Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine
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HASTE (half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin echo) is the single-section pulse sequence with high-resolution and moderate T2 contrast. Therefore it allows ultra fast acquisition, it is not influenced by respiratory motion, and it is insensitive to susceptibility effect because all of the data are from spin-echo. ⋯ Recently it is recognized as one of the most powerful tool for imaging abdomen, especially for MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreato-graphy). The features of HASTE and some examples of possible clinical application are shown.
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Comparative Study
[Comparative studies of breath-hold magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) between different two sequences and between 1.0T and 1.5T units].
In this article, a comparative study in the diagnostic ability of a breath-hold MRCP between thin slice half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) and thick slice rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE), and between 1.5T and 1.0T units was made. Although thin slice HASTE sequence might be more excellent in the diagnostic ability than thick slice RARE, the ability of depiction of pancreaticobiliary system on MRCP was not statistically different between these two sequences and between 1.0T and 1.5T units. ⋯ However, thick slice RARE sequence was useful for MRCP because a projection image of pancreaticobiliary system could be easily obtained without postprocessing and without misregistration. Thick slice RARE sequence should be used in combination with thin slice HASTE sequence for the diagnosis of pancreaticobiliary system.
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Each year approximately 30,000 persons in Japan experience prehospital cardiac arrest complicating acute coronary syndrome, and about 96 percent of them die. The majority of these sudden cardiac deaths are the result of fatal arrhythmias that often can be stopped by rapid initial medical care. In Tokyo, however, the first responder to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation are about 10 percent, the successful defibrillation rate by Japanese paramedics who are not authorized advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) with drugs are about 15 percent and there are very few cardiologists who have been engaged in ACLS and initial management of suspected acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department. Therefore, each community emergency medical system should develop a plan to provide rapid initial medical care to patients with cardiac arrest (those with and without acute coronary syndrome).
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Ulcerative colitis is a nonspecific inflammatory disease of large intestine. Its inflammation is limited to intestinal mucosa. The most essential symptom is hematochezia, bloody stool and intestinal bleeding. ⋯ These diseases include Crohn disease, ischemic colitis, intestinal Behçet disease, Enterohemorrhagic E. coli including O157, antibiotics associated hemorrhagic colitis and so on. Drugs for the treatment of ulcerative colitis are sulphapyridine, 5-aminosalicylic acid, prednisolone, betamethasone and immunosuppressive drugs. Recently, leukocytapheresis and massive immunoglobulin 7S treatment are available for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
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Since the discovery by Huggins and Hodges that androgen deprivation therapy is effective for prostatic cancer, surgical castration or the administration of exogenous estrogen has been the mainstay of treatment for advanced prostatic cancer. However, surgical castration is refused by some patients because of psychological impact and estrogen therapy is reported to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Medical castration with LHRH analogue has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in patients with advanced prostatic cancer. But the traditional surgical castration still remains as another powerful option, because it is more excellent in the points of compliance and cost-benefit than a monthly injection of expensive LH-RH analogue.