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We developed three e-learning systems for endoscopists to acquire the necessary skills to improve the diagnosis of early gastric cancer (EGC) and demonstrated their usefulness using randomized controlled trials. The subjects of the three e-learning systems were “detec­tion”, “characterization”, and “preoperative assessment”. The contents of each e-learning system included “technique”, “knowledge”, and “obtaining experience”. All e-learning systems proved useful for endoscopists to learn how to diagnose EGC. Lecture videos describing “the technique” and “the knowledge” can be beneficial. In addition, repeating 100 self-study cases allows learners to gain “experience” and improve their diagnostic skills further. Web-based e-learning systems have more advantages than other teaching methods because the number of participants is unlimited. Histopathological diagnosis is the gold standard for the diagnosis of gastric cancer. Therefore, we developed a comprehensive diagnostic algorithm to standardize the histopathological diagnosis of gastric cancer. Once we have successfully shown that this algorithm is helpful for the accurate histopathological diagnosis of cancer, we will complete a series of e-learning systems designed to assess EGC accurately.

Abstract Background Cognitive abnormalities associated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are limited to the first few days after treatment. Mismatch negativity (MMN) is an event‐related potential that reflects an automatic auditory change detection process under nonattention conditions and cognitive function in psychotic disorders and may be trait‐ or state‐dependent. This study aimed to report the changes in MMN and cognitive function after two ECT treatments in a female patient who underwent maintenance ECT for atypical psychosis. Case Presentation A 67‐year‐old Japanese woman with atypical psychosis was admitted to our hospital for the maintenance of ECT. She received two ECT treatments. We measured her duration‐MMN (MMN‐D) at baseline, the day after two ECT treatments, and approximately 40 days after the two ECT treatments. After the two ECT treatments, the peak latency of the MMN on the following day was delayed compared with that before the first ECT treatment. Forty days after the two ECT treatments, the peak latency reverted to the baseline. The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia scores measured at the same time point also showed a similar temporary decrease in scores. Conclusion Peak latency prolongation in MMN‐D may reflect transient cognitive abnormalities after ECT. MMN can be useful to evaluate cognitive dysfunction, one of the adverse events of ECT. However, future studies are needed to examine the reproducibility and to examine the results in diseases other than atypical psychosis.

Introduction: Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare histologic subtype of breast carcinoma, which is usually negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2. HER2-positive MBC is therefore extremely rare. Most MBCs have poor response to chemotherapy. HER2-targeted neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is widely performed and has high efficacy in treating HER2-positive breast cancer. We report an atypical case of HER2-positive breast cancer that had poor response to NAC and was diagnosed with MBC after the surgery. Case Presentation: A 73-year-old woman noticed a mass in her right breast and visited our hospital. The mass was diagnosed as hormone receptor-negative, HER2-positive invasive ductal carcinoma, T2N0M0 stage IIA. She received HER2-targeted NAC comprising trastuzumab + pertuzumab + docetaxel. Despite three courses, we observed disease progression. The next NAC regimen was composed of two courses of epirubicin + cyclophosphamide, but the cancer continued to grow. She stopped receiving NAC and underwent a unilateral mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Although the preoperative pathological result of core needle biopsy specimen showed invasive ductal carcinoma, the postoperative pathological result of the surgical specimen was MBC. Conclusion: In this case, when the patient had undergone three courses of trastuzumab + pertuzumab + docetaxel, it would have been appropriate to review the result of the core needle biopsy with pathologists or to perform vacuum-assisted breast biopsy. This case suggests the importance of considering the possibility of special histologic subtypes such as MBC when a tumor with the diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma is resistant to NAC.

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema (RS3PE) syndrome has been reported in patients treated with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i). We experienced a case of RS3PE syndrome in a 73-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes, who developed RS3PE as a side effect of vildagliptin. Further to this, the patient developed polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), the first such case associated with long-term DPP-4i use.

