Journal of Nippon Medical School = Nippon Ika Daigaku zasshi
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Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can cause severe permanent disabilities. A mother who is seronegative before conception but acquires infection during pregnancy is a risk factor for congenital infection. We describe a neonate in whom congenital CMV infection was diagnosed at birth and confirmed with DNA quantitation by means of the polymerase chain reaction, was accompanied by cerebral ventriculomegaly and severe hearing loss, and was treated with ganciclovir/valganciclovir for 6 weeks. ⋯ Single-photon emission computed tomography showed marked improvement 6 months after treatment. This case provides compelling evidence that a reliable diagnosis of congenital CMV infections coupled with a prompt and appropriate treatment program can prevent permanent disability. It is, therefore, important to establish a more effective strategy for the management of congenital CMV infection.
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Case Reports
Two cases of flexor digitorum profundus avulsion due to enchondroma of the distal phalanx.
Avulsion of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon with fracture of the distal phalanx is rare. Moreover, enchondroma is less frequent in the distal phalanx. We report two unusual cases of avulsion of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon at its insertion in combination with pathological fracture of the distal phalanx due to enchondroma. ⋯ At the final follow-up examinations, there were no symptoms and no recurrence of the bone tumor. In the present cases, three-dimensional computed tomography imaging was useful for diagnosing the flexor tendon avulsion, determining the preoperative identification the location of a ruptured tendon stump, and planning the operation to minimize the surgical wound. The recommended treatment for avulsion of the FDP tendon due to enchondroma is curettage, bone grafting of the resultant cavity, and reattachment of the tendon to ensure sufficient structural strength to permit secure fixation and early mobilization and, especially, to prevent flexion contracture of the finger because the stump of the flexor digitorum profundus is buried in the cavity of the distal phalanx.
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Radical prostatectomy (RP) for localized prostate cancer after transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) is technically difficult because of periprostatic adhesion and changes in the form of the prostate. The advantages of laparoscopic RP (LRP) over retropubic RP (RRP) include a less invasive operation through a small wound, a clearer field of vision, and reduced blood loss, and, therefore, LRP may represent the optimal method for RP after TUR-P. The present study compared clinical, oncological, and pathological outcomes between LRP and RRP after TUR-P at our institution. ⋯ We found no significant differences in clinical, pathological, and oncological outcomes, except for urinary incontinence, between LRP and RRP.
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We report 2 cases of ruptured aneurysms of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery associated with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). The aneurysm and AVM were simultaneously embolized with n-butyl cyanoacrylate. ⋯ In both cases the aneurysms were successfully occluded. The effectiveness and limitations of this treatment are discussed.
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Myofibroblasts play a critical role in tissue fibrosis. However, the intracellular signaling pathways in myofibroblast differentiation are poorly understood. Here, we studied the relationship between transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad pathway activation and myofibroblast differentiation in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. ⋯ However, TGF-β1 produced no effect on the quantity of ASMA, either in mRNA levels or protein levels, even after the phosphorylation of Smad2/3. In contrast, TGF-β1 upregulated the expression of type I collagen mRNA. These findings suggest that in pulmonary fibrosis the molecular mechanism of myofibroblast differentiation is complex and that the difference between ASMA expression and type I collagen expression is mediated by the TGF-β/Smad pathway.