THE INFLUENCES OF THE BUNT IMAGE UPON BALL MEETING BAT

In today’s baseball, a bunt is considered as an important tactic. Therefore the aim of this study was to define the kinematic characteristics of bunt comparing between experts and beginners. Five expert players and five healthy male students participated in this study. Subjects bunted 10 times. 3-D coordinate was determined by DLT METHOD. Using these variables, the variance of distance between the bat-head and forehead, and the variance of bat-angle were researched and analyzed by z-test (

Preface

No Abstract.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77506/1/1700_ftp.pd

Management of Gastric Varices Unsuccessfully Treated by Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration: Long-Term Follow-Up and Outcomes

Our aim was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of percutaneous transhepatic obliteration (PTO) alone and combined with balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) for gastroesophageal varices refractory to BRTO alone. Between July 1999 and December 2010, 13 patients with gastroesophageal varices refractory to BRTO were treated with PTO (n = 6) or a combination of PTO and BRTO (n = 7). We retrospectively investigated the rates of survival, recurrence, or worsening of the varices; hepatic function before and after the procedure; and complications. The procedure achieved complete obliteration or significant reduction of the varices in all 13 patients without major complications. During follow-up, the varices had recurred in 2 patients, of which one had hepatocellular carcinoma, and the other died suddenly from variceal rebleeding 7 years after PTO. The remaining 11 patients did not experience worsening of the varices and showed significant improvements in the serum ammonia levels and prothrombin time. The mean follow-up period was 90 months, and the cumulative survival rate at 1, 3, and 5 years was 92.9%, 85.7%, and 85.7%, respectively. Both PTO and combined PTO and BRTO seem as safe and effective procedures for the treatment of gastroesophageal varices refractory to BRTO alone

Gene Knockout and Metabolome Analysis of Carnitine/Organic Cation Transporter OCTN1

金沢大学医薬保健研究域薬学系Purpose: Solute carrier OCTN1 (SLC22A4) is an orphan transporter, the physiologically important substrate of which is still unidentified. The aim of the present study was to examine physiological roles of OCTN1. Methods: We first constructed octn1 gene knockout (octn1-/-) mice. Metabolome analysis was then performed to identify substrates in vivo. The possible association of the substrate identified with diseased conditions was further examined. Results: The metabolome analysis of blood and several organs indicated complete deficiency of a naturally occurring potent antioxidant ergothioneine in octn1-/- mice among 112 metabolites examined. Pharmacokinetic analyses after oral administration revealed the highest distribution to small intestines and extensive renal reabsorption of [3H]ergothioneine, both of which were much reduced in octn1-/- mice. The octn1-/- mice exhibited greater susceptibility to intestinal inflammation under the ischemia and reperfusion model. The blood ergothioneine concentration was also much reduced in Japanese patients with Crohn\u27s disease, compared with healthy volunteers and patients with another inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis. Conclusions: These results indicate that OCTN1 plays a pivotal role for maintenance of systemic and intestinal exposure of ergothioneine, which could be important for protective effects against intestinal tissue injuries, providing a possible diagnostic tool to distinguish the inflammatory bowel diseases. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

