[Nivolumab and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for a Gastric Cancer Patient with Brain Metastasis-A Case Report].

The prognosis of patients with brain metastasis is very poor. Very few cases of combined treatment with nivolumab(240 mg/body, day 1, q2w, a programmed cell death-1[PD-1]inhibitor)and gamma knife radiosurgery(GKR)(27 Gy/3 Fr) for gastric cancer patients with brain metastasis have been reported. Here, we discuss the case of a 55-year-old man with HER2-positive poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma with multiple bone and intra-abdominal lymph node metastases. After 25 courses of SOX(oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2, day 1, q3w plus S-1 120 mg/day, day 1-14, po, q3w)plus trastuzumab( 6 mg/kg, q3w)treatment, brain metastasis was detected. Subsequently, combined treatment with GKR and nivolumab(8 courses, anti-PD-1 monotherapy)was initiated. Both intra-abdominal and brain lesions decreased in response to this treatment, showing that combined therapy with nivolumab and GKR could be effective for treating gastric cancer patients with brain metastasis.

Radiographic Measurements as a Predictor of Correction Loss in Conservative Treatment of Colles' Fracture.

Dorsal displaced distal radius fracture (Colles' fracture) is very common and could occur from fragility in middle-aged and elderly people. Many Colles' fractures are still treated conservatively in clinics without hospitalization. Internal fixation using a palmar locking plate has been the standard treatment, but some complications have been reported. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in radiographic parameters over time in patients with conservatively treated Colles' fractures, and to establish whether the type of fracture influenced these changes. Prospective data collected included patient characteristics and radiological findings. The study was conducted at two private clinics and included 60 patients (13 men and 47 women; mean age, 72.5 years old; range, 55 to 96 years old) with a Colles' fracture (types of injury: intramedullary [n = 15], anatomical [n = 39], extramedullary [n = 2], and unknown [n = 4]) who were treated conservatively with manipulation and cast immobilization. Conservative, non-surgical treatment with manipulation was performed first, then, cast immobilization continued for 4 weeks. Loss of correction between the time of reduction and the final observation was defined by the following radiographic measurements: palmar tilt, radial inclination, and ulnar variance. The average final follow up period was 4.6 months (1.5-12 months). Immediately after reduction, 11 intramedullary fractures, 42 anatomical fractures and 7 extramedullary fractures were confirmed. Correction loss according to ulnar variance was significantly greater (P = 0.012) during the final observation for patients with an intramedullary injury at reduction than that for patients with extramedullary and anatomical injuries at reduction. We found that the correction loss for ulnar variance from immediately after reduction until the final observation was significantly greater in the intramedullary group, suggesting that an alternative to conservative treatment may be beneficial for patients with intramedullary fractures.

Troubleshooting in the Treatment of Pseudoarthrosis After a Humeral Diaphyseal Fracture: A Case Report.

We report a case of a patient with a history of surgery for insufficient pseudoarthrosis after a humeral diaphyseal fracture. Although most humeral nonunions are successfully treated with a single procedure, some humeral nonunions are more difficult to heal and require multiple procedures. A-61-year-old man presented at our hospital with pain and deformity in his left upper arm. The humeral diaphyseal fracture had been previously treated elsewhere with open reduction and internal fixation. Some days prior to his visit at our hospital, he had had pain in his left upper arm, without a particular cause, and was admitted to our hospital for initial evaluation. After a complete physical examination, symptoms of infection and any neurovascular deficit were ruled out. Radiographic examination revealed atrophic nonunion of the middle third of the humeral shaft associated with disuse osteopenia. Anterograde intramedullary nailing and bone grafting were performed for the resistant atrophic nonunion of the humeral diaphysis. In addition to the intramedullary nailing, additional fixation was performed for residual rotational instability. A postoperative evaluation revealed a periprosthetic fracture in the distal part of the humerus. Poor bone quality or a deficient plate technique might have lead to the facture. We performed open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF): he underwent fixation with a 2-plate construct for the nonunion of the humeral diaphyseal fracture, together with decortication, debridement, and bone grafting. Eight months after surgery, the patient's bone had healed and he had recovered flexion (110°) and extension (-30°) without complications. An orthopedic surgeon should be aware of these complications when choosing open reduction and internal fixation for the treatment of a history of insufficient pseudoarthrosis. Patients should be closely followed up for evidence of any complications such as infections and malunions. Fracture fixation in patients with pseudoarthrosis requires strategies to overcome the technical difficulties faced during the procedure.

