Adsorptive Granulocyte and Monocyte Apheresis Is Effective in Ulcerative Colitis Patients Both with and without Concomitant Prednisolone.

Background: The number of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients is increasing in Japan and other countries. Selective depletion of myeloid lineage leucocytes by adsorptive granulocyte and monocyte apheresis (GMA) with an Adacolumn (JIMRO, Takasaki, Japan) was introduced as a nonpharmacologic treatment strategy in UC patients in 2000. GMA has been reported to be effective in clinical trials; however, the effect of concomitant prednisolone (PSL) on GMA needs to be clarified.

Plasma exosomal microRNA-125b as a monitoring biomarker of resistance to mFOLFOX6-based chemotherapy in advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer patients.

Liquid biomarkers for the early detection of resistance to chemotherapy are important for improving prognosis. This study investigated the usefulness of plasma exosomal microRNA-125b (ex-miRNA-125b) for the early detection of resistance to modified fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6)-based first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced or recurrent (advanced/recurrent) colorectal cancer (CRC). First, ex-miRNAs associated with resistance to mFOLFOX6-based chemotherapy were profiled via miRNA microarray analysis.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers may reduce tumor recurrence in left-sided and early colorectal cancers.

Background: Angiotensin signaling is suggested to be involved in tumorigenesis, tumor proliferation, and metastases. In colorectal cancer (CRC), it was demonstrated that angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may reduce the risk of CRC; however, their impact on tumor recurrence remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the impact of ACEIs/ARBs on tumor recurrence in CRC patients.

A case of intussusception developed at the site of ileocolic anastomosis after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Background: Intussusception is a relatively common condition seen in children. In comparison, adult intussusception is rare and usually occurs as a complication in patients with organic diseases. It is responsible for 1% of all bowel obstructions, in most of intussusceptions a malignant tumor is involved.

Laparoscopic subtotal colectomy for a patient with chronic idiopathic colonic pseudo-obstruction: Report of a case.

A 47-year-old male patient without a documented past medical history was referred to Sanno Hospital because of constipation and abdominal pain, which he had had for more than 5 years. Abdominal X-ray and CT scan showed an enlarged ascending colon from the cecum to the transverse colon, without apparent mechanical obstruction. The patient was diagnosed with chronic idiopathic colonic pseudo-obstruction, and because his symptoms were resistant to medication, surgical treatment was required.

A rare case of perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) of the greater omentum.

Background: A tumor composed exclusively or predominantly of human melanin black 45 (HMB45)-positive epithelioid cells is called a perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa). We report a very rare case of a PEComa of the greater omentum.

Case Presentation: MRI conducted to examine the orthopedic disease of the patients, a 49-year-old Japanese woman, also identified a tumor in her pelvis.

Circulating Exosomal MicroRNA-21 as a Biomarker in Each Tumor Stage of Colorectal Cancer.

Objective: We clarified the predictive and prognostic value of circulating plasma exosomal microRNA-21 (miR-21) in each TNM stage of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Methods: The microRNA (miRNA) profiles of the plasma exosomes, primary tumor tissues, and liver metastasis tissues from the same CRC patients were examined using a microarray. For validation analysis, the plasma exosome samples from 326 CRC patients were measured by TaqMan miRNA assays.

A case of IgG4-related disease coexisted with rectal cancer.

A 67-year-old man was referred to our hospital with suspicion of rectal tumor, hilar tumor, and urinary tumor. Colonoscopic findings were intermittent nodular lesions with redness which were atypical to primary rectal cancer. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed narrowing of the bilateral intrahepatic bile duct.

Interlaboratory Study of ELISA Kits for the Detection of Egg and Milk Protein in Processed Foods.

The labeling of seven specific allergenic ingredients (egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, and crab) is mandatory in Japan. To ensure proper labeling, two kinds of ELISA kits using polyclonal antibodies have been developed. However, we developed two novel ELISA kits using monoclonal antibodies with improved specificity, the Allergeneye ELISA Egg (AE-Egg) and Allergeneye ELISA Milk (AE-Milk) Kits, to detect egg and milk proteins in processed foods, respectively.

Feasibility of fiber-optic radiation sensor using Cerenkov effect for detecting thermal neutrons.

In this research, we propose a novel method for detecting thermal neutrons with a fiber-optic radiation sensor using the Cerenkov effect. We fabricate a fiber-optic radiation sensor that detects thermal neutrons with a Gd-foil, a rutile crystal, and a plastic optical fiber. The relationship between the fluxes of electrons inducing Cerenkov radiation in the sensor probe of the fiber-optic radiation sensor and thermal neutron fluxes is determined using the Monte Carlo N-particle transport code simulations.

Development of an educational program for the helicopter emergency medical services in Japan.

Introduction: The Japanese helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) system provides advanced prehospital treatment at the scene. The education of the dispatched HEMS physicians is important for guaranteeing the quality of medical and safety management, but there is no nationally established training program. This study aimed to determine the validity of the HEMS educational program developed by our team.

Application of Cerenkov radiation generated in plastic optical fibers for therapeutic photon beam dosimetry.

A Cerenkov fiber-optic dosimeter (CFOD) is fabricated using plastic optical fibers to measure Cerenkov radiation induced by a therapeutic photon beam. We measured the Cerenkov radiation generated in optical fibers in various irradiation conditions to evaluate the usability of Cerenkov radiation for a photon beam therapy dosimetry. As a results, the spectral peak of Cerenkov radiation was measured at a wavelength of 515 nm, and the intensity of Cerenkov radiation increased linearly with increasing irradiated length of the optical fiber.

Development of landmine detection system based on the measurement of radiation from landmines.

For the detection of landmines, a new gamma-ray detector system, a neutron source, and control and measurement devices were developed. A prototype system has newly been developed by combining these devices. The usefulness of capture gamma-ray and backscattering neutron methods is examined with real explosives in several conditions and the performance of the prototype landmine detection system is demonstrated experimentally in this study.