Initial management of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is important, and includes treatment decision-making and prediction of prognosis. We examined whether biomarkers at admission could be useful prognostic predictors. We focused on electrolytes and blood glucose, which can be measured easily at any facility and for which the results can be obtained promptly before those of other biomarkers, such as D-dimer.

All trauma patients with head injury treated at Chiba Hokusoh Hospital between 2014 and 2017 were investigated. Multiple trauma cases accompanied by fatal trauma, hemorrhagic shock, and cardiopulmonary arrest, and pediatric cases were excluded from this study. The blood gas data at the initial hospital visit were reviewed retrospectively. Cases in which the patients died or were in a vegetative state due to a head injury during hospitalization were defined as having a poor outcome. Factors related to poor outcome were analyzed.

Of 185 male and 79 female patients enrolled in the study, 34 had a poor outcome. Poor outcome was correlated significantly with potassium (P = 0.003), glucose (P < 0.001), and the glucose-to-potassium ratio (P < 0.001) at arrival. In particular, the odds ratio for a glucose-to-potassium ratio of ≥50 was 4.079.

We evaluated blood gas data at initial hospital visit as these results can be obtained more quickly than those of other biomarkers assessed previously. Serum glucose-to-potassium ratio at admission may be a potential predictor of prognosis for severe TBI.

We evaluated blood gas data at initial hospital visit as these results can be obtained more quickly than those of other biomarkers assessed previously. Serum glucose-to-potassium ratio at admission may be a potential predictor of prognosis for severe TBI.

This study sought to assess the efficacy of a deep-tissue thermal therapy system with a resonant cavity applicator (DTT-RCA), which safely heats deep joint tissue for treating osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.

Two groups of participants were recruited. The DTT-RCA group comprised 20 knees. Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade was I and II in 8 knees (DTT-RCA I/II group) [mean age 73.3 years (standard deviation 11.4) ], III and VI in 12 knees (DTT-RCA III/IV group) [75.4 (8.6) years]. The control group comprised 13 knees [68.2 (10.8) years]. K-L grade was I in 7 knees and II in 6 knees. This group received exercise therapy. The DTT-RCA I/II group and the control group were imaged by MRI T2 mapping at baseline and 6 months to determine the area of cartilage degeneration.

Visual Analogue Scale improved only in the DTT-RCA I/II post-intervention (p < 0.01). Japanese Orthopedic Association knee rating scores (DTT-RCA I/II p < 0.01, control group p < 0.01), the Japanese Knee Osteoarthritis Measure (DTT-RCA I/II p < 0.05, control p < 0.01), and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (DTT-RCA I/II p < 0.01, DTT-RCA III/IV p < 0.05, control p < 0.01) post-intervention. The magnitude of change did not differ significantly between the three groups. The area of cartilage degeneration did not change significantly post-intervention in the DTT-RCA I/II group, not even relative to the control group.

This was the first study to test a DTT-RCA system in patients with knee OA. The system reduced the clinical symptoms of knee OA and could potentially be effective for conservative therapy.

This was the first study to test a DTT-RCA system in patients with knee OA. The system reduced the clinical symptoms of knee OA and could potentially be effective for conservative therapy.

To evaluate visual outcome and patient satisfaction following Lentis Comfort intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

This retrospective case series examined 68 eyes of 41 patients (mean age 72.0 ± 8.1 years) who underwent Lentis Comfort (LS-313 MF15, Oculentis GmbH, Berlin, Germany; Santen, Osaka, Japan) implantations. Patients were evaluated for visual acuity (VA) at several distances (0.3, 0.5 and 5 meters), refractive error, defocus curve and contrast sensitivity, in addition to answering a questionnaire on photic phenomena, visual discomfort and patient satisfaction.

Uncorrected visual acuity was 0.05 ± 0.13 (logMAR) for distance, 0.23 ± 0.17 (logMAR) for intermediate, and 0.52 ± 0.20 (logMAR) for near. Defocus curve showed the binocular visual acuity attained was almost 20/20 within the range of +0.5 D to -1.5 D. Contrast sensitivity was within the normal range. The Lentis Comfort IOL tolerated astigmatism to some extent. Patient age could potentially be related to uncorrected visual acuity. Questionnaire results showed almost all patients were satisfied with Lentis ComfortIOL implantation.

Lentis Comfort IOLs provided better visual function at far and intermediate distances.

Lentis Comfort IOLs provided better visual function at far and intermediate distances.Ganglion cysts are common benign lesions in the hand and wrist. However, intratendinous ganglion cysts are fairly rare lesions. We present the case of a 73-year-old woman with an intratendinous ganglion cyst occurring in the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon of her right hand. The subcutaneous mass moved according to the movement of the EPL tendon of her right thumb. selleck products Magnetic resonance imaging showed a space-occupying lesion in the EPL tendon. Biochemical and hematoimmunological examinations ruled out diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and other connective tissue diseases. She complained of a motion pain during thumb extension, and she had desired surgery. Intraoperatively, an intratendinous cyst was identified within the tendon substance of the EPL, in which a part of the cyst was herniated into a slit in the tendon substance, just distal to the extensor retinaculum without remarkable proliferative synovial tissue. The EPL tendon was opened longitudinally, and a cystic lesion was enucleated. The pathological findings showed that the cyst wall consisted of fibrous tissue with degeneration, lacking epithelial lining. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. Six months after surgery, the patient had no residual pain and cyst recurrence. The rarity of intratendinous ganglion cysts makes diagnosis and treatment challenging. Since intratendinous ganglion cysts and associated synovitis frequently weaken the structure of the affected tendons, prompt diagnosis and surgical excision are necessary.