Elcatonin prevents bone loss caused by skeletal unloading by inhibiting preosteoclast fusion through the unloading-induced high expression of calcitonin receptors in bone marrow cells.

This study aimed to clarify whether elcatonin (EL) has a preventive action on bone dynamics in skeletal unloading. Seven-week-old male C57BL/6J mice with either ground control (GC) or tail suspension (TS) were administered EL 20U/kg or a vehicle (veh) three times per week and assigned to one of the following four groups: GCEL, GCveh, TSEL, and TSveh. Blood samples and bilateral femurs and tibias of the mice were obtained for analysis. After 7days of unloading, the trabecular bone mineral density in the distal femur obtained via peripheral quantitative computed tomography and the trabecular bone volume were significantly higher in the TSEL group than in the TSveh group. The bone resorption histomorphometric parameters, such as the osteoclast surface and osteoclast number, were significantly suppressed in the TSEL mice, whereas the number of preosteoclasts was significantly increased. The plasma level of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b) was significantly lower in the TSEL group than in all other groups. In the bone marrow cell culture, the number of TRACP-positive (TRACP(+)) multinucleated cells was significantly lower in the TSEL mice than in the TSveh mice, whereas the number of TRACP(+) mononucleated cells was higher in the TSEL mice. On day 4, the expression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 1 (NFATc1), cathepsin K and d2 isoform of vacuolar ATPase V0 domain (ATP6V0D2) mRNA in the bone marrow cells in the TSEL mice was suppressed, and the expression of calcitonin receptor (Calcr) mRNA on day 1 and Calcr antigen on day 4 were significantly higher in the TSveh mice than in the GCveh mice. EL prevented the unloading-induced bone loss associated with the high expression of Calcr in the bone marrow cells of mouse hindlimbs after tail suspension, and it suppressed osteoclast development from preosteoclasts to mature osteoclasts through bone-resorbing activity. This study of EL-treated unloaded mice provides the first in vivo evidence of a physiological role of EL in the inhibition of the differentiation process from preosteoclasts to osteoclasts.

[Analysis of tendon injuries accompanying distal radius fractures using volar locking plates].

We examined 6 cases of tendon injuries that accompanied distal radius fractures using volar locking plate between April 2006 and March 2012. Male: one case, female: five cases, average age 57.0 (33~70) years old. The fracture type was A2 in one case, A3 in four cases, and C2 in one case by AO classification. The average period for operation waiting was 2.7 days. We analyzed the time of occurrence of tendon rupture (extensor pollicis longus (EPL)ï½¥flexor pollicis longus (FPL)), the existence or not of screw prominence and dorsal roof fragment, and the positioning of the plate setting. The tendon ruptures were EPL in four cases, and FPL in two cases. The average period of rupture occurrence was 86.8 (1~182) days. In four EPL tendon ruptures we recognized one marked screw prominence (16.7%), and two dorsal roof fragments (50%), both showing widespread displacement. Moreover, we recognized the malposition of the plate setting in the two cases of FPL tendon rupture (100%). The incidence of tendon ruptures accompanying distal radius fractures using volar locking plates was not low at all, therefore we should more pay attention to the prevention of this occurrence.

Enhanced production of reducing sugars from transgenic rice expressing exo-glucanase under the control of a senescence-inducible promoter.

We generated transgenic rice plants that express EXG1 exo-glucanase under the control of a senescence-inducible promoter. When a GUS coding sequence was connected to a promoter region of STAY GREEN (SGR) gene of rice and introduced into rice, GUS activity was specifically observed along with senescence. When an EXG1 cDNA was connected to the SGR promoter and introduced into rice, higher cellulase activities were detected after senescence. The EXG1 transgenic plants showed enhanced enzymatic saccharification efficiencies after senescence, but no significant difference of saccharification efficiencies was observed before senescence. The saccharification efficiencies were correlated with the cellulase activities in the transgenic plants. The EXG1 transgenic plants showed neither morphological abnormality nor sterility, both of which were observed when EXG1 was constitutively overexpressed. These results indicate that expression of cell wall degrading enzymes such as cellulase by a senescence-inducible promoter is one of the ways to enhance the saccharification ability of cellulosic biomass without affecting plant growth for efficient production of biofuels.

