Reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent as a potential marker for diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Evaluation of parameters relating to serum ferritin and iron is critically important in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). The recent development of automated systems for hematology analysis has made it possible to measure reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (RET-He), which is thought to reflect iron content in reticulocytes, in the same sample used for complete blood count tests. If RET-He is, indeed, capable of evaluating iron deficiency (ID), it would be useful for immediate diagnosis of IDA.

[Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Hiccups Successfully Treated with Pregabalin].

A 62-year-old male was diagnosed with large cell lung cancer(c-Stage IV)based on pathological examination of an anterior chest tumor. He received chemotherapy with cisplatin, pemetrexed, and bevacizumab. He suffered from persistent hiccups from day 2 of the first course of chemotherapy.

FUT2 non-secretor status is associated with Type 1 diabetes susceptibility in Japanese children.

Aim: To examine the contribution of the FUT2 gene and ABO blood type to the development of Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children.

Methods: We analysed FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes in a total of 531 Japanese children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and 448 control subjects. The possible association of FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes with the onset of Type 1 diabetes was statistically examined.

Developmental Changes in Aortic Mechanical Properties in Normal Fetuses and Fetuses with Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: We hypothesized that fetal aortic mechanical properties assessed by aortic diameter (AoD) and flow show maturational changes during the gestational period, and that these properties are different in fetuses with congenital heart diseases and fetuses with normal development.

Methods: Phasic changes in ascending AoD along with Doppler flow profile were measured in 84 consecutive normal fetuses (gestational age, 18-36 weeks) and in 30 consecutive fetuses with cardiovascular diseases (gestational age, 22-39 weeks).

Results: AoD and cardiac output significantly increased with gestational age.

A Multicenter Retrospective Study of Mogamulizumab Efficacy in Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma.

Background: Mogamulizumab, a defucosylated humanized monoclonal antibody targeting C-C chemokine receptor 4, recently became available for the treatment of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). We conducted a multicenter retrospective study of the efficacy of mogamulizumab in ATL treatment in patients on Hokkaido Island, Japan.

Materials And Methods: A total of 125 patients with ATL treated from January 2010 to December 2014 in 20 hospitals affiliated with the Hokkaido Hematology Study Group were enrolled in the present retrospective study.

Long-term health status as measured by EQ-5D among patients with metastatic breast cancer: comparison of first-line oral S-1 and taxane therapies in the randomized phase III SELECT BC trial.

Purpose: The goal of chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is to prolong survival and maintain health-related quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate long-term health status of patients with MBC who participated in the phase III randomized SELECT BC trial.

Methods: In the SELECT BC trial, patients were randomly allocated to the S-1 or taxane (paclitaxel or docetaxel) arm.

Variants associated with autoimmune Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children: implications for age-specific effects of cis-regulatory haplotypes at 17q12-q21.

Aims: The aim of this study was to clarify the significance of previously reported susceptibility variants in the development of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes in non-white children. Tested variants included rs2290400, which has been linked to Type 1 diabetes only in one study on white people. Haplotypes at 17q12-q21 encompassing rs2290400 are known to determine the susceptibility of early-onset asthma by affecting the expression of flanking genes.

[A Case of Advanced Colon Cancer with Long-Term and Re-Administration of Regorafenib].

A 54-year-old woman diagnosed with sigmoid colon cancer and multiple liver metastases underwent sigmoidectomy, partial hepatectomy, and RFA in September 2009. Because of postoperative liver and lung recurrence, 5 regimens with combinations of L-OHP/CPT-11 plus anti-VEGF antibody/anti-EGFR antibody was performed. Following these treatments, she underwent hepatic arterial infusion therapy with UFT/Krestin for progressive liver metastases.

Infection with fully mature Corynosoma cf. validum causes ulcers in the human small intestine.

Corynosoma is a parasite that can normally be found in the intestinal tract of fish-eating mammals, particularly in seals and birds. The present case proposed that Corynosoma could attain full maturity in the human intestine. A 70-year-old female complained of abdominal pain.

Effects of changing from sevoflurane to desflurane on the recovery profile after sevoflurane induction: a randomized controlled study.

Purpose: Desflurane has the lowest solubility of currently available volatile anesthetics and may allow for more rapid emergence and recovery compared with sevoflurane. Nevertheless, after volatile induction with sevoflurane, it has not been determined whether the use of desflurane provides faster emergence and recovery. The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of changing from sevoflurane to desflurane during the early part of anesthesia.

Clear cell sarcoma of the esophagus: report of a case.

We report a rare case of clear cell sarcoma of the esophagus and review the literature regarding clear cell sarcomas of the gastrointestinal tract. A 57-year-old male was admitted with dysphagia during swallowing. Preoperative imaging studies, including upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography, showed that the tumor was located between the mucosa and the muscularis propria of the lower esophagus.

Long-term survival of patients with recurrent endometrial stromal sarcoma: a multicenter, observational study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical behavior and management outcome of recurrent endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS).

Methods: A retrospective review of charts of 10 patients with recurrent ESS was performed and relapse-free interval, relapse site, treatment, response to treatment, duration of follow-up and clinical outcome extracted. Survival outcome measures used were post-relapse survival which was defined as the time from first evidence of relapse to death from any cause.

