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Background: Anticancer drugs for targeted molecular therapies have been applied to the treatment of lung cancer. Since the effects of medicine for adenocarcinoma (ADC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) differ, the ability to discriminate these lesions is important. In the present study, we examined whether ADC and SQCC could be distinguished using low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy (LVSEM) to examine cytopathological specimens. Methods: Thirty-seven cases of bronchoscopic samples were retrospectively examined using LVSEM on the surface structures of the cancer cells. Results: Among the Pap-stained slides, 81.1% of the cases could be distinguished: 96.2% of the ADC cases were distinguishable, and 45.5% of the SQCC cases were distinguishable. Among the significant findings for ADC using LVSEM, a spherical shape (73.1%), long filaments (65.4%), dense filaments (80.8%), and depression (57.7%) were seen. Among the significant findings for SQCC as observed using LVSEM, however, a flat shape (81.8%), sparse filaments (72.7%), and non-filament (81.8%) were seen. The overall accuracy of diagnosis using LVSEM was 83.8%: 80.8% for ADC and 90.9% for SQCC. The accuracy of a combination of Papstained slides and LVSEM was 97.3%. Conclusions: The LVSEM method is useful as an ancillary examination for cytopathology after the classification of Pap-stained slides.departmental bulletin pape
Patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (UHL) often complain of hearing difficulties in noisy environments. To clarify this, we compared brain activation in patients with UHL with that of healthy participants during speech perception in a noisy environment, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A pure tone of 1 kHz, or 14 monosyllabic speech sounds at 65‒70 dB accompanied by MRI scan noise at 75 dB, were presented to both ears for 1 second each and participants were instructed to press a button when they could hear the pure tone or speech sound. Based on the activation areas of healthy participants, the primary auditory cortex, the anterior auditory association areas, and the posterior auditory association areas were set as regions of interest (ROI). In each of these regions, we compared brain activity between healthy participants and patients with UHL. The results revealed that patients with right-side UHL showed different brain activity in the right posterior auditory area during perception of pure tones versus monosyllables. Clinically, left-side and right-side UHL are not presently differentiated and are similarly diagnosed and treated; however, the results of this study suggest that a lateralityspecific treatment should be chosen.departmental bulletin pape
Background and Aims: Because of the low penetration rate of transient elastography (TE) or its limitations in patients with obesity, narrow intercostal spaces, or ascites, the physical appearance of the liver as visualized using ultrasonography (US) is still thought to provide important information for the prediction of liver fibrosis. We examined the accuracy of various US signs when assessing the presence of liver cirrhosis, compared with TE. Methods: We enrolled 189 patients who had undergone both conventional US and TE examinations. We then assessed the associations between US parameters of the liver (surface, edge, and parenchymal texture) or the US score (sum of each parameter score), and the presence of liver cirrhosis as determined based on a liver stiffness measurement (LSM) of >15. Results: A significant increase in the LSM was observed according to the liver surface score (P 15 for the liver surface, liver edge, parenchymal texture, and the US score were 0.859, 0.768, 0.837, and 0.902, respectively. The AUROC of the US score was higher than that of the APRI score (0.823) or the FIB-4 index (0.804). Using an optimal cut-off value of 3.5, the sensitivity and specificity of the US score were 0.815 and 0.858, respectively. Conclusions: The US score was clinically useful for the diagnosis of an LSM >15. The US score can be used as a substitute for TE data in patients with obesity, narrow intercostal spaces, or ascites or in hospitals where TE is unavailable.departmental bulletin pape
With the development of technology, the knowledge and skills needed to become a dentist are increasing. Computer-assisted simulation learning materials have been utilized for dental education because of their high efficiency and efficacy. However, it is not well understood which material design is strongly associated with an education effect. We therefore investigated the effects of interactivity with learning materials on learners’ knowledge acquisition, memory retention, and anxiety reduction. Learning effects and degree of anxiety were compared between dental residents who learned using an interactive-type material, which required decision making and provided feedback (Group I, n=26), and those who learned using a display-type material, which merely displayed the appropriate action on a computer screen (Group D, n=23). Quiz scores immediately after learning and 3 weeks later were significantly higher in Group I than those in Group D (p<0.001 and 0.016, respectively). Regarding anxiety, state anxiety after learning with interactive material was significantly decreased in Group I (p<0.05), whereas no significant change was observed in Group D. Our results suggest that interactivity with computerassisted simulation materials is more effective for knowledge acquisition, memory retention, and anxiety reduction.departmental bulletin pape
The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of interactive simulation materials with decision making in knowledge acquisition and anxiety reduction. Dental students in their fourth year at Tokyo Medical and Dental University were randomly divided into Groups I and D. Participants read a scenario, learned with interactive-type (Group I) or display-type (Group D) learning materials about pulpectomy, and took the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-JYZ, a quiz for measuring learning effects, and a questionnaire for evaluation of the material. Except for requesting decision making in the interactive-type material, the contents of both materials were the same. The results were compared using the unpaired Student’s t-test, Fisher’s exact test, and the two-way repeated measures ANOVA with the Bonferroni post hoc test. The mean quiz score was significantly higher in Group I than in Group D (I: 75.4±1.4, D: 60.6±2.7, p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between the groups and the responses except for one question about operability (p<0.05). A significant main effect on state anxiety was found between examination points (p<0.001), and state anxiety significantly increased after reading the scenario (p<0.001) and reduced after learning (p<0.001). Interactive simulation materials with decision making might be effective in knowledge acquisition.departmental bulletin pape
