Perforation of abdominal esophagus following nasogastric feeding tube intubation: A case report.

Introduction: Perforation of the abdominal esophagus caused by nasogastric tube (NGT) intubation has been rarely reported in adults.

Presentation Of Case: A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with pneumonia. He had been bedridden long-term and had previously undergone a gastrectomy for gastric ulcer.

Large Bowel Progressive Stricture after Infliximab Therapy for Crohn's Disease.

This case report refers to a 31-year-old patient with an 11-year history of Crohn's disease. The patient presented with an edematous elevated lesion in the splenic flexure. Two histological analyses revealed no signs of obvious dysplasia, and the patient subsequently began infliximab treatment.

The Prophylactic Effect of Anti-influenza Agents for an Influenza Outbreak in a University Hospital.

Objective From November 24 to December 9, 2013, an outbreak of the influenza (flu) A (H3) virus occurred in a tertiary-care university hospital (1,014 beds). We herein report the prophylactic effect of anti-flu agents for controlling the flu outbreak. Methods We administered pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis with anti-flu agents in flu outbreak.

Mantle Cell Lymphoma with a Single Protruding Lesion as the Cause of Intussusception.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a malignant lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract that mostly presents as multiple lymphomatous polyposis (MLP); however, MLP with intussusception is rarely reported in MCL. Furthermore, a single protruding lesion with intussusception has never been reported in primary small intestinal MCL. A 70-year-old man presented with pain in the right lower abdomen.

Evaluation of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field Strength Using the Cosmic-Ray Shadow of the Sun.

We analyze the Sun's shadow observed with the Tibet-III air shower array and find that the shadow's center deviates northward (southward) from the optical solar disk center in the "away" ("toward") interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) sector. By comparing with numerical simulations based on the solar magnetic field model, we find that the average IMF strength in the away (toward) sector is 1.54±0.

Response of Cerebral Blood Flow and Blood Pressure to Dynamic Exercise: A Study Using PET.

Dynamic exercise elicits fluctuations in blood pressure (BP) and cerebral blood flow (CBF). This study investigated responses in BP and CBF during cycling exercise and post-exercise hypotension (PEH) using positron emission tomography (PET). CBF was measured using oxygen-15-labeled water (HO) and PET in 11 human subjects at rest (Rest), at the onset of exercise (Ex1), later in the exercise (Ex2), and during PEH.

Age-Related Decrease in Male Extra-Striatal Adenosine A Receptors Measured C-MPDX PET.

Adenosine A receptors (ARs) are widely distributed throughout the entire human brain, while adenosine A receptors (ARs) are present in dopamine-rich areas of the brain, such as the basal ganglia. A past study using autoradiography reported a reduced binding ability of AR in the striatum of old rats. We developed positron emission tomography (PET) ligands for mapping the adenosine receptors and we successfully visualized the ARs using 8-dicyclopropylmethyl-1-C-methyl-3-propylxanthine (C-MPDX).

Cellularity of Thymic Epithelial Cells in the Postnatal Mouse.

The molecular and cellular biology of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) often relies on the analysis of TECs isolated in enzymatically digested single-cell suspensions derived from mouse thymus. Many independent studies have reported that the estimated cellularity of total TECs isolated from one adult mouse is on the order of up to 10 However, these numbers appear extremely small given that the cellularity of total thymocytes exceeds 10 and that TECs play multiple roles in thymocyte development and repertoire formation. In the present study, we aimed to measure the numbers of β5t-expressing cortical TECs and Aire-expressing medullary TECs in postnatal mouse thymus in situ without enzymatic digestion.

Bone Regeneration of Osteoporotic Vertebral Body Defects Using Platelet-Rich Plasma and Gelatin β-Tricalcium Phosphate Sponges.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with gelatin β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) sponge on bone generation in a lumbar vertebral body defect of ovariectomized rat. After creating critical-size defects in the center of the anterior vertebral body, the defects were filled with the following materials: (1) no material (control group), (2) gelatin β-TCP sponge with PRP (PRP sponge group), and (3) gelatin β-TCP sponge with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS sponge group). Microcomputed tomography and histological evaluation were performed immediately after surgery and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks to assess bone regeneration.

The Diagnosis of Gastric Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma by Flow Cytometry and Fluorescence in situ Hybridization of Biopsy Specimens.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and reactive inflammatory lymphoid changes are frequently difficult to distinguish based on a routine histological differential diagnosis. We were unable to diagnose gastric MALT lymphoma histologically using specimens obtained by endoscopy, although a flow cytometry (FCM) analysis demonstrated clonality of neoplastic cells by separating cells by CD45 gating. Furthermore, a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis showed trisomy 18.

MyD88 Mutation in Elderly Predicts Poor Prognosis in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: Multi-Institutional Analysis.

Background: Recent genetic analysis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) showed that the MyD88 L265P mutation, which is related to NF-κB signaling, was a genetic hallmark for PCNSL; thus it could serve as a genetic marker for diagnosis and a potential target for molecular therapy. However, the role of the MyD88 mutation in PCNSL has not been defined. In this study, we investigated the role of the MyD88 mutation and clinical features of PCNSL-treated patients at several institutions to determine its significance as a prognostic factor.

Adsorptive filtration systems for effective removal of blood amyloid β: a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease.

Accumulation of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) in the brain causes cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. We hypothesized that an extracorporeal system that rapidly removed Aβ from the blood may accelerate Aβ drainage from the brain. We previously reported that dialyzers remove blood Aβs effectively, mainly by adsorption on the inner surfaces of the hollow fibers, resulting in lower Aβ accumulation in the brains of patients undergoing hemodialysis than the controls without hemodialysis.

