A case of late lymph node metastasis after three endoscopic mucosal resections of intramucosal gastric cancers.

We describe a patient with solitary lymph node (LN) metastasis after three endoscopic mucosal resections (EMRs) in which a gastrointestinal stromal tumor was difficult to differentiate from the carcinoid and lymphoma tumors. A 77-year-old man underwent three EMRs at 62, 72, and 75 years of age, and all resections were determined to be curative. However, 2 years after the last EMR, screening abdominal ultrasonography detected a 20-mm solitary tumor at the lesser curvature of the upper stomach.

Single-port laparoscopic colectomy is safe and feasible in patients with previous abdominal surgery.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of previous abdominal surgery (PAS) on single-port laparoscopic colectomy (SPLC).

Methods: We studied 429 consecutive patients who underwent SPLC in our department from May 2009 to December 2013. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with PAS (PAS group) and those with NPAS (NPAS group).

Thoracoscopic lung biopsy in 285 patients with diffuse pulmonary disease.

Background: Surgical lung biopsy is generally considered the most appropriate method for diagnosing diffuse lung disease. However, there are few reports focusing on only one thoracoscopic technique. This study was designed to determine the morbidity and mortality related to video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy in a single center, thereby providing data on the severity of morbidity and clarifying the risk factors.

The putative stress sensor protein MtlA is required for conidia formation, cell wall stress tolerance, and cell wall integrity in Aspergillus nidulans.

The Mid2-like protein MtlA is a putative sensor of the cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling pathway in Aspergillus nidulans. An MtlA-EGFP fusion protein was localized at the cell surface and septa. The mtlA disruptant (∆mtlA) showed radial colony growth similar to the wild-type (wt) strain, but showed reduced conidia formation.

Characterization and genetic analyses of a carbazole-degrading gram-positive marine isolate, Janibacter sp. strain OC11.

Strain OC11 was isolated from seawater sampled at the coast of Chiba, Japan, in artificial seawater medium with carbazole (CAR) as the sole carbon source. Its 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence suggested that strain OC11 belongs to the genus Janibacter. The CAR-degradation genes (car genes) of strain OC11 were PCR amplified, using degenerate primers designed based on the car gene sequences of other CAR-degrading bacteria.

[Causes and prevalence of visual impairment in Japan].

Purpose: To investigate the causes of visual impairment in Japan.

Methods: The documents of 4,852 individuals with authorization of visual impairment registered between April 2007 and March 2010 in 7 randomly selected regions were reviewed.

Results: The major causes of visual impairment were glaucoma (21.

The image-scratch paradigm: a new paradigm for evaluating infants' motivated gaze control.

Human infants show spontaneous behaviours such as general movement, goal-directed behaviour, and self-motivated behaviour from a very early age. However, it is unclear how these behaviours are organised throughout development. A major hindrance to empirical investigation is that there is no common paradigm for all ages that can circumvent infants' underdeveloped verbal and motor abilities.

Single-incision totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: our initial 100 cases and comparison with conventional three-port laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of single-incision laparoscopic surgery for totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (SILS-TEP) and conventional three-port totally extraperitoneal (TEP) repair.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 137 patients (SILS-TEP, 100; conventional TEP, 37) scheduled to undergo elective inguinal hernia from January 2011 to July 2013 at Osaka Police Hospital.

Results: There were no significant differences in the patient demographics.

Cumulative prognostic scores based on plasma fibrinogen and serum albumin levels in esophageal cancer patients treated with transthoracic esophagectomy: comparison with the Glasgow prognostic score.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish a prognostic indicator based on preoperative plasma fibrinogen and serum albumin levels (FA score) in esophageal cancer patients and to compare the correlation with survival to that of the Glasgow prognostic score.

Methods: Patient characteristics, clinicopathological factors, and preoperative biochemical markers (fibrinogen, albumin, and C-reactive protein) were investigated in esophageal cancer patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy. Pretreatment fibrinogen and albumin levels were reviewed in patients who received neoadjuvant treatment.

Intra-abdominal desmoid tumor mimicking gastric cancer recurrence: a case report.

Intra-abdominal desmoid tumors are rare and most often occur in patients with a history of familial adenomatous polyposis, surgery, or pregnancy. We report a case of an intra-abdominal desmoid tumor mimicking the recurrence of gastric cancer. A 57-year-old male had undergone distal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer.

Different impressions of other agents obtained through social interaction uniquely modulate dorsal and ventral pathway activities in the social human brain.

Internal (neuronal) representations in the brain are modified by our experiences, and this phenomenon is not unique to sensory and motor systems. Here, we show that different impressions obtained through social interaction with a variety of agents uniquely modulate activity of dorsal and ventral pathways of the brain network that mediates human social behavior. We scanned brain activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 16 healthy volunteers when they performed a simple matching-pennies game with a human, human-like android, mechanical robot, interactive robot, and a computer.

