Kiyohide Kakuta

Analysis of Factors That Influence Long-Term Independent Living for Elderly Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients

BACKGROUND The number of elderly subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients has been increasing. The aim of this study was to analyze long-term outcome for elderly (≥75 years) SAH patients and to establish a treatment strategy. METHODS From January 2005 to December 2013, 86 consecutive cases were treated. We used a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at the outpatient clinic or a telephone interview of patients and/or families. Kaplan-Meier plots were done for mortality and independent (mRS 0 ∼ 2) state. Multivariate analysis was done to distinguish factors that influence on outcome. RESULTS Median age was 79, Hunt-Kosnik grade 1 ∼ 3 was 79%, and the radical intervention (clipping or coiling) rate was 78%. Mean follow-up period was 28.7 ± 3.4 standard error months. Half of deaths occurred during the first two months. The number of cases of independent living gradually decreased to 50% at 28 months after SAH. Half of patients lived independently for 36 months at HK grades 1 to 3, and 3 months at HK grades 4 to 5 (p < 0.05). Half of patients lived independently for 40 months in the radical intervention group, and 14 months in the conservative treatment group (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis for independent living revealed that gender, pre-morbid condition, HK grade, and postoperative complication were significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Good-grade elderly SAH cases that were independent pre-stroke should have radical intervention performed for aneurysm. Avoiding perioperative complications have a positive influence on long-term independent living.

Rehabilitation and the Neural Network After Stroke

Stroke remains a major cause of disability throughout the world: paralysis, cognitive impairment, aphasia, and so on. Surgical or medical intervention is curative in only a small number of cases. Nearly all stroke cases require rehabilitation. Neurorehabilitation generally improves patient outcome, but it sometimes has no effect or even a mal-influence. The aim of this review is the clarification of the mechanisms of neurorehabilitation. We systematically reviewed recently published articles on neural network remodeling, especially from 2014 to 2016. Finally, we summarize progress in neurorehabilitation and discuss future prospects.

Stem Cell Therapies for Intracerebral Hemorrhages.

BACKGROUND An insult due to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is critical to patients. So, breakthroughs in ICH treatment are very important. OBJECTIVE Advances in the stem cell treatment of stroke have been remarkable. And stem cell experimentation on ischemic stroke, however, preceded such work on ICH and did not emphasized ICH therapy. METHOD We review recent stem cell treatments for ICH, an experimental model of ICH, the medical care of ICH, and several stem cell therapies for ICH along with future prospects. RESULTS Stem cell therapy for ICH is effective in rodent or animal models. For humans, only a small number of clinical trials have been done, and significant functional recovery was recorded. CONCLUSION We need to reveal the mechanism of stem cell therapy and develop a reliable, definitive treatment strategy for treatment of ICH. In the future, several types of stem cells will be available for the treatment of ICH.

The effect of goreisan on the prevention of chronic subdural hematoma recurrence – multicenter, randomized controlled study

The relatively high rate of post-operative recurrence in the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a significant problem. Goreisan is an herbal medicine that exhibits a hydragogue effect by inhibiting the expression of aquaporins, and its efficacy in preventing post-operative CSDH recurrence has been suggested by several case trials. This multi-center prospective randomized controlled trial was performed to investigate the preventative effect of goreisan on post-operative CSDH recurrence. Patients with symptomatic CSDH over 60 years old undergoing burr hole surgery were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly allocated to the control group or the goreisan group, in which oral administration of goreisan (7.5 g daily) was continued for 12 weeks. The primary end-point was the post-operative recurrence rate at 12 weeks and the secondary end-point was hematoma volume reduction rates on computed tomography scan at 12 weeks. The analyses were performed not only on patients of all ages older than 60 years, but also on patients divided into those over or under 75 years old. One hundred and eighty patients were followed and analyzed (the control group, n = 88; the goreisan group, n = 92). The recurrence rates considering patients of all ages and patients under 75 years old were relatively low in the goreisan group but without a significant difference. The hematoma volume reduction rates showed no significant difference. Based on the results of the present study, a larger-scale study including more cases is necessary in future to confirm the efficacy of goreisan.

Intra-arterial oxidative stress correlates negatively with cognitive function and positively with postoperative ischemic lesions in carotid artery stenosis stenting

