Advantages of an on-the-screwhead crosslink connector for atlantoaxial fixation using the Goel/Harms technique.

The goal of fixation surgery for atlantoaxial instability is to achieve solid bony fusion. Achieving bony fusion as early as possible is beneficial for patients. Although placement of a transverse cross-link connector (XL) provides greater biomechanical strength, XLs have not been able to be placed when performing the Goel/Harms procedure.

A Mouse Model for Oral Mucositis Induced by Cancer Chemotherapy.

Background: Oral mucositis (OM), one of the side-effects induced by chemotherapy, has 40% incidence and the incidence rate increases to approximately 100% in combination with radiotherapy. We describe OM in ICR mice induced using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 20% acetic acid.

Materials And Methods: We optimized the dose of 5-FU and 20% acetic acid and validated the efficacy of standard therapies for OM.

Knockout of the interleukin-36 receptor protects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury by reduction of proinflammatory cytokines.

IL-36, a newly named member of the IL-1 cytokine family, includes 3 isoforms, IL-36α, IL-36β, and IL-36γ, all of which bind to a heterodimer containing the IL-36 receptor (IL-36R). Little is known about the role of the IL-36 axis in acute kidney injury (AKI) pathogenesis. Therefore, we evaluated IL-36 function in the bilateral renal ischemia-reperfusion injury model of AKI using IL-36R knockout and wild-type mice.

New technique of percutaneous CT fluoroscopy-guided marking before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for small lung lesions: feasibility of using a 25-gauge needle without local anaesthesia.

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the feasibility of CT fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous marking using a 25-gauge needle and indigo carmine before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for small lung lesions.

Methods: 21 patients, 14 males and 7 females, with a median age of 69 years (range, 40-79), underwent CT fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous VATS marking using a 25-gauge, 70-mm needle and 1.5-ml indigo carmine.

Inhibitory effects of food additives derived from polyphenols on staphylococcal enterotoxin A production and biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus.

In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of 14 food additives derived from polyphenol samples on staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) production and biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus. Tannic acid AL (TA), Purephenon 50 W (PP) and Polyphenon 70A (POP) at 0.25 mg/mL and Gravinol®-N (GN), Blackcurrant polyphenol AC10 (BP), and Resveratrol-P5 (RT) at 1.

Hot avulsion may be effective as salvage treatment for focal Barrett's esophagus remaining after endoscopic therapy for dysplasia or early cancer: a preliminary study.

Background And Study Aim: Both endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are used to treat Barrett's esophagus (BE) complicated by dysplasia and intramucosal cancer. However, focal areas of BE can remain after otherwise successful application of these techniques. We report the results of hot avulsion using a hot biopsy forceps to resect these residual focal areas.

[Technique to Reinforce Double-barreled Distal Aortic Anastomosis in the Repair of Aortic Dissection].

We describe a technique to reinforce a double-barreled aortic anastomosis in the repair of chronic aortic dissection. After distal aortic resection was carried out, an intimal flap was incised lineally 1 cm in width along with its margin. This intimal band was reapproximated to the adventitia which supported the false lumen.

Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of early esophageal squamous neoplasia.

Esophageal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. It carries a poor prognosis as more than half of patients present with advanced and unresectable disease. One contributing factor is the increased risk of lymph node metastases at early stages of disease.

Surgical treatment for lumbar hyperlordosis after resection of a spinal lipoma associated with spina bifida: A case report.

Rationale: A hyperlordosis deformity of the lumbar spine is relatively rare, and surgical treatment has not been comprehensively addressed. In this case report, we describe the clinical presentation, surgical treatment, and medium-term follow-up of a patient presenting with a progressive lumbar hyperlordosis deformity after resection of a spinal lipoma associated with spina bifida.

Patient Concerns: The patient was a 20-year-old woman presenting with a progressive hyperlordosis deformity of the lumbar spine associated with significant back pain (visual analog pain score of 89/100 mm), but with no neurological symptoms.

Endoscopic treatment of Barrett's esophagus: What can we learn from the Western perspective?

The incidence of Barrett's esophagus (BE)-related neoplasia in Western countries has increased in the past several decades and, even in Eastern countries, it appears to be increasing. Endoscopic therapies are the first-line treatment for BE-related neoplasia; however, there is still no standardized treatment strategy. Most of the data have been published from Western countries where the ultimate goal of treatment is complete eradication of BE mucosa removing subtle synchronous lesions and preventing metachronous neoplasia.

