Measurement of prostaglandin metabolites is useful in diagnosis of small bowel ulcerations.

Background: We recently reported on a hereditary enteropathy associated with a gene encoding a prostaglandin transporter and referred to as chronic enteropathy associated with gene (CEAS). Crohn's disease (CD) is a major differential diagnosis of CEAS, because these diseases share some clinical features. Therefore, there is a need to develop a convenient screening test to distinguish CEAS from CD.

Clinical features of chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1 gene: a new entity clinically distinct from Crohn's disease.

Background: Chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1 gene (CEAS) is a hereditary disease caused by mutations in the SLCO2A1 gene and characterized by multiple small intestinal ulcers of nonspecific histology. SLCO2A1 is also a causal gene of primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO). However, little is known about the clinical features of CEAS or PHO.

Characteristics of patients with fragility hip fractures in the northern Kyushu district in Japan: a multicenter prospective registry based on an electronic data capture system.

Osteoporosis has become a worldwide public health problem, in part due to the fact that it increases the risk of fragility hip fractures (FHFs). The epidemiological assessment of FHFs is critical for their prevention; however, datasets for FHFs in Japan remain scarce. This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study in the northern district of Kyushu Island.

C2 spondylotic radiculopathy: the nerve root impingement mechanism investigated by para-sagittal CT/MRI, dynamic rotational CT, intraoperative microscopic findings, and treated by microscopic posterior foraminotomy.

Purpose: C2 radiculopathy is known to cause occipito-cervical pain, but their pathology is unclear because of its rarity and unique anatomy. In this paper, we investigated the mechanism of C2 radiculopathy that underwent microscopic cervical foraminotomies (MCF).

Methods: Three cases with C2 radiculopathy treated by MCF were investigated retrospectively.

A Hereditary Enteropathy Caused by Mutations in the SLCO2A1 Gene, Encoding a Prostaglandin Transporter.

Previously, we proposed a rare autosomal recessive inherited enteropathy characterized by persistent blood and protein loss from the small intestine as chronic nonspecific multiple ulcers of the small intestine (CNSU). By whole-exome sequencing in five Japanese patients with CNSU and one unaffected individual, we found four candidate mutations in the SLCO2A1 gene, encoding a prostaglandin transporter. The pathogenicity of the mutations was supported by segregation analysis and genotyping data in controls.

Surgical treatment to aid patients with colorectal perforation.

Background: When a patient with colorectal perforation is treated, there is no adequate information about what the best procedure for emergent operation is. In the present study, we examined the clinical features in hemodialysis (HD) and non-HD patients with colorectal perforations.

Patients And Methods: Forty-four patients (8 HD and 36 non-HD patients) who underwent surgery for colorectal perforation at the Fukuoka Red Cross Hospital were reviewed and analyzed.

NKG2D-directed cytokine-activated killer lymphocyte therapy combined with gemcitabine for patients with chemoresistant metastatic solid tumors.

Natural-killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) is an activating receptor found on activated natural killer cells and on activated T-cells, here termed cytokine-activated killer (CAK) cells. NKG2D ligands are expressed on various human cancer types. Gemcitabine is an anticancer drug which is a less immune-destructive agent than others.

[Ortner's syndrome caused by dissecting aortic aneurysm].

Ortner's syndrome results in hoarseness caused by compression of the left laryngeal recurrent as a result of cardiovascular pathology. A wide range of cardiovascular such as valvular heart disease, thoracic aortic aneurysm and congenital heart disease may result in Ortner's syndrome. We present a case of Ortner's syndrome caused by a large diameter (120 mm) aneurysm, previously unreported in the literature.

A Rare Coronary Artery Anomaly: Single Coronary Artery Originate From Right Sinus Valsalva R-IIP Sub-Group Type.

We reported a single coronary artery case that in the R-IIP sub-group which is a rare sub-group comparing with other sub-groups of single coronary artery originating from right sinus valsalva.

Cardiac valve evaluation and adipokine levels in obese women treated with sibutramine.

Objective: The aims of present study were 1) to evaluate cardiac valve characteristics, 2) to determine the plasma concentrations of fibrinogen, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), adiponectin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the obese women before and after 19 months sibutramine treatment in the obese women.

Methods: Sixty obese women were enrolled in this prospective, randomized study. Thirty women received 10 mg once daily dose of sibutramine for 19 months.