Resection depth and layer of underwater versus conventional endoscopic mucosal resection of intermediate-sized colorectal polyps: A pilot study.

 Curability of colorectal tumors is associated with resection depth and layer in endoscopic resection. Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) has not undergone sufficient histopathological evaluation. We conducted a pilot study to compare the effectiveness, including resection depth and layer, of UEMR and conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (CEMR).

Titanium Fiber Plates for Bone Tissue Repair.

Titanium plates are widely used in clinical settings because of their high bone affinity. However, owing to their high elastic modulus, these plates are not suitable for bone repair since their proximity to the bone surface for prolonged periods can cause stress shielding, leading to bone embrittlement. In contrast, titanium fiber plates prepared by molding titanium fibers into plates by simultaneously applying compression and shear stress at normal room temperature can have an elastic modulus similar to that of bone cortex, and stress shielding will not occur even when the plate lies flush against the bone's surface.

A three-dimensional block structure consisting exclusively of carbon nanotubes serving as bone regeneration scaffold and as bone defect filler.

Many recent studies have been conducted to assess the ability of composite materials containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with high bone affinity to serve as scaffolds in bone regenerative medicine. These studies have demonstrated that CNTs can effectively induce bone formation. However, no studies have investigated the usefulness of scaffolds consisting exclusively of CNTs in bone regenerative medicine.

Wtip is required for proepicardial organ specification and cardiac left/right asymmetry in zebrafish.

Wilm's tumor 1 interacting protein (Wtip) was identified as an interacting partner of Wilm's tumor protein (WT1) in a yeast two-hybrid screen. WT1 is expressed in the proepicardial organ (PE) of the heart, and mouse and zebrafish wt1 knockout models appear to lack the PE. Wtip's role in the heart remains unexplored.

[A case report of a common bile duct stone formed from a fish bone].

A 79-year-old woman was admitted for investigation of epigastric pain and jaundice. Abdominal computed tomography showed a common bile duct stone with a needle-like calcification. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed, and the stone was extracted from the common bile duct.

Specific biological responses of the synovial membrane to carbon nanotubes.

Biological evaluation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is typically performed in the lung or abdominal cavity; however, biological reactions to CNTs are predicted to be markedly different in other tissues. In applications of CNTs as reinforcement for artificial joints and drug delivery systems, including their use in bone regeneration, the intra-articular synovial membrane makes contact with the CNTs. Herein, we analyzed the reaction of the synovial membrane with multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs).

Biological responses according to the shape and size of carbon nanotubes in BEAS-2B and MESO-1 cells.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of the shape and size of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and cup-stacked carbon nanotubes (CSCNTs) on biological responses in vitro. Three types of MWCNTs - VGCF(®)-X, VGCF(®)-S, and VGCF(®) (vapor grown carbon fibers; with diameters of 15, 80, and 150 nm, respectively) - and three CSCNTs of different lengths (CS-L, 20-80 μm; CS-S, 0.5-20 μm; and CS-M, of intermediate length) were tested.

Culture medium type affects endocytosis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in BEAS-2B cells and subsequent biological response.

We examined the cytotoxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and the resulting cytokine secretion in BEAS-2B cells or normal human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEpCs) in two types of culture media (Ham's F12 containing 10% FBS [Ham's F12] and serum-free growth medium [SFGM]). Cellular uptake of MWCNT was observed by fluorescent microscopy and analyzed using flow cytometry. Moreover, we evaluated whether MWCNT uptake was suppressed by 2 types of endocytosis inhibitors.

[A case of multiple metastases breast cancer controlled using S-1 as third-line chemotherapy].

A 42-year-old female underwent surgery for cancer of the left breast (T3N2M0) in February 2003, and FEC 70, followed by CMF, was administered as adjuvant therapy. In January 2009, second-line chemotherapy with weekly paclitaxel therapy was started after multiple pleural and bone metastatic lesions had been found. Despite this treatment, she required radiation therapy for the growth of bone metastatic lesions.

Anastomotic suture line recurrence of early rectal carcinomas that had been resected by laparoscopic surgery.

We report herein a case of a 64-year-old woman found to have anastomotic suture line recurrence of an early rectal carcinoma. The patient had undergone laparoscopy-assisted low anterior rectal resection for an early rectal carcinoma 2 years before the anastomotic site recurrence. A follow-up colonoscopy revealed an elevated lesion on the anastomotic suture line.

Supraclinical concentrations of dexmedetomidine evoke norepinephrine release from rat cerebrocortical slices possible involvement of the orexin-1 receptor.

Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective alpha(2)-agonist and reduces norepinephrine release from several neuronal tissues. However, supraclinical concentrations of dexmedetomidine have been reported to increase norepinephrine release from cardiac stores. In addition, some report using microdialysis shows that intrathecal clonidine increased norepinephrine release from the dorsal horn in mid-thoracic spinal cord but dexmedetomidine did not.

Giant peritoneal loose body in the pelvic cavity: report of a case.

This report describes a giant peritoneal loose body in the pelvic cavity. A 63-year-old man who was asymptomatic underwent a routine medical examination, which revealed a tumor in the pelvic space. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a smooth-surfaced mass with two marked calcifications in the central position.

Gene expression screening using a cDNA macroarray to clarify the mechanisms of peritoneal dissemination of pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: Pancreatic cancer is associated with the poorest prognosis of any digestive cancer due to the high incidence of peritoneal dissemination, which is the cause of death in most cases. To determine the mechanisms of peritoneal dissemination in pancreatic cancer, we established a mouse model of high peritoneal dissemination.

Methods: A novel highly peritoneal-disseminating cell line was established from the human pancreatic cancer cell line; CAPAN-1.

A new liver metastatic and peritoneal dissemination model established from the same human pancreatic cancer cell line: analysis using cDNA macroarray.

To elucidate the mechanisms of metastasis, we established two sublines HPC-1H5 with a highly liver metastatic cell line and HPC-1P5a with a highly peritoneal disseminating cell line, which were sequentially selected from the parental pancreatic cancer cell line HPC-1. Using these three cell lines, we investigated several biological properties and mRNA levels of differentially-expressed genes involved in cancer metastasis by cDNA macroarray. Microscopic findings for the three cell lines were the same.

Malignant melanoma of the anorectum: report of four cases.

Four cases of anorectal malignant melanoma are reported in this paper. All patients underwent an abdominoperineal resection with lymph node dissection for a curative operation and received postoperative chemotherapy with dacarbazine, ranimustine, and vincristine, either with or without interferon-beta. One of these patients has been observed for more than 6 years postoperatively without any evidence of recurrence.

Transanal repair of rectourethral fistula after a radical retropubic prostatectomy: report of a case.

Rectourethral fistula occurred in a 64-year-old man after a radical prostatectomy. Despite conservative treatment the fistula did not close spontaneously. Eleven months after the original prostatectomy, an operation was performed.

A novel nude mouse model of liver metastasis and peritoneal dissemination from the same human pancreatic cancer line.

Introduction: Recently, several mice models have been used for investigating cancer metastasis. However, there are no metastatic and peritoneal dominated variants from the same parental cell line.

Aim And Methodology: To elucidate the mechanisms of metastasis, we established highly liver metastatic and peritoneal disseminated models in nude mice, and then characterized several factors related to metastasis in these cells.