Optimal timing of preoperative indocyanine green administration for fluorescent cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy using the PINPOINT® Endoscopic Fluorescence Imaging System.

Introduction: The PINPOINT® Endoscopic Fluorescence Imaging System (Novadaq, Mississauga, Canada) allows surgeons to visualize the bile ducts during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surgeons can continue operation while confirming the bile ducts' fluorescence with a bright-field/color image. However, strong fluorescence of the liver can interfere with the surgery.

Prophylactic retention suture for surgical site infection: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication of gastrointestinal surgery. Because retention suture is known to prevent abdominal wound dehiscence, it is only considered indicated in high-risk patients. At present, there are no clear indications for retention suture.

Additive Value of 3T 3D CISS Imaging to Conventional MRI for Assessing the Abnormal Vessels of Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae.

Introduction: We investigated the additive value of the 3T 3D constructive interference in steady state (CISS) sequence to conventional MRI for the evaluation of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae (SDAVF).

Materials And Methods: We included 16 consecutive patients (15 men, 1 woman; age range 42-81 years; mean 64 years) with SDAVF who underwent 3T MRI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) before treatment. Two neuroradiologists independently evaluated the presence of abnormal vessels on 3D CISS-, T- and T-weighted images (TWI, TWI), and contrast-enhanced TWI using a 3-point grading system.

Impact of the individualization of the first-line chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer based on collagen gel droplet-embedded drug sensitivity test.

Leucovorin (FOL) and fluorouracil (5-FU) plus oxaliplatin (l-OHP; FOLFOX) or FOL and 5-FU plus irinotecan (SN-38; FOLFIRI) are widely used as first-line chemotherapy regimens in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). However, second-line chemotherapy must be abandoned in certain cases due to disease progression, adverse effects or high medical cost. Therefore, the most effective regimen should be selected as first-line chemotherapy.

Differentiating Between Primary Central Nervous System Lymphomas and Glioblastomas: Combined Use of Perfusion-Weighted and Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether combined diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion-weighted imaging magnetic resonance imaging can be used to differentiate between common malignant brain tumors, including lymphomas and high-grade gliomas.

Methods: We evaluated 87 patients with histologically confirmed brain tumors, including 33 primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) and 54 glioblastomas (GBMs). All patients underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and perfusion-weighted imaging before surgical removal of the lesion or stereotactic biopsy.

Comparison between multi-shot gradient echo EPI and balanced SSFP in unenhanced 3T MRA of thoracic aorta in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare scan time and image quality between magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the thoracic aorta using a multi-shot gradient echo planar imaging (MSG-EPI) and MRA using balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP).

Materials And Methods: Healthy volunteers (n=17) underwent unenhanced thoracic aorta MRA using balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) and MSG-EPI sequences on a 3T MRI. The acquisition time, total scan time, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the thoracic aorta, and the coefficient of variation (CV) of thoracic aorta were compared with paired t-tests.

Benefits of Genomic Insights and CRISPR-Cas Signatures to Monitor Potential Pathogens across Drinking Water Production and Distribution Systems.

The occurrence of pathogenic bacteria in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) is a major health concern, and our current understanding is mostly related to pathogenic species such as and but not to bacterial species closely related to them. In this study, genomic-based approaches were used to characterize pathogen-related species in relation to their abundance, diversity, potential pathogenicity, genetic exchange, and distribution across an urban drinking water system. Nine draft genomes recovered from 10 metagenomes were identified as (4 draft genomes), (3 draft genomes), (1 draft genome), and (1 draft genome).

Selection of cellular genetic markers for the detection of infectious poliovirus.

Aims: Cellular responses of an established cell line from human intestinal epithelial cells (INT-407 cells) against poliovirus (PV) infections were investigated in order to find cellular genetic markers for infectious PV detection.

Methods And Results: Gene expression profile of INT-407 cells was analysed by DNA microarray technique when cells were infected with poliovirus 1 (PV1) (sabin) at multiplicity of infection of 10 and incubated for 12 h. Poliovirus infection significantly altered the gene expressions of two ion channels, KCNJ4 and SCN7A.

Association between ovarian endometrioma and ovarian reserve.

Endometrioma is one of the main pathologies of endometriosis, though its pathogenesis still remains enigmatic. Ovarian reserve is defined as the number and quality of the follicles left in the ovary at any given time. The cause of infertility in women with endometriosis is multifactorial.

Target virus log reduction values determined for two reclaimed wastewater irrigation scenarios in Japan based on tolerable annual disease burden.

Multiple-barriers are widely employed for managing microbial risks in water reuse, in which different types of wastewater treatment units (biological treatment, disinfection, etc.) and health protection measures (use of personal protective gear, vegetable washing, etc.) are combined to achieve a performance target value of log reduction (LR) of viruses.

Sagittal spino-pelvic alignment in rapidly destructive coxarthrosis.

Purpose: To investigate the sagittal spino-pelvic alignment (SSPA) in patients with rapidly destructive coxarthrosis (RDC).

Methods: SSPA was investigated in 44 patients with RDC and 70 patients with hip osteoarthritis (HOA). The study included only female patients over the age of 70 years because epidemiological reports indicate that RDC most commonly occurs in this group of patients.

