Double blinding with a new placebo needle: a validation study on participant blinding.

Background: A no-touch control needle in which the needle tip cannot reach the skin has been designed, and has been validated for practitioner blinding in a previous study but not for participant blinding.

Objective: To test whether the no-touch control needle can effectively blind subjects.

Methods: An acupuncturist applied, in turn, a no-touch control, skin-touch placebo and penetrating needle in one forearm of 80 healthy subjects.

Visualization and assessment of saccular duct and endolymphatic sinus.

Conclusion: The saccular duct and endolymphatic sinus run in the bony groove, before reaching the orifice of the vestibular aqueduct. We first clinically visualized this sulciform groove using three-dimensional (3D) cone beam CT images. This strategy can be useful to assess the condition of the saccular duct and endolymphatic sinus concerning the longitudinal flow system of endolymph.

Churg-Strauss syndrome complicated by central retinal artery occlusion: case report and a review of the literature.

A 68-year-old man was admitted with rapid visual loss. Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) was diagnosed, based upon the symptoms of asthma, eosinophilia, interstitial pneumonitis, and positive myeloperoxidase-anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA). Light reflexes were absent and vision was completely lost in both eyes.

Anatomical study of the thorax for the safe performance of the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum.

Background: To perform a minimally invasive repair for pectus excavatum safely, accurate knowledge of the anatomy of the retrosternal region is crucial. This study was carried out to provide more information on this region.

Methods: 1.

Dose measurement for medical staff with glass dosemeters and thermoluminescence dosemeters during 125I brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

Photoluminescence glass dosemeters (PLDs) and thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLDs) are commonly used as a personal monitoring dosemeter. PLDs and TLDs were used for surface dose monitoring of medical staff involved in (125)I brachytherapy for prostate cancer because these dosemeters have a wide dose-response linearity and high sensitivity for low photon energy. Surface doses measured with PLDs agreed with those with TLDs within ∼20 % except for a few cases.

Observations of different core water cluster ions Y-(H2O)n (Y = O2, HOx, NOx, COx) and magic number in atmospheric pressure negative corona discharge mass spectrometry.

Reliable mass spectrometry data from large water clusters Y(-)(H(2)O)(n) with various negative core ions Y(-) such as O(2)(-), HO(-), HO(2)(-), NO(2)(-), NO(3)(-), NO(3)(-)(HNO(3))(2), CO(3)(-) and HCO(4)(-) have been obtained using atmospheric pressure negative corona discharge mass spectrometry. All the core Y(-) ions observed were ionic species that play a central role in tropospheric ion chemistry. These mass spectra exhibited discontinuities in ion peak intensity at certain size clusters Y(-)(H(2)O)(m) indicating specific thermochemical stability.

Molecular determinants for small Maf protein control of platelet production.

MafG and p45 possess basic region-leucine zipper (bZip) domains and form a heterodimer called NF-E2, a key regulator of megakaryopoiesis. NF-E2 binds to the Maf recognition element (MARE) and activates transcription of many platelet genes. Since the bZip domain, which mediates DNA binding and heterodimerization, is the only functional domain established for MafG, it has been assumed that MafG is required only for p45 binding to MARE and to facilitate p45-mediated transcriptional activation.

Ion mobility and collision-induced dissociation analysis of carbonic anhydrase 2.

Folding analysis of the zinc protein, carbonic anhydrase 2 (CA2), was performed using electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry coupled with collision-induced dissociation (ESI IMS/CID). Multiply protonated ions with a bimodal charge state distribution were observed indicating the presence of at least two folding states for gas-phase CA2 ions as was described in a previous study (Nabuchi, Y.; Murao, N.

Proteomic analysis of plasma proteins in Japanese semisuper centenarians.

