Persistent median artery: paedogenesis of the antebrachial arterial system in the human body.

The persistence of the median artery in adult life, a remnant of the early brachial artery in the embryonic stage, has been reported in many anatomical and clinical studies. Herein, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and origin of the median artery in cadavers. We examined 53 adult Japanese cadavers and carefully dissected 106 upper limbs, and the arterial systems in the forearms and hands were observed macroscopically.

Exploring heart dissection techniques for enhancing anatomical education: a pilot study to replicate transthoracic echocardiography.

Purpose: For novice learners, converting two-dimensional (2D) images of echocardiography to three-dimensional (3D) cardiac structures is deemed challenging. This study aimed to develop an accurate dissection method of the heart to reproduce the transthoracic echocardiographic views on cadavers and elucidate new educational methods in human anatomy dissection courses.

Methods: A total of 18 hearts were used in this study.

Transforming Growth Factor α Evokes Aromatase Expression in Gastric Parietal Cells during Rat Postnatal Development.

Estrogen, well known as a female hormone, is synthesized primarily by ovarian aromatase. However, extra-glandular tissues also express aromatase and produce estrogen. It is noteworthy that aromatase in gastric parietal cells begins expression around 20 days after birth and continues secreting considerable amounts of estrogen into the portal vein throughout life, supplying it to the liver.

Anatomical analysis of ligaments surrounding calcaneocuboid joint; implications for role in foot stability.

Purpose: The calcaneocuboid joint is located in the lateral part of the foot and acts as a major stabilizer for the foot. Injuries to this joint often occur in association with ankle or foot injuries and are frequently overlooked, subsequently causing chronic pain or osteoarthritis. However, the relationship between ligaments surrounding the joint and joint instability remains unclear.

Mixed squamous cell and glandular papilloma of the lung increased in twelve years -A case report.

We report the case of a 55-year-old man presented with a nodule in the right middle lung on computed tomography. The size of the nodule had increased at 12 years after the first visit. Consequently, the patient was diagnosed with a Mixed squamous cell and glandular papilloma (MSGP) by surgical resection.

Resection of a colloid adenocarcinoma of the lung: A case report.

Colloid adenocarcinoma of the lung is a rare subtype of lung adenocarcinoma, accounting for only about 0.24% of lung cancers. Because of its rarity, long-term postoperative prognostic reports are limited.

Bortezomib-cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone induction/consolidation and bortezomib maintenance for transplant-eligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: phase 2 multicenter trial.

Objectives: We conducted a phase II trial to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of bortezomib-cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone (VCD) induction, autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), VCD consolidation, and bortezomib maintenance in transplant-eligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients in Japan (UMIN000010542).

Methods: From 2013 to 2016, 42 patients with a median age of 58 (range 42-65) years with NDMM were enrolled in 15 centers. The primary endpoint was the complete response (CR) /stringent CR (sCR) rate after transplantation, and overall/progression-free survival rates were also evaluated.

Endoscopic direct clipping versus indirect clipping for colonic diverticular bleeding: A large multicenter cohort study.

Background: Direct and indirect clipping treatments are used worldwide to treat colonic diverticular bleeding (CDB), but their effectiveness has not been examined in multicenter studies with more than 100 cases.

Objective: We sought to determine the short- and long-term effectiveness of direct versus indirect clipping for CDB in a nationwide cohort.

Methods: We studied 1041 patients with CDB who underwent direct clipping (n = 360) or indirect clipping (n = 681) at 49 hospitals across Japan (CODE BLUE-J Study).

Treatment strategies for reducing early and late recurrence of colonic diverticular bleeding based on stigmata of recent hemorrhage: a large multicenter study.

Background And Aims: Treatment strategies for colonic diverticular bleeding (CDB) based on stigmata of recent hemorrhage (SRH) remain unstandardized, and no large studies have evaluated their effectiveness. We sought to identify the best strategy among combinations of SRH identification and endoscopic treatment strategies.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 5823 CDB patients who underwent colonoscopy at 49 hospitals throughout Japan (CODE-BLUE J-Study).

Outcomes in high and low volume hospitals in patients with acute hematochezia in a cohort study.

Outcomes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding have not been compared according to hospital capacity. We aimed to perform a propensity score-matched cohort study with path and mediation analyses for acute hematochezia patients. Hospitals were divided into high- versus low-volume hospitals for emergency medical services.

Identifying Bleeding Etiologies by Endoscopy Affected Outcomes in 10,342 Cases With Hematochezia: CODE BLUE-J Study.

