Kinematic Effects on Probability Density Functions of Energy Dissipation Rate and Enstrophy in Turbulence.

Direct numerical simulation and theoretical analyses showed that the probability density functions (PDFs) of the energy dissipation rate and enstrophy in turbulence are asymptotically stretched gamma distributions with the same stretching exponent, and both the left and right tails of the enstrophy PDF are longer than those of the energy dissipation rate regardless of the Reynolds number. The differences in PDF tails arise due to the kinematics, with differences in the number of terms contributing to the dissipation rate and enstrophy. Meanwhile, the stretching exponent is determined by the dynamics and likeliness of singularities.

Local application of a transcutaneous carbon dioxide paste prevents excessive scarring and promotes muscle regeneration in a bupivacaine-induced rat model of muscle injury.

In postoperative patients with head and neck cancer, scar tissue formation may interfere with the healing process, resulting in incomplete functional recovery and a reduced quality of life. Percutaneous application of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) has been reported to improve hypoxia, stimulate angiogenesis, and promote fracture repair and muscle damage. However, gaseous CO2 cannot be applied to the head and neck regions. Previously, we developed a paste that holds non-gaseous CO2 in a carrier and can be administered transdermally. Here, we investigated whether this paste could prevent excessive scarring and promote muscle regeneration using a bupivacaine-induced rat model of muscle injury. Forty-eight Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either a control group or a CO2 group. Both groups underwent surgery to induce muscle injury, but the control group received no treatment, whereas the CO2 group received the CO2 paste daily after surgery. Then, samples of the experimental sites were taken on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 post-surgery to examine the following: (1) inflammatory (interleukin [IL]-1ß, IL-6), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß and myogenic (MyoD and myogenin) gene expression by polymerase chain reaction, (2) muscle regeneration with haematoxylin and eosin staining, and (3) MyoD and myogenin protein expression using immunohistochemical staining. Rats in the CO2 group showed higher MyoD and myogenin expression and lower IL-1ß, IL-6, and TGF-ß expression than the control rats. In addition, treated rats showed evidence of accelerated muscle regeneration. Our study demonstrated that the CO2 paste prevents excessive scarring and accelerates muscle regeneration. This action may be exerted through the induction of an artificial Bohr effect, which leads to the upregulation of MyoD and myogenin, and the downregulation of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TGF-ß. The paste is inexpensive and non-invasive. Thus, it may be the treatment of choice for patients with muscle damage.

Association between dental extraction after radiotherapy and osteoradionecrosis: A multi-centre retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Radiotherapy (RT) carries a substantial risk for the development of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the jaw. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between dental extractions after RT and the development of ORN. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with head and neck cancer who underwent tooth extraction after RT were investigated for correlations between the development of ORN and various factors. RESULTS: Postextraction ORN was diagnosed in 12 (12.1%) teeth of 9 patients. The RT dose against the site of tooth extraction was 62.0 and 37.4 Gy in the ORN and Non-ORN groups, respectively (p < .001). The duration from RT to tooth extraction was 41.2 and 28.2 months in the ORN and Non-ORN groups, respectively (p = .025). Tooth extraction was significantly associated with ORN in patients with a high RT dose against the site (odds ratio = 1.231) and a longer duration of time from RT (odds ratio = 1.084). CONCLUSIONS: Extraction of non-restorable teeth and those with a poor prognosis should not necessarily be postponed even when patients are undergoing RT. However, clinicians should pay special attention to postoperative management after tooth extraction in patients with a high RT dose and longer time from RT.

Success of dental implants in patients with large bone defect and analysis of risk factors for implant failure: a non-randomized retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the success and survival rates of dental implants used for dentomaxillary prostheses at our hospital and the risk factors associated with large bone defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 138 external joint system implants used for dentomaxillary prostheses in 40 patients with large bone defects were included in this study. The alveolar bone at the site of implant insertion was evaluated using panoramic radiography and computed tomography. Various risk factors (demographic characteristics, dental status, and operative factors such as the employment of alveolar bone augmentation, the site, the length, and diameter of implants) for implant failure and complete implant loss were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. The associations between the variables and the success and survival rates of dental implants were analyzed using the multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: The 10-year overall success and survival rates were 81.3% and 88.4% in this study. Multivariable analysis showed that the male sex (HR 6.22), shorter implants (≤ 8.5 mm) (HR 5.21), and bone augmentation (HR 2.58) were independent predictors of success rate. Bone augmentation (HR 5.14) and narrow implants (≤ 3.3 mm) (HR 3.86) were independent predictors of the survival rate. CONCLUSION: Male sex, shorter or narrow implants, and bone augmentation were independent risk factors for dental implants used in dentomaxillary prostheses in patients with large bone defects. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians should consider these risk factors and pay close attention to the management of these patients.

