The effects of a 70% methanolic extract and its fractions obtained from Eleutherococcus, and effects of exercise on oxidative enzyme activity in skeletal muscle, superoxide dismutase activity and lipid peroxidation were studied for 6 weeks using male ICR mice. At the age of 11 weeks, 70 mice were divided into six groups: a non-exercise group (control), a group administered the 70% methanolic extract (MeOH), a group administered a water-soluble extract (water), a group administered an n-BuOH extract (n-BuOH), a group administered an EtOAc extract (EtOAc) and a group given running exercise (exercise) . Eleutherococcus extracts were given p, o, at 170 mg/kg per day (6 days/week) for 6 weeks.
After 6 weeks of training (1 h/day, 6 days/week at 15 m/min, on a flat floor without any slope), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in gastrocnemius muscle was increased significatly in the exercise group compared with the control group. SDH activity showed an increasing tendency in groups given Eleutherococcus extracts compared with the control group (n-BuOH>water>MeOH>EtOAc>control) . Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activity in the exercise group was significantly different from that in the control group at P<0.005. In the water and n-BuOH groups, MDH activity was significantly greater than in the control group, whereas an increasing tendency was shown in the McOH and EtOAc groups. Muscle superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the exercise, McOH, water and n-BuOH groups was significantly greater than in the control group, and hepatic SOD activity was slightly higher in the exercise, McOH and water groups in comparison with the control group, although these differences were not significant. After endurance training, hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) was decreased by 17% in the exercise group. In the n-BuOH and EtOAc groups, a significant decrease was observed in hepatic LPO.
These results suggest that endurance training and administration of Eleutherococcus extracts enhance the activities of oxidative enzymes in skeletal muscle and also SOD in mice, resulting in improved aerobic metabolic rates, and also might intensify the functions of the host defense system against injury caused lipid peroxidation.

The effects of a 70% methanolic extract and its fractions obtained from Eleutherococcus, and effects of exercise on oxidative enzyme activity in skeletal muscle, superoxide dismutase activity and lipid peroxidation were studied for 6 weeks using male ICR mice. At the age of 11 weeks, 70 mice were divided into six groups: a non-exercise group (control), a group administered the 70% methanolic extract (MeOH), a group administered a water-soluble extract (water), a group administered an n-BuOH extract (n-BuOH), a group administered an EtOAc extract (EtOAc) and a group given running exercise (exercise) . Eleutherococcus extracts were given p, o, at 170 mg/kg per day (6 days/week) for 6 weeks.
After 6 weeks of training (1 h/day, 6 days/week at 15 m/min, on a flat floor without any slope), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in gastrocnemius muscle was increased significatly in the exercise group compared with the control group. SDH activity showed an increasing tendency in groups given Eleutherococcus extracts compared with the control group (n-BuOH>water>MeOH>EtOAc>control) . Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activity in the exercise group was significantly different from that in the control group at P<0.005. In the water and n-BuOH groups, MDH activity was significantly greater than in the control group, whereas an increasing tendency was shown in the McOH and EtOAc groups. Muscle superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the exercise, McOH, water and n-BuOH groups was significantly greater than in the control group, and hepatic SOD activity was slightly higher in the exercise, McOH and water groups in comparison with the control group, although these differences were not significant. After endurance training, hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) was decreased by 17% in the exercise group. In the n-BuOH and EtOAc groups, a significant decrease was observed in hepatic LPO.
These results suggest that endurance training and administration of Eleutherococcus extracts enhance the activities of oxidative enzymes in skeletal muscle and also SOD in mice, resulting in improved aerobic metabolic rates, and also might intensify the functions of the host defense system against injury caused lipid peroxidation.

A 75-year-old man with severe mitral valve regurgitation and 80% stenosis of the right internal carotid artery was referred to us for surgical treatment. He had a history of ipsilateral cerebral artery thrombosis 28 months previously. Although preoperative percutaneous transluminal carotid angioplasty with stenting (PTCAS) was performed, 60% stenosis of the artery still remained. He underwent mitral valve repair 2 months after PTCAS due to cardiac symptom progression. Intraaortic balloon pumping was used to maintain higher pressure during the extracorporeal circulation of the heart surgery. He recovered uneventfully and without any cerebral complications.

Recently, in addition to standard surgical operations, reduction therapy (endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic gastrectomy) is indicated for early gastric cancer. However, the indication should be limited to the casesof early gastric cancer without lymph node metastases.
During the past 25 years, we have surgically treated 2, 246 cases of early gastric cancer. The percentage of lymph node metastasis in 1, 242 mucosal cancer cases was 1.8% and that in 1, 004 submucosal cancer cases was 16.9%. In the mucosal cancer cases, lymph node metastasis did not occur in the depressedtumors with a diameter of less than 10mm and the elevated tumors with a diameted of less than 20mm. In the submucosal cancer cases, lymph node metastasis did not occur in the elevated tumors less than 10mm in diameter. So, the cases of gastric cancerof these types require the reduction therapy.
However, in the mucosal cancers that have been diagnosed during the last 5 years, the percentage of preoperative correct diagnosis as for thedepth of invasion was 69.4%. In the submucosal cancers, the rate was 60.1%. Many of the cases diagnosed incorrectly had ulcers in the lesion. As for the infiltration type, INFβ and γ were noticeable in these cases. As for the histological type, most of the cases wereof the undifferentiated type.
Moreover, if should be noted, the percentage that the histological type of preoperative ensoscopic biopsy specimens agrees with that of postoperative ones is 50-60% except for tubl of mucosal cancers.

