Incidence and Risk Factors of Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions and Immunization Stress-Related Responses With COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine.

Background: With the implementation of mass vaccination campaigns against COVID-19, the safety of vaccine needs to be evaluated.

Objective: We aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors for immediate hypersensitivity reactions (IHSR) and immunization stress-related responses (ISRR) with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Methods: This nested case-control study included recipients who received the Moderna vaccine at a mass vaccination center, Japan.

Early venous return in hepatic angiomyolipoma due to an intratumoral structure resembling an arteriovenous fistula.

Early venous return (EVR) is an important radiological feature of hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML) that can aid in differential diagnosis, but the pathogenic mechanisms of EVR have yet to be elucidated. We present the first HAML case for which a probable mechanism for EVR is described. The patient was a 46-year-old woman, who had a growing 6-cm tumor with EVR in segment 3 of the liver as revealed by dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Mucin-producing carcinoma of the gallbladder: evaluation by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in three cases.

We report three cases of mucin-producing carcinoma of the gallbladder, along with the magnetic resonance (MR) findings, especially the findings on a MR cholangiopancreatography. In our cases, linear or curvilinear streaks were detected running along the long axis of an enlarged gallbladder (mucus thread sign). When such findings were seen, a mucin-producing carcinoma of the gallbladder should be included as a differential diagnosis.

CXCL17 and ICAM2 are associated with a potential anti-tumor immune response in early intraepithelial stages of human pancreatic carcinogenesis.

Background & Aims: Anti-tumor immunity changes over the course of tumor progression; it is not clear how or when the developing tumor overcomes immune surveillance. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is an intraepithelial precursor lesion of pancreatic cancer that progresses from adenoma to carcinoma. We investigated when and how the human anti-tumor immune reaction changes during pancreatic tumor development.

Solitary hepatic lymphangioma: report of a case.

A 52-year-old woman presented with upper abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a 4-cm well-defined mass containing solid and cystic components in segment IV of the liver, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed heterogeneous enhancement within the tumor, indicating a solid or fibrous component. There were no cystic lesions in any other organs.

Adrenomedullin increases renal nitric oxide production and ameliorates renal injury in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Purpose: We evaluated the effects of adrenomedullin (Peptide Institute, Minoh-shi, Osaka, Japan) on mediators, including nitric oxide and transforming growth factor-beta, and parameters of renal injury in a murine unilateral ureteral obstruction model.

Materials And Methods: Three study groups of control, adrenomedullin treated and adrenomedullin plus L-NAME treated BALB/C mice, respectively, underwent left unilateral ureteral obstruction. A 24-hour urine sample was collected to measure urinary NO(2)/NO(3) 1 day before unilateral ureteral obstruction and kidneys were harvested on postoperative day 14.

Long-term recurrence-free survival in a patient with primary hepatic carcinosarcoma: case report with a literature review.

A 72-year-old man was found to have a 40 mm mass in liver segment VIII during follow-up abdominal ultrasonography for type C viral hepatitis. Abdominal ultrasound showed a well-defined mass containing a cystic component, and computed tomographic hepatic arteriography showed heterogeneous enhancement except for cystic necrosis. Under a pre-operative diagnosis of atypical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), partial resection of liver segment VIII was performed.

A novel cell-permeable antioxidant peptide decreases renal tubular apoptosis and damage in unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is characterized by decreases in renal function, increased interstitial fibrosis, tubular apoptosis, and cellular infiltration. It has been suggested that inhibition of tubular apoptosis may protect against renal damage in obstruction. We have recently developed a series of peptides which are concentrated in the inner mitochondrial membrane and prevent cell death.

[Clinical evaluation for adrenal metastasis of renal cell carcinoma in a single institute].

Objective: Clinicopathogical features and prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) concomitant with adrenal involvement (metastasis or invasion) were evaluated in a single institute.

Methods: In 380 patients with RCC who underwent radical nephrectomy 18 patients had adrenal involvement (13 ipsilateral adrenal involvement). Clinicopathological factors were compared between patients with ipsilateral adrnal involvement and control patients.

CT Imaging of early hepatocellular carcinoma and the natural outcome of hypoattenuating nodular lesions in chronic liver disease.

Background: The Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan has designated early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) a clinically early-stage HCC corresponding to a high-grade dysplastic nodule as proposed by the International Working Party.

Methods: The majority of resected early HCCs were demonstrated as having hypo- or isoattenuation in the arterial and delayed phases of dynamic CT.

Results: Only 5% of early HCCs were hyperattenuated on dynamic CT, whereas 94% of advanced small HCC were hyperattenuated.

Retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy using radiofrequency coagulation for small renal tumors.

Objectives: Adoption of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) has been limited by lack of reliable hemostatic techniques. We evaluated radiofrequency coagulation (RFC) in obtaining hemostasis during LPN for small renal masses.

Methods: Over 4 years LPN was performed by a retroperitoneal approach in 11 patients with solitary, predominantly exophytic renal tumors.

CT Evaluation of the progression of hypoattenuating nodular lesions in virus-related chronic liver disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the natural outcomes of hypoattenuating nodular lesions in patients with virus-related chronic liver disease depicted on dynamic CT.

