Hiroshi Okitsu

Proteomic alteration in gastic adenocarcinomas from Japanese patients.

BackgroundGastric adenocarcinomas comprise one of the common types of cancers in Asian countries including Japan. Comprehensive protein profiling of paired surgical specimens of primary gastric adenocarcinomas and nontumor mucosae derived from Japanese patients was carried out by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-EP) and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionic tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) to establish gastric cancer-specific proteins as putative clinical biomarkers and molecular targets for chemotherapy.ResultsRelatively common alterations in protein expression were revealed in the tumor tissues. Increases in manganese dismutase and nonhistone chromosomal protein HMG-1 (HMG-1) were observed, while decreases in carbonic anhydrases I and II, glutatione-S-transferase and foveolin precursor (gastrokine-1) (FOV), an 18-kDa stomach-specific protein with putative tumor suppressor activity, were detected. RT-PCR analysis also revealed significant down-regulation of FOV mRNA expression in tumor tissues.ConclusionA possible pathological role for down-regulation of FOV in gastric carcinogenesis was demonstrated. Evaluation of the specific decreases in gene and protein expression of FOV in patients may be utilized as clinical biomarkers for effective diagnosis and assessment of gastric cancer.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the esophagus: Report of a case with non-progressive behavior

Lymphoepithelioma‐like carcinoma (LELC) of the esophagus is extremely rare and the prognosis has been described to be favorable. Herein, the case is reported of esophageal LELC showing non‐progressive course for 1 year. The patient was a 70‐year‐old Japanese man with a submucosal tumor in the lower esophagus. The tumor was endoscopically regarded as a benign leiomyoma. One year after the first endoscopic examination, the size of the lesion remained unchanged despite no treatment. Histologically, the tumor showed undifferentiated carcinoma associated with dense lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration. Lymphoid follicles surrounded the tumor cell nests. Immunohistochemically, Ki‐67 labeling index of the tumor cells were 76.0%, and there were few single‐strand DNA‐positive apoptotic cells. In situ hybridization using a digoxigen‐labeled Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐encoded small RNA (EBER)‐1 riboprobe failed to detect the presence of EBV infection. Physicians should be aware that esophageal LELC endoscopically mimics benign submucosal tumor. This case may demonstrate that esophageal LELC is a slow‐growing tumor and it is related to immune reaction.

Bias Voltage Controlled Three-Phase Converter with High Power Factor

In rectifier systems, the compensation of reactive power accompanied with conventional line commutation is a significant problem. The most desirable and effective technique for realizing reactive power compensation is not the addition of more reactive compensators but the improvement of the converter circuit in itself. The new three-phase converter using the latter technique is proposed and discussed. It consists of a combination of the bias voltage control and the conventional phase control. The original scheme of this was presented in [1] for the single-phase type. The new three-phase converter scheme, its operation, characteristics such as power factor, harmonic contents of line current, design indexes, and experimental results are described. The new converter proposed will be suitable for large power systems.

Power-Factor Improvement of Single-Phase Converter by Means of Bias Voltage Control

Power-factor improvement and harmonic reduction in ac line current, as well as stable and reliable operation, are very significant areas in the high-power ac-dc converter. The improvements of these characteristics of the single-phase converter may be generally difficult compared with the polyphase type. A new converter scheme suitable for the high power single-phase converter to overcome the above problems is presented. The basic configuration and principle of operation of the new converter scheme, theoretical characteristics and design indexes, and the drive system and characteristics of a dc series motor by this scheme are described. The basic principle of operation is verified and the feasibility of this converter system is demonstrated by experiments.

Three-dimensional CT for preoperative detection of the left gastric artery and left gastric vein in laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy.

We evaluated 3‐D CT imaging for preoperative classification of the left gastric artery and vein in patients with early gastric cancer and estimated its clinical benefit.

Analysis of the Frequency Characteristics of a Three-Phase Induction Motor

In this paper, we discuss the frequency characteristics of a three-phase induction motor theoretically and take up the transfer functions on. the speed variation to the small variation of supply voltage, supply frequency, and load torque. The frequency responses are affected considerably by the electrical time constant at the range of, high signal frequency, but these transfer functions may be approximated by the form of a first-order lag element as the value of mechanical time constant or the slip of a tested induction motor increases.

Mesh-Airtight-Preperitoneum: a simple method for confirming mesh placement in transabdominal preperitoneal repair of inguinal hernia

We devised a method for confirming the position of mesh placed during transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) of an inguinal hernia. The preperitoneum is sufficiently detached, and the mesh is fixed in place as usual. Before completely closing the peritoneum, pressure is applied from outside the body and inside the abdominal cavity to remove as much air as possible from the detached preperitoneum; the peritoneum is then sutured using a V-Loc(TM) closure device so that it does not constrict. By releasing the pressure all at once, the airtightness of the preperitoneum is maintained, and the position of the mesh can be observed through the translucent peritoneum. This method, called Mesh-Airtight-Preperitoneum (MAPP), could become widely used as a simple technique for confirming mesh position in TAPP. J. Med. Invest. 63: 270-273, August, 2016.

Short-Term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer

The purpose of this study was to investigate the oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Between April 2003 and March 2014, LDG was performed for 392 patients, 91 patients (23.2%) had histopathologically diagnosed AGC beyond T2 depth. The clinicopathological features, postoperative outcomes, mortality, morbidity, recurrence rate, and survivals of those patients were reviewed. The TNM stages of the tumor were IB in 26 patients (28.5%), IIA in 20 (21.9%), IIB in 18 (19.7%), IIIA in 13 (14.2%), IIIB in 6 (6.5%), IIIC in 6 (6.5%), and IV in 2 (2.1%). Major morbidity occurred in 14 patients (15.3%), with no postoperative mortality. Median follow-up was 24.5 months; 10 patients developed recurrence during the follow-up period, and 10 patients died, including 6 cancer deaths. The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 76.8% and 72.6%, respectively. By stage, OS/DFS was 92.3%/91.8% in stage IB, 85.4%/85.4% in stage II, and 49.3%/26.9% in stage III. Oncologic outcomes were good in patients with AGC, especially with stage IB-IIB, who underwent LDG. LDG appears to be an effective approach for treating stage IB and II gastric cancer.

Propensity score‐matched study of laparoscopic and open surgery for colorectal cancer in rural hospitals

Various randomized clinical studies have suggested that short‐ and long‐term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery (LAP) for colorectal cancer are comparable with those of open surgery (OP). However, these studies were performed in high‐volume hospitals. The aim of the present study was to compare the outcomes of LAP versus OP for colorectal cancer in rural hospitals.

A multicenter exploratory study of irinotecan-based chemotherapy on UGT1A1 polymorphisms for patients with colorectal cancer.

563 Background: Recent pharmacogenetic studies have revealed a significant association between uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) polymorphisms *28 and *6 and toxicities such as severe diarrhea and neutropenia under treatment with irinotecan. Moreover, the latter of these two polymorphisms is specifically detected in East Asian populations. We performed a prospective study to determine the optimal dose of this drug depending on which polymorphism is present in order to maximize the effectiveness of therapy while avoiding side effects. Methods: 59 patients from 11 institutions were enrolled in this study. Patients were assigned to one of the following three groups: wild type (*1/*1), heterozygous (*28/*1, *6/*1), or homozygous (*28/*28, *6/*6*, *28/*6*). The double heterozygous state (*28/*6) was included within the homozygous group. Second-line FOLFIRI was administered, with the dose of irinotecan at 150 mg/m2, in the wild type and heterozygous groups and at 100 mg/m2 in the homozygo...