The oral mucosal membrane and transient receptor potential channels.

The oral cavity is the first line of defense, sensation, and secretion of the alimentary canal. Oral perception contributes to the enjoyment of food and beverages and to avoiding consumption of poisonous or harmful substances. Oral sensation is served by somatosensory nervous systems distributed to the oral membrane.

Investigation of optimal weight gain during pregnancy for Japanese Women.

This study aims to compare the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) and Japanese guidelines proposed by the Ministry and the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity on gestational weight gain (GWG), and to explore the optimal GWG range in Japanese women. We investigated 8,152 Japanese women who had full-term singleton babies between 2010 and 2013 at a single center in Tokyo. Logistic regression models showed that GWG below the recommendation of the IOM and Japanese guidelines was similarly associated with an increased risk of light-for-date (LFD), whereas GWG above these guidelines was similarly associated with an increased risk of heavy-for-date (HFD) in pre-pregnancy body mass index categories of underweight (<18.

Brain neurodevelopmental markers related to the deficit subtype of schizophrenia.

Deficit schizophrenia is a homogeneous subtype characterized by a trait-like feature of primary and prominent negative symptoms, but the etiologic factors related to this specific subtype remain largely unknown. This magnetic resonance imaging study aimed to examine gross brain morphology that probably reflects early neurodevelopment in 38 patients with deficit schizophrenia, 37 patients with non-deficit schizophrenia, and 59 healthy controls. Potential brain neurodevelopmental markers investigated in this study were the adhesio interthalamica (AI), cavum septi pellucidi (CSP), and surface morphology (i.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with inferior vena cava invasion: a report of three resected cases.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) often infiltrates to the adjacent major vasculatures; however, direct invasion of PDAC to the inferior vena cava (IVC) is uncommon.

Case Presentation: We report our experience with three cases of PDAC directly invading the IVC wall. All three patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy along with wedge resection of the IVC wall without severe postoperative complications.

Effects of deficiency of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 on skeletal organization: a mechanism for diminished nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1 during osteoclastogenesis.

Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) binds to nuclear factor E2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor for antioxidant enzymes, to suppress Nrf2 activation. The role of oxidative stress in many diseases supports the possibility that processes that are associated with Nrf2 activation might offer therapeutic potential. Nrf2 deficiency induces osteoclastogenesis, which is responsible for bone loss, by activating receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-mediated signaling; however, the effects of Keap1 deficiency remain unclear.

Effect of high pressure on the saccharification of starch in the tuberous root of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas).

We analyzed the effect of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment on reducing sugar production in the tuberous root of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), based on pressure-gelatinization of starch and subsequent saccharification by internal amylases. HHP treatment at up to 600MPa at ambient temperature for 10min did not apparently affect the reducing sugar concentration in tuberous root. However, HHP treatment at 100 to 500MPa and 60°C or 70°C for 10min increased reducing sugar concentration as both the pressure and temperature increased.

The Sequential Ultrasonographic, Electrophysiological and MRI Findings in a Patient with the Pharyngeal-cervical-brachial Variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome from the Acute Phase to the Chronic Phase.

Acute progressive weakness in bulbar, neck and limbs is included in several differential diagnoses, including the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Patients with the PCB variant of GBS are reported to have localized diagnostic cervical spinal nerve abnormalities that can be examined by nerve ultrasonography (NUS) and magnetic resonance neurography (MRN). We herein report the case of a 77-year-old man with the PCB variant of GBS.

Relationship Between Grading With Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Radiographic Parameters in Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction.

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the relationship between the state of the posterior tibial tendon (PTT) on magnetic resonance images and foot deformity. The cases included 34 feet in 27 patients with PTT deformity and the controls included 18 feet in 12 patients who had undergone magnetic resonance imaging for other foot diseases. The PTT was closely examined on the magnetic resonance images and classified using the Conti classification.

Pre-pregnancy body mass index as a predictor of low birth weight infants in Japan.

Background And Objectives: The prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) infants in Japan has doubled in the last several decades. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) on LBW infants of Japanese women.

Methods And Study Design: This retrospective study was conducted using data on 1,336 mothers (mean age, 34.

Reduced Thickness of the Anterior Cingulate Cortex in Individuals With an At-Risk Mental State Who Later Develop Psychosis.

Background: Despite the fact that only a part of the individuals with at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis do develop psychosis, biological markers of future transition to psychosis have not been well documented. Structural abnormality of the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG), which probably exists prior to the onset of psychosis, could be such a risk marker.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of 3 scanning sites in Japan.

New macroscopic classification and back-flow thrombectomy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus invading the contralateral second portal branch.

Purpose: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) invading the portal trunk (Vp4) are poor surgical candidates because of the technical difficulties involved. To overcome the limitations, we developed a technique of back-flow thrombectomy (BFT) based on the inherent portal hemodynamics and the macroscopic form of PVTT.

Methods: Forty-six patients with multiple HCC and Vp4 PVTT underwent hepatectomy with tumor thrombectomy.