形態学的に骨髄腫細胞との鑑別に苦慮した plasmacytoid な形態を示した膀胱癌の多発骨転移の１例

　尿路上皮癌には，腫瘍細胞が形質細胞に酷似した形態を呈することがある．今回，形態学的に骨髄腫細胞との鑑別に苦慮したplasmacytoid な形態を示した膀胱癌の骨髄転移の一例を経験したので報告する．　症例は80歳代男性で，20XX 年10月に蛋白尿と腎機能障害が出現し，精査にて多発性骨髄腫（IgG-λ），ISS Ⅱ期と診断され，BD 療法（bortezomib+dexamethasone）を開始した．効果は良好で，３コース施行後にはVGPR（very good partial response）に到達した．20XX ＋１年２月間歇的に認めていた血尿の精査を行い，細胞診や膀胱鏡検査から膀胱癌の併発を確認した．骨髄腫治療は中断し，膀胱癌治療を優先した．PET/CT 検査ではリンパ節やその他臓器への転移は認めず，６月に膀胱全摘術が施行された．術後は経過良好であったため，全身状態の回復を待ち，骨髄腫治療を再開する予定であった．しかし，９月末頃から腰痛が出現し，10月には腰痛の増強を認めたため再度PET/CT 検査を施行したところ，多発する骨髄病変を認めた．骨髄腫の増悪を疑い骨髄検査を施行した．骨髄穿刺塗沫標本では，形質細胞様の異形細胞を多数認め，骨髄腫の増悪を推測させる所見であった．しかし同時に施行された骨髄腫関連検査では，IgG やその他の免疫グロブリンは正常であり，蛋白分画や免疫固定法でもM 蛋白は検出されなかった．骨髄生検の病理組織学的検査の結果，形質細胞様の異形細胞は尿路上皮系の腫瘍細胞であり，膀胱癌の骨転移と診断された．PET/CT 検査での多発骨髄病変は，多発性骨髄腫の増悪ではなく，膀胱癌の多発骨転移であった．　膀胱全摘後の再発は，遠隔転移が20～50% と遠隔転移が多く，遠隔転移部位として骨，リンパ節，肺，肝の順に多いと報告されている．そのため，骨髄塗抹標本検鏡の際，遭遇する可能性があり，骨髄腫細胞と見誤らないためには，免疫染色を含めた組織学的な検討，血清・尿の蛋白解析が必須と考えられた．　Urothelial cancer cells may appear similar to plasma cells. We present a case of plasmacytoid bladder cancer with bone marrow metastasis and difficult morphological differentiation from myeloma. A male in his 80s presented with proteinuria and renal dysfunction in October 20XX. Detailed examination led to a diagnosis of International Staging System Stage II multiple myeloma (IgG-λ), and BD (bortezomib + dexamethasone) therapy was started. Three courses of treatment resulted in a very good partial response. Intermittent hematuria was observed in February 20XX+1, and cytodiagnosis and cystoscopy confirmed bladder cancer. Myeloma treatment was discontinued, and treatment of bladder cancer was prioritized. There was no metastasis to lymph nodes or other organs on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) and cystectomy was performed in June. The postoperative course was good, and myeloma treatment was to resume once the patient had improved. However, in late September, he developed lower back pain that intensified in October. Repeat PET/ CT confirmed multiple bone marrow lesions. Exacerbation of myeloma was suspected. Bone marrow aspiration confirmed multiple plasma cell-like atypical cells, indicating exacerbation of myeloma. However, other myeloma-related tests performed at the same time, including IgG and immunoglobulins, were normal, and M protein was not detected on protein fractionation or immunofixation. Histopathological examination of a bone marrow biopsy showed that plasma cell-like atypical cells were urothelial tumor cells, and bone metastasis from bladder cancer was diagnosed. Multiple bone marrow lesions found on PET/CT were not an exacerbation of multiple myeloma but instead were multiple bone metastases from bladder cancer.　Recurrence following cystectomy has a high prevalence of distant metastasis (20 to 50%), and distant metastasis sites include bones, lymph nodes, lungs, and liver in the order of prevalence. Therefore, bone marrow aspiration and histological examination with immunostaining, in addition to serum and urine protein analysis are essential to prevent confusion with myeloma cells

DOCK2 is involved in the host genetics and biology of severe COVID-19

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19疾患感受性遺伝子DOCK2の重症化機序を解明 --アジア最大のバイオレポジトリーでCOVID-19の治療標的を発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.Identifying the host genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 is an emerging challenge. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2, 393 cases of COVID-19 in a cohort of Japanese individuals collected during the initial waves of the pandemic, with 3, 289 unaffected controls. We identified a variant on chromosome 5 at 5q35 (rs60200309-A), close to the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 gene (DOCK2), which was associated with severe COVID-19 in patients less than 65 years of age. This risk allele was prevalent in East Asian individuals but rare in Europeans, highlighting the value of genome-wide association studies in non-European populations. RNA-sequencing analysis of 473 bulk peripheral blood samples identified decreased expression of DOCK2 associated with the risk allele in these younger patients. DOCK2 expression was suppressed in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (n = 61 individuals) identified cell-type-specific downregulation of DOCK2 and a COVID-19-specific decreasing effect of the risk allele on DOCK2 expression in non-classical monocytes. Immunohistochemistry of lung specimens from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia showed suppressed DOCK2 expression. Moreover, inhibition of DOCK2 function with CPYPP increased the severity of pneumonia in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by weight loss, lung oedema, enhanced viral loads, impaired macrophage recruitment and dysregulated type I interferon responses. We conclude that DOCK2 has an important role in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, and could be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target

Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma That Increased in Size after Menopause: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

This study reports a case of uterine liposarcoma together with a literature review. At 52 years old, our patient was diagnosed with lipoleiomyoma by MRI. A mass (39×32×41 mm3) protruding from the anterior wall of the uterine body was observed. When the patient was 58, her previous doctor found that the tumor had grown, and she was referred to the gynecology department of our hospital. On MRI, the major diameter was 1.23-fold longer and the volume was 1.85-fold higher compared with the prior imaging findings. Diffusion-weighted images revealed no significant anomalous signals. Thus, malignant tumors were included in the differential diagnosis. The patient consented to total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The mass on the anterior wall remained completely in the myometrium. No implantation was found in the abdominal cavity, and ascites was not detected. No bleeding or necrosis was observed on the cut surface. Histopathologically, differences in the sizes of adipocytes and stromal cells were identified. There were irregularities in the nuclear findings. The immunohistochemical findings were as follows: CDK4 (+), desmin (+), S100p (−), and Ki−67=1%. Therefore, a diagnosis of well-differentiated liposarcoma was rendered. The lesion was localized in the uterus, and it was completely removed during surgery. Well-differentiated liposarcoma of uterine primary has no possibility of recurrence following complete resection, and thus, the patient underwent follow-up without additional treatment. No metastasis or recurrence has been observed for 10 months after surgery