The presence of a cryptic barrier in the West Pacific Ocean suggests the effect of glacial climate changes on a widespread sea-dispersed plant, (Fabaceae).

Ocean currents are an important driver of evolution for sea-dispersed plants, enabling them to maintain reciprocal gene flow via sea-dispersed diaspores and obtain wide distribution ranges. Although geographic barriers are known to be the primary factors shaping present genetic structure of sea-dispersed plants, cryptic barriers which form clear genetic structure within oceanic regions are poorly understood. To test the presence of a cryptic barrier, we conducted a phylogeographic study together with past demographic inference for a widespread sea-dispersed plant, , using 308 individuals collected from the entire Indo-West Pacific (IWP) region.

Characteristics of care methods for daily life disabilities in Alzheimer's type dementia that respect autonomy and independence.

Aim: To clarify the characteristics of appropriate care methods for people with daily life disabilities due to Alzheimer's type dementia.

Design: A cross-sectional survey study.

Methods: A survey was implemented targeting 2,156 advanced care practitioners for dementia.

OLFM4 Enhances STAT3 Activation and Promotes Tumor Progression by Inhibiting GRIM19 Expression in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4) induces signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation by inhibiting gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality 19 (GRIM19), a strong STAT3 suppressor gene; however, the mechanisms of OLFM4 for regulating GRIM19-STAT3 cascade in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. The functions and regulations of OLFM4, GRIM19, and STAT3 activation in HCC progression were evaluated using surgical specimens collected from 111 HCC patients or 2 HCC cell lines . Moreover, the cancer stem cell-like property of OLFM4 mediated by leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5), known as an intestinal stem cell marker, was investigated.

Evolutionary origin of a periodical mass-flowering plant.

The evolutionary origin of periodical mass-flowering plants (shortly periodical plants), exhibiting periodical mass flowering and death immediately after flowering, has not been demonstrated. Within the genus (Acanthaceae), which includes more than 50 periodical species, on Okinawa Island, Japan, flowers gregariously every 6 years. We investigated the life history of in other regions and that of closely related species together with their molecular phylogeny to reveal the evolutionary origin of periodical mass flowering.

Drying the leaves of increases their content of anticancer nutraceuticals.

A regular intake of plant-derived bioactive agents has gained popularity because of the health benefits. Fresh leafy greens, however, normally have a low concentration of such bioactive agents. In this study, we found that drying markedly affected the accumulation of secondary metabolites and that dried leaves of L.

Short-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer: A single-institution experience and systematic review of the literature.

Aim: Application of laparoscopic approaches for the treatment of remnant gastric cancers (RGC) is still controversial. Therefore, in the present study, the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for RGC was investigated.

Methods: A total of 27 patients who underwent gastrectomy for RGC from June 2008 to September 2017 were enrolled in this study.

Effectiveness of pulmonary vasodilators on pulmonary hypertension associated with POEMS syndrome.

Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare plasma cell disease. Patients with POEMS syndrome are considered to be at a high risk of developing pulmonary hypertension (PH). We report a 51-year-old woman diagnosed with PH associated with POEMS syndrome.

Three cases of adjacent segment disease post-posterior spinal fusion, treated successfully by oblique lateral interbody fusion: A clinical series.

The incidence of spinal fusion surgery and associated adjacent segment disease (ASD) is steadily increasing. We report three cases of ASD after posterior fixation, treated by oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF). All cases had a good postoperative course.

Vasovasostomy and vasoepididymostomy: Review of the procedures, outcomes, and predictors of patency and pregnancy over the last decade.

Background: In the era of improving assisted reproductive technology (ART), patients with obstructive azoospermia (OA) have 2 options: vasal repair or testicular sperm extraction with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Vasal repair, including vasovasostomy (VV) and vasoepididymostomy (VE), is the only option that leads to natural conception.

Methods: This article reviews the surgical techniques, outcomes, and predictors of postoperative patency and pregnancy, with a focus on articles that have reported over the last 10 years, using PubMed database searches.

Relationship between the mode of conception and depressive symptoms during the first 6 months post-partum in Japan.

Purpose: To determine whether conventional treatment and assisted reproductive technology for infertility are associated with depressive symptoms and to identify the predictors of depressive symptoms during the first 6 months' post-partum.

Methods: A prospective cohort design was used, with the participants being recruited from 13 Japanese hospitals. Using self-report questionnaires, a total of 2709 women (response rate: 71.

Clinical implication of surgical resection for recurrent biliary tract cancer: Does it work or not?

