[Design and analysis of clinical trials].

The purpose of a therapeutic clinical trial is to determine the value of a treatment. The main objectives of phase I trials have been to determine a dose that is appropriate for use in phase II and III trials and to determine information about the pharmacokinetics of distribution of the drug. Phase II trials have been performed to determine whether a particular regimen or drug is worthy of phase III evaluation.

Essences in metabolic engineering of lignan biosynthesis.

Lignans are structurally and functionally diverse phytochemicals biosynthesized in diverse plant species and have received wide attentions as leading compounds of novel drugs for tumor treatment and healthy diets to reduce of the risks of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases. However, the lineage-specific distribution and the low-amount of production in natural plants, some of which are endangered species, hinder the efficient and stable production of beneficial lignans. Accordingly, the development of new procedures for lignan production is of keen interest.

[A case of jejunal ectopic pancreatic cancer: the diagnostic usefulness of MRI].

A 70-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of elevated CA19-9. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a jejunal tumor having duct and retention cyst-like structures, which suggested ectopic pancreatic cancer. We resected that part of the jejunum and the lymph nodes around the tumor.

Current status of primary prevention of sudden cardiac death with implantable cardioverter defibrillator in patients with chronic heart failure--a report from the CHART-2 Study.

Background: The current status of primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction remains to be fully elucidated in Japan.

Methods And Results: In the chronic heart failure (CHF) cohort study, the CHART-2 Study, we enrolled 2,778 consecutive patients with NYHA class II-III. According to the Japanese Circulation Society guideline of prophylactic ICD, we divided them into 3 groups: group A, class I indication; B, class IIa; and C, no indication.

The Draft Genome of Hop (Humulus lupulus), an Essence for Brewing.

The female flower of hop (Humulus lupulus var. lupulus) is an essential ingredient that gives characteristic aroma, bitterness and durability/stability to beer. However, the molecular genetic basis for identifying DNA markers in hop for breeding and to study its domestication has been poorly established.

[Clinical study on patients with renal-cell carcinoma accompanied with Von Hippel-Lindau disease treated with radiofrequency ablation].

We report 12 renal cell carcinomas in 6 patients with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The mean age of the patients was 46 (range 38-53) years (male : 4, female : 2). Computed tomography (CT)-guided transcutaneous RFA was performed under conscious sedation with local anesthetics.

Clinical outcome after endoscopic resection for superficial pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma invading the subepithelial layer.

Background And Study Aims: The curability of endoscopic resection for superficial pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SPSCC) has not been fully elucidated, particularly for lesions invading the subepithelial layer, which carry the risk of metastasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the curative potential of endoscopic resection for SPSCC invading the subepithelial layer.

Patients And Methods: From June 2002 to July 2010, 198 SPSCCs in 176 consecutive patients were treated by endoscopic resection at two tertiary referral centers.

Nonreproductive role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the control of ascidian metamorphosis.

Background: Gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRHs) are neuropeptides that play central roles in the reproduction of vertebrates. In the ascidian Ciona intestinalis, GnRHs and their receptors are expressed in the nervous systems at the larval stage, when animals are not yet capable of reproduction, suggesting that the hormones have non-reproductive roles.

Results: We showed that GnRHs in Ciona are involved in the animal's metamorphosis by regulating tail absorption and adult organ growth.

A conserved noncoding sequence can function as a spermatocyte-specific enhancer and a bidirectional promoter for a ubiquitously expressed gene and a testis-specific long noncoding RNA.

Tissue-specific gene expression is tightly regulated by various elements such as promoters, enhancers, and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). In the present study, we identified a conserved noncoding sequence (CNS1) as a novel enhancer for the spermatocyte-specific mouse testicular cell adhesion molecule 1 (Tcam1) gene. CNS1 was located 3.

Outcomes of an open autologous osteochondral plug graft for capitellar osteochondritis dissecans: time to return to sports.

Background: Autologous osteochondral plug grafts have been used for capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), and good clinical results have been described. However, little is known about the optimal timing of return to sports.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical outcomes of open autologous osteochondral plug grafts for capitellar OCD and to address the timing of return to sports.

Prediction of prone-to-supine tumor displacement in the breast using patient position change: investigation with prone MRI and supine CT.

Background: One of the challenges for clinical use of preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is how to transfer prone MRI information to the operating theater with a supine surgical position. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate tumor displacement in the breast by changing the patient position from prone to supine (prone-to-supine tumor displacement), using preoperative prone MRI and supine computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Preoperatively, 55 Japanese women with 57 breast cancer lesions underwent breast MRI in the prone position and breast CT in the supine position.

Therapeutic strategy for granulomatous lobular mastitis: a clinicopathological study of 12 patients.

Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) is a rare inflammatory pseudotumor. No therapeutic modality for this disease has been established because of its rarity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the treatment strategies of GLM.

Elucidating the sequence of intact bioactive peptides by using electron capture dissociation and hot electron capture dissociation in a linear radio-frequency quadrupole ion trap.

Rationale: Electron capture dissociation (ECD) is useful tool for sequencing of peptides and proteins with post-translational modifications. To increase the sequence coverage for peptides and proteins, it is important to develop ECD device with high fragmentation efficiency.

Methods: Sequence analysis of intact undigested bioactive peptides (3000-5000 Da) was performed by use of electron capture dissociation (rf-ECD) and collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a linear radio-frequency quadrupole ion trap that was coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

[First experiences of laparoscopic radical cystectomy].

