Usefulness of peripherally inserted central catheters

Introduction : Central venous catheter (CVC) use is essential for treating esophageal cancer. Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) are commonly used recently for improved patient comfort and safety. We compared centrally inserted central catheters (CICC) and PICC insertions and examined their safety. Methods : We retrospectively investigated complications at the catheter insertion and post-insertion for 199 patients’ esophageal cancer treatment (CICC : 45, PICC : 154) from 2013 to 2018. In addition, we summarized the results of catheter tip culture. Results : No serious complications occurred at the catheter insertion in either group. The rate of complications at catheter insertion was 5.8% for PICC and 6.7% for CICC patients. Post-insertion complications were observed in 6.5% and 11.1% of patients with PICC and CICC, respectively, and this difference was not significant. The incidence of catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI) was significantly lower in PICC than CICC patients (0.3 vs. 1.8 / 1,000 catheter-days ; p = 0.029). Catheter-related thrombosis was observed in PICC : 0.5 and CICC : 0.6, and occlusion due to blood flow reversal was observed in PICC : 0.5 and CICC : 0.6. Conclusion : PICCs are safer and more effective than CICCs for the treatment of esophageal cancer, and reduce the incidence of CRBSI. We hope to standardize the insertion procedures, conventionalize techniques, and establish training systems

Properties of a novel hard-carbon optimized to large size Lion secondary battery studied by 7Li NMR

The state of lithium in a novel hard-carbon optimized to the anode of large size Li ion secondary battery, which has been recently commercialized, was investigated and compared with other existing hard-carbon samples by 7Li NMR method. The new carbon material showed a peak at 85 ppm with a shoulder signal at 7 ppm at room temperature in static NMR spectrum, and the former shifted to 210 ppm at 180 K. The latter at room temperature was attributed to Li doped in small particles contained in the sample. The new carbon sample showed weaker intensity of cluster-lithium signal than the other hard-carbon samples in NMR, which corresponded to a tendency of less "Constant Voltage" (CV) capacity in charge-discharge curves of electrochemical evaluation. Smaller CV capacity and initial irreversible capacity, which are the features of the novel hard-carbon, are considered to correspond to a blockade of the diffusion of Li into pore of carbon.</p

食道扁平上皮癌患者の化学療法効果と予後予測に関わるバイオマーカー

Background: The prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has been improved by multidisciplinary therapy with chemoradiotherapy and surgery, but it remains poor. Advanced stage, malignant potential, and chemo-resistance contribute to the poor prognosis. Here, we attempted to identify predictive factors of the response to chemotherapy and the prognosis of ESCC patients. Patients and Methods: We examined 51 ESCC patients who were treated with chemotherapy followed by radical surgery, and 23 patients who were treated with chemotherapy alone. We conducted quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction gene expression analysis using RNA extracted from 74 tumor tissue samples collected before chemotherapy and 67 tumor tissue samples collected after chemotherapy, focusing on PIK3CA, AKT-1, mTOR, 4E-BP1, p70S6K, PD-L1, and PD-L2. Results: The proportions of patients with high expressions of AKT-1 and PD-L1 before chemotherapy were significantly higher among the non-responders than among the responders (p=0.034, p=0.020, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that high PD-L1 expression before chemotherapy was associated with poor response to chemotherapy (odds ratio: 2.998; 95% CI: 1.043–8.619; p=0.042) and high p70S6K expression before chemotherapy was a poor prognostic factor (hazard ratio: 2.518; 95% CI: 1.058–5.988; p=0.037). In addition, the patients with high expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 in the tumors after chemotherapy had significantly worse survival than those with low expression of these genes (p=0.012, p=0.007, respectively). Conclusion: These results demonstrated that PD-L1 and p70S6K in the primary ESCC tissues were related to a poor response to chemotherapy and poor prognosis, respectively

Reproducibility and validity of food group intake in a short food frequency questionnaire for the middle-aged Japanese population

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of a short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for food group intake in Japan, the reproducibility and partial validity of which were previously confirmed for nutrients. Methods: A total of 288 middle-aged healthy volunteers from 11 different areas of Japan provided nonconsecutive 3-day weighed dietary records (DRs) at 3-month intervals over four seasons. We evaluated reproducibility based on the first (FFQ1) and second (FFQ2) questionnaires and their validity against the DRs by comparing the intake of 20 food groups. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients (SRs) were calculated between energy-adjusted intake from the FFQs and that from the DRs. Results: The intake of 20 food groups estimated from the two FFQs was mostly equivalent. The median energy-adjusted SRs between the FFQ1 and FFQ2 were 0.61 (range 0.38–0.86) for men and 0.66 (0.45–0.84) for women. For validity, the median de-attenuated SRs between DRs and the FFQ1 were 0.51 (0.17–0.76) for men and 0.47 (0.23–0.77) for women. Compared with the DRs, the proportion of cross-classification into exact plus adjacent quintiles with the FFQ1 ranged from 58 to 86% in men and from 57 to 86% in women. According to the robust Z scores and the Bland–Altman plot graphs, the underestimation errors in the FFQ1 tended to be greater in individuals with high mean levels of consumption for meat for men and for other vegetables for both men and women. Conclusion: The FFQ demonstrated high reproducibility and reasonable validity for food group intake. This questionnaire is short and remains appropriate for identifying associations between diet and health/disease among adults in Japan

