Prognostic significance of preoperative to postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen ratio after lobectomy for lung adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Lung adenocarcinoma with a preoperatively elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) value has a relatively poor postoperative prognosis. Although surgical resection generally results in a reduction in the CEA value, the significance of the change in the CEA value on the prognostic outcome remains unclear.

Methods: Our study included 133 patients who underwent lobectomy with curative intent for lung adenocarcinoma representing a preoperative CEA value > 5.

Meningeal Carcinomatosis Presenting with Bilateral Loss of Vision.

Meningeal carcinomatosis (MC) has an extremely poor prognosis and can present with various neurological symptoms. A 68-year-old man presented to our hospital with a 1 month history of headache and nausea followed by sudden decrease in vision in both eyes. Whilst being examined in the ophthalmology department he lost consciousness and had a generalised tonic clonic seizure.

Multifaceted Assessment of the Effects of an Eye Exercise for Presbyopia.

Exercise for presbyopia is theoretically ineffective. However, some studies have reported favorable subject responses, although the reasons were not detected. We investigated one such presbyopic exercise.

Determination of the Standard Visual Criterion for Diagnosing and Treating Presbyopia According to Subjective Patient Symptoms.

Presbyopia treatments using various modalities have been developed recently; however, no standard criteria exist for the diagnosis and treatment endpoint. This study assessed the relationship between the near visual acuity (NVA) and the subjective symptoms of phakic presbyopia and determined the numerical NVA threshold to diagnose phakic presbyopia and evaluate the effectiveness of presbyopia treatment. The binocular distance, NVA with habitual correction, and monocular conventional VA were measured.

Glucose levels between the anterior chamber of the eye and blood are correlated based on blood glucose dynamics.

Glycemic control is essential to manage metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Frequent measurements of systemic glucose levels with prompt managements can prevent organ damages. The eye is a glucose highly demanding organ in our body, and the anterior chamber (AC) in the eye has been suggested for a noninvasive blood glucose monitoring site.

Author Correction: Suppression of presbyopia progression with pirenoxine eye drops: experiments on rats and non-blinded, randomized clinical trial of efficacy.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Accelerometer Measurement of Trunk Lateral Fluctuation During Walking Following Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Osteoarthritis.

This study aimed to clarify the effect of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on trunk fluctuation and regularity of gait in patients with knee osteoarthritis by an accelerometer. The participants included 18 patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKA. The gait at a comfortable velocity was assessed pre- and post-TKA by a triaxial accelerometer attached to the neck and lumbar regions.

Latanoprost could exacerbate the progression of presbyopia.

Purpose: Prostaglandin analogues (PG) reduce intra-ocular pressure by enhancing uveoscleral flow at the ciliary body, which controls accommodation via the ciliary muscle. We investigated the effect of PG on accommodation and presbyopia progression in glaucoma patients.

Methods: We conducted a clinic-based, retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Serum-soluble folate receptor β as a biomarker for the activity of rheumatoid arthritis synovitis and the response to anti-TNF agents.

This study aims to develop a sandwich ELISA system for the measurement of soluble folate receptor β (sFRβ) and evaluate whether base line levels of serum sFRβ are a biomarker for the activity of RA synovitis and the response to anti-TNF agents. Serum sFRβ from normal controls (41 samples), patients with OA (29 samples), and patients with RA (27 samples) and synovial fluid sFRβ from patients with RA (17 samples) were measured by sandwich ELISA, using anti-FRαβ and anti-FRβ antibodies as capture and detection antibodies, respectively. Baseline levels of serum sFRβ before therapy were evaluated in relation with DAS28-CRP or CRP and response to anti-TNF agents at 3-month follow-up.

Suppression of presbyopia progression with pirenoxine eye drops: experiments on rats and non-blinded, randomized clinical trial of efficacy.

Various methods can correct presbyopia, but all require devices or surgeries. Recently, supplements or warming devices to relieve presbyopic symptoms have been developed, but no eye drops have been developed. We screened certain compounds possibly related to lens degeneration and identified pirenoxine, which has been used for cataracts, as a possible new pharmacologic treatment for presbyopia.

Importance of Accommodation and Eye Dominance for Measuring Objective Refractions.

Purpose: To explore factors affecting the difference between objective refractive data measured under monocular closed-field viewing and binocular open-field viewing.

Design: Prospective observational case series.

Methods: setting: Institutional.

Predictive factors for effectiveness and safety of enoxaparin for total knee arthroplasty in aged Japanese patients: a retrospective review.

