Novel use of a Weerda laryngoscope for transoral excision of a cervical ganglioneuroma: a case report.

Introduction: A ganglioneuroma is a benign neoplasm arising from neural crest cells of the sympathetic nerve fibers and is most commonly seen in the posterior mediastinum or retroperitoneum. Although very uncommon, ganglioneuromas must be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses. In young adult women, neck incisions made for excision of these benign tumors should be avoided whenever possible.

Low dose of hydrochlorothiazide, in combination with angiotensin receptor blocker, reduces blood pressure effectively without adverse effect on glucose and lipid profiles.

Previous studies have shown highly effective lowering of blood pressure with thiazide diuretics in combination with angiotensin receptor blockers. However, thiazide diuretics may cause the development of diabetes and abnormal lipid metabolism. Little is known as to whether dysmetabolic potential of thiazide diuretics could be neutralized when adding angiotensin receptor blockers.

Continuous illumination through larval development suppresses dopamine synthesis in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, causing activation of α-MSH synthesis in the pituitary and abnormal metamorphic skin pigmentation in flounder.

In order to better understand the endocrine aberrations related to abnormal metamorphic pigmentation that appear in flounder larvae reared in tanks, this study examined the effects of continuous 24-h illumination (LL) through larval development on the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase-1 (th1), proopiomelanocortin (pomc), α-melanophore-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and melanin concentrating hormone (MCH), which are known to participate in the control of background adaptation of body color. We observed two conspicuous deviations in the endocrine system under LL when compared with natural light conditions (LD). First, LL severely suppressed th1 expression in the dopaminergic neurons in the anterior diencephalon, including the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).

Bare metal stent thrombosis and in-stent neoatherosclerosis.

Background: Very late stent thrombosis (VLST) was reported to occur even in patients with bare metal stent (BMS) implantation, although the annual incidence of VLST after BMS was much lower than that after drug-eluting stent implantation. Pathophysiologic mechanisms of VLST after BMS implantation remain largely unknown.

Methods And Results: From September 2002 to February 2010, we identified 102 patients with definite stent thrombosis (ST) of BMS and 42 control patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) unrelated to ST who underwent thrombus aspiration with histopathologic evaluation.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention and intravascular ultrasound imaging for coronary thrombosis after cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Although cisplatin is indispensable for the chemotherapy treatment of many malignancies, cisplatin-associated thrombosis is attracting increasing attention. However, experience of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS) for coronary thrombosis, possibly due to cisplatin-based chemotherapy, has been limited. Case 1 with postoperative gastric cancer developed acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on the sixth day of the second chemotherapy course with conventional doses of cisplatin and tegafur gimeracil oteracil potassium.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction in the elderly aged ≥75 years.

Objectives: We aimed to see whether primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) benefits for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the aged could be validated.

Background: Primary PCI benefits in elderly patients with STEMI remain uncertain.

Methods: We reviewed 947 consecutive patients treated with primary PCI for STEMI: 331 were aged ≥75 years (older) and 616 <75 years (younger).

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of ester-linked 2-phenylindole-3-carboxaldehyde-monosaccharide conjugate as potential prodrug.

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of ester-linked 2-phenylindole-3-carboxaldehyde-glucose conjugate (2-phenylindole-3-carboxyl-10″-O-β-D-glucosyl ester) was achieved by using plant cell cultures as biocatalysts. The anticancer agent, 2-phenylindole-3-carboxaldehyde, induced apoptosis in cells, whereas 2-phenylindole-3-carboxyl-10″-O-β-D-glucosyl ester showed no cytotoxicity and induced no apoptosis.

Overexpression of TEX101, a potential novel cancer marker, in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

TEX101, a member of the Ly-6/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (LU)-family we previously identified, is a germ cell-marker glycoprotein. To date, it is reported that some members of the protein-family are overexpressed in a variety of cancer tissues. We previously reported Ly6k, a member of the LU-family, as an association molecule with TEX101 in murine male germ cells.

Classification and clinical impact of restenosis after femoropopliteal stenting.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between angiographic patterns of in-stent restenosis (ISR) after femoropopliteal (FP) stenting and the frequency of refractory ISR.

Background: In-stent restenosis after FP stenting is an unsolved problem. The incidence and predictors of refractory restenosis remain unclear.

Pharmacodynamic assessment of a novel P2Y12 receptor antagonist in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Introduction: Numerous reports have shown that prasugrel shows a rapid and consistent antiplatelet effect among European and US patients. Previous studies suggest that prasugrel might be expected to achieve an adequate antiplatelet effect in healthy Asian subjects, even at lower doses than those assessed in the TRITON-TIMI 38 study. In this study, the antiplatelet effect of prasugrel was evaluated in Japanese coronary artery disease (CAD) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Ratio of serum n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the incidence of major adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: The relationship between major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and serum polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) parameters has not been well documented in patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of the present study was to investigate this relationship.

Methods And Results: A total of 284 consecutive patients who underwent elective PCI were enrolled and stratified according to median serum levels of n-6 PUFAs (arachidonic acid [AA]), n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]), and serum EPA/AA and DHA/AA ratios.

Long-term outcomes and risk stratification of patency following nitinol stenting in the femoropopliteal segment: retrospective multicenter analysis.

Purpose: To investigate the long-term outcomes of nitinol stenting in femoropopliteal lesions and to determine the factors associated with restenosis.

Methods: Between December 2003 and December 2009, 861 patients (603 men; mean age 72 years) underwent nitinol stenting of the femoropopliteal segment in 1017 limbs. A quarter (26%) of the patients had critical limb ischemia.

Effect of intensive lipid-lowering therapy with rosuvastatin on progression of carotid intima-media thickness in Japanese patients: Justification for Atherosclerosis Regression Treatment (JART) study.

