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Atrial fibrillation surgery is beneficial for restoring sinus rhythm and maintaining the physiological atrial contraction to prevent left atrial thrombus formation. The radial procedure, a good alternative to the maze procedure, has been performed at Nippon Medical School;it was designed to maintain physiological atrial excitation and blood flow. The design reduces the incision line and avoids conduction delay in the atrium through the use of ablation devices and intraoperative mapping of atrial excitation patterns. In addition, it preserves sinus node function and cardiac conduction pathway;this could prevent postoperative pacemaker implantation.

In recent years, an increasing number of reports have demonstrated the usefulness of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT). In our department, we consider cT3-4 and/or cN-positive locally advanced rectal cancer as an indication for NACRT. We have retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of NACRT in 11 patients who underwent NACRT from November 2018 to July 2022. All patients were male, with a median age of 69 years, and cStage was Ⅱa: 1, Ⅱc: 1, Ⅲb: 5, Ⅲc: 3, and Ⅳa: 1. All patients completed NACRT, and there were no cases of CTCAE Grade 3 or higher adverse events or treatment interruptions. The response rate was 72.7%, and histological response grade were Grade 3: 1(9.1%), 2: 4 (36.4%), 1b: 6(54.5%), and surgical margin was negative in all cases. Pathological down stage was obtained in 45.5% of cases, and pCR was obtained in 1 case(9.1%). The median observation period was 17 months, and during the period, 2 cases(18.2%)developed recurrence, both of which were pulmonary metastases, and no local recurrence including pelvic lymph node recurrence was observed. NACRT for locally advanced rectal cancer is considered a relatively safe and highly locally controllable preoperative treatment.

A 76-year-old woman was diagnosed with left-sided transverse colon cancer invading the pancreatic tail with multiple liver metastases and peritoneal dissemination. Preoperative diagnosis was cT4b(SI)N2aM1c(H3, P1), cStage Ⅳc, harboring BRAF V600E mutation. Transverse colostomy was performed, and FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab(BEV)was administered. After 12 chemotherapy cycles, the primary tumor and metastatic lesions showed partial response. Because of CEA elevating after 5-FU plus LV plus BEV as maintenance therapy was changed, the regimen was switched to encorafenib plus binimetinib plus cetuximab as the second-line chemotherapy. The patient developed dermatitis around the colostomy after the start of the second-line chemotherapy, resulting in temporally cetuximab monotherapy. After improvement of dermatitis, the patient resumed encorafenib plus binimetinib, improving liver metastases. Eight months after the start of the second- line, the patient has been administered with triple therapy and had stable disease status.

A 48-year-old woman presented with abnormal electrocardiogram was diagnosed as having a left atrial tumor by echocardiography. She was asymptomatic and had no history of cardiac abnormality. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a relatively hyperechoic and heterogenous tumor with the diameter of 5~6 cm originated from the left atrial septum but could not detect atrial septal defect. Transesophageal echocardiography showed atrial septal defect of fossa ovalis but failed to uncover shunt flow behind the tumor. We diagnosed as left atrial myxoma complicated with atrial septal defect, and an operation was performed through small right intercostal thoracotomy. The tumor was excised and the atrial septal defect was completely repaired after pulmonary vein isolation. The post-operative course was uneventful. Cardiac myxoma coexisting atrial septal defect is rare, and preoperative transesophageal echocardiography is considered essential for the diagnosis of coexistent lesions especially in the patients minimally invasive cardiac surgery is planned.was uneventful. Cardiac myxoma coexisting atrial septal defect is rare, and preoperative transesophageal echocardiography is considered essential for the diagnosis of coexistent lesions especially in the patients minimally invasive cardiac surgery is planned.

The patent foramen ovale (PFO) is known as a risk of paradoxical embolism in patients with deep venous thromboses. However, PFO is usually found after systemic embolic symptoms become apparent. A 60-year-old male had complained of dyspnea for two weeks. Ultrasound echocardiography showed a thrombus straddling PFO, and venous echography showed blood clots in the right popliteal and soleus veins. Contrast computed tomography revealed multiple pulmonary embolisms and a thrombus in the right atrium expanding to the left atrium through the atrial septum. The straddling thrombus in the atrium and pulmonary thrombi were extirpated under circulatory arrest with deep hypothermia. An inferior vena cava filter was inserted intravenously four days after surgery. The patient was discharged on the 19th postoperative day without any signs of thromboembolism. Prompt surgery is considered important to prevent thromboembolism in the case of impending paradoxical embolism.