Effects of preoperative dental examination and oral hygiene instruction on surgical site infection after hepatectomy: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: This study retrospectively investigated relationships among risk factors and post-hepatectomy surgical site infection (SSI) and other complications in patients who underwent hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We included 334 patients who underwent hepatectomies for liver cancers between January 2011 and December 2015 in this study. We evaluated risk factors for SSI and other post-hepatectomy complication, including demographic factors, preoperative factors, and preoperative intervention including oral management, perioperative factors, and length of hospital stay, with univariate and multivariate analyses. The oral management intervention included self-care instructions, extraction of infected teeth, removal of dental plaques and calculus (scaling), professional mechanical teeth cleaning, removal of tongue coating, and cleaning of dentures. SSI was defined in accordance with the guideline issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; it included purulent discharge from any incision or organ space within 30 days postoperatively, with or without microbiological evidence. Complications of grade II or greater, according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, were regarded as postoperative complications. RESULTS: We found bacterial infection of ascites (Odds ratio (OR) = 13.72), lack of preoperative oral management intervention (OR = 10.17), and severe liver fibrosis (OR = 2.76) to be associated with SSI and severe liver fibrosis (OR = 2.28), hypoalbuminemia (OR = 2.02), blood transfusion (OR = 1.86), and longer operation time (OR = 1.80) to be associated with postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative oral management may reduce the risk of SSI in patients with HCC who undergo hepatectomy.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio associated with poor prognosis in oral cancer: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic biomarkers provide essential information about a patient's overall outcome. However, existing biomarkers are limited in terms of either sample collection, such as requiring tissue specimens, or the process, such as prolonged time for analysis. In view of the need for convenient and non-invasive prognostic biomarkers for oral cancer, we aimed to investigate the prognostic values of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in patient survival. We also aimed to explore the associations of these ratios with the clinicopathologic characteristics of Japanese oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. METHODS: This study was a non-randomized retrospective cohort study in a tertiary referral center. We included 433 patients (246 men, 187 women) who underwent radical surgery for oral cancers between January 2001 and December 2013. We evaluated various risk factors for poor prognosis including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio with univariate and multivariate analyses. The disease-specific survival and overall survival rates of patients were compared among the factors and biomarkers. RESULTS: In multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (hazard ratio 2.87, 95% confidence interval 1.59-5.19, P <  0.001), moderately or poorly differentiated histology (hazard ratio 2.37, 95% confidence interval 1.32-4.25, P <  0.001), and extranodal extension (hazard ratio 1.95, 95% confidence interval 1.13-3.35, P = 0.016) were independent predictors of disease-specific survival. High neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (hazard ratio 2.30, 95% confidence interval 1.42-3.72, P <  0.001), moderately or poorly differentiated (hazard ratio 1.72, 95% confidence interval 1.07-2.76, P = 0.025), and extranodal extension (hazard ratio 1.79, 95% confidence interval 1.13-2.84, P = 0.013) were independent predictors of overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio might be a potential independent prognostic factor in Japanese oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Influence of quality of sleep in the first trimester on blood pressure in the third trimester in primipara women.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between decreased sleep quality during the first trimester and a rise in blood pressure during an otherwise normal course of pregnancy in primipara women. Materials and methods: We recruited 128 pregnant women (primipara) who visited the obstetrics and gynecology clinic for medical examination, of which 89 were longitudinally investigated from the first to the third trimester after obtaining informed consent. A survey was conducted in the first, second, and third trimesters to evaluate sleep quality using the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-J). Patients were assigned to either a good sleep quality group (PSQI-J ≤ 5) or a poor sleep quality group (PSQI-J ≥ 6). Blood pressure was measured using a home blood pressure measurement method. We analyzed the relationship between sleep quality in the first trimester and blood pressure during pregnancy. Results: The increase in morning systolic blood pressure from first to third trimester was larger in the poor sleep quality group than in the good sleep quality group (7.1 ± 7.0 vs. 3.0 ± 5.6 mmHg, p < .01). Sleep latency (r = 0.38, ß = 0.43, p = .02) and sleep disturbances (r = 0.24, ß = 0.33, p = .04) in the first trimester affected the increase in systolic blood pressure during pregnancy. Conclusions: Understanding sleep quality at the beginning of pregnancy can help predict a rise in systolic blood pressure in the third trimester. This emphasizes the importance of sleep education during pregnancy.

