Cancer-associated adipocytes promote pancreatic cancer progression through SAA1 expression.

Although pancreatic cancer often invades peripancreatic adipose tissue, little information is known about cancer-adipocyte interaction. We first investigated the ability of adipocytes to de-differentiate to cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs) by co-culturing with pancreatic cancer cells. We then examined the effects of CAA-conditioned medium (CAA-CM) on the malignant characteristics of cancer cells, the mechanism underlying those effects, and their clinical relevance in pancreatic cancer.

AOSpine Consensus Paper on Nomenclature for Working-Channel Endoscopic Spinal Procedures.

Study Design: International consensus paper on a unified nomenclature for full-endoscopic spine surgery.

Objectives: Minimally invasive endoscopic spinal procedures have undergone rapid development during the past decade. Evolution of working-channel endoscopes and surgical instruments as well as innovation in surgical techniques have expanded the types of spinal pathology that can be addressed.

Usefulness of the SAGE score to predict elevated values of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in Japanese subjects with hypertension.

The score based on the office systolic blood pressure, age, fasting blood glucose level, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (SAGE score) has been proposed as a useful marker to identify elevated values of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). The present cross-sectional study was conducted to examine whether the SAGE score is also a useful marker to identify subjects with elevated brachial-ankle PWV values in Japanese subjects with hypertension. We measured the brachial-ankle PWV and calculated the SAGE score in a total of 1019 employees of a Japanese company with hypertension and 817 subjects with hypertension derived from a multicenter study cohort.

Effect of epigenetic modulation on cancer sphere.

Background : Cancer stem cell properties are highly relevant to the biology of treatment-resistant cancers. Epigenetic modification regulates gene expressions by chromatin remodeling during malignant transformation. The aim of this study was to elucidate the possible strategy for cancer stem cells focusing on epigenetic modification.

Past infections are associated with low levels of anti-citrullinated protein autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background : Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, is believed to occur as the result of actions of genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we examined the relation of past histories about infectious diseases with the levels anti-citrullinated protein autoantibodies (ACPA) in RA. Methods : Results of a questionnaire about histories of infectious diseases were obtained from 85 patients with RA, and were analyzed.

Determination of Trace Elements in Aerosols at a Rural Mountainous Area and a Local City of Eastern Shikoku Region, Japan.

A simple digestion method for a mixed cellulose membrane filter in order to analyze trace elements in aerosols was examined. The determination of Cu, Fe and Ni in the certified reference materials of China loess (CJ-1) could be conducted using the digestion method. Trace elements in aerosols smaller than 10 μm size collected at Tokushima City and near mountain areas for each season were determined as a water-soluble fraction and all components by the digestion method.

Detection of Mediastinal Lymph Node Metastases Using Indocyanine Green (ICG) Fluorescence Imaging in an Orthotopic Implantation Model.

Background: The method of quickly identifying metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes has become an urgent problem for lung cancer surgery. Indocyanine green (ICG) has the characteristic of being retained in or around the lymph nodes; its pharmacokinetic characteristics and optimal imaging time have not yet been elucidated.

Materials And Methods: The IVIS Lumina Imaging System was used to detect near infrared (NIR) fluorescence signals at different ICG doses, times and excitation/emission wavelengths in vitro.

Use of a prognostic risk score that aggregates the FDG-PET/CT SUVmax, tumor size, and histologic group for predicting the prognosis of pStage I lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: pStage I includes clinicopathologically diverse groups. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors for pStage I lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 208 patients with pStage I adenocarcinomas who underwent curative resection in our institute between 2006 and 2013.

The Role of Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio on the Effect of CRT for Patients With Rectal Cancer.

Background/aim: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an indicator of systemic inflammation and could be a predictive factor in malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of NLR in patients with lower rectal cancer who received preoperative chemo-radiotherapy (CRT).

Patients And Methods: Forty-eight patients with lower rectal cancer who underwent preoperative CRT and curative resection were enrolled.

ABCA7 Gene Expression and Genetic Association Study in Schizophrenia.

Introduction: Although ATP-binding cassette sub-family A member 7 gene () is known to be associated with Alzheimer's disease, the relationship between and schizophrenia has been unknown.

Methods: Schizophrenia patients (n = 50; 24 males, 62.1 ± 0.

Qualitative investigation of the factors that generate ambivalent feelings in women who give birth after receiving negative results from non-invasive prenatal testing.

Background: Women who receive negative results from non-invasive prenatal genetic testing (NIPT) may find that they later have mixed or ambivalent feelings, for example, feelings of accepting NIPT and regretting undergoing the test. This study aimed to investigate the factors generating ambivalent feelings among women who gave birth after having received negative results from NIPT.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to women who received a negative NIPT result, and a contents analysis was conducted focusing on ambivalent expressions for those 1562 women who responded the questionnaire.

Hepatic Stellate Cells Contribute to the Tumor Malignancy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through the IL-6 Pathway.

