Proper training in laparoscopic hernia repair is necessary to minimize the rising recurrence rate in Japan.

Introduction: The Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery reported that the recurrence rate for inguinal hernia repair in Japan was less than 1% in 2010. However, its 2012 survey found that the recurrence rate had increased to 4% for the transabdominal preperitoneal procedure and 5% for the totally extraperitoneal procedure. We held 14 hernia repair training courses from 2011 to 2016 with help from Covidien.

A Prospective, Single-Arm, Single-Center, Case Series to Determine the Feasibility of Safe Skill Transfer for Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) Repair Utilizing a Hands-On Mentorship Model.

Objectives: It is difficult to introduce laparoscopic surgery in institutions with a small number of patients, and surgical training relies heavily on mentors to produce well-trained surgeons. The aim of this study was to determine whether implementation of a hands-on mentorship model could provide safe skill transfer for transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair.

Methods: A trainee who had no experience with TAPP repair underwent operative tutorials until the mentor judged that the trainee could carry out the operation independently.

New suture: tail clinch knot for transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair.

Introduction: There is some controversy regarding the proper surgical method for inguinal hernia repair and whether transabdominal preperitoneal or totally extraperitoneal repair should be used. The greatest difference between these procedures is the need for absorbable sutures to close the peritoneal incision.

Materials And Surgical Technique: The clinch knot is a kind of slip knot that is used for securing a fishing lure, hook, or swivel to a fishing line.

Risk factors for loss to follow-up during active surveillance of patients with Stage I seminoma.

Objective: To elucidate the patterns and risk factors for loss to follow-up during active surveillance for Stage I seminoma.

Methods: A total of 425 cases with Stage I seminoma underwent radical orchiectomy from 1985 to 2006 at 25 Japanese institutions, including 22 community hospitals and 3 university hospitals. The post-orchiectomy management selected was active surveillance for 186 patients, adjuvant radiotherapy for 182 patients and chemotherapy for 57 patients.

Greatly impaired migration of implanted aquaporin-4-deficient astroglial cells in mouse brain toward a site of injury.

We reported previously that astroglia cultured from aquaporin-4-deficient (AQP4-/-) mice migrate more slowly in vitro than those from wild-type (AQP4+/+) mice (J. Cell Sci. 2005;118, 5691-5698).