Background & Aims : To diagnose diseases such as tongue-tie etc. and to access the functional results of the operation and treatments for the diseases objectively, we tried to invent a measuring device for tongue movement, and then study the normal range of spontaneous maximum forward tongue movement in healthy adults.
Material & Methods : We invented a new measuring device, and studied spontaneous maximum forward tongue movement in 19 healthy adults. On the other hand, stature, head length, total head height and face breadth (bizygomatic breadth) were measured by means of Martin's somatometrical device.
Results : A new device for measuring spontaneous forward tongue movement was invented. The normal range measured was a minimum of 21 mm, maximum 39 mm, and the average was (28.8±5.4) mm. Statistically positive relationships were recognized both between tongue movement and stature and between tongue movement and the face breadth (p < 0.05).
Conclusions : A new device to measure tongue movement was invented. Spontaneous maximum forward tongue movement in 19 healthy adults was measured and its relationship to some somatometrical measurements was studied.

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Background : For patients with severe intractable neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to be hospitalized when their conditions become worse, the Gunma prefectural government established a network of 65 hospitals in 1999. A nurse coordinator has been assigned to the Department of Neurology at the Gunma University Hospital, the center hospital for the network.
Objectives and Methods : We analyzed records the coordinator kept from 1999 to 2001 and classified coordinating activities in this network.
Results and Conclusions : The coordinator responded to 601 consultations on 246 patients given by patients, their families, public health nurses., and doctors. Coordinating activities were classified into5 categories : giving specialized and specific advice at each consultation, coordinating patient, hospitalization following up patients at the center hospital and coordinate local services, supporting patients followed by public health centers and enlarging local care capacity through activities such as studies and seminars. We found that the coordinator at the center hospital has been functioning very well in this network. Coordinators such as those in this network are indispensable for sound care systems for intractable neurological diseases.

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Background & Aims : Differentiation-inducing factor-1 (DIF-1) is a small lipophilic substance that induces stalk cell differentiation in the cellular mold Dictyostelium discoideum. It has been shown that DIF-1 has an anti-tumor activity in mammalian cells. In the present study, we examined the effects of DIF-1 on the growth of some bacteria, fungi, and an influenza virus.
Method : We used in vitro systems for the assay for growth of microorganisms.
Results : DIF-1 did not show marked effect on the bacteria and fungi tested. Interestingly, DIF-1 inhibited viral plaque formation in its host Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells in a dose dependent manner and IC₅₀ was 18μM. DIF-1 also inhibited the growth of MDCK cells and IC₅₀ was 30μM.
Conclusions : These results indicate that DIF-1 or its analogs may be utilized as a tool for the analysis of virus functions.

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Background and Aims : We conducted an endoscopic-assisted partial mastectomy by a periareolar approach in 5 patients with breast cancer. This early experience showed some problems with this procedure. We clarified these problems and improved procedures.
Result : Endoscopic surgery for breast cancer made it possible to reduce the length of the wound and shift the wound position, although problems exist in this procedure, such as the skin flap thickness and dissection of the fascia of the pectoralis major muscle.
Conclusion : It is important that we use endoscopic instruments based on the tumor location and expose the pectoralis major muscle at a wide area by sufficient dissection to solve these problems.

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Background and Aim : A clean environment contributes to maintaining mental and physical health. From March 1996 to January 1997, we studied seasonal changes in house dust amounts, antigen amounts of house dust mites, the number of mites in house dust, and cleaning of house dust, on various floor materials in a few cases.
Method : House dust was collected with a vacuum cleaner. An antigen amount of house dust mites was measured using ACAREX test (ALLERGOPHARMA JOACHIM GANZER KG, Germany). The numbers of house dust mite were counted using a stereomicroscope.
Results : The amount of house dust increased from January to April. Amounts of an antigen from house dust mites increased during autumn. The number of mites in house dust also increased during autumn. About 95% of the house dust over the carpet in the living room was cleaned 3 times by running a vacuum cleaner slowly, while that over the tatami floor was cleaned 2 times.
Conclusion : Living environment improvement is a requisite to good health. We plan to prepare a manual for environment improvement by practical use of this data.

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A case of Bellini duct carcinoma is reported. A 75-year-old man reporting occult blood in urine and pyuria, was examined and a left renal tumor found via ultrasonography (US), drip infusion pyelography (DIP), and computed tomography (CT). Right radical nephrectomy, based on a diagnosis of hypovascular renal cell carcinoma, was done. Gross examination showed a white-gray tumor centered in the renal medulla and infiltrating into the renal cortex. Histologically, tumor cells showed a papillary tubular structure, and partial differentiation to transitional cells. Cells had eosinophilic cytoplasm and large irregular nuclei. We diagnosed this patient with Bellini duct carcinoma. Because of the patient's age and wishes, no additional therapy was given. He developed vertebrometastasis 2 months postoperatively and died from carcinoma.

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We summarize 4 cases of primary scrotal sclerosing lipogranuloma with some considerations of the disease. Two cases were diagnosed based on the characteristic Y-shaped tumor in the scrotum disappeared after 4 to 5 weeks of observation. Two cases required surgical resection and histopathological findings were typical of sclerosing lipogranuloma. In case 1 of the 2 cases, colonies of candida and bacillus were identified, but the pathogenesis was unclear.

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A 51-year-old man admitted with pain on urination was found in cystoscopy to have a broad-base nonpapillary tumor on the dome of the bladder. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a heterogeneous mass 3 cm in diameter, but no metastatic lesion was detected by further examinations. Leiomyosarcoma was histopathologically suspected from a biopsy specimen. Transarterial injection of cisplatin into bilateral superior vesical arteries and embolization were done to prevent local extends of the tumor. Afterward, total cystectomy with ileal neobladder was successfully performed and the postoperative course was uneventful. The diagnosis was vesical leiomyosarcoma, pT2, pNO, MO, and the patient is disease-free 12 months after surgery. We review 105 cases of vesical leiomyosarcoma reported in Japan with some considerations of their clinical features.

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We report a case of 76-year-old male with a complaint of watery diarrhea due to collagenous colitis. Biopsy specimens from the sigmoid colon showed a thick subepithelial collagen band, which were immunoreactive for collagen types 1, 3, 5 and 6. We started salazopyrine as the treatment of collagenous colitis but observed no effect, then changed to prednisolone 30mg per day. After the treatment with prednisolone, his symptoms had completely improved. The results of this case suggest that prednisolone may be useful and can lead to the complete remission in the treatment of collagenous colitis.

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