Background/aim: The hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have relationship to cancer progression. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of HSCs and the role of IL-6/Stat3 pathway on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression.

Materials And Methods: HCCs were co-cultured with HSCs.

Clinical characteristics and visual outcomes of work-related open globe injuries in Japanese patients.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics and visual outcomes of patients with work-related open globe injuries (OGIs) and compare them with patients with non-work-related OGIs.

Design: Retrospective, observational, multicentre, case-control study.

Methods: A total of 374 patients with work-related OGIs and 170 patients with non-work-related OGIs who presented to hospitals that belong to the Japan-Clinical Research of Study group from 2005 to 2015 were included in this study.

Diagnostic Criteria of Flow-Mediated Vasodilation for Normal Endothelial Function and Nitroglycerin-Induced Vasodilation for Normal Vascular Smooth Muscle Function of the Brachial Artery.

Background Diagnostic criteria of flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), an index of endothelial function, and nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation (NID), an index of vascular smooth muscle function, of the brachial artery have not been established. The purpose of this study was to propose diagnostic criteria of FMD and NID for normal endothelial function and normal vascular smooth muscle function. Methods and Results We investigated the cutoff values of FMD and NID in subjects with (risk group) and those without cardiovascular risk factors or cardiovascular diseases (no-risk group) in 7277 Japanese subjects (mean age 51.

Visualization Analysis of Pt and Co Species in Degraded PtCo/C Electrocatalyst Layers of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Using a Same-View Nano-XAFS/STEM-EDS Combination Technique.

In order to obtain a suitable design policy for the development of a next-generation polymer electrolyte fuel cell, we performed a visualization analysis of Pt and Co species following aging and degradation processes in membrane-electrode assembly (MEA), using a same-view. Nano-X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS)/Scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM)-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) technique that we developed to elucidate durability factors and degradation mechanisms of a MEA PtCo/C cathode electrocatalyst with higher activity and durability than a MEA Pt/C. In the MEA PtCo/C, after 5000 ADT-rec (rectangle accelerated durability test) cycles, unlike the MEA Pt/C, there was no oxidation of Pt.

Associations of dietary diversity with allergic diseases in Japanese workers: a cross-sectional study.

Background And Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the associations of dietary diversity with prevalences of allergic diseases.

Methods And Study Design: The participants were 1,317 men and women aged 20 to 63 years who were living in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan during the period 2012-2013. We obtained anthropometric data and information on lifestyle characteristics and current medical histories of allergic diseases using a self-administered questionnaire.

Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity Versus Its Stiffness Index β-Transformed Value as Risk Marker for Cardiovascular Disease.

Background The difference in the predictive ability of the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and its stiffness index β-transformed value (β-baPWV, ie, baPWV adjusted for the pulse pressure) for the development of pathophysiological abnormalities related to cardiovascular disease or future occurrence of cardiovascular disease was examined. Methods and Results In study 1, a 7-year prospective observational study in cohorts of 3274 men and 3490 men, the area under the curve in the receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was higher for baPWV than for β-baPWV for predicting the development of hypertension (0.73, 95% CI=0.

Real-world management of treatment-naïve diabetic macular oedema in Japan: two-year visual outcomes with and without anti-VEGF therapy in the STREAT-DME study.

Background/aims: To investigate real-world outcomes for best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after 2-year clinical intervention for treatment-naïve, centr-involving diabetic macular oedema (DME).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of longitudinal medical records obtained from 27 institutions specialising in retinal diseases in Japan. A total of 2049 eyes with treatment-naïve DME commencing intervention between 2010 and 2015 who were followed for 2 years were eligible.

Intraligamentous Hematoma of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

Lesions of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are rare entities in clinical practice. Here, we present the case of an intraligamentous hematoma of the ACL. A 20-year-old man (height 173 cm, weight 62.

Structural variation in the glycogen synthase kinase 3β and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes in Japanese patients with bipolar disorders.

Background: Lithium is the first-line drug for the treatment of bipolar disorders (BDs); however, not all patients responded. Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3β and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) play a role in the therapeutic action of lithium. Since structural variations were reported in these genes, it is possible that these genomic variations may be involved in the therapeutic responses to lithium.

Correction: A novel derivative of betulinic acid, SYK023, suppresses lung cancer growth and malignancy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3701.

Metastatic tumor to the orbital cavity from a primary carcinoma of the uterine cervix : a case report.

Metastatic tumors to the orbit of the eye, especially from primary carcinomas of the uterine cervix are very rare. A 64-year-old woman with a history of carcinoma of the uterine cervix presented with right eye pain and blepharoptosis for 2 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass at the right orbital apex.

Surgical training in video-assisted neck surgery-based thyroidectomy using fresh frozen human cadavers.

Endoscopic surgery has been introduced in various surgical fields. Endoscopic surgery requires different skills from open surgery due to the restricted surgical field and difficulty in identifying anatomical structures from certain viewpoints. Therefore, surgeons need to undergo sufficient surgical training before performing such surgery in the clinical setting.