Importance of personal dose equivalent evaluation in Fukushima in overcoming social panic.

The relationship between the reported ambient dose equivalent (H*(10)) and the individual dose rate recorded by medical staff in Fukushima City after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was evaluated, following a 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the east coast of Japan. Personal dose equivalent (H(p)(10)) ranged from 0.08 to 1.63 µSv h(-1) and H*(10) ranged from 0.86 to 12.34 µSv h(-1). H(p)(10) from March to July 2011 were significantly lower than H*(10). The relationships between these dose equivalents were moderately correlated. The regression equation was calculated as follows: H(p)(10)=0.0696×H*(10)+0.0538. The preliminary data of this study show that, in Fukushima, the individual dose is much lower than that determined H*(10). It is important to evaluate H(p)(10) in order to lessen the anxiety of the general population in Fukushima.

Oxidized LDL binding to LOX-1 upregulates VEGF expression in cultured bovine chondrocytes through activation of PPAR-gamma.

It has been reported that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors play an important role in the destruction of articular cartilage in osteoarthritis through increased production of matrix metalloproteinases. We investigated whether the oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) binding to lectin-like ox-LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) upregulates VEGF expression in cultured bovine articular chondrocytes (BACs). Ox-LDL markedly increased VEGF mRNA expression and protein release in time- and dose-dependent manners, which was significantly suppressed by anti-LOX-1 antibody pretreatment. Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma was evident in BACs with ox-LDL addition and was attenuated by anti-LOX-1 antibody. The specific PPAR-gamma inhibitor GW9662 suppressed ox-LDL-induced VEGF expression. These results suggest that the ox-LDL/LOX-1 system upregulates VEGF expression in articular cartilage, at least in part, through activation of PPAR-gamma and supports the hypothesis that ox-LDL is involved in cartilage degradation via LOX-1.

Cyclic tensile stretch load and oxidized low density lipoprotein synergistically induce lectin-like oxidized ldl receptor-1 in cultured bovine chondrocytes, resulting in decreased cell viability and proteoglycan synthesis.

Mechanical stimulation is known to be an essential factor in the regulation of cartilage metabolism. We tested the hypothesis that expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) can be modulated by cyclic tensile stretch load in chondrocytes. Cyclic loading of repeated stretch stress at 10 cycles per minute with 10 kPa of stress for 6 h induced expression of LOX-1 to 2.6 times control in cultured bovine articular chondrocytes, equivalent to the addition of 10 microg/mL oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) (2.4 times control). Application of the cyclic load to the chondrocytes along with 10 microg/mL ox-LDL resulted in synergistically increased LOX-1 expression to 6.3 times control. Individual application of cyclic loading and 10 microg/mL ox-LDL significantly suppressed chondrocytes viability (84.6% +/- 3.4% and 80.9% +/- 3.2% of control at 24 h, respectively; n = 3; p < 0.05) and proteoglycan synthesis [81.0% +/- 7.1% and 85.7% +/- 5.2% of control at 24 h, respectively; p < 0.05 when compared with 94.6% +/- 4.6% for native-LDL (n = 3)]. Cyclic loading and 10 microg/mL ox-LDL synergistically affected cell viability and proteoglycan synthesis, which were significantly suppressed to 45.6% +/- 4.9% and 48.7% +/- 6.7% of control at 24 h, respectively (n = 3; p < 0.01 when compared with individual application of cyclic loading or 10 microg/mL ox-LDL). In this study, we demonstrated synergistic effects of cyclic tensile stretch load and ox-LDL on cell viability and proteoglycan synthesis in chondrocytes, which may be mediated through enhanced expression of LOX-1 and which has important implications in the progression of cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis.

[A case of fetal alcohol effects with orofacial cleft].

Maternal alcohol use during pregnancy may result in facial dysmorphism, growth retardation and central nervous system deficits. This has been found in infants ranging from fetal alcohol effects (FAE) to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), or alcohol related neurodevelopment disorders (ARND) and alcohol related birth defects (ARBD). In this study, we report a FAE case with orofacial cleft due to mother's alcohol use during her pregnancy. A 32-year-old Japanese woman, para2, gravida3. She was drinking alcohol while this pregnancy. At 39th week, a girl was delivered vaginally. Her birth weight is 3860gr. Apgar score is seven points at one minutes and eight points at 10 minutes. Orofacial cleft and sinus tachycardia were diagnosed postnatally. From a brain-computed tomography (CTscan), it showed a normal finding. Karyotype was normal female phenotype (46, XX). It is important to note that the obstetrician had to advise the women not to have alcohol use during pregnancy in order to prevent her baby from fetal alcohol effects or toxic effect of alcohol on the fetus.

