A novel method for isolating podocytes using magnetic activated cell sorting.

Background: A large body of accumulated data has now revealed that podocytes play a major role in the development of proteinuria. However, the mechanisms of podocyte injury, leading to foot process effacement and proteinuria, are still unclear partly due to the current lack of an appropriate strategy for preparing podocytes. In this study, we have developed a novel method of rapid isolation of podocytes from mice using magnetic activated cell sorting with an anti-nephrin antibody.

Retrospective analysis of laparoscopic salpingostomy and conservative expectant management of tubal ectopic pregnancy.

Purpose: To identify predictive factors for successful expectant management of ectopic pregnancy and to evaluate the prognosis for fertility after expectant management and laparoscopic salpingostomy.

Methods: Forty-six cases of expectant management and eighty cases of laparoscopic salpingostomy for tubal ectopic pregnancy were retrospectively analyzed. Subjects were classified in three groups: those who underwent laparoscopic salpingostomy, those treated by expectant management only, and those treated by expectant management but requiring additional treatment.

Therapeutic strategy for scirrhous type gastric cancer.

Background/aims: As no appropriate therapeutic strategy has yet been established in scirrhous type gastric cancer, we retrospectively analyzed the therapeutic outcomes in patients with this type of cancer.

Methodology: A total of 183 patients with scirrhous type gastric cancer were enrolled in the study. 127 of them underwent resection; 61 potentially curative gastrectomy; 66 palliative resection; and 56 had no surgery.

Specific changes of urinary excretion of cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen in pre- and postmenopausal women: correlation with other markers of bone turnover.

Urinary excretion of cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) has been reported to be a specific marker of bone resorption [18]. We assessed a new immunoassay for NTx as an indicator of changes in bone resorption caused by spontaneous menopause and compared cross-sectionally the levels of urinary NTx, hydroxylysylpyridinoline (HP), lysylpyridinoline (LP), hydroxyproline (OH-Pr), other serum biochemical indices, and lumbar spine and proximal femur bone mineral density (BMD). Eighty-one Japanese women aged 22-77 participated in this study; 36 were premenopausal and 45 were postmenopausal.