Sway of the center of gravity in patients with spinal canal stenosis

In this study the sway of the center of gravity was observed in patients with spinal canal stenosis, in order to observe the movement of the center of the gravity after the onset of claudication. In normal subjects the sway of the center of gravity was restricted to a small area, but in patients with spinal stenosis, the center of gravity was diverted to the left or right side. With claudication, the center of gravity moved forward. Following several rest periods, the center of gravity returned to the initial area. The time required to return to the initial area was longer than for a patient's subjective recovery from the symptoms.     

Adenovirus vector-mediated gene transfer using degradable starch microspheres for hepatocellular carcinoma in rats

BACKGROUND: When gene therapy is performed for malignant tumors, gene transfer efficiency and selectivity are extremely important. The delivery of anticancer agents and embolic agents through tumor feeding artery is known as transarterial embolization. We speculated that genes might be efficiently and selectively transferred to hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) by degradable starch microspheres (DSM) as the embolic agent, which could be trapped within the tumor and release a gene vector. Therefore, we studied the use of DSM for adenovirus vector-mediated gene transfer to HCC in vivo. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HCC was induced in rats with diethylnitrosamine and phenobarbital, after which either AxCALacZ and DSM or AxCALacZ alone was injected through the hepatic artery. RESULTS: Histological examination revealed that beta-galactosidase expression was greater (P < 0.001), and more selective (P < 0.001) in tumors after injection of AxCALacZ and DSM, than after injection of the vector alone. CONCLUSION: Injection of DSM together with an adenovirus vector through the hepatic artery can result in efficient and cancer-selective transfer of genes to HCC.     

Questionnaire survey of peri-operative management of transurethral prostate resection in Japan

OBJECTIVES: We investigated perioperative management for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in Japan. METHODS: The questionnaire survey was conducted in 1,213 educational institutions for urology. RESULTS: The questionnaires were returned from 722 (60%) institutions. Admission to hospital was most frequently scheduled on preoperative day 1; termination of continuous drip infusion, starting meal intake and walking on postoperative day 1; intravenous antibiotics for three days; removal of Foley catheter on postoperative day 4; oral antibiotics for 7 days; and discharge from hospital on postoperative day 7. CONCLUSION: Although hospitalization was 14 days or less at most institutions, several procedures, especially the administration of prophylactic antibiotics, were fairly varied. Discussions from various perspectives might be needed to standardize the perioperative management of TURP in Japan.