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Objective　The Kawagoe City Public Health Center implemented a project to reduce salt intake through specific food service facility guidance in workplace cafeterias. Here, we report the study results.Methods　The target worksite was company A, with approximately 270 employees, located in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. There were 214 participants (approximately 80%). The project was conducted from November 2019 to November 2021. The long-term goal was to decrease the number of hypertensive cases in the city. Project outcomes included decreased salt intake, urinary sodium/potassium ratio, and average blood pressure. The project aimed to improve the cafeteria menu, focusing on salt reduction by offering Smart Meals ® and reducing the salt equivalents in all menus. The project output indicators included reduced amount of salt in cafeteria menu items, increased frequency of cafeteria use, increased positive evaluations of the cafeteria, and increased daily awareness of the need for salt reduction. Spot urine samples, blood pressure measurements, and self-administered questionnaire data were collected during annual physical examinations. The amount of salt in the cafeteria menu was evaluated by receiving monthly data from the food service company to which company A outsourced its cafeteria operations.Results　The analysis included 102 individuals with complete data from to 2019-2021. Estimated salt intake (g/day) from spot urine decreased from 10.3±2.1 in 2019 to 9.8±2.4 in 2020 and 9.5±2.0 in 2021 (P=0.003). Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) decreased from 114.7±12.5 in 2019 to 111.7±12.1 in 2020 and 110.6±12.0 in 2021 (P=0.010). Compared to 2019, changes in dietary salt equivalents in cafeteria menus in 2020 and 2021decreased for set meals A and B, curries, and noodles (P<0.001).Conclusion　We offered Smart Meals ® and reduced salt equivalents in all workplace cafeteria menus. After 1-2 years, employees' salt intake and blood pressure levels were lower. These results provide implications for the implementation of food environment improvements in public health centers and other local government agencies to promote the Health Japan 21 (third term) strategy.

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced about the expansion of duties by the radiological technologists in team medical care in April, 2010, and the importance of image interpretation assistance by the radiological technologists became higher. In that respect, for improvement in ability of image interpretation assistance by the radiological technologists in emergency medicine, we developed a support package for learning of image interpretation assistance (support package) and evaluated the usefulness for learning of image interpretation assistance by questionnaires. The support package included digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) data of case, explainer video of urgent imaging findings, and DICOM viewer. In 100% of evaluators, the support package was useful for urgent imaging findings in emergency medicine. Moreover, 68.9% of the evaluators had an experience helped by learning to use the support package in the clinical site. In conclusion, we confirmed that the support package was useful for learning of image interpretation assistance by the radiological technologists.

Associated factors of the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score were investigated in 55 patients who had had generalized MG for more than 5 years. In multivariate analysis, correlates of the MG-ADL score at the last follow-up were the total number of fast-acting treatments (FTs) (standardized regression coefficient 0.617，P < 0.001) and Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classification (standardized regression coefficient 0.227，P = 0.032) (F = 32.7，P < 0.001). In patients with a score of 5 or more on MG-ADL at the last follow-up, tendency as follows were seen: 1) early-onset (P = 0.002), 2) longer duration (P = 0.014), 3) high frequency of MGFA classification V (P = 0.017), 4) high frequency of the total number of FTs (P < 0.001), and 5) higher dose of prednisolone at the last follow-up (P = 0.003). MGFA V, early-onset without depending on E-L-T classification, or difficulty of reduction for high doses of prednisolone can be the target of novel treatment for MG, and future prospective study will be expected.

A 71-year-old man presented to our hospital with abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Peritoneal washing cytology(CY)was positive, and laparotomy findings revealed severe inflammatory changes of pancreatitis, suggesting a high likelihood of the need for combined resection of other organs. Therefore, following the exploratory laparotomy, mFOLFIRINOX was initiated as chemotherapy. After 24 courses of mFOLFIRINOX, he developed drug-induced pneumonia. Therefore, chemotherapy was interrupted, and a steroid was started. Radiotherapy was administered during steroid tapering. There was no evidence of local progression or distant metastasis. A radical resection that included pancreaticoduodenectomy and right hemicolectomy was performed 23 months after the exploratory laparotomy. CY was negative and R0 resection was achieved. However, 5 months after the operation, he developed liver abscesses and cholangitis and was suspected to have liver metastasis. He underwent PTAD and PTCD, but died due to liver failure 8 months postoperatively. The early recurrence of this case might have been caused by the lack of postoperative chemotherapy due to his frailty. Surgical indications should be carefully judged if there is a high risk of recurrence after NAC and a high possibility that ACT cannot be performed after radical surgery.

