Measurements and Evaluation of Proximal Femoral Bone Mineral Density with Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry

Proximal femoral bone mineral density (BMD) can be measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry method in the neck, trochanter, intertrochanter, total and Ward's triangle area. Ward's triangle area of the proximal femur is a smaller area to measure than the others, and the position varies, depending on the status of inner rotation of the target leg. In this study, the measurements of the proximal femoral BMD in women were carried out on the neck, trochanter, intertrochanter, total and Ward's triangle area with the, subjects' legs turned 15 degrees toward the inside. The Ward's BMD were measured using Ward's cognitive method, in which the measured BMD were compared among age groups of 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80-89 to determine whether this process could reveal decreased femoral BMD in elderly women. The correlation between BMD and age was tested using the Pearson correlation coefficient. In all measured parts, the BMD of women age 50-59 were significantly higher than those of women age 80-89. The correlations between BMD and age were negative in all measured parts, and the most negative correlation was between age and Ward's BMD. The study using Ward's cognitive method showed an inverse correlation between Ward's BMD and age in women

3D Periodic-Sugoroku Game for Active Learning of the Periodic Table

The periodic table is an important set of scientific sym-bols that are not commonly used in everyday life but which may cause science phobia in youngsters. Many types of educational tools for learning the periodic table do not provide an opportunity to dis-cover the relationships between chemical elements. In this study, we propose a NEO GAME of sugoroku game involving a 3D periodic chart (i.e., periodic-sugoroku) for use as an educational tool. Sugoroku is a Japanese board game similar to Parcheesi or Monopo-ly. Using this proposed tool, students can actively learn the periodic chart while enjoying a sugoroku game

Multiple Myeloma Presenting Symptoms in the Oral and Maxillofacial Region

Four cases of multiple myeloma presenting symptoms in the oral and maxillofacial region are reported. The main complaints in 2 patients were macroglossia and dysphagia. We doubted these cases were amyloidosis, but examinations performed for possible amyloidosis led us to a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. The other 2 patients presented signs in the mandible. One of them had a mass-type lesion in the gingiva which upon X-ray revealed an osteolytic lesion in the mandible and multiple "punched-out" osteolytic lesions in the cranial bones. The other showed only a diffuse non-homogeneous radiolucent lesion and dental ankylosis. Medical history and biochemical and hematologic findings would be helpful in diagnosing multiple myeloma. Here, we report our summarization of these 4 cases

Benign Symmetric Lipomatosis: A Patient Report

Benign symmetric lipomatosis (BSL) is a disease characterized by symmetrical and diffuse adipose tissue deposits on the neck, shoulder, chest, abdomen and groin. It is comparatively common in the Mediterranean basin, but rare in Japan. We report on a 53-year-old male patient with BSL along with a review of the literature. The lesions were distributed bilaterally in the submandibular, neck and upper back region. This patient had consumed an excessive amount of alcohol with elevated liver enzymes including aspartate aminotransferase (133 IU/L), alanine aminotransferase (159 IU/L) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (355 IU/L). The liver function was normalized after a 1-year restriction of alcohol consumption through life management. Tumors in the posterior and anterior cervical regions were resected. The patient is still in a good condition at 3 years and 5 months after the operation

A Case of Metastatic Fumarate Hydratase-Deficient–like Renal Cell Carcinoma Successfully Managed by Ipilimumab plus Nivolumab

We report a 62-year-old male with metastatic fumarate hydratase-deficient renal cell carcinoma (FH-deficient RCC) without fumarate hydratase (FH) mutation (FH-deficient–like RCC). The International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium risk score was intermediate, and immunotherapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab (Ipi/ Nivo) was initiated. Four cycles of Ipi/Nivo and 5 cycles of nivolumab resulted in a complete response of the metastases. Hypophysitis occurred as an immune-related adverse event after four cycles of Ipi/Nivo. The prognosis of patients with FH-deficient RCC is generally poor. Few reports of FH-deficient RCC successfully treated with Ipi/Nivo have been published. Ipi/Nivo can be effective for treating FH-deficient RCC

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Stomach with Narrow Stalk-Like Based, Uneven Protruding Appearance Presenting with Severe Acute Anemia despite Small Size

