Real-time Indocyanine Green Videolymphography Navigation for Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis.

Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography is a useful imaging modality for evaluation of lymphedema and detection of lymphatic vessels. It also allows us to ensure patency of the anastomosed vessels intraoperatively. However, strong light from the operating microscope usually disturbs ICG fluorescence imaging.

The dynamic-lymphaticovenular anastomosis method for breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema: Creation of functional lymphaticovenular anastomoses with use of preoperative dynamic ultrasonography.

Background: Lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is generally an effective procedure for breast cancer treatment-related upper extremity lymphedema (UEL). Clinical improvement is, however, limited by the degree of sclerosis of the lymphatic vessels. We have developed a method by which we use dynamic ultrasonography to depict vessels through which lymph can be propelled into the LVA under the power of the patient's natural hand movements.

Single Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis for Early-Stage Lower Extremity Lymphedema Treated by the Superior-Edge-of-the-Knee Incision Method.

Background: Surgical treatment of lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) remains challenging. Application of the superior-edge-of-the-knee incision method for lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is reported to have a strong therapeutic effect in patients with LEL because lymph-to-venous flow at the anastomosis is enhanced by knee joint movement during normal walking. We investigated whether a single LVA created by this method is adequate for early LEL.

Comparison of peg-interferon, ribavirin plus telaprevir vs simeprevir by propensity score matching.

Aim: To compare efficacy of telaprevir (TVR) and simeprevir (SMV) combined with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) while treating chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Methods: In all, 306 CHC patients were included in this study. There were 159 patients in the TVR combination therapy group and 147 patients in the SMV combination therapy group.

MHC class I-related chain B gene polymorphism is associated with virological response to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

The outcome of antiviral therapy is associated with viral and host factors. In the present study, the association between MHC class I-related chain B () genotypes and therapeutic response to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) therapy was investigated in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. In total, 107 patients with chronic HCV infection (74 with HCV serotype 1 and 33 with serotype 2) were enrolled.

Requirement of catalytic-triad and related amino acids for the acyltransferase activity of Tanacetum cinerariifolium GDSL lipase/esterase TcGLIP for ester-bond formation in pyrethrin biosynthesis.

We have recently discovered that a GDSL lipase/esterase (TcGLIP) in Tanacetum cinerariifolium catalyzed acyltransferase activity to form an ester bond in the natural insecticide, pyrethrin. TcGLIP contained Ser40 in Block I, Gly64 in Block II, Asn168 in Block III and Asp318 and His321 in Block V, suggesting underlying hydrolase activity, although little is known about their role in acyltransferase activity. We expressed TcGLIP here in Esherichia coli as a fusion with maltose-binding protein (MBP), part of the fusion being cleaved with a protease to obtain MBP-free TcGLIP.

Polymorphisms of the Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 gene in a Japanese population.

The Niemann-Pick C1 like 1 (NPC1L1) protein is a polytopic transmembrane protein responsible for dietary cholesterol absorption. Genetic variation in the gene affects cholesterol absorption and serum cholesterol levels. However, genotypes have not previously been invesigated.

Inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma by PegIFNα-2a in patients with chronic hepatitis C: a nationwide multicenter cooperative study.

Background: We investigated whether the administration of maintenance doses of interferon prevented hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Study 1: A multicenter, retrospective, cooperative study was carried out to determine whether long-term administration of low-dose peginterferon alpha-2a (PegIFNα-2a) prevented HCC development in patients with chronic hepatitis C. In total, 594 chronic hepatitis C patients without a history of HCC were enrolled and treated with 90 μg PegIFNα-2a administered weekly or bi-weekly for at least 1 year.

Polymorphism of the inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase gene predicts ribavirin-induced anemia in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Ribavirin (RBV)-induced anemia is a serious side effect of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus RBV therapy which is the standard care most effective for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In the present study, we investigated the association of inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) genotypes with RBV-induced hemoglobin (Hb) reduction in HCV patients treated with PEG-IFN/RBV therapy. The genotypes of the ITPA rs1127354 single nucleotide polymorphism were determined in 179 patients with HCV infection.

Interleukin-28B genotypes determine response to pegylated-interferon plus ribavirin therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

We recently reported that the interleukin (IL)-28B major genotype is a predictor of early suppression of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) at 12 weeks in response to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy. The present study investigated the relationship between IL-28 genotypes and the virological response to PEG-IFN/RBV therapy at 24 and 48 weeks. Genotypes of the IL-28B rs8099917 T>G single nucleotide polymorphism were determined in 177 patients with HCV infection.

Interleukin-28B polymorphisms are associated with an early viral response in patients receiving hepatitis C therapy.

Prediction of the efficacy of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy against hepatitis C (HCV) infection is valuable for determining its applications. This study investigated the relationship between the early response of HCV to PEG-IFN/RBV therapy and the inter-leukin (IL)-28B genetic polymorphism in patients with HCV infection. The genotypes of IL-28B rs8099917 T>G single nucleotide polymorphism were determined in 144 patients with HCV infection.

Visual search strategies and decision making in baseball batting.

The goal was to examine the differences in visual search strategies between expert and nonexpert baseball batters during the preparatory phase of a pitcher's pitching and accuracy and timing of swing judgments during the ball's trajectory. 14 members of a college team (Expert group), and graduate and college students (Nonexpert group), were asked to observe 10 pitches thrown by a pitcher and respond by pushing a button attached to a bat when they thought the bat should be swung to meet the ball (swing judgment). Their eye movements, accuracy, and the timing of the swing judgment were measured.