Balneotherapy is a treatment with healing waters, which includes bathing and physiotherapy in thermal water, therapeutic drinks, medical massage, and water jet massage. It is based on the buoyancy, physical properties, temperature, and chemical effects of mineral water. Throughout European and Japanese medical institutions, balneology and hot spring therapy is very much a part of routine medical treatment. The mechanism of balneotherapy is not yet completely understood. Balneotherapeutic procedures are mainly performed for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal diseases, but they have also proven useful for various other indications such as for the treatment or rehabilitation of dermatological diseases, immuno-inflammatory diseases, chronic pain syndromes, chronic cardiac diseases, and metabolic syndromes or neurological diseases as well as in the rehabilitation of patients with psychiatric conditions. Balneotherapy works well in the case of muscle tension, as it is relieving and relaxing, and it may be associated with improvement of various diseases. However, further investigations are necessary to determine the effectiveness, safety, standard procedures, and potential side effects of balneotherapy.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of early transcatheter arterial embolization for hemodynamically stable patients with The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade 4 blunt renal trauma. Materials and Methods: The medical records of consecutive patients with grade 4 blunt renal trauma who were transported to our two critical care centers in Japan and treated with early transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) between 2001 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Treatment failure was defined as the need for further surgical intervention or re-embolization after initial embolization. We divided these cases into two groups, a group who survived and a group who died, investigating the factors that led to death. Results: Seventeen patients underwent early TAE, with an average time between presentation and embolization for renal trauma of 125 minutes (66-214 minutes). There was no case of treatment failure. Three of the patients died, but none solely because of renal injury. Significant factors associated with patient death were the number of concomitant injured organs (p=0.04), the presence of pelvic fractures (p<0.01), and the presence of visceral injuries (p<0.01). The presence of lumber fractures (p=0.09) also tended to be associated with patient death. Conclusions: Early TAE is an effective treatment and should be actively performed for hemodynamically stable patients with grade 4 blunt renal injuries without multiple concomitant organ injuries.

Objective: We evaluated the preoperative patient status including nutrition, immunity, and inflammation as a predictive factor of remote infection (RI) in colorectal cancer surgery. Subjects and Methods: A total of 351 patients who underwent colorectal cancer resection were retrospectively analyzed. Factors correlated with RI incidence were identified by logistic analysis and stepwise selection. Results: RI occurred in 27 patients, with an incidence of 7.7%. In univariate logistic analysis, a significantly high incidence of RI was associated with excessive blood loss (>423 mL), long duration of surgery (>279 minutes), ileus, pulmonary dysfunction, performance status (PS) ≥1, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification>2, prognostic nutritional index (PNI) ≤40, and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) ≥2, modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) (Score 2).In multivariate analysis, pulmonary dysfunction (odds ratio=2.83; 95% CI: 1.14-6.97; p=0.02) and PNI≤40 (odds ratio=3.87; 95% CI: 1.45-10.31; p=0.006) were independent risk factors of RI incidence. Conclusion: RI is caused by poor nutrition, immune system dysfunction and pulmonary dysfunction.

Background: The influence of S-carboxymethylcystein (S-CMC) on the proliferation ability of goblet cells in nasal polyp epithelium in response to inflammatory stimulation was examined. Methods: The subjects were patients with chronic paranasal sinusitis. An epithelial cell culture system was established using nasal polyp mucosa excised during endoscopic paranasal sinus surgery. The samples were divided into 4 groups (group a: control group, group b: 10 ng/mL tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) treatment group, group c: 10^-7 M S-CMC and 10 ng/mL TNF-α treatment group, group d: 10^-5 M S-CMC and 10 ng/mL TNF-α treatment group). The total number of epithelial cells and number of goblet cells were measured under a microscope, and the ratio of goblet cells to the total number of epithelial cells was calculated. Results: In group b, 10 ng/mL of TNF-α significantly increased the number of goblet cells compared with group a, suggesting involvement of TNF-α in goblet cell proliferation. In addition, the number of goblet cells significantly decreased in group d compared with that in group b, and it also decreased in group c compared with that in group b, although the difference was not significant, and the decrease was smaller than that in group d, suggesting that S-CMC inhibited goblet cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: TNF-α promoted goblet cell proliferation in nasal polyps, suggesting its influence on nasal polyp formation. As S-CMC inhibited inflammatory stimulation-induced goblet cell proliferation in nasal polyp epithelium, it may be useful for the treatment of sinusitis.

