Retraction: Paper “Efficacy of Oral Etidronate for Skeletal Diseases in Japan” by Iwamoto J, et al. [Yonsei Med J 2005 Jun;46(3):313-320]

Jun Iwamoto,Tsuyoshi Takeda,Yoshihiro Sato 연세대학교의과대학 2023 Yonsei medical journal Vol.64 No.5

We have decided to retract the paper entitled “Efficacy of Oral Etidronate for Skeletal Diseases in Japan” [Yonsei Med J 2005 Jun;46(3):313-320.] by Iwamoto J, Takeda T, Sato Y. From information obtained after publication, we have recently become aware of a number of issues related to scientific misconduct.

Phylogeographic and Feeding Ecological Effects on the Mustelid Faunal Assemblages in Japan

Sato, Jun J. The Korean Society of Systematic Zoology 2013 Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity Vol.29 No.2

Phylogeographic and feeding ecological studies of seven terrestrial mustelid species (Carnivora, Mustelidae), the Japanese marten Martes melampus, the sable Martes zibellina, the Japanese badger Meles anakuma, the ermine or the stoat Mustela erminea, the Japanese weasel Mustela itatsi, the least weasel Mustela nivalis, and the Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica, representing four biogeographic patterns in the Japanese archipelagos (Hokkaido, Honshu-Shikoku-Kyushu, Tsushima, and Hokkaido-Honshu), were reviewed in order to clarify causes for the faunal assemblage processes of those mustelid species in Japan. Here, three main constraints were extracted as important factors on the mustelid assemblage. First, fundamental evolutionary differences maintained by niche conservatism in each ecologically diversified lineage ("evolutionary constraint") would enable the species to co-occur without any major problem (coexistence among Martes, Meles, and Mustela species). Second, "ecological constraints" would force two closely related species to be allopatric by competitive exclusion (Mu. itatsi and Mu. sibirica) or to be sympatric by resource partitions (Mu. erminea and Mu. nivalis). Third and most importantly, "geological constraints" would allow specific species to be embraced by a particular geographic region, primarily deciding which species co-occurs. The allopatric distribution of two Martes species in Japan would have been established by the strong effect of the geological separation in Tsugaru Strait. Elucidating both phylogeny and ecology of co-existing species in a community assemblage is important to know which species possess distinct lineage and which ecological traits are adapted to local environments, fulfilling the requirement of the field of conservation biology that endemism and adaptation should both be considered. The Japanese archipelagos would, therefore, provide valuable insight into the conservation for small carnivoran species.

Inhibiting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Injured Intervertebral Discs Attenuates Pain-Related Neuropeptide Expression in Dorsal Root Ganglia in Rats

Jun Sato,Kazuhide Inage,Masayuki Miyagi,Yoshihiro Sakuma,Kazuyo Yamauchi,Masao Koda,Takeo Furuya,Junichi Nakamura,Miyako Suzuki,Go Kubota,Yasuhiro Oikawa,Takeshi Sainoh,Kazuki Fujimoto,Yasuhiro Shiga 대한척추외과학회 2017 Asian Spine Journal Vol.11 No.4

Study Design: An experimental animal study. Purpose: To evaluate effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the content and distribution of the calcitonin generelated peptide (CGRP) in the dorsal ganglia in a rat model. Overview of Literature: Increased expression of VEGF in degenerative disc disease increases the levels of inflammatory cytokines and nerve ingrowth into the damaged discs. In animal models, increased levels of VEGF can persist for up to 2 weeks after an injury. Methods: Through abdominal surgery, the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) innervating L5/L6 intervertebral disc were labeled (FluoroGold neurotracer) in 24, 8-week old Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were randomly allocated to three groups of eight rats each. The anti- VEGF group underwent L5/6 intervertebral disc puncture using a 26-gauge needle, intradiscal injection of 33.3 μg of the pegaptanib sodium, a VEGF165 aptamer. The control-puncture group underwent disc puncture and intradiscal injection of 10 μL saline solution, and the sham-surgery group underwent labeling but no disc puncture. Two rats in each group were sacrificed on postoperative days 1, 7, 14, and 28 after surgery. L1–L6 DRGs were harvested, sectioned, and immunostained to detect the content and distribution of CGRP. Results: Compared with the control, the percentage of CGRP-positive cells was lower in the anti-VEGF group (p <0.05; 40.6% and 58.1% on postoperative day 1, 44.3% and 55.4% on day 7, and 42.4% and 59.3% on day 14). The percentage was higher in the control group compared with that of the sham group (p <0.05; sham group, 34.1%, 40.7%, and 33.7% on postoperative days 1, 7, and 14, respectively). Conclusions: Decreasing CGRP-positive cells using anti-VEGF therapy provides fundamental evidence for a possible therapeutic role of anti-VEGF in patients with discogenic lower back pain.