A 56-year-old man presented at a local hospital with nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, and white stool. CT scan showed hypovascular mass in pancreatic uncinate process and multiple peritoneal nodules. The diagnosis was stage Ⅳ pancreatic cancer(unresectable), and the patient underwent chemotherapy with GEM plus nab-PTX. He also claimed a severe cancer pain at presentation and was prescribed oxycodone 60 mg/day. After 43 months of chemotherapy, the duodenum was obstructed by tumor growth on CT scan, then he underwent duodenal stent placement. He eventually needed a total of 3 duodenal stenting for re-obstruction. He could keep adequate oral intake after the treatment. He also suffered from severe pain by progressed tumor, then underwent celiac plexus block and palliative radiation therapy(20 Gy/5 Fr). Afterwards his cancer pain has been under control. He underwent chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX for next step. A patient with stage Ⅳ pancreatic cancer may survive for a long period with adequate QOL as a result of multidisciplinary treatment.

The impact of colonic stenting on long-term prognosis has not yet been clarified. We compared background factors, progression-free survival, and overall survival between patients with stents(stent group)who underwent surgery after colonic stenting as a bridge to surgery and patients without stents(non-stent group)who underwent emergency surgery for left-sided colorectal cancer ileus. There was no difference between the 2 groups in the induction of adjuvant chemotherapy, but the use of oxaliplatin-base was highly introduced in the stent group(p=0.03). The 5-year DFS rates were 55.1% and 70.3%(p=0.21)and the 5-year OS rates were 90.7%and 70%(p=0.35)in the stent and non-stent groups, respectively. In the present study, colon stent placement did not affect long-term prognosis.

We experienced a case of low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm complicated by pseudomyxoma peritonei that was successfully treated with cytoreductive surgery and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The patient was a 26- year-old man with massive ascites and a swollen appendix on the computed tomography(CT). The appendix was a cystic mass of 5 cm in size. The entire parietal peritoneum, omentum, stomach, spleen, gall bladder, and entire colon were covered with numerous mucous nodules. Total colectomy, total gastrectomy, splenectomy, cholecystectomy, total omentectomy, parietal peritonectomy, ileostomy, and intraperitoneal irrigation were performed. The pathological diagnosis was low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm. Postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cisplatin and mitomycin C was performed. A residual tumor was found on the dorsal side of the hepatoduodenal ligament 3 months postoperation on the CT. The residual tumor was successfully excised via a concomitant resection of the hepatic caudate lobe. Postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy was then performed. No recurrence was found at 8 months postoperation. The addition of early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy improved the patient's quality of life in a short period. This could be one of the treatment options.

The patient was a 52-year-old man who had undergone total arch replacement for type A aortic dissection 2 months before. He was admitted to our hospital with hemoptysis due to aortobronchial fistula. We planned to perform 1-stage open chest surgery, but he passed away before the surgery. We considered that earlier open surgery or emergency endovascular stent grafting might have been effective in avoiding this result.

A 73-year-old man was hospitalized with complaints of general malaise, limb muscle weakness and weight loss progressing in 6 months. Ca, ACE, lysozyme, sIL-2R, vitamin 1.25 D was high in the blood test. Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy on CT were not recognized, and CD4/CD8 ratio increased by bronchoalveolar lavage. In the 67 Ga-citrate scintigraphy, accumulation was observed on the thigh and shoulder to the upper arm bilaterally. A muscle biopsy was performed from the right femoris muscle where the gadolinium contrast effect in the T 1 weighted image was observed. As muscle biopsy revealed non-toxic epithelial cell granulomas, he was diagnosed as muscle sarcoidosis. Even if bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy is not observed, muscle sarcoidosis should be considered in patients developed with hypercalcemia and limb muscle weakness.

We report a case of colostomy-free, long-term survival following 5-FU/CDDP for the local recurrence of anal cancer after chemoradiation therapy(CRT). The patient was a 48-year-old woman who was diagnosed with cStage ⅢA anal cancer. She was treated with CRT(5-FU/MMC plus 59 Gy)and achieved a complete response upon treatment completion. A local recurrence was detected on the left-side wall of her rectum after 6 months. We recommended abdominoperineal resection but the patient refused operation. The patient was treated with chemotherapy consisting of 5-FU(1,000mg/m / 2/day)on days 1-5 and CDDP(100mg/m / 2/day)on day 2. Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy appeared following the completion of 5 courses. Therefore, the dose was reduced to 60%. Twenty-five courses of this treatment were continued and chemotherapy was completed. The patient has been alive with no sign of recurrence for 6 years and 8 months from the initial treatment. CRT for anal cancer is becoming a standard therapy but local recurrence is possible. In these cases, abdominoperineal resection is required. Chemotherapy with 5-FU/CDDP in cases of recurrence can be a colostomy-free option.

