Published papers

Purpose: To compare the characteristics of polidocanol (POL) and ethanolamine oleate (EO) sclerosing foams produced by a Shirasu porous glass membrane (SPGM) device with those made using a 3-way stopcock (3WSC). Materials and Methods: Foam half-life times were measured in an ex-vivo benchtop study. Computed tomography (CT) images of each foam were obtained over the time course, and a CT texture analysis was conducted. The bubble size in each foam was measured by an optical microscope. Results: Median foam half-life times were longer in the SPGM group than in the 3WSC group (POL: 198 vs 166 s, P =.02; EO: 640 vs 391 s, P <.01). In the CT texture analysis, median standard deviation (SD) and entropy (randomness) were lower, and median energy (uniformity) and gray-level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) homogeneity were higher in the SPGM group than in the 3WSC group (POL SD: at 30 s and 50–300 s; POL entropy: at 0–60 s; EO SD: at 0–600 s; EO entropy: at 0–460 s; POL energy: at 0–40 s; POL GLCM homogeneity: at 0–250 s; EO energy: at 0–360 s; EO GLCM homogeneity: at 0–480 s; all P <.05). Median bubble diameters in the SPGM group and in the 3WSC group were 69 and 83 μm (P <.01), respectively, in the POL foam; and 36 and 36 μm (P =.45), respectively, in the EO foam. Conclusions: POL and EO foams had greater uniformity and longer foam half-life time when prepared with an SPGM device than with a 3WSC.

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify when and from which blood vessels indirect revascularization develops after combined revascularization surgery for moyamoya disease and how the donor vessels that undergo direct revascularization change in the medium to long term. In particular, we focused on the middle temporal artery (MTA), which has not received much attention in indirect revascularization surgery for moyamoya disease until now. Methods: We targeted 20 sides that were suitable for evaluating the diameter of the external carotid artery system involved in combined revascularization surgery among moyamoya disease patients who underwent a composite revascularization procedure utilizing a 'U'-shaped skin incision encircling the parietal branch of the superficial temporal artery (STA) at our institution from 2018 to 2023. We identified the STA parietal branch, MMA, DTA, and MTA in the TOF source MR images acquired preoperatively and three and six months after surgery; measured the long and short diameters of each blood vessel; approximated the blood vessel shape as an ellipse, and calculated its cross-sectional area. Results: The cross-sectional areas of the MMA, DTA, and MTA involved in indirect revascularization significantly increased compared to presurgery three months after surgery, and this trend continued six months after surgery, but no significant change was observed between three and six months after surgery. There were no cases in which the MTA was clearly confirmed before surgery in the TOF reconstructed images, but the MTA was clearly confirmed in 55% (11/20 cases) of hemispheres three months after surgery and in 85% (17/20 cases) of hemispheres six months after surgery. The crosssectional area of the STA parietal branch, which was the donor for direct revascularization, had increased by more than 150% compared to before surgery in 55% (11/20 cases) of hemispheres three months after surgery. Conclusions: Indirect revascularization can be expected three months after combined revascularization surgery for moyamoya disease. The MTA, which has not received much attention in terms of indirect revascularization for moyamoya disease patients thus far, was found to be a useful blood flow source for indirect revascularization in combined revascularization surgery for patients with moyamoya disease. Whether or not the cross-sectional area of the superficial temporal artery used as a donor for direct revascularization increased in the medium to long term varied on a case-by-case basis.

This review provides key insights into sacroiliitis imaging, covering anatomy, imaging techniques, and interpretation. It focuses on normal physiological changes in young to middle-aged women, children, and the elderly that can resemble sacroiliitis. We emphasize the importance of distinguishing between active and structural lesions, as highlighted in the recent ASAS-SPARTAN standardized magnetic resonance imaging protocol. Physicians should be aware that bone marrow oedema signals on magnetic resonance imaging, a hallmark of active inflammation in axial spondyloarthritis, can also be observed in young to middle-aged women, especially postpartum, even without spondyloarthritis. Paediatric sacroiliac joints may show changes mimicking inflammation due to ongoing bone growth. Furthermore, degenerative changes in the sacroiliac joint are common with advancing age and can be mistaken for sacroiliitis or interpreted as structural changes. The presence of accessory sacroiliac joints, prone to degeneration, further complicates diagnosis. Accurate interpretation requires considering these normal variations to avoid misdiagnosing spondyloarthritis. Collaboration between clinicians and radiologists is crucial, especially when encountering atypical or clinically inconsistent findings. Japan College of Rheumatology 2025. Published by Oxford University Press.

Endovascular approaches to treating a diseased ascending aorta are challenging. We report the use of an endovascular occlusion device for successful closure of a ruptured penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of an ascending aorta. A 47-year-old female patient with Takayasu arteritis complained of a worsening hemoptysis. She had a history of Bentall procedure for a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm and redo surgery for a ruptured penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer close to the distal anastomosis. She developed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) mediastinitis after the second procedure and required negative pressure wound therapy. Computed tomographic angiography revealed recurrence of a ruptured penetrating aortic ulcer and an aortobronchial fistula. Because of the high risk of redo sternotomy after MRSA mediastinitis, we used an endovascular occlusion device to achieve successful percutaneous closure. The patient was discharged without any complications. Postoperative computed tomography scans showed that the endovascular device was positioned without migration and that complete thrombosis of the penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer was achieved. This is the first report on endovascular repair of a ruptured penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the ascending aorta in Takayasu arteritis.