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We report the case of a 61-year-old woman with a collision cancer of primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma in the stomach that was cured surgically. She achieved complete remission after treatment (R-CHOP and radiation therapy;40.8Gy/22Fr) for a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of diffuse large B cell type from September 2016 to April 2017. In August 2018, endoscopic findings showed a type 3 tumor with a white coat on the posterior wall of the upper gastric body. A biopsied specimen showed that the tumor was a SCC. Total gastrectomy, distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, and D2 lymph node dissection were performed. Pathological examination showed a SCC invasion to the spleen, and normal gastric mucosa between the esophagus and SCC of the stomach. Based on the pathological TNM classification, the tumors were T4N1M0 (Stage IIIB) for the SCC and T1N0M0 (Stage IA) for the adenocarcinoma of the stomach. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1, and was recurrence free at 9 months after the surgery.

CACH/VWM (childhood ataxia with central nervous system hypomyelination/vanishing white matter) disease is caused by mutations in the genes encoding the subunits of eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2B), but its etiology is poorly understood. Here, we attempt to provide an explanation for the pathogenic mechanism of this disease, based on the crystal structure of eIF2B.

The following studies were performed to solve current problems in glaucoma care and to pursue quality glaucoma care. Using a scanning peripheral anterior chamber depth analyzer that we developed, we: 1) conducted cross-sectional screening for eyes with angle closure; 2) examined longitudinal changes in anterior chamber depth and occurrence rates of primary angle closure in local senior residents; 3) investigated the significance of the anterior chamber and the angle of eyes with open angle glaucoma; and 4) looked into possible applications of anterior chamber depth and the angle in routine examinations. We investigated the effects of retinal glial cells and optic nerve astrocytes on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and neurite growth using a culture system. We also identified candidate genies of retinal glial cells and optic nerve astrocytes affecting RGC survival and neurite growth using microarray and siRNA systems. SRC, a membrane-associated 60-kDa tyrosine kinase, is reported to be involved in neuron death and neurite growth. We developed two types of gene-targeted mice in which we modified the status of SRC phosphorylation. We compared RGC survival and neurite growth by conducting in vivo and in vitro experiments. Adherence is currently a very important issue in the field of glaucoma. We developed a nm thick and composed of 21.5 chitosan-sodium alginate pairs. IOP reduction and its duration, as well as adverse effects, were investigated. In addition, we established and evaluated a support system for glaucoma care in an effort to promote participation of glaucoma patients in glaucoma care using information and communication technology. This system improved the literacy of glaucoma patients as well as glaucoma medical therapy. At the same time, in order to ably provide glaucoma care given the increase in the number of glaucoma patients and the shortage of glaucoma specialists, a tele-medicine system for ophthalmology was developed, in which ophthalmologists are able to operate a slit-lamp system from remote areas. We compared the accuracy of diagnosis of ocular surface diseases using this tele-medicine system with that of a conventional slit-lamp system. We anticipate that the combination of Internet-based glaucoma support system with the tele-medicine system for ophthalmology will form a new framework for glaucoma care for both chronic and acute stage patients.

Women undergoing elective cesarean delivery were randomly assigned to receive a spinal anesthesia in either the semi-lateral (group SL) position or the supine position with uterine displacement (group UD). After spinal injection, group SL patients were turned to a 15 degrees left lateral supine position, and group UD patients had uterine displacement by hand. Ephedrine 4 mg i.v. was administered in case of nausea/vomiting and/or hypotension, defined as a systolic blood pressure below 100 mmHg. Arm systolic arterial pressure and leg systolic arterial pressure were similar in both groups, but the lowest leg systolic arterial pressure until delivery was significantly lower in the UD group (P < 0.05). Mean ephedrine requirement was significantly less in the SL group (P < 0.05). Apgar scores did not differ, but umbilical artery pH values were significantly higher in patients of the group SL (P < 0.01).