Phylogeographic and Feeding Ecological Effects on the Mustelid Faunal Assemblages in Japan

Jun J. Sato 한국동물분류학회 2013 Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity Vol.29 No.2

Phylogeographic and feeding ecological studies of seven terrestrial mustelid species (Carnivora, Mustelidae), the Japanese marten Martes melampus, the sable Martes zibellina, the Japanese badger Meles anakuma, the ermine or the stoat Mustela erminea, the Japanese weasel Mustela itatsi, the least weasel Mustela nivalis, and the Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica, representing four biogeographic patterns in the Japanese archipelagos (Hokkaido, Honshu-Shikoku-Kyushu, Tsushima, and Hokkaido-Honshu), were reviewed in order to clarify causes for the faunal assemblage processes of those mustelid species in Japan. Here, three main constraints were extracted as important factors on the mustelid assemblage. First, fundamental evolutionary differences maintained by niche conservatism in each ecologically diversified lineage (“evolutionary constraint”) would enable the species to co-occur without any major problem (coexistence among Martes, Meles, and Mustela species). Second, “ecological constraints” would force two closely related species to be allopatric by competitive exclusion (Mu. itatsi and Mu. sibirica) or to be sympatric by resource partitions (Mu. erminea and Mu. nivalis). Third and most importantly, “geological constraints” would allow specific species to be embraced by a particular geographic region, primarily deciding which species co-occurs. The allopatric distribution of two Martes species in Japan would have been established by the strong effect of the geological separation in Tsugaru Strait. Elucidating both phylogeny and ecology of co-existing species in a community assemblage is important to know which species possess distinct lineage and which ecological traits are adapted to local environments, fulfilling the requirement of the field of conservation biology that endemism and adaptation should both be considered. The Japanese archipelagos would, therefore, provide valuable insight into the conservation for small carnivoran species.

Spatial Filter for Short Period Code Modulation Visual Evoked Potentials in Brain Computer Interfaces

Jun-ichi Sato,Yoshikazu Washizawa 대한전자공학회 2015 ITC-CSCC :International Technical Conference on Ci Vol.2015 No.6

Code modulation visual evoked potential brain computer interfaces (cVEP-BCIs) using pseudo-code modulated stimuli have been proposed and exhibited high information transfer rate. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is often used for a spatial filter of cVEP-BCI. However, for shorter code cVEPs, CCA is sensitive to the delay of measuring. In this study, we propose a spatial filter using a correlation between the code correlation function and a correlation function of the filtered EEG signal. Experimental results demonstrate the performance of the proposed method.

Japanese sake and evolution of technology: A comparative view with wine and its implications for regional branding and tourism

Jun Sato,Ryo Kohsaka 한국식품연구원 2017 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.4 No.2

Background The flavor of Japanese sake (frequently referred to as Seisyu in Japanese academic contexts) has improved in recent years and demand for sake is on the rise globally. Methods Our analysis is based on a review of literature and secondary data examination of existing statistics. Results Quality control is achieved through the use of acid from polished rice. One use for acid may be for rice flavors, which are regionally specific and therefore may lead to a reconsideration of geographical indications. Conclusion The use of acid and collaboration with the local and regional community is observed in wine production. Similar processes are observed with Japanese sake, and this implies that wine and sake may have similar futures. Visits to sake breweries have potential in the spheres of tourism, regional branding, and destination management.