No benefit of endoscopic sphincterotomy before biliary placement of self-expandable metal stents for unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is performed routinely before self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) are placed in malignant distal biliary strictures to prevent postprocedural pancreatitis. However, it is not clear whether ES actually prevents pancreatitis or affects other adverse events (AEs). We conducted a noninferiority trial to examine the necessity of ES before SEMS placement.

Initial reduction of oxidative stress by angiotensin receptor blocker contributes long term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: It remains unclear whether administration of ARB with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging effects improves the prognosis of patients undergoing PCI.

Objectives: This study investigated whether the pre-intervention antioxidant effect of angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) affects long-term outcomes in patients after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) without early adverse events.

Methods: Fifty-two patients who underwent elective PCI were randomly assigned for treatment with or without ARB, which was administered within 48 hours before PCI.

Total pancreatectomy for metachronous mixed acinar-ductal carcinoma in a remnant pancreas.

In October 2009, a 71-year-old female was diagnosed with a cystic tumor in the tail of the pancreas with an irregular dilatation of the main pancreatic duct in the body and tail of the pancreas. A distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy, and partial resection of the duodenum, jejunum and transverse colon was performed. In March 2011, a follow-up computed tomography scan showed a low density mass at the head of the remnant pancreas.

Middle segment-preserving pancreatectomy for recurrent metastasis of renal cell carcinoma after pancreatoduodenectomy: a case report.

Many cases of surgical resection of metastatic pancreatic tumors originating from renal cell carcinoma have been reported; however, cases of reresection of recurrent pancreatic metastasis of renal cell carcinoma in the remnant pancreas are rare. We performed a second resection for recurrent pancreatic metastasis of renal cell carcinoma six years after pancreatoduodenectomy with pancreaticogastrostomy reconstruction. By performing middle segment-preserving pancreatectomy, we were able to successfully spare the exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function compared to that observed after total pancreatectomy, with no signs of recurrence for two years after the surgery.

Impact of 5-fluorouracil metabolizing enzymes on chemotherapy in patients with resectable colorectal cancer.

Although 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an important drug for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment, no useful biomarker is currently available to predict treatment response. Since 5-FU is converted into active or inactive forms by orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) or dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), a correlation between these enzymes and response to 5-FU has been suggested. However, such a correlation has not been investigated prospectively.

Identification and functional characterization of two novel NPR2 mutations in Japanese patients with short stature.

Context: C-type natriuretic peptide-natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPR-B) signaling is critical for endochondral ossification, which is responsible for longitudinal growth in limbs and vertebrae. Biallelic NPR2 mutations cause acromesomelic dysplasia, type Maroteaux, which is bone dysplasia characterized by severe short stature and short limbs. A monoallelic NPR2 mutation has been suggested to mildly impair long bone growth.

Etoposide-containing conditioning regimen reduces the occurrence of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after SCT.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare life-threatening disease of severe hyperinflammation caused by uncontrolled proliferation of activated lymphocytes and macrophages that secrete high amounts of inflammatory cytokines. HLH occurring after SCT is difficult to diagnose. It is characterized by severe clinical manifestations and high mortality.

Associations between capsular serotype, multilocus sequence type, and macrolide resistance in Streptococcus agalactiae isolates from Japanese infants with invasive infections.

SUMMARY Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus; GBS) isolates (n = 150) from infants with invasive infections between 2006 and 2011 were analysed for capsular serotype, multilocus sequence type, and antibiotic susceptibility. In cases with late-onset disease (n = 115), primary meningitis was predominant (62.6%), but represented only 39.

[Prognostic factors affecting the surgical treatment of metastatic lung tumor from colorectal cancer].

For aging, people having malignant disease are increasing. And surgical resection is an important part in the treatment of pulmonary metastasis from colorectal cancer. We analyzed the treatment outcome and prognostic factors affecting survival in our subset of patients.

[Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma with rapid growth causing death in a short period after surgery; report of a case].

Pleomorphic carcinoma is rare in the primary lung cancer with a poor prognosis. We reported a resected case of pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung with rapid progression. A 62-year-old male with a tumor shadow in the right lung which had not been noted 9 months before was referred to our hospital.

Pancreatoduodenectomy for circumportal pancreas accompanying the retroportal pancreatic duct: a case report and review of the literature.

Circumportal pancreas (CP) is an extremely rare pancreatic fusion anomaly which is usually asymptomatic. This report presents the case of a patient with a tumor in the head of a CP and the retroportal accessory pancreatic duct in the pancreatic tissue behind the portal vein. A 53-year-old male was diagnosed with a nonfunctioning neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas and resection of the tumor was scheduled.

Union rates and prognostic variables of osteoporotic vertebral fractures treated with a rigid external support.

Object: External supports serve as a traditional treatment option for osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs). However, the role of external supports in the treatment of OVF remains inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of a rigid external support in the healing of OVFs by prospectively evaluating union (fracture settling) rates and prognostic variables for patients suffering from an incident OVF.