Engraftment of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Progenitors in the Inner Ear of Prenatal Mice.

There is, at present, no curative treatment for genetic hearing loss. We have previously reported that transuterine gene transfer of wild type CONNEXIN30 (CX30) genes into otocysts in CX30-deleted mice could restore hearing. Cell transplantation therapy might be another therapeutic option, although it is still unknown whether stem cell-derived progenitor cells could migrate into mouse otocysts.

Five-year postoperative outcomes of modified staged canal wall up tympanoplasty for primary acquired cholesteatoma.

Objective: For successful canal wall up tympanoplasty (CWUT) for the treatment of cholesteatoma, the restoration of stable middle ear aeration is also important; however, little is known about the dynamics of such aeration or the optimal surgical procedure. In this study, alternative additional surgical procedure was selected based on the grade of middle ear aeration during the second-stage operation.

Subjects And Methods: Patients included in this study underwent staged CWUT surgeries with mastoid cortex plasty (MCP) for well-aerated ears (grade 3) and bony mastoid obliteration (BMO) for poorly aerated ears (grade 2-0).

A patient with aphasia using the nonsemantic lexical route for Kanji reading.

We report a patient with aphasia, caused by cerebral hemorrhage, who probably used the nonsemantic lexical route when reading words aloud. To investigate the mechanisms underlying her reading dysfunction, we analyzed her reading abilities using the Dual-Route Cascaded Model. Language tests resulted in low correct percentages for both reading comprehension and reading nonwords aloud, suggesting problems in the semantic system and the nonlexical route.

Feasibility and usefulness of three-dimensional optical coherence tomography guidance for optimal side branch treatment in coronary bifurcation stenting.

Background: For the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions, optimal guidewire (GW) recrossing after main vessel stenting is important for good stent apposition at the side branch (SB) orifice in kissing balloon inflation (KBI).

Methods: We analyzed 150 bifurcation lesions treated with single stenting following KBI in the three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT) bifurcation registry study (2015-16) and a single center experience (2012-16). OCT examination was performed after GW recrossing to the SB and after KBI.

Study on the Effect of Irbesartan on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence in Kumamoto: Atrial Fibrillation Suppression Trial (SILK study).

Background: Experimental studies suggest that angiotensin II-receptor blockers can influence atrial remodeling and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, we hypothesized that irbesartan may prevent the recurrence of AF following either catheter ablation or electrical cardioversion of AF.

Methods: Study on the Effect of Irbesartan on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence in Kumamoto (SILK study) is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, and open-label comparative evaluation of the effects of irbesartan and amlodipine on AF recurrence in hypertensive patients with AF who are scheduled to undergo catheter ablation or electrical cardioversion of AF.

Prognostic Value of the CHADS Score for Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Coronary Artery Disease Patients Without Atrial Fibrillation-A Multi-Center Observational Cohort Study.

Background: The CHADS score has mainly been used to predict the likelihood of cerebrovascular accidents in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, increasing attention is being paid to this scoring system for risk stratification of patients with coronary artery disease. We investigated the value of the CHADS score in predicting cardiovascular/cerebrovascular events in coronary artery disease patients without atrial fibrillation.

Primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the gallbladder and review of the literature.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is rarely observed in the gallbladder, and its diagnosis before surgery is difficult. This report describes a case of primary MALT lymphoma of the gallbladder in an 80-year-old man. Imaging studies revealed a protruding lesion on the inside of the gallbladder, which led us to diagnose gallbladder carcinoma prior to the patient undergoing extended cholecystectomy.

Ascending colon cancer with synchronous external iliac and inguinal lymph node metastases but without regional lymph node metastasis: a case report and brief literature review.

Lymph node metastasis to the iliac or inguinal region of colon cancer is extremely rare. We experienced a case of ascending colon cancer with synchronous isolated right external iliac and inguinal lymph node metastases but without any regional lymph node metastasis. An 83-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to anemia.

[Basic Study for the Purpose of Developing a Quantitative Ga-SPECT Measurement Method].