Background: The impact of the length of the occluded vessel in acute large-vessel occlusion on successful reperfusion by mechanical thrombectomy remains unclear. This study evaluated whether diameter and length of the occluded vessel in acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion might relate to successful reperfusion following mechanical thrombectomy. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with acute MCA occlusion who underwent intra-aortic injection of contrast medium to obtain maximum intensity projection (MIP) images acquired by flat-panel detector computed tomography (FD-CT) equipped with an angiographic system. All patients received mechanical thrombectomy and were divided into two groups: those with successful reperfusion (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [TICI] 2b/3) and those without. We compared the diameter and length of the occluded vessel between the groups. In the sub-analysis of patients with stent retriever use, ratio of length of occluded vessel to length of the active zone was compared. Results: We enrolled 29 patients (median age: 73, M1 occlusion: 51%, stent retriever use: 72%). Eighteen patients achieved TICI 2b/3 with significantly larger distal end diameter (1.7 [interquartile range: 1.5–1.9] vs. 1.2 [1.2–1.5] mm, p = 0.007) and shorter length (7.1 [4.9–9.7] vs. 12.3 [7.2–15.8] mm, p = 0.043) of the occluded vessel. Sub-analysis of 21 patients showed that the cut-off value for TICI 2b/3 reperfusion was 0.32 as the ratio between the occluded vessel and stent retriever active zone (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve: 0.90). Conclusion: In acute MCA occlusion, larger diameter of the distal end and shorter length of the occluded vessel on FD-CT MIP images might indicate a higher possibility of achieving TICI 2b/3 following mechanical thrombectomy.

Abstract Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a well‐established mucosotropic carcinogen, but its impact on urothelial neoplasm is unclear. We aimed to clarify the clinical and pathological features of HPV‐related urothelial carcinoma (UC). Methods Tissue samples of 228 cases of UC were obtained from the bladder, upper and lower urinary tract, and metastatic sites to construct a tissue microarray. The samples were analyzed for the presence of HPV by a highly sensitive and specific mRNA in situ hybridization (RISH) technique (RNAscope) with a probe that can detect 18 varieties of high‐risk HPV. We also conducted immunohistochemistry (IHC) for a major HPV capsid antibody and DNA‐PCR. Results The HPV detection rates varied among the methods; probably due to low HPV copy numbers in UC tissues and the insufficient specificity and sensitivity of the IHC and PCR assays. The RISH method had the highest accuracy and identified HPV infection in 12 (5.2%) of the cases. The histopathological analysis of the HPV‐positive UC showed six cases of usual type UC, five cases of UC with squamous differentiation (UC_SqD), and one case of micropapillary UC. The HPV detection rate was six‐fold higher in the cases of UC_SqD than in the other variants of UC (odds ratio [OR] =8.9, p = 0.002). In addition, HPV infection showed a significant association with tumor grade (OR =9.8, p = 0.03) and stage (OR =4.7, p = 0.03) of UC. Moreover, the metastatic rate was higher in HPV‐positive than in negative UC (OR =3.4). Conclusion These data indicate that although the incidence of HPV infection in UC is low, it is significantly associated with squamous differentiation and poor prognosis. Furthermore, our observations show that RNAscope is an ideal method for HPV detection in UC compared with the other standard approaches such as IHC and PCR assays.

Abstract Background The impact of subcutaneous fat accumulation remains controversial. This study assessed the association between visceral or subcutaneous fat area (VFA and SFA, respectively) and diabetes mellitus (DM) among Japanese subjects. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 1907 eligible participants (men, 1050; women, 857) who participated in a voluntary health check-up conducted at Juntendo University Hospital from January 2017 to December 2018, in Tokyo, Japan. Associations between VFA or SFA quartiles and DM were identified using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounders. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess appropriate cut-off values of VFA or SFA. Results Multivariate analyses showed that Q4 (≥ 125 cm2) of VFA was significantly positively associated with DM compared to Q1 (

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is common in East Asia. Arteriovenous fistula at the craniocervical junction (CCJ-AVF), in contrast, is rare. As OPLL occurs most often in the cervical region, these 2 conditions can coexist in the cervical spinal canal of a single patient. We report a case of CCJ-AVF found after cervical laminoplasty (CLP) for OPLL. A 68-year-old man experienced progressive myelopathy due to cervical OPLL. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a high-intensity area inside the spinal cord. CLP was performed and his symptoms immediately improved. Three months after CLP, however, myelopathy recurred. MRI revealed an exacerbated and enlarged high-intensity area inside the cord from the medulla oblongata to the C4/5 level with a flow void around the cord. Left vertebral artery angiography revealed CCJ-AVF with ascending and descending draining veins. Direct surgery was performed to interrupt shunt flow into the draining veins. The patient’s symptoms improved to a limited degree. In this case, increased pressure inside the spinal canal due to OPLL might have decreased the shunt flow of the CCJ-AVF. Thus, the venous congestion induced by CCJ-AVF might have been exacerbated after the pressure was removed by CLP. Magnetic resonance angiography screening could help detect concurrent CCJ-AVF and OPLL.