Background: The aims of this study were to investigate predictive factors involved in effectiveness and safety of enoxaparin for prevention of postoperative venous thromboembolism in aged Japanese total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients.

Methods: Japanese patients over 65 years old who were administered enoxaparin for TKA were enrolled in this study. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed.

Risk factors for venous thromboembolism after spine surgery.

The efficacy and safety of chemical prophylaxis to prevent the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) following spine surgery are controversial because of the possibility of epidural hematoma formation. Postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) after spine surgery occurs at a frequency similar to that seen after joint operations, so it is important to identify the risk factors for VTE formation following spine surgery. We therefore retrospectively studied data from patients who had undergone spinal surgery and developed postoperative VTE to identify those risk factors.

The sleep-promoting and hypothermic effects of glycine are mediated by NMDA receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

The use of glycine as a therapeutic option for improving sleep quality is a novel and safe approach. However, despite clinical evidence of its efficacy, the details of its mechanism remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the site of action and sleep-promoting mechanisms of glycine in rats.

Apparent progression of presbyopia after laser in situ keratomileusis in patients with early presbyopia.

Purpose: To assess the effect of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on near visual function in presbyopic patients.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Fifty-three eyes of 40 patients 45 years of age and older who had undergone LASIK for high myopia (-6 diopters [D] and over) were included.

Functional folate receptor beta-expressing macrophages in osteoarthritis synovium and their M1/M2 expression profiles.

Objective: The distribution of folate receptor (FR)-β+ macrophages and their M1/M2 expression profiles were examined in osteoarthritis (OA) synovial tissues, and compared to those in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial tissues and CD163+ macrophages in both OA and RA synovial tissues.

Method: The phenotypes and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-folate uptake of FR-β+ synovial macrophages were analysed by flow cytometry. The distribution of FR-β+ macrophages in OA and RA synovial tissues was examined by immunofluorescent microscopy.

Reduced glutathione decreases energy expenditure in chicks exposed to separation stress.

Recently, we reported that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.

Intracerebroventricular injection of L-aspartic acid and L-asparagine induces sedative effects under an acute stressful condition in neonatal chicks.

The present study was conducted to clarify the central functions of L-aspartic acid (Asp) and L-asparagine (Asn) during an acute stressful condition in chicks. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Central L-cysteine induces sleep, and D-cysteine induces sleep and abnormal behavior during acute stress in neonatal chicks.

L-cysteine (L-Cys) is a non-essential and glycogenic amino acid. Previously, we reported that the intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Norepinephrine does not alter NPY and POMC mRNA expression in neonatal chicks.

Norepinephrine (NE), synthesized in both the central and peripheral nervous system, is involved in food intake regulation of both mammals and chickens. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a potent orexigenic peptide, is colocalized with NE neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system, suggesting an interaction. Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is the precursor of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, a potent anorexigenic peptide synthesized in the hypothalamus.

Oral administration of L-serine reduces the locomotor activity of socially isolated rats.

L-Serine is considered a functional amino acid in the central nervous system, since intracerebroventricular injection of L-serine induced sedative and hypnotic effects in neonatal chicks exposed to acute stressful conditions. Accordingly, L-serine is a candidate anti-stress factor, but the effect of daily intake of L-serine on behavior of animals exposed to chronic stress has not been investigated. In the present study, we exposed rats to social isolation stress for 4 weeks, and home cage test and open field test were concluded to evaluate the effect of L-serine on behavior.

Oral administration of Excitin-1 (beta-alanyl-L-leucine) alters behavior and brain monoamine and amino acid concentrations in rats.

We previously demonstrated that beta-alanyl-branched chain amino acids have excitatory effects. Therefore, we named beta-alanyl-L-leucine, beta-alanyl-L-isoleucine and beta-alanyl-L-valine as Excitin-1, -2, and -3 , respectively. Since there is little known about the effects of Excitins, we clarified whether oral administration of Excitin-1 affects behavior in rats, alters the monoamine and amino acid levels in the central nervous system, whether Excitin-1 is incorporated into the brain, and how long it remains in the blood.

Targeting tumor-associated macrophages in an experimental glioma model with a recombinant immunotoxin to folate receptor beta.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are frequently found in glioblastomas and a high degree of macrophage infiltration is associated with a poor prognosis for glioblastoma patients. However, it is unclear whether TAMs in glioblastomas promote tumor growth. In this study, we found that folate receptor beta (FR beta) was expressed on macrophages in human glioblastomas and a rat C6 glioma implanted subcutaneously in nude mice.