Purpose: Ga-single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images vary according to the imaging time and image display methods. The calculation of an index, such as the standardized uptake value used in positron emission tomography, from Ga-SPECT images would enable the accurate evaluation of the region of accumulation. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the conversion formula, the lower detection limit (LDL), and recovery coefficient (RC) for quantifying the radiation concentration in the Ga accumulation site.

The intentional oblique transection double stapling technique in anterior resection for rectal cancer.

The double stapling technique (DST) is an intestinal reconstruction technique that has been widely adopted in anterior resection (AR) for rectal cancer. However, anastomotic leakage (AL) after the operation remains a major concern for colorectal surgeons. The sharp-angled corner of the remnant rectum that is often created by the ordinary DST can be a risk factor for AL.

Hypertrophic teres minor restores shoulder strength and range of external rotation in posterosuperior rotator cuff tears.

Background: In posterosuperior rotator cuff tears (PS-RCT), the progression of infraspinatus (ISP) muscle atrophy seems to induce compensatory hypertrophy of the teres minor (TM) muscles. However, the effect of these changes on shoulder strength and range of external rotation (ER) remains unclear. This study determined the strength and range of ER in patients with PS-RCT with atrophic ISP and hypertrophic TM and compared this with patients with PS-RCT and normal or deficient TM.

Lipid profile associated with coronary plaque regression in patients with acute coronary syndrome: Subanalysis of PRECISE-IVUS trial.

Background And Aims: Although dual low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering therapy (DLLT) with statin-ezetimibe combination showed clinical benefit in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) confirming "the lower, the better," the underlying mechanisms of DLLT are still unknown.

Methods: PRECISE-IVUS trial evaluated the effects of DLLT on IVUS-derived coronary atherosclerosis and lipid profile, compared with atorvastatin monotherapy, quantifying the coronary plaque response in 100 ACS patients. We explored the potential predictors of plaque regression.

Synergistic effect of ezetimibe addition on coronary atheroma regression in patients with prior statin therapy: Subanalysis of PRECISE-IVUS trial.

Background: The IMPROVE-IT trial showed that the clinical benefit of statin/ezetimibe combination appeared to be pronounced in patients with prior statin therapy. We hypothesized that the antiatherosclerotic effect of atorvastatin/ezetimibe combination was pronounced in patients with statin pretreatment.

Methods: In the prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter PRECISE-IVUS trial, 246 patients undergoing intravascular ultrasound-guided percutaneous coronary intervention were randomized to atorvastatin/ezetimibe combination or atorvastatin alone.

A 1-year, prospective, observational study of Japanese outpatients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes switching from insulin glargine or detemir to insulin degludec in basal-bolus insulin therapy (Kumamoto Insulin Degludec Observational study).

Aims/introduction: The aim of the present prospective observational study was to assess long-term efficacy and safety of insulin degludec as a part of a basal-bolus therapy for Japanese patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in routine clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: In the present study, 93 type 1 diabetes patients and 135 type 2 diabetes patients treated with insulin glargine or detemir were switched from their basal insulin to insulin degludec. The primary end-points were the changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline at 3, 6 and 12 months.

Community spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing bacteria detected in social insurance hospitals throughout Japan.

We surveyed the status of community-acquired infections involving four extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Proteus mirabilis) isolated from clinical specimens from 11 social insurance hospitals in Japan in 2012. These are member hospitals of the Japan Community Healthcare Organization, an independent administrative hospital organization. The isolation rates for E.

Cognitive neuropsychological analysis of differential reading and spelling disorder mechanisms in a patient with aphasia.

The purpose of this study was to determine if differential reading and spelling mechanisms were involved in a Japanese patient with aphasia. In our case, the patient scored low on all of the administered reading tasks, suggesting that both the reading lexical and non-lexical routes were impaired. In contrast, his writing-to-dictation score for Kana nonwords was high, suggesting that the spelling non-lexical route was intact.