[Novel Device for Creating Multiple Artificial Chordae Loops in Mitral Valve Repair].

A novel device to create multiple artificial chordae loops for mitral repair is developed. The device consists of a circular metal base with a removable central rod on one end, which can easily be attached or removed by screwing into a hole located on the base, and 51 fixed rods placed radially around the central rod at distances of 10~60 mm from the central rod. A needle with CV-4 e-polytetrafluoroethylene suture is passed through a pledget, and the suture is looped from the central rod around the fixed rod located at the desired loop length.

Interaction between Various Apple Procyanidin and Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A and Their Inhibitory Effects on Toxin Activity.

In this study, we investigated the interaction between apple polyphenols (AP; mainly consisting of procyanidin (PC) from an apple) and staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), and the inhibitory effects of AP on SEA activity. According to the degree of polymerization, in particularly highly polymerized PC (more than pentamer) strongly interacted with SEA. The binding affinity of AP with SEA molecules was determined using Biacore analysis.

Effects of topiroxostat in hyperuricemic patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Hyperuricemia is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although topiroxostat, a novel, non-purine, selective xanthine oxidase inhibitor, has a strong effect against hyperuricemia, limited data are available on its renoprotective effect against CKD.

Methods: This study was conducted between October 2014 and May 2016.

Influence of air-powder polishing on bond strength and surface-free energy of universal adhesive systems.

The influences of air-powder polishing with glycine or sodium bicarbonate powders on shear bond strengths (SBS) and surface-free energies of universal adhesives were examined. Scotchbond Universal Adhesive (SU, 3M ESPE), G-Premio Bond (GP, GC), Adhese Universal (AU, Ivoclar Vivadent), and All-Bond Universal (AB, Bisco) were used in this study. Bovine dentin surfaces were air polished with glycine or sodium bicarbonate powders prior to the bonding procedure, and resin pastes were bonded to the dentin surface using universal adhesives.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease accompanied by systemic lupus erythematosus presenting central nervous system involvement.

We report a case of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis caused by anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease accompanied by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presenting central nervous system involvement in a 32-year-old Japanese male. He was admitted to our hospital because of a 3-week history of fever and rapidly failing renal function requiring hemodialysis (HD). Laboratory tests showed anti-GBM antibody elevation with a value of 16,385 units/ml.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Pancreatic Duct Intervention.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct intervention (EUS-PDI) is an emerging endoscopic approach allowing access and intervention to the pancreatic duct (PD) for patients with failed endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) or patients with surgically altered anatomy. As opposed to biliary drainage for which percutaneous drainage is an alternative following failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the treatment options after failed ERP are very limited. Therefore, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided access to the PD and options for subsequent drainage may play an important role as an alternative to surgical intervention.

Improvement Effects of Wasabi (Wasabiajaponica) Leaves and Allyl Isothiocyanate on Stomach Lesions of Mongolian Gerbils Infected with Helicobacter pylori.

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer associated with stomach lesions has been reported. Improvement of the adverse effects induced by H. pylori is required for human health.

Efficacy of single-incision needle-knife biopsy for sampling subepithelial lesions.

Single-incision needle-knife (SINK) biopsy is a diagnostic method for acquiring tissue samples for subepithelial lesions (SELs). A single linear incision is made in the overlying mucosa and tissue samples are obtained by passing conventional biopsy forceps through the opening and deep into the lesion. The aim of this study was to describe the efficacy and safety of this technique.

Results of Total Elbow Arthroplasty with Cementless Implantation of an Alumina Ceramic Elbow Prosthesis for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

We investigated the long-term clinical results of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) by cementless fixation of alumina ceramic unlinked elbow prostheses (J-alumina ceramic elbows: JACE) for the reconstruction of elbow joints with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Seventeen elbows in 17 patients (aged 44-72 years, average 54.8) replaced by JACE TEA without bone cement were investigated.

Adsorptive Property of Food Materials and Chemicals to Cesium and Strontium.

In March, 2011, large amounts of radioactive materials were released from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after the nuclear accident. Especially, for humans, internal exposure to ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr radionuclides presents very high risks because of their very long physical half-lives (¹³⁷Cs: 30.2 years, ⁹⁰Sr: 28.