A 71-year-old man underwent low anterior resection for rectal cancer 10 years prior. He underwent resection of liver metastasis once and that of lung metastases multiple times after the primary surgery. Computed tomography revealed a mass measuring 22mm in size in the pancreatic body 10 years after the rectal resection. We inspected it before surgery by performing EUS-FNA. On suspicion of metastasis of rectal cancer or primary pancreatic cancer, we performed distal pancreatectomy. The pancreatic tumor was diagnosed as metastasis of the rectal cancer. There were multiple metastases in the resected specimen that we were unable to indicate at the preoperative inspection. Resectable pancreatic metastasis from colorectal cancer is rare, but some patients with long-term survival have been reported. If a patient is tolerant to pancreatectomy and has no metastasis in other organs, the patient should be considered as a good candidate for pancreatectomy.

Each of the billions of the cells in our body exhibits their identity with unique gene expression profile. Recent advances in single cell transcriptomics enable to conduct cell taxonomy identifying new cell types and to re-arrange cells in order of pseudo-time course describing differentiation status of each cell. Even though the cost is still high, the single cell transcriptomics now becomes one of the conventional assays. We have applied the single cell gene expression analysis to dissect human development. In this article, we show our recent progress on a study describing early development of the kidney using human iPS cells by the single cell transcriptomics.

A 16-year-old male high-school student experienced generalized itchy wheal and dyspnea during physical exercise after lunch. Each food material of his lunch was examined using a prick-prick test, allergen-specific IgE test (ImmunoCAP ® ), and provocation test. The prick-prick test was positive for black tiger shrimp (raw and heated) and white leg shrimp (heated). Allergen-specific IgE test (ImmunoCAP ® ) showed absolutely negativity for all suspected foods. The food-exercise provocation test using heated black tiger shrimp with additional aspirin intake finally induced anaphylaxis.We studied the IgE-binding molecules from shrimp using a purification procedure and Western blotting, with sera from the patient and several controls. A 40-kDa protein, corresponding to FBA, was found to be the major IgE-binding allergen component in this patient. Currently, the precise history and the prick-prick test using both raw and heated shrimps are useful to diagnose shrimp-induced FDEIA. Because the allergen-specific IgE test is insufficient to diagnose the cause of the symptoms, a component allergen-specific IgE test after the identification of the causative allergenic protein, such as FBA, is required.

Traumatic carotid cavernous fistula(CCF)is known to present a direct connection between the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery(ICA)and the cavernous sinus(CS). In rare cases, the fistula is formed between the intradural internal carotid artery(ICA)and the cavernous sinus(CS)via a pseudoaneurysm(pAN), requiring appropriate management and aggressive surgical treatment. We describe a 58-year-old man who sustained a severe head injury diagnosed as traumatic CCF treated with an intradural pAN procedure and transarterial coil embolization combined with a Low-profile Visualized Intraluminal Support(LVIS)stent. While slow arteriovenous shunt flow persisted at the end of the surgery, the fistula was completely occluded on the digital subtraction angiography obtained 2 weeks after the procedure. It was suspected that the flow-diversion effect of the LVIS stent might have caused the curable progression of the fistula occlusion.

We report an 87-year-old woman who presented with unexpected systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve after the induction of general anesthesia. She was receiving medication for hypertension and cerebral infarction. There were no abnormal findings on her preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) examination. After the induction of general anesthesia, she presented with refractory hypotension. We performed TTE and diagnosed SAM of the mitral valve. Her hemodynamic state was improved by fluid infusion and administering intravenous phenylephrine. After the surgery, we performed a morphologic assessment of the patient's heart using TTE. We found a thick basal interventricular septum and a small distance from the mitral coaptation point. to the septum. This case shows that SAM of the mitral valve can occur in a patient without preoperative cardiac abnormalities. SAM of the mitral valve should be considered in the differential diagnosis of refractory hypotension, particularly in elderly patients. Perioperative TTE is a useful tool for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of hemodynamic instability.

