect of motion artifact reduction on the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI-MRI) of the liver, we compared velocity-compensated DWI (VC-DWI) and VC-DWI combined with tetrahedral gradients (t-VC-DWI) to conventional DWI (c-DWI) in the assessment of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of the liver.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In 12 healthy volunteers, the liver was scanned with c-DWI, VC-DWI, and t-VC-DWI sequences. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and ADC of the liver parenchyma were measured and compared among sequences.

RESULTS

The image quality was visually better for t-VC-DWI than for the others. The SNR for t-VC-DWI was significantly higher than that for VC-DWI (P < 0.05) and comparable to that for c-DWI. ADCs in both hepatic lobes were significantly lower for t-VC-DWI than for c-DWI (P < 0.01). ADC in the left lobe was significantly lower for VC-DWI than for c-DWI (P < 0.01). Although ADC in the left lobe was significantly higher for c-DWI (P < 0.01), no significant differences in ADCs were found between the right and left lobes for VC-DWI and t-VC-DWI.

CONCLUSION

The use of a t-VC-DWI sequence enables us to correct ADCs of the liver for artificial elevation due to cardiac motion, with preserved SNR.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of local recurrent prostate cancer after radiation therapy: comparison with 22-core three-dimensional prostate mapping biopsy

Accurate localization of local recurrence within the prostate gland is important to perform focal salvage therapy effectively with minimal complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the detection and localization of prostate cancer recurrence in patients with biochemical failure after definitive radiation therapy using 22-core three-dimensional prostate mapping biopsy (3D-PMB) as a standard reference. Ten patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging and 22-core 3D-PMB were retrospectively analyzed. For visual assessment of DWI, the prostate was divided into 22 regions corresponding to 3D-PMB. Two diagnostic radiologists determined the presence of abnormal high signal intensity in each region on DWI, and the results of DWI were compared with those of 3D-PMB. Of the 220 regions, 16 regions in six patients were positive for cancer on 3D-PMB, and 30 regions in six patients were judged as positive on DWI. On a patient-by-patient basis, sensitivity and specificity were 100% (6/6) and 100% (4/4), respectively. On a region-by-region basis, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 69% (11/16), 91% (185/204), 37% (11/30), 97% (185/190) and 89% (196/220), respectively. For discrepant localization between DWI and pathology, DWI-positive and pathology-positive regions tended to be adjacent to each other. In conclusion, DWI is a useful tool for the detection and localization of recurrent prostate cancer in patients with biochemical failure after radiation therapy and may be helpful in the planning of focal salvage therapy.

Use of an oral effervescent agent in the evaluation of gastric 67Ga uptake

OBJECTIVE

Gastric uptake of (67)Ga may be observed in patients with no obvious gastric lesions, as well as those with gastric malignancy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of an effervescent agent aids in evaluating gastric (67)Ga uptake.

METHODS

Twenty patients having or suspected of having gastric uptake on whole-body (67)Ga scintigrams were studied. Anterior abdominal images were obtained at baseline and after the oral intake of the effervescent agent (gas contrast image). The presence or absence of malignant gastric uptake was judged visually using the baseline image or gas contrast image. The judgment was compared with the clinical diagnosis, and the clinical usefulness of the gas contrast technique was assessed.

RESULTS

In all patients, successful distension of the stomach was indicated in the gas contrast image. Clinical assessment showed gastric lesions in six patients (gastric involvement of lymphoma in 3, primary gastric lymphoma in 2, and adenocarcinoma in 1). The gas contrast image yielded accurate judgments of malignant gastric uptake in all patients except one with adenocarcinoma. Imaging after gastric distension induced by the oral effervescent agent contributed to excluding malignant gastric uptake in eight patients and demonstrating malignant gastric uptake in four patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Benign gastric uptake may complicate the assessment of gastric lesions in (67)Ga scintigraphy. Additional spot imaging after oral intake of an effervescent agent can aid in evaluating malignant gastric lesions through gastric distension.