Background: A recent trial in Western countries has shown that rosuvastatin slows progression of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in patients with modest carotid IMT thickening and elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). We conducted a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial to determine whether rosuvastatin is more effective than pravastatin in slowing progression of carotid IMT in Japanese patients.

Methods And Results: Adult patients with hypercholesterolemia who had a maximum IMT ≥1.

Heme oxygenase-1 expression in chronic rhinosinusitis with eosinophilic infiltration.

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with eosinophilic infiltration is a type of intractable rhinosinusitis often associated with asthma. The oxidants are well known to induce aggravate asthma. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a cytoprotective enzyme against oxidant, has been extensively studied in airway diseases.

The mechanical stimulation of cells in 3D culture within a self-assembling peptide hydrogel.

The aim of this present study was to provide a scaffold as a tool for the investigation of the effect of mechanical stimulation on three-dimensionally cultured cells. For this purpose, we developed an artificial self-assembling peptide (SPG-178) hydrogel scaffold. The structural properties of the SPG-178 peptide were confirmed by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Electrocorticographic control of a prosthetic arm in paralyzed patients.

Objective: Paralyzed patients may benefit from restoration of movement afforded by prosthetics controlled by electrocorticography (ECoG). Although ECoG shows promising results in human volunteers, it is unclear whether ECoG signals recorded from chronically paralyzed patients provide sufficient motor information, and if they do, whether they can be applied to control a prosthetic.

Methods: We recorded ECoG signals from sensorimotor cortices of 12 patients while they executed or attempted to execute 3 to 5 simple hand and elbow movements.

Calcified nodule in the buccal submucosa: a case report.

A 34-year-old man developed an ovoid swelling in the right buccal submucosa adjacent to Stensen's duct. Computed tomography revealed a 25 x 20 mm, well-demarcated calcified mass. The excised mass was encapsulated by soft tissues and contained a calcified nodule measuring 15 x 15 x 10 mm.

Impact of calcification on the long-term outcomes of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation: subanalysis of the Cypher Post-Marketing Surveillance Registry.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term outcome of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation in lesions with severe calcification that may disturb adequate stent expansion and increase the risk of restenosis and target lesion revascularization (TLR).

Methods And Results: The Cypher Post-Marketing Surveillance Registry study has been conducted since August 2004 in Japan to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SES in a real-world setting. Data on 2,458 lesions in 2,050 patients were reviewed, and the angiographical outcomes at 240 days and clinical outcomes at 1,080 days after implantation compared between calcified lesions and non-calcified lesions in dialysis patients and non-dialysis patients.

[Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) as an initial manifestation in HIV infection].

A 21-year-old man admitted for idiopathic fever and sore throat was diagnosed with virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) when bone marrow aspirate showed hemophagocytosis. ELISA for HIV antibodies was negative, although HIV RNA was positive. VAHS is extremely rare as an initial manifestation in HIV infection, being reported, to our knowledge, in only 4 subjects in Japan.

Pleiotrophin triggers inflammation and increased peritoneal permeability leading to peritoneal fibrosis.

Long-term peritoneal dialysis induces peritoneal fibrosis with submesothelial fibrotic tissue. Although angiogenesis and inflammatory mediators are involved in peritoneal fibrosis, precise molecular mechanisms are undefined. To study this, we used microarray analysis and compared gene expression profiles of the peritoneum in control and chlorhexidine gluconate (CG)-induced peritoneal fibrosis mice.

Utility of new classification based on clinical and lesional factors after self-expandable nitinol stenting in the superficial femoral artery.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of clinical classification schemes that assess primary patency after self-expandable nitinol stent in the superficial femoral artery (SFA).

Methods: This study was a multicenter retrospective study of prospective databases. From April 2004 to December 2009, 1001 limbs (807 patients) that underwent successful nitinol stent implantation for de novo SFA lesions were identified and analyzed.

Impact of sleep-disordered breathing, visceral fat accumulation and adiponectin levels in patients with night-time onset of acute coronary syndrome.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during sleep occurs at a relatively low frequency and the pathogenic background remains uncertain. The aim of the present study was to determine the significance of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and excess visceral fat with nocturnal dysregulation of adipocytokines in night-time onset of ACS. SDB, visceral fat area (VFA), and changes in circulating adipocytokine levels were assessed in 109 consecutive patients with ACS.

Development of a point-of-care assay system for measurement of presepsin (sCD14-ST).

Background: The soluble CD14 subtype (sCD14-ST: renamed as presepsin) is a novel soluble CD14 molecule that is useful for diagnosing sepsis because sCD14-ST levels increase specifically in sepsis patients.

Methods: A fully automated PATHFAST® Presepsin assay system based on a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay was developed for detecting presepsin in human whole blood.

Results: The limit of blank, limit of detection, and limit of quantification were 2.

Therapeutic impact of leptin on diabetes, diabetic complications, and longevity in insulin-deficient diabetic mice.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the long-term effects of leptin on glucose metabolism, diabetes complications, and life span in an insulin-dependent diabetes model, the Akita mouse.

Research Design And Methods: We cross-mated Akita mice with leptin-expressing transgenic (LepTg) mice to produce Akita mice with physiological hyperleptinemia (LepTg:Akita). Metabolic parameters were monitored for 10 months.

Restenosis after stent implantation for superficial femoral artery disease in patients treated with cilostazol.

Background: Restenosis after endovascular treatment for superficial femoral artery (SFA) disease remains a significant clinical issue. We assessed whether cilostazol reduce restenosis after SFA stenting with self-expandable nitinol stent.

Methods: The study was a multicenter, prospective maintained database, retrospective analysis.