OBJECTIVES: The favorable safety and consistent effectiveness of monthly intravenous (IV) ibandronate injections was demonstrated in a prospective, postmarketing, observational study in Japanese patients with osteoporosis. Here, we present subgroup analyses from the study. METHODS: Lumbar spine (L2–4) bone mineral density (BMD) gains were assessed in the following subgroups: aged <75 or ≥75 years, absence or presence of vertebral fractures, previous bisphosphonate (BP) treatment, and concomitant versus naïve osteoporosis drug treatment. The cumulative incidence of fractures and relative change in bone turnover markers were also examined. RESULTS: Of 1062 enrolled patients, 1025 received monthly IV ibandronate 1 mg and were assessed for 12 months. BMD gains with ibandronate were comparable, irrespective of older age or prevalent fractures. Overall, 515 patients (50.2%) had previously received osteoporosis treatment; of these, 166 (16.1%) received other BPs. Mean BMD changes were 3.69% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89%–6.50%) in patients previously treated with other BPs, and 4.26% (95% CI, 2.88%–5.64%) in patients who had not received prior osteoporosis treatment. Among the 510 patients (49.7%) concomitantly prescribed active vitamin D drugs, mean BMD changes were 5.74% (95% CI, 2.53%–8.95%) with eldecalcitol versus 3.54% (95% CI, 1.98%–5.10%) with ibandronate alone. The lowest fracture incidence was observed with the combination of ibandronate and eldecalcitol, but differences between the subgroups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Monthly IV ibandronate demonstrated comparable BMD gains in the patient subgroups analyzed. Concomitant use of ibandronate with eldecalcitol showed a trend of higher BMD gains and lower fracture incidence than ibandronate alone.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bone Density ; Bone Remodeling ; Humans ; Incidence ; Japan ; Observational Study ; Osteoporosis ; Prospective Studies ; Spine ; Vitamin D

In the areas of home medical care and self-medication, the role of the pharmacist is growing, partly as a result of Japan’s aging society and the need to reduce medical costs. In response, the Kinki University Faculty of Pharmacy implemented a physical assessment practical training seminar in order to improve the physical assessment skills of practicing pharmacists. A series of questionnaires were conducted among pharmacists to investigate their perceptions of physical assessment practical training seminars. The results of the questionnaires were analyzed using Customer Satisfaction (CS) analysis and text mining. Based on a 5-point scale (1-low∼5-high), questionnaires revealed satisfaction for physical assessment practical training seminars was 4.6±0.6 (Ave.±S.D.). CS analysis revealed that the items “lectures” and “case seminars” had the highest level of satisfaction. However, items showing low levels of satisfaction were “auscultation of respiratory sounds” and “SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation).” Results of text mining suggested a relationship between “physical assessment” and “difficult”. Analysis of the questionnaires showed a high level satisfaction with physical assessment practical training seminars, notably physical assessment practice methods. However, CS analysis and text mining indicate the finer techniques of physical assessment were difficult to acquire.

The expansion of home medical care and the growth in sales of OTC, coupled with Japan’s aging society and the need to reduce medical costs has broadened the role of the pharmacist to include physical assessment. In response, the Kindai University Faculty of Pharmacy, implemented the Physical Assessment Practical Training Course (PAPTC) to improve the physical assessment skills of pharmacy students and practicing pharmacists. In order to investigate pharmacy students’ and practicing pharmacists’ perceptions of PAPTC, a questionnaire using a five-part, forced- choice Lykert type scale was conducted. The results of the questionnaire were analyzed using factor analysis and cluster analysis. The total number of respondents was 456. Three hundred thirteen of the respondents were students, and 143 of the respondents were practicing pharmacists. Factor analysis revealed four factors which we titled, “Physical Assessment Skills”, “Physical Assessment Course”, “Pharmacist Jobs” and, “Knowledge Required by Pharmacist”. Subsequently, cluster analysis identified two distinct groups. Group A which constituted primarily of pharmacy students, and Group B which consisted primarily of practicing pharmacists. Each group displayed notable differences in perceptions related to PAPTC. These differences may be influenced by perceptions toward “skills” and/or “knowledge”. These findings suggest that in order to better address the motivational needs of the participants, PAPTC should be divided into two courses. One, for knowledge-based instruction, and other for skill-based practice.

The expansion of home medical care and the growth in sales of OTC, coupled with Japan’s aging society and the need to reduce medical costs has broadened the role of the pharmacist to include physical assessment. In response, the Kindai University Faculty of Pharmacy, implemented the Physical Assessment Practical Training Course (PAPTC) to improve the physical assessment skills of pharmacy students and practicing pharmacists. In order to investigate pharmacy students’ and practicing pharmacists’ perceptions of PAPTC, a questionnaire using a five-part, forced- choice Lykert type scale was conducted. The results of the questionnaire were analyzed using factor analysis and cluster analysis. The total number of respondents was 456. Three hundred thirteen of the respondents were students, and 143 of the respondents were practicing pharmacists. Factor analysis revealed four factors which we titled, “Physical Assessment Skills”, “Physical Assessment Course”, “Pharmacist Jobs” and, “Knowledge Required by Pharmacist”. Subsequently, cluster analysis identified two distinct groups. Group A which constituted primarily of pharmacy students, and Group B which consisted primarily of practicing pharmacists. Each group displayed notable differences in perceptions related to PAPTC. These differences may be influenced by perceptions toward “skills” and/or “knowledge”. These findings suggest that in order to better address the motivational needs of the participants, PAPTC should be divided into two courses. One, for knowledge-based instruction, and other for skill-based practice.