Indwelling voice prosthesis insertion after total pharyngolaryngectomy with free jejunal reconstruction.

Objectives: Total pharyngolaryngectomy with free jejunal reconstruction is often performed in patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma. However, postoperative speechlessness significantly decreases patient quality of life. We investigated whether Provox® insertion could preserve speech after total pharyngolaryngectomy with free jejunal reconstruction.

Polymer Nanosheets from Supramolecular Assemblies of Conjugated Linoleic Acid-High Surface Area Adsorbents from Renewable Materials.

We present a strategy for robustly cross-linking self-assembled lamellar mesophases made from plant-derived materials to generate polymer nanosheets decorated with a high density of functional groups. We formulate a supramoleclar complex by hydrogen-bonding conjugated linoleic acid moieties to a structure-directing tribasic aromatic core. The resulting constructs self-assemble into a thermotropic lamellar mesophase.

Inhibition of TRPM7 suppresses cell proliferation of colon adenocarcinoma in vitro and induces hypomagnesemia in vivo without affecting azoxymethane-induced early colon cancer in mice.

Background: Magnesium (Mg) is an essential cation implicated in carcinogenesis, solid tumor progression and metastatic potential. The Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin Member 7 (TRPM7) is a divalent ion channel involved in cellular and systemic Mg homeostasis. Abnormal expression of TRPM7 is found in numerous cancers, including colon, implicating TRPM7 in this process.

A posteriori accuracy estimation of ultrasonic vector-flow mapping (VFM).

Abstract: A novel method, called a posteriori "VFM accuracy estimation" (VAE), for resolving an intrinsic VFM problem is proposed. The problem is that VFM uncertainty can easily vary according to blood flows through an echocardiographic imaged plane (i.e.

Triterpenoids Isolated from Ziziphus jujuba Enhance Glucose Uptake Activity in Skeletal Muscle Cells.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), a traditional folk medicine and functional food in China and South Korea, is known for its beneficial properties, which include anti-cancer, anti-oxidative, and anti-obesity effects. To assess the anti-hyperglycemic effect of jujube in this study, we investigated the glucose uptake-promoting activity of jujube in rat L6 myotubes.

High expression of ABCG2 induced by EZH2 disruption has pivotal roles in MDS pathogenesis.

Both proto-oncogenic and tumor-suppressive functions have been reported for enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). To investigate the effects of its inactivation, a mutant EZH2 lacking its catalytic domain was prepared (EZH2-dSET). In a mouse bone marrow transplant model, EZH2-dSET expression in bone marrow cells induced a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-like disease in transplanted mice.

A mammalian mirtron miR-1224 promotes tube-formation of human primary endothelial cells by targeting anti-angiogenic factor epsin2.

Angiogenesis, new vessel formation from pre-existing vessels, is a highly conserved event through vertebrates. However, the system for tuning angiogenesis by species-intrinsic factors is totally unknown. miR-1224 is a member of mammal-specific mirtrons, which were identified as non-canonical microRNAs.

Sonodynamic Therapy Based on Combined Use of Low Dose Administration of Epirubicin-Incorporating Drug Delivery System and Focused Ultrasound.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is currently considered as one of the promising minimally invasive treatment options for solid cancers. SDT is based on the combined use of a sonosensitizer drug and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in and around neoplastic cells. Anthracycline drugs, including epirubicin (EPI), have been well known as effective sonosensitizers after interaction with focused ultrasound.

Matched-pair analysis of patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer: surgery versus concomitant chemoradiotherapy.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic outcomes of total pharyngolaryngectomy with those of concomitant chemoradiotherapy in advanced hypopharyngeal cancer.

Methods: This is a retrospective multi-institutional study. The medical records of 979 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer, who were initially treated between 2006 and 2008, were reviewed.

Thick tumor capsule is a valuable risk factor for distant metastasis in follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Objective: While the biological behavior of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) has been studied in great detail using clinical experience, few studies have investigated pre- or intraoperative factors related to the risk of distant metastasis (DM) among patients with FTC. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of FTC with DM.

Methods: This study retrospectively investigated 102 patients with FTC who underwent surgery between 1988 and 2013.

A new CysLT and CysLT receptors-mediated anaphylaxis guinea pig model.

Although the effectiveness of CysLT receptor antagonists on asthma has been clinically established, the effects of CysLT receptor antagonists are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to develop a new CysLT and CysLT receptors-mediated anaphylaxis guinea pig model using S-hexyl GSH, a γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GTP) inhibitor, to suppress conversion of LTC to LTD. Actively sensitized guinea pigs were challenged with OVA in the absence or presence of S-hexyl GSH, and survival rate following anaphylactic response was monitored.

Perfluorododecanoic Acid Induces Cognitive Deficit in Adult Rats.

The brain level of perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) was compared with those of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) in rats 9 days after a single oral dose (50 mg/kg). The PFDoA level in the brain was 44.0 ± 2.

