Prismatic Algorithm for Discrete D.C. Programming Problems

In this paper, we propose the first exact algorithm for minimizing the difference of two submodular functions (D.S.), i.e., the discrete version of the D.C. programming problem. The developed algorithm is a branch-and-bound-based algorithm which responds to the structure of this problem through the relationship between submodularity and convexity. The D.S. programming problem covers a broad range of applications in machine learning because this generalizes the optimization of a wide class of set functions. We empirically investigate the performance of our algorithm, and illustrate the difference between exact and approximate solutions respectively obtained by the proposed and existing algorithms in feature selection and discriminative structure learning

骨転移を有しない前立腺がん患者へのアンドロゲン除去療法による骨粗鬆症に対する経口ビスフォスフォネート製剤の予防効果について

We studied the short-term efficacy of alendronate, an oral bisphosphonates, on bone mineral density (BMD) during androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in 45 nonmetastatic prostate cancer patients at the beginning of ADT (treatment group). All received alendronate five mg daily from the initiation of ADT. Lumber BMD was evaluated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, at baseline and after six months of treatment. Historical data on 24 patients with prostate cancer who received ADT without bisphosphonate administration were studied as controls (control group). BMD decreased in 13.9 and 45.8% of the patients in the treatment and control groups, respectively. Mean BMD changes in the lumber spine were +1.6 +/- 3.0% in the treatment group and -1.1 +/- 2.7% in the control group (p = 0.006). No pathological fractures occurred during the study period. No severe adverse effects were observed, but three patients could not continue alendronate treatment because of adverse events. Despite the short-term of this evaluation, our results showed that oral alendronate is an effective and safe treatment for preventing bone loss and increasing BMD in patients receiving ADT for prostate cancer.目的:アンドロゲン除去療法は骨塩減少とそれに伴う病的骨折の潜在的な危険因子である。点滴ビスフォスフォネート製剤はアンドロゲン除去療法を受けている前立腺がん患者に対する骨塩量の減少を予防することが示されているが経口ビスフォスフォネート製剤については評価されていない。今回, われわれは経口ビスフォスフォネート製剤の1つであるアレンドン酸を骨転移を有しない前立腺がん患者に投与して骨塩量を測定し短期間での効果を検討した。対象と方法:治療群として45人の骨転移を有しない前立腺がん患者について検討した。アレンドロン酸を1日5mg経口投与し治療前, 治療半年後に腰椎の骨塩量を測定し比較検討した。対照群として24人の骨転移を有しない前立腺がん患者についても同様に検討を行った。結果:骨塩量の減少は治療群で13.9%, 対照群で45.8%に見られた。腰椎における骨塩量の変化は治療群で平均1.6%, 対照群で-1.1%であった(p=0.006)。治療期間内において病的骨折は認められず, 有害事象として重篤なものは認めなかったが副作用のため3例が内服継続困難であった。結語:短期間の検討であるにもかかわらず経口ビスフォスフォネート製剤であるアレンドロン酸は前立腺がん患者に対するアンドロゲン除去療法による骨塩量減少を予防するのに有効で安全な治療法であることが示唆された。(著者抄録

Survey Study about Shokuinshitsu (Faculty Room) Culture (Ⅱ)

The purpose of this paper is to identify the characteristics of "Shokuinshitsu (faculty room) culture" that contribute to the nurturing of competence among faculty members, through an analysis of efforts and results to develop the competence of teachers at their schools. We focused our analysis on 2,434 responses to questions regarding effective efforts to develop the competence of teachers at their schools and quoted some actual comments in writing this paper. As a result, the following two characteristics were identified. 1) Based on the points of view regarding the nurturing of competence among faculty members, we identified the following: Teacher training and organizational efforts at schools, and developments in educational activities involving collaboration & cooperation with parents/guardians and local residents were identified as effective efforts at the teachers' schools. In other words, we learned that continuous, creative efforts at each school contributed to the nurturing of competence among faculty members. 2) Based on the points of view regarding the development of schools, we identified the following: Lesson study & in-service training that create a sense of unity within the school, and organizational efforts at schools were identified as effective efforts for developing schools, as well as nurturing competence among faculty members.本研究は，科学研究費補助金 基盤研究（C）「特色ある開かれた学校づくりに資する職員室文化の発掘と継承に関する研究」（研究課題番号：23531060，研究代表者：林孝），科学研究費補助金 基盤研究（C）「『職員室文化』の継承による学校づくり推進のための力量形成に関する研究」（研究課題番号：15k04299，研究代表者：林孝）の継続的な研究成果の一部である

A Case of Bilateral Adrenal and Pleural Metastases from Prostate Cancer

Our case was 65 years old. At check-up, a high PSA level of 515 ng/ml was observed, the patient was diagnosed with having clinical stage D prostate cancer and a Maximum Androgen Blockade (MAB therapy) was started. In response to the exacerbated prostate cancer, we started a therapy involving the administration of 8 mg/kg body weight of dexamethasone and 55 mg/m2 of docetaxel every 3 weeks. After completing 8 courses, an enlargement of the bilateral adrenal tumor was observed, and after completing 12 courses, a pleural tumor was discovered and the PSA level was also increased. The patient was therefore diagnosed with having bilateral adrenal metastasis and pleural metastasis of prostate cancer through diagnostic imaging. So far, there have been no reports of multiple occurrences of prostate cancer in the adrenal glands and the pleura, thus making this case the first such case

Clinical considerations for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: a comprehensive literature review

Background: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), which was first reported as bisphosphonaterelated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) in bisphosphonate users, is a rare but severe soft and hard tissue disease induced by several types of medications. There has been a deluge of information about MRONJ, such as epidemiology, risk factors, clinical recommendations for dental treatment to prevent it, and treatment strategies in medication-prescribed users. The aim of this study was to comprehensively review recent articles and provide the current scientific information about MRONJ, especially clinical considerations or recommendations for dental treatment to prevent its occurrence.Materials and methods: The current literature review was mainly based on 14 systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis, 4 position papers, 1 consensus statement, 1 clinical guideline, and 2 clinical reviews regarding MRONJ after a PubMed database and manual searches according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Moreover, 53 articles were selected by manual search in regard to all references from selected articles and other articles identified on the PubMed search, irrespective of publication date, and inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results: The incidence and prevalence of MRONJ are relatively low, although they are clearly higher in cancer patients receiving high-dose antiresorptive agents or angiogenesis inhibitors rather than osteoporosis patients receiving oral bisphosphonates or denosumab. There are many types of local, systemic, and other risk factors for the development of MRONJ. Clinical recommendations are provided for each clinical situation of patients to prevent MRONJ. There are also treatment strategies for MRONJ in each stage.Conclusions: General dentists should perform appropriate dental treatment to prevent MRONJ in the patients prior to or when receiving medications that could induce MRONJ. Moreover, there are treatment strategies for MRONJ in each stage that oral surgeons could follow. Adequate and updated clinical information regarding MRONJ based on scientific data is required whenever possible