Incidence rate of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is rapidly increasing in Akita Prefecture: Urgent alert for super-aged society.

Incidence rates of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are increasing in many countries. To estimate detailed trends of SCC incidence rates in the population of Akita Prefecture as the forerunner of super-aged societies, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with SCC between 2007 and 2016 in Akita University Hospital. The crude SCC incidence rate increased rapidly between 2007 and 2016 from 2.5 to 10.0/100 000 people. Remarkably, the age-specific incidence rate of people aged 80 years or over increased between 2007 and 2016 from 14.7 to 51.6/100 000 people, suggesting that SCC incidence rates increase possibly due to not only the increased number of aged people but also because of unidentified cancer-prone environments. When the findings of the present study are generalized to other regions entering the era of super-aging, it is clear that we need to prepare for the economic disease burden together with careful monitoring to confirm future trends for SCC.

Tumor-to-bone distance of invasive subungual melanoma: an analysis of 30 cases.

Subungual melanoma (SUM) is rare and represents approximately 2-3% and 20% of all cutaneous melanomas in Caucasians and Asians, respectively. Amputation has usually been performed for invasive SUM; however, not all invasive SUMs invade or attach to the distal phalanx. To investigate the possibility of non-amputative surgery for patients with invasive SUM, the distances between the deepest base of the melanoma cells and the bony surface in the surgical specimens of invasive SUM were measured. Thirty surgical specimens of invasive SUM were retrospectively reviewed. The contents of the specimens were as follows: 14 first toes, 10 thumbs, three second fingers, two third fingers, and one fifth finger. Four specimens showed bone invasion, and the tumor was attached to the bone in four specimens. The tumor-to-bone distance exceeded 0.9 mm in all the specimens with thicknesses <4 mm. In the non-ulcerated SUMs (nine specimens), only one SUM specimen showed bone attachment. There was a higher likelihood of bone attachment or invasion when tumor thickness (TT) exceeded 4 mm (Pearson chi-square test, P = 0.009; Fisher exact test, P = 0.004; student t test, 0.033). Univariate and multivariate analysis also revealed that thick TT had a statistically significant affect (odds ratio 1.807 and 1.865, 95% CI 1.11-3.01 and 1.11-3.13, P = 0.023 and 0.018). Non-amputative surgery may be possible for SUM tumors that are of intermediate-thickness. However, there has been little evidence demonstrating survival with non-amputative surgery for invasive SUM. A large, randomized, prospective clinical study is required to address this issue.

Axillary giant lipoma: a report of two cases and published work review.

Lipomas are common, benign, small-sized, soft-tissue tumors. However, giant lipomas are uncommon and the tumor size can cause pain and nerve compression syndrome. The axilla is an extremely rare location for development of giant lipomas. We report two cases of axillary giant lipoma. A 47-year-old man (case 1) and a 42-year-old woman (case 2) presented with a large mass in the axillary region. Case 2 had tenderness in the shoulder and numbness in the upper arm. Magnetic resonance imaging of each tumor showed a homogenous soft-tissue mass in the axillary region, suggestive of lipoma. In case 2, the tumor extended from the axilla to the supraclavicular region and split and compressed the neurovascular bundle. Each lesion was successfully excised surgically without serious complications and recurrence. In case 2, the tenderness and numbness disappeared. Histologically, each lesion was composed of multilobulated, mature adipose cells, which led to a diagnosis of benign lipoma. Axillary giant lipoma is preferably excised surgically to avoid damage caused by tumor compression to the major vessels or nerves, to offer better local control and to establish a correct final diagnosis.

Oral S-1 in advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer in Japan, and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Early diagnosis and complete excision can provide a high cure rate. However, advanced cases of SCC showing local invasion, regional lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis are not curative and are difficult to treat with surgery alone. Some chemotherapy regimens have been used for treating advanced cutaneous SCC. However, almost all these regimens require intravenous administration and result in serious toxicities in elderly people. We gave S-1, a novel oral chemotherapeutic agent, for six patients with advanced cutaneous SCC. Three patients achieved complete response and one achieved partial response. Two patients showed stable disease. The overall response rate was 66.7% (four of six patients), and the disease control rate was 100%. Two of six patients developed grade 3 anaemia. Oral S-1 treatment is safe and effective for treating advanced cutaneous SCC. However, a prospective trial is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of oral S-1 for advanced cutaneous SCC.

Cell surface-anchored fluorescent aptamer sensor enables imaging of chemical transmitter dynamics.

A fluorescent aptamer sensor was applied to the analysis of extracellular chemical transmitter dynamics. We utilized a tocopherol-labeled aptamer, which allowed the direct anchoring of the fluorescent aptamer on the cell surface while retaining its performance as a fluorescent sensor. The fast-responsive fluorescent DNA aptamer sensor, which targets adenine compounds, was anchored on the surface of brain astrocytes. Fluorescence imaging of the aptamer-anchored astrocytes enabled the real-time monitoring of release of adenine compounds as a gliotransmitter, which was synchronized with calcium wave propagation in neighboring cells.

Modular blue fluorescent RNA sensors for label-free detection of target molecules.

A blue fluorescent RNA was applied to modular blue fluorescent RNA sensors, wherein a "recognition" event of the target molecule by the aptamer domain is transmitted through a "communication" module, to a "signaling" fluorescent RNA domain, which "lights up".

Clipless hand-assisted laparoscopic total colectomy using Ligasure Atlas.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic total colectomy for ulcerative colitis has allowed less invasive operations in acute severe colitis and poor risk, and has not yet been widely applied for the reason of prolong the operating time in comparison with open surgery. We present the advantages of the use of the LigaSure Atlas vessel sealing for vascular control during laparoscopic surgery. A retrospective study was conducted to compare 15 patients who underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic total colectomy using an ultrasonic coagulator from January 1988 to September 2002 (US group) with 18 patients who were operated using LigaSure Atlas (LS group) from October 2002 to December 2003. There was no significant difference in the background factors of patients between both groups. The operating time was 225 +/- 58 min in the LS group and less than 280 +/- 105 min in the US group. Intraoperative blood loss was 91 +/- 22 ml in the LS group and less than 212 +/- 178 ml in the US group. Postoperative bleeding did not occur in the LS group, but occurred in 1 patient in the US group (6.6%) and this patient required re-operation. Postoperative seroma formation in the abdomen was found in 3 patients of the US group (20%). The procedure using LigaSure Atlas reduced the operating time, intraoperative bleeding and operator's stress in comparison with standard ultrasonic coagulation.

Graciloplasty for internal and external sphincteric resection of lower rectal cancer.

Anal sphincteric resection for rectal cancer is most commonly followed by colostomy in the lower abdominal wall, which enforces quite a poor quality of life due to a permanent stoma. For surgeons treating lower rectal cancer, the goal is to achieve defecation via the anus without placing a stoma. Internal sphincteric resection, partial external sphincteric resection and coloanal anastomosis have been reported for the treatment of lower rectal cancer with avoiding a colostoma. Extended resection of the external sphincter, however, limits patient's daily activities because of poor functional results and necessitates reconstruction of damaged anal function. This paper describes a case of graciloplasty for postoperative anal dysfunction that yielded a good clinical outcome in a 65-year-old female who had undergone very low anterior resection with complete internal and partial external sphincteric resection for lower rectal cancer.

A chromophore-labeled poly(N-propargylamide): a new strategy for a stimuli-responsive conjugated polymer.

A new stimuli-responsive conjugated polymer was synthesized, where, following the change of secondary conformation from helical to disordered state, the fluorescence property of the side chain chromophore changes upon sensing external stimuli.