Longitudinal data of serum creatine kinase levels and motor, pulmonary, and cardiac functions in 337 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) presents with skeletal muscle weakness, followed by cardiorespiratory involvement. The need for longitudinal data regarding DMD that could serve as a control for determining treatment efficacy in clinical trials has increased notably. The present study examined the longitudinal data of Japanese DMD patients collectively and assessed individual patients with pathogenic variants eligible for exon-skipping therapy. METHODS: Patients with DMD who visited Kobe University Hospital between March 1991 and March 2019 were enrolled. Data between the patients' first visit until age 20 years were examined. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-seven patients were included. Serum creatine kinase levels showed extremely high values until the age of 6 years and a rapid decline from ages 7-12 years. Both the median 10-m run/walk velocity and rise-from-floor velocity peaked at the age of 4 years and declined with age. The values for respiratory function declined from the age of 11 years. The median left ventricular ejection fraction was >60% until the age of 12 years and rapidly declined from ages 13-15 years. Examination of the relationship between pathogenic variants eligible for exon-skipping therapy and longitudinal data revealed no characteristic findings. DISCUSSION: We found that creatine kinase levels and motor, respiratory, and cardiac functions each exhibited various changes over time. These findings provide useful information about the longitudinal data of several outcome measures for patients with DMD not receiving corticosteroids. These data may serve as historical controls in comparing the natural history of DMD patients not on regular steroid use in appropriate clinical trials.

Pre-treatment systemic inflammation response index and systemic immune inflammation in patients with primary central nerve system lymphoma as a useful prognostic indicator.

PURPOSE: The systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) are based on neutrophil, monocyte, platelet, and lymphocyte counts. The SIRI and SII are used to predict the survival of patients with malignant tumors. It is well known that the inflammatory immune response is closely related to cancer occurrence and progression. In the present study, we evaluated the potential prognostic significance of SIRI and SII in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). METHODS: Fifty-eight consecutive patients were enrolled in this study between November 2006 and May 2022. Among the 58 patients, 47 patients with sufficient blood test data and follow-up were analyzed. The patients with steroid intake at the time point of the blood test and higher C-reactive protein were excluded. RESULTS: The median follow-up and survival times were 31 and 36 months, respectively. The optimal cutoff SIRI value was based on the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) for overall survival (OS) and stratified patients into low (< 1.43 × 109/L, n = 22) and high (≥ 1.43 × 109/L, n = 25) SIRI groups. The optimal cutoff SII value based on the ROC for OS stratified patients into low (< 694.9, n = 28) and high (≥ 694.9, n = 19) SII groups. A low SIRI value was associated with longer OS (p = 0.006). Furthermore, a low SII value was associated with longer OS (p = 0.044). The prognostic factors associated with prolonged survival in univariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model were age < 65 years, low SIRI, and low SII. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that age < 65 years and low SIRI independently predicted longer OS. CONCLUSION: Simple, less expensive, and routinely ordered preoperative blood count assessments such as SIRI and SII predict the OS of patients with PCNSL. This study demonstrated that PCNSL is associated with pre-treatment systemic immune-inflammation states.

The influence of spatial frequency information on temporal synchrony perception on audiovisual stimuli.

Previous studies have shown that the spatial frequency (SF) of visual stimuli alters the perceived timing of subjective simultaneity. However, these studies have been limited to the effects of a single SF component. In this study, I measured and compared the points of subjective simultaneity (PSS) for audiovisual stimuli among low, high, and composited SF components. This experiment comprised a dual-presentation timing task and a ternary response format to eliminate response bias. The results indicated that the PSS value of the composition-SF stimuli was more toward visual-lead timing than the low-SF stimuli and did not differ significantly from that of the high-SF stimuli. The correlation coefficients showed that the PSS in composition-SF stimuli marginally approximated that of high-SF stimuli higher than that of low-SF stimuli. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings using visual stimuli with a wider range of SF components and with a modulated contrast.

Long-term outcomes and potential predictive recurrence factors after endonasal endoscopic surgical treatment of symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts.