Purpose: To investigate the distribution of anterior chamber depth (ACD), the influence of age and sex on ACD, and the frequency of eyes with a shallow anterior chamber, the scanning peripheral anterior chamber (SPAC) depth analyzer was used in measuring these parameters in subjects visiting a health screening center., Methods: Paramedical staff measured the ACD of 285 subjects (250 eyes of 141 men, 264 eyes of 144 women) who visited the health screening center between October 31 and December 22, 2005. Based on the data provided by SPAC, the following parameters were determined : distribution of ACD from the central region to the peripheral region, distribution of the grades of ACD, frequency of suspected or possible angle-closure eyes, and number of measurable points., Results: ACD decreased with age, and peripheral ACDs of subjects 60 years of age or older were significantly shallower than those of subjects younger than 60, both in men and in women. The ACD tended to be shallower in women than in men in each generation. The high risk of angle closure among women was estimated as 1.6%, and possible angle closure was considered likely for 1.9% of women. Among men, 0.8% were considered vulnerable to possible angle closure. Women 50 years of age or older were at greater risk., Conclusions: The decrease with age in peripheral ACD was shown quantitatively in both men and women. Eyes at risk for angle closure were more frequent in women 50 years of age or older.

Antimicrobial agents sometimes cause the adverse effects of diarrhea and loose stool. Antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacteria are used to prevent these adverse effects. The bacteria are not resistant to several antimicrobial agents, although the bacterium preparations are sometimes prescribed the antimicrobial agents concomitantly. Therefore this paper reports that the minimal inhibitory concentration of three new antimicrobial agents against antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacteria were determined using a microdilution method with cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth. Furthermore, we investigated antimicrobial agents that are prescribed concomitantly with antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacterium preparations or a clostridium butyricum preparation. The bacteria were susceptible to the three new antimicrobial agents. Approximately 50% of the bacterium preparations were prescribed alone, and 30% were prescribed concomitantly with antimicrobial agents that show antimicrobial activity against the bacteria. Consequently, we suggest that pharmacists need to confirm prescriptions and to provide more drug information on antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacterium preparations.

We report a case of advanced gastric cancer with bulky N2 lymph node metastases resected after successful treatment with novel oral anticancer drug TS-1 as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). A 62-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of epigastralgia and dysphagia. Endoscopic examination revealed type 3 advanced gastric cancer in the upper gastric body. Computed tomography (CT) showed bulky N2 lymph node metastases. He was treated with a daily dose of 120 mg of TS-1 for 4 consecutive weeks, followed by 2 weeks of rest. No serious adverse reaction was observed. After 1 course of treatment, the primary tumor and metastatic lymph nodes were reduced. Therefore, a total gastrectomy combined with splenectomy and D2 lymph node dissection was performed. Histopathologically, a few viable cancer cells remained in the resected stomach and metastatic lymph nodes were found. The histological effect of NAC was judged to be grade 2. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and he has been well for 11 months following surgery. TS-1 as NAC is considered to be effective for advanced gastric cancer.

The purpose of this study was to investigate recent changes in marital norm and reality in middle-aged couples, and how marital reality, as perceived by oneself, was associated with their demographic variables, as well as their marital satisfaction. A questionnaire was administered, and 277 pairs of middle-aged, nuclear-family couples participated. Main findings were as follows. First, factor analysis of marital reality variables extracted three factors: love each other, respect for the husband's life style, and respect for wife's life style. Second, concerning the wife's education and income, 'respect for the wife's life style' was highest among highly educated double income couples. Third, 'love each other' was the most important predictor of marital satisfaction for both husbands and wives. Finally, 'respect for the husband's the life style' was associated with husband's satisfaction, while that for the wife's was not with wife's marital satisfaction.