Identification of residual breast carcinoma following neoadjuvant chemotherapy: diffusion-weighted imaging--comparison with contrast-enhanced MR imaging and pathologic findings

PURPOSE

To compare the capability of diffusion-weighted (DW) and contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to provide diagnostic information on residual breast cancers following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and to assess apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of the carcinoma prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy to determine if the method could help predict response to chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Three hundred ninety-eight patients underwent MR imaging of the breast, including DW MR (b values, 0 and 1500 sec/mm(2)) and contrast-enhanced MR imaging. Of these, the contralateral breast in 73 women was used as a control. Seventy-two patients with 73 lesions with malignant disease were treated by using neoadjuvant chemotherapy and were examined for residual disease following therapy. Three were excluded because of prolonged intervals between final MR imaging and surgery. Thus, 69 patients (70 lesions) with DW and contrast-enhanced MR imaging results were compared with postoperative histopathologic findings. The ADCs of the carcinoma prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy were calculated for each patient, and those with complete response and residual disease were compared.

RESULTS

The accuracy for depicting residual tumor was 96% for DW MR imaging, compared with an accuracy of 89% for contrast-enhanced MR imaging (P = .06). There was no significant difference in prechemotherapy ADCs between pathologic complete response cases and those with residual disease.

CONCLUSION

DW MR imaging had at least as good of accuracy as did contrast-enhanced MR imaging for monitoring neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The ADCs prior to chemotherapy did not predict response to chemotherapy. The use of DW imaging to visualize residual breast cancer without the need for contrast medium could be advantageous in women with impaired renal function.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of malignant breast tumors: the usefulness of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and ADC map for the detection of malignant breast tumors and evaluation of cancer extension

The authors used breast diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to diagnose breast cancer and identify cancer extension. Isotropic DWI was performed with EPI. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value was calculated and displayed on an ADC map. The authors compared between the distribution of low ADC values and pathologic cancer extension. The mean ADC value of breast cancer was 1.12 +/- 0.24 x 10(-3) mm/s, which was lower than that of normal breast tissue. The ADC value for invasive ductal carcinoma was lower than that of noninvasive ductal carcinoma. The sensitivity of the ADC value for breast cancer using a threshold of less than 1.6 x 10(-3) mm/s was 95%. Seventy-five percent of all cases showed precise distribution of low ADC value as cancer extension. The causes of underestimation were susceptibility artifact from bleeding and the limit of spatial resolution. Benign proliferative change showed a low ADC value. The authors conclude that DWI has a potential for clinical appreciation in detecting breast cancer.

ADC Mapping of Benign and Malignant Breast Tumors

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value in differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions and evaluating the detection accuracy of the cancer extension.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used DWI to obtain images of 191 benign and malignant lesions (24 benign, 167 malignant) before surgical excision. The ADC values of the benign and malignant lesions were compared, as were the values of noninvasive ductal carcinoma (NIDC) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). We also evaluated the ADC map, which represents the distribution of ADC values, and compared it with the cancer extension.

RESULTS

The mean ADC value of each type of lesion was as follows: malignant lesions, 1.22+/-0.31 x 10(-3) mm2/s; benign lesions, 1.67+/-0.54 x 10(-3) mm2/s; normal tissues, 2.09+/-0.27 x 10(-3) mm2/s. The mean ADC value of the malignant lesions was statistically lower than that of the benign lesions and normal breast tissues. The ADC value of IDC was statistically lower than that of NIDC. The sensitivity of the ADC value for malignant lesions with a threshold of less than 1.6 x 10(-3) mm2/s was 95% and the specificity was 46%. A full 75% of all malignant cases exhibited a near precise distribution of low ADC values on ADC maps to describe malignant lesions. The main causes of false negative and underestimation of cancer spread were susceptibility artifact because of bleeding and tumor structure. Major histologic types of false-positive lesions were intraductal papilloma and fibrocystic diseases. Fibrocystic diseases also resulted in overestimation of cancer extension.

CONCLUSIONS

DWI has the potential in clinical appreciation to detect malignant breast tumors and support the evaluation of tumor extension. However, the benign proliferative change remains to be studied as it mimics the malignant phenomenon on the ADC map.

[Quantitative evaluation of deformity of the iliac artery during extension and flexion of the hip joint: three-dimensional evaluation using MDCT]

We performed CT-angiography twice, first hip joint extension, followed by second flexion. Using vessel analysis software, we placed several points of interest at equal intervals on the center line of the iliac artery, from the bifurcation to the femoral artery inguinal portion, and recorded the their three-dimensional coordinates. We also marked the circumference, which passes by three points that add the respective next point and prior point to each reference point. This curvature (the inverse number of the radius) was utilized as the index that displays crookedness. This method was able to estimate quantitatively the grade of crookedness, and, by comparing an equidistant point from the bifurcation, to show the changes in grade at flexion of the hip joint.

