Hierarchical Elemental Odor Coding for Fine Discrimination Between Enantiomer Odors or Cancer-Characteristic Odors.

Odors trigger various emotional responses such as fear of predator odors, aversion to disease or cancer odors, attraction to male/female odors, and appetitive behavior to delicious food odors. Odor information processing for fine odor discrimination, however, has remained difficult to address. The olfaction and color vision share common features that G protein-coupled receptors are the remote sensors.

Impact of appendicular and trunk skeletal muscle mass and back extensor strength on sagittal spinal alignment in Japanese women without vertebral fracture.

Objectives: Progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and strength are characteristics of sarcopenia. However, the impact of appendicular and trunk SMM and back extensor strength (BES) on spinal sagittal alignment remains unclear. Herein, we investigate the relationship between these factors and spinal sagittal alignment.

Validation set analysis to predict postoperative outcomes by technetium-99m galactosyl serum albumin scintigraphy for hepatectomy.

Background: The indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICGR15) is a gold standard parameter of liver function when deciding on the extent of hepatectomy. However, ICGR15 is influenced by several hepatic conditions. To evaluate auxiliary preoperative liver functional reserve, we examined the clinical significance of modified parameters by blood tests and technetium-99m galactosyl human serum albumin (Tc-GSA) scintigraphy.

Significance of the preoperative regional maximal removal rate of technetium-99m-galactosyl human serum albumin in the future remnant liver: a sequential study of regional maximal removal rate of technetium-99m-galactosyl human serum albumin in the whole liver.

Background: The relationship between posthepatectomy complications and liver functional parameters was preliminary reported in a pilot study. The present study sequentially evaluated the clinical significance of maximal removal rate of technetium-99m-galactosyl human serum albumin (GSARmax) in the future remnant liver (rGSARmax) in patients to predict posthepatectomy complications.

Methods: Between 2010 and August 2017, GSARmax, rGSARmax, their difference (Dif), and the rGSARmax to GSARmax ratio were examined in 247 additional patients who underwent hepatectomy for liver and biliary diseases.

Prediction of Posthepatectomy Liver Failure Proposed by the International Study Group of Liver Surgery: Residual Liver Function Estimation With 99mTc-Galactosyl Human Serum Albumin Scintigraphy.

Purpose: The International Study Group of Liver Surgery (ISGLS) proposed a definition and grading system for posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF). We evaluated the usefulness of residual liver function estimation using Tc-galactosyl human serum albumin (Tc-GSA) for the prediction of PHLF.

Methods: Patients with liver tumors (n = 136) and scheduled for hepatectomy underwent Tc-GSA scintigraphy.

Sniffer mice discriminate urine odours of patients with bladder cancer: A proof-of-principle study for non-invasive diagnosis of cancer-induced odours.

Similar to fingerprints, humans have unique, genetically determined body odours. In case of urine, the odour can change due to variations in diet as well as upon infection or tumour formation. We investigated the use of mice in a manner similar to "sniffer dogs" to detect changes in urine odour in patients with bladder cancer.

Preoperative maximal removal rate of technetium-99m-galactosyl-human serum albumin of the remnant liver is associated with postoperative tumor relapse in hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not only influenced by tumor-related factors but also by the background liver functions. The maximal removal rate of technetium-99m-galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA-Rmax) of the remnant liver (rGSA-Rmax) is a useful candidate for predicting the liver function and clarifying the relationship between the remnant liver functional reserve and tumor-free survival in patients who have undergone hepatectomy.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and sixty-five patients with HCC who underwent curative hepatectomy were divided into three groups of hepatitis B virus (B-HCC; n=42), hepatitis C virus (C-HCC, n=58), and non-B, non-C (NBNC-HCC, n=65).

Preoperative regional maximal removal rate of technetium-99m-galactosyl human serum albumin is correlated with liver functional parameters, but did not predict postoperative morbidity.

Background: Recently, posthepatectomy complications have been predicted by advances of new liver functional parameters, and the technetium-99m-galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA) liver scintigraphy has been applied widely for this purpose. We evaluated the clinical significance of the regional maximal removal rate (GSA-Rmax) in patients with various liver diseases as predictors of posthepatectomy complications.

Patients And Methods: Between 2012 and March 2016, we examined 200 patients who underwent hepatectomy for liver and biliary diseases.

Successful transarterial embolization with cellulose porous beads for occipital haemangioma in an infant with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.

We report a 3-month-old boy with Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome (KMS) with an occipital haemangioma who underwent successful transarterial embolization (TAE) with cellulose porous beads (CPBs). As his response to steroids and coil embolization was inadequate, we performed TAE with CPBs, carefully preventing their migration via dangerous anastomoses. The tumour blush decreased, there were no complications, all coagulation tests were immediately normalized and the tumor size decreased gradually.

Prevalence of sarcopenia in Japanese women with osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Sarcopenia and osteoporosis are both significant health burdens among postmenopausal women. This study examined associations between sarcopenia and osteopenia/osteoporosis in Japanese women and evaluated the prevalence of sarcopenia in women with osteopenia and osteoporosis. A total of 2400 Japanese women aged 40-88 years underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans of the whole body, lumbar spine, and total hip.

An ultra-high speed Whole Slide Image viewing system.

Background: One of the goals for a Whole Slide Imaging (WSI) system is implementation in the clinical practice of pathology. One of the unresolved problems in accomplishing this goal is the speed of the entire process, i.e.

