ABSTRACT
As a screening tool for detecting latent pre-locomotive syndrome (latent pre-LS) in women over the age of 40, measuring handgrip strength with a cut-off value of 26 kg was proposed in a previous report. However, this screening method missed 22% of latent pre-LS. It would be beneficial to screen almost persons with latent pre-LS in community pharmacies. In this study, it was investigated whether screening using the combination of measuring handgrip strength and the questionnaire, “Loco-check,” which was proposed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, improved the detection of latent pre-LS in the same group mentioned above. Combining only one of the “Loco-check” questions, “I cannot put on a pair of socks while standing on one leg,” with the measurement of handgrip strength with the cut-off value of 26 kg, the detection of latent pre-LS was increased to 90.2%. The odds ratio was 9.72 in logistic regression analysis. Using the combination of the measurement of handgrip strength and the response to one question is both rapid and convenient. Therefore, in this study, this screening combination is proposed to be a useful tool in community pharmacies for detecting early latent pre-LS.
ABSTRACT
Superficial colonic neoplasms sometimes extend into a diverticulum. Conventional endoscopic mucosal resection of these lesions is considered challenging because colonic diverticula do not have a muscularis propria and are deeply inverted. Even if the solution is carefully injected below the mucosa at the bottom of the diverticulum, the mucosa is rarely elevated from the diverticular orifice, and it is usually just narrowed. Although endoscopic submucosal dissection or full-thickness resection with an over-the-scope clip device enables the complete resection of these lesions, it is still challenging, time consuming and expensive. Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection without submucosal injection (UEMR) is an innovative technique enabling en bloc resection of superficial colon lesions. We report three patients with colon adenomas extending into a diverticulum treated with successful UEMR. UEMR enabled rapid and safe en bloc resection of colon lesions extending into a diverticulum.
ABSTRACT
Superficial colonic neoplasms sometimes extend into a diverticulum. Conventional endoscopic mucosal resection of these lesions is considered challenging because colonic diverticula do not have a muscularis propria and are deeply inverted. Even if the solution is carefully injected below the mucosa at the bottom of the diverticulum, the mucosa is rarely elevated from the diverticular orifice, and it is usually just narrowed. Although endoscopic submucosal dissection or full-thickness resection with an over-the-scope clip device enables the complete resection of these lesions, it is still challenging, time consuming and expensive. Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection without submucosal injection (UEMR) is an innovative technique enabling en bloc resection of superficial colon lesions. We report three patients with colon adenomas extending into a diverticulum treated with successful UEMR. UEMR enabled rapid and safe en bloc resection of colon lesions extending into a diverticulum.
ABSTRACT
Conventional endoscopy often misses early gastric cancers with minimal red discoloration because they cannot be distinguished from inflamed mucosa. We treated a patient with a small early gastric cancer that was difficult to diagnose using conventional endoscopy. Conventional endoscopy using a small-caliber endoscope showed only subtle red discoloration of the gastric mucosa. However, blue laser imaging showed a clearly discolored area measuring 10 mm in diameter around the red lesion, which was distinct from the surrounding inflamed mucosa. Irregular vessels on the tumor surface (suspicious for early gastric cancer) were observed even with small-caliber endoscopy. Biopsy revealed a well-moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, and endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed. Histopathological examination of the specimen confirmed well-moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma localized to the mucosa with slight depression compared to the surrounding mucosa, consistent with the endoscopic findings. This small early gastric cancer became clearly visible with blue laser imaging using small-caliber endoscopy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Adenocarcinoma , Biopsy , Depression , Endoscopes , Endoscopy , Gastric Mucosa , Mucous Membrane , Stomach NeoplasmsABSTRACT
The questionnaire was distributed to caregivers regarding their management for home medication therapy. The purpose of this questionnaire was to clarify the role of community pharmacists in city “Z”, Hiroshima in supporting this activity. The results were compared among seven administrative zones. The percentage of caregivers who had routinely administered medications to dependent patients was 81%. Of these, the percentage of caregivers who had encountered difficulty in medication administration to dependent patients was 66%. Only 13% of these caregivers had sought assistance from pharmacists in dealing with issues they faced in the administration of medications. The percentage of caregivers who had easy access to pharmacists was 44%. The percentage of caregivers who received pharmacist-initiated information about patients was 23%. Among the 7 administrative zones in city “Z”, the 2 zones (H-zones) with the highest percentage of elderly citizens, 38.7%, were compared with the other 2 zones (L-zones) with the lowest percentage of elderly citizens, 25.7%, regarding medication management by caregivers. It was observed that the frequency of missing side effects or crushing medicines by caregivers was higher in H-zones as compared to L-zones. The results of this research suggest that close cooperation between pharmacists and caregivers improves the quality of medication therapy management. In an aging society, pharmacist intervention could be very beneficial to providing support and information that would improve the quality of patients’ medication therapy.