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. A common characteristic of ALS pathology is cytoplasmic inclusions primarily composed of transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43). Production of TDP-43 in the central nervous system is strictly regulated, but it is not known whether this is also true in the skin of ALS patients. We found a gradual but significant reduction in epidermal TDP-43 mRNA expression with illness progression in ALS patients with upper-limb onset. However, the immunoblotting analysis revealed more TDP-43 protein in the skin of patients with upper-limb onset than of those with other onsets. There was no correlation between the TDP-43 mRNA expression and protein levels, indicating that the mechanism of TDP-43 autoregulation in the patients’ skin gradually failed. ALS diagnosis depends on clinical signs and electrophysiological findings, making early diagnosis difficult. TDP-43, as quantified by immunoblot analysis of biopsied skin, is a potential new biomarker of ALS.departmental bulletin pape
The present study investigates how effectively lidocaine ions are transported across a cellophane membrane through the application of either a direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). The cellophane membrane was set on a parallelplate- type acrylic cell with platinum electrodes at both ends, filled with a donor cell of a 1 % aqueous solution of lidocaine and a receptor cell with distilled water. Lidocaine concentrations were measured for 60 min while the following voltages were applied, with changes every 10 min: 3 V DC and 7.5 V sine wave AC; frequency at 1 kHz. As a result, lidocaine concentrations in the receptor cell increased in a time-dependent manner. Significant increases in lidocaine concentrations were observed in groups where the voltage combination consisted of DC 30 min/AC 30 min, DC 50 min/AC 10 min, DC 60 min and AC 10 min/DC 50 min, compared with the passive diffusion group or in groups where voltage application was performed for 20, 30 , 40, 50 and 60 min. Significant increases were also observed in groups where the voltage combination consisted of A C 6 0 min, D C 10 min/AC 5 0 min, AC 3 0 min/ DC 30 min and AC 50 min/DC 10 min, compared with the passive diffusion group or in groups where voltage application was performed for 40, 50 and 60 min. These results suggest that lidocaine was delivered more rapidly with DC than with AC, and that its ions are transported faster when voltage is switched from DC to AC than from AC to DC, which is presumably due to the contribution of electrorepulsion by DC voltage application and the vibration energy infiltration mechanism owning to AC. Iontophoresis in combination with DC and AC was found to enable highly efficient drug delivery that shares the benefits of both forms of current application.departmental bulletin pape
Introduction The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency, severity, and risk factors of complications after open gastrectomy using the Clavien- Dindo classification because institution-specific criteria were mostly used in the previous articles. Materials and Methods All complication data were obtained from our prospectively collected database of open gastrectomy from January 1999 to December 2012 (n=539). Complications were classified into either major surgical complications such as pancreatic fistula, abdominal abscess, and anastomotic leakage, or others. Frequency and severity were graded retrospectively according to the Clavien- Dindo classification for subsequent analysis of risk factors. Results There were 222 events occurred in 156 patients (28.9%). Complications of grade IIIa or greater were 8.3% for major surgical complications and 10.6% for all complications. The mortality rate was 1.1%. Blood loss was the only independent risk factor for major surgical complications of grade IIIa or greater (odds ratio 1.923, 95% Confidence Interval 0.320–0.786, p=0.003). Total gastrectomy was the only independent risk factor for all complications of grade IIIa or greater (Odds ratio 2.075, 95% Confidence Interval 0.260–0.896, p=0.021). Disscussion The present study provided the objective overview regarding complications after open gastrectomy. Blood loss and total gastrectomy were revealed as the significant risk factors for complications.departmental bulletin pape
Nucleic acid amplification test (NAT), which was introduced by the Japanese Red Cross Society in October 1999, began to be performed for screening of blood transfusion formulations in Japan in August 2014. In this study, the precision of immunological screenings of hepatitis B (HBsAg, HBcAb, and HBsAb), hepatitis C (HCVAb), and human immunodeficiency (HIVAb) virus antigens in donated blood were evaluated. In addition, the sensitivity of the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test for detection of the hepatitis B and C viruses was re-evaluated. Immunological screenings showed high precision of detecting the viral antigens. In contrast, the ALT test showed much lower precision of detecting the presence of the hepatitis B and C viruses. Results of the NAT and immunological screenings revealed that ALT levels in donors were more strongly correlated with their levels of gammaglutamyltranspeptidase (γGTP) and body mass index (BMI), than with the results of NAT and immunological screening. Our study indicates that elevated level(s) of ALT, were more likely to be associated with lifestyles factors such as high intake of alcohol or obesity than with infection. Therefore, ALT may be excluded as surrogate markers of HBV, HCV, and HIV in donated blood.departmental bulletin pape
Aim: This study identified the factors associated with depression in patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: We searched the literature using PubMed and CINAHL from their inception in 1946 to December 2014. The search terms were “myocardial infarction,” “depression,” and “percutaneous coronary intervention.” Studies which investigated factors associated with depression in patients diagnosed with MI who underwent typical medical procedures were searched. Results: Eleven studies met our inclusion criteria. None of these limited their samples to patients with MI who underwent PCI. Twenty-one factors were identified as possible risk factors for depression in patients who were diagnosed with MI and underwent PCI: gender; negative illness beliefs; neuroticism; autonomy; baseline depression scores; previous diagnosis of depression, anxiety, or stress; smoking; marital status; Type D personality; procedure; length of hospital stay; fat intake; functional disability; time engaged in physical activity; social support; and a history of angina, MI, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, PCI, diabetes mellitus, and stroke. Conclusions: This review suggests that these 21 factors should be considered in future studies as possible independent variables or covariates of depression among MI patients who have undergone PCI.departmental bulletin pape