[A Case of Fatal Interstitial Pneumonia during FOLFIRI plus Cetuximab Therapy for Liver Metastasis of Colon Cancer].

The patient was a 76-year-old woman who underwent sigmoidectomy in April 2011 for sigmoid colon cancer with multiple concurrent liver metastases. She was treated postoperatively with mFOLFOX6 plus cetuximab but was diagnosed with the progressive disease at the end of course 14. The patient started receiving FOLFIRI plus cetuximab therapy in May 2012.

Association of BAP with urinary albumin excretion in postmenopausal, but not premenopausal, non-CKD Japanese women.

We investigated whether the phosphate (Pi) load in the circulation causes renal damage in non-CKD women. This cross-sectional study included 1,094 non-CKD Japanese women. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 as a parameter for the Pi load, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) as a bone metabolic marker, and the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) as an early marker for renal damage were measured.

Alginate Microcapsules as Nutrient Suppliers: An In Vitro Study.

Objectives: Alginate, known as a group of anionic polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds, has attracted the attention of researchers because of its biocompatibility and degradability properties. Alginate has shown beneficial effects on wound healing as it has similar function as extracellular matrix. Alginate microcapsules (AM) that are used in tissue engineering as well as Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) contain nutrients required for cell viability.

Clinical implications of serum adiponectin on progression of atrial fibrillation.

Background: The association between circulating adiponectin levels and atrial fibrillation (AF) is uncertain. We, therefore, investigated whether an increased serum adiponectin level is implicated in the long-term recurrence of AF after ablation therapy.

Methods: Our study included 100 consecutive patients (88 men; median age, 57.

Mechanistic Insights Into Durable Pulmonary Vein Isolation Achieved by Second-Generation Cryoballoon Ablation.

Background: The mechanism explaining the efficacy of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for atrial fibrillation has not been clarified.

Methods And Results: We compared lesion characteristics between patients in whom pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was performed by CBA (n=56) and those by contact force (CF)-based RF ablation (n=56). We evaluated the 3-dimensional PV morphology before and after cryoballoon inflation.

Gene-Based Risk Stratification for Cardiac Disorders in Mutation Carriers.

Background: Mutations in (), which encodes lamin A and C, typically cause age-dependent cardiac phenotypes, including dilated cardiomyopathy, cardiac conduction disturbance, atrial fibrillation, and malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Although the type of mutations have been reported to be associated with susceptibility to malignant ventricular arrhythmias, the gene-based risk stratification for cardiac complications remains unexplored.

Methods And Results: The multicenter cohort included 77 mutation carriers from 45 families; cardiac disorders were retrospectively analyzed.

Enrichment and Bioavailability of Trace Elements in Soil in Vicinity of Railways in Japan.

This study focuses on the concentrations, distribution, pollution levels, and bioavailability of 12 trace elements in soils along 6 different railways in Japan. Three diesel powered railways and three electricity powered railways were chosen as target. Surface soils (< 3 cm) were collected in vicinity of railways for analysis.

Age at first birth and long-term mortality for mothers: the Ohsaki cohort study.

Background: Although maternal age at first birth has been rising in many developed countries, its long-term effects on the health of the mothers themselves are unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between maternal age at first birth and long-term mortality.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study of 20,624 parous Japanese women aged between 40 and 79 years in 1994 and followed up their survival for 14 years.

Association between α-Klotho and Deep White Matter Lesions in the Brain: A Pilot Case Control Study Using Brain MRI.

Background: The anti-aging protein, α-Klotho, may be involved in cognitive decline and has potential as a surrogate marker that reflects dementia. However, the role of α-Klotho in the brain has not been sufficiently investigated.

Objective: Here, we investigated the association between α-Klotho and cognitive decline that is associated with cerebral deep white matter lesions (DWMLs).

Combined assessment of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and ejection fraction by left ventriculography predicts long-term outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), it is unclear if combined assessment of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improves prediction of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). We analyzed data from 266 STEMI patients who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention and subsequent left ventriculography (LVG). Patients were divided into 4 groups, as follows: Group 1, LVEDP < 21 mmHg and LVEF ≥ 55%; Group 2, LVEDP < 21 mmHg and LVEF < 55%; Group 3, LVEDP ≥ 21 mmHg and LVEF ≥ 55%; and Group 4, LVEDP ≥ 21 mmHg and LVEF < 55%.

Morphological Characterization of the Myenteric Plexus of the Ileum and Distal colon of Dogs Affected by Muscular Dystrophy.

Duchenne-like muscular dystrophy (canine dystrophinopathy) is a hereditary degenerative disease characterized by muscle changes similar to those described for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and by alterations in the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. Some authors have suggested that these abnormalities may be associated with intestinal motility. This study analyzed the nitrergic and cholinergic neurons and P2X7 receptor expression in the myenteric plexus of the ileum and distal colon of dogs with muscular dystrophy.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging examination in a patient with non-magnetic resonance conditional pacemaker.

