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Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an acute pulmonary parenchymal infection acquired outside the hospital. The utility of blood cultures in inpatients with CAP to reduce mortality and length of hospital stay is controversial. This study aimed to determine the utility of blood cultures on the first day of hospitalization for CAP inpatients and its influence on mortality, length of hospital stay, and antibiotics use.We conducted a fact-finding survey on the implementation of blood culture in inpatients with CAP in Japan. A propensity score (PS)-matched analysis based on the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Check-ups of Japan database was conducted.Overall, 163,173 patients were included in the analysis, and PS matching extracted 68,104 pairs. The results of the comparison between the PS-matched blood culture group and PS-matched control group were as follows: mortality and length of hospital stay were significantly lower in the PS-matched blood culture group than in the control group. The adjusted OR (95%CI) for in-hospital mortality with blood culture test was 0.73 (0.68-0.79). Moreover, for days of antibiotic usage, number of antibiotics used were significantly higher in the PS-matched blood culture group than that in the control group.Our findings indicated that performing a blood culture on the first day of hospitalization for inpatients with CAP was associated with reduced mortality. To our knowledge, this is the largest epidemiological study to assess the utility of blood culture in Japanese inpatients with CAP. This testing method shows potential for application in clinical practice.

Juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) is an autosomal dominant, inherited disorder caused by pathogenic germline variants of mainly SMAD4 or BMPR1A genes. Some patients with JPS, especially with SMAD4 variants, also develop hereditary, hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). HHT is also an autosomal dominant inherited disorder. Herein, we identified a novel germline pathogenic variant of the SMAD4 in a Japanese family with JPS and HHT. A six-base pair deletion in the SMAD4 gene (NM_005359.6:c.1495_1500delTGCATA) was identified in the patients. Two amino acids are deleted from SMAD4 protein (p.Cys499_Ile500del), which are located in MSH2 domain essential for the binding with SMAD3. This is a novel variant that has not been registered in any database surveyed. Amino acid structural analysis predicted significant changes in the secondary and three-dimensional structures in the vicinity of the two amino acids’ deletion. The variant is classified as ‘Likely Pathogenic’ according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines.

Histiocytic sarcoma is a relatively new disease category and the gastrointestinal origin is sporadic. We report a case of a 74-year-old woman who underwent chemotherapy and proximal gastrectomy for extremely rare, advanced gastric histiocytic sarcoma. The resected specimen was subjected to numerous immunostainings to meet the diagnostic criteria of histiocytic sarcoma and was positive for the histiocyte markers' cluster of differentiation 68 and lysozyme. The markers of Langerhans cells, follicular dendritic cells, and myelocyte were all negative. Six reports of surgical resection of histiocytic sarcoma originating in the stomach exist, including our case. We reviewed the clinical course and the histological and immunohistochemical diagnostic features of surgically resected gastric histiocytic sarcoma.

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) -related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recently characterized entity in which lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltrate various anatomical sites. IgG4-hepatopathy, which is the manifestation of IgG4-RD, is a broader term covering various patterns of liver injury. The clinical course including the malignant potential of IgG4-RD remains unclear. Here we report the first case of secondary hemochromatosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed from IgG4-hepatopathy. A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to deteriorated glucose tolerance. Blood test results showed hypergammaglobulinemia, especially IgG4. He was readmitted 2 months later with dyspnea due to lung disease and pleural effusion, with elevated transaminase levels. He underwent liver and lung biopsies and was diagnosed with IgG4-RD, and received steroid therapy, which improved his serum IgG4 levels and imaging abnormalities. A follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan conducted 38 months later demonstrated a 50-mm-diameter tumor segments 7 and 8 of the liver. The resected specimen revealed HCC and abundant siderosis in the background liver, leading to a diagnosis of hemochromatosis. IgG4-positive cells were scarce, probably due to corticosteroid therapy. In the present case, IgG4-RD was well controlled with prednisolone (PSL) and immunosuppressive agent, and chronic hepatitis was not so severe, even though the patient subsequently developed HCC. However, extensive siderosis consistent with hemochromatosis was unexpectedly noted. It is suggested that secondary hemochromatosis and HCC developed during IgG4-RD with hepatopathy. Here we report the present case because it contributes to our understanding of IgG4-RD.

