Impact of Previous, Simultaneous or Subsequent Bladder Cancer on Prognosis after Radical Nephroureterectomy for Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Purpose: We investigated the impact of previous, simultaneous or subsequent bladder cancer on the clinical outcomes of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected data on 2,668 patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy of nonmetastatic upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma in 1995 to 2009. We evaluated the impact of bladder cancer on overall mortality and the factors predictive of subsequent bladder cancer.

Establishment of permutation for cancer risk estimation in the urothelium based on genome-wide DNA methylation analysis.

The aim of this study was to establish permutation for cancer risk estimation in the urothelium. Twenty-six samples of normal control urothelium obtained from patients without urothelial carcinomas (C), 47 samples of non-cancerous urothelium without noticeable morphological changes obtained from patients with urothelial carcinomas (N), and 46 samples of the corresponding cancerous tissue (T) in the learning cohort and 64 N samples in the validation cohort, i.e.

Artificial immunoglobulin light chain with potential to associate with a wide variety of immunoglobulin heavy chains.

Immunoglobulins play important roles in antigen recognition during the immune response, and the complementarity-determining region (CDR) 3 of the heavy chain is considered as the critical antigen-binding site. We previously developed a statistical protocol for the extensive analysis of heavy chain variable region repertoires and the dynamics of their immune response using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The properties of important antibody heavy chains predicted in silico by the protocol were examined by gene synthesis and antibody protein expression; however, the corresponding light chain that matches with the heavy chain could not be predicted by our protocol.

Feasibility and acceptability of opportunistic screening to detect atrial fibrillation in Aboriginal adults.

Objective: Examine the feasibility and acceptability of an electrocardiogram (ECG) attached to a mobile phone (iECG) screening device for atrial fibrillation (AF) in Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services (ACCHS) and other community settings.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ACCHS staff in urban, rural and remote communities in three Australian states/territories. Quantitative and qualitative questions identified the enabling factors and barriers for staff and Aboriginal patients' receptiveness to the device.

Cyclization of Bisphosphines to Phosphacycles via the Cleavage of Two Carbon-Phosphorus Bonds by Nickel Catalysis.

The nickel-catalyzed cyclization of bisphosphine derivatives to form various phosphacycles is reported. The reaction proceeds via the cleavage of two carbon-phosphorus bonds of the bisphosphine. Unlike the previously reported palladium catalysts, the use of nickel as a catalyst allows for the cyclization that requires C(alkyl)-P bond cleavage.

Effect of posterior quadratus lumborum blockade on the quality of recovery after major gynaecological laparoscopic surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

Bilateral quadratus lumborum blockade (QLB) using ultrasound guidance has been introduced as an abdominal truncal block to improve postoperative analgesia and quality of recovery (QoR) after abdominal surgery, but efficacy remains controversial. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of posterior QLB on the postoperative QoR, and secondarily to evaluate postoperative pain after gynaecological laparoscopic surgery (LS). This study was a single-centre randomized controlled trial.

Nickel-Catalyzed Decarboxylation of Aryl Carbamates for Converting Phenols into Aromatic Amines.

Herein, we describe a new catalytic approach to accessing aromatic amines from an abundant feedstock, namely phenols. The most reliable catalytic method for converting phenols to aromatic amines uses an activating group, such as a trifluoromethane sulfonyl group. However, this activating group is eliminated as a leaving group during the amination process, resulting in significant waste.

Mortality caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae bacteremia; a case control study: alert to Enterobacteriaceae strains with high minimum inhibitory concentrations of piperacillin/tazobactam.

This study aimed to assess the prognostic factors of patients with bacteremia due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) as well as the antimicrobial susceptibility, particularly to piperacillin/tazobactam (PTZ), among ESBL-PE strains. The medical records of 65 patients with ESBL-PE bacteremia divided into the survivor group (n = 52) and nonsurvivor group (n = 13) were retrospectively reviewed. The male-to-female ratio, age, underlying disease, leukocyte count, C-reactive protein level, and treatment did not differ between the 2 groups.

Involvement of cortical dysfunction in frequent falls in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Gait and balance disorders are common clinical features of Parkinson's disease (PD). Although falls significantly affect the activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QOL) of patients with PD, the underlying neural mechanisms associated with frequent falls in PD patients are still unclear.

Methods: Hypothesizing that the cerebral cortex would contribute to frequent falls in PD, we obtained 3D T1-weighted images from 91 non-dementia patients with PD and performed voxel-based morphometric analysis (VBM).

