Newly Developed Biocompatible Material: Dispersible Titanium-Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles Suitable for Antibacterial Coating on Intravascular Catheters.

Background: Thirteen patients with chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine-impregnated catheters have experienced serious anaphylactic shock in Japan. These adverse reactions highlight the lack of commercially available catheters impregnated with strong antibacterial chemical agents. A system should be developed that can control both biocompatibility and antibacterial activity.

Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Japan Society of Hepatology 2013 update (3rd JSH-HCC Guidelines).

The 3rd version of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hepatocellular Carcinoma was revised by the Japan Society of Hepatology, according to the methodology of evidence-based medicine, which was published in October 2013 in Japanese. Here, we briefly describe new or changed recommendations with a special reference to the two algorithms for surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment.

[Usefulness of group work as a teaching strategy for long-term practical training in the 6-year pharmaceutical education].

At the initiation of long-term practical training in the 6-year pharmaceutical education, there are many issues to be solved. For example, it is necessary for teaching pharmacists, who are in charge of both staffing and teaching pharmacy students, to manage their workload with other staff pharmacists. To overcome this situation and to improve the motivation of teaching pharmacists towards student practical training, we twice held group work (GW) sessions for teaching pharmacists, and then evaluated whether such training was effective for their understanding of the Model Core Curriculum for Practical Training and for promoting a higher level of motivation.

Successful embolization of pancreaticoduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm in a patient with common hepatic arterial occlusion after modified pancreatoduodenectomy with preservation of arteries in the head of pancreas.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with preservation of the arcade in the head of the pancreas was performed in a 73-year-old male with ampullary adenocarcinoma associated with occlusion of the common hepatic artery (CHA) in another hospital. He developed active bleeding from his drain site, at 18 days after the operation. He was transferred to our hospital for emergent embolization.

Clinico-roentogenologic findings in hepatocellular carcinoma fed by the right inferior phrenic artery at the initial chemoembolization.

Background/aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that may predict the development of the right inferior phrenic artery (RIPA) as a feeding artery in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at the initial (first session) chemoembolization.

Methodology: From January 1997 to June 2002, 538 patients with HCC were treated with a first session of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Twenty-six of these patients underwent TACE via both the Hepatic artery (HA) and RIPA at the initial TACE.

International exchange activities with East Asian countries through mammography.

The Japanese NPO Central Committee on Quality Control of Mammographic Screening has initiated international exchange activities regarding quality control of mammographic screening with the concerned organizations in East Asian countries with the objective of contributing to reducing breast cancer mortality in the region. This paper describes the status of the international exchanges that are being carried out in various East Asian countries in relation to mammography and also discusses future aspects.

[Frequency of decreased renal function between patients treated with brand and generic products of vancomycin hydrochloride injection].

The frequency of decreased renal function was compared between patients treated with brand and generic products of vancomycin injection (VCM) in a retrospective manner based on the clinical examination records archived in Okayama University Hospital. A total of 122 patients were found to have been solely treated with vancomycin injection for MRSA infection, and their examination records were analyzed. The renal function of those patients was evaluated based on the serum creatinine concentration (SCr), and patients whose SCr was maximally elevated above the defined upper limit of the normal range (1.

Surgical resection vs. percutaneous ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: a preliminary report of the Japanese nationwide survey.

Background/aims: The treatment of choice for HCC remains controversial. We evaluated the therapeutic impact of surgical resection, PEI, and RFA for HCC on outcomes.

Methods: A database derived from a Japanese nationwide survey of 17,149 patients with HCC treated by resection, PEI, or RFA between 2000 and 2003 was used to identify 7185 patients with no more than 3 tumors (< or = 3 cm) and a liver function of Child-Pugh class A or B.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with lipiodol to treat hepatocellular carcinoma: survey results from the TACE study group of Japan.

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively clarify the current status in Japan of TACE using Lipiodol together with anticancer agents to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We retrospectively surveyed 4,659 (average annual total) procedures for HCC over the years 2002-2004 at 17 institutions included in the TACE Study Group of Japan. The survey included six questions that were related mainly to TACE and Lipiodol for HCC treatment.

Comparison of the outcomes between an anatomical subsegmentectomy and a non-anatomical minor hepatectomy for single hepatocellular carcinomas based on a Japanese nationwide survey.

Background: Although a surgical resection is an important modality for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the impact of the operative method on both the patient survival and disease-free survival (DFS) still remains controversial.

Methods: Using a nationwide Japanese database, 72,744 patients with HCC who underwent a curative liver resection between 1994 and 2001 were divided into two groups based on whether an anatomical subsegmentectomy (AS) or a non-anatomical minor hepatectomy (MH) was performed. A total of 5,781 patients with single HCCs were selected for the study and divided into 3 subgroups based on the size of the HCCs (less than 2 cm, 2 to 5 cm, and greater than 5 cm in diameter).

Budd-Chiari syndrome: two cases with different courses.