Objectives We compared the incidences of four opportunistic infections (OIs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with molecular-targeted drugs from big claims data. Materials and Methods We identified 205,906 patients with RA who were prescribed molecular-targeted drugs in 2010–17 from the National Database of Japan and calculated the incidence of four OIs (Pneumocystis pneumonia, tuberculosis, nontuberculous mycobacterial infection, and herpes zoster). Results The total number of Pneumocystis pneumonia, tuberculosis, nontuberculous mycobacterial infection, and herpes zoster patients with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or tofacitinib treatment history in RA was 765, 1158, 834, and 18,336, respectively. The incidence rates of each OI for all biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were 0.14, 0.14, 0.09, and 2.40 per 100 person-years, respectively, while for tofacitinib they were 0.22, 0.22, 0.07, and 7.00 per 100 person-years. No big difference was observed among biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. All OIs showed higher incidence in those >65 years, but Pneumocystis pneumonia, nontuberculous mycobacterial infection, and herpes zoster showed no difference between those 65–74 years old and those >75 years old. The median of occurrence was the third, seventh, ninth, and thirteenth month after treatment, respectively. Conclusions We counted real incidence rates of OIs for the whole nation from big claims data.

Reports of gastric collision tumors, comprising adenocarcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor, are extremely rare. Here, we report the case of a 68-year-old male who was diagnosed with a lower-body, moderately differentiated, tubular-type adenocarcinoma and submucosal tumor and underwent an elective D2 distal gastrectomy. The tumor cells of the gastrointestinal stromal tumor were positive for H-caldesmon and CD117, weakly positive for smooth muscle actin and DOG-1, and negative for desmin, S-100 protein, CD31, and AE1/AE3. The tumor had grown into a mixed form of adenocarcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Thus, we report the first case of a preoperatively diagnosed collision tumor in the stomach consisting of adenocarcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

BACKGROUND/AIM Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is often depleted in patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy. Using a novel method, we evaluated the effect of SMM depletion after gastrectomy on disease prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS The maximum cross-sectional area of the psoas-muscle (MCA-PM) was measured before surgery and at 1 year after in 233 patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy to determine the ratio (MCA-PMR) as an indicator of SMM depletion. RESULTS The MCA-PMR cutoff value was set at 90%, and patients were divided into the groups with

The impact of clinical response to taxanes plus ramucirumab (RAM) on overall survival (OS) has not been clarified for advanced gastric cancer (AGC), although this type of therapy is already in use as second-line chemotherapy (CTx). This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of the clinical response to taxanes plus ramucirumab (RAM) for AGC patients.This study included AGC patients treated with paclitaxel (PTX) or nab-paclitaxel (nab-PTX) and RAM. A retrospective analysis of response and survival rates in consecutive medical records of patients was performed.Forty-two patients were enrolled. Median progression-free survival and OS were 5.4 months [95% confidence interval (CI)=4.440-6.361] and 11.8 months (95% CI=8.648-15.019), respectively. In Cox-hazard multivariate analysis, peritoneal metastasis [hazard ratio (HR)=2.830; 95% CI=1.320-6.067; p=0.008], and disease control rate (HR=0.310; 95% CI=0.129-0.741; p=0.008) were independent factors.The response to taxanes plus RAM CTx had an impact on the survival of patients with AGC.

Objectives The objective of the study was to determine the seasonal changes in the initiation of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and methotrexate (MTX) using big claims data. Methods We counted the monthly number of initial administrations of each bDMARD and MTX in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) between April 2010 and March 2017. Data were collected from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan. This database covers more than 95% of Japanese citizens. Seasonal changes in the number of initiations were determined. Patient claims were also classified according to drugs, districts, gender, and ages. Results The initiation of bDMARDs and MTX administration varied according to the season in a sine curve shape, with the highest numbers in May to July and the lowest numbers in November to January. The same changing pattern was observed among each bDMARD, district, gender, and age groups particularly when the number was on the higher side. Conclusion We noted an apparent seasonal change in the number of bDMARDs initiated, with a peak during spring, suggesting an exacerbation of RA in the spring in Japan. These changes are overlooked in daily practice and are only visible using big data.