The Japanese gastric cancer clinical practice guideline recommends FOLFOX as one of the first-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer. Since FOLFOX is administered intravenously, it is helpful for patients who have difficulty in oral intake. Herein, we report a patient in which FOLFOX was significantly effective after failure to treatment with S-1 plus CDDP. A 75-year-old gastric cancer patient with paraaortic lymph node metastasis and multiple liver metastases(Stage ⅣB)was treated. Severe stomatitis and impaired consciousness due to dehydration appeared after administration of S-1 plus CDDP. After his general condition recovered, we changed his regimen to FOLFOX. No serious adverse events were observed, and partial response was achieved after 4 courses of treatment. Partial response was maintained until the onset of oxaliplatin drug allergy in the 10th course. FOLFOX is a promising option for patients with difficulties in oral intake.

A total of 306 patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) were analyzed at our department. Proton pump inhibitors or potassium-competitive acid blockers were used as the first-line treatment in 286 (93.5%) patients. Fifty-five (18.0%) patients received topical steroid swallowing therapy. During 17.7-month mean follow-up, 46.4% of the patients were followed-up with no medications, 37.3% of the patients received maintenance or on-demand therapy using acid-suppressive drugs, and 9.8% of the patients received maintenance therapy with steroid swallowing. The majority of patients with EoE were treated using a therapeutic strategy similar to that used for gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, some patients were refractory to the treatment. Current real-world treatment strategies for Japanese patients with EoE are clarified.

In 11 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who were using levodopa and had hallucinations and/or delusions considered to be attributed to use of dopamine agonists (DAs), we reduced or discontinued DAs and added zonisamide, and we then evaluated the effects of this treatment on psychiatric and motor symptoms. As a result, changes in the Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part 1.2 (Hallucinations and Psychosis) and Part 3 (Motor Examination) scores 12 weeks from baseline were -2.4 ± 0.2 and -5.1 ± 0.9 (least-squares mean ± standard error), respectively, with the score reductions being statistically significant. These results indicated that zonisamide switching therapy is a useful strategy for managing psychiatric and motor symptoms in patients with PD when DAs are reduced or discontinued to avoid the onset or exacerbation of hallucinations and delusions.

Dialysis patients are at increased risk of ischemic colitis and are likely to develop irreversible ischemic colitis. We report a rare case of ischemic colitis after the closure of a temporary ileostomy for low anterior resection(LAR)of rectal cancer in a dialysis patient. A 77-year-old man undergoing maintenance dialysis was diagnosed as having colorectal cancer with a type 2 tumor at the anastomosis site of high anterior resection performed for sigmoid colon cancer 14 years ago. After undergoing excision which included the anastomosis site of the previous operation, LAR with anastomosis in the transverse colon and rectum and temporary ileostomy were performed. Seven months later, closure of the temporary ileostomy was performed, which resulted in ileus and septic shock. Computed tomography(CT)revealed inflammation in the colon on the oral side of the anastomosis, which was diagnosed as ischemic colitis. Ischemic colitis did not improve with conservative treatment, and fever reoccurred at each maintenance dialysis session. Therefore, ileostomy was performed again, but multiple organ failure due to disseminated intravascular coagulopathy(DIC)progressed and he died. It is considered that Hartmann's operation should be selected for dialysis patients with serious underlying diseases, and if ischemic colitis is observed after closure of the stoma temporary colostomy in such patients, the lesion site of ischemic colitis should be excised promptly and colostomy should be performed again.

A 29 year-old, right-handed woman was admitted to our hospital due to her headache with fever elevation lasting for two months followed by a prolonged loss of awareness with an involuntary movement in her left hand and mouth. This movement appeared very frequently, and the duration was very short, so called "faciobrachial dystonic seizures (FBDS)". Some of FBDS were followed by prolonged loss of awareness. Brain MRI fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) image revealed high intensity lesion in the left mesial temporal lobe. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) image indicated hyper perfusion in this lesion and also the lateral temporal region. No ictal electroencephalography (EEG) change was observed before the onset of FBDS. FBDS was often followed by focal impaired awareness seizure (FIAS) in which ictal EEG showed rhythmic alpha activity arising from left mid-temporal region. This EEG seizure pattern was clearly visible in the time-frequency analysis. Given these clinical findings, along with an evidence of serum anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) antibody positive, she was diagnosed with anti-LGI1 encephalitis. Immunotherapy (methylpredonisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin) with a multiple anti-epileptic drugs therapy (lacosamide, perampanel, and lamotrigine) was highly responsible to her symptoms. Although the high intensity lesion in FLAIR image still remained after the treatment, findings of ASL and EEG showed clear correlation to her cognitive function and seizures, respectively. Temporal change in ASL imaging suggested that the hyper perfusion in ASL during the acute stage could be provided by inflammation of the encephalitis its self and also the seizures activities (FBDS and FIAS). The pathophysiological indication of anti-LGI1 encephalitis was limited in terms of the therapeutic strategy, however, our findings collectively suggested that the combination analysis of EEG activity and cerebral blood flow dynamics (ASL) could be the potential candidate.

