Objective Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may be involved in the development of cholangiocarcinoma. The prevalence of HBV and HCV infection was examined in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC).
Methods The levels of HBV surface antigens (HBsAg), antibodies against HBV core antigens (HBcAb) and hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCV-Ab) were determined in sera obtained from 145 consecutive patients (50 patients with ICC, 95 patients with ECC).
Results The seroprevalence of HBsAg was 10% in the ICC patients and 4.2% in the ECC patients. The prevalence of HCV-Ab was 20% in the ICC patients and 7.4% in the ECC patients.
Conclusion The prevalence of HBsAg and HCV-Ab is 0.8-2.2% and 1-2%, respectively, in the Japanese population living in the Tottori area. Furthermore, HBV and HCV infection is a possible risk factor for the development of cholangiocarcinoma. Therefore, the surveillance of ICC and ECC is needed in HBV and HCV carriers.

View full abstract

Objective The serum albumin level has been reported to be positively associated with blood pressure in some cross-sectional studies. However, the longitudinal relationships between the serum albumin level and incident hypertension have been poorly studied.
Methods The incidence of hypertension was calculated for each quartile of serum albumin in 1,385 normotensive men and 855 normotensive women without cardiovascular disease at baseline who revisited for four years thereafter. The hazard ratios (HRs) of incident hypertension were calculated for each one SD increase in the serum albumin level and for the higher quartiles of serum albumin compared with the lowest quartile adjusted for smoking, alcohol drinking, body mass index, proteinuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate, uric acid, fasting glucose, log triglycerides, log high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, and systolic blood pressure.
Results During four years of follow-up (mean; 3.1 years), 242 men (17.5%) and 89 women (10.4%) developed hypertension. The incidence of hypertension significantly decreased through the quartiles of albumin (p for trend=0.012). The HR (95% confidence interval (CI); p value) of hypertension for each one SD increase in the serum albumin level was 0.779 (0.696-0.872; <0.001). Compared with the lowest quartile of serum albumin, the HRs (95% CIs; p values) of hypertension for the second, third and fourth quartiles were 0.765 (0.574-1.018; 0.066), 0.628 (0.440-0.895; 0.010) and 0.520 (0.364-0.742; <0.001), respectively.
Conclusion A decreased serum albumin level was found to be a significant predictor of hypertension in a Japanese health screening population.

View full abstract

Objective The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between myocardial damage caused by atrial fibrillation (AF) and subsequent cardiovascular events in AF patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
Methods and Results We measured the serum levels of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) and high-sensitivity troponin T in 402 consecutive CHF patients with chronic AF (CHF-AF, n=201) or sinus rhythm (CHF-SR, n=201). The patients with CHF-AF had higher H-FABP and troponin T levels than those with CHF-SR. In order to examine the prognostic value of myocardial damage markers in CHF-AF and CHF-SR patients, we followed the above patients and analyzed their clinical outcomes. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that both the serum H-FABP and troponin T levels independently predicted subsequent cardiovascular events. A Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that the rate of cardiovascular events was higher in the patients with elevated H-FABP and troponin T levels. The optimal cut-off values for the myocardial damage markers of cardiovascular events were higher in the CHF-AF patients than in the CHF-SR patients (H-FABP, 5.4 vs. 4.6 ng/mL and troponin T, 0.030 vs. 0.013 ng/mL).
Conclusion Myocardial damage advances in association with the presence of AF and is associated with subsequent cardiovascular events in both CHF-AF and CHF-SR patients. In this study, the cut-off values for the myocardial damage markers were higher in the CHF-AF patients than in the CHF-SR patients.

View full abstract

Objective This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between the serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration and indices of obesity in middle-aged Japanese men and women.
Methods The participants were 2,037 employees (1,044 men and 993 women; age, 36-55 yr) of a metal products factory in Japan. Clinical examinations were conducted in 2009. We obtained a medical history and anthropometric measurements (body weight, body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference) and measured the serum TSH concentrations. The anthropometric indices were compared across serum TSH quartiles. The associations were evaluated separately according to the smoking status in men.
Results The mean body weight (kg), BMI (kg/m²) and waist circumference (cm) were 69.2, 23.7 and 83.2 in men and 55.3, 22.3 and 74.3 in women, respectively. Men with a higher TSH concentration had higher body weight and BMI values (p for trend=0.016 and 0.019, respectively), and these significant associations were observed even after adjusting for age, smoking status and other potential confounders. The TSH level was not associated with waist circumference. We found a significant interaction between the TSH level and the smoking status on body weight (p for interaction=0.013) and a significant association between the TSH level and body weight in nonsmokers, but not in current smokers. No significant associations were observed between the TSH level and the anthropometric indices in women.
Conclusion Significant positive associations between the serum TSH concentration, body weight and BMI were detected in men only, and an interaction with the smoking status was observed for this association.