Development of Dilated Esophagus, Sigmoid Esophagus, and Esophageal Diverticulum in Patients With Achalasia: Japan Achalasia Multicenter Study

Hiroki Sato,Yusuke Fujiyoshi,Hirofumi Abe,Hironari Shiwaku,Junya Shiota,Chiaki Sato,Hiroyuki Sakae,Masaki Ominami,Yoshitaka Hata,Hisashi Fukuda,Ryo Ogawa,Jun Nakamura,Tetsuya Tatsuta,Yuichiro Ikebuchi 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2022 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.28 No.2

Background/AimsPatients with achalasia-related esophageal motility disorders (AEMDs) frequently present with dilated and sigmoid esophagus, and develop esophageal diverticulum (ED), although the prevalence and patients characteristics require further elucidation. MethodsWe conducted a multicenter cohort study of 3707 patients with AEMDs from 14 facilities in Japan. Esophagography on 3682 patients were analyzed. ResultsStraight (n = 2798), sigmoid (n = 684), and advanced sigmoid esophagus (n = 200) were diagnosed. Multivariate analysis revealed that long disease duration, advanced age, obesity, and type I achalasia correlate positively, whereas severe symptoms and integrated relaxation pressure correlate negatively with development of sigmoid esophagus. In contrast, Grade II dilation (3.5-6.0 cm) was the most common (52.9%), while grade III dilation (≥ 6 cm) was rare (5.0%). We found early onset, male, obesity, and type I achalasia correlated positively, while advanced age correlated negatively with esophageal dilation. Dilated and sigmoid esophagus were found mostly in types I and II achalasia, but typically not found in spastic disorders. The prevalence of ED was low (n = 63, 1.7%), and non-dilated esophagus and advanced age correlated with ED development. Patients with right-sided ED (n = 35) had a long disease duration (P = 0.005) with low integrated relaxation pressure values (P = 0.008) compared with patients with left-sided ED (n = 22). Patients with multiple EDs (n = 6) had lower symptom severity than patients with a single ED (P = 0.022). ConclusionsThe etiologies of dilated esophagus, sigmoid esophagus, and ED are considered multifactorial and different. Early diagnosis and optimal treatment of AEMDs are necessary to prevent these conditions.

Efficacy of Oral Etidronate for Skeletal Disease in Japan

Jun Iwamoto,Tsuyoshi Takeda,Yoshihiro Sato 연세대학교의과대학 2005 Yonsei medical journal Vol.46 No.3

Etidronate is an oral bisphosphonate compound that is known to reduce bone resorption through the inhibition of osteoclastic activity. The efficacy of etidronate for involutional (postmenopausal and senile) and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, as well as that for other skeletal diseases, was reviewed in Japanese patients. Cyclical etidronate treatment (200 mg or 400mg/day for 2 weeks about every 3 months) increases the lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with involutional osteoporosis and prevents incident vertebral fractures in patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. The losses of the lumbar BMD in patients with liver cirrhosis and the metacarpal BMD in hemiplegic patients after stroke are prevented, and the lumbar BMD is possibly increased, preventing fragile fractures in adult patients with osteogenesis imperfecta type I. Furthermore, proximal bone resorption around the femoral stem is reduced and some complications may be prevented in patients who undergo cementless total hip arthroplasty. Oral etidronate treatment may also help to transiently relieve metastatic cancer bone pain followed by a decrease in abnormally raised bone resorption in patients with painful bone metastases from primary cancer sites, such as the lung, breast and prostate. Thus, oral etidronate treatment is suggested to be efficacious for osteoporosis, as well as other skeletal diseases associated with increased bone resorption, in Japanese patients. Randomized controlled trials needed to be conducted on a large number of patients to confirm these effects.