Risk factors for prolonged operative time in femoral neck fracture patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty through direct anterior approach.

BACKGROUND: The use of direct anterior approach (DAA) for hemiarthroplasty in femoral neck fracture patients has recently increased worldwide. However, no previous studies have elucidated or validated risk factors for prolonged operative time in hemiarthroplasty through DAA. Accurately predicting operative time would contribute to and the selection of the most appropriate surgical approach for each patient and the effective use of operating room. METHODS: Data from 151 femoral neck fracture patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty through DAA were evaluated. A multiple linear regression model of the operative time of hemiarthroplasty was developed, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), surgeons' DAA experience and approach depth (cm) on the axial computed tomography (CT) slice of the hip as independent factors. RESULTS: Mean age at admission was 83.8 [±6.3 standard deviation (SD)] years and mean operative time was 93.1 (±21 SD) min. Operative time increased by 20 min for every 1 cm increase in approach depth [partial regression coefficient (B), 20.4; standardized partial regression coefficient (ß), 0.68; p < 0.001] and increased 13 min when the DAA was performed by a surgeon with DAA experience of <20 cases (B, 13.1; ß, 0.29; p < 0.001). The adjusted R2 of the model was 0.57. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that increased approach depth and surgeons' DAA experience (<20 cases) are novel risk factors for prolonged operative time in femoral neck fracture patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty through DAA. Surgeons should consider these factors when estimating the operative time of surgery and selecting the most appropriate and safe surgical approach for a patient undergoing hemiarthroplasty.

Spiritual Support to Improve Women's Mental Health after Miscarriage and Stillbirth: A Qualitative Study in Japan.

PROBLEM: Miscarriage and stillbirth can severely impact maternal mental well-being. BACKGROUND: In Japan, local municipalities must prepare systems to provide mental and social-spiritual support to women after miscarriage or stillbirth. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate what spiritually supports the mental health of women who have experienced miscarriages and stillbirths. METHODS: This analysis included 25 women who had experienced miscarriage or stillbirth at least one month previously and participated in self-help group meetings at least twice. Data were collected from March 2020 to March 2021 using two narrative interviews and questionnaires. FINDINGS: The mothers led their lives "together" with their children. They derived spiritual support from others, such as "the presence of someone who is living now after having experienced anguish" and "others who acknowledge the presence of my child and me as a mother. " Further elements of the support included "resigning myself to face my grief" and "strong links to deceased children. " While facing their grief by accepting that this anguish cannot be replaced [with anything else] and resigning themselves to reality, their bond to their child is strengthened. CONCLUSION: What women perceive as support after a miscarriage or stillbirth will be an important clue to care.

Risk factors associated with prognosis of patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

OBJECTIVES: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a severe adverse effect of antiresorptive and/or antiangiogenic agents. As the treatment application for MRONJ is controversial, we aimed to identify the risk factors for poor prognosis and to help determine appropriate management. METHODS: This study included 119 patients. Relevant clinical data were obtained for all the patients. In computed tomography images, osteosclerosis, osteolysis, cortical perforation (buccal or lingual), periosteal reaction, and sequestration were evaluated. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses showed statistically significant associations between poor prognosis in patients with MRONJ and conservative treatment alone (hazard ratio [HR] 1.89), osteolysis (HR 4.67), and the absence of sequestration (HR 5.33). CONCLUSIONS: Conservative treatment alone without clear objectives needs to be avoided, and osteolytic change could be the criteria for surgical intervention. As the boundary between the lesion and vital bone is indistinct, we recommend extensive surgery in cases with unpredictable sequestration.

