Current status of vascular access in Japan-from Dialysis Access Symposium 2017.

At the second Dialysis Access Symposium held in Nagoya, Japan, a proposal was made to investigate the differences in vascular access methods used in different countries. In this article, we describe the management of vascular access in Japan. The Japanese population is rapidly aging, and the proportion of elderly patients on dialysis is also increasing.

NF-κB Decoy Oligodeoxynucleotide-Coated Balloon Catheter for Arteriovenous Fistula in Hemodialysis.

Introduction: New treatments to inhibit neointimal formation after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) are needed for patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD). We compared the efficacy and safety of AMG0102, a balloon catheter containing nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) with the PTA balloon catheter (control group) for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis.

Methods: In total, 175 patients (age ≥20 years, undergoing HD, with venous stenosis at the anastomotic region) were registered in this prospective open-label, randomized study.

Practice of peritoneal dialysis access education using the new hybrid simulator in Japan.

Introduction: To promote the increase in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) in Japan, the Japanese Society for Dialysis Access started offering workshops on peritoneal access (PA) preparation procedures for doctors with less experience. Since the transfer of technology used in surgical procedures is difficult in small communities such as individual hospitals, a specialist group such as a society should take the initiative and fulfill this responsibility.

Methods: Here we used a hybrid simulator developed by Terumo Medical Pranex that uses the abdominal wall of an edible pig (a lump from the peritoneum to skin) and a mannequin.

[A study of operator's hand and finger exposure dose reduction during angiographic procedures].

The number of examinations using interventional radiology (IVR) has increased recently. Because of the more advanced and more complex procedures for IVR, longer treatment time is required. Therefore, it is important to determine exposure doses.

Differential impact of lower urinary tract symptoms on generic and disease-specific quality of life in men and women.

Introduction: We investigated how generic and disease-specific measures differ in estimating the quality of life (QoL) impact of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Materials And Methods: A total of 172 men and 67 women >or=40 years old who attended the public lectures completed the questionnaire comprising the International Prostate Symptom Score, benign prostatic hyperplasia impact index and SF-36 Health Survey. The multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the QoL impact of LUTS.

Real-time quantitative analysis for human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA and human telomerase RNA component mRNA expressions as markers for clinicopathologic parameters in urinary bladder cancer.

Aim: The expression of the telomerase subunits such as human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and human telomerase RNA component (hTR) may be associated with tumor development and progression. We evaluated the relationship between mRNA quantification of both hTERT and hTR and clinicopathologic parameters in bladder cancer.

Methods: We examined the mRNA expression of hTERT and hTR in 29 specimens with bladder cancer (Grade: Grade I, 9 cases; Grade II, 13 cases and Grade III, 7 cases.

Multifocal metastases of recurrent renal cell carcinoma successfully treated with a combination of low dose interleukin-2, alpha-interferon and radiotherapy.

A 59-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of left flank pain and a possibility of gross hematuria. Left renal cell carcinoma stage II was diagnosed and radical left nephrectomy was performed. Twenty-two months postoperatively, lung metastases were demonstrated and 6 x 10(6) units of alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) were administered for 9 months, only to keep the sizes of the metastases unchanged.

Prevalence and impact on generic quality of life of urinary incontinence in Japanese working women: assessment by ICI questionnaire and SF-36 Health Survey.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and the relationship between UI and generic quality of life (QOL) in working women.

Methods: Of 7229 female hospital nurses in Japan, 3734 (51.7%) responded to a self-administered postal questionnaire that included the Rand Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Health Survey (SF-36) and the International Consultation on Incontinence questionnaire (ICIQ) for evaluating symptoms and health-related QOL.

Lower urinary tract symptoms in men and women without underlying disease causing micturition disorder: a cross-sectional study assessing the natural history of bladder function.

Purpose: We examined the influence of aging on bladder function in men and women.

Materials And Methods: Using the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire with an additional question on urinary incontinence lower urinary tract symptoms were evaluated in all outpatients who first visited our urological department from June 2001 to December 2002. In 550 of the 1,201 patients who completed the questionnaire any pathological conditions that might cause micturition disorder could not be detected with urological examinations.

The methylentetrahydrofolate reductase C677T point mutation is a risk factor for vascular access thrombosis in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Many reports indicate that a high homocysteine (Hcy) level is a potential risk factor for such thrombotic diseases as arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and cerebral infarction in healthy individuals or hemodialysis (HD) patients. The methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism has been reported to be closely related to plasma Hcy level.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design in this study, the relationship between arteriovenous fistula (AVF) obstruction and the MTHFR C677T point mutation was examined in 337 HD patients.