Purpose: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease with movement disorders caused by degeneration of the substantia nigra (SN) in the midbrain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to exclude similar diseases. Recently, neuro-melanin imaging (NMI) has been proposed as an imaging method for evaluating the SN. However, the evaluation of the image using this is qualitative, and normal SN cannot be visualized at 1.5 T. This study aimed to investigate whether the SN can be quantitatively evaluated by using phase-sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR) at 1.5 T., Method: The phantom was imaged by PSIR and the accuracy of T 1 value was verified. Next, the healthy volunteers were imaged by PSIR, and the T 1 value and area of the SN were measured., Result: As a result of the phantom study, the difference of the T 1 value between PSIR and inversion recovery spin-echo in the range of the T 1 value the SN and the cerebral peduncle (500 to 1000 ms) was lesser than ±10%. The difference between the average of T 1 values of the SN measured by PSIR and the previously reported T 1 values of the SN was about 1.1%. Furthermore, the average of the area of the SN measured by PSIR was measured independently of imaging parameters by using the T 1 value as a reference., Conclusion: These results indicate the possibility of a quantitative evaluation of the SN by measuring its area and T 1 value by using PSIR at 1.5 T.

A 59-year-old woman who complained of melena and lightheadedness visited the outpatient clinic at our hospital.According to her blood test result, she had anemia, and her tumor marker levels were high.Enhanced computed tomography(CT) findings showed small intestinal cancer with multiple liver metastases.Partial resection of the small bowel for the small intestinal cancer was performed.Following the administration of fourth-line outpatient chemotherapy containing S-1 plus irinotecan( IRIS)and IRIS plus bevacizumab(IRIS plus Bev), S-1 plus oxaliplatin plus Bev(SOX plus Bev), and weekly paclitaxel (wPAC), she survived with good condition for 19 months after the surgery.

We report a 77-year-old woman suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) who presented with Hashimoto encephalopathy. The patient began to mistakenly believe that another person was sleeping in her bed from approximately 70 years of age. She began to show symptoms of parkinsonism after 75 years of age. One night, the patient began to exhibit loitering behavior, and made incomprehensible comments while also exhibiting other abnormal behaviors. Clinical examination revealed rigidity and tremor of the limbs, as well as hallucination, abnormal speech and behavior. We first considered DLB. However, serum anti-thyroglobulin levels turned out to be elevated, indicating Hashimoto encephalopathy as well, and treated the patient with steroid pulse therapy. Her mental symptoms subsequently improved, but rigidity and tremor remained. 123 I-ioflupane SPECT demonstrated decreased accumulation in the bilateral caudal basal ganglia. Anti NH 2 -terminal of α-enolase (NAE) antibody in the serum was positive. Therefore, we diagnosed the patient with the rare comorbidity of DLB and Hashimoto encephalopathy, successfully treated with immunotherapy.

Here, we present the case of a 72-year-old male who presented with swelling, stiffness, and dysesthesia in the bilateral fingers, wrists, and ankles. Although rheumatoid arthritis was initially suspected, laboratory tests were negative for rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody. Based on the findings of immune globulin G (IgG)-λ M proteins and 26% plasma cells in the bone marrow, multiple myeloma was diagnosed. Joint sonography revealed thickening of the tendon synovial sheaths around the bilateral wrist joints, palmar flexor tendon sheaths, and extensor digitorum tendon sheaths, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed soft tissue masses around the bilateral hip joints. Carpal tunnel syndrome associated with amyloid arthritis was suspected. Amyloid deposits were observed in synovectomy specimens, and the patient was then diagnosed with amyloid arthritis. He had concurrent pulmonary fibrosis, and treatment with lenalidomide/dexamethasone (Ld therapy) was initiated. The symptoms in the bilateral fingers, wrists, and ankles improved with the treatment course, and joint sonography revealed that thickening of tendon sheath and soft tissue masses disappeared after seven courses of Ld therapy. However, MRI still revealed soft tissue masses around the bilateral hip joints. In patients with joint symptoms that do not fulfill the diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis, differentiation with amyloid arthritis is necessary.

Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) has been used to evaluate abnormal conditions of entire nerves and nerve bundles. A fat-suppressed 3D turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence is one of the imaging techniques for MRN, which has been widely adopted at 1.5 T. However, MRN of the brachial plexus using a 3D TSE sequence with short-term inversion recovery (STIR) reduces the effect of fat suppression at 3.0 T. Moreover, the use of spectral pre-saturation with inversion recovery (SPIR) does not result in uniform fat suppression due to the inhomogeneity of the static magnetic field. On the other hand, it is well known that the visibility of the brachial plexus using a 3D TSE sequence greatly changes with the equivalent echo time (TE equiv ). Therefore, we optimized the fat suppression technique and TE equiv so that the 3D TSE sequence, using a combination of STIR with SPIR and an optimal TE equiv (from 73 to 110 ms), achieved better visualization of the brachial plexus without residual fat.

