ORiginal Article : Feasibility, Efficacy, and Predictive Factors for the Technical Success of Endoscopic Nasogallbladder Drainage: A Prospective Study

( Kei Yane ),( Hiroyuki Maguchi ),( Akio Katanuma ),( Kuniyuki Takahashi ),( Manabu Osanai ),( Toshifumi Kin ),( Ryo Takaki ),( Kazuyuki Matsumoto ),( Katsushige Gon ),( Tomoaki Matsumori ),( Akiko To The Editorial Office of Gut and Liver 2015 Gut and Liver Vol.9 No.2

Background/Aims: Several studies have shown the usefulness of endoscopic nasogallbladder drainage (ENGBD) in patients with acute cholecystitis. However, the procedure is difficult, and factors that affect technical success have not yet been clarified. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the technical feasibility, efficacy, and predictive factors for the technical success of ENGBD in patients with acute cholecystitis. Methods: All patients with moderate or severe acute cholecystitis who were enrolled underwent ENGBD between April 2009 and April 2011. Patients with surgically altered anatomy or pancreatobiliary malignancies were excluded. The primary outcomes included technical success, clinical success, and complications. Factors that could affect the technical success were also examined. Results: Of the 27 patients who underwent ENGBD during the study period, technical success was achieved in 21 (78%) and clinical improvement was achieved in 20 (95%). Early complications were encountered in four patients (15%). Gallbladder wall thickness (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 2.47) and age (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.35) were effective predictors of technical failure. Conclusions: ENGBD was effective in resolving acute cholecystitis; however, this modality was technically challenging and had a limited success rate. Because of technical difficulties, ENGBD should be reserved for limited indications. (Gut Liver, 2015;9:239-246)

Case of Anti-Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier Activating Enzyme Antibody-Positive Dermatomyositis with Sarcoidosis

Kei Sakano,Reiko Takahashi,Kunitaro Fukuyama 대한피부과학회 2023 Annals of Dermatology Vol.35 No.-

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Hybrid Robotic Wheelchair with Photovoltanic Solar Cell and Fuel Cell

Yoshihiko Takahashi,Shogo Matsuo,Kei Kawakami 제어로봇시스템학회 2008 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2008 No.10

A hybrid robotic wheelchair powered by three energy sources, a battery, a photovoltanic solar cell, and a hydrogen fuel cell is proposed in this paper. The advantage of using a photovoltanic solar cell (a solar panel) is that it produces power without requiring use of fossil fuels. The advantage of using a fuel cell is that a hydrogen tank may be changed quickly and easily. We also propose an energy control system which is able to select the energy source optimally according to the operating conditions. The control system ideally gives priority to the photovoltanic solar cells before the fuel cell. When conditions allow for abundant sun light, the photovoltanic solar cell is used. When solar energy is not available, the fuel cell is used. Finally, when the hydrogen is depleted, the battery is used. This paper explains the concept of the hybrid robotic wheelchair, the mechanical design, the energy control system, and the experimental results on the energy source selection.

Neutrino burst and gravitational wave from supernova explosions

Katsuhiko Sato,Kei Kotake,Keitaro Takahashi,Shin'ichiro Ando 한국물리학회 2004 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.45 No.1

The time prole and energy spectrum of a neutrino burst from supernovae is greatly modied by the eect of neutrino oscillations. We review how these conversions happen in a supernova mantle and how the burst could be detected by SK (Super-Kamiokande) and SNO (Sudbury Neutrino Observatory). We show that implications for neutrino parameters (mass hierarchy and the mixing angle between mass eigenstate 1; 3), can be obtained if a supernova appears at the Galactic Center. We also discuss the eects of neutrino oscillation on the supernova relic neutrino observations. In the end, we discuss the gravitational radiation from the rotating stellar cores, which will give us the information of the angular momentum distribution for evolved massive stars.

