Respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics (RMSG) are designed to decrease chest wall stiffness, reduce dyspnea at rest and improve the quality of life. The focus of this study was to determine whether a RMSG program affects the psychological state of healthy subjects. A previous study showed that there is a positive correlation between anxiety level and respiratory rate (RR). We hypothesize that RMSG will decrease the RR related to alterations in anxiety or other factors that are associated with the quality of life in healthy children. Forty-four primary school children living in Tokyo participated in the study and were randomly assigned to either gymnastics or control groups. Baseline assessment of both groups included completion of the Questionnaire for Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life in Children (Kid-KINDL) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventories for Children (STAI-C). RRs were recorded initially and the children in the gymnastics group were instructed on how to perform RMSG. The RR was measured again and the participants completed the state anxiety scale. The gymnastics group was told to perform the gymnastics once a day for one week, whereupon post-testing using the testing protocol used for the baseline measurement was performed again on both groups. RR and anxiety level significantly decreased while Kid-KINDL increased after one week of RMSG in high trait anxiety subjects of the gymnastics group. We suggest that the decrease in RR after RMSG reduces anxiety levels in children, and contributes to an improvement in their Kid-KINDL score.

View full abstract

We excised intradural tumors in the lumbar region by en bloc laminectomy using the Y-method. Incisions were made in the dura mater and arachnoid membrane using a T-saw to expose the surgical field. The laminectomy involved repositioning of the resected vertebral arches into their original positions and performing suture fixation with absorbable sutures. Bone fusion was achieved in the vertebral arch and spinous process, with posterior elements of the lumbar vertebra successfully preserved. The first case was a schwannoma and the second was a relatively rare epidermoid cyst.

View full abstract

Our study aimed to clarify specific oxidative stress and glucose metabolic disorders in hemodialysis patients, by examining hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) - and high glucose-induced oxidative stress, glucose transport and the failure of glycolysis. As an in vitro blood cell model of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients with diabetes, human monocytic U937 cells of malignant lymphoma origin were exposed to high glucose (28.9mM) for 6 days, with 5mM H₂O₂ added on the last day. The generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), glucose levels, lactate levels, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and Glut4 levels were examined. Exposure of U937 cells to H₂O₂ resulted in a significant increase in intracellular ROS generation and glucose levels. Under high glucose conditions, treatment with H₂O₂ significantly promoted these actions. In H₂O₂-induced U937 cells, AMPK activity and Glut4 levels were significantly increased, but lactate and pyruvate levels were significantly decreased. Thus, exposure of U937 cells to H₂O₂ and a high glucose load promoted an increase in intracellular ROS, and exposure to H₂O₂ induced increased glucose transport and high intracellular glucose due to reduced glycolytic metabolism. This suggests that reduced glycolytic metabolism might be induced in states of high oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients with diabetes.

View full abstract

The recently developed technology of real-time cell analysis (RTCA) was designed to analyze cell migration and invasion in vitro. In this study, we investigated these cellular factors in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) of the tongue and floor of the mouth with RTCA. We also examined the associated matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and integrins. We used the cell lines SCC-4 and SAS, which are human poorly differentiated OSCCs from the tongue, and HO-1-u-1, which are human poorly differentiated OSCCs from the floor of the mouth. Using RTCA, cell migration was assessed on fibronectin–coated CIM-Plates, and invasion was assessed on fibronectin- and matrigel-coated CIM-Plates. SCC-4 cells demonstrated a high ability for cell migration and invasion compared with SAS and HO-1-u-1 cells. The SCC-4 cells also expressed high levels of MMP-9 and integrin α1 mRNA compared with SAS and HO-1-u-1 cells. The MMP inhibitor Marimastat blocked migration and invasion of all OSCCs. The findings suggest that MMP-9 is associated with cell migration and invasion in OSCCs, and indicate that RTCA will be useful for analyzing the metastatic capability of OSCCs and developing more effective new drugs for this disease.