Materials And Methods: Sixty lesions (mean size, 1.3 cm) exhibiting hypoattenuation or isoattenuation in the arterial and delayed phases of dynamic CT were retrospectively evaluated with additional CT (mean, six examinations) for a mean period of 838 days.

Multiple non-tumorous arterioportal shunts due to chronic liver disease mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma: outcomes and the associated elevation of alpha-fetoprotein.

Purpose: To elucidate the morphologic appearance of small non-tumorous arterioportal (AP) shunts mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma on helical computed tomography (CT), their associated outcomes, and their relationship with alpha-fetoprotein levels in patients with chronic liver disease.

Materials And Methods: Ten patients with multiple AP shunts on dynamic helical CT were evaluated. A non-tumorous AP shunt was defined as no increase or spontaneous regression in size on follow-up CT scans.

[Clinical experience of laparoscopic adrenalectomy: the National Defense Medical College experience].

Twenty-seven laparoscopic adrenalectomies (LapAdx) were performed at the National Defense Medical College between 1999 and 2004. We evaluated the results of LapAdx (group L) compared to the results of open adrenalectomy (group O). Twenty-six of the 27 LapAdx were successfully performed, but one patient with a large pheochromocytoma required open surgey because of arterial bleeding in the renal hilus.

Atorvastatin ameliorates renal tissue damage in unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Purpose: The current study was done to determine whether atorvastatin, the HMGCoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA) reductase inhibitor, could decrease renal transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) levels in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and concomitantly affect renal tissue damage in UUO.

Materials And Methods: Atorvastatin (20 mg/kg) was administered to rats 1 day prior to UUO and every day thereafter. Kidneys were harvested at day 14 after UUO.

Imaging of early hepatocellular carcinoma and adenomatous hyperplasia (dysplastic nodules) with dynamic ct and a combination of CT and angiography: experience with resected liver specimens.

Early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as defined by the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan would correspond to high-grade dysplastic nodules with small foci of HCC in the majority of cases, using the classification system proposed by the International Working Party. A large number of early HCCs were revealed to be hypo- or isovascular in the arterial phase of dynamic CT. Only 5% of the lesions evaluated were hypervascular, which contrasted with advanced small HCCs, of which 94% were hypervascular.

Suppression of lung metastasis of renal cell carcinoma by the intramuscular gene transfer of a soluble form of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor I.

Purpose: We clarified whether adenovirus mediated intramuscular gene transfer of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (sFlt-1) can inhibit lung metastasis of renal cell carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: We constructed the adenovirus vector AdsFlt-1, which expresses soluble Flt-1 protein. Functional validation of the vector was determined by HUVEC (in vitro human umbilical vein endothelial cell) proliferation inhibition assay.

Dynamic computed tomography and color Doppler ultrasound of renal parenchymal neoplasms: correlations with histopathological findings.

Background: We evaluated whether color Doppler ultrasound (US) had diagnostic accuracy equal to dynamic computed tomography (CT) and whether performing dynamic CT and Doppler US together would be more informative in preoperative diagnosis of renal solid tumors.

Methods: A total of 110 renal solid tumors smaller than 7 cm were evaluated with dynamic CT and Doppler US. We compared the enhancement and the color flow patterns with the histopathological subtypes.

Prediction of invasive activities in hepatocellular carcinomas with special reference to alpha-fetoprotein and des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the world's major malignancies, especially in Asian countries. To improve the prognosis of HCC, it is essential to predict its invasive behavior in both intra- and extra-hepatic modalities. For this purpose, we examined the predictive values of two tumor markers, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP).

Neovasculature of benign thrombus of the inferior vena cava demonstrated by computed tomography during hepatic arteriography, mimicking a small hepatocellular carcinoma.

A 64-year-old man who underwent hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 4 years ago followed by transarterial chemoembolization for recurrent foci 1 year later had a thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC). Tumor thrombus derived from HCC was suspected owing to the increase in size and hepatic arteriography was performed. Common hepatic arteriography demonstrated a small stain suggesting a recurrent HCC in the remnant liver.

Hepatic nodules with early enhancement during computed tomography portography: report of six cases.

Aim: To study the clinicopathologic characteristics of hepatic nodular lesions with high attenuation (increased portal blood flow) compared with surrounding hepatic parenchyma on computed tomography (CT) during arterial portography (CTAP).

Methods: For six lesions found in six patients demonstrated as a high-attenuated mass by CTAP, CT during hepatic arteriography (CTHA; n = 3 patients), digital subtraction hepatic arteriography (n = 6) and conventional helical CT (n = 6) were evaluated retrospectively and compared with histopathologic findings (n = 4). Pathologic diagnosis was atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, nodule-in-nodule hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in one resected lesion each and overt HCC in two biopsied lesions.

[Carcinosarcoma of the renal pelvis and ureter: a case report].

We report a case of carcinosarcoma of the renal pelvis and ureter arising in an 89-year-old man who presented at our hospital with gross hematuria. Abdominal computed tomography, excretory pyelography, and retrograde pyelography demonstrated that left hydronephrosis was caused by an ureteral tumor. Left urine cytology indicated transitional cell carcinoma.