Although patients with symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) receive surgical treatment, recurrence sometimes occurs after surgery. However, the mechanism underlying recurrence remains unclear. We evaluated the outcomes of RCC decompression over a long-term follow-up period. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 35 patients with symptomatic RCC who underwent endonasal endoscopic surgery (EES) at our institution between 2008 and 2023. Patients' characteristics, intraoperative findings, and postoperative follow-up outcomes were evaluated. A univariate regression model was used to identify the predictors of recurrence. The median patient age was 48.0 years, and 74.2% of the patients were female. The mean follow-up duration was 94.7 ± 47.6 months. Cyst content recurrence was observed in 15 patients (42.8%). Five patients (14.2%) with symptomatic recurrence underwent reoperation. Postoperative vision improved in all 23 patients (100%); headaches improved in 20 patients (90.9%). A new hormonal deficit occurred in two patients (5.7%). Complications included intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak in 10 patients (28.5%), postoperative CSF leak in two patients (5.7%), permanent diabetes insipidus in two patients (5.7%), and postoperative infection in three patients (8.5%). Univariate analyses revealed that the position of the anterior pituitary lobe (p = 0.019) and preoperative visual disturbances (p = 0.008) significantly affected recurrence after surgery. Although EES was efficient, the recurrence rate was relatively high over a long-term period. The anterior pituitary lobe position and preoperative visual disturbances were significantly associated with recurrence. The anterior-inferior position can predict a high risk of recurrence before surgery.

Intraoperative monitoring of trigeminal neuralgia: a technical note.

Trigeminal neuralgia causes excruciating pain in patients. Microvascular decompression is indicated for drug-resistant s trigeminal neuralgia. Unlike facial spasms, any part of the nerve can be the culprit, not only the root entry zone. Intraoperative monitoring does not yet exist for trigeminal neuralgia. We successfully used intermittent stimulation of the superior cerebellar artery during surgery and confirmed the disappearance of the trigeminal nerve motor branch reaction after the release of the compression. Intermittent direct stimulation of the culprit blood vessel using the motor branch of the trigeminal nerve may assist in intraoperative monitoring of decompression during trigeminal nerve vascular decompression surgery.

Association between general anesthesia in early childhood and neurodevelopment up to 4 years of age: the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

PURPOSE: The effects of general anesthesia on neurodevelopment in children remain controversial. We explored the relationship between general anesthesia and neurodevelopment in children participating in the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS). METHODS: This study enrolled children born between 37 and 41 weeks of pregnancy via single-vaginal delivery to pregnant women registered in the JECS between January 2011 and March 2014. Data were collected from mother-completed questionnaires and medical transcripts. Neurodevelopment in five domains was assessed every 6 months between 12 and 48 months of age, using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires. The associations between general anesthesia exposure during early childhood and neurodevelopment in children were evaluated at each time point. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated after covariate adjustment using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Children who received general anesthesia before age 1 year had higher risks of neurodevelopmental delay in all five domains throughout the observational period. The largest risk was for gross motor delay at 18 months (adjusted odds ratio: 3.51; 95% confidence interval: 2.75-4.49). The effects on the incidence of neurodevelopmental delays after age 3 were not observed except for problem solving at 48 months. The risk of neurodevelopmental delay in children who first received general anesthesia after age 1 was considerably small. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that general anesthesia administration before age 1 is associated with neurodevelopmental delay during 1-4 years of age. The risk of general anesthesia after age 1 may be small.

Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter components during pregnancy and early childhood and its association with asthma, allergies, and sensitization in school-age children.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been associated with allergic diseases, including asthma. However, information about the effects of specific PM2.5 components is limited. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of exposure to chemical components of PM2.5 during pregnancy and early childhood with the development of asthma, allergies, and sensitization in school-age children. METHODS: This study included 2,408 children in the second grade of elementary school. Questionnaire surveys of respiratory/allergic symptoms and measurements of serum total IgE and specific IgE levels to house dust mite (HDM) and animal proteins were conducted. Exposures to ambient PM2.5 mass, sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), elemental carbon (EC), and organic carbon (OC) of PM2.5 in participants' residences from conception to age six were estimated using predictive models. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association of respiratory/allergic symptoms and allergen sensitization with estimated exposure concentrations, after adjustment for survey year, sex, season of birth, feeding method during infancy, presence of siblings, history of lower respiratory tract infection, use of childcare facilities, passive smoking, presence of pets, mother's age, history of allergic diseases, smoking during pregnancy, and annual household income. RESULTS: No significant association was found between PM2.5 and its component concentrations and asthma. However, wheezing significantly increased with mean NO3- concentrations during pregnancy (odds ratio of 1.64 [95% confidence interval: 1.10, 2.47] for an interquartile range increase). Significant associations were also found between EC in the second trimester of pregnancy and PM2.5, NO3-, EC, and OC concentrations in early childhood. Higher PM2.5, SO4-, and NH4+ concentrations during the second trimester increased the risk of rhinitis. Sensitizations to HDM and animal proteins were significantly associated with exposure to components such as SO42- and NH4+ during pregnancy but not with postnatal exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Exposures to NO3-, EC, and OC during pregnancy and early childhood were associated with wheezing. SO42- and NH4+ exposures during pregnancy were associated with sensitization to HDM and animal proteins. Asthma was not associated with exposure to PM2.5 and its main components at any period.