Intraoperative baseline oxygen consumption as a prognostic factor in emergency open abdominal surgery.

Background: A new anesthesia system, the E-CAIOVX (GE Healthcare) enables the continuous monitoring of oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide elimination (VCO2) during the surgical operation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of intraoperative baseline VO2 and VCO2 in an emergency open abdominal operation.

Methods: A total of 103 patients who had an emergency open abdominal operation were enrolled in the study.

Predictive factors of pathological vascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma within 3 cm and three nodules without radiological vascular invasion.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the predictive factors of pathological vascular invasion as contra-indicators for ablation therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within 3 cm and three nodules without radiological vascular invasion.

Methods: Two hundred and seventeen patients with HCC within 3 cm and three nodules without radiological vascular invasion who underwent hepatic resection were retrospectively investigated.

Results: Pathological vascular invasion was positive in 46 patients, consisting of 38 portal vein invasions, three hepatic vein invasions, two hepatic artery invasions, one hepatic duct invasion and two with portal and hepatic vein invasions.

Long-Term Outcome of Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy With Letrozole in Patients With Advanced Low-Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma.

Background: There has been no consensus on the indications for the treatment of advanced low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS), and the possible effects of hormonal treatment including progestins and aromatase inhibitors have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of aromatase inhibitor therapy with letrozole for patients with residual or recurrent LGESS.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical response of patients with advanced LGESS who had been treated with letrozole.

A trial of telmisartan prevention of cardiovascular diseases (ATTEMPT-CVD): Biomarker study.

Aims: A trial of telmisartan prevention of cardiovascular disease (ATTEMPT-CVD) was performed to compare the effects of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) therapy and those of non-ARB standard therapy on biomarker level changes and the incidence of cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients.

Methods And Results: In this multicenter, open-label, randomized, parallel-group, comparative study, the effects of ARB therapy and those of non-ARB standard therapy on urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level changes were investigated for three years from the start of antihypertensive treatment as the primary endpoints. The incidences of cardiovascular composite events were compared between the two groups, and the relationship between the incidence of the events and biomarker changes were investigated as secondary endpoints.

The effect of extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage therapy (EIPL) on stage III B + C and cytology-positive gastric cancer patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage (EIPL) therapy on stage III B + C and CY1/P0 gastric cancer patients after potentially curative surgery.

Methods: The study included 37 patients with CY1/P0 and 23 patients with stage III B + C gastric cancer who were treated with potentially curative gastrectomy and EIPL therapy between March 1995 and May 2013. D2 lymphadenectomy, R0 resection, and EIPL therapy were performed for all cases.

Impact of candesartan on cardiovascular events after drug-eluting stent implantation in patients with coronary artery disease: The 4C trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the cardiovascular protective effects of candesartan in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DESs).

Background: Candesartan has been reported to reduce cardiovascular events when therapy was started 6 months after PCI with bare-metal stents in patients who survived restenosis. Candesartan started immediately after PCI with DESs was also effective in preventing cardiovascular events.

Impact of Dual Lipid-Lowering Strategy With Ezetimibe and Atorvastatin on Coronary Plaque Regression in Patients With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: The Multicenter Randomized Controlled PRECISE-IVUS Trial.

Background: Despite standard statin therapy, a majority of patients retain a high "residual risk" of cardiovascular events.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ezetimibe plus atorvastatin versus atorvastatin monotherapy on the lipid profile and coronary atherosclerosis in Japanese patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: This trial was a prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter study.

Molecular Characteristics of Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus: Analysis of KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA Mutations and LINE-1 Methylation.

Background: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) of the esophagus is a rare carcinoma with distinct characteristics, and was recently recognized as a variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We previously revealed genetic and epigenetic alterations associated with esophageal SCCs in relation to clinical outcome, including mutations in KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA, p53 expression, and long interspersed nucleotide element-1 (LINE-1) methylation, a surrogate marker for global DNA methylation level. In this study, we explored these features in BSCC.