We report two cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome. Case 1: A 57-year-old man presented with leg edema and esophageal varices. Cavography showed obstruction of the inferior vena cava with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Development of evidence-based clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan.

The Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the first evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of HCC in Japan, were compiled by an expert panel supported by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. This set of guidelines covers six research fields: prevention, diagnosis and surveillance, surgery, chemotherapy, transarterial chemoembolization, and percutaneous local ablation therapy. A systematic review of the English medical literature on HCC was performed, and a total of 7192 publications were extracted, mainly from MEDLINE (1966-2002).

Report of the 17th Nationwide Follow-up Survey of Primary Liver Cancer in Japan.

In the 17th Nationwide Follow-up Survey of Primary Liver Cancer in Japan, 18 213 individuals were newly registered as patients with primary liver cancer at 645 medical institutions over a period of 2 years (from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2003). Of these patients, 94.2% had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 4.

Detecting breast cancer with non-contrast MR imaging: combining diffusion-weighted and STIR imaging.

We combined diffusion-weighted (DWI) and short TI inversion recovery (STIR) imaging to evaluate the diagnostic capability of non-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to detect breast cancer. Seventy women patients underwent mammography and MR imaging with combined DWI (b factor: 1000) and STIR that revealed malignancy, and postoperative pathological examination confirmed breast cancer. Interpreted images were evaluated for sensitivity, false negative rate (FN), sensitivity by pT, and sensitivity by background density of the mammary gland.

Preoperative extracranial carotid artery examination with ultrasonography in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in Japan.

Purpose: We investigated the incidence, degree, and plaque characteristics of extracranial carotid stenosis with carotid ultrasonography (CUS) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Materials And Methods: Preoperative CUS was performed on 221 patients (442 carotid arteries) undergoing CABG. The degree of extracranial carotid stenosis was calculated based on the area stenosis, and it was classified into six grades as follows: grade (G) 0, G1 (1%-29%), G2 (30%-49%), G3 (50%-69%), G4 (70%-99%), and G5 (occlusion).

Differential expression of cytokines, chemokines and their receptors in follicular lymphoma and reactive follicular hyperplasia: assessment by complementary DNA microarray.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is pathologically categorised as a low-grade B-cell lymphoma and histopathologically shows follicular proliferation of neoplastic B cells. In the neoplastic follicles of FL, the presence of T cells, macrophages and follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) suggests that these cells may promote a favourable environment for the growth of FL cells. Because FL cells are generally associated with FDCs, FDCs may be considered an important source of cytokines and chemokines.

Differential expression of chemokines, chemokine receptors, cytokines and cytokine receptors in diffuse large B cell malignant lymphoma.

Host immunity, particularly T cell immunity (Th1/Th2 balance), plays an important role in clinicopathological features of malignant disease. However, the T cell immunity has not been fully investigated in patients with lymphoid malignancies. Recent studies suggested the important role of dysregulation of the endogenous immune system in lymphomagenesis.

Current status and goals of mammographic screening for breast cancer in Japan.

In Europe and the United States, the proportion of women receiving mammographic screening for breast cancer has increased to 60-80%, resulting in an increase in the detection of early-stage cancer and a reduction in the mortality rate. The objectives of breast cancer screening have thus already been achieved there. In Japan, both the incidence and mortality of breast cancer have increased recently.

[Recent advances in computed tomography as a diagnostic tool for COPD].

The diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(CODP) has been mainly based on the physiologic impairment(obstructive ventilatory disturbance). However, recent advances in computed tomography including high resolution, helical and multi-detector CTs have made it possible to diagnose patients with CODP morphologically by identifying low attenuation areas on CT. In addition, airway dimensions including luminal area and airway wall thickness have been measurable.

[Extracranial carotid artery disease assessed by contrast enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography: correlation with carotid ultrasonography].

Purpose: To evaluate the imaging features of extracranial carotid stenosis and to compare the findings with contrast enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography(CE 3D-MRA) with those of carotid ultrasonography(CUS).

Materials And Methods: Both studies were performed in 24 patients(48 carotid arteries) with extracranial carotid arteriosclerotic stenosis. Based on the CUS findings, the degree of stenosis was classified into four grades: normal, mild; 1-39%, moderate; 40-69%, severe; and 70-99%, occlusion.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma: a Japanese experience.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common causes of cancer death in Japan and in 80% of cases is associated with chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus. Poor hepatic function reserve due to underlying cirrhosis is the primary factor which limits extended surgical resection in many cases. Furthermore, in patients treated by curative resection, high incidence of recurrent tumors or/and newly developed tumor in the residual liver was reported.

The effect of immobilization stress on the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole in rats.

The effects of immobilization stress on the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole were studied in rats. The immobilization stress for 30 or 60 min immediately after oral administration of the drug caused an increase in the time to reach the maximum concentration. However, such stress did not alter the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC).