Endoscopic Nd:YAG Laser Treatment in the Perioperative Management of Tracheobronchoplasty

The objective of this study was to determine the role of endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment in the preoperative or postoperative management of tracheobronchoplasty. Eighteen patients with severe stenotic lesions of the trachea or bronchus underwent Nd:YAG laser treatment. Nd:YAG laser treatment was performed in the preoperative period in 14 patients and in the postoperative period in 4 patients. The indications for Nd:YAG laser treatment included emergency airway dilatation, confirmation of the distal margin of tumor, and safe tracheal intubation in patients with severe tracheal stenosis. The indications for Nd:YAG laser treatment in patients with severe stenosis of the mainstem bronchus were confirmation of the distal margin of tumor and recovery of lung ventilation during the preoperative period and reopening of the bronchial lumen to prevent obstructive pneumonia in the postoperative period. Among patients treated with Nd:YAG laser preoperatively, the indications were completely achieved in all 14 patients, except for 1 patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma who underwent treatment of the right mainstem bronchus. Among patients treated with Nd:YAG laser postoperatively the indications also were achieved in all 4 patients with severe granulomatous stenosis of the bronchial end-to-end anastomosis following sleeve lobectomy. In conclusion, endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment played an important role in the perioperative management of patients undergoing tracheobronchoplasty

RecR forms a ring-like tetramer that encircles dsDNA by forming a complex with RecF

In the RecFOR pathway, the RecF and RecR proteins form a complex that binds to DNA and exerts multiple functions, including directing the loading of RecA onto single-stranded (ss) DNA regions near double-stranded (ds) DNA–ssDNA junctions and preventing it from forming a filament beyond the ssDNA region. However, neither the structure of the RecFR complex nor its DNA-binding mechanism was previously identified. Here, size-exclusion chromatography and small-angle X-ray scattering data indicate that Thermus thermophilus (tt) RecR binds to ttRecF to form a globular structure consisting of four ttRecR and two ttRecF monomers. In addition, a low resolution model shows a cavity in the central part of the complex, suggesting that ttRecR forms a ring-like tetramer inside the ttRecFR complex. Mutant ttRecR proteins lacking the N- or C-terminal interfaces that are required for tetramer formation are unable to form a complex with ttRecF. Furthermore, a ttRecFR complex containing the DNA-binding deficient ttRecR K23E/R27E double mutant, which contains mutations lying inside the ring, exhibits significantly reduced dsDNA binding. Thus, we propose that the ring-like ttRecR tetramer has a key role in tethering the ttRecFR complex onto dsDNA and that the ring structure may function as a clamp protein

Spontaneous regression of bone metastasis from renal cell carcinoma; A case report

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous regression of metastatic renal cell carcinoma is rarely observed. CASE PRESENTATION: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma was identified in a 70-year-old male using computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle biopsy. Two months after the diagnosis, a partial resection of the sternal bone was performed. Pathological examination revealed granulated tissue with bleeding and necrosis but no carcinogenic cells. CONCLUSION: We report a pathologically identified case in which a sternal bone metastasis that was noticed two years after radical nephrectomy regressed completely and spontaneously

Expression of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 contributes to glucocorticoid resistance in lymphoblastic leukemia cells

Synthetic glucocorticoids (GC) form a crucial first-line treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However prolonged GC therapy frequently leads to GC-resistance with an unclear molecular mechanism. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) 2 inactivates GCs within cells. Here, we show the association between GC sensitivity and 11β-HSD2 expression in human T-cell leukemic cell lines. 11β-HSD2 mRNA and protein levels were considerably higher in GC-resistant MOLT4F cells than in GC-sensitive CCRF-CEM cells. The 11β-HSD inhibitor, carbenoxolone pre-treatment resulted in greater cell death with prednisolone assesed by methyl-thiazol-tetrazolium assay and Caspase-3/7 assay, suggesting that 11β-HSD2 is a cause of GC-resistance in ALL

コウダイ レンケイ ニ ヨル セツゾクキョウイク プログラム カイハツ ノ ココロミ

高大連携により効率的な接続教育プログラムを開発するため,高校向けアンケートを実施した。職業に就いた際に必要とされるキャリア基礎能力として本学で過去実施したアンケート結果を基にした10 要素,ならびに経済産業省の「社会人基礎力」12 要素の必要性と達成度を設問とした。その結果,社会人にもっとも必要とされるキャリア基礎能力は「コミュニケーション能力」であること,また,高校教科「情報」によりPC 基礎操作能力は十分獲得されていること,がわかった。この結果を踏まえ,高大連携プログラムの一環として高校-大学教員によるコミュニケーション教育研究会を開催し,全12 講からなる接続教育プログラム「コミュニケーションリテラシー」を開講した。Enquiries were made to upper secondary school teachers on basic vocational abilities necessary for thegraduates. Since "information literacy" was introduced recently as compulsory subject in secondary schools, itsrelation with elements necessary for an ordinary person who wishes to work in a company was investigated. Basedon the results, a project was set up with members from secondary school teachers and Shohoku College teachersand library staff. As a result, a novel coordination program, namely, "communication literacy", consisting of 12lessons, was held for secondary school third grade students

GENERAL THORACIC Minimal Alteration of Pulmonary Function After Lobectomy in Lung Cancer Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) on postoperative pulmonary function and to elucidate the factors for decreasing the reduction of pulmonary function after lobectomy. Methods. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 521 patients who had undergone lobectomy for lung cancer at Chiba University Hospital between 1990 and 2000. Forty-eight patients were categorized as COPD, defined as percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) less than or equal to 70 % and percentage of FEV1 to forced vital capacity less than or equal to 70%. The remaining 473 patients were categorized as non-COPD. Results. Although all preoperative pulmonary functio

Additional outreach effort of providing an opportunity to obtain a kit for fecal immunochemical test during the general health check-up to improve colorectal cancer screening rate in Japan: A longitudinal study.

ObjectivesA sufficient screening rate is indispensable to optimize the positive impact of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an additional outreach of providing an opportunity to obtain a kit for fecal immunochemical test (FIT) during the general health check-up to increase CRC screening rate.MethodsThis was a longitudinal study using pre-existing data in Kujukuri Town, Japan. The town provided CRC screening in the fiscal year (FY) 2017 using an existing procedure for all beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance, whereas in FY 2018, an additional outreach effort was made to only those with an even number of age (exposed group), who were offered an opportunity to obtain a kit for FIT at the time of general health check-ups but not to those with an odd number of age (control group). To estimate the effectiveness, generalized estimating equation (GEE) with individuals as clusters was performed.ResultsIn total, 3,530 individuals were included (1,708 in the control group and 1,822 in the exposed group). GEE showed significant interaction between the groups (control and exposed) and FYs (2017 and 2018) (pConclusionsAdditional outreach of providing an opportunity to obtain a kit for FIT at the time of the general health check-up improved the CRC screening rate. However, screening rate achieved by this strategy remained low, indicating further efforts is required