Rare frequency of downbeat positioning nystagmus in spinocerebellar ataxia type 31.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 31 (SCA31) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) are the most frequent types of spinocerebellar degeneration in Japan. Previous reports described that it was difficult to distinguish SCA6 and SCA31 in clinical situations. There is not much difference except that the onset age of SCA31 is slightly higher than that of SCA6.

Relationship between low blood pressure and renal/cardiovascular outcomes in Japanese patients with chronic kidney disease under nephrologist care: the Gonryo study.

Background: Previous studies established a J-shaped association between blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the different clinical profiles of CVD by ethnicity. However, the adequately lower BP target remains unclear in Asian patients with CKD.

Methods: This prospective observational study included 2,655 Japanese outpatients with CKD under nephrologist care who met the inclusion criteria, namely estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min and/or presenting proteinuria.

Transcriptional characteristics and differences in Arabidopsis stigmatic papilla cells pre- and post-pollination.

Pollination is an important early step in sexual plant reproduction. In Arabidopsis thaliana, sequential pollination events, from pollen adhesion onto the stigma surface to pollen tube germination and elongation, occur on the stigmatic papilla cells. Following successful completion of these events, the pollen tube penetrates the stigma and finally fertilizes a female gametophyte.

A feasibility study of chemically assisted endoscopic submucosal mechanical dissection using mesna for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.

Background: Injection of mesna into submucosal layers was recently reported to chemically soften connective tissue and facilitate the gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) procedure. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of similarly using mesna for esophageal ESD (mesna ESD).

Methods: We performed mesna ESD in 20 consecutive patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SESCCs).

Intrapartum group B Streptococcus screening using real-time polymerase chain reaction in Japanese population.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of a commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization status and to compare results of the intrapartum PCR with the antepartum conventional GBS culture in Japanese pregnant women.

Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled Japanese pregnant women at 35-37 weeks' gestation. Paired recto-vaginal swabs were obtained for PCR and conventional culture, both at 35-37 weeks' gestation and at admission for delivery.

Protective effects of intratracheally administered quercetin on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can result in a life-threatening form of respiratory failure, and established, effective pharmacotherapies are therefore urgently required. Quercetin is one of the most common flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables, and has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. Quercetin has been demonstrated to exhibit cytoprotective effects through the induction of heme oxygenase (HO)-1.

Usefulness of 11C-methionine-positron emission tomography for the diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a subacute demyelinating disease of the brain caused by the JC virus that occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients. The prognosis is very poor. As the lesion looks like non- specific leukoencephalopathy, making a diagnosis at the early stage is very difficult.

The C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, a novel inflammation-based prognostic score, predicts outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The C-reactive protein/albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio is associated with outcomes in septic patients. We investigated the prognostic value of the CRP/Alb ratio in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 186 newly diagnosed HCC patients and investigated the correlations among the pretreatment CRP/Alb ratio, clinicopathological parameters, and overall survival (OS).

Reliability of the Japanese version of the Berg balance scale.

Objective: The Japanese translation of the Berg balance scale (BBS) has previously been published; however, its reliability has not yet been validated. This study aimed to evaluate its reliability.

Methods: Patients took the BBS test three times; two neurologists monitored the results.

Reliability of the Japanese version of the scales for outcomes in Parkinson's disease-autonomic questionnaire.

Objective: The Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Autonomic (SCOPA-AUT) questionnaire was used to assess autonomic dysfunction in patients with neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the Japanese version of the SCOPA-AUT.

Methods: We translated the SCOPA-AUT from English to Japanese.

Prospective cohort study of fever incidence and risk in elderly persons living at home.

Objective: To determine the incidence of fever among elderly persons under home medical management, diagnosis at fever onset and outcomes from a practical standpoint.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: 5 clinics in residential areas of Tokyo that process an average of 50-200 outpatients/day.

Correlation between the Serum Pepsinogen I Level and the Symptom Degree in Proton Pump Inhibitor-Users Administered with a Probiotic.

In patients with functional upper gastrointestinal disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and functional dyspepsia, the presence of symptoms is thought to occur in the absence of any organic diseases and the mechanisms behind this remain unclear. We therefore examined the relationship between stomach-related biomarker levels and symptoms. Twenty-four outpatients who had taken proton-pump inhibitors every day were enrolled in this study.

Preference for different anchor descriptors on visual analogue scales among Japanese patients with chronic pain.

Context: Although many previous studies have examined the preference of patients for different pain measurement scales, preference for anchor descriptors has not been thoroughly discussed.

