The objective of this study was to compare the humeral retroversion angles (HRA) between baseball players, including children, and those without a history of playing baseball, clarify the characteristics of the HRA in baseball players, and to determine whether or not chronological changes of the HRA are affected by a throwing motion. We studied 32 young baseball players (Group A), 10 elementary and junior high school students who had never played competitive overhead throwing sports (Group B), 65 adult baseball players who had been playing baseball since childhood in a little league or boy's baseball team (Group C), and 11 adults who had never played competitive overhead throwing sports such as baseball or handball (Group D). Computed tomography of both humeri in these subjects was taken with a 5mm slice thickness. For the measurement of HRA, slices from the center of the humeral head and slices from the humeral epicondyle were examined. In baseball players, the mean HRA on the throwing side was larger than that on the non-throwing side, regardless of age and carrier. The HRAs of the elementary and junior high school baseball players as well as those of adult baseball players were larger on the throwing side. The HRA of the throwing side was significantly greater than that of the non-throwing side in both groups of baseball players. Furthermore, the mean HRA on the throwing side of young baseball players was significantly larger than that of adult baseball players, suggesting that the adaptive bony change of the humerus was caused by throwing stress and might occur in the early formative years of a player's career.

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Catechins found in green tea, in particular (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), have antitumor activity. The primary antitumor actions of catechins are anti-oxidative, anti-angiogenic, and anti-metastatic effects. Cell migration and invasion contribute to the metastatic potential of tumors. Real-time cell analysis (RTCA) measures cell migration and invasion in vitro. In the present study, using RTCA, we investigated whether the cell migration and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) of the tongue and floor of the mouth were inhibited by EGCG. Studies were performed using the human SCC-4 and SAS cell lines, which are poorly differentiated OSCCs of the tongue, and the HO-1-u-1 cell line, an OSCC of the floor of the mouth. SCC-4 cells exhibited high cell migration and invasion compared with the SAS and HO-1-u-1 cells. EGCG was most effective in inhibiting the migration and invasion of SCC-4 cells, and inhibited OSCC cell invasion more strongly than it inhibited cell migration. EGCG inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and integrin α1 and β1 mRNA in the OSCC cell lines, particularly SCC-4 cells. The findings of the present study suggest that EGCG inhibits OSCC cell migration and invasion by inhibiting MMP-2, MMP-9, and integrin α1 and β1 expression. Thus, EGCG may be a suitable agent or lead compound for the inhibition of OSCC metastasis.

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Tissue stem cells have great potential as a source of tissue for regenerative medicine. Epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) are the most accessible population of tissue stem cells that can regenerate the specialized cell types of tissues including the epidermis, smooth muscle and the sciatic nerve. However, the difficulties in isolation of the high numbers of EpSCs and their long-term culture have hampered the development of wider clinical applications of EpSCs. Here, we present a novel approach to EpSC culture that utilizes a feeder layer of Swiss 3T3 cells expressing the putative EpSC niche-specific molecule, CD200R. The colony forming efficiency of CD34⁺, α₆-integrin⁺ EpSCs was increased on CD200R-expressing Swiss 3T3 feeder cells compared with normal Swiss 3T3 feeder cells. Furthermore, treatment with glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 inhibitor, an activator of Wnt signaling, synergistically enhanced the proliferation of EpSCs. These results raise the possibility that an artificial microenvironment equivalent to in vivo niches will enable the persistent culture of EpSCs, thereby increasing the utility of EpSCs for tissue engineering and regeneration.

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Several physiological studies have demonstrated decreased or absent thermoregulatory sweating in the distal legs and feet of diabetes patients. Such hypohidrosis in diabetes patients is believed to be a clinical symptom of autonomic neuropathy. Thus, the present study sought to clarify the pathogenesis of structural alterations of the eccrine sweat apparatus in diabetes patients. For this study, we enrolled 17 patients with diabetic ulcers/gangrene who underwent amputation of the foot. Specimens were obtained 30mm from the ulcer/gangrene after amputation using a 6-mm trepan, with 12 normal human skin samples obtained from areas adjacent to pigmented nevi or benign skin tumors on the legs or feet to serve as controls. Numbers and morphological abnormalities of eccrine sweat glands and ducts were assessed by light microscopy. The pathogenesis of morphological alterations was examined by electron microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy of type IV collagen. Rates of disappearance of the lumen, shrunken morphology, and irregular outlines of eccrine sweat glands and ducts were significantly higher or more abundant in diabetes patients than in controls (P = 0.0002〜0.0001). Ultrastructurally, we observed prominent thickening of the basement membranes in eccrine sweat glands, admixed cell debris, and narrowing of the lumenal space. The thickened basement membranes resulted in the shrunken morphology and irregular outlines in eccrine sweat glands and ducts. Immunoelectron microscopy showed immunogold labeling for type IV collagen throughout the thickened basement membrane zone. These morphological alterations of the eccrine sweat apparatus in amputated feet from diabetes patients could be caused by diabetic and/or uremic neuropathy, and at least in part by angiopathy.