Objectives To describe the real-world prescription and treatment retention of molecular-targeted drugs for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Japan. Methods A total of 204,416 patients with RA were prescribed at least one of the eight molecular-targeted drugs in 7 years from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan covering 98.3% of the Japanese population. The retention rates of each drug as well as head-to-head comparisons were estimated by Kaplan–Meier method. Results A total of 121,131 RA patients were prescribed any molecular-targeted drug for the first time, while 36,633 uses of molecular-targeted drug were switched from another (switch use). The overall retention rates of molecular-targeted drugs at 12, 36, and 60 months were 0.64, 0.42, and 0.32 for the naïve use and 0.59, 0.40, and 0.31 for the switch use, respectively. Non-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-inhibitor molecular-targeted drugs, particularly tocilizumab and tofacitinib, had higher retention rates than TNF inhibitors for both naïve and switch uses regardless of the previous drug and showed higher retention rates in head-to-head comparisons between eight molecular-targeted drugs. Conclusions Our data reveal that the real-world drug retention is overall lower than previously reported and higher with non-TNF inhibitors than with TNF inhibitors.

Chylous ascites associated with radical resection of gastric cancer is a serious clinical condition. Lymph node dissection is indispensable during gastrectomy for gastric cancer. However, postoperative chylous ascites prolongs the hospital stay and re-operation. There are few reports on this subject. Most cases of chylous ascites resolve without treatment, but the condition can result in substantial morbidity. The definition of chylous ascites is ambiguous and varies in the English literature. In this report, we discuss a case of chylous ascites in a 68-year-old man who underwent distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer at our hospital. He was admitted 8 months after surgery with a main complaint of abdominal swelling. Abdominal puncture helped to diagnose chylous ascites with marked elevation of triglyceride level. The patient received a hypercaloric infusion through a central line, and octreotide acetate, but did not improve. After assessment of lymph outflow by lymph scintigraphy, surgical ligation of the lymph vessels was performed through laparotomy. The volume of milky-white ascites in the abdominal cavity was 3,000 mL. Macroscopically, the fluid was confirmed as flowing from behind the common hepatic artery. Thus, ligation was performed. Chylous ascites has not recurred at 12 months after the re-operation. In summary, a case of chylous ascites after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer was successfully treated by surgery. We review and discuss the relevant literature.

Introduction Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery; however, obstacles to its functional optimization remain. Surgical ports can accommodate only one instrument at a time so complex exchange manipulations are necessary during surgery which increases operation times and patient risk. We developed a new laparoscopic instrument that functions as both forceps and a suction tube, which renders intraoperative tool exchange unnecessary. This pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this novel dual‐function device in laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer. Methods This single‐center pilot study assessed patient safety during and after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer with the suction‐forceps using intraoperative video and clinical follow‐up, respectively. To evaluate instrument efficacy, we measured the time interval between the start of any bleeding and the start of aspiration (“suction access time”) and compared this time with that of a conventional surgical setup. Results In total 15 patients participated, with all procedures being successful. No excess tissue damage occurred during surgery. Suction access time was significantly shorter in cases of bleeding when the suction‐tip forceps were used for aspiration (2.01 seconds) compared to an ordinary suction tube (12.5 seconds; P

Introduction Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) is widely accepted in elective inguinal hernioplasty. However, given the scarcity of data, the feasibility and safety of TAPP in strangulated hernia cases have not yet been determined. Methods We retrospectively evaluated the data from a consecutive series of 33 patients who had undergone surgery for acute strangulated inguinal hernia associated with suspected visceral ischemic damage by either TAPP (TAPP group, n = 11) or conventional open hernioplasty via the anterior approach (anterior group, n = 22). Results The TAPP group had a significant longer surgical duration than the anterior group (147 vs 84 min) and relatively less blood loss. Incision and enlargement of the hernial orifice, which enables easy reduction of the strangulated organ, was performed in the last 7 of 11 cases in the TAPP group. The morbidity was lower in the TAPP group, but the difference was not statistically significant (18% vs 23%). The TAPP group had a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay than the anterior group (7 vs 10 days). Conclusion For surgeons with sufficient knowledge of the anatomy and expertise in reducing the strangulated organ, TAPP for strangulated inguinal hernia is at least comparable to open hernioplasty via the anterior approach in short-term outcomes.