Objectives: To examine (1) the preferred end-phrases used in the VAS as anchor labels for Japanese patients with chronic pain, and (2) whether the preference differs according to factors such as age, sex, educational level, duration of pain, and pain intensity.

Methods: We performed an observational study in patients suffering from non-cancer chronic pain for more than 3 months at a pain center in Japan.

The addition of C-reactive protein to validated staging systems improves their prognostic ability in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objectives: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a practical prognostic marker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the prognostic value of adding the CRP level to other validated staging systems (Cancer Liver Italian Program, Japan Integrated Staging, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification system, Tokyo score and tumor node metastasis classification) in HCC patients.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-six newly diagnosed HCC patients were retrospectively evaluated.

BMI is associated with larger index tumors and worse outcome after radical prostatectomy.

Background: To investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on tumor characteristics and biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PCa) in Japanese men.

Methods: We evaluated data from consecutive patients who had undergone RP. Data analyzed included age, preoperative serum PSA, prostatic volume, BMI (continuous or categorized (≤ 25 kg/m(2)) values), clinical and pathological findings including index tumor volume (ITV), and current status in areas such as smoker or nonsmoker and presence or absence of diabetes.

Synthesis of carbon fibers with branched nanographene sheets for electrochemical double layer capacitor application.

We demonstrate a one step technique to synthesis the carbon fibers (CNFs) with branched nanographene sheets by the pulsed discharge (PD) plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Highly crystalline branched nanographene sheets were directly grown from the surface of the carbon fibers to obtain a three dimensional (3D) nanostructure. The growth process can be explained from the catalyst support growth of the CNFs, and subsequently nucleation and growth of the nanographene sheets from the crystalline surface of the CNF.

Head lifting strength is associated with dysphagia and malnutrition in frail older adults.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to assess the association between head lifting strength, dysphagia and malnutrition in frail older adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 386 frail older adults aged 65 years and older with dysphagia or suspected dysphagia. Head lifting strength was assessed by the Medical Research Council score.

Recognition of and intent to use gastrostomy or ventilator treatments in older patients with advanced dementia: differences between laypeople and healthcare professionals in Japan.

Aim: We compared differences between laypeople and healthcare professionals in the recognition of and intent to use gastrostomy and ventilator treatments in older patients with dementia.

Methods: Between November 2011 and January 2012, a questionnaire survey was carried out. People who underwent a general health check-up at Nomura Hospital Preventive Medical Center were recruited as the laypeople group.

A multicenter randomized controlled trial of tonsillectomy combined with steroid pulse therapy in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

Background: The study aim was, for the first time, to conduct a multicenter randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of tonsillectomy in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven IgAN, proteinuria and low serum creatinine were randomly allocated to receive tonsillectomy combined with steroid pulses (Group A; n = 33) or steroid pulses alone (Group B; n = 39). The primary end points were urinary protein excretion and the disappearance of proteinuria and/or hematuria.

Acute portal vein thrombosis due to chronic relapsing pancreatitis: a fistula between a pancreatic pseudocyst and the splenic vein.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a relatively common complication in patients with liver cirrhosis, but several other causes might play an important role in PVT pathogenesis. We present a case of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis complicated by acute extensive PVT. The patient was managed conservatively with danaparoid sodium at first, but the thrombosis gradually extended.

The Glasgow Prognostic Score accurately predicts survival in patients with biliary tract cancer not indicated for surgical resection.

The Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are associated with the survival in patients with various types of malignancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of the GPS and NLR in patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC) undergoing palliative chemotherapy or best supportive care (BSC). Fifty-two patients with newly diagnosed BTC were retrospectively evaluated.

Prenatal diagnosis of umbilical artery thrombosis.

Umbilical artery thrombosis (UAT) is rare and few prenatally diagnosed cases have been reported. We describe 2 cases of fetal growth restriction prenatally diagnosed as UAT by ultrasound examination. In each case the cross section of the umbilical cord showed one normal artery and a small echogenic area which was suspected as an occluded thrombotic artery and they were surrounded by a highly curving 'C-shaped' vein.

Elevated plasma fibrinogen levels are associated with a poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objectives: Elevated plasma fibrinogen levels are associated with tumor progression and poor outcomes in cancer patients. We investigated the prognostic value of pretreatment plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: One hundred and thirteen patients with newly diagnosed HCC were retrospectively evaluated.

Measurement of swallowing using flexible polymer sensor.

We proposed a new method to measure swallowing in this study. A flexible polymer sensor was used to measure human swallowing. Electromyogram (EMG) of suprahyoid muscles were measured as a reference of swallowing.