Journal of Nippon Medical School = Nippon Ika Daigaku zasshi
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Neuropathic pain (NeP) results from injury to, or disease of, the peripheral or central components of the neural systems involved in pain. In contrast to inflammatory pain, NeP can persist after healing from the initial injury has resolved. Antipyretic agents, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, and acetaminophen are ineffective, while specific agents such as gabapentinoids, antidepressants, antiepileptics, and opioids are effective in treating NeP. In this review, we address the definition of NeP, pharmacotherapy for NeP in Japan, pain classification, setting goals for successful NeP medication, and the Japanese algorithm for the pharmacotherapy of NeP with specific prescription guidance.
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Review Case Reports
Subarachnoid Aneurysmal Hemorrhage Associated with Coarctation of the Aorta: Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) that undergo rupture causing subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), are common in young patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA), but rarer in middle-aged and elderly patients. The pathogenesis of IAs associated with CoA remains unclear. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman who presented with SAH. ⋯ Moreover, adult CoA patients tend to have multiple IAs, considered to be due to hypertension associated with CoA, as well as genetic predisposition. In CoA patients, ruptured IAs should be treated as early as possible before correction of the CoA. Close postoperative observation with management of cerebral vasospasm, renal or spinal cord ischemia, and respiratory compromise in the perioperative period is vital.
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The number of cases of lymphocytic hypophysitis is small, although the condition is not rare. For optimal therapy, the correct diagnosis from imaging, immunological studies, and pathological findings from a pituitary biopsy is important. ⋯ Moreover, recent immune checkpoint blockade such ipilimumab has been shown to induce anti-CTLA-4-related hypophysitis. In the future, elucidating the immunological mechanism and establishing a suitable therapy will be necessary for accurate long-term prognosis.
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Review Case Reports
Pott's Puffy Tumor in an Adult: A Case Report and Review of Literature.
Pott's puffy tumor is a subperiosteal abscess of the frontal bone with osteomyelitis which has become rare because of the widespread use of antibiotics. Here, we report a case of Pott's puffy tumor in a 46-year-old man who visited the department of dermatology with painful swelling of the forehead. ⋯ The eventual diagnosis was Pott's puffy tumor. The patient underwent endoscopic surgery at the department of otorhinolaryngology and achieved a complete recovery.
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Review Historical Article
Cervical anterior fusion with the Williams-Isu method: clinical review.
Anterior decompression and fusion of the cervical spine is a widely accepted treatment for cervical canal disease. The Williams-Isu method involves cervical anterior fusion with autologous bone grafts from cervical vertebral bodies. Its advantages are a wide operative field, excellent graft fusion, the absence of problems related to the iliac donor site, and direct visualization of the nerve root. ⋯ To reduce the levels to be fused in patients with multilevel lesions due to cervical disease, the Williams-Isu method can be combined with the transvertebral approach. The transvertebral approach facilitated by the wide Williams-Isu window allows the root bifurcation area to be confirmed during the early stage of surgery and possible decompression along the root. Radiological examination has shown that the combination of the Williams-Isu method and transvertebral approach does not affect the fusion level compared with the Williams-Isu method alone and produces better results than does the transvertebral approach alone.