We experienced rocuronium-induced anaphylaxis in a 62-year-old man who was scheduled for laparoscopic ileocecal excision for cecal cancer under general anes- thesia. The patient did not have a preoperative history and examinations suggestive of heart disease, or pre- disposing factors for myocardial infarction. Just after induction of anesthesia, we noticed abnormally low blood pressure and ST segment elevation on his elec- trocardiogram. The surgery was postponed and percu- taneous coronary intervention was performed to treat coronary artery stenosis. Re-operation was planned 73-days after the first operation. The patient suffered cardiac arrest just after induction of general anesthesia At the same time, we noticed systemic erythema all over his body, which led to the diagnosis of anaphy- laxis. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed and the surgery was postponed once again. Cardiovas- cular agents, including adrenaline, noradrenaline, atro- pine and amiodarone, improved his hemodynamics. In addition, steroids and anti-histamines were also admin- istered to treat anaphylaxis. We advised him to undergo skin tests to determine the causative agent of anaphylaxis, but he declined. Instead, a basophil activa- tion test was performed, which showed a positive reac- tion to rocuronium. Therefore, we planned general anesthesia without using muscle relaxants such as rocuronium for the third attempt at surgery. The sur- gery was performed safely with this protocol. It is likely that his symptoms in the first general anesthesia were caused by Kounis syndrome. We conclude that the basophil activation test seems to be valuable in determining the causative agent of anaphylaxis, partic- ularly when a patient does not agree to undergo skin tests.

A 70-year-old man who underwent gastrectomy for Stage III C gastric cancer developed lymph node(LN)metastasis posterior to the pancreatic head 3 years after the radical surgery.He was first treated with radiotherapy(RT)followed by chemotherapy.The irradiated tumor regressed completely.However, the cancer relapsed in a single para-aortic LN and he was treated with RT to the lesion followed by chemotherapy.Although it completely regressed, later, lung metastasis was observed.The lung lesions were well suppressed by switching to docetaxel; however, the cancer relapsed again in a mediastinal LN, and it was not responsive to docetaxel.The growing mediastinal lesion was irradiated again, which resulted in stable disease.The patient has been treated for 4 years and 7 months with all lesions being well-managed, and chemotherapy is being continued.Recurrent gastric cancer after surgery tends to present as multiple lesions; therefore, the principle therapy is systemic chemotherapy and RT is unlikely to be suitable.However, especially in cases of a solitary lesion that is chemo-resistant, RT could be an optimal option and contribute to long-term survival even in patients with recurrent gastric cancer.

We developed the Interpersonal Sensitivity/Privileged Self Scale (IPS) to measure personality traits related to “modern-type depression,” and assessed its validity and reliability through three surveys completed by 804 undergraduates. Factors for validity were examined by confirmatory factor analysis. As predicted, the scale comprised two superordinate factors: interpersonal sensitivity (IS) and privileged self (PS). Criterion-related validity for the IPS scale was assessed by examining its relationship with depressive symptoms and typus melancholicus, and by comparing subscale scores regarding depression types (i.e., melancholic, atypical). All subscale scores were positively correlated with depressive symptoms. Correlations between typus melancholicus and subscales showed that the interpersonal sensitivity subscale was positively correlated with typus melancholicus, while the privileged self subscale was not correlated. An analysis of variance revealed that the “self-righteousness” score was significantly higher for the atypical depression group compared to the melancholic depression group. The test-retest correlation indicated good test-retest reliability for all subscales. Overall, the findings indicated that the IPS has high validity and reliability.

Background: In the case of ultrasound-guided lum- bar plexus and quadratus lumborum blocks, the mus- cle tissue surrounding the nerve is often used as a marker of the nerves. We examined sectional areas of the muscles surrounding the fourth lumbar vertebrae on computed tomography (CT) images., Methods: Subjects comprised of 102 patients who underwent surgery along with preoperative CT imaging, including transverse process sections of the fourth lumbar vertebra. We measured sectional areas of the musculus erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, and psoas major muscles., Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that in males, age and weight were factors influencing sec- tional area for all muscles. However, for females, age only affected -sectional area of the quadratus lumbo- rum., Conclusions: This investigation clarified that signifi- cant muscle atrophy occurs in elderly individuals. Results indicate that when performing ultrasound- guided deep nerve blocks, it is beneficial to confirm the positional relationship of the nerve with the target muscle before using CT.

A 77-year-old male with many comorbidities underwent off pump coronary artery bypass grafting. A severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta was revealed by preoperative computed tomography(CT) and epiaortic echography during operation. Therefore, V-composite saphenous vein grafting was adopted for non left anterior descending artery (LAD) coronary lesions in addition to left internal thoracic artery-left anterior descending artery bypass grafting. He was discharged with no complications and all grafts were confirmed to be patent by postoperative CT. V-composite saphenous vein grafting for avoiding cerebrovascular complications might be one of the useful options in coronary artery revascularization for non-LAD lesions in elderly patients or those with many comorbidities, especially with a severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta.