Urinary continence following laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: Association with postoperative membranous urethral length measured using real-time intraoperative transrectal ultrasonography.

Urinary incontinence is a major complication following radical prostatectomy. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between urinary continence following laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and various factors measured using real-time intraoperative transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). Patients (n=53) with localized prostate cancer underwent LRP in combination with real-time intraoperative TRUS navigation and were evaluated for urinary continence for more than 6 months following LRP.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the scrotum].

A 31-year-old man visited another hospital with a chief complaint of a solid mass in the left scrotum. The diagnosis was a skin cancer of the scrotum, and he was referred to our hospital. We performed surgical resection of the mass, left testis, and bilateral superfical inguinal nodes.

Low circulating serum levels of second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac/DIABLO) in patients with bladder cancer.

Smac/DIABLO promotes apoptosis by antagonizing inhibitor of apoptosis proteins. The expression of Smac/DIABLO in tissues has been reported in various cancers; however, little is known about circulating levels of Smac/DIABLO. The present study was designed to first determine if Smac/DIABLO can be detected in the serum and then assess whether the circulating levels of Smac/DIABLO are of prognostic significance in patients with bladder cancer.

An ultra-high speed whole slide image viewing system.

Background: One of the goals for a Whole Slide Imaging (WSI) system is implementation in the clinical practice of pathology. One of the unresolved problems in accomplishing this goal is the speed of the entire process, i.e.

Utility of transrectal ultrasonography guidance and seven key elements of operative skill for early recovery of urinary continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

In the present study, we report the utility of transrectal ultrasonography guidance for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), and the effect of a novel surgical approach of 'seven key elements of operative skill for the early recovery of urinary continence' ('7 key elements'). Among 170 patients who underwent laparoscopic prostatectomy between July 2007 and June 2010, 72 were treated on the basis of these 7 key elements (group 1), which included the preservation of 1) endopelvic fascia, 2) bladder neck, 3) pelvic nerve, 4) membranous urethra, 5) urethral sphincter and fixation of the organ positioning with 6) bladder neck sling suspension, and 7) restoration of the Denonvilliers' fascia, while the remaining 98 were not (group 2). We compared the data for the two groups with regards to the time taken for recovery of continence, and post-operative course.

Cancer death from non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: report of the Japanese Urological Association of data from the 1999-2001 registry in Japan.

Objectives: Our aim was to clarify the risk factors of cancer death in order to reduce mortality from T1 bladder cancer.

Methods: The Japan registration database (1999-2001) was used for the analysis. Data were collected at least 3years after the initial diagnosis.

Prognostic significance of second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac/DIABLO) expression in bladder cancer and target for therapy.

Although the expression of Smac/DIABLO has been reported in various cancers, little is known about its clinical significance in bladder cancer. The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between progression of disease and Smac/DIABLO expression by clinical pathological analysis of patients with bladder cancer. The level of Smac/DIABLO expression was quantified by Western blot analysis using non-fixed fresh frozen tissues derived from patients with bladder cancer.

Enhancement of the sensitivity of renal cell carcinoma cells to fas-mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis by the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor JTE-522.

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a key enzyme involved in the production of prostaglandins and its inhibitors have been shown to induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. We reasoned that combination treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells with COX-2 inhibitors and anticancer agents may result in synergistic apoptosis. We examined whether the selective COX-2 inhibitor JTE-522 synergizes with anticancer agents in cytotoxicity and apoptosis against RCC cells.

[Neuroendocrine differentiation in adenocarcinoma of the prostate during hormonal treatment : a case report].

A case of neuroendocrine (NE) differentiated prostate cancer is reported herein, which was progressed with NE differentiation during hormonal treatment in adenocarcinoma of the prostate. A 65-year-old man was admitted to our department with increased serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) (150 ng/ml). A prostate biopsy was performed and histological examinations indicated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with a Gleason score of 5 + 4 = 9.

Recent advances in molecular targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Immunotherapy is relatively effective against RCC. However, the response rate is approximately 15-20%.

Clinical outcome of tumor recurrence for Ta, T1 non-muscle invasive bladder cancer from the data on registered bladder cancer patients in Japan: 1999-2001 report from the Japanese Urological Association.

Objective: To characterize the clinical outcome in a large contemporary series of Japanese patients with newly diagnosed Ta, T1 non-muscle invasive bladder cancer who underwent transurethral bladder tumor resection with or without intravesical chemotherapy or Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy.

Methods: We developed a database incorporating newly diagnosed non-muscle invasive bladder cancer data and outcomes from a Japanese bladder cancer registry between 1999 and 2001 and identified a study population of 3237 consecutive patients who had complete data based on pathological features. Median patient age was 69.

Post-chemotherapy nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for advanced germ cell tumor.

Objective: To report our experience with post-chemotherapy nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for advanced germ cell tumor (GCT).

Methods: Between 1994 and 2008, 92 patients with advanced GCT underwent RPLND after multiple treatments with systemic chemotherapy at our institution. A nerve-sparing RPLND was carried out in 78 patients (84.

Anti-gout agent allopurinol exerts cytotoxicity to human hormone-refractory prostate cancer cells in combination with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand.

Allopurinol has been used for the treatment of gout and conditions associated with hyperuricemia for several decades. We explored the potential of allopurinol on cancer treatment. Allopurinol did not expose cytotoxicity as a single treatment in human hormone refractory prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3 and DU145.