Association between maternal use of spray formulations and offspring urological anomalies: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

OBJECTIVE: Concerns exist regarding the effects of maternal inhalation of household products on fetal health. This study aimed to clarify the impact of maternal exposure to household products, including spray formulations, on urological anomalies in offspring up to the age of 1 year. METHODS: This study included data from 84 237 children from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, an ongoing nationwide cohort study. Using maternal self-report questionnaires, information on the use of organic solvents, waterproof sprays, insect-repellent sprays, insecticide sprays, and herbicides from implantation until the second or third trimester of pregnancy and data on urological anomalies were collected 1 year after delivery. RESULTS: Urological anomalies occurred in 799 infants. Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for maternal age, pregnancy body mass index, gestational diabetes, pre-existing maternal kidney disease, and preterm birth revealed no association between maternal exposure to organic solvents and the prevalence of offspring urological anomalies. Nevertheless, we observed significant associations between waterproof spray use during pregnancy and urological anomalies in boys (odds ratio [OR]: 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.59) and between the use of insecticide spray during pregnancy and urological anomalies in girls (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 0.98-2.22). Sub-analysis revealed significant associations between waterproof spray use during pregnancy and vesicoureteral reflux in boys (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.02-4.49) and between the use of insecticide spray during pregnancy and hydronephrosis in girls (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.11-4.47). CONCLUSION: Spray formulation use during pregnancy might increase the risk of urological anomalies in the offspring.

Embolic stroke induced by rotational persistent 1st intersegmental artery compression.

A 45-year-old man suffered multiple cerebral infarctions in the vertebrobasilar artery territory, followed by second stroke against conservative treatment. Radiological examinations revealed intra-arterial defect in left persistent 1st intersegmental artery (PFIA) at C1 level, suggesting mural thrombus, and mechanical compression of left PFIA at the level with head rotation to the right clearly revealed by reconstructed 3-dimensional radiological images, but no findings of atlantoaxial instability. One month after the second stroke, posterior fixation was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful without subsequent stroke for 24 months. This unique case demonstrated that PFIA might associate with cerebral stroke as a clinical condition of bow hunter's stroke even in middle age. Reconstructed 3-dimensional radiological images might be useful for clear demonstration of the pathophysiology in this complex clinical entity.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy: The Past, Present, and Future of Diagnosis and Treatment.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a lower motor neuron disease with autosomal recessive inheritance. The first cases of SMA were reported by Werdnig in 1891. Although the phenotypic variation of SMA led to controversy regarding the clinical entity of the disease, the genetic homogeneity of SMA was proved in 1990. Five years later, in 1995, the gene responsible for SMA, SMN1, was identified. Genetic testing of SMN1 has enabled precise epidemiological studies, revealing that SMA occurs in 1 of 10,000 to 20,000 live births and that more than 95% of affected patients are homozygous for SMN1 deletion. In 2016, nusinersen was the first drug approved for treatment of SMA in the United States. Two other drugs were subsequently approved: onasemnogene abeparvovec and risdiplam. Clinical trials with these drugs targeting patients with pre-symptomatic SMA (those who were diagnosed by genetic testing but showed no symptoms) revealed that such patients could achieve the milestones of independent sitting and/or walking. Following the great success of these trials, population-based newborn screening programs for SMA (more precisely, SMN1-deleted SMA) have been increasingly implemented worldwide. Early detection by newborn screening and early treatment with new drugs are expected to soon become the standards in the field of SMA.

Simple sutureless closure of a thoracic ventral dural defect in a patient with superficial siderosis: technical report.