View full abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two different treatment regimes in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN): steroids alone and in combination with a medium dose of cyclosporine A (CsA).
Methods Forty-eight IgAN patients 18-69 years of age with proteinuria >1.0 g/24 hours and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of >30 mL/min/1.73 m² were randomly given either steroids alone (methylprednisolone (MP) group; n=25) or steroids plus CsA treatment (combination group; n=23). The primary endpoint was the reduction of proteinuria by 50% or more of the baseline value. The secondary endpoint was an increase in the baseline serum creatinine level of 50% or a decrease in the baseline eGFR of 25%.
Results After 12 months of treatment, all patients in the combination group and 87.50% of the patients in the MP group reached the primary endpoint. The complete remission rates in the combination group and MP group were 50.0% and 45.83%, respectively. The level of urinary protein excretion declined from 3.17 ± 3.25 g/24 hours to 0.36 ± 0.23 g/24 hours (p<0.001) in the combination group and from 2.60 ± 2.03 g/24 hours to 0.53 ± 0.71 g/24 hours (p<0.001) in the MP group. Two patients in the combination group reached the secondary endpoint, with a decrease in the eGFR of 25% from the baseline value, while no patients in the MP group achieved this goal. The patients in the combination group exhibited significant improvements in the eGFR after nine months (90.16 ± 28.78 vs. 80.46 ± 22.73 mL/min.1.73 m², p=0.011), while the patients in the MP group showed significant increases in the eGFR after six months of treatment (92.18 ± 22.71 to 81.63 ± 18.36 mL/min/1.73 m², p=0.019). Four patients (8.33%) developed severe pneumonia during treatment.
Conclusion Both the full dose of steroids alone and combined treatment with steroids and a medium dose of CsA remarkably reduced the levels of proteinuria and ameliorated the renal function in the IgAN patients. Infection was the most serious complication during the treatment.

View full abstract

Objective The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of headaches among socially active people working in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Methods We cross-sectionally surveyed 7,917 individuals. The survey assessed demographic characteristics, the prevalence and characteristics of headaches and physician attendance.
Results The lifetime prevalence of migraines was 8.9%, while that of tension-type headaches was 14.7%. Women exhibited a higher prevalence of migraines than men (15% vs. 3.7%; p<0.001). The prevalence of migraines and tension-type headaches differed among occupations. Susceptibility to migraines and tension-type headaches related to working overtime was observed. With respect to the influence of migraines on social activities, 22.4% of the migraineurs had been obliged to miss work due to headaches several times a year. As many as 59.4% of the sufferers had never consulted a physician about their headaches. Moreover, 24.6% of the migraineurs were not in touch with any physician at the time of the survey. The most common reason why they had stopped visiting their physician was that they had been told their headaches were not fatal.
Conclusion Migraines adversely affect social activities. These data provide important information for understanding the features of migraines and tension-type headaches in socially active people working in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

View full abstract

We herein report two cases of portal venous gas (PVG) following alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (α-GI) therapy for diabetes mellitus. Anti-diabetic treatment with voglibose was commenced in the first case, while the second case was treated with miglitol. Both patients recovered without intensive treatment after discontinuing the α-GI therapy. α-GI medications may increase internal intestinal tract pressure by releasing carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas, potentially causing pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) or PVG. Our experience suggests that α-GI therapy is an important potential cause of portal venous gas that can be treated conservatively.

View full abstract

A 66-year-old patient was diagnosed with primary gastric B-cell lymphoma. The pathological findings were consistent with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); however, a small area showed features of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Biopsy specimens were referred to two other pathologists, both of whom diagnosed the case as pure DLBCL, denying the area of MALT lymphoma. As the lymphoma was limited to the submucosal layer and the patient's general condition was excellent, eradication of Helicobacter pylori was selected as the initial treatment. The lymphoma completely disappeared three months after the eradication treatment, and complete remission has been maintained for nearly two years.

View full abstract

The migration of Kirschner wires (K-wires) is a rare complication. We herein present a case of an inflammatory polyp in the colon caused by the migration of a K-wire following fixation of a pelvic fracture. Surgery was carried out to remove the K-wire through an incision at the level of the left iliac bone. Simultaneous endoscopic clipping of the colonic wound was also performed. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Although very rare, migration of devices should be considered in patients with a previous history of orthopedic surgery.