Along with the increased use of other laparoscopic procedures, laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has become widely used because of its minimally invasive nature. Here, we report a case of 66-year-old man who underwent transabdominal preperitoneal laparoscopic hernioplasty and developed hemorrhagic shock on postoperative day 1. CT showed postoperative venous hemorrhage from the retropubic space. Successful hemostasis of the massive hemorrhage was achieved laparoscopically. The origin of the hemorrhage was assumed to be the corona mortis vein, which was slightly injured during the operation. Despite the rarity of this complication, surgeons must be aware of the need to carefully dissect and fix the mesh in the retropubic space to avoid injuring the corona mortis. Laparoscopic hemostasis may be an effective alternative to the open approach.

Background Laparoscopic surgery is widely accepted as minimally invasive surgery; however, obstacles to its functional optimization remain. One such challenge is that each surgical port can accommodate only one instrument at a time. Complex manipulations are therefore necessary to exchange one laparoscopic tool with another during surgery (e.g., removal of forceps and placement of a suction tube), which increases operation times and risk to patients. We developed a new laparoscopic instrument that functions as both forceps and a suction tube, which renders intraoperative tool exchange unnecessary. This prospective pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this novel dual-function device in laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer. Methods This single-center prospective pilot study was undertaken with 15 patients who required laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. To assess patient safety, intraoperative video was used to document any tissue damage associated with the new instrument. To evaluate instrument efficacy, we measured the time interval between the start of bleeding and the start of aspiration (“suction access time”) and compared this time with that of a conventional surgical setup. Results All procedures were successful, and no excess tissue damage occurred during surgery with the suction-tip forceps. Bleeding occurred 158 times. Suction access time was significantly shorter in cases of bleeding when the suction-tip forceps were used (2.01 seconds) than when an ordinary suction tube was used for aspiration (12.5 seconds; P < 0.01). Conclusion These findings suggest that our new suction-tip forceps are a useful, safe, and efficacious operative tool. This surgical innovation may considerably simplify gastric laparoscopic surgery. This pilot study was registered with Japan Clinical Trial Registration on June 22, 2017 (registration number: UMIN000027879).

After undergoing an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a 74-year-old woman with anemia was diagnosed with advanced lower gastric cancer. We performed laparotomy and identified the tumor as unresectable because of the direct invasion to the pancreas. S-1 was administered at 60mg/day for 2 weeks followed by 1-week discontinuation. After 6 weeks, we changed the schedule to the same dosage of S-1 for 1 week followed by 2-week discontinuation. CT and endoscopic findings showed complete response after 64weeks of S-1 administration. Since then, S-1 has been maintained at 60mg/day intermittently for 14 days in 7 weeks accordingto the patient's condition. The patient is currently doingwell with a complete response for more than 5 years.

Background Self-expandable metallic stent placement is a widely performed palliative procedure or bridge to surgery for obstructive colorectal cancer. However, the feasibility of this procedure for large bowel obstruction induced by effective neoadjuvant therapy is unclear. Case presentation We herein report three such cases involving a 61-year-old man who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for lower rectal cancer, a 56-year-old woman who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy for lower rectal cancer, and a 63-year-old woman who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy for lower rectal cancer. All were emergently hospitalized with large bowel obstruction that developed while undergoing neoadjuvant therapy. Colonoscopy revealed smooth strictures caused by effective neoadjuvant therapy. Self-expandable metallic stents were placed across the obstruction as a bridge to surgery, and laparoscopic low anterior resection was uneventfully performed in all patients. Conclusions We successfully treated three patients with large bowel obstruction induced by a good response to neoadjuvant therapy using self-expandable metallic stents as a bridge to surgery. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to assess the feasibility of this strategy.

The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) by analyzing claims data of 13 Japanese national university hospitals.We evaluated 4970 cases of rheumatoid arthritis treated with bDMARDs from the Clinical Information Statistical Analysis database, which has collected and integrated 13 Japanese national university hospitals' claims data for 10 years. We surveyed the medications and calculated the retention rates of bDMARDs using the Kaplan-Meier method and differentiated the effectiveness between the two bDMARDs by comparing the retention rates after switching from one drug to another.Of the 4970 cases, 1364 switched bDMARDs at least once. Tocilizumab (TCZ) reported the highest retention rate, whereas abatacept (ABT) revealed a similar rate compared with only naïve cases. The retention rate curves were higher in cases on TCZ that switched from the other bDMARDs than those in the reversed cases. Following TCZ, ABT and etanercept indicated better results than the other bDMARDs.We could compare the effectiveness among bDMARDs by differentiating the retention rates from big claims data. TCZ reported higher retention rates in both naïve and switched cases than other bDMARDs.