Background: When performing a nerve block, the needle is usually inserted using the in-plane approach. However, it is often difficult for beginners to insert the needle. We report good results obtained using the SIVA Guide® among junior residents with no experi- ence of performing nerve blocks., Methods: Twenty-seven junior residents partici- pated in the study. They had no previous experience of performing an ultrasound-guided nerve block. Using a phantom, the time for needle insertion to the target item at shallow layer (2 cm) and the number of minor adjustments were measured. The SIVA Guide® was fitted and measurements were taken again in the same manner. Furthermore, the time to insertion to the tar- get item in a deep layer (4 cm) and number of minor adjustments were measured. The SIVA Guide® was then fitted and measurements were taken again in the same manner., Results: For both shallow and deep punctures, insertion time and the number of repeated insertions significantly improved., Conclusions: Use of the SIVA Guide® for nerve block beginners improves puncture time and the num- ber of repeated insertions, making it possible to safely perform the in-plane approach.

The purpose of this study was to examine how university social capital and subjective social capital could predict undergraduate students’ subjective well-being including depression, school satisfaction, and life satisfaction. In this cross-sectional study, we conducted multilevel structural equation modeling on the data of 2,021 students at 38 universities in Japan. At the university level, we found the associations between social capital (fellows) and depression, social capital (classmates) and life satisfaction, and social capital (faculty) and school satisfaction. At the student level, all subjective social capital (fellows, classmates, and faculty) were associated with all the factors of subjective well-being. These results suggest the influence of university social capital and that of subjective social capital are associated with students’ subjective well-being.

Erythropoiesis requires large amounts of iron for hemoglobin synthesis, which is mainly provided by macrophages and the intestines in a transferrin (Tf)-bound form. Bone marrow erythroblasts incorporate Tf through endocytosis, which is mediated by transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1). Recently, human TFR1, aside from its role as a Tf receptor, was also found to be a receptor for the H-subunit of ferritin (FTH). In humans, hematopoietic erythroid precursor cells express high levels of TFR1 and specifically take up the FTH homopolymer (H-ferritin). H-ferritin inhibits the formation of burst forming unit-erythroid colonies in vitro. TFR2, which is also a Tf receptor, is predominantly expressed in hepatocytes and erythroid precursor cells. In the liver, TFR2 forms a complex with HFE, a hereditary hemochromatosis-associated protein, and acts as an iron sensor. In mice, hepatocyte-specific knockout of the TFR2 gene has been shown to cause systemic iron-overload with decreased expression of hepcidin, the central regulator of iron homeostasis. In erythroid cells, TFR2 forms a complex with the erythropoietin receptor and facilitates its trafficking to the cell membrane. Moreover, hematopoietic cell-specific knockout of the TFR2 gene causes microcytic erythrocytosis in mice. This review focuses on the molecular evolution and functions of these TFRs and their ligands.

The present study revised a psycho-educational program designed to prevent depression (Oikawa & Sakamoto, 2007) and to enhance interpersonal coping resources for depression. The effects of the revised program on female undergraduates were examined. One hundred and seventy two udergraduates were assigned either to an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group participated in the revised program for ten weeks as part of a psychological class, while the control group did not. All participants were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire about self-efficacy for cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal coping for depression, the state of their mental health, and perceived social support from their family and friends before and after the program. The experimental group's ratings and responses indicated that the program were interesting and meaningful. Moreover, self-efficacy for coping with depression and perceived support from friends at the post intervention were significantly increased in the experimental group compared with the control group. These results suggest the effectiveness of the revised program for increasing interpersonal coping resources.

Androgen receptor(AR) has a critical role in prostate cancer(PCa) progression and targeting AR axis signaling by androgen deprivation therapy is a standard treatment for advanced PCa. Recently, the role of AR even in castration-resistant PCa(CRPC) is well recognized and emerging evidence suggests survival advantages of treatment by targeting AR in CRPC. This review outlines AR functions that contribute to PCa progression, AR structural alterations and AR activation via intracrine, co-factors, and kinase pathways in CRPC. Finally, we describe about recently reported bipolar androgen therapy as a novel treatment for CRPC targeting AR.