We report the case of a 42-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B virus infection who developed weakness and paresthesia in the extremities 2 months after administration of pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN)α-2a. Nerve conduction studies conducted 6 months after onset showed abnormal temporal dispersions in both tibial nerves. We diagnosed chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) resulting from treatment with Peg-IFNα-2a. Neurological symptoms were prolonged despite suspension of the treatment. Subsequent treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin improved both clinical symptoms and temporal dispersion. IFNα-induced CIDP is rare, but can reportedly progress even after interruption of IFN-α without immunotherapy. Patients presenting with polyneuropathy after initiation of IFN-α thus require close attention.

About 20 causative genes were reported for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Using next generation sequencer, new genes have been sequentially reported. These genes' products are thought to be involved in the pathologic mechanism of ALS. The pathophysiology is investigated and disease characteristics are discussed according to the causative genes. In addition, genetic counseling is recommended when genetic diagnosis is attempted.

A 67-year-old male was pointed out a pure ground grass opacity sized 1.7 cm in computed tomography (CT), which reminded unchanged size in CT findings for 18 months. This region was removed using pulmonary wedge resection with margin length of 0.5 cm and clustered pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells were revealed by cytological examination at the margin of the residual lung, thus additional left upper lobectomy was performed later.

We investigated the susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from 8 hospitals in Chiba prefecture during 2012-2013. We further checked the serotype of S. pneumoniae derived from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). We tested for antimicrobial susceptibility in 256 clinical isolates (137 isolates from children, 119 isolates from adults) for 25 drugs. In MIC50 and MIC90, there were very little differences between children and adults, but there were 3 isolates from adults which were resistant to levofloxacin. The most major serotypes were 15A and 3 in IPD. Additionally there was no isolation of the type contained in the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in children, so it seems that the vaccination is very effective for children. Furthermore, in contrast with our preceding report, a decreasing was seen in PCG resistant proportion of S. pneumoniae. The maximum PCG-MIC was 2 μg/mL.

Metastatic gastric cancer is uncommon, and metastasis of colorectal cancer to the stomach is extremely rare. We report a case of metastatic gastric cancer that originated from transverse colon cancer. A 52-year-old woman underwent a left hemicolectomy and D3 lymph node dissection based on a diagnosis of transverse colon cancer. The pathology results were as follows: mucinous adenocarcinoma, type 2, 6 × 11 cm, ss, ly1 v1, pm (-), dm (-), n1 (+), P0, H0, M0, Stage IIIa. The patient received XELOX as postoperative adjuvant therapy for 6 months. One year and 3 months after the left hemicolectomy, gastroscopy revealed a submucosal tumor in the lower body of the stomach and an incipient cancer in the cardia of the stomach, and a colonoscopy revealed an incipient cancer in the transverse colon. An endoscopic ultrasonography fine needle aspiration biopsy of the submucosal tumor in the lower body of the stomach was performed. Histology showed that this tumor was a mucinous adenocarcinoma similar to the primary transverse colon cancer, which led to a diagnosis of metastatic gastric cancer originating from transverse colon cancer. Distant metastasis was not detected. Endoscopic submucosal dissection of the incipient gastric cancer was performed, as were distal gastrectomy and partial colectomy. Peritoneal dissemination and para-aortic lymph node recurrence were detected 7 months after the second surgery.

A 47-year-old man with no history of anal fistula was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of perianal pain. Computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed perianal abscess. Incision and drainage were performed under spinal anesthesia. Ten months after drainage, magnetic resonance imaging revealed anal fistula on the left side of the anus. Subsequently, core-out and seton procedures were performed for ischiorectalis type III anal fistula. Pathological examination of the resected specimen of anal fistula revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, leading to the diagnosis of carcinoma associated with anal fistula. No distant metastases or enlarged lymph nodes were observed on positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. We performed abdominoperineal resection with wide resection of ischiorectalis fat tissue. The pathology results were tub2, A, ly0, v0, n0, PM0, DM0, RM0, H0, P0, M0, Stage II. Negative pressure wound therapy was performed for perineum deficiency, after which rapid wound healing was observed. Left inguinal lymph node recurrence was detected 8 months after surgery, for which radiotherapy was administered. Distant metastasis was detected 11 months after surgery. The patient died 21 months after surgery.

Nocardia infection is a fatal complication in compromised hosts and is often associated with a poor prognosis. Here we report the case of a 42-year-old man with acute liver injury treated with steroids who developed pulmonary nocardiosis. Pulmonary computed tomography was performed followed by bronchoscopy, which confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary nocardiosis. This facilitated expedient and successful treatment of the pulmonary infection. Computed tomography is a useful tool for screening respiratory tract infection in immunocompromised patients, such as those with acute liver injury.