En Bloc Spondylectomy for Spinal Metastases: Detailed Oncological Outcomes at a Minimum of 2 Years after Surgery

Masayuki Ohashi,Toru Hirano,Kei Watanabe,Kazuhiro Hasegawa,Takui Ito,Keiichi Katsumi,Hirokazu Shoji,Tatsuki Mizouchi,Ikuko Takahashi,Takao Homma,Naoto Endo 대한척추외과학회 2019 Asian Spine Journal Vol.13 No.2

Study Design: Retrospective case series. Purpose: To investigate the oncological outcomes, including distant relapse, after en bloc spondylectomy (EBS) for spinal metastases in patients with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Overview of Literature: Although EBS has been reported to be locally curative and extend survival in select patients with spinal metastases, detailed reports regarding the control of distant relapse after EBS are lacking. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 18 consecutive patients (median age at EBS, 62 years; range, 40–77 years) who underwent EBS for spinal metastases between 1991 and 2015. The primary cancer sites included the kidney (n=7), thyroid (n=4), liver (n=3), and other locations (n=4). Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and groups were compared using the log-rank method. Results: The median operative time and intraoperative blood loss were 767.5 minutes and 2,375 g, respectively. Twelve patients (66.7%) experienced perioperative complications. Five patients (27.8%) experienced local recurrence of the tumor at a median of 12.5 months after EBS, four of which had a positive resection margin status. Thirteen patients (72.2%) experienced distant relapse at a median of 21 months after EBS. The estimated median survival period after distant relapse was 20 months (95% confidence interval, 0.71–39.29 months). No association was found between resection margin status and distant relapse. Overall, the 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year survival rates after EBS were 72.2%, 48.8%, and 27.1%, respectively. Importantly, the era in which EBS was performed did not impact the oncological outcomes. Conclusions: Our results suggest that EBS by itself, even if margin-free, cannot prevent further dissemination, which occurred in >70% of patients at a median of 21 months after EBS. These results should be considered and conveyed to patients for clinical decision-making.

Noninvasive Assessment of Advanced Fibrosis Based on Hepatic Volume in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

( Tatsuya Hayashi ),( Satoshi Saitoh ),( Kei Fukuzawa ),( Yoshinori Tsuji ),( Junji Takahashi ),( Yusuke Kawamura ),( Norio Akuta ),( Masahiro Kobayashi ),( Kenji Ikeda ),( Takeshi Fujii ),( Tosiaki M 대한간학회 2017 Gut and Liver Vol.11 No.5

Background/Aims: Noninvasive liver fibrosis evaluation was performed in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We used a quantitative method based on the he-patic volume acquired from gadoxetate disodium-enhanced (Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosing advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. Methods: A total of 130 patients who were diagnosed with NAFLD and underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were retrospectively included. Histological data were available for 118 patients. Hepatic volumetric parameters, including the left hepatic lobe to right hepatic lobe volume ratio (L/R ratio), were measured. The usefulness of the L/R ratio for diag-nosing fibrosis ≥F3-4 and F4 was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify vari-ables (age, body mass index, serum fibrosis markers, and histological features) that were associated with the L/R ratio. Results: The L/R ratio demonstrated good performance in differentiating advanced fibrosis (AUROC, 0.80; 95% confi-dence interval, 0.72 to 0.88) from cirrhosis (AUROC, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.75 to 0.99). Multiple regression analysis showed that only fibrosis was significantly associat-ed with the L/R ratio (coefficient, 0.121; p<0.0001). Conclu-sions: The L/R ratio, which is not influenced by pathologi-cal parameters other than fibrosis, is useful for diagnosing cirrhosis in patients with NAFLD. (Gut Liver 2017;11:674- 683)

Synthesis and photochemical properties of α-diketoporphyrins as precursors for π-expanded porphyrins

Yamada, Hiroko,Kuzuhara, Daiki,Ohkubo, Kei,Takahashi, Tetsuro,Okujima, Tetsuo,Uno, Hidemitsu,Ono, Noboru,Fukuzumi, Shunichi The Royal Society of Chemistry 2010 Journal of materials chemistry Vol.20 No.15

