Reliability and validity of a reactive agility test with soccer goalkeeper-specific movements for adolescents.

Background: There is a lack of objective measures and assessments of goalkeeping proficiency and performance in the literature. Furthermore, no reports have focused on adolescent goalkeepers (under the age of 15). The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Goalkeeper Reactive Agility Test for Adolescents (GRATA).

Reliability and Validity of a Novel Reactive Agility Test with Soccer Goalkeeper-Specific Movements.

The purpose of this study was to develop a reactive agility test with soccer goalkeeper (GK)-specific movements (G-RAT) and to examine the reliability and validity of college-aged GKs. We designed a five-branch star-shaped course with diving and ball-catching movements under reactive conditions. In the setup, a start−goal line was set on the top of a branch and 3.

Effects of Intermittent and Continuous Static Stretching on Range of Motion and Musculotendinous Viscoelastic Properties Based on a Duration-Matched Protocol.

The different effects of intermittent and continuous stretching on the mechanical properties of the musculotendinous complex have been unclear. This study aimed to compare the effects of intermittent and continuous stretching for the same duration on the range of motion (ROM), passive resistive torque (PRT), and musculotendinous stiffness (MTS) of ankle plantar flexors. Eighteen healthy young men participated in the study.

Multiple Mesenteric Panniculitis as a Complication of Sjögren's Syndrome Leading to Ileus.

Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is a benign fibroinflammatory process characterized by the presence of fat necrosis, chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the mesentery. Although various causal factors, such as malignancy, chronic inflammatory conditions and autoimmune processes, have been identified, the precise etiology remains unknown. We herein report a rare case of MP accompanying Sjögren's syndrome in which a mass lesion and intestinal stenosis were observed simultaneously.

The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin suppresses mouse colon tumorigenesis in type 2 diabetic mice.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are known to have an increased risk of colorectal neoplasia. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have been used as a new therapeutic tool for type 2 diabetes. Since the substrates for DPP-4 include intestinotrophic hormones and chemokines such as GLP-2 and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), which are associated with tumor progression, DPP-4 inhibitors may increase the risk of colorectal tumors.

Effect of adalimumab on an enterocutaneous fistula in patients with Crohn's disease: a case series.

Crohn's disease (CD) is characterized by transmural inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which predisposes patients to the formation of a fistula. The efficacy of adalimumab (ADA) for an enterocutaneous fistula remains unclear. In this report, we present a case series of 3 patients with enterocutaneous fistulizing CD treated with ADA.

The effects of a TGR5 agonist and a dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.

Background And Aim: Luminal nutrients stimulate enteroendocrine L cells to release gut hormones, including intestinotrophic glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2). Because L cells express the bile acid receptor TGR5 and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPPIV) rapidly degrades GLPs, we hypothesized that luminal TGR5 activation may attenuate intestinal injury via GLP-2 release, which is enhanced by DPPIV inhibition.

Methods: Intestinal injury was induced in mice by administration of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water (free access to water containing 5% DSS for 7 days).

Combined treatment with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitor sitagliptin and elemental diets reduced indomethacin-induced intestinal injury in rats via the increase of mucosal glucagon-like peptide-2 concentration.

The gut incretin glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and the intestinotropic hormone GLP-2 are released from enteroendocrine L cells in response to ingested nutrients. Treatment with an exogenous GLP-2 analogue increases intestinal villous mass and prevents intestinal injury. Since GLP-2 is rapidly degraded by dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), DPP4 inhibition may be an effective treatment for intestinal ulcers.

Effects of oral tacrolimus as a rapid induction therapy in ulcerative colitis.

Aim: To determine the efficacy and safety of rapid induction therapy with oral tacrolimus without a meal in steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, observational study. Between May 2010 and August 2012, 49 steroid-refractory UC patients (55 flare-ups) were consecutively enrolled.

Geranylgeranylacetone suppresses colitis‑related mouse colon carcinogenesis.

Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), an isoprenoid compound, is an anti-ulcer drug developed in Japan. GGA protects a variety of cells and tissues against numerous stresses via induction of heat shock protein (HSP) 70, and it has recently been reported to protect mice from experimental ulcerative colitis (UC). However, it is unknown whether GGA exhibits a preventive effect on UC-associated neoplasia.

Oral tacrolimus for megacolon in patients with severe ulcerative colitis.

Toxic megacolon is an infrequent but life-threatening complication that occurs most commonly in patients with severe ulcerative colitis. Intravenous steroids are often recommended for patients with toxic megacolon secondary to ulcerative colitis. However, steroid dependency may mask the presence of intra-abdominal sepsis and is associated with refractoriness, during which cytomegalovirus reactivation may occur.

Clinical effects of adalimumab treatment with concomitant azathioprine in Japanese Crohn's disease patients.

Aim: To assess adalimumab's efficacy with concomitant azathioprine (AZA) for induction and maintenance of clinical remission in Japanese Crohn's disease (CD) patients.

Methods: This retrospective, observational, single-center study enrolled 28 consecutive CD patients treated with adalimumab (ADA). Mean age and mean disease duration were 38.

Preventive effect of irsogladine or omeprazole on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced esophagitis, peptic ulcers, and small intestinal lesions in humans, a prospective randomized controlled study.