A patient under medication for depression underwent orthopedic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee four times. For the second surgery, general anesthesia was induced with propofol, remifentanil, and rocuronium. Immediately after induction, she developed severe hypotension that was resistant to vasopressors. The hypotension likely resulted from the effect of psychotropic drugs, including levomepromazine, olanzapine, and clomipramine, which she had been receiving for a long time. Although her blood pressure recovered, the surgery was cancelled. We performed spinal anesthesia for the subsequent surgery to minimize interactions between anesthetic and psychotropic agents. A continuous infusion of the local anesthetic bupivacaine through a epidural catheter was started during the surgery. Although her general condition was stable during surgery, she developed hypotension after returning to the ward. We suspected an interaction with the psychotropic agents, and thus stopped infusion of the local anesthetic, after which, her blood pressure gradually increased. The first and fourth surgeries were performed uneventfully under spinal anesthesia. This case suggests that anesthesiologists should pay special attention to the interaction between anesthetic and psychotropic agents during anesthesia. Further, psychotropic drug withdrawal before surgery should be considered, if possible. Moreover, vasopressin may be utilized to treat catecholamine-resistant hypotension.

A 87-year-old man received radical nephroureterectomy for right renal pelvic cancer in 2009 and left cutaneous ureterostomy after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in 2013. He visited the hospital for exchanging a 7 or 8 Fr single-J catheter every 2 to 4 weeks. Eleven months after the 2nd operation, massive bleeding from the stoma occurred when ureteral catheter was exchanged. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed that left inferior epigastric artery was located close to left ureter. Angiography of the left inferior epigastric artery didn't show an obvious fistula, but revealed the stoma was surrounded by ramified new blood vessels from left inferior epigastric artery. We suspected a rupture of the vessels and performed embolization for the branch of inferior epigastric artery to left ureter. This embolization made it possible for the bleeding to be controlled. Massive bleeding from the branch of inferior epigastric artery is very rare, and we report the case and review the literature.

Prostate cancer cells pass through numerous steps during the process of progression and metastasis. Cancer cells from primary site undertake "epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)" and migrate into neighboring site and invade into blood vessels. Migrated cancer cells will detach from extracellular matrix (ECM) and float into distant metastasis site. Those detached cells will go through either "apoptosis" or acquire "anoikis resistance" and, finally, transfer to distant metastasis site. When settle at novel metastasis site, "mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET)" will take place. Receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand (RANKL) plays significant role in formation of bone metastasis site.

Recently, novel anti-androgen and CYP-17 inhibitor have been introduced in clinical practice and significance of androgen mediated pathway is re-acknowledged in basic research of castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Generations of AR splicing variant and/or AR mutation, which result in ligand independent activation of AR, are still primary mechanism of acquiring castration resistance in addition to classical AR amplification. Chromosomal rearrangement through FOXA emerged as novel AR regulating mechanism. TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion is one of the most prevalent signatures in CRPC. Regulation through non-coding miRNA also play critical role in AR mediated oncogenic pathways. Here we describe the classical and recent topics in basic research of CRPC.

A 75-year-old female patient complained of a mass in her left breast 2 years ago. The patient experienced a rapid enlargement of the mass 2 months later and visited our hospital. A computed tomography (CT) scan indicated a 25-cm tumor with infiltration of the left breast skin. Pectoral muscle invasion was considered. Swelling of the axillary lymph node and remote metastases were not found. A needle biopsy indicated a phyllodes tumor. A pectoral muscle-preserving mastectomy was undertaken. The tumor weighed 7.1 kg. Pathological examination indicated hyperplasia of the stroma and part of the epithelium, which had invaded the skin layer and fatty tissue. The pathological diagnosis was a malignant phyllodes tumor. This paper reports the case of a giant malignant phyllodes tumor.

Between December 2004 and December 2011, we have used the indwelling voice prosthesis for voice rehabilitation in 28 patients after total laryngectomy in our department. To clarify both the complications and safety of voice reconstruction using a voice prosthesis, and the occurrence of candida colonization, we conducted a retrospective study with a review of the Japanese literature. Twenty-six patients who were observed over a period of more than six months at our hospital were enrolled in this study. We examined the interval of prosthesis replacement, types and frequency of complications, candida colonization, and clinical outcomes. The median follow-up time postoperatively was 28.8 months (range 8.1-95.7). The average interval of prosthesis replacement was 147 days (4.9 months). Complications occurred in 14 patients (54%), and 6 patients (23%) of whom were hospitalized. The main complications were periprosthetic leakage, increased granulation around the tracheoesophageal shunt and stenosis of the trachea stoma. There were no significant differences in the frequency of complications in the background factor of the patients as far as age (p = 0.495), radiation therapy (p = 0.686) or reconstruction time (p = 0.257) were concerned. Candida species was detected in 81% of the specimens which we submitted to a culture test and confirmed the pseudohyphae which comfirmed the pathogenicity from the histopathological examination. Moreover, radiation therapy was significantly associated with the detection of candida (p = 0.004). Permanent closure of the tracheoesophageal shunt for periprosthetic leakage was required in one patient, but we were able to deal with the other complications. No patient experienced any life-threatening complications and all are safely using the prostheses. It has been reported that complications will occur over the long-term, thus careful follow-up is necessary.