View full abstract

Gastrointestinal toxicity is uncommon among patients treated with angiotensin II receptor antagonists. A 58-year-old man presented with nausea, vomiting and constant pain in the epigastrium that radiated to the flanks. He received treatment with valsartan (160 mg daily) for hypertension. The clinical, biochemical and radiological findings were compatible with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. After the patient achieved a clinical and biochemical recovery, the valsartan therapy was started again. Six weeks later, he returned to the hospital with an attack of pancreatitis. Subsequently, he returned with repeated attacks of pancreatitis twice, and the valsartan was discontinued. Ten months after the treatment, the patient had no complaints. When severe abdominal symptoms occur for no apparent reason during treatment with valsartan, a diagnosis of pancreatitis should be considered.

View full abstract

An 80-year-old man was admitted with anorexia, a high fever and general icterus. Laboratory examinations revealed remarkable inflammation and elevation of liver/biliary enzymes. Computed tomography (CT) showed a high-density lesion in the bile duct, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) disclosed an oval filling defect mimicking choledocholithiasis. Plastic stents were inserted to treat the acute cholangitis; however, the patient's symptoms recurred. An erythematous hypervascular mass obtained with a balloon catheter contained numerous pleomorphic histiocytic cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm, remarkable anisonucleosis and occasional mitoses. A diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma (HS) was made based on the results of intensive immunohistochemistry. Monoclonal rearrangement of the IGH and TCRG genes, IGH split and IGH/BCL2 fusion was negative, although polysomy 8, 14, and 18 was detected. The patient was treated conservatively and died of the disease 20 months after the initial diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of bile duct HS. This case, which involved numerical alterations of chromosomes, presented with CT and ERCP findings similar to those of choledocholithiasis.

View full abstract

Although the primary cause of acute coronary syndrome is atherosclerotic disease, it is important to include other causes of acute myocardial infarction. This report describes the case of a 53-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia, who was referred to our cardiology department for treatment of acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation on an electrocardiogram. Portable echocardiography showed large areas of vegetation on the anterior mitral leaflet, while coronary angiography demonstrated the total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. A histologic examination of the embolectomy specimen confirmed the presence of Aspergillus fungal thrombi. This report highlights a rare case of fatal Aspergillus endocarditis with myocardial infarction due to embolism in an immunosuppressed patient.

View full abstract

A 42-year-old woman with a history of aspirin-induced asthma was admitted with severe chest pain. Emergency coronary angiography revealed coronary artery spasms. The administration of vasodilators did not suppress the anginal symptoms, and the differential white blood cell count continued to show eosinophilia. The patient's symptoms of aspirin-induced asthma, eosinophilia and other allergic states led to the diagnosis of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS). After starting betamethasone therapy, the eosinophilia and cardiac symptoms rapidly disappeared. Although coronary vasospasms related to CSS are rare, the present case suggests that a differential white blood cell count should be obtained in patients with refractory coronary vasospasms.

View full abstract

A 61-year-old man was referred to our hospital with exertional dyspnea. Electrocardiography showed atrial fibrillation (AF) with a heart rate of 116 bpm and left bundle branch block (LBBB). Chest radiography demonstrated pulmonary congestion and cardiomegaly with a cardiothoracic ratio of 57%. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a severely reduced left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction: 32%), suggesting tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC) due to AF. Following treatment for congestive heart failure and complete isolation of each pulmonary vein, the LBBB disappeared, with a complete recovery of the cardiac systolic function. This report describes a case of transient reversible LBBB associated with systolic dysfunction treated with catheter ablation.

View full abstract

In several cases with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF), VF was initiated by premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) from the Purkinje system. However, the precise characteristics of the Purkinje activity in patients with idiopathic VF remain unclear. We performed an electrophysiological study in a patient with idiopathic VF and examined the correlation between the Purkinje potential and the incidence of PVCs/polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PMVT). In this case of idiopathic VF, the Purkinje activity caused multiform PVCs and PMVT. The The Purkinje activity and slow conduction of Purkinje fibers are associated with the occurrence of multiform PVCs and PMVT.

View full abstract

We herein report a case of peripheral type chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension treated with medical therapy and subsequent balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA). After a series of BPA procedures, the patient's hemodynamics almost completely normalized. The patient was later diagnosed with lung carcinoma, and the vasculature of the resected lung demonstrated intimal thickening and luminal stenosis in the pulmonary arteries in both the areas where BPA was performed and not performed, in spite of a marked reduction in pulmonary arterial pressure. The present case is the first report on the histology of the pulmonary vasculature following BPA.

