Association Between Accumulation of Advanced Glycation End-Products and Hearing Impairment in Community-Dwelling Older People: A Cross-Sectional Sukagawa Study.

Objectives: The experimental studies suggested the hypothesis that the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) could induce hearing impairment. The purpose of this study is to examine the hypothesis among elderly people using an epidemiologic approach.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Heparin cross-linked collagen sponge scaffolds improve functional regeneration of rat tracheal epithelium.

Tracheal epithelial cells maintain airway homeostasis by mediating mucociliary clearance. Following tracheal reconstruction, timely epithelial regeneration is required to prevent respiratory compromise and infectious diseases. To achieve rapid tracheal epithelial regeneration, a heparin cross-linked collagen sponge containing fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) was prepared as a graft for tracheal reconstruction.

[Assessment of Cachexia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Based on a Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score].

We retrospectively analyzed 54 patients who died of head and neck squamous cell caricinoma regarding the process and duration of cachexia using the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS). The patients were classified as having cachexia when the serum albumin level was less than 3.5 mg/dL and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level was more than 0.

Optimal bovine collagen concentration to achieve tracheal epithelial coverage of collagen sponges.

Objectives/hypothesis: Artificial tracheas prepared using a collagen sponge and polypropylene mesh have been implanted in patients who received tracheal resections, but epithelialization in the reconstructed area is slow. We determined the optimal bovine atelocollagen concentration necessary for the rapid and complete tracheal epithelial coverage of collagen sponge implants.

Study Design: Preliminary animal experiment.

Potential of laryngeal muscle regeneration using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived skeletal muscle cells.

Conclusion Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells may be a new potential cell source for laryngeal muscle regeneration in the treatment of vocal fold atrophy after recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. Objectives Unilateral vocal fold paralysis can lead to degeneration, atrophy, and loss of force of the thyroarytenoid muscle. At present, there are some treatments such as thyroplasty, arytenoid adduction, and vocal fold injection.

Generation of airway epithelial cells with native characteristics from mouse induced pluripotent stem cells.

Airway epithelial cells derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are expected to be a useful source for the regeneration of airway epithelium. Our preliminary study of embryoid body (EB) formation and the air-liquid interface (ALI) method suggested that mouse iPS cells can differentiate into airway epithelial cells. However, whether the cells generated from mouse iPS cells had the character and phenotype of native airway epithelial cells remained uninvestigated.

Chemoselection combined with alternating chemoradiotherapy or surgery for hypopharyngeal cancer.

Objectives/hypothesis: In order to make possible organ preservation, since 2007 our hospital has performed induction chemotherapy (ICT) with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (PF) for hypopharyngeal cancer as chemoselection, followed by alternating chemoradiotherapy (ACRT) with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil in (TPF) good responders and curative surgery was used in poor responders.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with stage III to stage IVB hypopharyngeal cancer received ICT. Eleven of the patients were classified as poor responders and received curative surgery.

Effect of Structural Differences in Collagen Sponge Scaffolds on Tracheal Epithelium Regeneration.

Objective: We developed an in situ regeneration-inducible artificial trachea composed of a porcine collagen sponge and polypropylene framework and used it for tracheal reconstruction. In the present study, collagen sponges with different structures were prepared from various concentrations of collagen solutions, and their effect on the regeneration of tracheal epithelium was examined.

Methods: Collagen sponges were prepared from type I and III collagen solutions.

Visualization of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells for evaluation of tracheal regeneration.

Conclusion: Visualization of mouse induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells with the use of a fluorescent protein was successfully achieved for evaluation of tracheal regeneration.

Objectives: Tracheal epithelial cells derived from iPS cells are expected to be a useful cell source for tracheal regeneration. Our previous study demonstrated that mouse iPS cells differentiated into tracheal epithelial cells.

Stiffness of salivary gland and tumor measured by new ultrasonic techniques: Virtual touch quantification and IQ.

Objective: To evaluate normal salivary gland stiffness and compare the diagnostic performance of virtual touch quantification (VTQ) and virtual touch imaging quantification (VTIQ) for head and neck tumor.

Methods: A total of 92 measurements were examined, comprising 77 normal salivary glands, 11 benign tumors and four malignant tumors. Examinations were made to evaluate normal salivary gland stiffness and compare the diagnostic performances of new ultrasonic techniques regarding head and neck tumor.

Usefulness of sentinel node navigation surgery in the management of early tongue cancer.