Re-appraisal of risk classifications for primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) after complete resection: indications for adjuvant therapy.

Background: A substantial number of localized gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients have recurrences even after complete resection. The risk of recurrence after complete resection should be estimated when considering adjuvant therapy. In this study, we evaluated prognostic factors of GIST recurrence and compared several reported risk-stratification schemes for defining risk of recurrence to guide the use of adjuvant therapy using data from a large Japanese GIST population.

Size- and shape-dependent pleural translocation, deposition, fibrogenesis, and mesothelial proliferation by multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have a fibrous structure similar to asbestos, raising concern that MWCNT exposure may lead to asbestos-like diseases. Previously we showed that MWCNT translocated from the lung alveoli into the pleural cavity and caused mesothelial proliferation and fibrosis in the visceral pleura. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes were not found in the parietal pleura, the initial site of development of asbestos-caused pleural diseases in humans, probably due to the short exposure period of the study.

Design and simulation of coupled-resonator filters using periodically slotted electrodes on FBARs.

This paper discusses the use of periodically slotted top electrodes in the film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) structure for the realization of wideband coupled-resonator filters (CRFs), where evanescent modes in the periodic structure are used for the coupling between adjacent electrodes. First, wave propagation in this structure is investigated. Finite element analysis is performed for the Mo/ZnO/Mo structure.

CC-Chemokine receptor CCR7: a key molecule for lymph node metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: CC-chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7), a known lymph node homing receptor for immune cells, has been reported as a key molecule in lymph node metastasis. We hypothesized a clinicopathological correlation and functional causality between CCR7 expression and lymph node metastasis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: We performed immunohistochemical analysis of 105 consecutive and 61 exclusive pathological T1 ESCC patients, followed by adhesion assay and in vivo experiment using a newly developed lymph node metastasis mouse model.

Suitability of sentinel node mapping as an index of metastasis in early gastric cancer following endoscopic resection.

Background: When pathological diagnosis following endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancer (EGC) suggests probable lymph node metastasis, additional surgery with lymphadenectomy should be performed. The sentinel node (SN) concept has yet to be applied to tumors following ER. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of SN navigation surgery for such tumors.

Differences and similarities between father-infant interaction and mother-infant interaction.

The aim of this study was to compare father-infant interaction with mother-infant interaction, and explore differences and similarities between parents. Related factors for quality of father-infant interaction were also examined. Sixteen pairs of parents with infants aged 0 to 36 months were observed for play interaction between parents and their children.

Association between traffic-related air pollution and development of asthma in school children: cohort study in Japan.

Air pollution is widely understood to be capable of exacerbating asthma symptoms. Here we examined the association between traffic-related air pollution and development of asthma in school children. Subjects were 10,069 school children in their first through third years of compulsory education (6-9-year old).

Successful management of anastomotic leakage and lung fistula after esophagectomy.

We report the successful management of a case of anastomotic leakage with a lung fistula as a complication of esophagectomy by use of a double elementary diet tube.

Numerical analysis of a red blood cell flowing through a thin micropore.

Red blood cell (RBC) deformability plays a key role in microcirculation, especially in vessels that have diameters even smaller than the nominal cell size. In this study, we numerically investigate the dynamics of an RBC in a thin micropore. The RBC is modeled as a capsule with a thin hyperelastic membrane.

Optimal surgical management for esophagogastric junction carcinoma.

Objectives: Esophagogastric junction carcinoma incidence is increasing worldwide. However, surgical strategies for this cancer remain controversial. This study aimed to clarify the optimal surgical strategy for esophagogastric junction carcinoma.

EpCAM, a potential therapeutic target for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Molecular-targeted drugs are not available for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which has a poor prognosis. We investigated the clinicopathological significance of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression and the utility of EpCAM as a potential therapeutic target.

Methods: The relationship between EpCAM expression and clinicopathological factors was examined by immunohistochemistry in 74 patients with resectable ESCC.

Experimental validation of a novel compact focusing scheme for future energy-frontier linear lepton colliders.

A novel scheme for the focusing of high-energy leptons in future linear colliders was proposed in 2001 [P. Raimondi and A. Seryi, Phys.

Pathological complete response of advanced rectal cancer treated by preoperative chemoradiotherapy with oral tegafur-uracil and leucovorin: a case report.

A rare case of pathological complete response of advanced rectal cancer treated by preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with oral tegafur-uracil and leucovorin is reported. A 73-year-old man with bloody stool was diagnosed with type 2 rectal cancer located 6 cm from the anal verge. Examination of biopsy specimens revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.