View full abstract

The number of patients with lifestyle-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes, is increasing. The onset of type 2 diabetes can be prevented by dietary and exercise interventions, as well as drug therapy. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists have attracted attention recently as treatments for diabetes, and incretin hormones have been reported to have a protective effect on pancreatic β-cells. It is not clear whether vildagliptin (VIL) can prevent the progression of lifestyle-related disease. Thus, in the present study, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet with sucrose water (HFDS) to determine whether VIL could inhibit deterioration in glucose tolerance and improve other biomarkers of lipid disorder. Four-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (n = 7 in each group); one group was fed a normal diet for 4 months, whereas the remaining two groups were fed the HFDS, with or without VIL for 4 months. When rats were 7 months of age, they were subjected to an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT); biomarkers of lipid disorder were measured in 8-month-old rats. There was a decrease in the glucose spike in the IPGTT 10min after loading in the HFDS + VIL group and plasma triglyceride (TG) levels were significantly lower in these rats compared with the HFDS group. The decreased TG levels in HFDS + VIL rats were accompanied by decreases in plasma chylomicron levels. These results suggest that VIL can prophylactically inhibit decreases in pancreatic β-cell function in type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease due to high TG levels. Thus, VIL administration may contribute to the prevention of lifestyle-related disease.

View full abstract

We examined calcareous concretions in the capsule of 15 human pineal glands containing a large amount of the concretions in the matrix. The capsule concretions, brown to blackish-brown in color and/or translucent, were smaller than the matrix concretions, which were yellowish-white. The matrix concretions showed the typical mulberry-shaped overall appearance with scallop-shaped concentric laminations of non-fibrous structures, but the capsule concretions, which also contained Ca and P, showed a globular or oval shape with regular, rough, or no concentric laminations. The capsule concretions also showed globules of mineralized collagen fibers that resembled randomly wound threads and that were occasionally associated with minute spherical deposits showing hypermineralization in the core region as initial calcification. Na was detected as a minor characteristic element of the capsule concretions, and at a significantly higher level than that of the matrix concretions. The findings strongly suggested that a human pineal gland containing numerous matrix concretions is likely to produce mineralized deposits in the capsule.

View full abstract

A 71-year-old man with a right lower abdominal quadrant epithelial tumor developed gradually worsening lumbago and dysbasia. He became comatose and was admitted to our hospital. He had swelling of the left axillary lymph nodes and necrosis of the 4.0-cm diameter abdominal tumor, which infiltrated the subcutaneous tissues. He was hypercalcemic (16.7mg/dl), and had elevated levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (24,090U/ml) and parathyroid hormone-related protein (5.4pmol/l). Computerized tomography (CT) showed left axillary lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and a right abdominal-wall mass that was described as anaplastic large cell lymphoma upon pathology. Brain radiography and CT revealed multiple lesions infiltrating the cranium. Magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse low signal intensity throughout the vertebral spine. The patient was diagnosed with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) -negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma with hypercalcemia. Fluid replacement and drug therapies including calcitonin had no effect on the hypercalcemia or the coma. The patient's serum calcium concentration decreased after hemodialysis (calcium dialysate concentration, 5mg/dl) and subsequent zoledronic acid hydrate therapy. His consciousness improved by the fifth day of treatment. This rare case of hypercalcemia in ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma improved with combined medical and hemodialysis therapy.

View full abstract

A 79-year-old woman presented to our hospital with frequent episodes of hematochezia. Colonoscopy revealed an apparent tumor with central ulceration, and analysis of biopsy specimens confirmed the presence of non-invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal. No distant metastases were identified on enhanced computed tomography (CT). The cancer was classified as stage II (T2N0M0), and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) was selected as the first-line treatment. A continuous intravenous infusion of 5-fluorouracil with daily cisplatin was planned on days 1 to 5 of a 4-week cycle. After the first course, the drug administration was discontinued because the patient experienced diarrhea as an adverse event, and treatment with daily oral titanium silicate-1 (TS-1) was initiated. In addition, a total of 65Gy of radiation was applied to the primary lesion, pelvis, and bilateral groin area. Four weeks after the completion of CRT, colonoscopy showed the disappearance of the tumor and analysis of biopsy specimens confirmed the absence of any viable cancer cells. CT showed no evidence of lymph node metastasis or distant metastases. At 10 months after the completion of CRT, the patient showed no recurrence and with complete response.

View full abstract