SUMMARY Comparison of financial indices helps to illustrate differences in operations and efficiency among similar hospitals. Outlier data tend to influence statistical indices, and so detection of outliers is desirable. Development of a methodology for financial outlier detection using information systems will help to reduce the time and effort required, eliminate the subjective elements in detection of outlier data, and improve the efficiency and quality of analysis. The purpose of this research was to develop such a methodology. Financial outliers were defined based on a case model. An outlier-detection method using the distances between cases in multi-dimensional space is proposed. Experiments using three diagnosis groups indicated successful detection of cases for which the profitability and income structure differed from other cases. Therefore, the method proposed here can be used to detect outliers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background The lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) increases with age and can have a significant effect on the quality of life of the patients. Elderly patients, who are often characterized by a decline in physiological functional and polypharmacy, are susceptible to adverse drug reactions to pharmacotherapy. LUTS can also be a side effect of medication. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible association between the initiation of LUTS-causing drug therapy and the onset of LUTS. Methods Drug dispensing data at the individual level were retrieved from the CISA (Platform for Clinical Information Statistical Analysis: http://www.cisa.jp) database. A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing patients with LUTS who were dispensed drugs that increased the risk of LUTS between April 2011 and March 2012. Prescription sequence symmetry analysis (PSSA) was employed to investigate the associations between the dispensing of medicines of LUTS and that of LUTS-causing drugs. Results LUTS-causing drugs were frequently dispensed to patients with LUTS. The use of medications potentially contributing to LUTS was associated with polypharmacy [number of prescription drugs:12.13 ± 6.78 (user) vs. 5.67 ± 5.24 (nonuser)] but not patient age [ age: (71.38 ± 13.28 (user) vs. 70.45 ± 14.80 (nonuser)]. Significant adverse drug events were observed the use of donepezil, cyclophosphamide, antiparkinson drugs, antidepressant, diazepam, antipsychotic drugs for peptic ulcer, tiotropium bromide, and opioids. Conclusions The use of prescription LUTS-causing drugs was correlated with polypharmacy. The adverse drug events associated with LUTS-causing drugs were highly prevalent in elderly patients. To prevent of adverse drug events in patients with LUTS, pharmacists and physicians should regularly review medication lists and reduce the prescribed medicines. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40780-014-0004-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Recently 0.5mm pitch FBGA was developed. The FBGA package currently in production is active in memory products with 100 or fewer pins, as well as logic products in the 100-to 300-pin class. It is necessary to use the suitable surface mount technology for fine-pitch CSP. The surface mount technology for fine-pitch BGA is reported here, and the recommended surface mount condition for fine-pitch CSP is proposed.

Charge-modulation-device (CMD) image sensors feature non-destructive readout and high-speed operation. By using the source-reset method in the CMD reset operations, it is possible to control the reset of the pixel-accumulated charge from outside the sensor. Making use of these features, we propose a subject-adaptive-type wide-dynamic-range imaging system that increases the dynamic range of the CMD by activating the electronic shutter only for areas having strong incident light. This prevents the sensor from becoming saturated. The advantage of this system is that there is no need to modify the conventional CMD structure to increase the dynamic range-only a simple circuit need be added outside the sensor. Experiment on this system was performed using such CMDs as line and two-dimensional sensors, and the dynamic range was increased twice as much.