Comparison between new-generation SiPM-based and conventional PMT-based TOF-PET/CT.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether the SiPM-PET/CT, Discovery MI (DMI) performs better than the PMT-PET/CT system, Discovery 710 (D710).

Methods: The physical performance of both systems was evaluated using NEMA NU 2 standards. Contrast (%), uniformity and image noise (%) are criteria proposed by the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine (JSNM) for phantom tests and were determined in images acquired from Hoffman and uniform phantoms using the DMI and D710.

Identifying a breeding habitat of a critically endangered fish, Acheilognathus typus, in a natural river in Japan.

Freshwater biodiversity has been severely threatened in recent years, and to conserve endangered species, their distribution and breeding habitats need to be clarified. However, identifying breeding sites in a large area is generally difficult. Here, by combining the emerging environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis with subsequent traditional collection surveys, we successfully identified a breeding habitat for the critically endangered freshwater fish Acheilognathus typus in the mainstream of Omono River in Akita Prefecture, Japan, which is one of the original habitats of this species.

A Prospective, Randomized Trial of Two Mucin Secretogogues for the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome in Office Workers.

The purpose of the study was to compare the two mucin secretogogues, diquafosol (DQS) and rebamipide (RBM), for the treatment of dry eye syndrome (DES) in office workers. Dry eye patients using computers for >4 h/day were randomly assigned treatment with either DQS or RBM. Main outcomes measures included changes in tear film break-up time (TBUT) and subjective symptoms assessed by the Dry Eye-Related Quality of Life Score (DEQS).

Both Sphingomyelin and Cholesterol in the Host Cell Membrane Are Essential for Rubella Virus Entry.

Rubella virus (RuV) causes a systemic infection, and transplacental fetal infection causes congenital rubella syndrome. In this study, we showed that treatment of cells with sphingomyelinase inhibited RuV infection. Assays using inhibitors of serine palmitoyl transferase and ceramide transport protein demonstrated the contribution of sphingomyelin (SM) to RuV infection.

Re-evaluation of soluble APP-α and APP-β in cerebrospinal fluid as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of dementia disorders.

Background: Because soluble (or secreted) amyloid precursor protein-β (sAPPβ) and -α (sAPPα) possibly reflect pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD), they are potential biomarker candidates for dementia disorders, including AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD (MCI-AD). However, controversial results have been reported regarding their alterations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD and MCI-AD patients. In this study, we re-assessed the utility of sAPPα and sAPPβ in CSF as diagnostic biomarkers of dementia disorders.

Efficacy of a Peer-Led, Recovery-Oriented Shared Decision-Making System: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The effects of a comprehensive shared decision-making system based on the CommonGround approach and incorporating peer support and a computerized decision aid were investigated.

Methods: A pilot randomized controlled trial with six-month follow-up was conducted in Japan. Fifty-six outpatients with mental illness were randomly allocated to a shared decision-making system (intervention) group or treatment as usual (control) group.

Analysis of VSV pseudotype virus infection mediated by rubella virus envelope proteins.

Rubella virus (RV) generally causes a systemic infection in humans. Viral cell tropism is a key determinant of viral pathogenesis, but the tropism of RV is currently poorly understood. We analyzed various human cell lines and determined that RV only establishes an infection efficiently in particular non-immune cell lines.

[A case of serous cystic neoplasm with form changes on an image obtained during long-term follow-up].

A 45-year-old man presented with a 24-mm macrocystic lesion at the pancreatic head, which was detected by computed tomography (CT). During six years of follow-up, CT, MRI, and endosonographic images of the cystic lesion showed that the cystic lesion had enlarged to 42mm, with the appearance of a thick cyst wall. Since a cystic tumor could not be ruled out, surgery was performed.

Regional tau deposition and subregion atrophy of medial temporal structures in early Alzheimer's disease: A combined positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging study.

Introduction: Molecular imaging and selective hippocampal subfield atrophy are a focus of recent Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. Here, we investigated correlations between molecular imaging and hippocampal subfields in early AD.

Methods: We investigated 18 patients with early AD and 18 healthy control subjects using C-Pittsburgh compound-B (PIB) positron emission tomography (PET) and F-THK5351 PET and automatic segmentation of hippocampal subfields with high-resolution T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

Molecular Epidemiology of Rubella Virus Strains Detected Around the Time of the 2012-2013 Epidemic in Japan.

A nationwide rubella epidemic occurred from 2012 to 2013 in Japan, resulting in around 17,000 rubella cases and the birth of 45 infants with congenital rubella syndrome. The aim of this study was to genetically characterize the rubella viruses (RVs) circulating around the time of the epidemic in Japan. In total, 221 RV strains detected from 14 prefectures in Japan between 2010 and 2014 were sequenced in the 739 nucleotide-window region within the gene.

Effects of a novel tungsten-impregnated rubber neck shield on the quality of cerebral images acquired using O-labeled gas.

The present study aimed to validate the effects of a novel tungsten-impregnated rubber neck shield on the quality of phantom and clinical O-labeled gas positron emission tomography (PET) images. Images were acquired in the presence or absence of a neck shield from a cylindrical phantom containing [O]HO (phantom study) and from three individuals using [O]CO, [O]O and [O]CO gas (clinical study). Data were acquired in three-dimensional (3D) mode using a Discovery PET/CT 710.

A fundamental study on how holding a helium-filled balloon affects stability in human standing.

Various studies have been conducted in the field of the development/deterioration of standing and walking ability. In standing and walking control strategy, the relationship linking visual/somatosensory/vestibular-system information and physical movement is important. Researchers have previously sought to evaluate attitude control based on human sensory information.