We performed proteomic analysis of plasma proteins in Japanese semisuper centenarians (SSCs) (>105 years) and young controls (20-39 years), and found that 18 protein spots were altered in the plasma of SSCs. From peptide mass fingerprinting following in-gel digestion, it was demonstrated that paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 (PON 1) and apolipoprotein E were decreased, while haptoglobin β-chain, α(1)-microglobulin, and clusterin precursor were increased in SSCs. Interestingly, proteins related to oxidative stress, PON1, haptoglobin, α(1)-microglobulin, and clusterin, were altered in SSCs.

Influence of charge state and amino acid composition on hydrogen transfer in electron capture dissociation of peptides.

Although conventional N-Cα bond cleavage in electron capture dissociation (ECD) of multiply-charged peptides generates a complementary c' and z(·) fragment pair, the N-Cα cleavage followed by hydrogen transfer from c' to z(·) fragments produces other fragments, namely c(·) and z'. In this study, the influence of charge state and amino acid composition on hydrogen transfer in ECD is described using sets of peptides. Hydrogen transferred ionic species such as c(·) and z' were observed in ECD spectra of doubly-protonated peptides, while the triply-protonated form did not demonstrate hydrogen transfer.

[Two cases of methanol poisoning with chronological measurements of blood concentrations of methanol, ethanol and formate].

We report two cases of methanol poisoning and evaluate the kinetics of methanol, ethanol, and formate. The first case was a 48-year-old man (case 1). His initial methanol level was 56.

Antigen-specific regulatory T cells are detected in Peyer's patches after the interaction between T cells and dendritic cells loaded with orally administered antigen.

Systemic immune tolerance is induced for orally administered antigen, and this phenomenon is called oral tolerance. However, the mechanism of oral tolerance has not been completely elucidated. It has been suggested that antigen presentation and generation of regulatory T cells in Peyer's patches (PPs) are important for induction of oral tolerance.

Modification at a boron unit: tuning electronic and optical properties of pi-conjugated acyclic anion receptors.

Substituents at the boron unit of dipyrrolyldiketone boron complexes as pi-conjugated acyclic anion receptors play crucial roles for the tuning of solid-state molecular assemblies, anion-binding behaviour and electronic and optical properties. In particular, emission quantum yields can be significantly tunable by boron substituents and pyrrole alpha-aryl moieties.

The exudate of pressure ulcers contains a substantial amount of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are chronic wounds that occur as areas of tissue necrosis that results from external physical compression, shear forces, and friction. Recently, the efficacy of polyvinylidene film dressing (PVFD) for PUs without any agents promoting wound healing has been reported, suggesting that PUs have their own mechanism of spontaneous healing achieved by vascularization, synthesis of extracellular matrix, and re-epithelization. Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 165 and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) are released at traumatic or surgical wound sites and play major roles in vascularization and wound healing, we measured the concentrations of VEGF165 and FGF-2 in the exudate and fibrinous sloughs of PUs after PVFD.

Effect of a centrally active angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, perindopril, on cognitive performance in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have clinically been widely used as anti-hypertensive agents. In the present study, we compared the effects of a centrally active ACE inhibitor, perindopril, with those of non-centrally active ACE inhibitors, imidapril and enalapril, on cognitive performance in amyloid beta(Abeta) (25-35)-injected mice, a rodent model of Alzheimer's disease. We also determined the brain ACE activity in order to elucidate the relationship between the cognitive function and ACE inhibition in the brain.

Intraoperative radiotherapy for unresectable pancreatic cancer: a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of 144 patients.

Purpose: To retrospectively analyze the results of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) + external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Methods And Materials: The records of 144 patients treated with IORT, with or without, EBRT were reviewed. One hundred and thirteen patients (78.

Radiosurgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformation during pregnancy: A case report focusing on fetal exposure to radiation.

Introduction: We present the case of a pregnant woman who underwent linear accelerator (LINAC)-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and we discuss the fetal exposure to radiation.

Clinical Presentation: A 20-year-old woman at 18 weeks of gestation presented with right cerebral hemorrhage and underwent urgent evacuation of the hematoma. She recovered well after surgery, but cerebral angiography after the surgery revealed a small deeply seated arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the right frontal lobe extending to the right basal ganglia.