Associations of a PTPN11 G/A polymorphism at intron 3 with Helicobactor pylori seropositivity, gastric atrophy and gastric cancer in Japanese

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous studies have revealed the significance of <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>(<it>H. pylori</it>) infection as a risk factor of gastric cancer. Cytotoxin-associated gene A (<it>cagA</it>) positivity has been demonstrated to determine the clinical outcome of <it>H. pylori </it>infection in the presence of SHP-2 (src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2). This study aimed to examine the formerly reported association of G/A <it>PTPN11 (protein-tyrosine phosphatase, nonreceptor-type 11) </it>polymorphism (rs2301756) with gastric atrophy, as well as the association with gastric cancer in a Japanese population using a large sample size.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Study subjects were 583 histologically diagnosed patients with gastric cancer (429 males and 154 females) and age- and sex-frequency-matched 1,636 non-cancer outpatients (1,203 males and 433 females), who visited Aichi Cancer Center Hospital between 2001–2005. Serum anti-<it>H. pylori </it>IgG antibody and pepsinogens were measured to evaluate <it>H. pylori </it>infection and gastric atrophy, respectively. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by a logistic model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among <it>H. pylori </it>seropositive non-cancer outpatients, the age- and sex-adjusted OR of gastric atrophy was 0.82 (95% CI 0.62–1.10, <it>P </it>= 0.194) for <it>G/A</it>, 0.84 (95% CI 0.39–1.81, <it>P </it>= 0.650) for <it>A/A</it>, and 0.83 (95% CI 0.62–1.09, <it>P </it>= 0.182) for <it>G/A</it>+<it>A/A</it>, relative to <it>G/G </it>genotype, and that of severe gastric atrophy was 0.70 (95% CI 0.47–1.04, <it>P </it>= 0.079), 0.56 (95% CI 0.17–1.91, <it>P </it>= 0.356), and 0.68 (95% CI 0.46–1.01, <it>P </it>= 0.057), respectively. Among <it>H. pylori </it>infected subjects (<it>H. pylori </it>seropositive subjects and seronegative subjects with gastric atrophy), the adjusted OR of severe gastric atrophy was further reduced; 0.62 (95% CI 0.42–0.90, <it>P </it>= 0.012) for <it>G/A</it>+<it>A/A</it>. The distribution of the genotype in patients with gastric cancer was not significantly different from that for <it>H. pylori </it>infected subjects without gastric atrophy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study results revealed that those with the <it>A/A </it>genotype of <it>PTPN11 </it>rs2301756 polymorphism are at lower risk of severe gastric atrophy, but are not associated with a decreased risk of gastric cancer, which partially supported our previous finding that the polymorphism in the <it>PTPN11 </it>gene encoding SHP-2 was associated with the gastric atrophy risk in <it>H. pylori </it>infected Japanese. The biological roles of this <it>PTPN11 </it>polymorphism require further investigation.</p

集団凝集性と心理的競技能力の関連性について : 大学女子ハンドボール選手の場合

In the present study， we assumed that group cohesiveness influences game results and that psychologicalcompetitive ability is a factor that promotes cohesiveness， and investigated the relationship between group cohesiveness and psychological-competitive ability for high- and low-ranked intercollegiate teams. The following findings were suggested. “Closeness” and“ Teamwork” were identified as factors to promote group cohesiveness. These factors were promoted through relationships between group cohesiveness and“ confidence” and“ tactical ability”， which are factors of psychological-competitive ability， and influenced game results and athletic performance. Individual roles have great significance in group organizations， and failure of each member to fulfill his or her role would prevent the group from working and functioning. Therefore， in team sports， promotion of cohesiveness. and mutual understanding of goals among the entire team are essential for keeping the group and accomplishing tasks. is of great importance

心的特性と心理的競技能力に関する研究

Mental control （psychological-competitive ability） is necessary for athletes to demonstrate their best performance. It has been assumed that an individual’s personality is also involved in demonstrating psychological-competitive ability; thus，the present study was conducted in order to clarify the relationship between psychological-competitive ability and personality. The diagnostic Inventory of Psychological- Competitive Ability for Athletes （DIPCA3） and Permeability Control Power Egogram （PCE） were utilized to measure psychological-competitive ability and personality，respectively. University and high school athletes were categorized into superior and inferior groups，and a comparison was conducted between groups. Regarding the relationship between personality and psychological-competitive ability，it was suggested that university athletes in the superior group improved their competitiveness and cooperativeness by switching their ego-states appropriately，and self-confidence and strategic ability were lowered in the inferior group by repressing the expression of feelings into actions by the ego.High school athletes in the superior group had a strong desire to show their strength，and their egos motivated them to direct their mental stability and concentration，self-confidence，and strategic ability towards this ideal; however，a strong and dominant ego also lowered cooperativeness. In the inferior group，a dominating ego that can be switched appropriately improved strategic ability or an ego that drives athletes to act according to their own values and ideas improved self-confidence. It seemed that an ego that represses the expression of feelings into actions lowered mental stability and concentration. Since the mental ability required of each individual varied due to differences in athletic level，career and supervising method，different trends were observed between groups. In order to demonstrate the best performance for individual athletes at different levels，it is important to establish a personality that allows flexible switching of ego，and enhance mental competitive ability along with the establishment of personality