The polyamine content in cells is regulated by both polyamine biosynthesis and its transport. We recently obtained and characterized three clones of polyamine transport genes (pPT104, pPT79 and pPT71) in Escherichia coli. The system encoded by pPT104 was the spermidine-preferential uptake system and that encoded by pPT79 the putrescine-specific uptake system. Furthermore, these two systems were ABC (ATP binding cassette) transporters consisting of four kinds of proteins: pPT104 clone encoded PotA, -B, -C, and -D proteins and pPT79 clone encoded PotF, -G, -H, and I proteins. PotD and -F proteins were periplasmic substrate binding proteins and PotA and -G proteins membrane associated proteins having the nucleotide binding site. PotB and -C proteins, and PotH and -I proteins were transmembrane proteins probably forming channels for spermidine and putrescine, respectively. Their amino acid sequences in the corresponding proteins were similar to each other. The functions of PotA and -D proteins in the spermidine-preferential uptake system encoded by pPT104 clone were studied in detail through a combined biochemical and genetic approach. In contrast, the putrescine transport system encoded by pPT71 consisted of one membrane protein (PotE protein) having twelve transmembrane segments, and was active in both the uptake and excretion of putrescine. The uptake was dependent on the membrane potential, and the excretion was due to the exchange reaction between putrescine and ornithine. In mouse mammary carcinoma FM3A cells, it was shown that the antizyme, which negatively regulates the amount of ornithine decarboxylase, also negatively regulates the activity of polyamine transport.

Gerontology is a new field including various disciplines such as medicine, engineering science, social science etc, and is sometimes called as "longevity science". Because of the wide area of the field, it is important to show the scope of the science and the development of its thesaurus contributes to this end. We developed a relevant thesaurus based on the research funded by Longevity Science Promotion Organization, and using the thesaurus, we also developed a database and retrieval system of the gerontology research. This system can be accessed on the Internet.

A rare case of parosteal osteosarcoma of the cranial vault has been reported. A 32-year-old male was admitted complaining of a hard scalp mass at the left temporoparietal region for several years. On admission he showed no neurological abnormalities. The craniogram, CT and MRI revealed a calcifying mass attached by a small stalk to the skull, and a radiolucent cleft between the tumor and the skull. On operation, the tumor proved to be hard, and it existed between the temporal muscle and the periosteum. A small tumoral attachment existed at the parietal region. The tumor was detached from the skull and the surrounding cranial bone was removed. The histological diagnosis was parosteal osteosarcoma. There have been only 12 cases of parosteal osteosarcoma of the skull reported. The pathological, neuroradiological findings and treatment of parosteal osteosarcoma were the main topics of discussion. This disease should be considered as one of the possible etiologies when a patient with a tumor of the skull is encountered.

The present author investigated morphometrically the changes associated with age in 137 ligamenta flava of the lumbar spine obtained from 79 patients with lumbar diseases and obtained the following results. The predominant changes were decrease of elastic fibers and increase of collagen fibers. The area of type II collagen fibers increased with age in the dorsal and central portions. Those were followed by proliferation of cartilage cells and calcification. The proliferation of cartilage cells was marked in the cranial and caudal insertion portions, and the layer of cartilage cells widened with age. Two types of calcification, deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) and deposition of hydroxyapatite (HAP), were observed. HAP deposits were small and frequently found in the dorsal portion, while CPPD deposits were larger and widely distributed.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of cephaloridine on renal function, especially blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels in clinical cases. The study was performed in cases given the drug for prophylaxis of postoperative infections and treatment of various infections. Drip infusion of more than 2 g of cephaloridine (Ceporan) for 2 hours was given twice a day to 213 cases. The dose is thought to make it possible to maintain an effective blood level of the drug. Levels of blood urea nitrogen were measured before and after the administration in 197 cases and serum creatinine was measured in 116 out of 197 cases. Elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen were observed in 12 cases while abnormal serum creatinine levels were found in 8 cases. Transient and slight rising of blood urea nitrogen levels was observed in many cases of the prophylactic group due to postoperative catabolism or influence of the surgery. Bases on precise analysis of cases who showed abnormal levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, the levels were proved to improve or return to normal and to be unchanged. So that, it is said that the administration of the drug is not necessarily affect the renal function of clinical cases.