A Cyclopeptide and a Tetrahydroisoquinoline Alkaloid from Ophiorrhiza nutans.

A new cyclopeptide, ophiorrhisine A (1), a new tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid, 7',10-dide-O-methylcephaeline (2), two known β-carboline alkaloids, and four known tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids were isolated from Ophiorrhiza nutans (Rubiaceae). Compound 1 is a tetrapeptide possessing a 14-membered paracyclophane ring and a novel N,N,N-trimethyltyrosine residue in the side chain. The stereochemistry at the aryl-alkyl ether bond was different from that of other known 14-membered paracyclophanes.

Randomized phase II study of daily and alternate-day administration of S-1 for advanced gastric cancer (JFMC43-1003).

Purpose: Although S-1 based chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer has generally been accepted in Japan, discontinuations of treatment have been reported due to grade 3 or more adverse events. The present randomized phase II study was conducted to test whether alternate-day administration of S-1 would be comparably efficient and reduce adverse events compared with conventional daily administration in the first-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.

Methods: 132 patients with advanced gastric cancer were randomly assigned to 1:2 ratios to receive treatment with daily at a standard dose of 80 mg/m/day or alternate-day administration group received S-1 on 4 days a week.

Single-Breath-Hold Whole-heart Unenhanced Coronary MRA Using Multi-shot Gradient Echo EPI at 3T: Comparison with Free-breathing Turbo-field-echo Coronary MRA on Healthy Volunteers.

Purpose: We investigated the feasibility of single breath hold unenhanced coronary MRA using multi-shot gradient echo planar imaging (MSG-EPI) on a 3T-scanner.

Methods: Fourteen volunteers underwent single breath hold coronary MRA with a MSG-EPI and free-breathing turbo field echo (TFE) coronary MRA at 3T. The acquisition time, signal to noise ratio (SNR), and the contrast of the sequences were compared with the paired t-test.

Wear of XLPE liner against zirconium heads in cementless total hip arthroplasty for patients under 40 years of age.

Introduction: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the young is challenging. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively determine the clinical, radiographic, and polyethylene wear rate of relatively young patients.

Methods: We evaluated the outcome of consecutive patients receiving primary THA who were under 40 years of age with a minimum 10-year follow-up.

Bacteriophage removal efficiency as a validation and operational monitoring tool for virus reduction in wastewater reclamation: Review.

The multiple-barrier concept is widely employed in international and domestic guidelines for wastewater reclamation and reuse for microbiological risk management, in which a wastewater reclamation system is designed to achieve guideline values of the performance target of microbe reduction. Enteric viruses are one of the pathogens for which the target reduction values are stipulated in guidelines, but frequent monitoring to validate human virus removal efficacy is challenging in a daily operation due to the cumbersome procedures for virus quantification in wastewater. Bacteriophages have been the first choice surrogate for this task, because of the well-characterized nature of strains and the presence of established protocols for quantification.

Isolation and genomic characterization of a Dehalococcoides strain suggests genomic rearrangement during culture.

We have developed and characterized a bacterial consortium that reductively dechlorinates trichloroethene to ethene. Quantitative PCR analysis for the 16S rRNA and reductive dehalogenase genes showed that the consortium is highly enriched with Dehalococcoides spp. that have two vinyl chloride reductive dehalogenase genes, bvcA and vcrA, and a trichloroethene reductive dehalogenase gene, tceA.

Nutritional regulation of coupling factor 6, a novel vasoactive and proatherogenic peptide.

High sodium, high glucose, and obesity are important risk factors for age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVDs), stroke, and cancer. Coupling factor 6 (CF6) is released from vascular endothelial cells and functions as a circulating peptide that inhibits prostacyclin and nitric oxide generation by intracellular acidosis. High glucose elevates CF6 by activation of protein kinase C and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, whereas CF6 causes type 2 diabetes mellitus, resulting in a high glucose vicious cycle.

Nerve Palsy after Total Hip Arthroplasty without Subtrochanteric Femoral Shortening Osteotomy for a Completely Dislocated Hip Joint.

Background: Neurological injuries are a rare but devastating complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to retrospectively determine the frequency of nerve palsy after THA without subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy in patients with a completely dislocated hip joint without pseudo-articulation between the femoral head and iliac bone.

Methods: Between October 1999 and September 2001, nine primary THAs were performed for patients with a completely dislocated hip joint.

Highly Cross-linked Polyethylene Liner Dissociation from a Cement-less Modular Acetabular Shell: Two Case Reports.

Liner dissociation of polyethylene from a cementless acetabular socket following total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a rare complication. Cross-linked polyethylene liner dissociation from AMS-HA shell (KYOCERA Med, Osaka, Japan) occurred in 2 out of the 4153 (0.04%) cases approximately 10 years after undergoing surgery at our institute.

Baculovirus directly activates murine NK cells via TLR9.

The importance of natural killer (NK) cells in innate immune responses against tumors or viral infections enhances the appeal of NK cell-based immunotherapeutic approaches. We have recently reported that baculovirus (BV)-infected dendritic cells (DCs; BV-DCs) induce antitumor immunity against established tumors in mice. These antitumor effects were CD8 T-cell and NK cell dependent; however, they were found to be CD4 T-cell independent.