Post-traumatic malunion of the distal radial intra-articular fractures treated with autologous costal osteochondral grafts and bioabsorbable plates.

Intra-articular distal radial fractures with partial bone loss at the wrist were reconstructed using osteochondral grafts in 2 patients who were followed up for at least 18 months. Both patients experienced posttraumatic arthrosis of the wrist joint. The materials of the intra-articular fixation were bioabsorbable plates and screws. Reconstruction of a partially destroyed articular surface using a costal osteochondral graft is reliable and allows filling and resurfacing an articular cartilage void.

Extensor pollicis longus tendon ruptures after the use of volar locking plates for distal radius fractures.

Currently, volar locking plates are commonly used to treat distal radius fractures (DRF) because of their stable biomechanical construct and because they cause less soft tissue disturbance and allow early mobilisation of the wrist. Complications such as rupture of tendons have been reported to occur with use of volar locking plates. We describe six cases of rupture of extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendons after the use of volar locking plates. EPL tendon injuries occurred in 2.1% (6/286) of cases after DRF surgery. The causes of EPL rupture after DRF surgery were protrusion of the head tip and insufficient reduction of the dorsal roof fragment of the distal radius. These were considered iatrogenic problems. The cause of EPL rupture was unknown in three cases. We should be extremely careful when determining optimum screw length and reducing displaced dorsal roof fragments to prevent damaging the EPL tendons.

Application of fungal laccase fused with cellulose-binding domain to develop low-lignin rice plants.

We observed a reduction of lignin content linked to the expression of fungal laccase in rice plants. The lignin content of L-4, which showed the highest LAC activity among transgenic lines produced, was lower than that of the control line. However, this change was not reflected to the saccharification efficiency.

More radial shortening after low-energy Colles' fractures is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus among postmenopausal women, irrespective of bone mineral density.

BACKGROUND: Recent meta-analysis data reveal that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) have a higher risk of fracture, despite higher bone mineral density (BMD), than patients without type 2 DM. The purpose of this study was to compare BMD and distal radial shortening after low-energy Colles' fractures among Japanese postmenopausal women aged ≥50 years with type 2 DM with those in women without it (non-DM). METHODS: One-hundred and ten postmenopausal women aged ≥50 years with distal radius fractures resulting from a fall were enrolled in this study. Twelve patients had DM. BMD, type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTX), undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), grip strength of the unfractured hand, unipedal standing time, and the degree of radial shortening were measured. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age and body height between the two groups. The DM group had significantly greater body weight and body mass index than the non-DM group. BMDs of the lumbar spine and proximal hip were significantly higher in the DM group than in the non-DM group. NTX, ucOC, grip strength, and the percentage of women with unipedal standing time <15 s did not differ between the two groups. Stepwise regression analysis identified DM and shorter unipedal standing time as significant factors associated with more radial shortening, and identified more radial shortening and lower eGFR as significant factors associated with DM. CONCLUSIONS: More radial shortening after low-energy Colles' fractures was significantly associated with type 2 DM among postmenopausal women aged ≥50 years, irrespective of BMD.

Linburg-Comstock syndrome: a case report.

We report a case of Linburg-Comstock syndrome, which is characterized with anomalous tendon slips connecting flexor pollicis longus (FPL) to the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), usually at the index finger. The present patient started to be a carpenter and was suffering from his disability of flexing the thumb and the index finger independently when he handled the screws in his work. We surgically removed the tendinous connection of the FPL tendon and the index FDP tendon. After surgery, he could work as a carpenter without any difficulty. Surgical disconnection was effective treatment. Dynamic high-resolution ultrasound and three dimensions of computed tomography of the left distal forearm were helpful to confirm the diagnosis.

Enhanced saccharification of rice straw by overexpression of rice exo-glucanase.