BACKGROUND: Closure of the ventral dura mater of the thoracic spinal cord is challenging because it requires both avoiding spinal cord damage and obtaining sufficient working space in an anatomically narrow area. We report a case of superficial siderosis (SS) due to chronic bleeding from a thoracic ventral dural defect in which we preformed dural repair using as a simple sutureless method and obtained good results. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 75-year-old man complained of slowly progressive gait, speech, and hearing disturbances over 5 years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed SS in the brain and the spinal cord and a dural defect ventral to the spinal cord at the T2 level. Neurological examination revealed bilateral cerebellar ataxia and mild motor weakness in left iliopsoas muscle. T2 and T3 hemi-laminectomy was performed in the prone position. Transdurally, a dural defect on the ventral side of the spinal cord and a fluid-filled space beyond it could be observed. With endoscopic assistance, a blood clot in the space was confirmed. For dural closure, we performed a simple manipulation using a collagen-based dural graft. The graft was cut into pieces, softened with saline, and simply packed into the space with minimal strain on the spinal cord despite the narrow space. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful. Postoperative MRI at 1 year showed the space had disappeared. CONCLUSION: In patients with SS, sutureless dural closure using a collagen-based dural graft allows for effective, minimally invasive dural closure, even for thoracic ventral lesions.

Association of epidural analgesia during labor with neurodevelopment of children during the first three years: the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

BACKGROUND: Epidural analgesia relives pain during labor. However, the long-term effects on neurodevelopment in children remain unclear. We explored associations between exposure to epidural analgesia during labor and childhood neurodevelopment during the first 3 years of life, in the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), a large-scale birth cohort study. METHODS: Pregnant women were recruited between January 2011 and March 2014, and 100,304 live births of singleton children born at full-term by vaginal delivery, and without congenital diseases were analyzed. Data on mothers and children were collected using a self-administered questionnaires and medical record transcripts. The children's neurodevelopment was repeatedly assessed for five domains (communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social), using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition, at six time points from age 6 to 36 months. After adjusting for potential confounders, the associations between exposure to epidural analgesia during labor and children's neurodevelopment at each time point were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 42,172 children with valid data at all six time points, 938 (2.4%) were born to mothers who received epidural analgesia during labor. Maternal exposure to epidural analgesia was associated with neurodevelopmental delays during the first 3 years after birth. Delay risks in gross and fine motor domains were the greatest at 18 months (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 1.40 [1.06, 1.84] and 1.54 [1.17, 2.03], respectively), subsequently decreasing. Delay risks in communication and problem-solving domains were significantly high at 6 and 24 months, and remained significant at 36 months (aOR [95% CI]: 1.40 [1.04, 1.90] and 1.28 [1.01, 1.61], respectively). Exposure to epidural analgesia was also associated with the incidence of problem solving and personal-social delays from 18 to 24 months old. Neurodevelopmental delay risks, except for communication, were dominant in children born to mothers aged ≥30 years at delivery. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that maternal exposure to epidural analgesia during labor was associated with neurodevelopmental delays in children during the first 3 years after birth.

[Surgical Site Infection in Spine and Spinal Cord Surgery].

Surgical site infection(SSI)is among the most serious complications of spinal surgery in terms of patient health status and clinical outcomes. The use of prophylactic antimicrobials does not eliminate SSIs. Risk factors for SSI exist during not only the intraoperative period, but also all perioperative periods. In addition to intraoperative surgical risk factors, patient-related factors such as age, nutritional status, diabetes, smoking, obesity, coexistent infections in a remote part of the body, and colonization with microorganisms have also been reported. Therefore, it is important to reduce the risk of SSIs even before surgery, which requires knowledge about SSIs and prevention efforts. Spinal surgery can cause deep SSIs, instrumented infections, and meningitis resulting from cerebrospinal fluid infection. Spinal SSIs can be predicted by detecting changes in wound sites, pain and fever, and trends in hematological examination. However, special attention should be given to instrumented surgeries because of the subclinical nature of bacterial biofilm formation on the surface of implants. Therefore, it is important to aim for early detection and treatment of SSIs while reducing perioperative risks to decrease the potential for poor outcomes due to spinal SSIs.

