Synthesis of a novel carboxybetaine copolymer with different spacer lengths and inhibition of nonspecific protein adsorption on its polymer film.

Herein, we designed and synthesized a thermally stable carboxybetaine copolymer with a one- or three-carbon spacer between ammonium and carboxylate groups (CBMA1 and CBMA3) to create an anti-nonspecific adsorption surface with the ability to immobilize antibodies. A series of controlled poly(,-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) was successfully prepared using reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization and was derived to carboxybetaine copolymers of poly(CBMA1--CBMA3) [P(CBMA1/CBMA3)] with various CBMA1 contents, including the homopolymers of CBMA1 and CBMA3. Thermal stability of the carboxybetaine (co)polymers was higher than that of the carboxybetaine polymer with a two-carbon spacer (PCBMA2).

Prediction of Serum Adsorption onto Polymer Brush Films by Machine Learning.

Using machine learning based on a random forest (RF) regression algorithm, we attempted to predict the amount of adsorbed serum protein on polymer brush films from the films' physicochemical information and the monomers' chemical structures constituting the films using a RF model. After the training of the RF model using the data of polymer brush films synthesized from five different types of monomers, the model became capable of predicting the amount of adsorbed protein from the chemical structure, physicochemical properties of monomer molecules, and structural parameters (density and thickness of the films). The analysis of the trained RF quantitatively provided the importance of each structural parameter and physicochemical properties of monomers toward serum protein adsorption (SPA).

[A Case of Medullary Carcinoma of Transverse Colon Which Resected by Laparoscopic Colectomy].

A 59-year-old woman's father and paternal grandmother died of colorectal cancer and her paternal uncle died of pancreatic cancer. She was positive for fecal occult blood and underwent colonoscopy. The colonoscopy revealed a type 0-Ⅱa+ Ⅱc lesion in the transverse colon suspected to be submucosal deep invasion, and the biopsy revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.

High Frequency of Mutations in Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinomas of Japanese Patients.

The frequency of mutations associated with low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSC)/serous borderline tumors (SBTs) in Japan is unknown. We aimed to identify genetic variations in , , , and in LGSC/SBT/serous cystadenomas (SCAs) in a Japanese population. We performed a mutation analysis (by Sanger sequencing) of 33 cases of LGSC/SBT/SCA and 4 cases of LGSC with synchronous SBTs using microdissected paraffin-embedded sections.

Dedifferentiated Endometrial Carcinoma Could be A Target for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (Anti PD-1/PD-L1 Antibodies).

Dedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma (DDEC) is defined as an undifferentiated carcinoma admixed with differentiated endometrioid carcinoma (Grade 1 or 2). It has poor prognosis compared with Grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma and is often associated with the loss of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, which is seen in microsatellite instability (MSI)-type endometrial cancer. Recent studies have shown that the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy is related to MMR deficiency; therefore, we analyzed the immunophenotype (MMR deficient and expression of PD-L1) of 17 DDEC cases.

The efficacy and safety of dydrogesterone for treatment of dysmenorrhea: An open-label multicenter clinical study.

Aims: Dydrogesterone is a retro-progesterone preparation widely used for over a half century. We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dydrogesterone in Japanese women with dysmenorrhea.

Methods: This study was conducted as an open-label, single-arm, multicenter study.

[Early Gastric Cancer with Many Enlarged Lymph Nodes as Sarcoid Reaction - A Case Report].

The patient was a 57-year-old man. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a 0- II c lesion at the anterior wall of the greater curvature in the lower third of the stomach, and the biopsy of this tumor gave the diagnosis of tubular adenocarcinoma. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed many enlarged regional and non-regional lymph nodes.

[Surgical management of eight cases of bronchiectasis].

Few reports are currently available on the surgical management of bronchiectasis. We report our experience with 8 cases of bronchiectasis. The indications of pulmonary resection were recurrent pneumonia and/or hemoptysis in spite of medical treatment and the extent mainly limited to the unilateral lung.

Glucose intolerance in Japanese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Hyperinsulinemia, which is related to obesity, played a pathogenic role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the incidence of obesity in Japanese women with PCOS is different from that reported in patients with PCOS in Europe and USA. We should determine if insulin resistance occurs in Japanese PCOS.

Potassium oxonate, an enzyme inhibitor compounded in S-1, reduces the suppression of antitumor immunity induced by 5-fluorouracil.

S-1 is an oral formulation combining tegafur (FT), 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine (CDHP), and potassium oxonate (Oxo) in a molar ratio of 1:0.4:1. We examined whether Oxo reduces the immunosuppression induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the rat.

A case of occult contralateral breast cancer incidentally detected by contrast-enhanced MRI; report of a case with review of literature.