The Efficacy of Carbon Dioxide Paste in Alleviating Pain in Patients After Neck Dissection: Protocol for a Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancers that cause severe aesthetic and functional disorders normally metastasize to the cervical lymph nodes. Patients with cervical lymph node metastasis are undergoing neck dissection. Shoulder complaints are common after neck dissection, with patients reporting symptoms such as pain, weakness, shoulder droop, and disability. However, no safe and effective treatment is available for this condition at present. We will conduct a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of carbon dioxide (CO2) paste in relieving pain in patients after neck dissection. OBJECTIVE: This will be the first clinical study to compare the efficacy of CO2 paste with placebo in relieving postoperative pain in patients who underwent neck dissection. METHODS: We will perform this trial at the Kobe University Hospital in Japan. Patients will be randomized 1:1 into the CO2 paste and control groups. Patients in the CO2 paste group will have the CO2 paste applied to the cervical surface skin for 10 minutes once per day for 14 consecutive days. The primary end point of the study is a change in the visual analog scale (VAS) scores of neck pain from baseline on day 1 (preapplication) to the end of drug application (day 15). Secondary end points include changes in the following parameters from baseline on day 1 to the end of drug application (day 15) or the study (day 29): neck pain VAS score (days 1-29), grip strength (days 1-15 and 1-29), VAS scores for subjective symptoms (the feeling of strangulation, numbness, swelling, and warmth in the neck and shoulder region) for days 1-15 and 1-29, whether the VAS score improved more than 30% (days 1-15), the arm abduction test (days 1-15 and 1-29), shoulder range of motion (abduction and flexion) for days 1-15 and 1-29, occurrence of skin disorders, and occurrence of serious side effects. Periodic monitoring will be conducted for participants during the trial. This study was approved by the certified review board of Kobe University. RESULTS: The intervention commenced in May 2021 and will continue until March 2024. The collected data will provide information on the efficacy of the CO2 paste treatment. The primary end point will be compared using the Wilcoxon test, with the 1-sided significance level set at 5%. Each evaluation item will be summarized. Secondary efficacy end points will be analyzed to provide additional insights into the primary analysis. Findings based on the treatment effects are expected to be submitted for publication in 2025. CONCLUSIONS: This trial will provide exploratory evidence of the efficacy and safety of CO2 paste in relieving pain in patients after neck dissection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT) identifier: jRCTs051210028; https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs051210028. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/50500.

Relationship of Mitochondrial-Related Protein Expression with the Differentiation, Metastasis, and Poor Prognosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and respiratory function changes have been consistently associated with the initiation and progression of cancer. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the expression of mitochondrial tumor-suppressor and DNA-repair proteins in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to evaluate the relationship between their expression and prognosis. We enrolled 197 patients with OSCC who underwent surgical resection between August 2013 and October 2018. Clinical, pathological, and epidemiological data were retrospectively collected from hospital records. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), mitochondrial transcription factor A, mitochondrial tumor suppressor gene 1, silent information regulator 3, and 8-hydroxyguanine DNA glycosylase was investigated using immunochemistry. The 3-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates of patients showing positive expression of all selected proteins were significantly higher than those of patients showing a lack of expression. Multivariate analysis revealed that the expression of PGC-1α (hazard ratio, 4.684) and vascular invasion (hazard ratio, 5.690) can predict the DSS rate (p < 0.001). Low PGC-1α expression and vascular invasion are potential clinically effective predictors of the prognosis of OSCC.

Transcutaneous carbon dioxide application suppresses the expression of cancer-associated fibroblasts markers in oral squamous cell carcinoma xenograft mouse model.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common head and neck cancer. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). As CAFs promote tumor progression and hypoxia in the TME, regulating the conversion of normal fibroblasts (NFs) into CAFs is essential for improving the prognosis of patients with OSCC. We have previously reported the antitumor effects of transcutaneous carbon dioxide (CO2) application in OSCC. However, the effects of reducing hypoxia in the TME remain unclear. In this study, we investigated whether CO2 administration improves the TME by evaluating CAFs marker expression. Human OSCC cells (HSC-3) and normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) were coinjected subcutaneously into the dorsal region of mice. CO2 gas was applied twice a week for 3 weeks. The tumors were harvested six times after transcutaneous CO2 application. The expression of CAFs markers (α-SMA, FAP, PDPN, and TGF-ß) were evaluated by using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining. The expression of α-SMA, FAP, PDPN, and TGF-ß was significantly increased over time after co-injection. In the CO2-treated group, tumor growth was significantly suppressed after treatment initiation. In addition, the mRNA expression of these markers was significantly inhibited. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining revealed a significant decrease in the protein expression of all CAFs markers in the CO2-treated group. We confirmed that transcutaneous CO2 application suppressed CAFs marker expression and tumor growth in OSCC xenograft mouse model.