Renadirsen, a Novel 2'OMeRNA/ENA® Chimera Antisense Oligonucleotide, Induces Robust Exon 45 Skipping for Dystrophin In Vivo.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive muscle-wasting disease caused by out-of-frame or nonsense mutation in the dystrophin gene. It begins with a loss of ambulation between 9 and 14 years of age, followed by various other symptoms including cardiac dysfunction. Exon skipping of patients' DMD pre-mRNA induced by antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) is expected to produce shorter but partly functional dystrophin proteins, such as those possessed by patients with the less severe Becker muscular dystrophy. We are working on developing modified nucleotides, such as 2'-O,4'-C-ethylene-bridged nucleic acids (ENAs), possessing high nuclease resistance and high affinity for complementary RNA strands. Here, we demonstrate the preclinical characteristics (exon-skipping activity in vivo, stability in blood, pharmacokinetics, and tissue distribution) of renadirsen, a novel AO modified with 2'-O-methyl RNA/ENA chimera phosphorothioate designed for dystrophin exon 45 skipping and currently under clinical trials. Notably, systemic delivery of renadirsen sodium promoted dystrophin exon skipping in cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, and diaphragm, compared with AOs with the same sequence as renadirsen but conventionally modified by PMO and 2'OMePS. These findings suggest the promise of renadirsen sodium as a therapeutic agent that improves not only skeletal muscle symptoms but also other symptoms in DMD patients, such as cardiac dysfunction.

Analysis of daily energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake in citrin-deficient patients: Towards prevention of adult-onset type II citrullinemia.

Patients with citrin deficiency during the adaptation/compensation period exhibit diverse clinical features and have characteristic diet of high protein, high fat, and low carbohydrate. Japanese cuisine typically contains high carbohydrate but evaluation of diet of citrin-deficient patients in 2008 showed a low energy intake and a protein:fat:carbohydrate (PFC) ratio of 19:44:37, which indicates low carbohydrate consumption rate. These findings prompted the need for diet intervention to prevent the adult onset of type II citrullinemia (CTLN2). Since the publication of the report about 10 years ago, patients are generally advised to eat what they wish under active dietary consultation and intervention. In this study, citrin-deficient patients and control subjects living in the same household provided answers to a questionnaire, filled-up a maximum 6-day food diary, and supplied physical data and information on medications if any. To study the effects of the current diet, the survey collected data from 62 patients and 45 controls comparing daily intakes of energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrate. Food analysis showed that patient's energy intake was 115% compared to the Japanese standard. The confidence interval of the PFC ratio of patients was 20-22:47-51:28-32, indicating higher protein, higher fat and lower carbohydrate relative to previous reports. The mean PFC ratio of female patients (22:53:25) was significantly different from that of male patients (20:46:34), which may explain the lower frequency of CTLN2 in females. Comparison of the present data to those published 10 years ago, energy, protein, and fat intakes were significantly higher but the amount of carbohydrate consumption remained the same. Regardless of age, most patients (except for adolescents) consumed 100-200 g/day of carbohydrates, which met the estimated average requirement of 100 g/day for healthy individuals. Finally, patients were generally not overweight and some CTLN2 patients were underweight although their energy intake was higher compared with the control subjects. We speculate that high-energy of a low carbohydrate diet under dietary intervention may help citrin-deficient patients attain normal growth and prevent the onset of CTLN2.

Diagnostic impact of monitoring transcranial motor-evoked potentials to prevent ischemic complications during endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms.

The present study aimed to determine the incidence of intraprocedural motor-evoked potential (MEP) changes and to correlate them with intraprocedural ischemic complications and postprocedural neurological deficits in patients after endovascular intracranial aneurysm treatment. This study analyzed data from 164 consecutive patients who underwent endovascular coil embolization to treat intracranial aneurysms under transcranial MEP monitoring. We analyzed associations between significant changes in MEP defined as > 50% decrease in amplitude, and intraprocedural complications as well as postoperative neurological deficits. Factors associated with postprocedural neurological deficits were also assessed. The treated aneurysms were predominantly located in the anterior circulation (71%). Fourteen (9%) were located at perforators or branches that supplied the pyramidal tract. Intraprocedural complications developed in eight (5%) patients, and four of eight (50%) patients occurred postprocedural neurological deficits. Significant intraprocedural MEP changes occurred during seven of eight endovascular procedures associated with intraprocedural complications and salvage procedures were performed immediately. Among these changes, four transient MEP changes, recovered within 10 min, were not associated with postprocedural neurological deficits, whereas three permanent MEP changes were associated with postprocedural neurological deficits and mRS ≥ 1 at discharge. Aneurysms located at perforators/branches supplying the pyramidal tract, and permanent intraprocedural MEP changes were associated with postprocedural neurological deficits. We conclude that intraprocedural transcranial MEP monitoring can reliably identify ischemic changes and can initiate prompt salvage procedures during endovascular aneurysm treatment.

