descSPIM: an affordable and easy-to-build light-sheet microscope optimized for tissue clearing techniques.

Despite widespread adoption of tissue clearing techniques in recent years, poor access to suitable light-sheet fluorescence microscopes remains a major obstacle for biomedical end-users. Here, we present descSPIM (desktop-equipped SPIM for cleared specimens), a low-cost ($20,000-50,000), low-expertise (one-day installation by a non-expert), yet practical do-it-yourself light-sheet microscope as a solution for this bottleneck. Even the most fundamental configuration of descSPIM enables multi-color imaging of whole mouse brains and a cancer cell line-derived xenograft tumor mass for the visualization of neurocircuitry, assessment of drug distribution, and pathological examination by false-colored hematoxylin and eosin staining in a three-dimensional manner. Academically open-sourced ( https://github.com/dbsb-juntendo/descSPIM ), descSPIM allows routine three-dimensional imaging of cleared samples in minutes. Thus, the dissemination of descSPIM will accelerate biomedical discoveries driven by tissue clearing technologies.

[Two cases of long-term home parenteral nutrition in which increased doses of intravenous selenium were administered and the serum and hair selenium concentration was measured].

Care should be taken regarding the intravenous administration of selenium (Se), an essential element, which is known to be associated with toxemia. The concentration of Se in the serum and hair of 2 patients (patient A and B) with short bowel syndrome, undergoing long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN), was measured. As nutritional management, commercial total parenteral nutrition infusion was used without restricting oral intake. The patients received sodium selenite (Na2O3Se x 5H2O), a hospital preparation, at the Toho University Omori Medical Center. The dosage was gradually increased from 40 microg/ week to 120 micog/week over 17 months, and the Se concentration in serum and hair was measured bimonthly using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The serum concentration of Se increased from 2.0 to 5.3 microg/dL and from 9.0 to 9.7 microg/dL in the case of patient A and B, respectively; however, it did not reach the average value that was observed in healthy volunteers (11.8 microg/dL). In contrast, the concentration of Se in hair gradually approached the reference value (reference range, 405-784 ppb at color correction criteria range 217-520 ppb) in the case of patient A (change from 189 to 278 ppb) and B (change from 291 to 200 ppb). Therefore, we were able to safely manage these cases without any deficiency and poisoning symptoms, by gradually increasing the administration doses.

Contrast-enhanced sonography-guided radiofrequency ablation for the local recurrence of previously treated hepatocellular carcinoma undetected by B-mode sonography.

BACKGROUND.: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of contrast-enhanced sonography (CEUS) with Sonazoid to demonstrate local recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma previously treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and not seen on conventional sonography, prior to repeat RFA. METHODS.: This study included 16 cirrhotic patients with 17 cases of hypervascular locally recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma found by contrast-enhanced multidetector row CT (MDCT) but not seen on noncontrast sonography. We used Kupffer-phase imaging and vascular-phase imaging after re-injection. The morphologic patterns of local recurrence detected on CEUS were compared with those on MDCT. We performed repeat RFA guided by CEUS using Kupffer-phase imaging after re-injection. RESULTS.: We were able to detect on CEUS the location of all local recurrences with positive enhancement after re-injection. The morphologic patterns of local recurrence on CEUS were in concordance with those found on MDCT in all lesions. Repeat percutaneous RFA was successfully performed in all lesions. CONCLUSIONS.: The CEUS appearance of local recurrences correlated well with those on MDCT. A wider use of CEUS to guide repeat of percutaneous RFA may be possible with Sonazoid.

Sonazoid-enhanced sonography for guiding radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: better tumor visualization by Kupffer-phase imaging and vascular-phase imaging after reinjection.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of contrast harmonic sonography with a newly developed sonographic contrast agent as a means of guidance for percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 52 consecutive HCC lesions in 42 patients with HCC who underwent percutaneous RF ablation were included in this study. Altogether, 40 lesions in 35 patients were untreated HCC, and 12 lesions in 7 patients were local tumor progression of an HCC that had already been treated by other methods. We investigated tumors by Kupffer-phase imaging and vascular-phase imaging after reinjection. We performed RF ablation guided by Sonazoid-enhanced sonography using Kupffer-phase imaging and vascular-phase imaging after reinjection. RESULTS: Conventional sonography identified 30 (57%) of 52 HCCs, whereas Sonazoid-enhanced sonography detected 50 (96%) of 52 HCCs (P < 0.01, McNemar's chi2 test). Complete ablation was achieved at a single session in 48 of 50 tumors. CONCLUSION: Sonazoid-enhanced sonography is a useful technique for guiding RF ablation of HCCs, even when treating local progression of a previously treated HCC.

Reduction of bed rest time after transfemoral noncardiac angiography from 4 hours to 2 hours: a randomized trial and a one-arm study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of shortening the bed rest time from 4 hours to 2 hours after transfemoral noncardiac angiography with a 4-F sheath (outer diameter, 1.93 mm), a 5-F sheath (outer diameter, 2.27 mm), and a 4-F catheter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized into two groups, receiving either 2 or 4 hours of bed rest after hemostasis by manual compression of the puncture site. The authors evaluated the frequency of bleeding complications. An interim analysis was performed wherein 40 patients were assigned to each group. After the analysis, a single-arm 2-hour bed rest trial was conducted in an additional 115 procedures. RESULTS: In the interim analysis, three of the 40 patients in the 4-hour group and none of the 40 patients in the 2-hour group developed minor bleeding within 2 hours after manual compression (P = .24). After 2 hours of bed rest, no bleeding complication was observed in either group. In the single-arm 2-hour bed rest trial, minor bleeding developed in one of the 115 procedures (0.8%). Through the study, minor bleeding occurred in four of the 195 total procedures (2%), and no major complications developed. The occurrence of a bleeding complication was significantly higher in patients with platelet counts of less than 100 x 10(9)/L than in the other patients (4/67 vs 0/128, P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Two hours of bed rest is feasible for patients undergoing transfemoral noncardiac angiography by using a 4-5-F sheath and/or a 4-F catheter, especially those with a normal platelet count.

A rare ring-shaped anomaly of the main pancreatic duct accompanying a branch duct IPMN.

The patient was a 74-year-old female. Screening computed tomography for examination of the abdomen showed a cystic mass in the pancreatic body. Close investigation using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a very rare finding: the main pancreatic duct bifurcated at the pancreatic body, and these two ducts converged at the caudal side. A multilocular cystic mass in the pancreatic body and mucus discharge from the orifice of major papilla were observed. There was no protruded lesion in the main pancreatic duct. No findings suggested apparent malignancy. The patient was diagnosed as having hyperplastic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of branch type showing a ring-shaped pancreatic duct, and was placed under follow-up.

Carbon dioxide microbubbles-enhanced sonographically guided radiofrequency ablation: treatment of patients with local progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using CO2 microbubbles-enhanced sonography for patients with local tumor progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The tumors of 14 patients with local progression of HCC were treated with CO2 microbubbles-enhanced RFA ablation via a catheter that had been placed in the hepatic artery. We assessed tumor detectability and technical effectiveness. The mean follow-up period was 14.1 months. RESULTS: Only 6 of the tumors could be found on conventional sonography, whereas 14 tumors were detected on CO2 microbubbles-enhanced sonography. These 14 lesions were successfully treated with RFA guided by CO2 microbubbles-guided sonography. Technical effectiveness was complete in all patients. No serious complications were observed, and there was no local tumor progression during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: RFA guided by CO2 microbubbles-guided sonography is a feasible technique for treating local progression of HCC lesions that cannot be adequately depicted by conventional sonography.