Association of kidney function with cancer incidence and its influence on cancer risk of smoking: The Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study

The association between kidney function and cancer incidence is inconsistent among previous reports, and data on the Japanese population are lacking. It is unknown whether kidney function modifies the cancer risk of other factors. We aimed to evaluate the association of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with cancer incidence and mortality in 55 242 participants (median age, 57 years; 55% women) from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study. We also investigated differences in cancer risk factors between individuals with and without kidney dysfunction. During a median 9.3-year follow-up period, 4278 (7.7%) subjects developed cancer. Moderately low and high eGFRs were associated with higher cancer incidence; compared with eGFR of 60-74 ml/min/1.73 m², the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for eGFRs of ≥90, 75-89, 45-59, 30-44 and 10-29 ml/min/1.73 m² were 1.18 (1.07-1.29), 1.09 (1.01-1.17), 0.93 (0.83-1.04), 1.36 (1.00-1.84) and 1.12 (0.55-2.26), respectively. High eGFR was associated with higher cancer mortality, while low eGFR was not; the adjusted subdistribution HRs (95% CIs) for eGFRs of ≥90 and 75-89 ml/min/1.73 m² were 1.58 (1.29-1.94) and 1.27 (1.08-1.50), respectively. Subgroup analyses of participants with eGFRs ≥60 and <60 ml/min/1.73 m² revealed elevated cancer risks of smoking and family history of cancer in those with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m², with significant interactions. Our findings suggest that the relationship between eGFR and cancer incidence was U-shaped. Only high eGFR was associated with cancer mortality. Kidney dysfunction enhanced cancer risk from smoking.     

High-magnitude mechanical strain inhibits the differentiation of bone-forming rat calvarial progenitor cells

Purpose: Orthodontic tooth movement occurs during the bone remodeling induced by therapeutic mechanical strain. It is important to investigate the relation between the strength of mechanical stress and bone formation activity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of high-magnitude mechanical strain on bone formation in detail.

Materials and methods: Osteoblast-like cells isolated from fetal rat calvariae were loaded with 18% cyclic tension force (TF) for 48?h. To phenotypically investigate the effect of TF, we measured the number and the size of bone nodules stained by von Kossa technique on day 21 after cell seeding and determined the calcium content of bone nodules on day 14. Furthermore, we examined the gene expression of BMP-2, Runx2 and Msx2, which are important factors for bone nodule formation, on days 1, 4 and 7 after TF loading.

Results: The maximum bone nodule size in the control group was 1620 and 719?μm in the TF group. Furthermore, the mean number of bone nodules sized over 360?μm in the TF group was significantly decreased compared to the control group. The calcium content was also significantly decreased to 42% by TF loading. The mRNA expression of BMP-2, Runx2 and Msx2 was decreased 1 and 4 days after TF loading.

Conclusion: The differentiation of bone forming progenitor cells into bone nodule forming cells was inhibited by TF due to the decreased expression of bone formation related factors such as BMP-2, Runx2 and Msx2.     

Functional lower lip reconstruction with a forearm flap combined with a free gracilis muscle transfer.

We applied a forearm flap combined with a gracilis muscle flap for total reconstruction of the lower lip. The motor nerve of the gracilis muscle was repaired to the buccal branch in the cheek. The patient obtained good sphincter function for eating and speaking, and he could inflate a balloon without air leakage.     

Evaluation of cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries using selective intraarterial microsphere tracer after vascular reconstructive surgery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSETo detect areas of cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries after vascular reconstruction, we administered selective intraarterial microsphere tracer into the external carotid arteries and determined (via single-photon emission computed tomography [IA-SPECT]) whether the distribution of radiotracer matched the arteriographic distribution of contrast material as shown on external carotid angiograms.METHODSWe compared the extent of regional distribution of tracer after external carotid artery injection of 20 to 40 MBq of 99mTc-HMPAO or 99mTc-ECD with that of contrast medium on the external carotid angiograms in 582 cortical regions in 12 patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease and in 18 patients with moyamoya disease.RESULTSMarked accumulation of tracer was found only in the expected, specific, newly developed areas of cerebral perfusion from bypass arteries. The regional distribution of tracer corresponded to that of contrast medium in 523 regions (90%) and did not correspond in 59 regions (10%). Significant overestimation of the distribution of contrast material relative to that of tracer was observed in the patients with moyamoya disease.CONCLUSIONSPECT showed slightly different distribution of tracer from that predicted by conventional angiography. IA-SPECT should enhance the analysis of newly developed areas of cerebral perfusion from the bypass arteries.     