Association between the serum insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy and postpartum depression.

AIM: Patients with major depression present with an increased serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration. However, the longitudinal relationship between serum IGF-1 levels and depression development remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal association between the serum IGF-1 concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy and postpartum depression development using data obtained from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS). METHODS: The JECS included 97 415 pregnant women; among them, 8791 were enrolled in this study. Data regarding depression in the first trimester, postpartum depression development at 1 month after childbirth, and other covariates were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Serum IGF-1 levels were measured in the first trimester of pregnancy. The participants were divided into four groups according to the serum IGF-1 level. RESULTS: In the first trimester, serum IGF-1 levels were not significantly associated with psychological distress in pregnant women. In the longitudinal analyses, however, postpartum depression development in mothers within the highest quartile for serum IGF-1 concentration in the first trimester was significantly less common than in those within the lowest quartile (odds ratio 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.30-0.79). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with a high serum IGF-1 concentration in the first trimester were less likely to develop postpartum depression than those with a low concentration. A high serum IGF-1 concentration during pregnancy may help to protect against postpartum depression development.

Motor evoked potential monitoring can evaluate ischemic tolerance to carotid artery occlusion during surgery.

Balloon test occlusion (BTO) is a useful examination for evaluating ischemic tolerance to internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between intraoperative motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring and the results of preoperative BTO. Between 2013 and 2017, 32 patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia with intraoperative MEP monitoring, in whom preoperative BTO was performed, were identified. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the appropriate cutoff value of MEP amplitude for BTO-positive. Furthermore, the accuracy of MEP monitoring for BTO-positive was compared with electroencephalogram (EEG) and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) monitoring. Four of 32 (12.5%) patients were BTO-positive. The cutoff value of MEP amplitude for BTO-positive was a > 80% reduction from the baseline level, which showed sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100%. Thus, the sensitivity and specificity for BTO-positive were significantly higher for MEP than for EEG (100% and 72.0%, p = 0.02) in 28 patients, but they were not significantly different compared with SEP (33.3% and 100%, p = 0.48) in 21 patients. MEP monitoring might be one of the alternatives for evaluating ischemic tolerance to ICA occlusion during surgery. The cutoff value of MEP amplitude was a > 80% reduction.

Association between house renovation during pregnancy and wheezing in the first year of life: The Japan environment and children's study.

BACKGROUND: Wheezing is a common symptom in infants, which may occasionally develop into asthma. There are many factors related to infant wheezing, including anatomical features, viral infections, and passive smoking. There are only a few reports on the association between renovation and pregnancy worldwide, and reports on this association are inadequate in Japan. This study aimed to examine the association between house renovation and new construction during pregnancy and wheezing in infants during the first year of life using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS). METHODS: Data of pregnant women registered in JECS were collected using self-administered questionnaires during the second/third trimester and 1 month after delivery. Childbirth records were completed by the doctors. Similarly, wheezing in infants was evaluated using self-administered questionnaires 1 year after birth. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the primary outcome. RESULTS: In total, 75,731 infants, excluding those with unknown gender, who were not singleton infants, and who relocated during pregnancy and the first month of life, were examined in this study. Renovation during pregnancy increased the prevalence of wheezing (odds ratio [OR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20-1.48) and recurrent wheezing (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.00-1.48) in the first year of life. The relationship between new construction during pregnancy and wheezing in infants was insignificant (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.90-1.06). CONCLUSIONS: Renovation during pregnancy may be a risk factor for wheezing in infants, and should be avoided.

[Variations in Cervical Degenerative Diseases:What are the Key-points in Diagnosis?]

Degenerative cervical spine diseases are caused by age-related changes in the spine and often lead to impairment of neurological function, resulting in reduced quality of life. Multiple cervical spine degenerative diseases are known, such as cervical spondylosis, cervical disc herniation, and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, which often coexist in a single patient. In degenerative cervical spine disease, many lesions are noted on radiographs but are often asymptomatic; hence, caution is required in clinical practice. Therefore, for the treatment of the disease, it is important to diagnose and identify the phenomenon or location causing the disorder. For this purpose, it is important to focus on the type and extent of neurological symptoms; mechanism of nerve compression, radiculopathy or myelopathy; and presence or absence of spinal instability, static or dynamic.