Purpose: We determined whether laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) was useful for the patients with bladder cancer.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the surgical outcome of LRC in the initial 30 patients with bladder cancer.

Results: Mean patients age was 68 (54-81) years old.

GPCR Heterodimerization in the Reproductive System: Functional Regulation and Implication for Biodiversity.

A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) functions not only as a monomer or homodimer but also as a heterodimer with another GPCR. GPCR heterodimerization results in the modulation of the molecular functions of the GPCR protomer, including ligand binding affinity, signal transduction, and internalization. There has been a growing body of reports on heterodimerization of multiple GPCRs expressed in the reproductive system and the resultant functional modulation, suggesting that GPCR heterodimerization is closely associated with reproduction including the secretion of hormones and the growth and maturation of follicles and oocytes.

Seasonal alteration in amounts of lignans and their glucosides and gene expression of the relevant biosynthetic enzymes in the Forsythia suspense leaf.

Lignans of Forsythia spp. are essential components of various Chinese medicines and health diets. However, the seasonal alteration in lignan amounts and the gene expression profile of lignan-biosynthetic enzymes has yet to be investigated.

Radiographic features of Kirner's deformity.

We conducted a study of Kirner's deformity to investigate its radiologic features and consider its possible causes. Sixty-seven patients with Kirner's deformity, 41 in our series and 26 retrieved in a survey of the literature were investigated. We divided Kirner's deformity into three types according to the site of curvature: the epiphyseal line, diaphysis, and distal tip.

Recent advances in the metabolic engineering of lignan biosynthesis pathways for the production of transgenic plant-based foods and supplements.

Plant physiological, epidemiological, and food science studies have shed light on lignans as healthy diets for the reduction of the risk of lifestyle-related noncommunicable diseases and, thus, the demand for lignans has been rapidly increasing. However, the low efficiency and instability of lignan production via extraction from plant resources remain to be resolved, indicating the requirement for the development of new procedures for lignan production. The metabolic engineering of lignan-biosynthesizing plants is expected to be most promising for efficient, sustainable, and stable lignan production.

Characteristics of heart failure associated with the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Background: On March 11, 2011, the Tohoku district was struck by the most powerful known earthquake to hit Japan. Although stress-induced heart diseases rise after strong psychosocial stress, little is known about the characteristics of heart failure (HF) caused by psychosocial stress related to earthquakes.

Methods: We examined patients admitted to our hospital for HF during a three-week period between March 11 and March 31, 2011 (Disaster group) and compared them to patients during the corresponding period of 2010 (Non-Disaster group).

Radial incision and cutting method for refractory stricture after nonsurgical treatment of esophageal cancer.

Strictures remaining after nonsurgical treatment for esophageal cancer are generally more refractory to endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) when compared with anastomotic strictures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a radial incision and cutting (RIC) method for the treatment of refractory strictures after nonsurgical treatment of esophageal cancer. All subjects complained of grade 2 or worse dysphagia, even after at least 10 sessions of EBD.

Glycopeptide identification using liquid-chromatography-compatible hot electron capture dissociation in a radio-frequency-quadrupole ion trap.

We developed a liquid chromatography (LC) compatible electron capture dissociation (ECD) mass spectrometer for glycoproteomics, with which ECD and hot ECD (HECD) experiments can be flexibly switched by quickly changing the electron energy without further tuning of the mass spectrometer. Desialylated glycopeptides were dissociated well in both ECD and HECD experiments. For sialylated glycopeptides, on the other hand, ECD with electron energy higher than 4 eV showed significantly higher sequence coverage than that with an electron energy of 0.

ADAR1 protein induces adenosine-targeted DNA mutations in senescent Bcl6 gene-deficient cells.

Somatic mutations accumulate in senescent cells. Bcl6, which functions as a transcriptional repressor, has been identified as a potent inhibitor of cell senescence, but a role of Bcl6 in the accumulation of somatic mutations has remained unclear. Ig class-switch recombination simultaneously induces somatic mutations in an IgM class-switch (Ig-Sμ) region of IgG B cells.

The pars intercerebralis affects digestive activities of the American cockroach, Periplaneta Americana, via crustacean cardioactive peptide and allatostatin-A.

Our previous report showed that the pars intercerebralis (PI)-ablated cockroach, Periplaneta americana (PIX), exhibited hypertrophy and a significant increase in α-amylase and protease activities in the midgut under constant darkness (DD). Bath-applied crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) and allatostatin (AST) stimulated α-amylase and protease activities in the dissected midgut cultured in medium. However, the functional relationship and regulatory mechanism between the brain, particularly the pars intercerebralis and the midgut digestive activity remain to be investigated.

Treatment strategy for superficial pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma synchronously combined with esophageal cancer.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is often synchronously accompanied by pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC). However, treatment strategies for these synchronous cancers have not been established.

Aim: To evaluate retrospectively the effects of both chemoradiotherapy (CRT) targeted for invasive ESCC on synchronous superficial PSCC and additional endoscopic resection (ER) for PSCC.

Germline transgenesis of the chordate Ciona intestinalis with hyperactive variants of sleeping beauty transposable element.

Background: Transposon-mediated transgenesis is an excellent method for creating stable transgenic lines and insertional mutants. In the chordate Ciona intestinalis, Minos is the only transposon that has been used as the tool for germline transformation. Adding another transposon system in this organism enables us to conduct genetic techniques which can only be realized with the use of two transposons.