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Serum homocysteine and pentosidine levels have attracted attention as associated markers of bone quality, which affects bone strength. We examined the relationship of serum homocysteine levels with existing vertebral fractures and renal function. We evaluated 279 of 960 osteoporosis outpatients (12 men, 267 women; mean age, 72 years) whose serum homocysteine levels had been measured in our department. Using a glomerular filtration rate (GFR)-based chronic renal failure severity classification system, we divided patients into three groups: G1/G2, G3a/G3b/G4, and G5. We further divided the patients in the G1/G2 and G3a/G3b/G4 groups into two subgroups on the basis of the presence of fractures. Vertebral fractures were significantly more frequent when serum homocysteine levels were high in the G1/G2 group (P = 0.002). Serum homocysteine levels were lower in patients in the G1/G2 group than the G3a/G3b/G4 group despite the presence or absence of vertebral fractures (P < 0.001). Significant differences in serum homocysteine levels were also seen between patients with and without vertebral fractures in both the G1/G2 and G3a/G3b/G4 groups (P = 0.02). There were also significant correlations between GFR and serum homocysteine levels in both the G1/G2 and G3a/G3b/G4 groups (correlation coefficients, −0.43 and −0.65, respectively; P < 0.001). A negative correlation was observed between serum homocysteine levels and GFR in the G1/G2 and G3a/G3b/G4 groups, and we were able to reaffirm that serum homocysteine levels are affected by renal function. In the G1/G2 group, the prevalence of vertebral fractures was significantly higher in patients with high serum homocysteine levels. Even if renal function was poor, serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients with vertebral fractures. Thus, serum homocysteine is a valid marker of bone quality.

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It is speculated that the advantage of wedge bronchoplastic lobectomy lies in the reduction in the incidence of major anastomotic complications. On the other hand, wedge bronchoscopic lobectomy can result in kinking at the anastomosis site. This study was performed to evaluate the operative outcomes and the postoperative endoscopic findings for wedge resection of the bronchus. From 2004 to 2012, nine patients underwent wedge bronchoplastic lobectomy for lung carcinoma. We evaluated the angles of the wedge and the distance of the preserved parts to the cut line of the bronchus (the so-called bronchial bridge). There were six right upper lobectomies, two middle and lower lobectomies, and one left lower lobectomy. Regarding bronchoscopic findings, five patients who underwent right upper lobectomy showed bulging into the bronchial lumen. There were no anastomotic strictures. Intraoperatively it was noted in these five patients that the bronchial bridge tended to be relatively long and/or the angle of the wedge resection tended to be relatively wide. To prevent bulging into the bronchial lumen after right upper wedge bronchoplastic lobectomy, bronchial wedge excisions should be shaped in order to reduce the length of the bronchial bridge.

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Surgery for cervical sympathetic chain schwannomas may result in postoperative Horner's syndrome. Thus, appropriate informed consent and adequate surgical experience are required to prevent any decrease in patients' quality of life (QOL) following such surgery. Here we report three cases of cervical sympathetic chain schwannomas, focusing on diagnosis and postoperative neuroparalysis. A schwannoma is suspected on pre-operative imaging when the common carotid artery (internal and external carotid artery) and internal jugular vein are located in front of or alongside the tumor, and cases in which the artery and vein are not separated are considered to be of sympathetic nerve origin. Since the origin nerve comes from the back anatomically, great care is needed during surgery. None of the patients in this study had symptoms of nerve paralysis postoperatively.

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A 62-year-old man was admitted to Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital because of a giant mass that was discovered approximately 8 weeks after the development of obvious symptoms, namely upper abdominal pain, vomiting, and progressive distension. Ultrasonography revealed a giant cystic mass that was occupying the right upper abdomen, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a huge, relatively well-defined, and low-density cystic mass that measured 10cm in diameter. Radical resection of the tumor was performed via open laparotomy, along with segmental small intestine resection to address potential invasion into adjacent tissues. Histological findings of the resected specimen indicated mesenteric cyst. The patient's postoperative recovery was uneventful and he was discharged after 11 days. At the 12-month follow-up, the patient was in good health with no signs of recurrence.

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Anti-androgen therapy has been proposed to be effective in the treatment of androgen receptor (AR)-positive triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Herein, we report on the case of a 91-year-old female patient with AR-positive TNBC who underwent anti-androgen therapy and had a good response. Because of dementia, the patient lives in an aged care facility. It was here that a staff member noticed a mass with a rash on the patient's breast. Consequently, the patient was sent for further examination. Ultrasonography revealed an irregularly shaped, indistinct hypoechoic mass measuring 19×18×9mm located in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. Core needle biopsy (CNB) was performed and the mass was diagnosed as apocrine carcinoma. Further immunohistochemical analysis showed that the mass was AR-positive TNBC. Anti-androgen therapy was determined to be the optimal treatment option for this patient. The Institutional Review Board approval the off-label use of an anti-androgen for the treatment of this patient, who was subsequently treated with the anti-androgen flutamide. After 8 months, the size of the tumor had reduced to 15×9×5mm.

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Magnetic attachments are being increasingly used for removable dental prostheses, mainly because they are relatively simpler to use than other attachments, and they show good retention and stability. However, this approach poses some problems. In patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures, the presence of magnetic structures and keepers may cause artifacts that hinder the diagnosis. We therefore aimed to develop a technique that could reduce the damage caused to dental roots and root caps during removal of the magnetic keepers. A modified keeper tray and custom-made metallic guide bar were used for root cap fabrication. The retrieval hole of the root caps was made from the bottom of the keeper tray to the labial side of the root. A special crown remover was then inserted into the retrieval hole and rotated to facilitate removal of the magnetic keepers through the hole without causing damage to the root caps. Conclusion: This study describes a new technique that uses a keeper tray along with magnetic attachments for overdentures to enable simple removal of the keeper without causing damage.

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