Background: Recently, some reports have revealed a relationship between post-hepatectomy prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatic fibrosis markers. We evaluated the relationship between these markers of hepatic fibrosis, clinicopathological findings, and prognosis. Methods: Three hundred and sixty patients underwent hepatectomy for HCC in the Nippon Medical School Hospital between 1993 and 2013. We divided these patients into two groups: normal serum hyaluronic acid (HA) levels and abnormal levels. We also divided patients into groups with normal serum type IV collagen levels and abnormal levels. Results: The overall survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate of the normal group were significantly higher than those of the abnormal group. In the normal hyaluronic acid group, serum albumin and prothrombin time were significantly higher than in the abnormal group, and age, hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV)-Ab positivity, Child-Pugh grade B, liver cirrhosis, indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICGR15), type IV collagen level, and type IV collagen 7s level were significantly lower than those in the abnormal group. In the normal type IV collagen group, HCV-Ab positivity, liver cirrhosis, ICGR15, HA level, and type IV collagen 7s level were significantly lower than those in the abnormal group, and the serum albumin level was significantly higher than that in the abnormal group. Multivariate analysis independently revealed the significant effect of serum type IV collagen on the overall survival rate as well as the significant effect of serum HA on the recurrence-free survival rate in patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC. Conclusions: Preoperative examinations of serum hyaluronic acid levels and type IV collagen levels are imperative for hepatic resection for HCC because these markers are significantly associated with liver function and prognosis.

A 52-year-old Japanese woman presented with a 1.5-cm black, glossy, flat, pediculated lump that clinically mimicked a melanocytic nevus on the left temporal side of her head. The subcutaneous tumor beneath the nodule was elastic and hard. A histological examination showed that the tumor was well circumscribed with an exo- and endophytic growth 2.4 × 1.9 cm in size. The lesion contained several keratinous cysts and was composed of funicular fascicles containing squamoid cells. Excessive mucinous material deposition was observed around the tumor periphery and a palisading arrangement of nuclei in the tumor periphery was seen in some areas. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of infundibulocystic basal cell carcinoma (IFC-BCC) was made. This report presents a case of IFC-BCC that clinically mimicked a melanocytic nevus and was also associated with epidermal cysts.

We report a case of trans-scaphoid perilunate fracture-dislocation with concomitant lunotriquetral ligament disruption of the right wrist in a 44-year-old man, sustained from a 10-m fall landing on his outstretched right hand. Open reduction was performed 1 day after injury; at first the palmar dislocation of the lunate was reduced with the palmar approach. Under direct view with the dorsal approach, the scaphoid was comminuted and then treated with open reduction and internal fixation with a double threshold screw using a dorsal approach and a bone graft from the distal radius. Although the scapholunate ligament was intact, the lunotriquetral ligament was disrupted and required repair with metal suture anchors. At the 28-month follow-up evaluation, the patient had no residual pain in his wrist and returned to work. Trans-scaphoid perilunate fracture-dislocations often accompany a comminuted fracture of the scaphoid and disruptions of the intercarpal ligaments, and bone union and ligament healing time is delayed. Prolonged immobilization of the wrist may restrict its range of motion and limit daily activities. Therefore, open reduction and internal fixation with a bone graft for the scaphoid and simultaneous repair of interosseous intercarpal ligaments are essential for satisfactory recovery from perilunate fracture-dislocations.

A 73-year-old man presented with right lower back pain and dysuria. Right hydronephrosis and a large pelvic large mass were seen on computed tomography (CT). Although his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 0.5 ng/mL, an irregularly enlarged, stony, hard prostate was palpable on digital rectal examination. A prostate tumor was suspected, and a transrectal prostate biopsy and right transurethral ureteral stent placement were performed. Histological and immunohistochemical studies revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography showed abnormal uptake in the stomach, cecum, right obturator lymph nodes, para-aortic lymph nodes, and dorsal left kidney. No abnormal findings were seen on bone marrow histology. Clinical stage IVA was confirmed according to Ann Arbor criteria. The patient achieved a complete response after 8 cycles of combination chemotherapy with rituximab, pirarubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone.

We herein report a case of severe aplastic anemia diagnosed in an 8-year-old girl with a previous diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. We found significantly increased CD8+ and CD68+ cell numbers in her bone marrow, which can induce severe organ damage, refractory to immunosuppressive therapy.