A 69-year-old man was involved in a road traffic accident wherein his car hit a telegraph pole and turned over. He reported wearing a seatbelt and denied any injuries or pain at that time. Six hours after the accident, however, he developed melena and hematemesis. Computed tomography performed on admission to our hospital revealed no evidence of traumatic pneumothorax, intra-abdominal bleeding, or pneumoperitoneum. However, there was evidence of contrast medium leakage from the stomach. Emergency endoscopy revealed a mucosal laceration on the lesser curvature in the cardiac region, with evidence of arterial hemorrhage from visible vessels. Hemostasis was achieved endoscopically by injection of hypertonic saline-epinephrine and clipping. Endoscopic treatment of gastric injury following blunt abdominal trauma is rare. Here we report a case and present a review of the relevant literature.

The patient was a 68-year-old man who had undergone sigmoidectomy 1 year previously. Adjuvant therapy with tegafur- uraci(l UFT) and Leucovorin( UZEL) was administered. Seven months later, the carcinoembryonic antigen( CEA) level increased to 7.5 ng/mL. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a 4-cm mass in the mesorectum, and the patient was diagnosed as having local recurrence. Chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and Leucovorin( mFOLFOX6) and radiation therapy( 60 Gy) were administered. As the tumor could not be detected after chemoradiotherapy, abdominoperineal resection was performed. Pathological examination showed no cancer and indicated a complete response. The patients CEA level has not increased and no recurrence has been detected on enhanced CT for 3.5 years. The tumor could be decreased in size by chemoradiotherapy and the operation could be safely performed without resecting other organs. Although surgery is generally performed for local recurrence, multidisciplinary therapy could be useful in performing such surgery safely.

A 79-year-old woman with a history of pyothorax was admitted with a 4-day history of abdominal distension. Physical examination revealed marked abdominal distention, absent bowel sounds, and a vesicular rash over the left Th8-10 dermatome. Abdominal radiography showed gaseous distension of the colon and ileum. Colonoscopy excluded any obstructive process of the colon. Laboratory findings yielded positive results for serum IgM and IgG against the varicella zoster virus (VZV) . Paralytic ileus associated with the VZV was therefore diagnosed. The ileus improved after conservative treatment with intravenous acyclovir. Although shingles is frequently encountered, it is a rare cause of paralytic ileus. In the future, the VZV should be considered as one of the causes of paralytic ileus, and complete resolution can be achieved with conservative management.

Parasitic and tropical diseases are relatively rare in Japan. However, physicians have to realize that a patient may visit your hospital today, who is infected with a potentially fatal parasite. This review focuses on the treatment of the domestic and imported parasitic infections in Japan. Many of the drugs against parasitic diseases, especially imported protozoan diseases, have not been approved, nor have been covered by the National Health Insurance Policy. Therefore, patients who need pharmacotherapy with an unapproved drug have to be treated in one of the hospitals of the Research Group on Chemotherapy of Tropical Diseases, which imports effective drugs against major tropical diseases.

A 40's woman was hospitalized with cervical lymph node enlargement. Laboratory examinations showed elevated serum bile duct enzymes and the presence of anti-mitochondrial antibody. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography showed enlargement of not only perihepatic lymph nodes, but also axillary and cervical lymph nodes. FDG-PET showed intense uptake concordant with these lymph nodes. We performed endoscopic ultrasonographic fine-needle aspiration biopsy of a perihepatic lymph node, but detected no malignant cells. We then performed liver biopsy, and obtained a histological diagnosed primary biliary cirrhosis. Systemic lymph nodes decreased together with serum bile duct enzyme levels during treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid.

We present a case of a 73-year-old man with multifocal autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) in the pancreatic head and tail, and who had undergone sigmoidectomy and rectectomy 28 months before presenting to our department. Upon presentation, his serum IgG4 level was elevated at 267mg/dl, but tumor marker levels were within normal ranges. CT and MRI showed two localized pancreatic masses with delayed enhancement, but endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed neither stenosis nor dilatation of the main pancreatic duct. FDG-PET examination showed intense uptake in regions concordant with both tumors. The possibility of atypical AIP was a concern, but malignant tumor could not be clinically or radiologically excluded. Endoscopic ultrasonographic fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed, but no malignant cells were detected. The patient underwent subsequent distal pancreatectomy. Histological evaluation of the tumors showed the presence of many IgG4-positive plasma cells without any evidence of malignancy.

A 72-year-old male with a chief complaint of dysphagia was admitted to our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination showed double cancers with thoracic esophageal cancer in the middle esophagus and gastric cancer in the antrum. Pathological examinations of the double cancer revealed the first one to be moderately-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and the second to be well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen showed no distant or lymph node metastases. Clinical stagings of the double cancer were stage II (T2N0M0)in esophageal cancer and stage I A (T1N0M0) in gastric cancer. The patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy using docetaxel, CDDP and 5-FU. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, the adverse event was grade 2 in leucopenia and grade 2 in alopecia. Repeated macroscopic and histological examinations after chemotherapy revealed that the esophageal cancer had significant reductions in the size of tumors, leading to a partial response, and the gastric cancer had disappeared, leading to a complete response. He underwent thoracoscopy-assisted esophagectomy in the prone position, and laparoscopy-assisted gastric tube reconstruction. This neoadjuvant chemotherapy of docetaxel, CDDP and 5-FU might be effective and tolerable as with patients with double cancer of esophageal and gastric cancers.