Detection of bone marrow edema in differential diagnoses of odontogenic cysts using dual-energy computed tomography.

PURPOSE: In this study, we prospectively investigated the relationship between bone marrow edema (BME) and odontogenic cysts and explored the possibility of using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) as an auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of odontogenic cysts. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 73 patients who underwent the DECT scan and surgery for odontogenic cysts or odontogenic tumors. The virtual noncalcium (VNCa) computed tomography (CT) values and CT values were measured at several sites. The predictor variable was diagnosis, and the other variables included age, sex, and sites. The primary outcome was VNCa CT value. Variables were tested using the chi-square test or the Kruskal-Wallis test. The VNCa CT and CT values were tested using the Scheffe test for multiple comparisons. All variables were analyzed as independent variables affecting the VNCa CT values around the lesion in the multiple regression analysis. RESULT: There were 35 men and 38 women. The mean patient age was 50.0 ± 19.5 years (range: 8-86). The VNCa CT values (- 6.2 ± 34.3) around the lesion in patients with RCs were significantly higher than those in patients with dentigerous cysts (- 44.4 ± 28.6) and odontogenic keratocysts (- 67.3 ± 19.5). In multiple regression analysis, the VNCa CT values around the lesion showed a significant positive correlation with histological results (regression coefficient: - 0.605, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The presence of BME is associated with radicular cysts, and DECT can be used as an auxiliary tool for radicular cyst diagnosis.

Home Health Nursing Care Time for Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

There is an urgent need to provide personalized care more efficiently to patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who live at home. To understand the impact of patient attributes and features on nursing care time, we assessed the amount of time required to perform home visits to patients with PD and identified patient characteristics related to differences in nursing care time. Twenty patient (median age 78.0 years) visits were video-recorded. Nursing care activities were categorized, while time spent on them was measured to identify differences in care time by patient. Correlations between patient characteristics and care times were calculated. The median time per visit was 49 min and 7 s. Time was mostly spent on daily living assistance (76.0%), followed by medical care assistance (10.0%) and record keeping and administration (14.0%). Results suggested that patient care was characterized by longer time spent on patient comfort, physical therapy, and patient consultation or education. In general, time per visit increased with patients' age. The variation in care implementation time tended to be large in daily living assistance and small in medical care assistance. These data may be useful for providing and managing personalized care for patients. These data can also contribute to making nurse care more specialized.

Factors Associated with Treatment Outcomes and Pathological Features in Patients with Osteoradionecrosis: A Retrospective Study.

A standard treatment for osteoradionecrosis (ORN) has not yet been established because of the diversity. Therefore, identifying the risk factors for a poor prognosis is essential. This study retrospectively investigated the factors associated with the prognosis of ORN in 68 patients. Relevant clinical data of all patients were obtained. Of the patients, 16 who underwent extensive surgery underwent histopathological analysis. The necrotic changes of the anterior and posterior margins in the cortical and cancellous bones were investigated. Multivariate analyses showed statistically significant associations between poor prognosis in patients with ORN and high radiation dose (hazard ratio [HR] 1.15), orocutaneous fistula (HR 2.93), and absence of sequestration (HR 2.49). Histopathological analysis showed a viable anterior margin of the middle portion of the cortical bone for all recovered cases; in contrast, most cases (75%) with a poor prognosis showed necrotic changes. The anterior margin of the cancellous bone was viable and resilient to high irradiation, regardless of the prognosis. These results suggest that patients with orocutaneous fistula should receive early surgical intervention, even if the affected area is limited or asymptomatic. In extensive surgery, a sufficient safety margin of necrotic bone, particularly in the anterior region, is required to improve the prognosis.

Exploratory clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of carbon dioxide paste in healthy people.

