The World Health Organization (WHO) standard assay for determining antibody level is the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) and is used to determine the degree of immunity after vaccination against rabies.To compare the difference in RFFIT results between the laboratories of The National Institute of Infectious Disease in Japan (NIID) and the Chinese Centre for Disease Control (CCDC) as well the influence of the choice of standard serum (STD) for the detection,the two laboratories detection methods were simultaneously manipulated by RFFIT.The reference serums used in NIID and the WHO standard serum used in CCDC were compared in the same RFFIT detection to determine the titer of four sera samples C1,S1,S2 and S4 in parallel,and the titers of the detected sera samples were calculated using the standard formula for neutralizing antibody titer.No significant difference was found in RFFIT methods from the two laboratories and the RFFIT testing procedures of the two laboratories have good consistency.However,different titers were obtained with the tentative internal standard serum (TI-STD) produced by adjusting to 2.0 IU of WHO standard serum in NIID and the WHO STD.The titer determined with the TI-STD was higher than that determined with WHO STD,This difference appears to be significant and requires further investigation.

Background: We investigated how individual home care services by nurses, care workers, and therapists at patients' homes are related with the continuation of home medical care service provided by medical doctors.Methods: This research retrospectively analyzed primary insured patients registered with the Japanese long-term care insurance system who had newly started using home medical care service, and whose care level was between 1 and 5 according to national long-term care insurance system claims data. We performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate patients who used home medical care continuously for >3 months and the utilization of each home care service adjusted for patient age, gender, and care level.Results: A total of 26,590 patients were analyzed. Multivariable analysis revealed that the following home care services were associated with longer continuation of home medical care service compared with home medical care alone: day service (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.98-2.23), home help service (1.91; 1.81-2.01), day care including rehabilitation (1.88; 1.69-2.10), home-visit rehabilitation (1.49; 1.31-1.69), and home-visit nursing (1.23; 1.16-1.31).Conclusions: Our results demonstrated a correlation between utilization of home care services and longer continuation of home medical care from the start. These findings may help medical doctors who provide home medical care service collaborate with other home care services by nurses, care workers, and in-home care therapists.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) on cancer cell invasion and on fibroblast proliferation in an in vitro model of invasion. Three kinds of human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines with different invasive activity were used: OSC-20, OSC-19 (lower invasive type), and HOC313 (higher invasive type). FGF-2 and its high-affinity receptors FGFR-1 and FGFR-2 were detected by western blotting. The expression of FGF-2 and FGFRs mRNA was examined in cultured human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, recombinant human FGF-2 (rhFGF-2) was reacted with each cell line, and the invasion rate was determined by invasion assay. We also observed the behavior of cancer cell invasion in the collagen gel invasion model in the presence or absence of FGF-2-neutralizing antibody (anti-FGF-2). HOC313 cells showed higher expression of FGF-2 than OSC-20 and OSC-19 cells. The addition of rhFGF-2 promoted not only the proliferation of fibroblasts, but also the invasion of all cancer cell lines. In contrast, the addition of anti-FGF-2 completely inhibited the invasion of OSC-20 and OSC-19 cells. These results suggest that a higher invasiveness of squamous carcinoma cells is associated with higher production of FGF-2, which acts in an autocrine fashion to promote cancer cell invasion, and in a paracrine fashion to promote fibroblast proliferation.

AIMTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of an extract of Ganoderma lucidum that shows the strongest 5alpha-reductase inhibitory activity among the extracts of 19 edible and medicinal mushrooms by a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized and dose-ranging study in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

METHODSIn this trial, we randomly assigned 88 men over the age of 49 years who had slight-to-moderate LUTS to 12 weeks of treatment with G. lucidum extract (6 mg once a day) or placebo. The primary outcome measures were changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and variables of uroflowmetry. Secondary outcome measures included changes in prostate size, residual urinary volume after voiding, laboratory values and the reported adverse effects.

RESULTSG. lucidum was effective and significantly superior to placebo for improving total IPSS with 2.1 points decreasing at the end of treatment (mean difference, -1.18 points; 95% confidence interval, -1.74 to -0.62; P < 0.0001). No changes were observed with respect to quality of life scores, peak urinary flow, mean urinary flow, residual urine, prostate volume, serum prostate-specific antigen or testosterone levels. Overall treatment was well tolerated with no severe adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONThe extract of G. lucidum was well tolerated and improved IPSS scores. These results encouraged a further, large-scale evaluation of phytotherapy for a long duration using the extract of G. lucidum on men with LUTS.

Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Placebos ; Reishi ; Solvents ; Treatment Outcome ; Urination Disorders ; drug therapy ; Urodynamics ; drug effects

This is a case report of a 40-year-old man with leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava. He had suffered from shortness of breath and edema on lower limbs over several months. Clinical examinations including UCG, CT and MRI revealed the mass in the right atrium. The stalk of mass was located near junction of the right atrium and inferior vena cava by cavography. He was operated upon using extracorporeal circulation. The tumor originated from inferior vena cava, measuring 8.5×5.5×4.8cm in size, 130g in weight, was successfully removed. Partial defect of anterior wall on the inferior vena cava was reconstructed using Gore-Tex patch. Histologically, the tumor was composed of the spindled cells with arranged bundles. Immunohistochemically, they were positive for Dessmin and Vimentin. Seven months after the surgery, he has been followed at OPD. In review of the Japanese literature to our knowledge, only 14 cases were reported including this case.

Major bleeding associated with sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) involves vessels such as the inferior alveolar, facial, and maxillary arteries and veins, and the retromandibular vein (RMV). The present study aimed to clarify and classify the three-dimensional variations in RMV position and course direction in relation to the mandible. Specimens comprised a total of 15 scientific cadavers, and the relationship between RMV and the mandible lateral and posterior views was observed.We identified 3 patterns on the lateral view, the mean distance between the RMV and the posterior border of the ramus was 3.9 mm at the height of the lingula. A total of five course patterns were identified on the posterior view. In no course pattern, the RMV inferior to the lingula was lateral to its position superior to the lingual. The present findings suggest that it may be possible to predict correlations with intraoperative bleeding risk. Further study is planned using contrast computed tomography in patients with jaw deformity for skeletal classification.