<p>A new α-diketoporphyrin and the corresponding Pd complex were prepared from the monoanthroporphyins and their photochemical properties were investigated by measurements of absorption and emission spectra, fluorescence lifetimes, laser flash photolysis, cyclic voltammetry, and theoretical calculations. Intramolecular electron transfer from the porphyrin singlet excited state to the diketone moiety was observed for the free base α-diketoporphyrin in benzonitrile, but this was not observed in toluene. Photoreactivity of the α-diketoporphyrins was also examined by irradiation at the Soret and Q bands. When the Soret band of the freebase α-diketoporphyrin was irradiated, cleavage of the diketone moiety occurred to afford the monoanthroporphyrin with the release of two CO molecules quantitatively in both benzonitrile and toluene. When the Q band of the freebase α-diketoporphyrin was irradiated, no photocleavage reaction occurred in toluene. In contrast to the freebase α-diketoporphyrin, the photocleavage reaction of the Pd complex occurred with irradiation at the Q band as well as the Soret band to afford the monoanthroporphyrin quantitatively in toluene. The photocleavage reaction proceeded much more effectively in toluene than in benzonitrile. The occurrence of rapid photoinduced electron transfer from the singlet excited state porphyrin to the diketone moiety, which was detected by femtosecond laser flash photolysis measurements, results in a significant decrease in the singlet excited state lifetime, prohibiting the photocleavage reaction in benzonitrile. Thus, the Pd α-diketoporphyrin can act as an excellent precursor for the corresponding acene in toluene. The photocleavage process provides a convenient and inexpensive method to make the thin film.</p> <P>Graphic Abstract</P><P>A new α-diketoporphyrin and its Pd complex were prepared and successfully converted into the corresponding monoanthroporphyins by photoirradiation of the porphyrin moieties with release of two CO molecules quantitatively. <img src='http://pubs.rsc.org/ej/JM/2010/b923220f/b923220f-ga.gif'> </P>

Detailed report on the clinicopathological factors of patients with endometrial cancer in Japan: a JSOG gynecologic tumor registry-based study

Takeshi Makabe,Wataru Yamagami,Fumiaki Takahashi,Hideki Tokunaga,Eiko Yamamoto,Yoshihito Yokoyama,Kiyoshi Yoshino,Kei Kawana,Satoru Nagase 대한부인종양학회 2024 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.35 No.4

Objective: In this study, we collected data over 8 years (2012–2019) from the Japan Societyof Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) tumor registr y to determine the status of endometrialcancer in Japan, and analyzed detailed clinicopathological factors. Methods: The JSOG maintains a tumor registr y that gathers information on endometrialcancer treated at the JSOG-registered institutions. Data from the patients whose endometrialcancer treatment was initiated from 2012 to 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: A total of 82,969 patients with endometrial cancer under went treatment from 2012to 2019. Chemotherapy alone or in combination with hormonal therapy is more commonamong endometrial cancer patients under 40 years compared with those over 40 years. Thenumber of patients with endometrial cancer, treated with laparoscopic or robot-assistedsurger y was obser ved to have increased yearly. Small cell carcinomas and undifferentiatedcarcinomas were more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage. Lymphadenectomy wasmost commonly performed for stage IIIC2 disease, whereas positive peritoneal washingcytology was most common for stage IVB and serous carcinoma. Conclusion: Multi-year summar y reports provided detailed clinicopathological informationregarding endometrial cancer that could not be obtained in a single year. These reports wereuseful in understanding treatment strategies and trends over time based on age, histology,and stage.

Effect of feeding tamarind kernel powder extract residue on digestibility, nitrogen availability and ruminal fermentation in wethers

Lin Wang,Takashi Nakanishi,Yoshiaki Sato,Kazato Oishi,Hiroyuki Hirooka,Kei Takahashi,Hajime Kumagai 아세아·태평양축산학회 2017 Animal Bioscience Vol.30 No.3

Objective: This study was to examine in vivo digestibility, nitrogen balance and ruminal fermentation of tamarind (Tamarind indica) kernel powder extract residue (TKPER) compared to soybean products and by-products in wethers. Methods: Four wethers with initial body weight (BW) of 51.6±5.5 kg were assigned in a 4×4 Latin square design to investigate nutritional characteristics of TKPER, dry heat soybean (SB), dry soybean curd residue (SBCR) and soybean meal (SBM) feeding with ryegrass straw (R) at a ratio of 1:1 at 2% of BW in dry matter (DM) on a daily basis. Results: The digestibility of DM, crude protein, and ether extract (EE) of TKPER-R diet were 57.0%, 87.0%, and 86.0%, respectively. Higher non-fiber carbohydrates digestibility was observed in TKPER-R diet (83.2%) than in SB-R diet (73.9%, p<0.05). Wethers fed the TKPER-R diet had lower retention of nitrogen (N) and ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) contents at 4 h after feeding than those fed the SBM-R diet (p<0.05), which had values similar to the SB-R or SBCR-R diet. The TKPER feeding had higher propionate (C3) and lower butyrate content, as well as lower acetate to propionate ratio (C2:C3) in rumen fluid than SBM feeding at 4 h after feeding (p<0.05). Conclusion: TKPER did not bring any side effect to the wethers although it was lack of fiber, and could be used as a high protein and energy ingredient in concentrate with appropriate roughage to meet the fiber requirement for ruminants.