Abstract Background It is clinically emergent to further understand the pathological mechanism to advance therapeutic strategy for endocrine tumors. A high amount of secretory protein with tumorigenic triggers are thought to induce unfolded protein response in endoplasmic reticulum in endocrine tumors, but its evidence is limited. Case presentation A 40-year-old woman had an approximately 10-year history of intermittent headaches. After the incidental detection of a mass in her right adrenal gland by CT scan, she was admitted to our hospital. She had been diagnosed as type 1 Waardenburg syndrome with the symptoms of dystopia canthorum, blue iris, and left sensorineural hearing loss. Urinary catecholamine levels were markedly elevated. 123I-MIBG scintigraphy showed uptake in the mass in her adrenal gland. After the adrenalectomy, her headaches disappeared and urinary catecholamine levels decreased to normal range within 2 weeks. Genome sequencing revealed germline mutation of c.A175T (p.Ile59Phe) in transcription factor PAX3 gene and somatic novel mutation of c.1893_1898del (p. Asp631_Leu633delinsGlu) in proto-oncogene RET in her pheochromocytoma. RNA expression levels of RET were increased 139 times in her pheochromocytoma compared with her normal adrenal gland. Those of unfolded protein response markers, Bip/GRP78, CHOP, ATF4, and ATF6, were also increased in the pheochromocytoma. Conclusion We report a rare case of pheochromocytoma with type 1 Waardenburg syndrome. This is the first case to show the activation of unfolded protein response in the pheochromocytoma with the novel somatic mutation in RET gene. Our findings may support that unfolded protein response is activated in endocrine tumors, which potentially could be a candidate of therapeutic target.

IntroductionThe interaction of CD155 with its ligand, the T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), is being studied owing to its potential to act as a target in the treatment of various solid tumors. However, the relationship between CD155 and TIGIT in colorectal cancer (CRC) prognosis is not known. We hypothesized that the TIGIT-CD155 pathway suppresses the attack of T cells on tumors, thereby affecting CRC prognosis.MethodsWe examined the expression of CD155 and TIGIT using immunohistochemical staining in 100 consecutive patients with CRC who underwent complete resection of ≤Stage III tumors at Wakayama Medical University Hospital between January and December 2013. We assessed the correlation between CD155 and TIGIT expressions and prognosis as well as the clinicopathological background of CD155 and TIGIT.ResultsPatients with high CD155 and TIGIT expressions showed worse prognosis than those with other levels of expression (p = 0.026). In multivariate analysis that also included the existing prognostic markers, high CD155 and TIGIT expressions were identified as independent poor prognostic factors.ConclusionsThe interaction between CD155 and TIGIT possibly plays an important role in the immunological mechanism of CRC. Therefore, it may be possible to effectively predict the postoperative prognosis of CRC by evaluating the combined expression of CD155 and TIGIT. The study findings suggest that CD155 and TIGIT can predict clinical outcomes, thereby contributing to the personalized care of CRC.

Each histological variant of renal cell tumors has a unique color. The yellowish color of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) is explained by the presence of intracytoplasmic lipid and glycogen accumulation. Color changes in CCRCC are correlated with clinicopathological and metabolic changes, as well as biological behavior. We analyzed and compared the clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical features and gene expression profiles, in lipid metabolism of yellowish-colored ChRCC (ChRCC-Y), non-yellowish-colored ChRCC (ChRCC-N), and CCRCC. Of 14 ChRCCs, we retrieved 6 ChRCC-Ys. Patients with ChRCC-Y are younger than those with ChRCC-N, and the tumor is not predominant in males. ChRCC-Ys are smaller than ChRRC-Ns. Three ChRCC-Ys exhibited individual discrete tubule formation. No ChRCC-Ns exhibited individual discrete tubule formation. Two of 6 ChRCC-Ys showed relatively diffuse adipophilin positivity. No ChRCC-Ns demonstrated diffuse positivity for adipophilin. The expression of SCD, FDFT1 , and E2F1 showed a tendency to be lower in ChRCC-Y than in ChRCC-N. The expression of PDGFB showed a tendency to be higher in ChRCC-Y than in ChRCC-N. This study demonstrated ChRCC-Y did not indicate an increase in lipid and cholesterol metabolism and that ChRCC-Y did not have the common molecular alteration of CCRCC. The absence of such metabolic acceleration in ChRCC-Y might support the biological indolent behavior. Furthermore, we revealed that macroscopic color changes might be correlated with various clinicopathological features and immunohistochemical and molecular changes from different perspectives. We believe further characterization of RCC, including tumor heterogeneity, is needed to improve the management of patients with RCC.

