Geographic distribution of postgraduate dental trainees in Japan.

Postgraduate clinical training for dentists in Japan became mandatory in April 2006. Mandatory postgraduate clinical training for physicians has been criticized as having accelerated the imbalance in distribution of physicians. This suggests the danger that the same phenomenon might occur in distribution of dentists.

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for severe cholecystitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and outcome of laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) for patients with severe cholecystitis.

Methods: Between April 1992 and May 2008, 1226 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). From 2000 onward 60 patients with severe cholecystitis underwent LSC.

Immediate versus delayed intramedullary nailing for open fractures of the tibial shaft: a multivariate analysis of factors affecting deep infection and fracture healing.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate contributing factors affecting deep infection and fracture healing of open tibia fractures treated with locked intramedullary nailing (IMN) by multivariate analysis.

Materials And Methods: We examined 99 open tibial fractures (98 patients) treated with immediate or delayed locked IMN in static fashion from 1991 to 2002. Multivariate analyses following univariate analyses were derived to determine predictors of deep infection, nonunion, and healing time to union.

Regulatory roles of beta-catenin and AP-1 on osteoprotegerin production in interleukin-1alpha-stimulated periodontal ligament cells.

Background: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the enhanced expression of inflammatory mediators leading to alveolar bone resorption. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) plays a suppressive role in cytokine-induced osteoclastogenesis. In osteoblasts, OPG expression is upregulated by beta-catenin but downregulated by the transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1; c-fos/c-jun).

Laparoscopic surgery for splenic artery aneurysm.

Purpose: We describe 6 cases of laparoscopic splenectomy for multiple, fusiform splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) in patients difficult to treat with interventional radiology procedure and present a literature review.

Methods: Between November 1999 and May 2008, 6 patients with SAA underwent laparoscopic surgery. Among these patients, 4 had splenectomy alone and 2 had splenectomy with distal pancreatectomy.

[Local recurrence after surgical resection of pancreatic cancer effectively treated with combined chemoradiotherapy].

We report a patient for whom systemic chemotherapy using gemcitabine was effective against local recurrence of pancreatic cancer. A 59-year-old man underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic head cancer. The diagnosis was moderately-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma(tubular type, pT2, pN0, fM0, fStage II ).

Transannular proton transfer in the cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to fusicoccadiene, a biosynthetic intermediate of fusicoccins.

Enzymatic cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to fusicoccadiene involves a transannular proton transfer process. Label distribution in the cyclized products derived from deuterium-labeled GGDPs showed that a proton generated from C-10 migrates to C-6 in the intermediary dolabellane framework prior to the second ring formation. Although a direct 1,5-proton transfer would achieve this process, semiempirical MO calculations suggested an alternative pathway, which involves successive 1,4- and 1,5-proton transfers using C-2 as a springboard.

Status of endoscopic liver surgery in Japan: a questionnaire survey conducted by the Japanese Endoscopic Liver Surgery Study Group.

Background/purpose: In 2007, the First Annual Meeting of the Japanese Endoscopic Liver Surgery Study Group was convened. We report the results of a questionnaire survey conducted by this study group that attempted to assess the current status and safety of endoscopic liver surgery.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted at 26 hospitals to determine the operative procedures, rates of conversion to open surgery, and morbidity rates in patients who had undergone laparoscopic hepatectomy and endoscopic ablation therapy.

Standardization of basic skills for laparoscopic liver surgery towards laparoscopic donor hepatectomy.

Introduction: We have accumulated over 170 patients since 1995 who underwent laparoscopic partial liver resection, laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy, and laparoscopy-assisted hepatectomy. Bleeding control, which is a basic element of liver resection, needs to be better managed by methods suitable for safer laparoscopic liver resection. The aim of this study was to standardize the basic skills and to establish safer techniques for laparoscopic liver surgery in order to perform safe laparoscopic donor hepatectomy.

Effects of fine particulate matter on daily mortality for specific heart diseases in Japan.

Background: It is thought that biological responses to air pollutants affect various heart diseases, with the magnitude of the effect dependent on the specific disease. The short-term effects of fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) on mortality for heart diseases were examined in 9 Japanese cities from 2002 to 2004.

Modifying effect of age on the association between ambient ozone and nighttime primary care visits due to asthma attack.

Background: We examined the association between short-term exposure to outdoor air pollution and nighttime primary care visits due to asthma attack. We also investigated the modifying effects of age on this association.

Methods: A case-crossover study was conducted at a primary care clinic in metropolitan Tokyo.

Ten-year experience of totally laparoscopic liver resection in a single institution.

Background: Recent developments in liver surgery include the introduction of laparoscopic liver resection. The aim of the present study was to review a single institution's 10-year experience of totally laparoscopic liver resection (TLLR).

Methods: Between May 1997 and April 2008, 82 patients underwent TLLR for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (37 patients), liver metastases (39) and benign liver lesions (six).