Influence of Ovariectomy on Bone Turnover and Trabecular Bone Mass in Mature Cynomolgus Monkeys

Jun Iwamoto,Azusa Seki,Masao Matsuura,Yoshihiro Sato,Tsuyoshi Takeda,Hideo Matsumoto,James K. Yeh 연세대학교의과대학 2009 Yonsei medical journal Vol.50 No.3

Purpose: To examine the influence of ovariectomy (OVX) on bone turnover and trabecular bone mass at the 3 clinically important skeletal sites in mature cynomolgus monkeys. Materials and Methods: Six female cynomolgus monkeys, aged 17-21 years, were randomized into 2 groups by the stratified weight: the OVX and sham-operation groups (n = 3 in each group). The experimental period was 16 months. Lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) in vivo and serum and urinary bone turnover markers were longitudinally measured, and peripheral quantitative computed tomographic and bone histomorphometric analyses were performed on trabecular bone of the lumbar vertebra, femoral neck, and distal radius at the end of the experiment. Results: OVX induced in a reduction in lumbar BMD compared with the sham controls and the baseline, as a result of increased serum levels of bonespecific alkaline phosphatase and urinary levels of cross-lined N- and C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen. Furthermore, OVX induced reductions in trabecular volumetric BMD and trabecular bone mass compared with the sham controls, with increased bone formation rate at the lumbar vertebra, femoral neck, and distal radius. Conclusion: The results indicated that OVX in mature cynomolgus monkeys (17-21 years of age) increased bone turnover and induced trabecular bone loss at the three skeletal sites compared with the sham controls. Thus, mature cynomolgus monkeys could be utilized for preclinical studies to examine the effects of interventions on bone turnover and trabecular bone mass at the 3 clinically important skeletal sites. Purpose: To examine the influence of ovariectomy (OVX) on bone turnover and trabecular bone mass at the 3 clinically important skeletal sites in mature cynomolgus monkeys. Materials and Methods: Six female cynomolgus monkeys, aged 17-21 years, were randomized into 2 groups by the stratified weight: the OVX and sham-operation groups (n = 3 in each group). The experimental period was 16 months. Lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) in vivo and serum and urinary bone turnover markers were longitudinally measured, and peripheral quantitative computed tomographic and bone histomorphometric analyses were performed on trabecular bone of the lumbar vertebra, femoral neck, and distal radius at the end of the experiment. Results: OVX induced in a reduction in lumbar BMD compared with the sham controls and the baseline, as a result of increased serum levels of bonespecific alkaline phosphatase and urinary levels of cross-lined N- and C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen. Furthermore, OVX induced reductions in trabecular volumetric BMD and trabecular bone mass compared with the sham controls, with increased bone formation rate at the lumbar vertebra, femoral neck, and distal radius. Conclusion: The results indicated that OVX in mature cynomolgus monkeys (17-21 years of age) increased bone turnover and induced trabecular bone loss at the three skeletal sites compared with the sham controls. Thus, mature cynomolgus monkeys could be utilized for preclinical studies to examine the effects of interventions on bone turnover and trabecular bone mass at the 3 clinically important skeletal sites.

Effect of Hole Geometry on Spray and Mixture Properties of Hole Type Injector For DISI Engine

( Jun Kanzaki ),( Kiyotaka Sato ),( Masahisa Yamakawa ),( Keiya Nishida ) 한국액체미립화학회 2005 한국액체미립화학회 학술강연회 논문집 Vol.2005 No.-

An experimental study was conducted on the spray and mixture properties of the hole-type injectors for D.I. gasoline engines. The Laser Absorption Scattering (LAS) technique was adopted to simultaneously measure the spatial distributions of the liquid and vapor phase concentrations in the fuel spray injected into a high-pressure and high-temperature constant volume vessel. Effect of diameter and length-to-diameter ratio of the nozzle hole L/D on the spray and mixture properties were examined. The smaller hole diameter and L/D produce the shorter tip penetration, the wider vapor phase dispersion of the spray, and the larger mass of vapor phase fuel around the stoichiometric equivalence ratio in the entire spray.