A combination of sequential Injection Analysis (SIA) system and the ion-selective electrode (ISE) detector is considered to be one of a very effective analytical method. Reaction of lactate with lactate oxidase produces pyruvic acid and hydrogen peroxide. When the produced hydrogen peroxide is reacted with 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AAP) and 4-fluorophenol (4-FP) in the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), F− ion is produced. The concentration of lactate can be indirectly determined by measuring the F− ion by F− ISE. Based on this principle of detection of lactate, a new measurement method of lactate using an SIA with ISE detector was developed.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychological effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and associated factors on hospital workers at the beginning of the outbreak with a large disease cluster on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. This cross-sectional, survey-based study collected demographic data, mental health measurements, and stress-related questionnaires from workers in 2 hospitals in Yokohama, Japan, from March 23, 2020, to April 6, 2020. The prevalence rates of general psychological distress and event-related distress were assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the 22-item Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), respectively. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the 26-item stress-related questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with mental health outcomes for workers both at high- and low-risk for infection of COVID-19. A questionnaire was distributed to 4133 hospital workers, and 2697 (65.3%) valid questionnaires were used for analyses. Overall, 536 (20.0%) were high-risk workers, 944 (35.0%) of all hospital workers showed general distress, and 189 (7.0%) demonstrated event-related distress. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that 'Feeling of being isolated and discriminated' was associated with both the general and event-related distress for both the high- and low-risk workers. In this survey, not only high-risk workers but also low-risk workers in the hospitals admitting COVID-19 patients reported experiencing psychological distress at the beginning of the outbreak.

Background Exposure to occupational radiation can lower the male sex ratio. However, specific radiation exposure to the testes has not been evaluated. Objective This study aimed to examine the association between testicular radiation exposure and lower male sex ratio in children. Methods A comprehensive questionnaire survey was administered to 62 full-time male doctors with children aged < 10 years at 5 hospitals. Based on the possibility of testicular radiation exposure 1 year before the child’s birth, participants were assigned to 3 groups as follows: RT (orthopedic surgery), RNT (cardiology/neurosurgery), and N (others). Intergroup differences in the proportion of female children were ascertained, and the female sex ratio (number of female/total number) of each group was compared against the standard value of 0.486. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with a generalized estimating equation was used to model the effects on the probability of female birth while controlling for the correlation among the same fathers. Results The study population included 62 fathers and 109 children, 49 were female: 19/27, 11/30, and 19/52 in the RT, RNT, and N group, respectively; the RT group had the highest proportion of females (p = 0.009). The p values for comparisons with the standard sex ratio (0.486) were 0.02, 0.19, and 0.08 for the RT, RNT, and N groups, respectively. Based on the N group, the adjusted odds ratios for the child to be female were 4.40 (95% confidence interval 1.60–2.48) and 1.03 (0.40–2.61) for the RT and RNT groups, respectively. Conclusions Our results imply an association between testicular radiation exposure and low male sex ratio of offspring. Confirmatory evidence is needed from larger studies which measure the pre-conceptional doses accumulated in various temporal periods, separating out spermatogonial and spermatid effects.

The diagnosis of patients with malignancies relies on the results of a clinical cytological examination. To enhance the diagnostic qualities of cytological examinations, it is important to have a detailed analysis of the cell's characteristics. There is, therefore, a need for developing a new auxiliary method for cytological diagnosis. In this study, we focused on studying the charge of the cell membrane surface of fixed cells, which is one of important cell's characteristics. Although fixed cells lose membrane potential which is observed in living cells owing to ion dynamics, we hypothesized that fixed cells still have a cell membrane surface charge due to cell membrane components and structure. We used 5 cell lines in this study (ARO, C32TG, RT4, TK, UM-UC-14). After fixation with CytoRich Red, we measured the cell membrane surface charge of fixed cells in solution using zeta potential measurements and fixed cells on glass slides, visualizing it using antibody-labeled beads and positively-charged beads. Furthermore, we measured the cell membrane surface charge of fixed cells under different conditions, such as different solution of fixative, ion concentration, pH, and pepsin treatments. The zeta potential measurements and visualization using the beads indicated that the cell membrane surface of fixed cells was negatively charged, and also that the charge varied among fixed cells. The charge state was affected by the different treatments. Moreover, the number of cell-bound beads was small in interphase, anaphase, and apoptotic cells. We concluded that the negative cell membrane surface charge was influenced by the three-dimensional structure of proteins as well as the different types of amino acids and lipids on the cell membrane. Thus, cell surface charge visualization can be applied as a new auxiliary method for clinical cytological diagnosis. This is the first systematic report of the cell membrane surface charge of fixed cells.