Minimally invasive surgical enucleation for esophageal leiomyoma: report of seven cases.

Benign esophageal tumor is a rare entity, with leiomyoma being the most common lesion. We present our experience with enucleation of esophageal leiomyomas using a minimally invasive approach. Between March 1998 and June 2008, seven patients with esophageal leiomyoma underwent right thoracosopic enucleation (n=4) or laparoscopic transhiatal enucleation (n=3).

Multi-center intervention study on glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum, high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) after local anti-infectious periodontal treatment in type 2 diabetic patients with periodontal disease.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether periodontal treatment incorporating topical antibiotic therapy affects on levels of glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in type 2 diabetic patients with periodontal disease, and to explore the relationship between CRP and glycemic control. The whole intervention group (n=32), which underwent anti-infectious periodontal treatment, showed only transient reduction in HbA1c levels without any change in hs-CRP, while the control group (n=17) did not show any changes in HbA1c or hs-CRP. Multiple regression analysis of all subjects revealed that BMI and change in hs-CRP correlated significantly with the reduction of HbA1c at 6 months after the periodontal treatment.

Effect of synchronisation of ovulation on ovarian profile and days open in holstein cows diagnosed as nonpregnant 26 days after timed artificial insemination.

The objective of this study was to clarify the effects of a second protocol of ovulation synchronisation starting on day 26 after timed artificial insemination on ovarian profile and days open in dairy cows diagnosed as nonpregnant. Ninety-four Holstein-Friesian cows received intramuscular injections of a GnRH analogue (GnRH), 100 microg fertirelin, on day 0 and a prostaglandin F(2alpha) analogue (PG), 5 mg etyprostontromethamine, on day 7. GnRH was again administered 48 h after the PG injection, and timed artificial insemination was performed 16 to 20 h later (Ovsynch/TAI).

Recent trends in antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of the tetracycline resistance gene in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolates in Japan.

A total of 101 Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolates from diseased pigs taken from across Japan during 2002 to 2005 were examined for antimicrobial susceptibility. All isolates were susceptible to ceftiofur, erythromycin, florfenicol and enrofloxacin. Antimicrobial-resistant isolates to oxytetracycline (OTC) (27.

[A case of metastatic lung and liver tumors from rectal cancer treated with oral UFT and CPT-11 by hepatic arterial infusion followed by FOLFOX and FOLFIRI].

The patient was a 62-year-old male who underwent a high anterior resection for rectal cancer with multiple liver metastases in June 2004. After the operation, 66 courses of weekly hepatic arterial infusion(HAI)therapy of 5-FU/Leucovorin( LV)were performed. Thereafter 14 courses of FOLFOX 4, 5 courses of FOLFIRI and 5 courses of FOLFOX 4 therapy were also sequentially performed.

Endoscopic subtotal thyroidectomy: the procedure of choice for Graves' disease?

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of endoscopic subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves' disease.

Methods: From August 1998 to April 2008, a total of 100 patients with benign thyroid diseases underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy via the breast approach. Among these patients, 42 underwent subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves' disease.

Decline in peak expiratory flow according to hourly short-term concentration of particulate matter in asthmatic children.

The aim was to investigate the effects of the 3-h mean concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) on peak expiratory flow (PEF) in asthmatic children. Subjects were 4- to 11-year-old boys and girls with asthma in Fukuoka, Japan. Daily measurements of PEF were made between April 2002 and March 2003.

Development of automated brightfield double in situ hybridization (BDISH) application for HER2 gene and chromosome 17 centromere (CEN 17) for breast carcinomas and an assay performance comparison to manual dual color HER2 fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a quantitative assay for selecting breast cancer patients for trastuzumab therapy. However, current HER2 FISH procedures are labor intensive, manual methods that require skilled technologists and specialized fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, FISH slides cannot be archived for long term storage and review.

A Reovirus Causes Hypovirulence of Rosellinia necatrix.

ABSTRACT White root rot, caused by Rosellinia necatrix, is a serious soilborne disease of fruit trees and other woody plants. R. necatrix isolate W370 contains 12 segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that is believed to represent a possible member of the family Reoviridae.

[Arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced gallbladder cancer and liver metastasis].

Ten patients with advanced gallbladder cancer were treated by arterial infusion chemotherapy. Seven patients had unresected tumors, and three had liver metastasis after resection of primary tumor. The infusion catheter-port system was implanted via the femoral artery.

Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein: report of three cases.

Between March 2003 and March 2007, three patients with benign pancreatic tumors underwent a planned laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein. Four trocars were placed, and an endoscopic linear stapler was used to transect of the pancreas. The perioperative data and surgical outcomes were examined.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with a history of gastrectomy.

Purpose: Previous gastrectomy has been considered a relative contraindication to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LC in patients with a history of gastrectomy.

Methods: From a database of 1 104 consecutive patients with symptomatic gallstone disease, who underwent LC between April 1992 and January 2007, 51 (4.