View full abstract

A 48-year-old man suffered from uncontrollable coronary vasospasms, even when taking the maximum dose of vasodilators. The patient had a history of hypereosinophilia, and as the eosinophilia worsened, more frequent and intense coronary spastic angina (CSA) attacks occurred. He was treated with 20 mg/day of oral prednisolone, and the chest symptoms of CSA completely resolved thereafter. We encountered a refractory CSA patient with an allergic predisposition for which the oral administration of corticosteroids was markedly effective. Although the priority of corticosteroid therapy is not clinically high in patients with CSA, it can be effective especially in patients with an allergic background.

View full abstract

Primary myxofibrosarcoma of the heart is quite rare. We herein present the case of a 56-year-old man who presented with large obstructive myxofibrosarcoma of the right ventricle (RV), as assessed on multi-diagnostic imaging techniques (multidetector row computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography). Most previous cases of cardiac myxofibrosarcoma have been reported in the left atrium and ventricle. In this report, we describe a very rare case of large obstructive myxofibrosarcoma of the RV.

View full abstract

We herein describe the case of a woman with pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) type II. She had a history of subtotal thyroidectomy against Graves' disease without levothyroxine supplementation and presented with stiffness, numbness and muscle cramps. Her surgical history suggested the possibility of secondary hypoparathyroidism; however, the serum intact parathyroid hormone level and results of a Ellsworth-Howard test led to the diagnosis of PHP type II. In the present case, making the differential diagnosis was challenging because two distinct disorders, such as PHP and secondary hypoparathyroidism, may exist simultaneously. This case demonstrates the need to consider the possibility of PHP type II in patients exhibiting hypocalcemia.

View full abstract

Thiazide diuretics are known to produce severe hyponatremia as well as hypokalemia. The present study demonstrated severe hyponatremia in three hypertensive patients who had received combination therapy consisting of an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and thiazide. The serum sodium (Na) levels in all three cases were markedly reduced to below 116 mmol/L, and the patients exhibited augmented urinary excretion of Na with a reduced circulatory blood volume. After withdrawing the ARB and thiazide treatment, the serum Na levels normalized within one to two weeks. Combination therapy with ARBs and thiazide may cause hyponatremia in elderly patients.

View full abstract

Eight years after an episode of multiple IgG4-related disease, a pituitary mass with panhypopituitarism and a visual disturbance developed in a 70-year-old man under low-dose steroid therapy. A pituitary biopsy revealed findings of lymphocytic hypophysitis with the absence of IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration. The serum IgG4 level was unremarkable. Although performing a pituitary biopsy and measuring the serum IgG4 level is crucial for making a diagnosis of IgG4-related hypophysitis, it is occasionally difficult to diagnose the disease in patients treated with steroid therapy, as observed in the present case. Based on a review of the diagnosis, conducting a careful assessment is required, especially in men and elderly patients thought to have solitary hypophysitis.

View full abstract

A 24-year-old healthy woman presented at our hospital due to hypoglycemia. A fasting test provoked spontaneous hypoglycemia, and contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography revealed a pancreatic tumor. We diagnosed her with insulinoma and initiated diazoxide treatment to prevent hypoglycemia. After 13 days of treatment, she experienced nasal bleeding, and her platelet count decreased from 186,000 /μL to 28,000 /μL. The thrombocytopenia was ameliorated five days after diazoxide was discontinued. Although diazoxide has hyperglycemic effects associated with decreased insulin secretion, diazoxide-induced thrombocytopenia is rare. A complete blood count should be obtained periodically in patients receiving treatment with diazoxide.

View full abstract

Native renal infarction is uncommon in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)-related thromboembolism. Graft infarction is also rare, with such cases mostly occurring in the main graft artery postoperatively. To date, there have been no studies of AF-related graft kidney infarction. We herein describe the first case of AF-related graft kidney infarction. The clinical manifestations of this condition mimic and follow those of acute pyelonephritis; therefore, these diseases should be differentially diagnosed as early as possible using lactic dehydrogenase testing and computed tomography. Aggressive treatment with intravascular thrombolysis should be administered, even when the diagnosis is delayed, in order to restore a viable renal function.

View full abstract

A 38-year-old man underwent peritoneal dialysis (PD) in May 2011 due to chronic renal failure with chronic glomerulonephritis. In early February 2012, he underwent laparoscopy to salvage and correct a malpositioned PD catheter. The laparoscopic intra-abdominal findings revealed turbid ascites and multiple fibrin lumps, despite the patient's lack of history of peritonitis. Based on these findings, in addition to the presence of continuous inflammation and ascites, a diagnosis of pre-encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis was suspected, and the treatment was switched from PD to hemodialysis. The administration of prednisolone at a dose of 20 mg/day and peritoneal lavage resulted in a decrease in the ascites and fibrin lumps.