Anti-IL-10 antibody in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Purpose: IL-10 is a cytokine known to inhibit inflammatory cytokines. To determine its role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the presence of anti-IL-10 antibody is required to be examined. Although antibodies against cytokines are known to be present in SLE, no studies have determined the role of IL-10, particularly in Japanese patients.

Perinephric invasion as a prognostic factor in non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma: analysis of a nation-wide registry program.

Objectives: Perinephric fat invasion (PFI) of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is known to be associated with adverse pathological features and poor prognosis. We analyzed these associations using a sub-group of the RCC registry of The Cancer Registration Committee of the Japanese Urological Association.

Methods: The study cohort of 2998 non-metastatic cases was retrieved from RCC registry (3648 in total).

Protein S is Protective in Acute Lung Injury by Inhibiting Cell Apoptosis.

Acute lung injury is a fatal disease characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar-capillary barrier disruption, protein-rich edema, and impairment of gas exchange. Protein S is a vitamin K-dependent glycoprotein that exerts anticoagulant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether human protein S inhibits cell apoptosis in acute lung injury.

Large-scale Circulating microRNA Profiling for the Liquid Biopsy of Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: The high false-positive rate of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) may lead to unnecessary prostate biopsies. Therefore, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that decisions regarding PSA-based screening of prostate cancer should be made with caution in men ages 55-69 years, and that men ≥70 years should not undergo PSA screening. Here, we investigated the potential of serum miRNAs as an accurate diagnostic method in patients with suspected prostate cancer.

Low-dose rituximab as induction therapy for ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Administration of four once-weekly doses of 375 mg/m rituximab (RTX) is commonly used as remission induction therapy for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Low-dose RTX has been recently shown to produce closely similar results to conventional treatments in other autoimmune diseases. However, the therapeutic potential of this approach in AAV remains largely unknown.

Successful treatment of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus felis, a cryptic species within the Aspergillus section Fumigati: A case report.

Aspergillus species are a major cause of life-threatening infections in immunocompromised hosts, and the most common pathogen of invasive aspergillosis is Aspergillus fumigatus. Recently, the development of molecular identification has revealed cryptic Aspergillus species, and A. felis is one such species within the Aspergillus section Fumigati reported in 2013.

BIM deletion polymorphism accounts for lack of favorable outcome in Japanese females with follicular lymphoma.

Deletion polymorphism of BCL-2-like protein 11 (BIM) is specifically found in East Asia. To explain some epidemiological discrepancies between Asian and Western countries, we analyzed a silent single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 5 (c465C > T) and a deletion site (2903 bp) in intron 2 in 77 patients with follicular lymphoma by the Q-invader method using PCR. In females, 5-year progression-free survivals (PFS) were 20.

Evaluation of image matching techniques for optical fiber specklegram sensor analysis.

A quantitative study of image matching techniques applied to fiber specklegram sensor analysis is presented. The fiber status is modulated by a microbending transducer, so the output speckle field can be correlated to the input displacements. Once acquired and preprocessed, the specklegrams' variations were evaluated according to seven approaches.

Circulating miRNA panels for specific and early detection in bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer is the 9th leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The major problem in bladder cancer is primarily the high recurrence rate after drug treatment and resection. Although conventional screening methods, such as cystoscopy, urinary cytology and ultrasound sonography, have become widely used in clinical settings, the diagnostic performance of these modalities is unsatisfactory due to low accuracy or high invasiveness.

Experiences of Violence and Preventive Measures Among Nurses in Psychiatric and Non-Psychiatric Home Visit Nursing Services in Japan.

Home visit nurses (HVNs) are crucial in psychiatric home visit nursing (PHVN) in Japan. However, little is known about violence toward HVNs in PHVN and non-PHVN settings. The current study aimed to clarify nurses' experiences of violence in these settings, their implementation of preventive measures, and related associations.

Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 in Eosinophil-Mediated Airway Remodeling.

Airway remodeling is responsible for the progressive decline of lung function in bronchial asthma. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition are involved in tissue remodeling. Here we evaluated whether eosinophils play a role in fibroblasts-to-myofibroblasts transition and in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2.

Renal Injury during Long-Term Crizotinib Therapy.

Crizotinib is highly effective against anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive and c-ros oncogen1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Renal dysfunction is associated with crizotinib therapy but the mechanism is unknown. Here, we report a case of anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive non-small cell lung cancer showing multiple cysts and dysfunction of the kidneys during crizotinib administration.