Retrospective Analysis of the Clinical Usefulness of a Strut-Adjusted Volume Implant in a Single Center.

Objective: Reports demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of strut-adjusted volume implants (SAVI) in Japan are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes of SAVI and whole-breast irradiation (WBI) at a single facility.

Materials And Methods: Data were retrospectively extracted from the medical records of patients treated with SAVI or WBI following partial mastectomy (Bp).

Differences in perception of breast cancer treatment between patients, physicians, and nurses and unmet information needs in Japan.

Purpose: Discrepancies exist between healthcare provider and patient perceptions surrounding breast cancer treatment. Significant treatment changes in the last 10 years have made re-evaluation of these perceptions necessary.

Methods: Physicians and nurses involved in breast cancer treatment, and patients who had received breast cancer chemotherapy (past 5 years), were questioned using an Internet survey.

Digital volumetric measurement of mammographic density and the risk of overlooking cancer in Japanese women.

Background: Breast density often affects cancer detection via mammography (MMG). Because of this, additional tests are recommended for women with dense breasts. This study aimed to reveal trends in breast density among Japanese women and determine whether differences in breast density differentially affected the detection of abnormalities via MMG.

Environmental chlamydiae alter the growth speed and motility of host acanthamoebae.

Symbiosis between living beings is an important driver of evolutionary novelty and ecological diversity; however, understanding the mechanisms underlying obligate mutualism remains a significant challenge. Regarding this, we have previously isolated two different Acanthamoeba strains harboring endosymbiotic bacteria, Protochlamydia (R18 symbiotic amoebae: R18WT) or Neochlamydia (S13 symbiotic amoebae; S13WT). In this study, we treated the symbiotic amoebae R18WT and S13WT with doxycycline (DOX) and rifampicin (RFP), respectively, to establish the aposymbiotic amoebae R18DOX and S13RFP, respectively.

Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 infection model using human lymphoid Jurkat cells.

Chlamydia trachomatis L2 invasively attacks lymphatic and subepithelial tissues of the genital tract during the formation of primary lesions. This subsequently results in lymphadenopathy, and suggests a greater propensity for systemic dissemination. However, whether lymphocytes are a potential vehicle cell for the dissemination of this infection remains unknown.

Amoebal endosymbiont Protochlamydia induces apoptosis to human immortal HEp-2 cells.

Protochlamydia, an environmental chlamydia and obligate amoebal endosymbiotic bacterium, evolved to survive within protist hosts, such as Acanthamobae, 700 million years ago. However, these bacteria do not live in vertebrates, including humans. This raises the possibility that interactions between Protochlamydia and human cells could induce a novel cytopathic effect, leading to new insights into host-parasite relationships.

Improvement of endothelial dysfunction in acromegaly after transsphenoidal surgery.

Flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) is a vascular functional test to detect endothelial dysfunction at the early stage of cardiovascular diseases. Patients with active acromegaly have higher morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular events. To determine whether active acromegaly is associated with endothelial dysfunction, we studied 17 patients with active acromegaly for measurements of FMD, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and other biochemical parameters before and 3 months after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS).

Chronic blockade of nitric oxide synthesis reduces adiposity and improves insulin resistance in high fat-induced obese mice.

Genetic deletion of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in mice has been shown to improve high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance. However, a pathophysiological role of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in obesity-related insulin resistance remains controversial. To address this issue, we examined the metabolic phenotypes in HFD-induced obese mice with chronic blockade of NO synthesis by a NOS inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME).

A case of factitious adrenal insufficiency after vascular graft surgery caused by spurious immunometric assays.

A 70-year-old man with abdominal aortic aneurysm underwent surgical repair with Hemashield vascular graft. Postoperatively, he was found to have very low plasma cortisol levels, which failed to increase after stimulation with ACTH. A tentative diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency was made despite the lack of its clinical manifestations and a replacement therapy with hydrocortisone was started.

Aldosterone increases osteopontin gene expression in rat endothelial cells.

Aldosterone is currently recognized as one of the important risk hormones for cardiovascular disease. However, the cellular mechanism by which aldosterone affects the process of cardiovascular injury has not been well understood. In the present study, we investigated whether aldosterone induces pro-inflammatory genes expression in rat aortic endothelial cells.

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus due to hydronephrosis in a patient with a solitary kidney.

A 68-year-old man with a history of nephrectomy of the right kidney was admitted to our hospital with a 1-month history of polyuria (> 41 per day). He also exhibited hyposthenuria, which was unresponsive to treatment with exogenous vasopressin. Radiographic examination revealed partial obstruction of the left ureter and moderate hydronephrosis.

Treatment of lymphocytic hypophysitis by high-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy.

A 26-year-old woman 3 months post-partum was admitted to our hospital suffering from gross visual disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a pituitary mass, extending into the suprasellar cistern, with intense gadolinium enhancement. Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LHy) was suspected, and the patient received high dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy (HDMPT).

Complete adrenocorticotropin deficiency after radiation therapy for brain tumor with a normal growth hormone reserve.

A 34-year-old man with neurofibromatosis type 1, who had received radiation therapy after the excision of a brain tumor 5 years earlier, was admitted to our hospital with vomiting and weight loss. Cortisol and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) were undetectable before and after administration of 100 microg corticotropin releasing hormone. The level of growth hormone without stimulation was 24.