Clinical features of and chemotherapy for cancer of the small intestine.

Background: Cancer of the small intestine is a rare disease, and its clinical features have not been clearly elucidated. Techniques such as double balloon endoscopy and capsule endoscopy allow the preoperative diagnosis of cancer of the small intestine, but this cancer is often detected at an advanced state and in many cases postoperative chemotherapy is required. This study evaluated the pre- and postoperative clinical course of cancer of the small intestine and the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Quality control and monitoring for the isolation process of mesenchymal stem cells and their differentiation into osteoblasts.

We developed a method of quality control and monitoring for the isolation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow and their differentiation into osteoblasts. After dividing the cell culture process into five groups based on cell types such as MSCs and osteoblasts, we used microarray analysis to select genes with expression profiles characteristic of each group and quantitative polymerase chain reaction for confirming the expression profiles of these genes. Comparing multiple gene expression profiles per cell from quantitative polymerase chain reaction permitted us to distinguish (1) different groups of cell culture including MSCs and osteoblasts; (2) MSCs that had differentiated cells other than osteoblasts such as chondroblasts, adipocytes, or skin-derived fibroblasts; and (3) desirable MSCs from undesirable MSCs occurring under different culture conditions.

[A case of incomplete torsion of the gallbladder due to partial torsion of the gallbladder neck].

A 57-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of low-grade fever and pain in the right hypochondrium. Abdominal ultrasonographic (US) examination revealed a hyperechoic mass in the body of the gallbladder. The wall of the gallbladder towards the fundus was markedly thickened, while the wall near the gallbladder neck showed no abnormality.

Study of colorectal cancer with Crohn's disease.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) cases have been increasing and prolonged cases are now frequent. In addition, in Japan, more cases with concomitant malignant disease have also recently been reported. There is a particularly high risk of cancer occurring simultaneously in the lower rectum and the anal area.