Since October, 1997, endovascular embolization using GDC has been our primary treatment for ruptured cerebral aneurysms in the acute stage. According to our protocol, an aneurysm more than 3 mm in diameter, without a wide-neck or massive intracranial hematoma is indicated for endovascular therapy. Under this protocol, we experienced 35 consecutive patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 22 of them (62.8%) were treated endovascularly. The most common reason for the contra-indication of coil embolization was wide-necked aneurysm (9 cases). We experienced two cases with embolic stroke and one case with post-embolization hemorrhage as a complication after endovascular treatment. Morbidity rate due to the complications was 9.1%. In conclusion, a system that allows both surgical and endovascular treatments to be performed in any given case is necessary for the appropriate treatment of ruptured aneurysm. In order to avoid ischemic embolic complications, postoperative anticoagulation therapy is crucial. The safety of coil embolization for very thin-walled aneurysm is questionable.
We evaluated tympanoplasty statistically at Chiba-Hokuso Hospital, a branch hospital of Nippon Medical School. Especially, we discussed the improvement of auditory thresholds after operation, the type of tympanoplasty in valved, the availability of patch tests and complications. (J Nippon Med Sch 1998:65:382-386)
Abstract Objectives: Vallecular cyst is uncommon in infants. We treated a female infant with vallecular cyst, and curious magnetic resonance imaging findings. We also review 51 other cases of vallecular cyst in infants reported over the past 23 years. Case report: A three-month-old female infant presented with congenital inspiratory stridor and failure to thrive. Flexible laryngoscopy and ultrasonography revealed a cystic mass in the vallecula. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were initially curious because of artefacts from breathing and swallowing. Marsupialisation of the cyst was performed. Post-operatively, the patient was immediately free of symptoms. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging presents various difficulties in infants, but has the best diagnostic effectiveness. We recommend the use of magnetic resonance imaging, flexible fibroscopy and ultrasonography to enable extensive examination of suspected vallecular cysts in infants. Marsupialisation has a recurrence rate of only one in 39 cases, and its safety and effectiveness are well balanced. Thus, prompt marsupialisation of vallecular cyst is the recommended surgical procedure.
The safety and tolerance of docetaxel (especially 75 mg/m/2) plus cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2) (TC therapy) as adjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese patients (n=47) with operable breast cancer was evaluated. Among 47 patients who received TC therapy, 38 patients (80.8%) were treated as scheduled for 4 courses every three weeks, and 6 patients (12.8%) were dose-reduced or the interval between courses was extended due to neutropenia or wound infection. Three patients (6.4%) quit TC therapy due to stomatitis or skin toxicities of grade 3. Although febrile neutropenia of grade 3 or 4 was observed in 2 patients (4.3%), TC therapy could be prescribed for these patients. Non-hematological side effects(such as edema, myalgia and arthralgia), occurred in relatively many cases, but were not remarkable. From these results, TC therapy (75/600 mg/m2) is considered to be a safe and tolerable regimen in Japanese patients operated for breast cancer.
Mutations in the connexin 26 gene (GJB2), which encodes a gap-junction protein and is expressed in the inner ear, have been shown to be responsible for a major part of nonsyndromic hereditary prelingual (early-childhood) deafness in Caucasians. We have sequenced the GJB2 gene in 39 Japanese patients with prelingual deafness (group 1), 39 Japanese patients with postlingual progressive sensorineural hearing loss (group 2), and 63 Japanese individuals with normal hearing (group 3). Three novel mutations were identified in group 1: a single nucleotide deletion (235delC), a 16-bp deletion (176-191 del (16)), and a nonsense mutation (Y136X) in five unrelated patients. The 235delC mutation was most frequently observed, accounting for seven alleles in 10 mutant alleles. Screening of 203 unrelated normal individuals for the three mutations indicated that the carrier frequency of the 235delC mutation was 2/203 in the Japanese population. No mutation was found in group-2 patients. We also identified two novel polymorphisms (E114G and I203T) as well as two previously reported polymorphisms (V27I andV37I). Genotyping with these four polymorphisms allowed normal Japanese alleles to be classified into seven haplotypes. All 235delC mutant alleles identified in four patients resided only on haplotype type 1. These findings indicate that GJB2 mutations are also responsible for prelingual deafness in Japan.