A case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) in the skull bone presenting extensive permeative osteolysis

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the skull is rare. This case showed an extremely unusual growth pattern for MFH. The radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated an osteolytic growth pattern in the skull base and temporal bone, without forming a mass lesion. We considered the possibility of a malignant tumor with a myxoid component based on its growth pattern and MRI intensity. Pathological examination revealed dense proliferation of the neoplastic spindle cells with storiform pattern and focal myxoid or fibrotic areas. Only one other case of MFH with myxoid change of the skull bone has been documented in the English literature.

[No 123I-BMIPP accumulation in the myocardium and type I CD36 deficiency in a patient with acute subendocardial infarction: a case report]

This patient was a 70-year-old man had acute subendocardial infarction in the inferior wall. 123I-BMIPP myocardial scintigraphy showed no accumulation in the myocardium. 123I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy on the early and delay images and 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial scintigraphy at rest showed slightly decreased accumulation of the tracer in the apical region and in middle inferior wall of the left ventricle, indicating subendocardial infracted area. In the examinations of CD36 in platelets and monocytes, the patient had negative CD36 in platelets and monocytes, and type I CD36 deficiency was diagnosed. We supposed that no 123I-BMIPP accumulation may be related closely to type I CD36 deficiency.

Three-dimensional CT in isolated dissecting aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery: a case report

Isolated dissecting aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) without aortic dissection is a rare condition. We report a case of isolated dissecting aneurysm of the SMA incidentally detected by postcontrast abdominal computed tomography (CT). Three-dimensional CT using helical scanning was helpful for the evaluation of dissecting aneurysmal structures such as the intimal flap, true lumen, and false lumen with thrombosis. CT angiography (CTA) was useful for the assessment of characteristic morphology and three-dimensional relationship between the dissecting portion and SMA branches.

Interictal crossed cerebellar hyperperfusion on Tc-99m ECD SPECT

Crossed cerebellar hyperperfusion (CCH) in epilepsy is a rare condition that is observed on ictal cerebral perfusion SPECT. The mechanism of CCH assumes that hyperperfusion in the epileptic foci of the unilateral supratentorium causes hyperperfusion secondary to the corticopontocerebellar pathway (CPCP)-mediated remote effect in the contralateral cerebellar hemisphere. This phenomenon is similar to that of crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD). In this report we demonstrated interictal CCH in a patient with epilepsy in technetium-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-99m ECD) SPECT of the brain. To the best of our knowledge, interictal CCH has not been reported in the literature. This is the first report to describe the phenomenon with interictal Tc-99m ECD SPECT.

Transient seizure activity demonstrated by Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT and diffusion-weighted MR imaging

Cerebral perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has been used to confirm the localization of the epileptic focus and the evaluation of seizure. Recently, diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) has been recognized for evaluation of seizure activity. We describe a case of transient seizure activity demonstrated by Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT and DWI. This patient was a 61-year-old woman with a 10-month history of right middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction who had a generalized seizure during MRI. DWI immediately after seizure showed transient hyperintensity in the right frontal gray matter and the white matter, and these apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) were transiently decreased. This transient hyperintensity on DWI corresponded to transient hyperperfusion identifying the epileptic focus on interictal Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT. Transient sustained seizure activity might cause these changes on DWI and SPECT. It was considered that interictal Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT showed the delayed hyperperfusion caused by excitatory neuronal overaction and DWI showed cytotoxic edema seizure-induced by energy failure of the membrane-bound Na/K-ATPase pump.

Uniform distribution and concentration of aminopeptidase in proximal tubules of pig kidney

The concentration of aminopeptidase in cross-sections in proximal tubules of pig kidney was investigated with a specific fluorescent antibody technique and a specific histochemical technique. The concentration was found to be independent of the diameter of the tubule and of the depth of the cortex. Four-micron segments of proximal tubules contained approximately l04 molecules of aminopeptidase/µ2, which is adequate for a rapid hydrolysis of peptides, even in very small concentrations, such as angiotensin II at 10 5 of the physiologic serum concentration. The findings suggest that with regard to this enzyme all sections of the proximal tubule function equivalently.