Prophylactic lymph node dissection for early gastric cancer invading submucosa.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Prophylactic lymph node dissection for gastric cancer patients was considered to prolong survival time and D2 lymph node dissection was a standard treatment for early gastric cancer invading submucosa without lymph node metastasis. We investigated the possibility of minimizing the extent of prophylactic lymph node dissection for early gastric cancer invading submucosa if there was no evidence of lymph node metastasis. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed data on 404 patients with early gastric cancer invading the submucosa who underwent gastrectomy from 1979 to 1998 in the National Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan. The postoperative survival rate of patients with standard D2 dissection was compared with cases of those with limited D2 dissection which was defined as confined as D2 dissection dissections No.7 (lymph nodes were those along the left gastric artery), No.8 (lymph nodes along the anterosuperior common hepatic artery) and No.9 (lymph nodes along the celiac artery). RESULTS: Of the 404 patients, 52 and 17 had lymph node metastasis in group 1 and group 2 nodes, respectively. Of 17 patients with lymph node metastasis in group 2, 14 (82.4%) had metastasis confined to No.7, 8 and 9 of group 2 nodes. The 5-year survival rate of patients with submucosal cancer without lymph node metastasis was 94.4% after limited D2 dissection and 97.3% after standard D2 dissection, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The appropriate prophylactic lymph node dissection for early gastric cancer invading the submucosa without lymph node metastasis was considered to be minimized to limited D2 dissection.

Distribution of synchronous and metachronous multiple colorectal cancers.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Synchronous and metachronous multiple colorectal cancers are not rare occurrences. Since features of colorectal cancer depend on tumor location, we focused attention on the tumor distribution of synchronous and meta-chronous lesions in colorectal cancer. METHODOLOGY: The records of 1812 patients with colorectal malignancies (either invasive colorectal cancer or high grade dysplasia) were clinicopathologically analyzed. RESULTS: In one hundred and twenty patients with colorectal malignancies there were synchronous or metachronous lesions. The distribution of synchronous malignancies showed a significant shift from the proximal to the distal site, while in metachronous malignancies, the distribution of second tumors showed a significant shift from the distal to the proximal site. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that different types of cancer lesions do exist, hence careful and meticulous examinations are important.

[Rheology of human cervical mucus--with special reference to measurement of viscoelasticity using various rheometers].

Cervical mucus is egg white-like mucus that increases in the female cervical canal and external os of the uterus at ovulatory phase. Spermatozoa climb up through this mucus to the uterine tube, where they meet an oocyte causing fertilization. If this cervical mucus has quality or quantity problems, spermatozoa are unable to ascend. Then, so-called infertility due to cervical hostility would occur(5% in general). One day before ovulation, because there is the highest amount of cervical mucus, the greatest degree of Spinnbarkeit and the lowest degree of viscoelasticity, spermatozoa are able to penetrate it in the easiest way according to the paper by Moghissi KS, et al. In another paper by Wolf DP, et al., the strict measuring of the cervical mucus Spinnbarkeit and viscoelasticity using magnetic microrheometer was explained. On the other hand, we were able to calculate in an easier way the cervical mucus viscoelasticity by the NEVA (new equipment for viscosity assessment) meter (Ishikawa Iron Works Corporation, Kitakyushu). We review the rheology of human cervical mucus including our data with the NEVA meter.

Features of second primary cancer in patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: In order to improve the prognosis of gastric cancer patients, the timely identification of second primary cancers is considered to be a crucial clinical problem. METHODS: We analyzed the clinicopathological data of 2250 patients with gastric cancer with regard to both synchronous and metachronous second primary cancers. RESULTS: Of 2250 patients, 95 (4.2%) had a second primary cancer. Both colorectal and lung cancer were frequently detected, followed by cancer in the liver, esophagus and breast. Regarding the time of detection for such second cancers, 65% of colorectal cancers were detected synchronously, while more than 80% of lung cancers were detected metachronously. The prognosis of gastric cancer patients with a second primary cancer was more negatively influenced by a second primary cancer than by a primary gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: Since gastric cancer patients may develop synchronous and metachronous second cancers in other organs, effective preoperative and postoperative diagnostic modalities both for second primary cancers, as well as for the recurrence of gastric cancer, need to be developed.

[A study of maternal psychological state among women with fetal alcohol effects (FAE) infants].

Frequent alcohol drinking during pregnancy may result in facial dysmorphism, growth retardation and central nervous system deficits in infants ranging from Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). However, few studies has been done to empirical research the psychosomatic approach among women with FAE. In this study, twelve women with FAE infants were selected and interviewed at two or three days after delivery with CMI, MAS, and ANS-S, in order to elucidate the number of problems with mental health of them. All of women with FAE infants drank alcohol during the pregnancy consumed 2 or 3 drinks per week (ethanol consumption less than 92.0 gms per week). The mean mother's age of FAE infants is 30.2 years (range 27-35) and that of healthy mother is 30.3 years (range 24-35). Eleven of 12 (91.7%) infants were identified having the smooth philtrum, 9 (75.0%) with thin upper lip, 3 (25%) with hypersensitivity, 3 (25%) with sleeping disturbance, 2 (16.7%) with growth retardation. Eighty-three percent of infant with FAE had an adequate body weight and height. In comparison with the women without FAE, women with FAE infants were noted to have a significant difference of the score of CMI (p < 0.0001), MAS (p < 0.0001), ANS-S (p < 0.02). Psychosomatic interview revealed that women with FAE infants have increased anxiety neurosis and stress state. Seventy-five percent of women with FAE infants had an anxiety compared with control group (18.8%). Our findings in this study are important because 12 women with FAE infants were not alcoholics and did not consider themselves to have alcohol problems. Therefore, obstetrician has to cut down women alcohol intake considerably during pregnancy for preventing adverse fetal effects. Alcohol consumption and psychometric works also need to be done for detecting at risk use of alcohol during the pregnancy.