ABSTRACT
The questionnaire was distributed to caregivers regarding their management for home medication therapy. The purpose of this questionnaire was to clarify the role of community pharmacists in city “Z”, Hiroshima in supporting this activity. The results were compared among seven administrative zones. The percentage of caregivers who had routinely administered medications to dependent patients was 81%. Of these, the percentage of caregivers who had encountered difficulty in medication administration to dependent patients was 66%. Only 13% of these caregivers had sought assistance from pharmacists in dealing with issues they faced in the administration of medications. The percentage of caregivers who had easy access to pharmacists was 44%. The percentage of caregivers who received pharmacist-initiated information about patients was 23%. Among the 7 administrative zones in city “Z”, the 2 zones (H-zones) with the highest percentage of elderly citizens, 38.7%, were compared with the other 2 zones (L-zones) with the lowest percentage of elderly citizens, 25.7%, regarding medication management by caregivers. It was observed that the frequency of missing side effects or crushing medicines by caregivers was higher in H-zones as compared to L-zones. The results of this research suggest that close cooperation between pharmacists and caregivers improves the quality of medication therapy management. In an aging society, pharmacist intervention could be very beneficial to providing support and information that would improve the quality of patients’ medication therapy.
ABSTRACT
Barrett's adenocarcinoma may occur in multiple sites, and recurrence and metachronous lesions are the major problems with endoscopic resection. Therefore, early detection of such lesions is ideal to achieve complete resection and obtain improved survival rates with minimally invasive treatment. Laser imaging systems allow multiple modalities of endoscopic imaging by using white light laser, flexible spectral imaging color enhancement (FICE), blue laser imaging (BLI), and linked color imaging even at a distant view. However, the usefulness of these modalities has not been sufficiently reported regarding Barrett's adenocarcinoma. Here, we report on a patient with three synchronous lesions followed by one metachronous lesion in a long segment with changes of Barrett's esophagus, all diagnosed with this new laser endoscopic imaging system and enhanced by using FICE and/or BLI with high contrast compared with the surrounding mucosa. Laser endoscopic imaging may facilitate the detection of malignancies in patients with early Barrett's adenocarcinoma.
Subject(s)
Humans , Adenocarcinoma , Barrett Esophagus , Mucous Membrane , Recurrence , Survival RateABSTRACT
Unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare anomaly which may be acquired or congenital. We describe a case of a 64 year old man with aneurysms (left : 31 mm, non : 21 mm) of the coronary sinus. The Bentall operation was successfully performed and his postoperative course was uneventful. The histopathology of the aortic wall showed Takayasu's arteritis. Bentall surgery is a good choice for multiple aneurysms of the Valsalva sinus with aortitis.
ABSTRACT
Twenty patients undergoing primary elective coronary artery bypass grafting were randomly divided into two groups to evaluate the hemostatic effect of aprotinin. Low dose aprotinin (1×10<sup>6</sup>KIU) was used during cardiopulmonary bypass in one group (11 patients), and the others were not given any. There was no need for reoperation due to bleeding and no difference of graft patency in the two groups. Changes in platelet, fibrinogen, thromboxane B<sub>2</sub> and antiplasmin values were similar in both groups. Postoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the aprotinin treated patiens (<i>p</i><0.05) and postoperative blood use was also significantly lower (<i>p</i><0.01). We conclude that low-dose aprotinin had a beneficial effect for reducing postoperative blood loss and blood use, though we did not find any changes in the results of laboratory tests.
ABSTRACT
Cardiac surgery associated with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is rare, and only 10 cases have been reported in the literature. In this report, we described the successful surgical management of a patient with ITP, diabetes mellitus and malfunction of mitral bioprosthetic valve. A 62-year-old male, who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) by means of a Carpentier-Edwards valve prosthesis and CABG ten years ago, developed malfunction of mitral prosthetic valve. The preoperative platelet count was 52, 000/mm<sup>3</sup> and PA-IgG elevated markedly. The diagnosis of ITP was based on findings of bone marrow examinations. Thrombocytopenia was treated by steroids for 4 weeks and large dose γ-globulin (20g/day) for 5 days preoperatively, but platelet count did not increase. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) was transfused prior to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and fresh blood was added to the priming material of CPB. Re-MVR was performed by means of mechanical valve prosthesis. After operation, large doses of γ-globulin and transfusion of PRP were performed for 3 days, and the postoperative course was uneventful. Other reports in addition to this study reveal that cases of cardiac surgery associated with ITP should be initially controlled preoperatively with steroids or high-dose γ-globulin, and if these treatments are harmful or ineffective, splenectomy should be considered.