We report a first pediatric liver transplantation from a brain-dead donor under 6-year-old in Japan. A 9-month-old girl suffered from graft failure after living donor liver transplantation for biliary atresia. The deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) from under 6-year-old was performed. It was important to select appropriate surgical devices for the pediatric organ recovery based on the preoperative evaluation. Sufficient vessel grafts were procured because of difficult vascular reconstruction. She discharged on 172 days after DDLT. There have been few cases of pediatric organ donation in Japan. Therefore we should make careful preparation for both of donor and recipient.

Leukoaraiosis (age-related white matter hyperintensities) is the most frequently seen lesion on brain magnetic resonance (MR) images. This lesion is a subject of much current interest, because a number of multicenter studies have revealed that it is associated with various disturbances and poor prognoses. Leukoaraiosis corresponds to various pathologies, including demyelination, apoptosis, edema, dilated perivascular spaces, axonal damage, gliosis, and infarcts. Also noted in leukoaraiosis are changes in small vessels, such as fibrohyalinosis and venous collagenosis. The main cause of leukoaraiosis is thought to be chronic ischemia; other causes include edema and breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. Major risk factors for leukoaraiosis are age and hypertension. Disturbances that are related to leukoaraiosis include stroke, dementia, cognitive impairment, gait disturbance, fall, and depression. Leukoaraiosis is also a risk factor for death. Technologies, such as automatic volumetry, tissue segmentation, diffusion tensor imaging, magnetization tensor imaging, diffusion kurtosis imaging, and ultra-high field MR imaging may provide further insights into leukoaraiosis.

We investigated the long-term efficacy and safety of intrarenal bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy for carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the upper urinary tract. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 9 patients who underwent BCG perfusion therapy for CIS of the upper urinary tract from January 2005 to December 2011 at our institute. All patients were treated by retrograde catheterization using a 6 Fr double- J ureteric stent. BCG at half the dose (40.5 mg or 40 mg) in 40ml saline was instilled into the bladder weekly for 6 or 8 weeks as one course. The mean follow-up period was 32.7 months (range 4-75 months). In all patients (100%), cytology became negative after one course of BCG perfusion and 8 patients (88. 9%) remained disease-free for a median follow-up of 35.1 months. Among these 9 patients, 1 patient showed recurrence after 6 months of the first BCG therapy. The patient received a second course of BCG therapy, but the patient developed invasive tumor and distant metastases. Two patients could not continue the treatment due to pyelonephritis. In conclusion, although longer follow up and further experience with treatment for CIS of the upper urinary tract are required, this treatment is considered to be effective and safe.

We report that the transversus abdominis plane block (TAP block) can be performed under ultrasound guidance using not a linear probe but a convex probe in a markedly obese patient undergoing laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy. The TAP block is effective for providing perioperative analgesia. The common probe for the TAP block is a high-frequency linear probe, which can not depict the deeper tissues. We used a low-frequency convex probe for TAP block, which clearly showed the spread of local anesthetics in TAP block in a markedly obese patient. A convex probe is preferable for TAP block in markedly obese patients.

Purpose: We reviewed our initial experience of deceased split liver transplantation in National Center for Child Health and Development and report the results herein., Subjects and Methods: We have listed 50 patients with end-stage liver disease for deceased liver transplantation, and done 6 cases of split liver transplantation during October 2010 through October 2012. Variables including indication of liver transplantation outcome were reviewed., Results: The indication for split liver transplantation was acute liver failure in 4, re-transplantation in 1 and primary sclerosing cholangitis in 1. The age of recipient ranged 17 days-15 yeras and body weight ranged 2.4 kg-55 kg. The split grafts were hyper-reduced left lateral segment in 1, left lateral segment in 3, left lobe in 1 and right lobe in 1. Although case #2 received retransplantation with living donor, all the patients are currently doing well with acceptable liver function with minimum follow-up of 2 months., Conclusion: Satisfactory result can be achieved on initial experience of split liver transplantation in National Center for Child Health and Development. The follow-up period was too short to make definitive conclusion, however, split liver transplantation could be expand potential donor pool and may reduce the waiting list mortality without alterations of the results.

We experienced the leakage from the vaporizer of the anesthetic machine despite the normalities on performing the initial leak test. The vaporizer of the anesthetic machine was compressed by computer keyboard of EMR which caused a leak from vaporizer. After computer keyboard and the vaporizer were set at normal position, the leak stopped.

