Since the method of minisatellites for the identification of humans with restriction-fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) was reported by Jeffreys et al. in 1985, the revolution has taken place within the field of forensic genetics. In the crime case, the DNA markers have advantages over the traditional biological markers and the DNA technologies have been improved continuously. Today, the multiplex STR (short tandem repeat analysis) polymorphisms have become the major and widely used method for human identification test both in criminal investigation and mass disaster victim identification.

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We present the annual of the department of Surgery at the Itabashi Hospital of the Nihon University School of Medicine from January to December 2008.

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Background: Brugada syndrome is often accompanied by atrial tachyarrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation (AF). Mechanisms underlying the atrial arrhythmogenicity are unknown. Objective: To investigate atrial vulnerability in patients with Brugada syndrome. Methods: Two groups of patients were compared; 18 patients with Brugada syndrome (Brugada syndrome group) and 11 age-matched patients with neither structural heart disease nor AF episodes (control group). Programmed electrical stimulation was performed from the right atrium (RA), and the effective refractory period of the right atrium (ERP-RA), interatrial conduction time (IACT, conduction time from the pacing stimulus to the distal coronary sinus activation), monophasic action potentials (MAPs) at the high RA, and the inducibility of AF lasting > 30 seconds were compared. MAP duration at 80% repolarization (MAPD₈₀) was measured. Results: AF was induced with a single extrastimulus or double extrastimuli in all patients with Brugada syndrome but in none of the control patients. The ERP-RA did not differ between the two groups. IACT at the shortest diastolic interval was significantly increased in the Brugada syndrome group compared to that in the control group. The maximum slope of the MAPD₈₀ restitution curve was significantly steeper in the Brugada syndrome group than in the control group (2.4 ± 2.0 vs. 0.82 ± 0.36, P < 0.02). Ventricular fibrillation was induced with programmed ventricular stimulation in all Brugada syndrome patients. Conclusion: Both abnormal interatrial conduction and steep restitution of the atrial action potential duration may contribute to the atrial arrhythmogenicity in Brugada syndrome.

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Acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) is characterized by local bacterial infection of the kidney that forms an inflammatory mass, but does not form a frank abscess. We report two pediatric patients with AFBN. A 7-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital because of pyrexia and abdominal pain despite the abnormal finding of urinalysis. However, the urinary tract was normal by retrograde urography (RU). A 3-year-old boy began to exhibit pyrexia and tonic convulsion. Although he exhibited hydronephrosis and vesioureteral reflux by RU, urinalysis showed no abnormal finding. The definitive diagnosis of AFBN was made for both patients based on abdominal enhanced CT. We conclude that the abdominal enhanced CT is necessary to make the diagnosis of AFBN. In particular, we should rule out AFBN among the causes of unexplained fever in pediatric patients.

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Despite the developments in interventional cardiology, stent expansion remains an important predictor of restenosis and thrombosis even in the Drug-Eluting-Stent (DES) era. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) observation suggests that calcification interferes with stent expansion. We applied a new device, ‘AngioSculpt’, on a severely calcified lesion and report the efficacy of AngioSculpt, based on evaluation by Optical coherence tomography (OCT). A 64-year-old-male, who had diffuse stenosis in the LCX with severely calcifications, was treated using AngioSculpt. AngioSculpt predilatation with a high pressure led to successful stent implantation, although Rotablator^® was considered. In addition, the radial scoring marks by AngioSculpt were seen by OCT, but were not recognized clearly in IVUS. AngioSculpt might be a beneficial device for the lesion modification before stenting in severely calcified lesion. This report suggests AngioSculpt is a new means for treating severely calcified lesions especially if a Rotablator^® is not available.

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