A 66-year-old male with a chief complaint of dysphagia was admitted to our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a type 3 tumor on the gastric upper body, and pathological examinations of the biopsy specimens revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed significant wall thickness of the stomach, and regional and para-aortic lymph node metastases. The CA19-9 level was high: 978 U/mL on admission. He received neoadjuvant chemotherapy using S-1 (120 mg/body, days 1-21) and cisplatin (108 mg/body, days 8) for faradvanced gastric cancer. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed that the gastric carcinoma had significant reductions in the size of its tumors, and CT showed that the lymph node metastases had disappeared, leading to a partial response. He underwent total gastrectomy, distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy and Roux-en Y reconstruction. Pathological examination of the resected specimens showed a small number of cancer cells in the submucosal layer, suggesting a Grade 2 pathological response, and gave a positive reaction to CA19-9 staining. The postoperative CA19-9 level decreased to a normal level. This case is diagnosed as CA19-9-producing gastric cancer. He was treated on an outpatient basis with adjuvant therapy.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disorder characterized by degeneration of motor neurons of the primary motor cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. ALS patients die within 3 to 5 years without respiratory support. Detecting the causing gene is necessary to elucidate ALS. We identified mutations of optineurin (OPTN) in ALS. We found three types of mutation of OPTN: a homozygous deletion of exon 5, a homozygous Q398X nonsense mutation and a heterozygous E478G missense mutation within its ubiquitin-binding domain. Cell transfection experiments showed that the nonsense and missense mutations of OPTN abolished the inhibition of activation of nuclear factor kappa B. The missense mutation revealed a cytoplasmic distribution different from that of the wild type. A case with the E478G mutation showed OPTN-immunoreactive cytoplasmic retention, and Golgi fragmentation was identified in 70% of the anterior horn cells. TDP-43- or SOD1-positive inclusions of sporadic and SOD1 cases of ALS were also immunolabelled with anti-OPTN antibodies. Furthermore, optineurin is co-localized with fused in sarcoma (FUS) in basophilic inclusions of ALS with FUS mutation and in basophilic inclusion body disease. Our findings suggest that OPTN is involved in the great part of pathogenesis of ALS.

We report a long-term survival case of rectal cancer that was initially thought unresectable treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The patient was a 50s female with advanced rectal cancer and liver metastasis. The primary tumor was expanded locally and made abscess around the rectum. We evaluated the primary lesion as unresectable, and we performed CRT after colostomy. After radiation therapy (total 60 Gy) and chemotherapy with S-1 (3 courses), the primary tumor was remarkably reduced. The liver metastasis showed a progressive growth in size but not in number. She underwent complete resection of rectal tumor and partial resection of metastatic liver tumor. Postoperative course was uneventful, and she is alive without a recurrence for 5 years after the surgery.

A 78-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of dysphagia. He had been diagnosed as nephritic syndrome at 30 years of age and had been treated with prednisolone 10 mg/day. Blood examination revealed renal dysfunction; BUN 25 mg/dL, Cr 1. 9 mg/dL, and glomerular filtration rate(GFR)47. 4 mL/min. Endoscopy showed a type 2 tumor at the middle thoracic esophagus, and the biopsy specimen revealed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma pathologically. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen showed no metastases at distant regions and lymph nodes. Clinical staging was Stage II (cT2cN0cM0). Because of old age and renal function, we chose chemotherapy using docetaxel, nedaplatin and 5-fluorouracil. The adverse event was grade 2 in leucopenia and grade 1 in inappetence, but the renal function did not progress. Repeated endoscopic examinations after chemotherapy revealed that the esophageal cancer was significantly reduced in size, and no cancer cells were pathologically detected by endoscopic biopsy, resulting in a complete response(CR). This chemotherapy of docetaxel, nedaplatin and 5-fluorouracil might be effective and tolerable for patients with renal dys- function due to nephritic syndrome.

We report 3 cases of locoregional failure or remnant esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after chemoradiotherapy that were successfully treated by argon plasma coagulation (APC) as a salvage treatment. Ablation was performed using argon plasma coagulation APC300 (ERBE). A power setting of 60W and an argon gas flow of 1.8L/min was used. APC is able to be repeated multiply without adverse reaction, and is an effective treatment to control the tumor growth.