We report the case of a 56-year-old woman who had a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the stomach. She was admitted to our hospital for epigastric pain, nausea, and severe acute anemia (hemoglobin level 4.3 g/dl). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a narrow stalk-like based, hemorrhagic and uneven protruding lesion in the lesser curvature of the gastric upper corpus. Although the tumor was less than 2 cm in diameter and was probably a benign GIST according to histology, laparoscopy-assisted local resection was needed because the patient had continuous severe anemia and epigastric pain. Histological assessment showed that the elongated spindle-like tumor cells originated from the intrinsic muscle layer, and was shown with growth to the mucosal side, cropping out to the surface in most areas of the protruding lesion. Only a small part of the tumor was within nontumoral gastric mucosa. Most of the tumor cells demonstrated immunoreactivity for KIT and CD34 in the cytoplasm but not for αSMA, S100, and desmin. Mitotic activity (0/50 high power field) and the labeling index for MIB-1 (about 1%) were low. The GIST of the stomach described in this report was a rare case with a narrow stalk-like based, uneven protruding mass presenting with severe acute anemia despite small size

Correlation between magnifying narrow band imaging and histopathology in gastric protruding/or polypoid lesions: a pilot feasibility trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several study showed usefulness of microscopic capillaries, seen by magnifying narrow band imaging (NBI) endoscopy for predicting histopathology among superficial depressed or flat elevated gastric neoplasia (GN). Here we assessed the diagnostic efficacy of magnifying NBI for predicting histopathology among gastric protruding/or polypoid lesions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using endoscopic pictures of magnifying NBI from 95 protruding/or polypoid lesions (19 fundic gland polyps: FGP, 47 hyperplastic polyps: HP, and 29 GN), fine mucosal patterns were classified into four categories: small round, prolonged, villous or ridge, and unclear patterns, and micro vascular patterns were classified into five categories: honey comb, dense vascular, fine net work, core vascular, and unclear patterns.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Most suggestive micro vascular patterns for predicting FGP, and HP were honeycomb (sensitivity 94.7%, specificity 97.4%), and dense vascular patterns (sensitivity 93.6%, specificity 91.6%), respectively. Fine net work, core vascular, and unclear patterns presented higher specificity (97%, 100%, and 100%) for predicting GN, and diagnostic efficacy of combined of those patterns was favorable (sensitivity 86.2%, specificity 97.0%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Micro vascular patterns by using magnifying NBI provides meaningful information for predicting the histopathology of gastric protruding/or polypoid lesions.</p

A Genetic Variant of the CD14 C-159T in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia (FD) in Japanese Subjects

Inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa are commonly observed in Japanese patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). However, detailed data regarding the relationship between the genetic regulatory factors of inflammation and FD are not available. CD14 is an important mediator of the inflammatory response in the first line of host defense by recognition of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We aimed to investigate the association between CD14 promoter C-159T polymorphism and FD in a Japanese population. 108 patients with FD and 99 non-dyspeptic subjects enrolled in this study. Dyspeptic symptoms were divided according to Rome III criteria. CD14 gene C-159T polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. In the non-dyspeptics, the CD14 genotype distribution was 28CC (28.3%), 51CT (51.5%), 21TT (21.2%). Meanwhile, the CD14 genotype distribution in FD was 31CC (28.4%), 56CT (51.4%), 22TT (20.2%). The genotype distribution was not significantly different. There was no significant difference between two groups in the genotype distribution. We did not found any association between CD14 genotypes and dyspeptic patients in different gender and Helicobacter pylori infection status. No significant association was also found between CD14 polymorphism and any of different subtypes of FD according to Rome III while there was a weak correlation between TT genotype and PDS in male subjects (TT vs others, OR = 3.18, 95% CI = 0.98−10.26, p = 0.06). In conclusion, our results suggest that CD14 polymorphism is unlikely to associate with susceptibility of dyspeptic symptoms. The role of inflammation related-gene polymorphisms to the development of dyspepsia needs to further evaluation

SURVEY ON FACULTY OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE EDUCATION IN JAPAN

As a part of LIPER research, a questionnaire survey was performed on Library & Information Science instructors in Japanese universities. In quantitative terms, this research revealed the characteristics and teaching goals of LIS instructors, the similarities of librarian certification courses, and the overlap with instructors of those courses. Also, an analysis of freeform question responses about LIS education revealed the instructor’s varied thoughts on LIS education and also revealed awareness of problems related to profession and curriculum issues and education goals.3rd-6th April, 2006 at Nanyang Technological University, Singapor