View full abstract

A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and administered PAH-specific therapies, including bosentan. Four years after the initiation of treatment with bosentan, liver dysfunction appeared, and ambrisentan was substituted for bosentan. One-and-a half years later, a second episode of liver dysfunction occurred. The pathological findings of a liver biopsy specimen were not definitive, although drug-induced hepatotoxicity caused by ambrisentan was considered. However, the patient's liver dysfunction did not improve even after the discontinuation of ambrisentan. Finally, we diagnosed her with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Providing careful observation with a suspicion of AIH is important when treating PAH patients with autoantibodies.

View full abstract

A 47-year-old woman with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) was referred to our hospital for treatment of an ovarian tumor. Although chest contrast-enhanced CT scans obtained on admission revealed pulmonary arterial thrombosis, she was diagnosed with IPAH with central pulmonary thrombosis based on a normal perfusion lung scan. We initiated upfront triple combination therapy with pulmonary vasodilators. After one month of the therapy, the patient's pulmonary hemodynamics improved. Gynecological surgery was performed under general anesthesia without any perioperative complications. Providing careful intensive management of patients with severe PAH can reduce the perioperative risks of non-cardiac and non-obstetric surgery.

View full abstract

This report describes a patient with autoimmune myelofibrosis accompanied by Sjögren's syndrome (SS). A 36-year-old woman was admitted due to petechiae, purpura, gingival bleeding, dyspnea on exertion, and a lack of concentration. She had pancytopenia and was diagnosed with SS. A bone marrow study showed hypercellular marrow with reticulin fibrosis. Lymphocytic infiltrates and aggregates composed of a mixture of T and B cells in the marrow were also observed. A chromosomal analysis of the marrow cells showed 47, XXX and an analysis of peripheral lymphocytes revealed 47, XXX/46, XX mosaic results. The patient's cytopenia resolved following treatment with oral prednisolone.

View full abstract

The diagnostic value of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) has not been thoroughly evaluated in patients with leukemia. We herein report the case of a patient with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) presenting with fever of unknown origin (FUO) who was diagnosed after FDG PET/CT indicated diffuse bone marrow involvement.

View full abstract

We herein report the case of a 67-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) at 52 years of age who presented with oculogyric crisis (OGC) in the off period. Ordinarily, OGC is caused by postencephalitic parkinsonism or the chronic use of antidopaminergic medications. The OGC began at 65 years of age and was associated with the wearing-off of symptoms. The dominant OGC feature was tonic deviations in eye posture induced by looking upward with prominent retrocollis. The administration of control dopaminergic medications led to improvements in the wearing-off phenomenon and OGC. This observation confirms that sporadic PD can induce OGC in the off period.

View full abstract

We herein present the cases of two patients with multiple ischemic events, presumably due to varying degrees of middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis. The first patient was treated medically, and the symptoms and degree of MCA stenosis varied over several months. The second patient received emergent bypass surgery and experienced no further events, although the MCA stenosis progressed over four months. Emergent intracranial bypass surgery is an option for preventing further ischemic events in patients with symptomatic MCA stenosis.

View full abstract

We herein report the case of a 72-year-old woman with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (SSc) complicated by antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis who exhibited honeycomb lung without volume loss. On admission, chest computed tomography (CT) revealed honeycomb lung without volume loss in addition to increased density of the partition walls. A renal biopsy revealed global sclerosis and cellular crescent formation. Mononeuritis multiple subsequently occurred, and steroid pulse therapy with cyclophosphamide was administered. Repeat chest CT showed that the honeycomb lung was unchanged; however, overall reduced density of the partition walls was observed. It is necessary to recognise that vasculitis may develop in SSc patients who exhibit honeycomb lung without volume loss.

View full abstract

A 48-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of a tender mass in the left side of the neck. He was diagnosed with tuberculous lymphadenitis based on the results of a biopsy. Shortly after the diagnosis, oral aphthae, erythema nodosum-like lesions on the lower legs and genital ulcers developed. A diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis was ruled out according to a negative mycobacterial culture of tissues obtained from stained smears and lesional biopsy specimens. The patient's symptoms remitted following the introduction of antituberculous therapy. We assume that tuberculous lymphadenitis was strongly associated with the appearance of Behçet's disease-like symptoms in this case.

View full abstract