At 14:46 on March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami occurred off the coast of Honshu, Japan. In the acute phase of this catastrophe, one of our teams was deployed as a Tokyo Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) to Kudan Kaikan in Tokyo, where the ceiling of a large hall had partially collapsed as the result of the earthquake, to conduct triage at the scene: 6 casualties were assigned to the red category (immediate), which included 1 case of cardiopulmonary arrest and 1 of flail chest; 8 casualties in the yellow category (delayed); and 22 casualties in the green category (minor). One severely injured person was transported to our hospital. Separately, our medical team was deployed to Miyagi 2 hours after the earthquake in our multipurpose medical vehicle as part of Japan DMAT (J-DMAT). We were the first DMAT from the metropolitan area to arrive, but we were unable to start medical relief activities because the information infrastructure had been destroyed and no specific information had yet reached the local headquarters. Early next morning, J-DMAT decided to support Sendai Medical Center and search and rescue efforts in the affected area and to establish a staging care unit at Camp Kasuminome of the Japan Self-Defense Force. Our team joined others to establish the staging care unit. Because information was still confused until day 3 of the disaster and we could not adequately grasp onsite medical needs, our J-DMAT decided to provide onsite support at Ishinomaki Red Cross Hospital, a disaster base hospital, and relay information about its needs to the local J-DMAT headquarters. Although our medical relief teams were deployed as quickly as possible, we could not begin medical relief activities immediately owing to the severely damaged information infrastructure. Only satellite mobile phones could be operated, and information on the number of casualties and the severity of shortages of lifeline services could be obtained only through a "go and see" approach. Because there was no way to transmit or receive this vital information, disaster workers in the affected areas faced many challenges. For the future, network data links need to be made more resistant to infrastructure damage, and redundant or reach-back systems involving multitiered satellite, wireless, and radio frequency data links would provide definitive solutions. Such integrated systems should be designed around seamless connectivity based on an "always best connected" principle for maintaining communication quality.

We report herein the case of a 5-month-old infant who, after developing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) endocarditis following patch closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD), was successfully treated by replacement of the Dacron patch with an autogenous pericardial patch. Initially, a large perimembranous VSD was repaired with a Dacron patch and after an uneventful recovery of 1 week, he began to spike intermittent fevers from 38 degrees C to 39 degrees C. Two blood cultures grew MRSA and a two-dimensional echocardiogram performed 16 days after surgery showed an irregular mass attached to the right ventricular aspect of the Dacron patch. At reoperation, a large vegetation attached to the Dacron patch was confirmed, but there was no patch dehiscence. Following removal of the patch, the VSD was repaired with an autogenous pericardial patch, soon after which the fever rapidly subsided. Imipenem, 125 mg every 6 h, and fosfomycin, 300 mg every 6 h, were administered for a total of 24 days after reoperation. The child remains well 12 months after his second operation.

A photoelectric GaAs integrated circuit that converts light intensity to digital signal frequency has been fabricated using the GaAs MES-FET process. The circuit includes a metal-semiconductor-metal photodiode (MSM-PD), a preamplifier (PA), a Schmitt trigger (ST), a flip-flop (FF) (1-bit digital counter) and a reset (Rst) FET. This sensor cell has a wide dynamic range of over 5 decades of incident light power and a ? characteristic suitable for an image pickup device.

This paper describes an application for the first time of a vidicon type pickup tube using a chalcopyrite-type semiconductor copper-indium-diselenide (CuInSe2) film as a target for the image sensor. The fabricated sensor shows the horizontal resolution of 600 TV lines indicating that CuInSe2 is one of promising materials for television image pickup device with the high resolution.

僧帽弁裂隙を合併する二次孔心房中隔欠損症はきわめてまれな心奇形であり報告も少ない.最近,本症の1例を経験したので現在までの報告例を集計し報告した.症例は63歳の男性で,労作時の呼吸困難を主訴として来院した.心電図所見では右脚ブロックと不定軸の電気軸を認めた.心エコー図では二次孔心房中隔欠損と僧帽弁閉鎖不全,三尖弁閉鎖不全を認め,心カテーテル検査では右房でのO2 step-upを確認した.左室造影像では僧帽弁前尖の裂隙による変形とSellors 2度の逆流を認めた.手術時,心房二次中隔中央部に存する直径1.6cmの欠損孔と僧帽弁前尖に深さ1.4cmの裂隙を認め,裂隙の直接縫合と僧帽弁輪縫縮術および心房中隔欠損孔の縫合閉鎖を行った.僧帽弁前尖に裂隙を有する本症では報告例19例中9例で心電図上,電気軸は左軸偏位あるいは不定軸を示しており,診断に有力な手がかりとなった.