Although recent advances in imaging diagnosis, surgical techniques, and perioperative management can result in increased resectability and improved surgical outcomes, most resected patients still develop cancer recurrence. If patients develop cancer recurrence, their prognosis is very ominous. However, there have been some recent reports to show promising outcomes by aggressive surgical strategy in selected patients who developed cancer recurrence.

Epiconus syndrome induced only in the erect standing position in a patient with L1 compression fracture: a representative case report.

In daily practice, when CT or MRI does not show a pathological lesion in a patient with persistent abnormal neurological signs, it is important to obtain imaging studies of the spine in dynamic position.

Course of maternal fatigue and its associated factors during the first 6 months postpartum: a prospective cohort study.

Aims: To identify the course of maternal fatigue during the first 6 months postpartum and to determine factors associated with it.

Design: A prospective cohort study.

Methods: Women (=2,697) in 13 Japanese hospitals provided longitudinal data using self-report questionnaires at five time points.

Occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a koji brewer.

Koji is a fermenting agent used in many traditional Japanese foods and is the most frequently used microorganism in koji production. Few cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to have been reported. However, physicians should recognize the disease because of the increasing globalization of food production.

Nationwide survey of urological specialists regarding male infertility: results from a 2015 questionnaire in Japan.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence, etiology, treatment indications, and outcomes regarding infertile male patients in Japan.

Methods: Between April, 2014 and March, 2015, the authors contacted 47 clinical specialists in male infertility who had been certified by the Japan Society for Reproductive Medicine. The participating clinicians were sent a questionnaire regarding information on their infertile patients, according to etiology and the number and success rates of male infertility operations that had been performed in their practice.

Lung Mycobacterium avium developed after removing an acupuncture needle from the lung.

Acupuncture needles can cause non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) infection on the skin, but there are no reports that acupuncture needles inserted into the lung have caused lung NTM infection. A 63-year-old woman, who underwent removal of a broken acupuncture needle inserted into the lung nine years ago, was admitted with nodules in the right lung. The shadow was positioned where the needle had existed.

A case of empyema and septic arthritis due to .

Septic arthritis due to sp. should be suspected when a patient with risk factors such as pneumoconiosis or diabetes mellitus develops joint symptoms, especially if the patient has had nocardiosis in other sites.

A case of disseminated cryptococcosis with necrotizing fasciitis in a non-HIV patient.

Case: Disseminated cryptococcosis is a well-recognized condition among HIV patients, but it also occurs in non-HIV patients. Necrotizing fasciitis caused by cryptococcus is rare. An 81-year-old man who had received steroid therapy presented with erythema and pain in his right thigh.

Skipping breakfast and 5-year changes in body mass index and waist circumference in Japanese men and women.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between frequency of skipping breakfast and annual changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC).

Methods: The participants were 4,430 factory employees. BMI and WC were measured repeatedly at annual medical examinations over a 5-year period.

Long-term clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis with rheumatoid arthritis.

Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare cause of diffuse alveolar haemorrhage during childhood, and its precise pathophysiology and long-term clinical course remain unclear. A 31-year-old man was diagnosed with IPH at four years of age and had recurrent episodes of haemoptysis. The patient's symptoms responded well to steroids.

Relationship between the efficacy of oral antidiabetic drugs and clinical features in type 2 diabetic patients (JDDM38).

Aims/introduction: We carried out an observational cohort study to examine the relationship between the efficacy of oral antidiabetic drugs and clinical features in type 2 diabetics.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the CoDiC(®) database of the Japan Diabetes Data Management Study Group across 67 institutions in Japan. In a total of 3,698 drug-naïve patients who were initiated with metformin, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) or sulfonylurea (SU) from 2007 to 2012, we evaluated body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).

Dietary carbohydrate intake, presence of obesity and the incident risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men.

Aims/introduction: The present cohort study assessed the risk among Japanese men for developing type 2 diabetes, based on the percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates and degree of obesity.

Participants And Methods: The participants were 2,006 male factory employees, and the macronutrient intake of each patient was measured using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. The incidence of diabetes was determined in annual blood examinations over a 10-year period.

Successful salvage surgery for failed transforaminal lumbosacral interbody fusion using the anterior transperitoneal approach.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a popular posterior spinal fusion technique, but sometimes require salvage surgery when implant failure occurs, which involves possible neural damage due to postoperative adhesion. The current report deals with successful anterior transperitoneal salvage surgery for failed L5-S TLIF with less neural invasiveness.