Objective: To determine the validity of sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) in early stage tongue cancer, the occurrence rate of postoperative cervical metastasis (POCM) after lead plate technique (LPT) introduction and survival rates in patients who underwent SNNS were analyzed.

Methods: SNNS was performed in 29 patients (stage I: 14, stage II: 15) from 2000 to 2007. Tc-labeled phytate was prepared as a radiotracer a day before SNNS.

Bioengineered trachea using autologous chondrocytes for regeneration of tracheal cartilage in a rabbit model.

Objectives/hypothesis: In this study, a bioengineered trachea composed of autologous chondrocytes was developed, and its effect on cartilaginous regeneration was evaluated by implantation into tracheal defects in rabbits.

Study Design: Prospective controlled trial in an animal model.

Methods: The tracheal prosthesis used in this study was composed of polypropylene (the frame) and collagen sponge (the scaffold).

Effective embryoid body formation from induced pluripotent stem cells for regeneration of respiratory epithelium.

Objectives/hypothesis: We have previously demonstrated the potential use of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for regeneration of respiratory epithelium by culturing embryoid bodies (EBs). The aim of the present study was to determine the most effective conditions for EB formation from iPS cells for regeneration of respiratory epithelium.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Implantation site-dependent differences for tracheal regeneration with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells).

Conclusion: The histological findings and quantitative measurements demonstrated that there were differences in teratoma formation according to the site of implantation. Elucidating the mechanisms of the teratoma formation caused by the site of implantation moves the field another step closer to clinical use of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for tracheal regeneration.

Objectives: Our previous study demonstrated the potential for iPS cells to be used as a new cell source for tracheal regeneration.

Regenerative process of tracheal epithelium using a collagen vitrigel sponge scaffold.

Objectives/hypothesis: Our group has developed a collagen vitrigel sponge scaffold containing basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) for tracheal reconstruction. In this study, we have investigated the regenerative process of tracheal epithelium histologically and morphologically.

Study Design: A preliminary animal experiment.

Potential for respiratory epithelium regeneration from induced pluripotent stem cells.

Objectives: In cases of laryngeal inflammatory lesions and tracheal invasion of a malignant tumor, autologous tissue implantation techniques using skin or cartilage are often applied. However, these techniques are both invasive and unstable. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential use of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in the regeneration of respiratory epithelium.

Evaluation of the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for the regeneration of tracheal cartilage.

The treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis remains a challenge as treatment often requires multistaged procedures, and successful decannulation sometimes fails after a series of operations. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated in 2006. These cells are capable of unlimited symmetrical self-renewal, thus providing an unlimited cell source for tissue-engineering applications.

Regeneration of tracheal epithelium using a collagen vitrigel-sponge scaffold containing basic fibroblast growth factor.

Objectives: Our group has had good results in tracheal mucosal regeneration using a collagen vitrigel-sponge scaffold in an animal model. In this study, the effectiveness of this scaffold with the application of basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) was investigated.

Methods: A collagen vitrigel-sponge scaffold was fabricated with simultaneous addition of b-FGF.

Bioengineered prosthesis with allogenic heterotopic fibroblasts for cricoid regeneration.

Objectives/hypothesis: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a bioengineered prosthesis with allogenic heterotopic fibroblasts for cricoid regeneration.

Study Design: Experimental study using a rat model.

Methods: Bioengineered prosthetic grafts consisting of collagen sponge, polypropylene mesh, collagen gel, and allogenic dermal fibroblasts were implanted into rat cricoid defects.

Potential of induced pluripotent stem cells for the regeneration of the tracheal wall.

Objectives: Our previous studies focused on basic research and the clinical applications of an artificial trachea. However, the prefabricated artificial trachea cannot be utilized for pediatric airways, because the tracheal frame needs to expand as the child develops. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for the regeneration of the tracheal wall.

A tissue-engineered trachea derived from a framed collagen scaffold, gingival fibroblasts and adipose-derived stem cells.

In some types of tracheal disease, tracheal resection is required. For patients with tracheal resection, artificial grafts, made from collagen sponge with a spiral polypropylene stent and mesh, have been clinically used by our group. However, epithelial regeneration was confirmed to be slow.

Bioengineered trachea with fibroblasts in a rabbit model.

Objectives: Although our group has had mostly successful results with clinical application of a tracheal prosthesis, delayed epithelial regeneration remains a problem. In our previous studies using rats, it was demonstrated that tracheal fibroblasts accelerated proliferation and differentiation of the tracheal epithelium in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of fibroblasts on epithelial regeneration in larger tracheal defects in rabbits.