We encountered a case of occult contralateral breast cancer, previously undetected by conventional imaging such as mammography (MMG) and ultrasonography (US), but incidentally detected by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI). We present it here with a review of the literature. A 67-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital in October 2000 because of a 1.

[Video assisted thoracic surgery for Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease spread over multiple pulmonary lobe within one lung].

A 75-year-old woman with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pulmonary disease who had been treated by drug therapy for 7 years was admitted on an emergency basis for hemoptysis. Through the previous 7 years, her sputum cultures had been positive for MAC, and her clinical symptoms and examinations, such as chest X-ray and computed tomography, revealed that her condition had worsened. The lesions spread over the right middle lobe, segment 3 (S3) in the right upper lobe, and segment 6 (S6) in the right lower lobe, however, no lesions were present in the left lung.

Maternal thyroid function during pregnancy and puerperal period.

It has been noted that hypothyroidism in pregnant women can adversely affect the children's subsequent psychoneurotic development. Also, transient elevation of serum free thyroxine is occasionally seen in the first trimester of normal pregnancy. However, normal thyroid function during pregnancy and the puerperal period has not been clearly defined in Japan.

[Stromal bone formation by lung adenocarcinoma].

We report a case of lung adenocarcinoma with stromal bone formation. A 73-year-old woman was incidentally found to have a coin lesion in the left lower lung field on a chest roentgenogram and computed tomography showed a nodular lesion containing a few coarse high density areas in the left lower lobe. Since transbronchial cytology revealed adenocarcinoma, left lower lobectomy was performed.

Phase I study of a combination of s-1 and weekly paclitaxel in patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer.

Objective: A phase I study of weekly intravenous paclitaxel combined with a fixed dose of S-1, a dihydropyrimidine-dehydrogenase-inhibitory oral fluoropyrimidine, was conducted for patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer (ARGC). Endpoints of this study were to examine the toxicity profile OF this regimen and to determine the recommended dose (rd) of paclitaxel.

Methods: S-1 was fixed at a dose of 80 mg/m(2) per day and was administered for 2 weeks (days 1--14) followed by a 2-week rest.

Predictive value of the time-intensity curves on dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for lymphatic spreading in breast cancer.

Purpose: Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) has emerged as a promising diagnostic modality in various breast cancer treatments. However, little is known about the correlation between the pattern of time to signal intensity curves (TIC) on the CE-MRI and clinicopathologic features. This study was designed to investigate these correlations and evaluate the predictive value of TIC on CE-MRI in order to identify high-risk patients.

Prognostic and clinical evaluation of patients with T2 gastric cancer.

Background/aims: Little is known about the clinicopathological features of intermediate-stage T2 gastric cancer, defined as tumors invading the muscularis propria or subserosa.

Methodology: Of 808 patients with gastric cancer, 210 patients (25.9%) who underwent gastrectomy for T2 gastric cancer were selected for this retrospective study.

Survival and clinical evaluation of salvage operation for cervical lymph node recurrence in esophageal cancer.

Background/aims: Although extended lymphadenectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer is widely practiced in Japan, solitary supraclavicular lymph node recurrence (SCLR) has often become a problem. This study was designed to evaluate the survival and clinical benefit of salvage cervical lymphadenectomy.

Methodology: Between 1989 and 2001, 153 patients underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancers.

[Complete resection for giant thymic carcinoma after simultaneous combination chemotherapy].

A 19-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of dyspnea. Chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) showed a huge mass in the right anterior mediastinum. We diagnosed this as invasive thymoma by microscopic examination of specimens obtained by echo-guided needle biopsy.

Comparison of intraductal spread on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with clinicopathologic features in breast cancer.

Objective: Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) has emerged as a new diagnostic technology in various breast cancer treatments. However, little is known about the correlation between intraductal spread on CE-MRI and clinicopathologic features. This study was designed to evaluate these correlations for the surgical planning of breast cancer.

[Thoracoscopic repair of diaphragmatic thinning for pleuroperitoneal communication; report of a case].

A 53-year-old man presented with massive right hydrothorax just after introduction of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Because the glucose concentration of pleural fluid was markedly high compared with that of serum, we diagnosed pleuroperitoneal communication. Thoracoscopic surgery was performed and thinning of the diaphragm was found.

Postoperative clinical evaluation following pylorus-preserving gastrectomy.

Background/aims: Recent pathological study demonstrated that extended lymphadenectomy is not always necessary for patients with early gastric cancer.

Methodology: Twenty-eight patients underwent pylorus-preserving gastrectomy. The clinicopathological findings of patients with pylorus-preserving gastrectomy were compared to those of 58 patients with conventional distal gastrectomy.