INTRODUCTION: Scarring and pain are postoperative complications in patients after head and neck cancer treatment; however, there is no effective treatment. These complications are affected by local blood flow disorders, and it is well known that the transcutaneous application of carbon dioxide (CO2) improves local blood flow. Previously, we have shown that the transcutaneous application of carbon dioxide causes absorption of CO2 and increase the oxygen (O2) pressure in the treated tissue; it is expected that the application of CO2 may reduce scarring and pain caused by cancer treatment. We newly introduced the CO2 paste as a new CO2 application method, which does not need to use CO2 gas directly. In this study, we aimed to apply of CO2 paste to healthy people and to investigate its usefulness, safety and feasibility by analysing the increase in blood flow and frequency of adverse events. METHODS: We applied carbon dioxide paste to skin over the sternocleidomastoid and gastrocnemius muscles of eight healthy volunteers. The changes in blood flow before and after the CO2 paste application using dynamic MRI, and changes in the vital signs were evaluated. RESULTS: In the neck area and middle layer of the lower leg, the signal intensity (SI) significantly increased 60 seconds after application. In the surface layer of the lower leg, the SI was significantly increased 60 and 300 seconds after paste application. Although mild heat was noted after the paste application, no obvious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the increase in SI by dynamic MRI at the site of the carbon dioxide paste application, which indicates the paste application is effective in improving the blood flow.

Time to Recurrence Associated With Poor Prognosis in Japanese Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

Purpose: Recurrence in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is not rare. Due to lack of studies assessing characteristics of recurrent OSCC, including time to recurrence and outcomes, we sought to investigate its characteristics, time to recurrence, and outcomes in Japanese OSCC patients. Methods: This study was a nonrandomized retrospective cohort study in a tertiary referral centre. It included 208 (117 men and 91 women) patients with recurrent oral cancer who underwent major curative surgery in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Kobe University Hospital between January 1999 and April 2017. The outcomes were disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS). Results: In multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, the time to recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 3.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69-6.63; P = 0.001), extranodal extension (ENE, HR 2.72, 95% CI 1.51-4.89; P = 0.001), and high T stage (HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.01-3.97; P = 0.046) were independent predictors of DSS. The time to recurrence (HR 3.29, 95% CI 1.82-5.96; P < 0.001) and ENE (HR 2.64, 95% CI 1.52-4.56; P = 0.001) were independent predictors of OS. Conclusion: Time to recurrence, extranodal extension, and higher T stage were independent prognosis predictors in OSCC.

Possible involvement of peptidylprolyl isomerase Pin1 in rheumatoid arthritis.

The peptidylprolyl isomerase Pin1 is over-expressed in some human diseases including malignancies and chronic inflammatory diseases, this suggests that it contributes to the constitutive activation of certain intracellular signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation and cell invasion. Here, we investigate the possible role of Pin1 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Pin1 expression was immunohistochemically analyzed in synovial tissue (ST) obtained from patients with RA and osteoarthritis (OA). To investigate the correlation between Pin1 and motility and proliferation of synovial cells, Pin1 localization was immunohistochemically compared with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Double immunofluorescent staining for Pin1 and p65 was performed to determine whether Pin1 is involved in nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation in RA-ST. Results showed Pin1 expression was significantly higher in RA-ST than in OA-ST. The expression of MMP-1, MMP-3, and PCNA was also significantly elevated in RA-ST. Double immunofluorescent staining revealed colocalization of Pin1 and p65 in the nuclei of RA-ST. These results suggest that Pin1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of RA binding with p65 to activate the proteins MMP-1, MMP-3, and PCNA. Therefore, Pin1 may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of RA.

[Survey of ocular injury by solar eclipse 2009].

PURPOSE: Incidence of ocular injury caused by the solar eclipse of 2009 has been investigated using the questionnaire of the Japan Committee of the International Year of Astronomy 2009. METHODS: The questionnaire was available to the public on the website. RESULTS: Answers were obtained from 14 people (12 men, 2 women), aged from sixteen to fifty-four. All had looked at the sun either with the naked eye or through some shading device (plastic sheet, plastic bag, compact disc, etc.) the safty of which is unknown. Reported symptoms included a sense of incongruity, heat, pain, central scotoma or visual disturbance, classified into four periods of duration. Three people with transient symptoms watched the eclipse with the naked eye for one minute in cloudy weather. Three people with symptoms lasting for one day and three people with symptoms lasting for one week had watched it with the naked eye and some shading device for 10 minutes in cloudy weather. Five people with symptoms lasting for more than one week watched the eclipse with the naked eye and through some sort of device in fine or slightly cloudy weather. Three people consulted their ophthalmologist. CONCLUSIONS: Those who reported adverse symptoms did not comply with the instructions for safe watching of the eclipse and the duration of the symptoms depended on the weather and the type of device used.