The patient, a 73-year-old male, was admitted to our hospital because of dysphagia. A far-advanced cancer was diagnosed at the esophagogastric junction by upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination. Pathological biopsy examinations revealed poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen showed invasion to the diaphragm. Clinical Stage was IV in an unresectable far-advanced tumor. He received radiation therapy (40 Gy/total, 2 Gy/day×20 times) in combination with chemotherapy using docetaxel (40 mg/m², day 1), nedaplatin (10mg/body, days 1-5) and 5-fluorouracil (500 mg/body, days 1-5). After this combination chemoradiation therapy (CRT), macroscopic examinations showed significant reductions in the size of tumor, leading a partial response according to the RECIST guidelines. He underwent total gastrectomy, partial resection of the lower esophagus via left thoracotomy, and Roux-en Y reconstruction with jejunostomy. Pathological examination of the resected specimens revealed Stage IV (T3N2P1CY0). The postoperative course was uneventful. He was treated on an outpatient basis without adjuvant therapy, and died 6 months after the operation by liver, spleen and lymph node metastases.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an independent risk factor for cerebral infarction. About 30 % of atherothrombotic and lacunar types of infarction are associated with DM. Cerebral infarction can be diagnosed with the help of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR angiography (MRA), as well as by carotid and cardiac ultrasonography. The selection of treatment for cerebral infarction is based on time after onset, clinical subtype and severity. Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is indicated for patients with all clinical types of cerebral infarction within 3 hours after onset. Antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulant therapy, neuroprotectants comprise another choice. Controlling risk factors such as hypertension, DM, dyslipidemia and atrial fibrillation during the chronic phase of cerebral infarction is important to prevent recurrence. Pioglitazone significantly reduced the risk of recurrent stroke in patients with DM. Antiplatelet therapy (aspirin, clopidogrel, cilostazol) should be administered to patients with noncardioembolic infarction and anticoagulant therapy should be applied to those with cardioembolic infarction.

Since 2004, the process of evaluation and approval review of new drugs and new medical devices in Japan has been undertaken by the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), which was established in the same year. PMDA conducts timely evaluation in order to ensure that public and healthcare professionals gain the maximun benefit of advanced, safe drugs and medical devices. The Japanese government has decided to reduce the "drug lag" by 2.5 years until fiscal year (FY) 2011. To achieve this goal, PMDA has undertaken some measures such as including increasing the number of reviewers reducing the period of development by significantly improving consultation services, developing guidance toward the introduction of prior assessment consultation system. Moreover, to improve of post-marketing safety measures, PMDA established a support system incorporating the data mining method. It is the PMDA's responsibility to put in its best efforts towards evaluateing various conflicting issues and appropriately balance them by assessing risks and benefits on the basis of the present scientific knowledge, in a manner that is most beneficial for public interest. Regulatory science thus provides a scientific basis for regulatory decisions. We strive to promote the regulatory science by establishing communication with external scientists and providing enhanced training to improve the staff's capability to apply regulatory science.

An 86-year-old man was admitted with dysphagia. Endoscopic examination revealed an advanced esophageal cancer located in the lower thoracic esophagus. Histological analysis revealed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The clinical stage was diagnosed as T2N0M0, stage II. He received radiation therapy in combination with chemotherapy using docetaxel, 5-fluorouracil and nedaplatin. After chemoradiotherapy (CRT), the carcinoma could not be detected by CT or endoscopy, and endoscopic biopsy revealed no cancer cells in categorization as resulting complete response. Adverse event consisted of grade 2 in leukopenia. We could not detect relapse, metastases or late side effect of CRT at present, 24 months after CRT.

A 69-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of dysphagia. The diagnosis was double cancer with hypopharyngeal and esophageal carcinoma from upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination. Pathological examinations of the double cancer revealed moderately-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Computed tomography(CT)of the neck and abdomen showed metastases of the right neck and cardiac lymph nodes. Clinical stagings of the double cancer were Stage III (T1, N1, M0)in hypopharyngeal carcinoma and Stage III (T3, N1, M0)in esophageal carcinoma, respectively. He received radiation therapy in combination with chemotherapy using docetaxel(DOC), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)and nedaplatin(CDGP). After this combination chemoradiation therapy(CRT), the adverse event was grade 2 in leucopenia and grade 2 in gastrointestinal toxicity. Repeated macroscopic and histological examinations after CRT revealed disappearance of the hypopharyngeal and advanced esophageal carcinoma with lymph node metastasis, leading to a complete response(CR). He had maintained CR for the 20 months since undergoing CRT. This combination chemotherapy of DOC, 5-FU and CDGP with radiation may well be effective and tolerable for patients with double cancer of hypopharyngeal and esophageal carcinoma.

A 58-year-old woman underwent right hemicolectomy with lymph node dissection(D2)for advanced ascending colon cancer which pathological examinations revealed to be moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma. CEA and CA19-9 levels increased 6 months after the operation. She started adjuvant chemotherapy with oral administration of UFT-E(400 mg/day), but CEA and CA19-9 levels continued to elevate. However, a recurrent tumor was not detected by computed tomography(CT)and endoscopic examinations. A local recurrence in the right lateral abdominal wall was confirmed by PET-CT examination. We then conducted modified-FOLFOX6/FOLFIRI alternating regimen(modified- FIREFOX regimen). After this therapy, repeated PET-CT showed that the abnormal FDG-uptake concentration had disappeared, leading to a complete response(CR). The adverse event was grade 3 in leucopenia and grade 2 in gastrointestinal toxicity. She had maintained CR for the 12 months since undergoing chemotherapy. CEA and CA19-9 levels reduced to the normal range. We report this case with some review of the literature.