Preoperative Cholangitis Affects Survival Outcome in Patients with Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer.

Background: It remains controversial whether preoperative cholangitis affects long-term outcomes after resection in patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer.

Methods: A total of 107 patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer who underwent resection with curative intent from 2008 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the presence or absence of preoperative cholangitis.

Linear discriminant analysis for symmetric lifting recognition of skilled logistic experts by center of pressure trajectory.

Goal: The main purpose of the present study was to propose a recognizing method to analyze characteristics of symmetric lifting of skilled logistic experts by center of pressure (CoP) trajectories. Although it has been known that good posture helps reduce the intradiscal loads on lumbar discs, the most significant problem was that most of logistic workers did not know whether the current posture was proper or not.

Methods: The experiment of lifting was performed three times under 18 kg loads with closed eyes.

Development of a new biodegradable operative clip made of a magnesium alloy: Evaluation of its safety and tolerability for canine cholecystectomy.

Background: Operative clips used to ligate vessels in abdominal operation usually are made of titanium. They remain in the body permanently and form metallic artifacts in computed tomography images, which impair accurate diagnosis. Although biodegradable magnesium instruments have been developed in other fields, the physical properties necessary for operative clips differ from those of other instruments.

[A Case of Recurrent Ovarian Fibrosarcoma Resected by Pancreaticoduodenectomy].

A 66-year-old woman presented to the Department of Gynecology in our institution in 2005 with peritoneal recurrence of ovarian fibrosarcoma. Originally, combined modality therapy including repeated surgical resection and somatic chemotherapy was performed. A peritoneal recurrence was found near the pancreatic head.

Examination of the Correlation Between Foot Morphology Measurements Using Pedography and Radiographic Measurements.

Pedography provides excellent visualization of the footprint. However, the correlation between the footprint images and radiographic measures has not been thoroughly evaluated. Therefore, the objectives of our study were to examine the correlation between the pedography-based measures of foot morphology and radiographic measurements and to propose reference values for the diagnosis of flatfoot using footprint imaging.

Investigation of the Longitudinal Relaxation Time of Rat Tibial Cortical Bone Using SWIFT.

Sweep imaging with Fourier transform (SWIFT) method has been developed to image tissues with very short T values, such as cortical bone. The purpose of this study was to measure the T value of the rat cortical bone. It was approximately 120 ms on 7.

Allergic Inflammation Leads to Neuropathic Pain via Glial Cell Activation.

Unlabelled: Allergic and atopic disorders have increased over the past few decades and have been associated with neuropsychiatric conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder and asthmatic amyotrophy. Myelitis presenting with neuropathic pain can occur in patients with atopic disorder; however, the relationship between allergic inflammation and neuropathic pain, and the underlying mechanism, remains to be established. We studied whether allergic inflammation affects the spinal nociceptive system.

Internal hernia through a transverse mesocolon defect after laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: Report of a case.

We report a case of an internal hernia through a transverse mesocolon defect after laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. The patient was a 58-year-old man with an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreatic body who underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. During surgery, an approximately 5-cm defect in the transverse mesocolon was inadvertently made.

Seafloor observations indicate spatial separation of coseismic and postseismic slips in the 2011 Tohoku earthquake.

Large interplate earthquakes are often followed by postseismic slip that is considered to occur in areas surrounding the coseismic ruptures. Such spatial separation is expected from the difference in frictional and material properties in and around the faults. However, even though the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake ruptured a vast area on the plate interface, the estimation of high-resolution slip is usually difficult because of the lack of seafloor geodetic data.

Safety of fondaparinux for prevention of postoperative venous thromboembolism in urological malignancy: A prospective randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: To prospectively evaluate the safety of postoperative fondaparinux in comparison with low molecular weight heparin in patients undergoing uro-oncological surgery.

Methods: The present study was a prospective, single-blind, non-inferiority randomized trial. A total of 359 patients undergoing surgery for urological malignancy were enrolled from January 2011 to December 2012.

Analysis of Difference in Center-of-Pressure Positions Between Experts and Novices During Asymmetric Lifting.

Although numerous studies have analyzed the relationship between manual material handling (MMH) and the forces acting on the lumbar spine, the difference in the MMH between experts and novices through the analysis of measured data has not been well studied. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the difference in the MMH positions between ten skilled experts working at a freight transport company (Group 1) and five unskilled novices without any experience (Group 2) during asymmetric lifting. All the human subjects performed asymmetric lifting experiments with closed eyes; the experiments involved moving loads (6 and 18 kg) to the left side.

[Factors Associated with Blood Loss after Delivery in 1,294 Mothers with Full-Term Singleton Baby].

Objectives: To clarify the predisposing factors associated with blood loss after delivery in mothers with full-term singleton babies.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we investigated 1,294 women who delivered singleton babies vaginally in 2011 at a medical center in Tokyo. We determined the amount of blood loss after delivery and covariates of age, parity, pre pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), gestational week, pregnancy complications, lifestyles of smoking and drinking, placental weight, and infant weight and sex.