Introduction: The bleeding source of hematochezia is unknown without performing colonoscopy. We sought to identify whether colonoscopy is a risk-stratifying tool to identify etiology and predict outcomes and whether presenting symptoms can differentiate the etiologies in patients with hematochezia.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study conducted at 49 hospitals across Japan analyzed 10,342 patients admitted for outpatient-onset acute hematochezia.

Novel patterned sapphire substrates for enhancing the efficiency of GaN-based light-emitting diodes.

In this study, a novel patterned sapphire substrate (PSS) was used to obtain mesa-type light-emitting diodes (LED), which can efficiently reduce the threading dislocation densities. Silicon nitride (SiN) was used as a barrier to form the PSS, replacing the commonly used silicon dioxide (SiO). The refractive index of SiN is 2.

Comparison of the histopathological characteristics of large colorectal laterally spreading tumors according to growth pattern.

Objectives: Colorectal laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) are widely recognized owing to their structural characteristics. This study aims to clarify the histopathological characteristics of large colorectal LSTs according to growth pattern.

Methods: We studied 297 colorectal LSTs measuring ≥20 mm in diameter.

Effects of various lengths of hypoglossal nerve resection on motoneuron survival.

We employed stereological analyses for whole quantification of hypoglossal (XII) motoneurons in adult rats that received varying degrees of resection of the XII nerve. Various lengths of nerve gaps (0.0-13.

Effects of repeated nerve injuries at different time intervals on functional recovery and nerve innervation.

Effects of repeated nerve injuries on functional recovery and nerve innervation were examined in rodents. Crush injuries of the sciatic nerve were inflicted on adult rats and repeated twice or thrice at different time intervals of 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Motor function was assessed by the static sciatic index at 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 days after the final crush.

Acetyl-l-carnitine enhances myelination of regenerated fibers of the lateral olfactory tract.

It is well known that acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) has various neuroprotective effects against neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, it has been reported that ALC facilitates myelination of regenerated axons after peripheral nerve injuries. We previously reported that spontaneous regeneration of the lateral olfactory tract (LOT), the main fiber tract of the central olfactory system, consistently occurred in newborn rats and a majority of these regenerated fibers were unmyelinated in neonatally LOT-transected young adult rats.

Stereological assessment of the total number of hypoglossal neurons after repeated crush injuries to the hypoglossal nerve in adult rats.

Objective: Retrograde neuronal cell death does not occur in mature motoneurons following the axonal injury of peripheral nerves. However, a previous study suggested that retrograde neuronal cell death does occur in adult rats after the creation of double lesions on the hypoglossal (XII) nerve based on a substantial decrease in the number of XII neurons. Using stereological methods, we examined neuronal apoptosis in XII neurons and the total number of XII neurons following repeated crush injuries to the XII nerve.

Morphological analysis of regenerated bulbar fibers in relation to neonatal olfaction.

It was revealed that regeneration of the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) occurred in developing rats and the regenerated olfactory system was functional 4 weeks after transection. The aim of this study was to determine the earliest onset of functional recovery in LOT-injured rats and to quantify regenerated nerve components with functional correlation. Neonatal rats on postnatal day (P) 2 were subjected to unilateral transection of the left LOT and underwent unilateral removal of the right olfactory bulb on P11.

The Relationship of the Subclavius Muscle with Relevance to Venous Cannulation below the Clavicle.

Introduction. The catheter "pinch-off syndrome" has been described to be secondary to crimping of the catheter between the clavicle and the first rib, as well as entrapment of the catheter at the site of penetration of the subclavius muscle. The lateral insertion technique has been recommended to prevent catheter pinch-off, but it is unknown if this technique can prevent entrapment by the subclavius muscle.

Roles of Capsule Endoscopy and Single-Balloon Enteroscopy in Diagnosing Unexplained Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Background/aims: The diagnostic algorithms used for selecting patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) for capsule endoscopy (CE) or balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BE) vary among facilities. We aimed to demonstrate the appropriate selection criteria of CE and single balloon-assisted enteroscopy (SBE) for patients with OGIB according to their conditions, by retrospectively comparing the diagnostic performances of CE and BE for detecting the source of the OGIB.

Methods: We investigated 194 patients who underwent CE and/or BE.

Clinical usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography for the evaluation of ulcerative colitis-associated tumors.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for the diagnosis of the invasion depth of ulcerative colitis-associated tumors.

Methods: The study group comprised 13 patients with 16 ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated tumors for which the depth of invasion was preoperatively estimated by EUS. The lesions were then resected endoscopically or by surgical colectomy and were examined histopathologically.