Hepatic portal venous gas(HPVG)is a rare condition with a poor prognosis. A 40-year-old man underwent esophagectomy for stage IV esophageal cancer followed by chemotherapy. Four months later, he admitted to our hospital because of the increases of residual tumors and started chemoradiotherapy(CRT)with 5-FU, CDDP and radiation. Computed tomography(CT)scan revealed PR, and blood examination showed decreases in WBC and platelet counts. Fourty days after CRT, he suddenly complained severe pain in the left chest and abdomen, and vomiting. CT scan showed HPVG in the left lobe of the liver and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in the wall of the gastric tube. He died of multiple organ failure. To our knowledge, this is a first case of HPVG associated with CRT for esophageal cancer.

A 52-year-old-man was admitted to our hospital for obstructive jaundice. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangio drainage (PTCD) and endscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were performed, and pointed out stenosis of lower common bile duct (CBD) and pancreatobiliary maljunction. Brushing cytology of this lesion was negative for malignancy. CT and MRI revealed chronic inflammatory change in groove lesion with no mass formation suggesting tumor. So we diagnosed groove pancreatitis (segmental form) associated with pancreatobiliary maljunction, and operation (resection of the bile duct and biliary reconstruction by Roux-en-Y) was done. Resected specimen was revealed stenosis of the bile duct formed by fibrous tissue with no malignancy compatible to groove pancreatitis pathologically. This is first reported case of groove pancreatits associated with pancreatobiliary maljunction.

A 75-year-old man with advanced gastric cancer underwent distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection(D1)and Roux-en Y reconstruction. Pathological staging was Stage IV (T3N3P1CY1M1), and curability was Cur C. He started adjuvant chemotherapy with oral administration of S-1(100 mg/body weight), but experienced grade 3 anorexia for one month. Abdominal computed tomography(CT)2 months postoperatively showed multiple liver metastases and ascites. We then conducted tailored S-1/CPT-11 as second-line chemotherapy(S-1 80 mg/body weight on days 1-5 and 8-12, CPT-11 60 mg/body weight on days 1 and 8). After 5 courses of this therapy, CT showed that the liver metastases and ascites had disappeared, leading to a complete response(CR). The only adverse event was general grade 1 fatigue. He continues to undergo oral administration of S-1(80 mg/body weight)as maintenance therapy, and maintained CR for 12 months since undergoing chemotherapy. Adverse events in tailored S-1/CPT-11 combination therapy are mild and tolerable, making this regimen a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer.

The aim of education in the Medical Laboratory Science course, Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences, is to bring up train students who have Kitasato spirit, for careers in laboratory medicine of hospital or scientific staff of medical companies or as researchers. General and enlightening education concerning "Kitasato spirit" and professional education composed of major subjects was carried out in the first and during the 2nd and two third of 3rd grade, respectively. Medical practice and research training were alternatively carried out for 6 months between November of the 3rd year and November of the 4th year, in order to gain practical experience. Two problem-based learning (PBL) tutorial courses, "Infectious Diseases Course" and "Team Medical Care--Interprofessional Collaborations" were also carried out at the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 4th years, respectively, in order to convert a memory to knowledge. Team medical care course enrolls 1000 students at the School of Allied Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Kitasato College Applied Clinical Dietetics Course, is now one of special courses available at our university. This attempt is thought to result in a way of thinking that recognizes the importance of co-operation as a team member and personal contributions to actual team medical care.

The patient was a 66-year-old male who had descending colon cancer with multiple liver metastases and paraaortic lymph node metastases. He underwent a left colectomy with lymph node dissection, but the operation resulted in curability C. The serum CEA level before the operation was 205.5 ng/ml. After 2 courses of 5-FU/LV as first-line chemotherapy, this treatment could not be continued due to grade 3 anorexia. As second-line chemotherapy, the patient was treated with daily oral administration of TS-1 (100 mg/day) for 3 weeks. Due to grade 3 anorexia, this treatment could not be continued. Tailored TS-1/CPT-11 (TS-1 80 mg/day from day 1 to day 21, CPT-11 65 mg/m(2) day 1, 15) combination therapy was then chosen as third-line chemotherapy. After 6 courses of combination therapy, the tumor marker (CEA) was decreased and para-aortic lymph nodes could not be detected by computed tomography (CT). Only grade 1 fatigue was noted as an adverse reaction to the treatment. The patient's good QOL was achieved during follow-up over 24 months with the cancer controlled. This case suggests that patients with non-curative resected colon cancer could benefit from TS-1/CPT-11 combination therapy as a second-line or third-line treatment.