Background: Proton-pump inhibitors such as omeprazole are a standard treatment to prevent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced upper gastrointestinal mucosal injuries. However, it is unclear which drugs may protect against all NSAID-induced digestive-tract injuries. Here, we compare the efficacy of the gastromucoprotective drug irsogladine with omeprazole in preventing NSAID-induced esophagitis, peptic ulcers, and small-intestinal mucosal injury in healthy subjects.

The efficacy of oral tacrolimus in patients with moderate/severe ulcerative colitis not receiving concomitant corticosteroid therapy.

Objective: The calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus has been shown to be safe and effective as salvage therapy for steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). Since differences in the onset of action between various agents are thought to influence the achievement and maintenance of disease remission, top-down or accelerated step-up therapy with tacrolimus may be useful. However, the efficacy of tacrolimus in moderate to severe UC patients not receiving concomitant steroids remains unknown.

Adult intussusception caused by Yersinia enterocolitica enterocolitis.

Yersinia enterocolitica (YE) infection is a rare cause of intestinal intussusception, especially in adults. We herein, report a case of adult intussusception due to YE enterocolitis. A 24-year-old woman was admitted because of severe abdominal pain.

Endoscopic and histopathological evaluation of collagenous colitis.

Collagenous colitis (CC) is a well-known cause of chronic non-bloody diarrhea, especially in elderly women. CC is characterized histopathologically by an increase in the thickness of the subepithelial collagen layer to at least 10 μm, epithelial damage, and chronic inflammation of the lamina propria. Generally, the colonic mucosa in CC is macroscopically normal, although minor, non-specific abnormalities may be found.

Simvastatin attenuates intestinal fibrosis independent of the anti-inflammatory effect by promoting fibroblast/myofibroblast apoptosis in the regeneration/healing process from TNBS-induced colitis.

Background: Intestinal deformity and stenosis are induced by fibrosis during the process healing of intestinal chronic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Potent anti-inflammatory treatment of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) may induce fibrous stenosis, and this is often difficult to treat in clinical practice. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a treatment strategy that concomitantly exhibits repair/regenerative and anti-fibrotic effects, in addition to the current anti-inflammatory effect, for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.

R-etodolac induces E-cadherin and suppresses colitis-related mouse colon tumorigenesis.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most serious complications of ulcerative colitis (UC), and the risk of UC-associated neoplasia increases as the region and duration of the disease increase. Selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors effectively diminish carcinogenesis in a murine UC model. However, this may exacerbate colitis.

Colonoscopic differences of erosive and/or small ulcerative lesions for diagnosis of colonic inflammatory diseases.

Background And Aims: Various etiologies and diseases may be related to erosive and/or small ulcerative lesions without gross appearance in the colon during colonoscopy. However, few investigators report on differential diagnosis of colonic inflammatory diseases. Thus, we investigated the clinical significance of these lesions and the value of colonoscopy in the differential diagnosis of colitis.

Establishment of a transgenic hairy root system in wild and domesticated watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) for studying root vigor under drought.

Root vigor is an important trait for the growth of terrestrial plants, especially in water-deficit environments. Although deserts plants are known for their highly developed root architecture, the molecular mechanism responsible for this trait has not been determined. Here we established an efficient protocol for the genetic manipulation of two varieties of watermelon plants: a desert-grown wild watermelon that shows vigorous root growth under drought, and a domesticated cultivar showing retardation of root growth under drought stress.

Primary CD56+ NK/T-cell lymphoma of the rectum accompanied with refractory ulcerative colitis.

A case of primary NK/T-cell lymphoma of the rectum accompanied with ulcerative colitis (UC) in a 73-year-old man is reported. He had a 6-year history of repeated admission to our hospital for UC. Total colonoscopy performed 4 months after resolution of refractory UC complicated by cytomegalovirus colitis showed a markedly submucosal tumor in the rectum, which was histologically diagnosed as malignant lymphoma.

Comparative study of conventional colonoscopy and pan-colonic narrow-band imaging system in the detection of neoplastic colonic polyps: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Detection and removal of adenomas by colonoscopy is an important means for preventing cancer; however, small adenomas may be missed during colonoscopy. The narrow-band imaging (NBI) system clearly enhances the microvasculature in neoplastic lesions, making it appear as a dark complex. Therefore, the NBI system may improve the detection of colonic neoplasias.

Increased proliferation of middle to distal colonic cells during colorectal carcinogenesis in experimental murine ulcerative colitis.

Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) exhibit an increased risk for the development of cancer of the colon and rectum. This association is widely attributed to colonic inflammation. However, the severity of colonic inflammation necessary for the development of dysplasia and/or cancer remains unknown.

Therapeutic effect of nimesulide on colorectal carcinogenesis in experimental murine ulcerative colitis.

Background: Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) exhibit an increased risk for the development of cancer of the colon and rectum. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors are known to suppress sporadic colorectal cancer, but it is unknown whether selective COX-2 inhibitors exhibit a preventive effect in UC-associated neoplasia. This study investigated the preventive effect of nimesulide, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, on colorectal carcinogenesis in an experimental model of murine UC.