Pemetrexed, a folate metabolic antagonist, is considered to be effective against plural mesotheliomas, non-small cell lung cancer, and especially for non-squamous cell cancer. However, it has been reported to have adverse interactions with nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs). In the present study, we compared the incidence of adverse events between patients receiving pemetrexed therapy with and without concomitant NSAID administration. No significant difference in the incidence of hematotoxic events of Grade 3 or worse was observed. As for the incidence of non-hematotoxic events, the increase in the amount of creatinine, namely a severe adverse effect of Grade 2 or more, was significantly higher in the combined therapy group (p=0.018). No other significant differences were noted for other adverse events. A creatinine increase to Grade 2 or greater developed significantly earlier in the combined group(median value, 12.7 courses; p=0.0063). Our results suggest that renal dysfunction may easily develop as a result of continued pemetrexed administration combined with NSAID therapy. Therefore, it is necessary to take precautions against adverse side effects such as renal dysfunction when combining pemetrexed with NSAID therapy, by conducting periodic examinations.

We report a rare case of mediastinal desmoid tumor in a 17-year-old man. The patient was a 17-year old man who had underwent surgery for mediastinal tumor at our hospital 2 years before. The tumor was diagnosed as a solitary fibrous tumor of the mediastinum. After 2 years, chest computed tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance imaging( MRI) showed a mass at the previously resected site. Surgery was performed again under the diagnosis of recurrent tumor. The tumor densely adhered to the superior vena cava, right innominate vein, pericardium, and the right lung. The tumor was completely resected with the aid of the partial extracorporeal circulation. Finally, both previously resected tumor and the recurrent tumor were diagnosed pathologically as desmoid tumors.

A 79-year-old female was referred to our hospital presenting with occipital headache. Her unruptured aneurysm was incidentally found by magnetic resonance angiography. Three dimensional computed tomographic angiography showed a saccular aneurysm located at the junction of the left vertebral artery (VA) and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) that originated from the aneurysm itself. Firstly, surgical clipping of the left PICA just distal to the aneurysm and occipital artery (OA)-PICA bypass was carried out and, secondly, endovascular treatment was performed for preservation of the parent artery.

A 21-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of recurrent hemoptysis. Computed tomography revealed ground-glass opacities in the right lower lung field, and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) demonstrated an aberrant artery which originated from the descending aorta and supplied the right S10b. Bronchoscopy showed no evidence of intraluminal bleeding or bronchial branching abnormalities. The patient was given a diagnosis of aberrant systemic arterial supply to the right normal basal segment of the lung (Pryce type I). Since the affected area, supplied from an aberrant systemic artery, was very small with no abnormalities in the lung parenchyma, the patient underwent a single resection of the aberrant artery via video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) without segmentectomy. The patient remained free of hemoptysis during 5 months follow-up after the operation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in patients with stage I disease severity based on the criteria of the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS), which correspond to moderate or severe U.S.A. criteria., Patients and Methods: In 46 consecutive patients with IPF who were admitted to our institution from June 2003 through September 2009, 27 were given diagnoses of stage I disease severity based on JRS criteria. These 27 were classified into 3 groups: Group A (stage I disease severity according to the JRS criteria, corresponding to mild on U.S.A. criteria, n=17), group B (stage I disease severity according to JRS criteria, corresponding to moderate or severe on U.S.A. criteria, n=10), and group C (stage I disease severity based on the JRS criteria, corresponding to severe U.S.A. criteria, n=6). We compared these groups using demographic and spirometric tests, the 6-minute walking test (6MWT), estimated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (esPAP), and survival rates in each group., Results: stage I disease severity according to the JRS criteria corresponded to the following grade based on U.S.A. criteria: mild, 17 cases; moderate, 4 cases; severe, 6 cases. The values of lowest SpO2 and %DLco in group B and group C were significantly lower than those in group A, and values of the Hugh-Jones score and esPAP were higher than those in group A. In addition, the survival rate in group B and group C was significantly worse than that in group A. The survival rate in patients with stage I disease severity who showed desaturation on exertion with %DLco < or = 50%, was significantly worse than in those who showed SpO2 > or = 90% on exertion with %DLco >50% (23.7 16.5 months vs. 16.6 +/- 11.3 months; P = 0.002)., Conclusions: This study suggested that IPF patients with stage I disease severity according to JRS criteria included the grades of moderate and severe according to U.S.A. criteria. This suggests that we should revise the classification of disease severity for IPF in Japan.