Centralization of extruded medial meniscus delays cartilage degeneration in rats.

Background: Meniscus extrusion often observed in knee osteoarthritis has a strong correlation with the progression of cartilage degeneration and symptom in the patients. We recently reported a novel procedure "arthroscopic centralization" in which the capsule was sutured to the edge of the tibial plateau to reduce meniscus extrusion in the human knee. However, there is no animal model to study the efficacy of this procedure.

In vitro model of cerebral ischemia by using brain microvascular endothelial cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Brain-derived microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), which play a central role in blood brain barrier (BBB), can be used for the evaluation of drug transport into the brain. Although human BMEC cell lines have already been reported, they lack original properties such as barrier integrity. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can be used for various applications such as regenerative therapy, drug screening, and pathological study.

Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for Head and Neck Cancer.

Objective: The first revision of "Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for Head and Neck Cancer" was made in 2013 by the clinical practice guideline committee of Japan Society for Head and Neck Cancer, in response to the revision of the TNM classification.

Methods: 34 CQs (Clinical Questions) were newly adopted to describe the diagnosis and treatment methods currently considered most appropriate, and offered recommendation grade made by the consensus of the committee. A comprehensive literature search was performed for studies published between 2001 and 2012 using PubMed.

Highly Selective Vertically Aligned Nanopores in Sustainably Derived Polymer Membranes by Molecular Templating.

We describe a combination of molecular templating and directed self-assembly to realize highly selective vertically aligned nanopores in polymer membranes using sustainably derived materials. The approach exploits a structure-directing molecule to template the assembly of plant-derived fatty acids into highly ordered columnar mesophases. Directed self-assembly using physical confinement and magnetic fields provides vertical alignment of the columnar nanostructures in large area (several cm) thin films.

The utility of apoptosis inhibitor of macrophages as a possible diagnostic marker in patients with Crohn's disease.

Background: Apoptosis inhibitor of macrophages (AIM) was initially identified as an apoptosis inhibitor that supports the survival of macrophages against various apoptosis-inducing stimuli, and AIM produced by macrophages may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). However, there have been no reports on the kinetics of AIM in IBD and the impact of AIM on the pathogenesis of IBD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic utility of levels of AIM and their correlation with the activity of Crohn's disease (CD) and IBD.

Two Cases of Ectopic Hamartomatous Thymoma Masquerading as Sarcoma.

Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma (EHT) is an extremely rare benign tumor. EHTs are difficult to differentiate from sarcomas, especially synovial sarcomas. We encountered two cases of EHT that were referred from other hospitals because sarcoma was suspected.

Generation of a bile salt export pump deficiency model using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells.

Bile salt export pump (BSEP) plays an important role in hepatic secretion of bile acids and its deficiency results in severe cholestasis and liver failure. Mutation of the ABCB11 gene encoding BSEP induces BSEP deficiency and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 2 (PFIC2). Because liver transplantation remains standard treatment for PFIC2, the development of a novel therapeutic option is desired.

Dithienyl Acenedithiophenediones as New π-Extended Quinoidal Cores: Synthesis and Properties.

We have synthesized two isomeric pairs of benzo- and naphthodithiophenediones with two flanking thiophenes and characterized them by single-crystal X-ray analysis, cyclic voltammetry, steady-state optical electronic absorption and emission spectroscopies, transient absorption spectroscopy, and vibrational spectroscopies with in situ spectroelectrochemistry techniques, and then compared them with the thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-2,5-dione counterpart that we previously reported. The results show that the central acenedithiophenedione cores have quinoidal conjugation with closed-shell character. The π-extension of the quinoidal core raises (lowers) the HOMO (LUMO) energy levels of the triads, resulting in the drastic reduction of their energy gaps from approximately 2.

Liver dysfunction in women with pregnancy-induced antithrombin deficiency.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether women with pregnancy-induced antithrombin deficiency (PIATD) had higher risk of liver dysfunction in the absence of thrombocytopenia.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective observational study at five centers in all 129 women with incidentally found PIATD among 5249 maternities and 129 control women without PIATD matched for number of fetuses and gestational week at delivery. PIATD was diagnosed in women with antenatal antithrombin (AT) activities of ≤75% followed by a further decrease to ≤65% peripartum.

Fatty Acid β-Oxidation Plays a Key Role in Regulating cis-Palmitoleic Acid Levels in the Liver.

Different monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) species have distinct pathophysiological activities. cis-Palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7) was previously reported to improve insulin sensitivity in animal studies. The proportions of hepatic MUFAs are generally considered to reflect changes in the activities of fatty acid modifications (∆9 desaturation and fatty acid elongation).

CysLT receptor activation is involved in LTC-induced lung air-trapping in guinea pigs.

CysLT receptors are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, the functional roles of CysLT receptors in this condition have not been determined. The purpose of this study is to develop an experimental model of CysLT receptor-mediated LTC-induced lung air-trapping in guinea pigs and use this model to clarify the mechanism underlying response to such trapping.