A novel high intensity focused ultrasound robotic system for breast cancer treatment.

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a promising technique for cancer treatment owing to its minimal invasiveness and safety. However, skin burn, long treatment time and incomplete ablation are main shortcomings of this method. This paper presents a novel HIFU robotic system for breast cancer treatment.

Localized elasticity measurement for detection of coagulation during HIFU therapy.

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment is one minimally invasive treatment method for cancer. Visualizing the internal treatment area of a body during HIFU treatment is required in order to achieve appropriate beam positioning and HIFU dosage. The objective of this work is to develop an ultrasound monitoring system for thermally induced coagulation.

Automatic laser scanning ablation system for high-precision treatment of brain tumors.

Complete removal of malignant gliomas is important for the prognosis in neurosurgery treatment. Currently, the challenge is how to detect any remaining tumors and resect them during the operation. We have developed a laser ablation system with accurate tumor analysis and fluorescence guidance for high-precision brain tumor resection during neurosurgery.

Effects of tapering of long-term benzodiazepines on cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia receiving a second-generation antipsychotic.

Background: The high use of long-term benzodiazepines (BZDs) with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) has been identified as an important issue in the treatment of schizophrenia in Japan. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of gradual reduction or discontinuation of daytime BZD use on cognitive function and quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic schizophrenia receiving an SGA.

Methods: Thirty schizophrenic patients who had received an SGA with concomitant BZDs for at least 3 months were enrolled.

[The delayed sensitization of CRH response developed after chronic variable stress on the acoustic startle reflex].

Substantial evidence indicates that brain neurons containing and secreting norepinephrine (NE) and corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) are activated during stress. The acoustic startle reflex (ASR) can be enhanced by CRH neuronal activity in the central nucleus of the amygdala. Our previous study demonstrates an augmentation of the footshock-induced ASR (f-ASR) 1 day after chronic variable stress (CVS) for 13 days.

Fluvoxamine and sigma-1 receptor agonists dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-sulfate induces the Ser473-phosphorylation of Akt-1 in PC12 cells.

Aims: The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may be a downstream target of a variety of antidepressant treatments, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used clinically for the treatment of depression. BDNF binds to and activates tyrosine kinases receptor (TrkB) to exert its effects. TrkB, after activation by ligands, stimulates phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K).