Usefulness of a Novel Vascular Access Management Method Using a Laser Blood Flowmeter.

Introduction: Various methods for vascular access (VA) management have been studied. We investigated the usefulness of a new, simple, and quantitative VA management method using the Pocket LDF® laser blood flowmeter (hereinafter "LDF") that noninvasively measures peripheral circulation flow.

Methods: Peripheral circulation flow was measured in 82 patients (43 men) on maintenance hemodialysis with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF).

Investigation of factors that cause insulin precipitation and/or amyloid formation in insulin formulations.

Background: Multiple daily subcutaneous injections (MDSIs) are mainly used for formulating an insulin therapy for diabetic patients; however, they also cause insulin-derived amyloidosis (IDA) and lead to poor glycemic control. In addition, for the continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion system (CSII), precipitation frequently causes catheter occlusion and, if the precipitate in the formulations is amyloid, the injection of the insoluble amyloid into the subcutaneous tissue leads to IDA. The aim of this study was to conduct in vitro experiments and present a situation where insulin formulations cause precipitation and amyloid formation.

Glucose Responsive Rheological Change and Drug Release from a Novel Worm-like Micelle Gel Formed in Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide/Phenylboronic Acid/Water System.

A novel glucose (Glc)-responsive gel formed by worm-like micelles (WLMs) has the potential to provide a self-regulating insulin delivery system. We have prepared a WLM gel system using 75 mM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, 75 mM phenylboronic acid, and water. At pH 9.

Safety and feasibility for single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy in local community hospital: a retrospective comparison with conventional 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility for single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) by retrospective comparison with conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) in a local community hospital.

Methods: SILC was introduced and performed in 57 patients for benign gallbladder diseases. Their clinical data were compared with those of 62 patients treated with CLC.

A comparison of epidermal growth factor receptor expression in malignant peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma.

An evaluation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) phenotypic expression in malignant pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma was undertaken, using immunohistochemical (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Thirty-eight malignant mesothelioma (MM) specimens were subjected to IHC staining and FISH to evaluate the expression of EGFR protein and gene status. Overall positive IHC reaction was detected in 20/38 (53%) cases, in 11/22 (50%) pleural MM, and in 9/16 (56%) peritoneal MM.

Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in malignant pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation at the kinase domain and EGFR gene amplification are reported to be predictors of the response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer cases. In malignant mesothelioma (MM), the role of EGFR is less clear.

Methods: Thirty-eight MM specimens were submitted to EGFR mutation evaluation, and compared with the results of immunohistochemical staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis.

[A case of local relapsed rectal cancer responding to low-dose S-1].

We report a case of local recurrent colorectal cancer that has been treated successfully with low-dose oral chemotherapeutic agent. An 80-year-old man underwent a low anterior resection for rectal cancer. Two years and nine months later, a recurrent tumor was revealed in the vicinity of the anastomotic region by colonoscopy.

A new possibility for repairing the anal dysfunction by promoting regeneration of the reflex pathways in the enteric nervous system.

Moderate rectal distension elicits recto-rectal reflex contractions and simultaneous recto-internal anal sphincter reflex relaxations that together comprise the defecation reflex. Both reflexes are controlled by 1) pelvic nerves, 2) lumbar colonic nerves, and 3) enteric nervous system. The aim of the present study was to explore a novel approach to repairing the defecation reflex dysfunction by using the plasticity of enteric nervous pathways.

Enhancement of the intrinsic defecation reflex by mosapride, a 5-HT4 agonist, in chronically lumbosacral denervated guinea pigs.

The defecation reflex is composed of rectal distension-evoked rectal (R-R) reflex contractions and synchronous internal anal sphincter (R-IAS) reflex relaxations in guinea pigs. These R-R and R-IAS reflexes are controlled via extrinsic sacral excitatory nerve pathway (pelvic nerves), lumbar inhibitory nerve pathways (colonic nerves) and by intrinsic cholinergic excitatory and nitrergic inhibitory nerve pathways. The effect of mosapride (a prokinetic benzamide) on the intrinsic reflexes, mediated via enteric 5-HT(4) receptors, was evaluated by measuring the mechanical activity of the rectum and IAS in anesthetized guinea pigs using an intrinsic R-R and R-IAS reflex model resulting from chronic (two to nine days) lumbosacral denervation (PITH).

A 5-HT4 agonist, mosapride, enhances intrinsic rectorectal and rectoanal reflexes after removal of extrinsic nerves in guinea pigs.

Distension-evoked reflex of rectorectal (R-R) contractions and rectointernal anal sphincter (R-IAS) relaxations can be generated in guinea pigs through an extrinsic sacral excitatory neural pathway (pelvic nerves) as well as intrinsic cholinergic excitatory and nitrergic inhibitory pathways. The aim of the present study was to create intrinsic R-R and R-IAS reflex models by pithing (destruction of the lumbar and sacral cords; PITH) and to evaluate whether the prokinetic benzamide mosapride, a 5-HT(4) receptor agonist, enhances these reflexes. The mechanical activities of the R-R and R-IAS were recorded in the anesthetized guinea pig on days 2-9 after PITH.

A 5-HT4 agonist mosapride enhances rectorectal and rectoanal reflexes in guinea pigs.

The rectal distension-evoked reflex rectal (R-R) contractions and internal anal sphincter (R-IAS) relaxations in guinea pigs were generated through the extrinsic sacral excitatory nerve pathway (pelvic nerves) and the intrinsic cholinergic excitatory and nitrergic inhibitory nerve pathways. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether a prokinetic benzamide, mosapride, enhances the R-R and R-IAS reflexes mediated via 5-HT4 receptors in the guinea pig. The mechanical activities of the R and IAS were recorded with a balloon connected to a pressure transducer and a strain gauge force transducer in the anesthetized guinea pig with intact spinal-intestinal pathways.