Background and purpose Carotid plaque contains biologically active substances released into the blood during carotid artery stenting (CAS). The main purpose of this prospective study was to analyse sequential changes in oxidative stress during CAS and their relationship to clinical factors. Methods Twenty-two consecutive CAS procedures were performed between May 2014 and April 2016. Arterial blood was collected four times: (1) after the sheath insertion without edaravone; (2) pre-angioplasty with edaravone from the carotid artery; (3) after post-stenting angioplasty from an occluded carotid artery; and (4) before sheath removal. Derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) were measured photometrically. The relationship between d-ROMs or BAP and preoperatively investigated biochemical parameters, cognitive function, and number of diffusion-weighted image (DWI) high spot lesions was analysed using one-way ANOVA and the Tukey–Kramer HSD test. Results The d-ROM values for CAS were 355±58.8 Carratelli Units at sheath insertion, 315±57.2 after edaravone infusion, 328±56.8 after post-stenting angioplasty, and 315±53.0 just before sheath removal. The d-ROM values were reduced significantly after edaravone infusion (P<0.05). The BAP at sheath insertion was reduced significantly according to age (P<0.05). The d-ROMs at sheath insertion correlated negatively with the dementia scale and positively with the post-CAS DWI high spots (1.00±1.07; P<0.05). Other biochemical parameters did not correlate with the d-ROM values or BAP. Conclusion Oxidative stress is correlated negatively with cognitive function and positively with postoperative ischemic lesions. Antioxidant potential decreases with ageing.

Importance and accuracy of intraoperative frozen section diagnosis of the resection margin for effective carmustine wafer implantation

For effective implantation of carmustine (BCNU) wafers, it is important to determine the order of priority with reference to the intraoperative frozen section diagnosis of the resection margin (IOFM). The accuracy of IOFM and patterns of tumor recurrence with implantation of BCNU wafers were studied retrospectively. Forty-six cases of newly diagnosed malignant glioma were evaluated. Tumors were resected after intraoperative frozen section diagnosis (IOFD). IOFM was performed for resection walls and evaluated on a three-level scale (−, no tumor invasion; 1+, minor cell invasion; 2+, evident cell invasion). The results were used for effective BCNU wafer implantation. The IOFM sections were then thawed, frozen-paraffin marginal (FPM) sections were prepared, and IOFM was evaluated with FPM sections. The accuracy of IOFD grading was compared to that of the formalin fixed paraffin-embedded section and was 76.1%. The accuracy of IOFM was compared with the FPM section in 148 specimens from 42 patients. The IOFM accuracy was 80.4%. BCNU wafers were implanted in 25 patients and there was recurrence in 15. Local recurrence was seen in 40% (6 patients). However, there was no recurrence immediately below the BCNU wafers. With properly performed IOFM, BCNU wafers can be efficiently implanted, and local recurrence immediately below the BCNU wafers can be inhibited.

Assessment of the Accuracy and Errors of Head-Up Display by an Optical Neuronavigation System in Brain Tumor Surgery

BACKGROUND A head-up display (HUD) in which navigational information is projected into the microscope view may enable surgeons to perform operations more efficiently. Projecting depictions of both tumor and important intracranial structures on the HUD may facilitate safe surgery. OBJECTIVE To investigate accuracy and errors regarding important intracranial structures, errors due to brain shifts, and preservation rates for important intracranial structures. METHODS A total of 184 surgeries in 172 patients were performed using this operation system. Postoperatively, we determined accuracy and errors for actual structures and virtual reality on the HUD and performed statistical analyses. RESULTS Preresection accuracy for important intracranial structures was highest for the internal carotid artery (ICA; 90.4%) and lowest for the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (53.6%). Differences between pre- and postresection accuracy were greatest, in descending order, for the cortical vein ( P < .0001), V4 segment of vertebral artery ( P < .0001), and anterior inferior cerebellar artery ( P = .00780), whereas differences between pre- and postresection errors were smallest for the cranial nerve V ( P = .500), middle cerebral artery ( P = .0313), and ICA ( P = .0313). Cases of poor preresection accuracy and large differences in pre- to postresection accuracy were seen in the prone position. CONCLUSION A reliable surgical resection rate was achieved using the HUD, and reliable preservation of important intracranial structures was also possible. Accuracy was concluded to be within an acceptable range.

Prophylactic intra-arterial injection of vasodilator for asymptomatic vasospasm converts the patient to symptomatic vasospasm due to severe microcirculatory imbalance.

Object. The strategy to treat asymptomatic angiographic vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is controversial. In this study we review our consecutive vasospasm series and discuss an adequate treatment strategy for asymptomatic vasospasm. Methods. From January 2007 to December 2012 we treated 281 aneurysmal SAH cases, with postoperative angiography performed 9 ± 2 days after the onset of SAH. Four asymptomatic cases received intra-arterial (IA) injection of vasodilator due to angiographic vasospasm. All cases improved vasospasm immediately following intervention. But all cases turned symptomatic within 48 hours. We retrospectively analyzed the time-density angiography curve and calculated the time to peak (TTP), mean transit time (MTT), and relative blood flow (rBF). Relative blood flow was calculated as follows. The integration of the value of the time-density curve for the artery was divided by the same value for the internal carotid artery multiplied by the MTT. Results. The decrease in TTP and MTT for the etiologic artery was similar to that of the nonetiologic artery. But the improvement in rBF for the etiologic artery and nonetiologic artery was 10% and 17%, respectively. Blood supply to the spastic artery decreased due to iatrogenic steal. Conclusion. Prophylactic IA injection of vasodilator in cases of asymptomatic vasospasm can produce symptomatic vasospasm.