Clinical dilemmas arise when patients with a non-magnetic resonance (MR) conditional pacemaker are required to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We encountered a pacemaker patient with debilitating non-motor symptoms of Parkinson׳s disease, who required an MRI prior to deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. MRI was performed safely without adverse events despite the presence of a conventional pacemaker.

Left atrial remodeling: Regional differences between paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: The mechanisms underlying self-perpetuation of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) are not well understood. To gain insight into these mechanisms, we conducted a study comparing left atrial (LA) electroanatomic maps obtained during sinus rhythm between patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) and patients with persistent AF (PerAF).

Methods: The study included 23 men with PAF (age, 56.

Scar characteristics derived from two- and three-dimensional reconstructions of cardiac contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images: Relationship to ventricular tachycardia inducibility and ablation success.

Background: The relationship between cardiac contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI)-derived scar characteristics and substrate for ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) has not been fully investigated.

Methods: This study included 51 patients (mean age, 63.3±15.

Smoking and risk of atrial fibrillation.

Ahmed et al. showed that atrial fibrillation (AF) was identified in 9.5% in smokers vs 7.

Genetic Variants of RAMP2 and CLR are Associated with Stroke.

Aim: Stroke is associated closely with vascular homeostasis, and several complex processes and interacting pathways, which involve various genetic and environmental factors, contribute to the risk of stroke. Although adrenomedullin (ADM) has a number of physiological and vasoprotective functions, there are few studies of the ADM receptor system in humans. The ADM receptor comprises a calcitonin-receptor-like receptor (CLR) and receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs).

[Successful Treatment of Acute Empyema Due to Rupture of Pyogenic Liver Abscess].

Unlabelled: Cases of rescue after rupture of pyogenic liver abscess into the thorax are rare. Here, we report 2 cases of rescue in patients with acute empyema due to rupture of a suppurative abscess into the thorax. Case 1:A 61-year-old male had high fever of 39 °C and right abdominal pain.

Preoperative evaluation of renal cell carcinoma patients with bone metastases on risks for blood loss, performance status and lethal event.

Background: Surgical treatment for renal cell carcinoma metastases can be an effective modality for improving survival and patients' quality of life. However, it is often difficult to decide on the optimal surgical approach due to the lesion's high vascularity and uncertainty regarding postoperative performance status and survival.

Patients And Methods: Blood loss, postoperative performance status, overall survival, postoperative complication and related risk factors for surgical treatment were analysed in 61 renal cell carcinoma patients with bone metastases.

Determination of the Extent of Trace Metals Pollution in Soils, Sediments and Human Hair at e-Waste Recycling Site in Ghana.

The concentrations of trace elements (Mg, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Mo, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, Tl, Pb, and Bi) in soils, sediment, human hair, and foodstuff collected around the electronic waste (e-waste) recycling sites in Accra, Ghana were detected using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). High levels of Cu, Zn, Mo, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, and Pb were observed in soils collected from the e-waste recycling sites. Four sequential extraction procedures were used to evaluate the mobility and bioavailability of metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Sb, and Pb).

Wavefront direction and cycle length affect left atrial electrogram amplitude.

Background: The relationship between atrial electrogram (EGM) characteristics in atrial fibrillation (AF) and those in sinus rhythm (SR) are generally unknown. The activation rate and direction may affect EGM characteristics. We examined characteristics of left atrial (LA) EGMs obtained during pacing from different sites.

Complex fractionated atrial electrograms, high dominant frequency regions, and left atrial voltages during sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation.

Background: Ablation targeting complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) or high dominant frequency (DF) sites is generally effective for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). CFAEs and/or high DF sites may exist in low-voltage regions, which theoretically represent abnormal substrates. However, whether CFAEs or high DF sites reflect low voltage substrates during sinus rhythm (SR) is unknown.

A link between thrifty phenotype and maternal care across two generations of intercrossed mice.

Maternal effects are causal influences from mother to offspring beyond genetic information, and have lifelong consequences for multiple traits. Previously, we reported that mice whose mothers did not nurse properly had low birth weight followed by rapid fat accumulation and disturbed development of some organs. That pattern resembles metabolic syndromes known collectively as the thrifty phenotype, which is believed to be an adaptation to a stressful environment which prepares offspring for reduced nutrient supply.

Effect of sintering temperature rise from 870 to 920°C on physicomechanical and biological quality of nano-hydroxyapatite: An explorative multi-phase experimental in vitro/vivo study.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a proper scaffold for bone repair, however, it is not of excellent mechanical properties. Most previous studies on the effect of temperature increases were in vitro and had assessed merely improvements of HA's physicomechanical quality. This in vitro/vivo study investigated the effect of temperature increases from 870 to 920°C on physicomechanical and biological quality of Nano-HA.

Metastasis of Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Trapezium.

Solitary metastasis of a carcinoma to carpal bone is extremely rare. Metastases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) usually occur in a multiple fashion and there has been no report to date of a solitary metastasis to trapezium from RCC. The tumor was excised and reconstructed with iliac bone transplantation.