Background Understanding diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is important for optimizing their role for phosphorus (P) nutrition of soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in P-limited soils. However, it is not clear how soybean growth and P nutrition is related to AMF colonization and diversity of AMF communities in a continuous P-unfertilized cover cropping system. Thus, we investigated the impact of P-application and cover cropping on the interaction among AMF colonization, AMF diversity in soybean roots, soybean growth and P nutrition under a five-year P-unfertilized crop rotation. Methods In this study, we established three cover crop systems (wheat, red clover and oilseed rape) or bare fallow in rotation with soybean. The P-application rates before the seeding of soybeans were 52.5 and 157.5 kg ha−1 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. We measured AMF colonization in soybean roots, soybean growth parameters such as aboveground plant biomass, P uptake at the flowering stage and grain yields at the maturity stage in both years. AMF community structure in soybean roots was characterized by specific amplification of small subunit rDNA. Results The increase in the root colonization at the flowering stage was small as a result of P-application. Cover cropping did not affect the aboveground biomass and P uptake of soybean in both years, but the P-application had positive effects on the soybean performance such as plant P uptake, biomass and grain yield in 2015. AMF communities colonizing soybean roots were also significantly influenced by P-application throughout the two years. Moreover, the diversity of AMF communities in roots was significantly influenced by P-application and cover cropping in both years, and was positively correlated with the soybean biomass, P uptake and grain yield throughout the two years. Discussion Our results indicated that P-application rather than cover cropping may be a key factor for improving soybean growth performance with respect to AMF diversity in P-limited cover cropping systems. Additionally, AMF diversity in roots can potentially contribute to soybean P nutrition even in the P-fertilized cover crop rotational system. Therefore, further investigation into the interaction of AMF diversity, P-application and cover cropping is required for the development of more effective P management practices on soybean growth performance.

To determine prognostic factors of clinically relevant radiographic progression (CRRP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) achieving remission or low disease activity (LDA) in clinical practice.Using data from a nationwide, multicenter, prospective study in Japan, we evaluated 198 biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD)-naïve RA patients who were in remission or had LDA at study entry after being treated with conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs). CRRP was defined as the yearly progression of modified total Sharp score (mTSS) >3.0 U. We performed a multiple logistic regression analysis to explore the factors to predict CRRP at 1 year. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to estimate the performance of relevant variables for predicting CRRP.The mean Disease Activity Score in 28 joints-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) was 2.32 ± 0.58 at study entry. During the 1-year observation, remission or LDA persisted in 72% of the patients. CRRP was observed in 7.6% of the patients. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the independent variables to predict the development of CRRP were: anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) positivity at baseline (OR = 15.2, 95%CI 2.64-299), time-integrated DAS28-ESR during the 1 year post-baseline (7.85-unit increase, OR = 1.83, 95%CI 1.03-3.45), and the mTSS at baseline (13-unit increase, OR = 1.22, 95%CI 1.06-1.42).ACPA positivity was the strongest independent predictor of CRRP in patients with RA in remission or LDA. Physicians should recognize ACPA as a poor-prognosis factor regarding the radiographic outcome of RA, even among patients showing a clinically favorable response to DMARDs.

Background: Some patients with Japanese cedar (JC) pollinosis already show pollinosis symptoms before the first day of the pollen season as determined by microscopic pollen counts. Methods: Airborne pollen allergen (Cry j 1) levels were measured by electron spin resonance radical immunoassay, a highly-sensitive method for Cry j 1 with a sensitivity 10-100-fold higher than conventional enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. The symptom data from patients with JC pollinosis were collected from a mobile phone site, “pollen check sheet”, and the onset times of the patients' symptoms were analyzed. Results: The relationship between airborne Cry j 1 levels and the onset time of pollinosis symptoms was investigated. The symptoms of some patients began at the time airborne Cry j 1 levels fluctuated at 1 to 3 pg/m3 and symptom scores increased at the time of sudden increase in Cry j 1 levels. About 40% of patients began to show symptoms until the first day of the pollen season and the time nearly corresponds to the time of sudden increase in Cry j 1 levels. Conclusions: Pollinosis symptoms of some patients began at the time airborne Cry j 1 levels fluctuated at 1 to 3 pg/m3 and symptom scores increased at the time of sudden increase in Cry j 1 levels. The latter time nearly corresponds to the first day of the pollen season.