Double blinding with a new placebo needle: a further validation study.

Background: The masking properties of a new, non-penetrating, double-blind placebo acupuncture needle were demonstrated. Practitioners correctly identified some of the needles; if they were confident in this opinion, they would be unblinded.

Objective: To investigate the clues that led to correct identification, and the confidence in this decision.

The Tokyo Oldest Old survey on Total Health (TOOTH): a longitudinal cohort study of multidimensional components of health and well-being.

Background: With the rapid worldwide increase in the oldest old population, considerable concern has arisen about the social and economic burden of diseases and disability in this age group. Understanding of multidimensional structure of health and its life-course trajectory is an essential prerequisite for effective health care delivery. Therefore, we organized an interdisciplinary research team consisting of geriatricians, dentists, psychologists, sociologists, and epidemiologists to conduct a longitudinal observational study.

Quality assurance of pelvic autonomic nerve-preserving surgery for advanced lower rectal cancer--preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Pelvic autonomic nerve-preserving (PANP) lateral node dissection (LLND) has been introduced in rectal cancer surgery in Japan, but quality assurance of this approach has not been tested by randomized controlled trials.

Methods: Patients with advanced lower rectal cancer were randomized either to complete PANP + LLND surgery combined with intraoperative radiotherapy (preserved group; n = 28) or to pelvic autonomic nerve resection + LLND surgery (resected group; n = 27). Operation-related parameters were compared statistically.

Inhibitory effect of needle penetration on vibration-induced finger flexion reflex in humans.

Background: Vibration-induced finger flexion reflex (VFR) in the upper extremity is inhibited by needle insertion acupuncture to the large intestine 4 (LI4) at the hand. This claim has a limitation because the inhibitory effect is deduced only from reduction in the maximum finger flexion (FF) force during the tonic flexion reflex by vibratory stimulation after acupuncture.

Methods: The study was a crossover design with two conditions-acupuncture and control-to which 16 healthy volunteers were subjected.

Genetic analysis of hierarchical regulation for Gata1 and NF-E2 p45 gene expression in megakaryopoiesis.

GATA1 and NF-E2 p45 are two important regulators of megakaryopoiesis. Whereas GATA1 is known to regulate the p45 gene, details of the GATA1 contribution to the spatiotemporal expression of the p45 gene remain to be elucidated. To clarify the relationship between GATA1 and p45, we performed genetic complementation rescue analysis of p45 function in megakaryocytes utilizing the hematopoietic regulatory domain of the Gata1 gene (G1HRD).

In-source decay and fragmentation characteristics of peptides using 5-aminosalicylic acid as a matrix in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

The use of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) as a new matrix for in-source decay (ISD) of peptides including mono- and di-phosphorylated peptides in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) is described. The use of 5-ASA in MALDI-ISD has been evaluated from several standpoints: hydrogen-donating ability, the outstanding sharpness of molecular and fragment ion peaks, and the presence of interference peaks such as metastable peaks and multiply charged ions. The hydrogen-donating ability of several matrices such as alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHB), 1,5-diaminonaphthalene (1,5-DAN), sinapinic acid (SA), and 5-ASA was evaluated by using the peak abundance of a reduction product [M + 2H + H](+) to that of non-reduced protonated molecule [M + H](+) of the cyclic peptide vasopressin which contains a disulfide bond (S-S).

Impact of intra-operative radiotherapy on evacuatory function following ultra-low anterior resection. A preliminary result of prospective randomized trial.

Background/aims: Preoperative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy have been reported as effective treatment for locally advanced low rectal carcinoma. However, recent follow-up studies represented severe postoperative evacuatory disorder, which annoys patients' quality of life.

Methodology: The present study was a part of a randomized trial protocol comparing between intraoperative radiotherapy with pelvic autonomic nerve preservation and control group without radiation.