Ocular hypotensive effects of monoamine oxidase-A inhibitors in rabbit

The effects of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibitors with epinephrine on intraocular pressure in the pigmented rabbit were studied. MAO-A inhibitors were used topically with or without various concentrations of epinephrine. For the measurement of intraocular pressure, applanation pneumatonography was used and tissue MAO activities were determined by radiometric assay. After topical administration with clorgyline, MAO-A activities in the bulbar conjunctiva and the iris-ciliary body were remarkably inhibited, whereas MAO-B inhibition was minimal. Maximal reduction of intraocular pressure with 0.05% epinephrine was 3.2 mmHg. Single administration of clorgyline, amiflamine, moclobemide or CGP 11305-A caused decreases in the intraocular pressure of 2.0, 2.5, 1.8 and 2.4 mmHg, respectively. In the coadministration experiments with epinephrine, the ocular hypotensive effects of epinephrine were potentiated with clorgyline, amiflamine, moclobemide and CGP 11305-A (6.6, 4.8, 5.6 and 5.8 mmHg). On the contrary, they were not influenced by the MAO-B inhibitor deprenyl. These results indicated that MAO-A inhibitors potentiated the ocular hypotensive effects of epinephrine, and that the coadministration of a reversible MAO-A inhibitor with epinephrine might be useful for patients with glaucoma.     

Living donor liver transplantation for biliary atresia complicated by situs inversus: technical highlights.

Living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become an established technique to treat children with end-stage liver disease. Biliary atresia (BA), one of the most common indications for liver transplantation in children, can be associated with situs inversus (SI). In the past, the presence of SI has been considered to be an absolute contraindication for liver transplantation because of the technical difficulties. Recently, some reports of successful diseased-donor liver transplantation in patients with BA complicated by SI have been published; however, few reports of that with LDLT exist. The technical difficulties involved with LDLT for such cases have not been described. Herein, we present 4 successful cases of LDLT for BA with SI. Complex anomalies associated with SI, such as a hepatic artery arising from the supraceliac aorta, a preduodenal portal vein, and absence of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava, increase the technical difficulties involved with the operation. Additional caution is required in LDLT because a living-donor graft has short vessels and the availability of vascular grafts from the donor is limited. In conclusion, LDLT for BA complicated by SI can be managed successfully with technical modifications and scrupulous attention. This series represents the largest reported group of patients with BA complicated by SI who underwent a successful LDLT procedure.     

Allergic Predisposition Among Infants with Bronchiolitis

Allergic predisposition among infants with bronchiolitis was examined. The number of infants with serum IgE exceeding mean +1 SD was 31/70 (44.3%). The rate of positive radioallergosorbent test (RAST) scores of 1 or more to mites, egg white, or milk was 31/71 (43.7%) and that of scores over 2 was 11/71 (15.5%). Eosinophils and/or mast cells were found in their nasal smears on several occasions. These results indicated that allergic predisposition may be observed among infants with bronchiolitis.     

腔内聚乙烯十二指肠-空肠导管对体重调节的作用:猪动物模型可行性研究

目的评估十二指肠-空肠导管（Endoluminal Duodeno-Jejunal Tube，EDJT）在活体猪实验动物模型中减缓体重增加的可行性，及其在中短期生存中的安全性。方法本项研究共用8只45kg重的Yorkshire猪，其中3只置入180emEDJT，1只置入360cm EDJT，另4只猪作为对照组。切开十二指肠，将EDJT导管缝合固定在十二指肠近Vater壶腹起始处。结果评估全部猪的不适反应和体重，每日一次，共7周，未发现严重并发症发生。术后7周3组动物的平均体重变化百分率：对照组、180cm组和360cm组分别是22．5％，6％和-2．8％。EDJT组（180cm组、360cm组）体重增加明显减慢，与对照组相比，有统计学意义（P=0．05）。结论EDJT可以安全使用，无肠梗阻、肠套叠或胰腺炎等并发症发生。EDJT可明显减缓体重增加。