BACKGROUND: Efficient production of carbon-neutral biofuels is key to resolving global warming and exhaustion of fossil fuels. Cellulose, which is the most abundant biomass, is physically strong and biochemically stable, and these characteristics lead to difficulty of efficient saccharification of cellulosic compounds for production of fermentable glucose and other sugars. RESULTS: We transformed rice with overexpressing constructs of rice genes encoding each of three classes of cellulases. The exo-glucanase overexpressing plants showed various abnormalities in leaf such as division of leaf blade, crack on leaf surface, excess lacunae in midrib structure and necrotic colour change. The overexpressing plants also showed sterility. Noticeably, these plants showed enhanced saccharification of stems after maturation. These results indicate that overexpression of the exo-glucanase gene brought about various developmental defects associated with modification of cell wall and enhanced saccharification in rice. On the other hand, endo-glucanase-overexpressing plants could not be obtained, and overexpression of ß-glucosidase brought about no effect on plant growth and development. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that genetic engineering of cellulosic biomass plants by overexpressing cellulase genes will be one of the approaches to confer enhanced saccharification ability for efficient production of cellulosic biofuels such as ethanol.

Pseudoaneurysm in a chronic pancreatitis patient: report of a case, with emphasis on contrast-enhanced sonograms.

The association between pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery and pancreatitis is now established. Rupture of an aneurysm is a lethal condition, and early diagnosis and treatment are required to prevent this hazardous life-threatening complication. In our case, early detection of pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery enabled us to start prompt embolization, which yielded good results. Splenic infarction is known to be an important and frequent complication of transarterial embolization of splenic artery aneurysms. Thus, when performing transarterial embolization of a splenic artery aneurysm, this complication must be kept in mind and it is absolutely necessary to confirm the presence or absence of this complication after embolization of the aneurysm. In our case of pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery due to acute aggravation of chronic pancreatitis, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography confirmed the spleen to be free from infarction. Thus, this technique is strongly recommended in such instances.

Portal gas in a diabetic patient under pharmacotherapy with an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor: report of a case with emphasis on US findings.

Portal gas is relatively rare, and its relation to ischemic bowel diseases has been emphasized. We report the case of a 56-year-old diabetic man under pharmacotherapy with an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor in which portal gas was incidentally detected by ultrasound (US). It showed multiple echo spots moving in the portal vein. Doppler signals confirmed them to be bidirectional and spiky, which immediately led to the diagnosis of portal gas. A change in oral antidiabetic drug caused the portal gas to disappear. We stress the usefulness of US and Doppler US for detecting and diagnosing portal gas. Although detailed analysis of a larger series of diabetic patients under this therapy is needed to draw a definitive conclusion, our observation merits attention. We also briefly review the literature.

Multiple anechoic hepatic nodules in a patient with malignant lymphoma: report of a case with an emphasis on B-mode sonograms.

We present a case of hepatic malignant lymphoma (ML) in which the hepatic ML nodules were imaged as round anechoic nodules with posterior echo enhancement, mimicking hepatic cysts on B-mode ultrasonography (US). However, the boundary echo between the nodules and the surrounding hepatic tissue seemed to be less distinct than that of a hepatic cyst. Contrast-enhanced US showed the nodules to be hypervascular, which ruled out the possibility of hepatic cysts. Our observation stresses the importance of boundary echo for the diagnosis of hepatic ML on B-mode US. We also offer a possible explanation for this phenomenon.

Portal gas in a patient with acute obstructive cholangitis: report of a case with emphasis on US findings.

Portal gas is relatively rare, and its relationship to ischemic bowel diseases has been emphasized. We report the case of a 70-year-old woman with acute obstructive cholangitis in whom portal gas was detected by ultrasonography (US) but not by computed tomography (CT). The former showed multiple echo spots moving in the portal vein. Doppler signals confirmed them to be bidirectional and spiky, which immediately led to the diagnosis of portal gas. Immediate appropriate antibiotic treatment and biliary drainage yielded the disappearance of the portal gas. We stress the usefulness of US and Doppler US for detecting and diagnosing portal gas. Our observation suggests that when portal gas is detected by US, the possibility of cholangitis should be included in the differential diagnosis.